Make a Joyful Noise!

If you know me then you know that I LOVE to sing. I'm not great at it but I love it enough to do it. Singing is one of the few things that I do even though I know I'm not really good at. It doesn't matter though. If there's music playing I'm singing it - anywhere, any kind (except rap, oooh that would be an interesting sight - me singing rap!), any time.

I'm a member of one of the adult choirs at our church and I do children's choir as well, along with my best buddies, Hilary and Amy. This video is of the kids' choir, singing "The Solid Rock" at our contemporary service on April 13th. I wish a few more had shown up that morning but they did a great job, didn't they! The kids in yellow shirts are ages 3 & 4; blue shirts are K-2nd and green shirts are 3rd-5th graders. We have a blast. Ya, I can say that now that our practicing for the year is over! We just had our recital and end of year party this past Sunday.

If you are ever down in the dumps, having a rough time of it or needing some cheering up then sing with a child (or children). Nothing will make you smile more!

Listen carefully to the soundtrack and you'll hear harmony. We're so proud of them! Way to go, Joyful Noise choir!!!

The ABC's of Me

I've been "tagged" by my friend and sister-in-law, Angela, so here goes nothin':

A- Attached or Single: attached legally for almost 20 years, unofficial for 24

B- Best Friend(s): Cindy, Diann, Hilary, Amy, Renee, Rick

C- Cake or Pie: blueberry pie, but just about any pie or cake will do

D-Day of Choice: Saturdays because I usually don't HAVE to be anywhere if I don't want to

E-Essential Item(s): cell phone, my therapist (seriously!), my faith and my humor - not necessarily in that order

F-Favorite Type of Music: I like all kinds of music but I love songs from the 80's because they bring back all kinds of memories!

G-Gummy bears or worms: gummy bears - the clear ones

H-Hometown: Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada

I-Indulgences: Starbucks (oops, I must indulge several times a week, then), pedicures, Dancing with the Stars

J-January or July: July in Canada, not Houston

K-Kids: 2 lovely, delightful teenagers!!!

L-Last movie: at the theatre? ummm, 27 Dresses - with Diann during the day!

M-Marriage Date: August 20, 1988

N-Number of Siblings: 1 sister named Susie

O-Oranges or Apples: I like both, apples - Pink Ladies; oranges - Cuties (you know, those little tangerines)

P-Phobias or Fears: cockroaches (the big Texas ones!), driving on a REALLY tall overpass - I have visions that I'll loose control of the car and just fly off the side (I know what you're thinking, but I told you I needed a therapist)

Q-Quotes: My current fave: "Put on your big girl panties and deal with it!" (Angela, we have the same one!)

R-Reasons to Smile: Rick's devotion to me and our family, Lauren's creativity and sweet smile, Josh's sense of humor and his caring nature, God is always there to help me

S-Season: spring - I love the "new green" on the trees

T-Tree: pine trees - the windswept kind you find on Georgian Bay, where I grew up (see photo)

U-Unknown Facts About Me: I'm an open book. I tell it all, baby! Ummm, let me think ....I can pick up things with my toes (like my dad); I'm addicted to lip balm (I can't go to sleep without putting it on first); I can easily take a 1-2 hour bath

V-Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: I hate it when someone puts it THAT way. If I really thought about it before I ate it, I'd be a vegetarian, but I don't so give me a filet mignon, and make it medium please!

W-Worst Habit: zoning out in front of the TV

X-X-rays or Ultrasounds: that's a weird choice. I don't like either, unless I'm having a baby and then I like ultrasounds. No, I'm NOT having a baby!

Y-Your Favorite Food: hamburgers, with no mustard or pickles

Z-Zodiac: Cancer - go to this website to find the descriptions of each sign

Whew.... It's Over!

I think this is a record! Lauren and I went prom dress shopping today and we bought the first dress in the first store we went to. Unbelievable!

I've been preparing myself for this momentous event because previous shopping trips, for clothes not nearly as important as a prom dress, have been a hair-straightening event (seeing as we both have curly hair). You know Lauren and you know me and sometimes that might lead to a confrontation or three!

Well, I pampered myself this morning with a nice, long bath (with candles) and sipped a Starbucks. Trust me, it was necessary, or so I thought. God is good and God knew that I needed something to be easy. We even lucked out with her jewelry, because I happened to wear today, on Lauren's good advice I must say, the necklace that just happens to match her dress perfectly. All we need is some alterations, some cute shoes and she's done. We're going to do a practice run-through of her hair style here at home and see if we can avoid the up do from the salon. Lauren's hair is so gorgeous that I don't think it will be hard to make it look stunning.

So, what do you think of my baby girl?

Perusing Purses

I bought my summer purse yesterday. It's such a fun and bothersome task all at the same time.

I liked my purse I used last summer and moved all my stuff over to it a few weeks ago (now that spring has sprung here), but have found it to be too small this time around. Now that I live in my car and drive at least 100 miles a day I keep several things in my purse. Besides all of the usual stuff, I now carry around a magazine, a book, paperwork chores I can do from the car, snacks, water, etc. I'm not interested in my purse holding all of this but my purse from last year wouldn't even really hold a book (a must these days!).

So, off to the mall I went. As a side note, it's weird being at the mall during the day. I feel like I'm skipping school, which I never did. I didn't even skip school on Senior Skip Day. Josh asked me today "Mom, I don't mean to insult you at all and I really love you and all...... but were you a nerd in school?" I fessed up, although I think he already knew. Maybe he was breaking the news to me, in case I didn't know. :)

Anyways, back to the mall - The thing about purse shopping is that I know more of what I don't want than what I do want. I didn't want anything too small, I didn't want a tote bag, I didn't want studs on it, or 1 long strap, or 1 solid color, or too cheap, or too expensive, or too flashy, or too nerdy (I'm trying!), or....or.....or.....

I found a purse I really liked so then it's time to test drive it. That means I put the purse on my left shoulder (never my right) and walk around like I'm shopping, while holding my real purse in my other hand. At times, I will glance at a mirror, when one comes up, so I can see how my new purse looks. Even though I'm staying in the purse section, sales personnel ask me repeatedly if I need any assistance. Can't they see I'm going for a test drive! I'm not trying to steal it!

Once I bought it, my urge was to find a place to sit down and transfer all of my stuff from the old to the new purse. I fought the urge while in the mall, but was mentally putting things in certain pockets as I walked to my car. Good thing a car-jacker or {gasp} a purse-snatcher wasn't watching because I wasn't "on guard" as I almost always am in a parking lot.

I decided that I would drive to Lauren's school, after a quick trip through Starbuck's, and get into the carpool lane early. My reward would be getting to put stuff in my new purse!!! I was in heaven, being one of the first in line, sipping my venti non-fat caramel macchiato and transferring my items into the new "summer purse"!

So, today I went with my friend, Cindy, to be her companion on her shopping spree. It's not my fault that I happened to find 2 pairs of shoes that were at an unbelievable price at Ross Dress for Less on Westheimer! While browsing, I did what I always do but don't want to do. I go through the purse section and question whether I bought the right purse. I'll do this for the next few times I go shopping, which isn't very often, and drive myself crazy but, alas... it's beyond my control.

Anyone have any suggestions about how to explain this to Rick? Actually, we've been married almost 20 years. He's beyond trying to figure me out. He just says "It's okay, Beth. I trust you." I do love that man!

Is it just me who's this, ummm, purse obsessed?

My 3 Other Children

Would you like to meet the canine members of our family? They're such a big part of our family I can't believe I haven't introduced you to them yet. Each one of them is a rescue dog, found on various streets of Houston. We got Lakota and Allie, each at the age of 4 mths, when they were brought in to the animal clinic where my sister, Susie, worked. Rick found Astro all on his own and we still hold him accountable for that!

I want to post various pictures of them so I'm going to give each dog it's own posting. Here we go!

Lakota

Lakota is the best dog ever! He's almost 11 now and we cherish every moment we have with him. We got him when Josh was 3 1/2, just before Halloween. Josh was really in to Batman then (remember when he used to wear a cape everywhere?) so we dressed Lakota up as Batdog! The 2 of them were so cute together.

Lakota is so smart and gentle with everyone. He loves to sun bathe in the backyard and is the kind of dog that when he's happy he "smiles", or at least we all think so! He has 2 really bad knees now and has limped for a while. We have wonderful vets who help us take really good care of him. They give him injections on a regular basis that really help. Even with his physical limitations, Lakota is still the canine pack leader and can get his point across to the other 2 dogs from across the room!

Lakota is the kind of dog who sees an open front door and dogs playing across the street but will just sit and look at you for permission to quietly wander out and politely investigate.

Allie

Allie is our polite little 6 year old lady. She arrived at our home at the age of 4 months and is such a sweet dog. She had a fetish for chewing the corner of pillows (only the ones from the couches, mind you) when she was a puppy, but fortunately, with time and money those pillows are being replaced and few remain. She is kind of my dog, in that she gets scared by loud noises or rowdy behavior, and that leaves me by default!

When you talk to Allie she squints and looks at you with such love in her eyes. She has such a gentle spirit and usually has her front paws crossed when she is lying down. She loves to play with her toys and will lie on her back, hold a toy between her front paws and smack herself in the face with it.

Allie is the kind of dog who sees an open front door and dogs playing across the street and will bark at them but be hesitant to venture out. If she goes out she'll do the mandatory sniffing and then sit beside or behind me.