She Crayyyyzy, but I luh herrrrr!!!!

You know how sometimes you feel like writing, but you're not sure what to write about? That would be me. Now. This post will be NOTHING short of random.

WARNING - if you are from the boy kind, you will NOT be interested AT ALL in readin this most likely.

I've been thinking a lot lately about girlfriends. I feel very blessed, and will always cherish the memories that I have with girlfriends in middle school, then high school, and then college. I have one friend I've known since 2nd grade!!! (Amanda - remember when we went to the fair?!?) I have been extra blessed to maintain a handful of these friendships.

Remember the feeling that there was ALWAYS someone to confide in, someone to listen, someone to critique your outfit before you went out, someone to listen to music while you get ready...with...? Does that sentence/question even make sense? The girls who listened to you whine about Mr. Get-Over-Him-Already one too many hours. The ones who weren't afraid to tell you you were playin your own face. Or tell when ya behind looked gi-normous in that dress. Friendships that survived parents' divorces, friendships that were strengthened by losing another friend way too soon. God always opens another door for us ...

Anyhoo, my point is....life happens so fast. We spend so much time waiting to grow up, and graduate and find Mr. Magical and the perfect career, where you will live and settle. But then, you wake up one day, and wonder where time went.

Another area of my life where God has been VERY GOOD TO ME is my husband. Meeting Andrew was proof to me, that God existed for 110% certain. He disproved every negative thing I had ever thought about a guy. I still wake up everyday wondering why I deserve him. I don't deserve him. But, I wonder, why God is so nice to me in that aspect. Anyway...

Girlfriends. We grow up. Get married. Have babies. Then, it's like an act of congress sometimes to find time to squeeze in a lunch or a girls' night out. Why is that? Is it that we are too tired, or there's no time, or is it more in just where our priorities lie? Are we worried that our husbands can't fend for themselves while we are away? Or, if we have children (I don't) I'm sure it's more exhaustion and no time to breathe.

But then - we are overworked, overbooked, too many things on the calendar, too many people pulling at us - more caffeine, more go-go-go. Or whatever you need to take to go-go-go.

But, maybe we are just trying to be too much and do too much. I don't know.

But, as I grow older, I think about things I'd like to teach a daughter of mine one day - whenever that time comes, or if I even have a girl. (Can y'all imagine?) What does she need to know is really important? I don't want her to be fried out on life when she is 25. It happens so easily. Graduate at the top of your class. Be a size 2. Make your parents happy. Make your husband happy. Pop out a beautiful baby. Have a wonderful career. Who the hell can do alllllllll of that? Where is the balance?

I think we have to choose. And sometimes, other women are our worst enemies with the judging, judging, judging. If you stay home with your kids because you think that is what is best for them, and your husband agrees - then you are lazy and have no ambition. If you work and focus on your career and have kids then you are a selfish mother. What gives, ladies?

To me- true "feminism" means:

let the woman do what she wants to do and mind your own business. 

Thanks.

On a separate note, I am becoming a bit of a softy. I almost typed "priss" but that is a bold faced lie. Let me clarify. Perhaps I chose "softy" because to me, I've never been that. Or anything delicate and girlish.

Evidence:

Some things I hate:

Soft pink

heels (they look hot, but I CANNOT pull that kinda madness off) - ouch!

GIANT bows on babies' heads (I'm sorry if you are offended by this)

prissy crisp outfits for male and female children

as a child I HATED dance class - my mama WISHED I would enjoy some tap and jazz ...NOOOOO THX!

I loathed tights. Umm. Yuckkkkk! They were NEVER long enough and I was constantly grabbing at my crotch because they were pulling themselves down.

headbands

dresses/skirts of ANY kind

nails - I struggggggggggle a lotttttttt not to rip mine off with my teeth (otherwise known as biting)

Likes:

jellies

purses

the.end.

But, like I was saying, as I get older, I am developing a new appreciation for the girly side of things. Will I ever rock pumps everyday? Uhh, mega-negative on that one. Will I actually pay someone else to paint my nails? Umm, again, no, I don't get it.

But - I am starting to lose my complete opposition toward it. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYIN. I am doing WEIRD things lately - letting my nails grow and I PAINTED THEM! Can you believe that? And, I don't mind skirts, as long as I can wear cute almost flats, wedges or my cowboy boots. Progress! If I have a daughter one day who is a priss - I might be able to get over it. She will be outta luck with me as a mother, but I can definitely let her visit with her Aunt LE and Ber.

I think it's sad when we marry off and settle down and that has to mean losing our girlfriends. True friends are few and far between ... I think it's crucial to hang on to those lovely ladies and nurture those friendships now. I would love to be like the B's in the ya-ya movie or Steel Magnolias - are they crayyyzayyyyyyy? Yessss! For certain!

It's HIGHLY  likely a scene like this could be observed in my house in years to come ...

But - they love each other and have been through some raw $--- in their day (thanks Haze).

And not just friends-friends, but mamas and aunts and memaws. Love the ladies in your life. Crazy as they things may be!

To all my ladies - love youuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

Jesus Takes Care of His Shugpies!

Here is yet another example of how I know - 

The last few months, off and on, Sylvia has been trying desperately to tell me something:

But I wasn't listening, because she would say it and then not mention it for awhile, then she kept bringing it up again. However, these last few days, that little light has been winkin at me from the DIC (Driver Information Center - duh).

According to the manual, this means that there could be an issue with the traction system. Well, ugh! I don't really have time to worry about the traction system, but after Sylvia's insistence that I address the issue, I googled. 

Turns out (of course) this is a COMMON problem - people noticed it especially when it was cold, and then when the car warmed up, the light went off. 

Or - one guy's light went away after he put some air in the tire. 

Couple of mechanic sites mentioned a wheel speed sensor being faulty.

Whatev.

So, this mornin, I'm whinin to my mama because my brother said it's no big deal and it ain't worth payin the money to fix. But I HATE how the light just glares at me. Ugh!

But I got over it.


And this mornin I woke up excited because today was Fun Time Reunion with My College Dorm-Mate Day. I decided to stop worryin over the dang light. And, it was Good Friday and I had a yummy breakfast with my mama, and then I headed out. After fun time with Ashley, it was time for a magical Easter weekend with the hubs. Let's get crackin.

Yay! Yay! Yay! 

So, off I go to meet my Berry Hall shugpie, me and Sylvia just listenin' to the radio. Almost therrrrre!

Loud pop. 

Turn radio down. 

Hear nothing.

Keep driving.

Everything's fine. 

 Hit cruise control. 

Nope. Not workin.

Grrrrr!!!

What the deuce?!

Then - 

All of a sudden ...

Sylvia really really really prefers going right instead of straight.

Red light.

Decide to pull over in the right turn lane. 

Here's the verdict:

Obviously, this picture was taken after I'd had a moment to calm down. After being on side of the road with the hazard lights on. After watching/smelling the smoke coming from Sylvia's tire parts. Ummm.....

Call bro.

Call hubs.

Call mama.

Call Tyrone.
(I got jokes.)

I'm about an hour from everyone I know. But not really sure where I am exactly.

Hmmm.....

Enter sweet little older man wearin a hat that said somethin about Jesus on it. 

I know. I know. He coulda been an axe murderer, kidnapper, etc. etc. etc. But, hey - I coulda been 10 kinds of crazy too and had some gunman in the back of my car just tryin to lure him over to the side of the road. I mean, clearly, we learned from Big G's story of the chick who tied her cheatin boyfriend up, and beat the tarrrrrrr out of him with her high heel - that WOMEN FOLK CAN BE CRAZY TOO. 

Anyway - my instinct felt fine upon a brief evaluation of this man. And, I had already told Anj exactly where I was in case he never heard from me again - he could report where I was abducted from. 

Anyhoo ... 

He stopped and checked out Sylvia's wound, and BY THE GRACE OF GOD - his house was literally across the intersection and he was a mechanic. (Can I get a THANK YOU JESUS)? Can I get a What? What? for sweet widdle (or big) southern men who are chivalrous and not whack jobs?

Sooooo ... Sylvia limped slowly and painfully, across the intersection of a four lane highway, crying and whining all along the way to get her wound taken care of.

Jesus sent this shugpie as Sylvia's Guardian Angel today.

After applying some bubble-makin magic and a little water to the tire, he was able to locate the leakage.

Thankfully, he was able to patch her right up and we didn't have to use the spare. I tried and tried to get him to let me pay him. 

Nope. He said he has two daughters as well and thought, "What if it was one of my daughters? I'd want somebody to help them too." He told me that he believes that Jesus expects us to help each other. You know - Jesus can present Himself as any old person needing some help. What a sweet heart! God bless his widdle heart!

Remember this picture from my other post? And how I said I think Jesus sends us angels here on earth to take care of us - His hand is in everything. Well - today, Mr. Richard was Sylvia's angel that God sent along to help us.

Mr. Richard is the angel. That's me and Sylvia walkin - and the bridge would be HWY 70 - yikes!

Sylvia felt so much better after her medical attention:

As I rode to meet my shugpie, Ash, I was just thinking what a wonderful reminder Mr. Richard was of the fact that God always has His eye on us. And we are never alone. If He can handle the little stuff like a scared female with a flat tire on the side of a highway, then He can handle the big stuff too. 

Despite a bumpy start to my Good Friday - I was able to continue my day with this girl:

Girl was SO EXCITED they had her cucumber tomato salad!

Shopping, laughing, catching up and eating this insanely tasty potato salad:

PS - The "somethin ain't right with your traction system" light went OFF. After 200 miles, it's still OFF. My non-mechanical opinion - when your tire pressure is whack - the light comes on because: 

- if one tire lacks pressure, then yes, it's wheel speed will be different, because if it's losing air, then it's going to have more rotations in a given time than the non-leaking tires.

- it's not that the car is warming up, and making the light go off - it's that the tires are warming up and swelling, thus making the pressure imbalance less significant

-cruise control will be whack because all/some of the tires differ in air pressure so it's difficult to calibrate.

Disclaimer - I could be WAYYYYY off. I just like to analyze things. I'm just glad the light went off.

On this Easter holiday - let's all remember this sweet Man here: He loves us. And that's certainly somethin to be happy about.

Also, I don't know what Rascal Flatts' intention was when they created this song, but it always makes me think of Jesus:

Happy Easter friends. 

Monday-riffic

These are the sweeeeet moo-moos that live in our neighborhood. I love to go for a walk and see them out grazing. They are always soooo cute - widdle babies hangin out with their mamas or my other favorite - the long horns. Unfortunately, they won't come close to the fence for a photo opp (they make me feel like such a creeper because I have been known to creep up to their fence from several different angles to hopefully get one friggin decent shot of them), so I have to gets what I can. These pictures were taken on my handy cell phone as I slammed on breaks on the way into the neighborhood and pulled Sylvia over once I realized the cows were remotely close enough to take pictures of.

Weird side note - 

I like to imagine what the cows are thinkin at random times -

Cow: "Oh hey, Shug. Whatchu doin? Oh, you wanna take some pitchers? Okay. Hey y'all look up, Shug wants to take some pitchers of us. Smiiiile."

Studly long horn on the left: "I'm too sexy for my horns, too sexy for my horns - so SEXY it HUUUUUUURTS"
Middle cow: "Psssh. Whatev. You can look at what I think about it."
Right cow: "Oh hey Shug! Y'all! She's back for more pitchers. Everybody smiiiiile!"

"Shug can take pitchers all she wants, I'm eatin supper."

I hope these pics of the sweet moo-moo's make you smile. :) On a side note, I wore my cowboy boots to work with a skirt today to make my Monday better, and one of my girls said, "Is today a special occasion, Mrs. Davis?"

Me, confused: "No. Why?"

"You shuah look fancy today in your cowgirl boots and skirt!"

"Thanks. I do feel right fancy."

I finished up my Monday with a trip to the gym. MUCH NEEDED TRIP. When I was ready to quit, I just thought of the chili and cheeseburgers and Palmetto cheese and bacon we ate this weekend. Nothing like a little shame to keep you goin.

This stuff could be more addictive than crack. Don't eat one bite unless you wanna eat 16 bites. I just eat it out of the container. Scrait up. Who can fight the urgency long enough to find crackers or bread? Hubs says I'm gross. I told him never to bring this poison home again. Who can come up with the best caption for the woman on the top? GO!

On an encouraging note - 

In addition to being motivated to minimize the flappy arm wavy stuff that I can feel when I write on my board at school, it really helps to be at the gym while my brother is there. 1-800-GYM-NAZI. (PS - it's only a coincidence that it fits a regular phone # - I am not responsible/endorsing). 

Thanks.

Hope all of you had a Mag-tastic Monday as well - if not, at least it's over and tomorrow is one down, 4 to go til Friiiiday! (Which I personally am thrilled about because I have a special play date planned with my lovely Berry Babe!)

Love, 

SIB

Thank God

It is funny how sometimes a gift from God that we can feel gratitude for the worst of situations. I think it is easy to get caught up in what we don't have, and what's not going right in our lives. Thank God for those situations which aren't perfect or even good or hardly even bearable, so that we can remember who we can truly depend on when all else fails us. I cannot begin to express how remembering this has gotten me through situations which would have otherwise been unbearable for me.

I used to be confused. I used to think, "If God loves me, why is He doing this?" Then, I remember, we are not here on earth for God to give us things, relationships, jobs to make us happy. He is the reason for our existence in the first place. God WILL put us through things. You can count on that. It's not punishment - but rather a means of keeping our relationship with Him near and dear to our hearts.

Going through yucky situations keeps us close to Him. I am so glad for that. Being a believer is not about a set of rules to follow - do this, don't do that, but rather, a whole nother (not a word, I know) way of life - when I know that God is NEVER away from me, and that he will NEVER forsake me, and that as long as I follow Him and keep my faith in HIM, and not what I want, or even other people who love me and genuinely want what's best for me, I automatically can feel peace in the situation.

It's very easy for me to get caught up in "What's coming next? What if we aren't prepared for ____? What if this goes wrong?" Well, there will ALWAYS be "What ifs?" The key is to keep your focus on HIM - not on your situation. I struggle with this everyday, but I am thankful that He hasn't allowed me to give up. He shows me in big ways and in small that He's got it all under control. He does hear my prayers. There have been things that I have watched the Lord do for me, for my friends and for my family that I thought WERE IMPOSSIBLE AND WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. Things that bring tears to my eyes when I think about them, even now, years later. Thank God for allowing us to suffer the consequences of taking "the wrong road". If He didn't love us enough to do that, we'd never turn around and get back to the right road, would we?

God made us. He knows every intimate detail of our lives and of our hearts. HE knows what He's doing. I think of His work in my life like a seed that's been planted. It is growing and moving and working underneath the soil, where I can't see it to check on it and analyze it and fret over it every second, but IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT ISN'T GROWING.

The same is true of God's work in our lives. He is always working on the behalf of those who love and trust Him. I don't need to understand why and when and exactly how it's all going to work out. That job we lost, or illness we suffered or promotion/acknowledgment we didn't receive, or trial that we thought we wouldn't survive is all part of His plan for us. Or, the countless things that happen in life that we don't understand. All God expects from us is to pray and read His word and try to do it His way. Our obedience brings Him glory. Trusting Him makes so much more room for Him to work in our lives. Why resist? :) It is something that is done as preparation for things that are to come - wonderful things that we can't foresee. He already knows how it will work out. He doesn't need our help or for us to try to control it.

I don't typically blog about spiritual matters - but, I just felt moved on this glorious Sunday, after so many near me have suffered the natural disasters of over 60 tornadoes that passed through our state yesterday - and those who have prayed and prayed quite a bit lately over the health of their children and loved ones, and who never gave up hope, and trusted that the Lord would take care of them. Also, with things in my own life that I have worried and worried over - and worked so hard to stop worrying over and trust the Lord instead. And He did take care of it. He did provide. He always has and always will.

At the same time, so many wonderful things have happened this weekend. Confirmations of God's provision for me, for example, and announcements of friends who are expecting a wonderful little baby, or friends who have decided to spend the rest of their lives together - friends who prayed over their relationship from the beginning. God sees the big picture. Good and bad. Be grateful in times of plenty, and times of trouble.

Things aren't always easy. But HE IS ALWAYS WORKING FOR OUR BEST INTEREST. His ways are not our ways. And His time is not our time. But His is so much better.

Thank GOD that I am not in control of my own life, cause Lord KNOWS I ain't got the slightest clue.

Thanks Jesus for being in control and loving me before I even knew who you were.

I also firmly believe that Jesus lives in us - and I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus has blessed me tremendously through priceless friendships and relationships in different areas of my life. I am SO THANKFUL for those who are always there for me in good and bad - when I'm doing right or when I'm doing wrong - those who love me enough to tell me the truth - whether it's what I want to hear or not, but because it's what I need to hear. I hope that I can be that kind of friend to those in my life as well. I'll leave you today with this picture that my mama has that I just love - it reminds me that God is always looking out for us no matter how rough the waters may be. 

Have a lovely day, friends! 

Love,
Me

Ro-de-O

 Super excited when Anj's sister asked if we wanted to go to the RODEO! Umm, yes please! You know I love any excuse to wear my boots and I just think that the cattle and horses are THE CUTEST THINGS I've ever seen! Also - I love, love, love to see those tiny little boys all decked out in their cowboy attire - complete with hats and boots just like a grown up cowboy! (Although I'm sad that I didn't get very good pics of them). The participants were from North and South Carolina - see below .....

(Not us - we weren't the participants. Although all the people in the photo do in fact live in North or South Carolina) ;)

Ganging up on an innocent calf.

PS - I apologize in advance for these shotty/blurry pics. I think from now on, Anj and I will ask for donations to our bomb-diggity camera fund for all occasions until we have enough scrilla. 

Clowns making volunteers look foolish.

Poor guy was tricked into dancing alone in the middle of the arena blind-folded.

 

Mr. Clown came to meet the fans.

Setting up for barrel racing!

Go! Go! Go, blurry cowgirl!

Two cowboys against one poor widdle calf -does this make you feel like more of a man?

Calf roping. (For the record, more calves got away than were roped. Na-na Na Boo Boo!)

Intermission - I wonder what the horses think about all the mane-braiding and tail decorating for people to get on them and ride to rope calves - only to immediately turn them loose? :)

Meanwhile, out in the concessions area ...

Ecko Unlimited T-shirt, sweatpants, Tims and a cowboy hat. What's not to love? Whattup with that creepy woman?

$5 to ride. I dare ya.

I also found some style inspiration for Anj ...

Exhibit A

A nice layered bang, basically all in the front, top and sides of your head with a nice pony in the back. Aka - pulled back mullet.

Exhibit B

"The Santa"

Back to the rodeo ... (it's so easy to lose focus of the reason why we came)

Spark-shootin piano playin! Wonder how much clowns get paid?

Stud-muffin - prancin - struttin - workin it.

Random calf-ropin pic. As soon as the calf is roped, the horse backs up to make sure the rope stays taut. Such smart shug pies!

Umm, not really sure what they are doin, but check out the outfiiiiiiiiits! Say word!

Gettin ready for bull-ridin.

Mr. and Mrs.

Just get an eyeful of that variety - the random leg/boot on the left is mine - then, to the right, super baller buckle Durango boots, further down the steps, reglar brownish "casual" shoes BUT he didn't forget his velvety/felt-like hat! No sir!

As the rodeo drew to a close, my pump started to freak out because it was predicting a low. I had it clipped under my shirt and it started whining and emitting a green glowing light through my shirt, like the end of E.T.s finger - see the magic below:

Anyhoo, the night was a success. Cowboy boots. Cowboy hats. Calves. Photo opps with lots of random folks. = My kinda night.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Love,
Shug

Curbs & Small Animals - Git Back!!

You know those days where you just feel wonderful? The sun is shinin, the birds are singin, you're ridin with the windows down, you're still marveling at the magic of your new sensor (see yesterday's post below), and just thinking about how blessed you are, and how you just want to tell everyone you know how much you love and appreciate them. 

Today was a day like that, I was steadily cruisin down 49 on the way to SC, with my large diet coke (yes, diet - a large regular coke would be a bit too much dessert at one time for my diabetic self to handle, I think). 

I was drivin through the beautiful rural countryside, thankin God for all the wonderful flowers and trees and sweet cute widdle cows and their babies.

Then - flyin in from the left side of the ditch - there he was, runnin full speed like a cheetah (they run fast, right?), was a BLACK cat. I mean, homeboy wasn't playfully trottin - he was clearly on a MIS-SION to END his life. 

My first thought - OMG! Black cats crossin your path = bad luck! Nooooo! I was pleading for him to stop! Don't do it! Turn around! Then ... 

...........................

.................................................

.......................

................

............

......

...

Blockuppp! 

Blasted. 

Anj's T-ruck and Mr. Kitty had a head-on collision.

RIP black kitty. 

Really though - there was no stoppin it. He was runnin sooooooo fast. And I was goin 60. And there was a car behind me. Clearly, it was his time. Bless his heart.

And clearly, I wasn't meant to have a black cat cross my path. I think if you kill the cat, you're good. 

The last time I did that was in high school. That BLACK cat was sort of galloping out. And - I ran over him and HE GOT BACK UP AND FINISHED RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD. But - he started the run in front of my path, and finished behind my path so I don't count that as a bad omen either. 

Between yesterday's curb snack during my U-turn (I waited until there was no traffic so I could take my time easing onto the curb and then gracefully back off) and today's cat blastin - I think it's time to give ole T-ruck back to Anj. 

I love to ride in T-ruck with Anj drivin - me behind the wheel? Not so much.

Sylvia is much more my speed.

Y'all know I don't love a cat. But, I would never blast one of God's creatures with a truck on purpose. May Mr. Black Kitty rest peacefully.