Busy bee...

Been too busy to blog...still am...

Seventeen years ago today...

Today my baby turned 17. It's hard to believe that. I don't really understand where the time went either. June 10, 1991 at 10:20 am my whole life changed. After 30 hours of labor and then a C-section, Alexandria Lynn Arnold entered the world. In that very moment I realized that another human being is completely relying on me. I also understood what unconditional love was. I always wanted to be a mom and I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm very proud of my girls. Happy Birthday baby. I love you!

Before you know it

Before you know it, July 4th weekend will be here yet again, and we will be off camping. We just can't figure out which campground we want to go to. I have some ideas and so does Jim and then of course the kids have something completely different in mind. Our goal was to get a golf cart before our next trip but I don't know if that is going to work or not. Maybe going to an auction in Indianapolis on Friday to possible get one. Any great camping spots you all know of, let me know!

Wonderful Memorial Day

So this past weekend we went camping with our neighbors across the street. There are 4 of us and 2 dogs and there are 5 of them. We ended up going to Eagle Valley campground in Carrolton Kentucky. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we had a great time. The kids went fishing, swimming, biking, and dancing. Hoping to do it all again (at a different campground) over July 4th. Camping make you get back in touch with each other as a family. If you have never done it - try it. If you haven't gone in a while, go. Time goes by too fast to not enjoy your children in the moment.

My 50th Blog...50 tidbits about me

I will try and go in order...

1. I was adopted (really I was...not a joke - people sometimes think I'm lying)
2. My earliest childhood memory was when I was 18 months old
3. I was paddled in the first grade
4. I was attacked by a cat when I was 6 and got 6 stitches
5. I stepped on a rusty nail when I was 7 and it went all the way through my foot
6. My parents didn't take me to get a tetnas (?) shot
7. I fell off my bike when I was 8 and skinned all of the skin off my right leg
8. I got my first of many "referrals" in fourth grade
9. I went to a private school from 2-11 1/2 grade
10. I was a brownie and a girl scout
11. I always sold the most cookies
12. My dad is a preacher (everybody buys cookies from the pk)
13. I was a pretty good kid until I turned 11
14. I started smoking at 11
15. I got in a fight in 7th grade and split a girl's head open
16. Jim and I met and were "going together" when I was 11 and he was 13
17. I went through a phase for a couple years and only wore black
18. I traveled to 6 different countries before I was 15
19. My parents bought me a car when I was 15...couldn't even drive yet
20. I had an alcohol problem in high school
21. I was always considered the bad influence...probably still am
22. I made straight A's in high school
23. I was Junior and Senior class president
24. I have been to 2 proms (neither was my senior prom)
25. I had enough high school credits to graduate early
26. My last day of school was Dec. 21, 1990...Jim and I got married Dec. 22, 1990
27. I was 17 when I got married
28. Alex was born June 10, 1991...you do the math
29. Alex was not an accident
30. I bought my first house at age 18...Jim was 20
31. The house burned to the ground one year later...faulty hot water heater
32. I have owned 4 houses at one time....stressful
33. I have had 2 fender benders and one major accident...major one - not my fault
34. I had Jessica when I was 22
35. I stopped smoking when I was 27 or 28...(I didn't smoke while pregnant either)
36. I was depressed when I hit 25...and 30
37. I bought the salon when I was 28
38. I did a year of speed school at U of L
39. I went to barber school when I was 20
40. I went to cosmetology school when I was 27
41. I got my Masters in cosmetology when I was 28
42. My husband still makes my heart skip a beat
43. I will be completely debt free - house included - before I'm 40
44. The last time I was in a bar was my 21st birthday...when it was legal it was no fun
45. I got a tattoo when I was 18...it's a tweety bird
46. I am told I am very unapproachable and hard to get to know
47. I generally don't trust people
48. I am a control freak
49. I take an hour long bubble bath everyday...my time
50. I'm scared of heights

Whew! Done. Not in perfect chronological order but it will do.

Questions for God

I just read the internet story of Steven Curtis Chapman and their family. My heart grieves for this family. I can't imagine the pain and sorrow that they are going through tonight. May God give them the strength they need to make it through this tough time and grant them the peace that they are going to have to have over the next several months. We need to lift all of them up in prayer especially the brother. I have always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and nothing is by accident. But situations like this are very hard to swallow. This man, through his music, has touched millions of people for Christ. The least we can do is lift him up in this terrible hour of need. Please, take a moment today, and get ahold of God for someone else.

http://tinyurl.com/2ezbch/20080521/TUNEIN/80521174/1005/ENTERTAINMENT

admittance

I have to tell the truth here. It is 1:40 in the morning and I actually took my Ambien about 2 and a half hours ago. I probably won't remember this tomorrow as this drug leaves behind horrible amnesia. Sometimes that actually works to your advantage though. I took it early tonight because I wanted to get some good rest but then I got all hung up on watching those surgery things on tv. When I worked on computers I used to type 65 words per minute. I am now typing 120 buy only getting one good sentence out of the whole mess. This drug should not be legal. I have been so busy at work I haven't been getting out until at least 9 every night. So I started my weekend off tired and then got to deal with teenage girl drama. Jess had a friend spend the night that all of a sudden needed to go home around 2 last night. Said she didn't feel good. whatever. She was doing pretty well at the Fern Creek park playground today. I am so glad this is the last week of school. Although I don't understand why they aren't going Tuesday but have to go until Friday. Democratic primary elections, I know. We vote Republican - can my kids go? Anyway - leaving out of town on Friday for Eagle Valley. Have no idea what that is but should be interesting because we are going with our neighbors. We'll have a good time. Just have to get through one more week. Come on Monday...