Your Wait is Over....

The other day I hinted that I was starting a new business. I know that you are hanging on the edge of your seat and I will not keep you hanging any longer. I have decided to become an Independent Consultant for Scentsy!  (Yeah for me!!)

If you are not familiar with Scentsy, they are a company that sells wickless candles, which consist of a warmer and fragrance bars/bricks. The warmers are electric and come in several different styles, colors and patterns and there are over 70 different fragrance bars. The warmer has a electric bulb underneath the bar/brick cup that heats the wax.

I saw and smelled Scentsy for the first time last month at the MOPS National Convention in Nashville. I purchased a warmer and three scent bars and when I plugged it in and absolutely feel in love with this wickless candle. There's no open flame to worry about, the wax doesn't get that hot, they are more fragrant than candles or reed diffusers, they last a long time and they are inexpensive!. I was so geeked about my Scentsy products that I decided to become an Independent Consultant.

To learn more about Scentsy and to see my smiling face, you can visit my personal website at https://brendakirschner.scentsy.us/Home  I'd be pleased to answer any of your questions, so just shoot me an email.  Also, you don't have to wait to be invited to or host a party to buy Scentsy.  You can do so on my website, but if you want to host a party just email me with your dates.

Once again, yeah for me!!  (Geeked, yes super geeked!  You can tell by the number of exclamation points I have used in this post!!) 

New Bedding and Blender

Katie and I had a pretty busy day today.  I had my yearly mammogram at 9:30 am in Abilene.  From there we went over to APAC (Abilene Performing Arts Company) to register Katie for the Abilene Christmas Parade.  The parade is December 1 and the students from APAC, including the Kindermusik students, get to ride on a float.  I purchased the required shirt for Katie and one for myself.  I may end up walking in the parade if there is not enough room on the float.  I don't feel comfortable letting her "float along" by herself. 

From APAC we stopped at the recycling center to drop off old batteries and then to the hardware store to return some items for Rick.  We ended the trip by stopping at Wal-Mart.  Katie found a Tinkerbell bedroom ensemble that she really liked, so I purchased it for her.  She has had the same bedding since she was 6 months old.  I figured she was due for something new.  The only down side is that her room is decorated in Disney Princess, so I will have to change out her framed pictures of the Disney Princesses.  Previously, we had also bought her a Disney Princess wall clock for this Christmas, but I will have to exchange it for the Tinkerbell one if any are left.  I also found a great blender on clearance for $20.  It's all electronic and I felt like a dork because I had to use the manual when I wanted to test it out.  I couldn't figure out how to turn it on!

Katie and I ate lunch at the Subway in Wal-Mart.  While there, a homeless man took a seat at another table.  He had a few shopping bags with him and I watched as he made a bolony sandwich and then inhaled it.  His hands were so black.  I just quietly watched him, because whenever I see someone who is homeless, I think there but for the grace of God goes I.

As you can see, a busy day but not an eventful one.  Until later, here is Rick's Thursday picture.  Try to ignore the mess on the breakfast bar.  These pictures were taken two days ago.

 Purple fairy creating....I don't know what.  Don't worry Rick, I took the scissors off the breakfast bar after this picture.

 

Obviously it was a little chilly outside.

Rick's Wednesday Pictures, The Grim Reaper and A Saute Pan

Yesterday I carved the large pumpkin.  I did a grim reaper for which I found a pattern.  I am not too crazy with how it turned out.

 It's a full body of the grim reaper with the sickle over his head, which has a hood on it.  (If I have to explain it, it clearly means it is not a success!)

 

Here is the long view of the fireplace.

Since I had the camera out, I set it up on the tripod and took pictures of Katie and I.  (And yes I have ponytails in my hair.  It is my new favorite way to keep my hair out of my face and off my neck.)  I used the timer on my camera and it wasn't long before Katie was the one pushing the button and racing back to be in the picture.  It was nice to have her do the leg work!

 

A few days ago I purchased an All-Clad MC2 3-quart, stainless steel, saute pan from Ebay.  I have been looking for new cookware for some time now and finally decided on All-Clad.  Previously, I was leaning towards Calphalon, but I learned that 99% of Calphalon's cookware pieces are made in China.  They used to be made here, but like so many companies they have outsourced the manufacturing.  I am sure people in this country lost their jobs.  The fact that All-Clad is made in the USA is what tipped my scales in favor of All-Clad.  All-Clad is rather expensive, but it has a lifetime guarantee.  I have owned four different "good" cookware sets in my lifetime and have worn all of them out--well, except the set that burned in the apartment building fire.  I wanted to buy cookware that would last and perhaps one that I could pass on to Katie.  I opted not to buy a set, but to buy piece by piece.  Most of the sets have at least one pan that I will not use.  Anyway, the saute pan arrived today and I am very pleased with my purchase.  The down side is that I have to wait for Rick to come home to use it.  (I don't cook large meals when Rick is away.)

Today was our Kindermusik class.  Katie got to wear her Tinkerbell costume to class.  She spent a fair amount of time checking herself out in the floor-to-ceiling mirrored wall.  She loved seeing the wings on her back.  When it was time to cool down and relax, which usually consists of soothing music and rocking your child in your lap, Katie opted to gracefully flutter around the room like a butterfly.  The teacher commented that Katie was "flying" beautifully to the music.

This afternoon Katie and I went outside to get the garbage toter from the curb.  It was then that I noticed that our gazing globe fell off of its pedestal and broke.  I am heart-broken, as I am sure Rick will be when he reads this.  The globe has been blown off the pedestal numerous times, but never broke.  What I can't figure out is that it hasn't been that windy at Corinth West.  But don't fret, dear readers, true to form Rick has a back-up gazing globe in the Quonset Hut.

This morning Katie was telling me how when she had the stomach flu she had thrown up in her potty chair.  She stated that Daddy cleaned it out for her.  Then she said, "Daddy takes care of us."  I am so grateful that Katie recognizes Rick's hard work.  Also today we were looking at the Wall Of Shame (this is a section of the wall in the hallway that we have a floor-to-ceiling, photo collage.)  She pointed to our first family picture, which was taken shortly after she was born and told me, "Daddy rocked me and rocked me and rocked me.", which Rick used to do when she was small.  I truly believe that she was remembering when she was an itty-bitty.  Another conversation we had was in regard to my mammogram tomorrow.  I informed Katie what tomorrow's schedule entailed.  I told her that I had a doctor's appointment and she responded with, "I don't want to get a shot."  I assured her that she would not and it was I who was seeing the doctor.  Then out of the blue, she got all excited and said, "Remember when the doctor cut me out of your belly?!!"  I told her I did remember because it was one of the best days of my life.  She went on to inform me, "I didn't come out of your (pause) (pause) (pause)...." she pointed between her legs, "....your butt."  I told her that no baby comes out of their mommy's butt, but out of her vagina.  Now I know some people may think Katie's too young to be learning this type of stuff, but I firmly believe in being honest with her about from where babies come.  At her age, I don't volunteer the information, but will answer her honestly when she asks.  I am sure the next question will be, "How did I get in there?"  Don't fret, I already have my response planned out.

That's about it for now.  After a lot of thought, I have decided to start a small business.  Stay tuned for the details and my website's URL.  (Nothing like keeping you all hanging!!)

P.S.  On the fence about whether I like the new HTML post editor in blog spot.  It does make pictures easier to upload, but I cannot find spell check.

Pumpkins Carving 2009

Before I head off to bed here I wanted to post a few pictures from this evening's activities.

Katie's cousins gave her all of their old costumes last Thanksgiving and yesterday Katie rediscovered the box in her room. It is now Day 2 of the Fashion Show. She repeatedly models ALL of the costumes: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and purple fairy. (Go figure why despite the hand-me-down costumes I still bought Katie a new Tinkerbell one for this Halloween!) Anyway, below is a picture of Katie as Snow White with purple fairy wings. I took this picture in the office so that explains all of the clutter in the background. As a side note, Katie begged me to fly her. Unfortunately I cannot lift her over my head and zoom her through the house like Rick does, so I had to advise her that she had to wait for Daddy.


Besides the costume parade, tonight we also carved four of our five pumpkins. Katie has been drawing faces for some time now. I think her first recognizable face was when she was 2 1/2. (Artistic talent runs in my family and it looks like she inherited that gene.) Katie draw faces on two of the small pumpkins and I cut them out for her. I drew out and carved the faces on the two big pumpkins as standard Halloween Jack O' Lanterns. I still have the extra large pumpkin to carve, which I plan to do tomorrow night. That will be the star pumpkin since I will go all out on the design.

Back to tonight, below are two pictures from Pumpkin Carving 2009. The first is Katie on the kitchen floor scooping out the insides of a pumpkin. You will note that is wearing the classic pumpkin carving outfit, a purple fairy costume complete with wings.

The picture below is of our pumpkins lined up on the fireplace mantel. We had purchased the pumpkins on Saturday at the Pumpkin Patch. The pumpkin that Rick picked out is on the extreme left. (Katie was kind enough to design her Daddy's pumpkin.) Katie's pick is on the extreme right. Rick and I picked out the two larger pumpkins together. Katie's pumpkin to the extreme right has a design flaw. The eyes, nose and mouth are too small, so whenever I put the lid on the pumpkin the candle extinguishes from the lack of oxygen. I considered making the mouth bigger, but then it would not be the face Katie drew. My solution is to keep the lid half off so her artwork remains true.

I wish Rick could have joined in on the pumpkin carving. However, he will not be home until Saturday, which is Halloween. I will post a picture of the main attraction pumpkin when I get it finished. Ciao!

Rick's Monday Picture and MOPS Monday

Rick left for Chicago yesterday. As usual, Katie and I said good-bye to him outside, then walked up the driveway as he drove away. Katie attempts to catch him, but this time it was heart breaking because when she realized she would not be able to, she fell to her knees and cried her little heart out, "Daddy's gone."

Since Rick is out of town this week, you know what that means--daily pictures of Katie for Rick. So without further ado, here is Katie on her swing set. I took this picture one evening when I was out photographing the sunset (I have also included a picture of that) and Katie asked that I take a picture of her swinging.




Today was a MOPS Monday and our topic was Depression. We had a guest speaker, as well as a few of our MOPS moms as speakers. It was an incredibly emotional meeting. Depression among mothers, especially mothers of preschoolers is rather common, so in our meeting there were many moms that could relate to the personal stories shared. The one thing about depression is that some people hide it better than others. What I learned today that is if a person seems closed off sometimes it can be due to depression and not a reflection on how they feel about me. (Don't laugh, Rick. I am still learning how it is not always about me.)

After MOPS, Katie and I met some MOPS friends at the Burger King in Abilene. We were able to chat while the kids played in the play area/jungle gym thingy. I truly enjoyed the conversation and before I knew it it was two hours later. Katie ran around like a little maniac with her Moppet friends. She slept in the car on the way home and continued the nap in her bed, so I got to rest some too.

Last night I did not sleep well--this often happens when Rick is away, especially the first night he is gone--and I woke up with a migraine this morning. I broke down and took some Excedrin Migraine because I didn't want to miss the MOPS meeting, but suffered the side effect of the medication, which is the shakes from the caffeine. Once I got some food in my stomach from the MOPS buffet, I felt a whole lot better.

Well, that was my day, my great day. Rick, I hope you had the same. We love and miss you.

Pumpkin Patch

Rick, Katie and I went to the pumpkin patch this morning. My MOPS group had arranged the play date. Katie and Rick each picked out a pumpkin and I picked out three. Needless to say we have a whole lot of carving to do. Below are the pictures from this morning. Katie kept on running from one scarecrow display to another and requesting that I take her picture.

Family shot

Katie and I with the scarecrow dog

Giggling

Going for a hayride

Lounging on some hay bales

Going Green.....Unintentionally

Today I got to do something that I rarely get to do anymore, which is take a shower by myself. Now stop snickering. My usual shower companion is Katie. When she was younger she flatly refused to get into the little, rain room with me or by herself. She also used to kiss me good-bye before I closed the shower door. Now I cannot keep her out of the shower or take a shower by myself. If I deny her entry, she cries. I would like to think that she is socially conscious and is trying to be "green", but the truth is that she somehow feels entitled to share the shower with me and views it as one of our mommy-daughter rituals like eating lunch at Subway once a week.

Anyway, all she has to do is see me put down the bath mat outside the shower and she breaks the speed record for stripping down to naked. Sometimes I try to sneak into the shower when she is in another room; however, that very distinctive, soft sound of shower water gives me away. In no time at all, I see a blurry, naked figure through the privacy glass on the shower door. She will then press her face up to the glass making a pig nose and asks, "Momma you in there?"

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that Katie likes to be clean. That is far better than struggling to get her into the tub or shower. However, the shower that I use is the one in our master bath and it is a separate unit from the bath tub. But it is not one of those HGTV, multi-head, shower rooms. It's more like a shower closet. The disadvantages of Katie joining me are that the suds from my body wash invariably end up on top of her just shampooed head; Katie always stands by the door blocking any quick exit I may want to make; it's difficult for me to shave my legs because of space limitations; and Katie insists that we shake all of the water off of our bodies before we exit the shower and I look like a fool standing in the shower cube shaking my booty, head, hands and feet. (There's a good image to leave you with!)

As a mom, alone time is scarce. Taking a bath or a shower was one activity that allowed me that precious luxury. So my dear readers, I am jealous of the solitude in your shower and the next time you just don't feel like taking a shower, motivate yourself by remembering that you do not have to share it with a three-year old.

Tinkerbell

Katie loves all things Tinkerbell. I am not sure how the obsession got started. Her bedroom is decorated in Disney Princess and Tinkerbell is a Disney Fairy (you learn these kinds of important things when you have a child) so no Tinkerbell in her room. She had never watched a Tinkerbell show or movie, yet she wanted to be Tinkerbell for Halloween.

Fast forward to today. I signed Katie up as a member of the Disney Movie Club. I got her six DVDs as part of the enrollment package. One of the DVDs is Tinkerbell: The Movie. Katie L-O-V-E-S that movie. And like a typical child, she has watched it repeatedly. To say she watches it about five times a day is not exaggerating. Luckily, I set up an extra laptop in her room that has a DVD drive so Rick and I are not subject to the numerous showings. Which brings me to the laptop. At three, that child has figured out how to use a laptop/computer. I unplugged the mouse from the laptop because she knows how to use one and I didn't want her clicking willy-nilly while the movie was playing. However, I didn't realize that she knew how to use the touch pad on a laptop. Fortunately on her laptop you can turn off the touch pad, which I do secretly so she doesn't pick up on that. Anyway, Tinkerbell: The Movie is an unlimited engagement in Katie's room. If you have questions about Tinkerbell, would like to attend a showing or have question about how a laptop works, just contact Katie.

Migraines and The Elusive Number Ten

This morning I woke up with a pounding headache, which is better described as a migraine. Waking up with a migraine is never good for I know it will hang around for a few hours. Rick explained to Katie that I was ill, so Katie was a super-dooper good girl. She played quietly in her room while I slept and Rick worked in the office. I woke up at 11:00 am with the pain finally subsiding and even though I sure felt like it, I did not throw up once. Anyway, not the way I like to start the day.

As for our taxes, I got frustrated with the numerous forms and schedules that were required because of the cotton field. I finally begged a grade school friend, who is now a CPA, to help me which he did. It baffles me that so many forms had to be completed and that all of the forms seemed to ask the same questions. However, I am sure there is a reason for the redundancy, but it was lost on me. In any case, I got them in the mail on time and without too much stress. Thank you Brian for rescuing this damsel in distress!

Tonight, Rick was working with Katie on counting. For whatever reason Katie cannot get it into her head that ten follows nine. She insists that it is eleven. Matter of fact Katie can count to twenty some, but ten just doesn't exist for her. Poor Rick, he was getting frustrated. Katie usually picks up everything so fast. I am beginning to think that her refusal to say "ten" was her attempt at humor or a power struggle.

The weather has warmed up, which is great for the cotton. We needs a week or so of warm days for the cotton bolls to open. Because we had that cold snap, the cotton is behind schedule. Here's hoping that they open before the first frost. If they don't the cotton will be a total loss.

Well, that's it for now. Have a good night, dear readers, and I'll chat at you soon.

Boo At The Zoo

Yesterday afternoon we went to Boo At The Zoo in Abilene. Katie was excited because she finally got to wear her Tinkerbell costume. It was crowded at the zoo and by the time we left I was fed up with the rude and inconsiderate people. (I am becoming an old fuddy-duddy when it comes to crowds. But enough of my whine with cheese.) Katie was happy to see the giraffes and kept on calling to them, "Hi! We're over here!" as if we were long lost friends of the giraffes. She really didn't collect that much candy, but Katie was thrilled with the small bounty in her Tinkerbell bucket. She said, "Trick or treat" and "thank you" at each booth but sometimes needed our prompting. Rick entered Katie in one of the Halloween costume contests. She didn't win, but she thought it was thrilling to walk in a circle, so she asked Rick if she could do it again.

Enough of the words and on to the pictures.

Tinkerbell

Each year we take a picture of Katie on this rock in her costume

Rick and Katie feeding the ducks. This time we remembered bread scraps from home so Katie didn't have to pretend to feed the ducks.

Katie and Rick entering the pavilion as part of the Halloween Costume Judging Parade

Rick and Katie waiting to hear if she won a prize.

Leaving the zoo. Rick hoisted Kate up on his shoulders because she said her feet hurt. Once on his shoulders she immediately laid her head on his. She was tired.

Katie pretending to sleep on Rick's head. She thought it was funny.

The Doodlebug with her Daddy

After the zoo, we went to Square's Barbeque to meet up with members of Rick's Mensa group. Robert and Shirley drove over from Midland and five other Mensans from Abilene were there. I tried to keep Katie busy so Rick could enjoy the conversation with his fellow smarty-pants.

After dinner Rick drove me all around Abilene to the various Dollar Generals to find four more Christmas place mats. I had purchased two at the Stamford Dollar General, but needed six. We were successful in our quest and finally meandered home. It was a great family day; however, at 3 a.m. Katie started crying. Rick went to her room and he found her sitting on the floor and crying. She told Rick she was scared, so Rick put her in bed with us. She stayed there until morning. There were some scary costumes at the zoo and this was the first time Katie was scared from a nightmare.

Stalling

Yesterday was my MOPS meeting. During the meeting we stuffed baskets and baked cookies for residents of Hope Haven. Hope Haven is a homeless shelter and better described as a transitional home for people that are striving to not be homeless. I was thinking about it the other day--homelessness that is--when you lose your home, you lose an address. With out an address it is difficult to get work, you cannot vote or get a driver's license. Being a resident of Hope Haven gives you an address, which is the first step in the process of getting back on your feet.

Tomorrow Katie and I have our Kindermusik class at APAC (Abilene Performing Arts Company.) For those not familiar, Kindermusik offers classes for newborns to seven-year-olds with a curriculum of music and movement. By exposing a child to music and movement you enhance the child's learning ability and also can impart a life-long love of music. Tomorrow Katie and I will finally get our materials for the class--they ordered them two weeks ago--which include CDs, creative activities, children's books and instruments created to complement the music and Kindermusik classroom experience. So they will be Katie's first school books! I regret not enrolling Katie when she was younger, but better late than not at all.

Speaking of classes, I thought of enrolling Katie in gymnastics, but she doesn't seemed thrilled when we go to the Gymnastics Sport Center; however, dance does excite her. Besides Kindermusik, APAC offers classes in dance, musical theater and theater. Katie needs to be kindergarten age before she can join any of those classes. I am also still looking for a swimming class for Katie. I know the local YMCA offers classes, but I think they only do so in the summer. Not sure why that is since this is Texas and our winter's are warm in comparison to Michigan's.

And now for the weather--I sound like a TV news program--it has been gloom and doom. I don't recall what the sun looks like. We have had about two weeks of overcast skies and light, ticklish rain. Great for the cotton; bad for my psyche.

Last night Eric was in one of my dreams. He was so excited to see Rick and I, and I recall him running full tilt down the driveway to catch up with Rick. When I awoke, I realized that for the last few months of Eric's life, he did not run. I like to think that my dream was a manifestation of Eric checking on me from the rainbow bridge. The thought of Eric still brings tears to my eyes.

Well, time to seriously hit the income tax return. Yes, that's right, dear readers, I wrote a new post on this blog as a stalling tactic. Ciao!

I've Been Remiss and Other Things

Oooo, I've been remiss again when it comes to this blog. Rick has been home for the last few weeks and when he is on the road I blog for his benefit. However, that is not my only excuse. I have just been busy. I have been organizing/cleaning. I take one area of the house and spend hours getting it just right. Cleaning my area of the office was a major task and one that I had put off for too long. I am so glad I finally got around to it because I love my clean desk and area. I also feel so much better knowing that all the pieces of paper are in appropriately labeled file folders and alphabetically filed in the lateral file, as well as in my desk file drawer.

Two weeks ago I enrolled Katie in a Kindermusik class. Three instructors from Kindermusik were speakers at one of my MOPS meetings, so the following Wednesday Katie and I ventured over to APAC (Abilene Performing Arts Company.) Thanks to the wench in my car (the lady on the GPS) I went four miles past APAC and was a few minutes late. (This is not the first time she has led me astray. More on the later.) Anyway, Katie loved the class, which is called Our Time. The class is for 18-month olds to 3 year olds. There are about eight kids in the class and Katie is one of the older ones. The next class up is for 3 1/2 year olds and the parent joins during the last 15 minutes of the session. During her current class I stay with her the entire time. Our Time actually started five weeks ago, but I decided to join anyway. The class is 15 sessions long and will end the beginning of December. When January rolls around I will enroll her in the next class up. By then she should be comfortable and I should be comfortable with APAC to leave her there for 30 minutes.

Now for the wench in my car. The SRT8 came with a navigation system. The voice that Chrysler uses is a female and frankly she is a bit**. No matter how I change the routing option, she seems to prefer the long way to locations. And when I don't do as she directs, she begins nagging me with "Make a u-turn." She will get progressively louder--well, that could be my imagination. Anyway, we--the Bit** in The Car and I--have a cantankerous relationship. Hopefully we can work out our differences because I really don't want to sell the car.

The weather here has been cold!!! By cold, I mean 60 degrees. We also have had our fair share of rain, which we welcome because of the cotton. Here's hoping we don't get an early frost.

Rick, Katie and I will be flying to my parents' for Thanksgiving. My sister Linda will also be flying up from Florida. We will be there about one week and I volunteered to cook the dinner.

For Halloween Katie is going to be Tinkerbell. I got her costume from Toys R Us and the accessories, such as the tiara, shoes and wand from Disney, and the treat bucket from another online store. When I added up all of the receipts I couldn't believe that I spent $80 on her costume. On the bright side, Katie has several Halloween functions--Kindermusik, Boo At The Zoo and two Trunk or Treats---so the outfit will get numerous wearings. Plus, yesterday I had her try on her Christmas dress from last year and it still fits so at least I don't have to purchase a new one of those.

Rick's mom and dad are finally on their way home after spending about 2 1/2 weeks in Melbourne. My mother-in-law had her knee surgeries and rehab there. Those chose Melbourne because Rick's sister lives in Melbourne Beach, so his dad was able to stay there while Carol was in the hospital. Carol has had a great recovery so far and only had one little hiccup yesterday. Thankfully it wasn't a blood clot.

I still have to do our 2008 income taxes. I got an extension until October 15 and of course I have put off doing them. I will definitely hit them tomorrow. The profits from the land i.e. cotton and rent for the pasture has added numerous forms to our return.

I finally started riding my bike again. And of course Rick rickerized it. Which means I now have an odometer, halogen front light, a rear light and a cover. So I am all accessorized. Thanks Hon!

The picture below I took about two weeks ago. I was on our road looking west. You gotta love a West Texas sunset.


And since it has been a while since I have posted a picture of Katie I have included the one below in case you forgot what she looked like.

Which reminds me, Katie cut her hair about three weeks ago. Unlike most kids, Katie did not grab her bangs and hack them off. She grabbed the hair on the side along her face and angle cut it. She actually did a good job, but the problem is that if I want to even it out, I will have to cut her hair to her shoulders. Since this picture I have angled the other side in an attempt to match her scissor work. The right side is the one that she cut.

I know so much more has occurred in the last week or so, but this post is already pretty long. Hopefully you will hear from me tomorrow. Ciao!

Quick Update

I have really neglected this blog. Perhaps my enthusiasm for writing about the little, everyday events has been tempered by how busy life has been.

I attended the MOPS International Convention in Nashville with seven other Highland MOPS. The convention renewed my soul and I attended several workshops that truly will make me a better mom. One workshop, which was presented by Dr. Koch, was about the different types of smarts people have. There are eight categories and most people excel in two. The workshop was about developing all eight categories in your child. I bought the DVD and the book written by Dr. Koch and hope to expand on my knowledge. Another workshop that moved me was about making your child feel emotionally safe. Again, I learned so much and was able to identify what I say that might cause emotional insecurity in Katie. The woman that presented that topic does not have a book or DVD out; however, all of the workshops were taped and I was able to purchase that CD.

Two nights ago Rick, Katie and I walked down to the shop. I told Rick before we left the house that I had that feeling that we would run into a snake and I was right. We came across a baby rattler and Rick shot him with the .410. Once again his aim was dead on so the little feller's head was skillfully shot. That brings the rattlesnake total for 2009 to sixteen.

My mother-in-law had both of her knees replaced. The surgeries were one week apart, so now she is in physical therapy. She is in our nightly prayers and the power of prayer is evident as she is making a remarkable progress.

So much else has gone on here at Corinth West, but like I stated in the beginning, my enthusiasm to put it down into words is not there. Have a great evening.