we remember

multiple times i have caught myself saying, "this world is so crazy, i am so glad i live in the country.  i am so glad i live in Oklahoma," and then i remember.  i will always remember.  On September 11, 1995 i was walking down the hallway of my highschool in my senior year and somebody grabbed me and took me into the library and we watched the news coverage of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in downtown OKC.  the bombing was unimaginable.  it was unthinkable.  it was shocking and tragic.  it hurt so many people, it killed 168 people and it brought so many Oklahomans together.

15 years later we celebrate and remember the lives of the 168 men, women, and children who died.  in remembering those individuals, each year for the last 10 years people from all across the nation join together to run or walk in the OKC Memorial Marathon.  three years ago my family and i made the decision to participate in the memorial 5k.  this year my girl participated in her first 5k.  she was such a big girl.  i was so proud of her and it was a walk i will always remember.

as we walked i kept talking to her.
i told her i was proud of her.
i told her that we were blessed to have such good health.
i told her that we have such an amazing life.
i told her we were walking because 168 others could not.
i told her i loved her.

each day is a blessing and a true gift from God.  each year for as long as there is a a OKC Memorial Marathon, we will be there to remember those lost and to celebrate the life they lived, and our life!

Happy Easter.....

Dont you just LOVE Easter?  It's a special time of year.
Not only is it a celebration of the resurection of Jesus but also the resurection of flowers, trees, bermuda grass and......Morel Mushrooms!!!!!

It's a tradion in my family to hunt for Morel Mushrooms right around Easter.  They are delicious little morsels that you find in the woods and eat.  The recipe is simple.  Cut in half or fourths if you have a large one and then you dip em in egg and then flour and then you DEEP FRY 'em till they are golden brown in half canola oil and half butter flavored Crisco.  Sprinkle with seasoned salt and serve with baked beans and potato salad!!  All I can say is YUMMO!
BUT.....here is what they lool like.

DO NOT get the wrong ones.  Here's a hint....if the Red Bud Trees are not blooming it's not a Morel and if it's RED than you do not pick nor eat it or it will cause serious gastrointestinal complications and maybe even DEATH...ok maybe not DEATH but....just maybe. 

We will be hunting tomorrow after church.  I will post some pics of us hunting and of Master Chef Mike cooking up these delicious fungi.

The Easter Bunny just stopped by and left My Girl a goodie basket filled with a swim suit, clothes, and candy.  Do you know what he also left behind?  He left his tradional trail.  He's done that for as long as i can remember.  He starts at the bed or bedroom door and leaves a little trail of jelly beans all the way to the stash of goodies.  This really is a tradition that is loved by all who wake up in our home....except me for some reason?  hmmmmm.....maybe i haven't been good since i moved out on my mom and dads?!?
Here's what it looks like......

This trail goes into the livingroom where My Girl will find lots of JOY on Easter Morning!

Happy Easter....I hope your day is filled with tradition and family in celebration of the Resurection of Jesus!!!

family

i am just a sittin here in beautiful Tennessee and i am just soakin it all in.

we came for the wedding of two wonderful kids.  seth hall and becca mccall.  last night we witnessed some AMAZING young adults.  who says that the kids of today are not like they used to be?  these kids restoreth my hope for the future our great country.  these educated, well spoken, christian kids make me proud.  it made we really think about the parenting choices i make with My Girl.  i am a strong believer that it all starts with good parenting...and LOTS of PRAYER. 

speaking of good parents.  i just have to say.....i love MY Man's parents.  they are exceptional, supportive, loving, christian parents.  they are people you want to immulate.  i want to be MARTHA (Mimi) and My Man is so Glenn.  In more ways than just a little....it seems.

as i sit here listing to some fabulous music Mimi is playing on her Bose....I am just soakin up the sweet smells of her home.  it's actually the smell of Mimi.  it's a combination of wood, fire (even though there is not one going), lavender and vanilla.  it's almost like the smell of expensive pipe tobacco.  there are plants, pictures, and color everywhere.  AND there are notes.  Mimi is a note girl.  just looking around i see notes that i see say:

To thine own self be TRUE.
Toas N.M. red chili peppers....505.267.3226
Isaiah 65:24 Before you call, i will answer, while you are still seeking, i will hear.
A reminder to get online and get Katie a bording pass @ 2pm.
Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.

o and there's laughter......mimi's special laughter.

i have no idea who she is talking to but BOY how she is sharing her sweet laughter with them.  i always enjoy hearing Mimi laugh.  it's one of my favorite things. 

man, there's nothing like family.  i love this family.

i gotta go get dresssed for the wedding.
i gotta go wake up two sleeping beauties!

and i am NOT taking about My Man and his Daddy!

going to the chapel and their gonna get married!!

seth daniel and becca macall are getting married.

we will be taking a roadtrip to TN to help them celebrate this VERY special time in their lives.

we cant wait.

the country folk are goin to the "big city"  yeeeeee hawwwww!

we couldn't be more happy for this young couple. 

we love seth and becca.


ps....becca and her family know Dave Ramsey (THE finanical wizard) and he MAY be at the wedding!!
if so....i will shamelessly take a pic of him and post it and some of his wisdom on my blog.

he's a busy man so if he's not....i will post some of my very own wisdom.

check back for wedding photos and somebody's wisdom!

surgery...it's in the air...

meet my lil cousin Kehley (kay lee) Rae!

actually it Jennifer Kehley.

she's my favorite lil cousin. 

and i love her but she is stubborn. BUT i LOVE her.

she came to OK for Labor Day Weekend and went running with us.  in the middle of the run she had to stop and walk.  she had recently been in a walking boot but had been back to working out for a while.

i have the little hip problem so i was jog/walking myself.  i went to her and said, "why don't you stay here and i will go get the four wheeler and pick you up!"  she said, "NO, i am fine."  and now the doctor has scheduled her for surgery.  it's next week.  she is having ligament surgery in her foot.  i don't know all the details but i do know i should have picked her up and not listened to her because i am older and smarter and she is stubborn.  i know it and she knows it....and now you know it.

please keep this precious girl in your thoughts one week from today.  please take a minute or two to lift her up in prayer.

oh Kehley Rae...how do i love thee.....let me count thy ways!!!

i love thee because you're stubborn.
i love thee because you think i'm cool.
i love thee because you are so very thoughtful.
i love thee because you think i am cool.

and in another week our Katie is having surgery. 
it's not a huge surgery, but it is surgery. 
apparently she has a little infected cyst in her tummy that has to come out. 
on the 23rd of October please lift my Katie up in prayer.

on the bright side...she will have a matching scar with her daddy.  he likes to say it's from that time he was in a knife fight in an alley down in Mexico.  i am not sure that will work for Katie but surely we can come up with something good......

good luck girls....i love you two knuckle heads!

Happy Birthday Martha!

i love my mother-in-law!

i am not even saying that because she reads my blog.

i am saying that because it's true and because i am truely thankful.

i am thankful for our relationship and for her love and friendship.

i am saying that because i realize that i am in the "i love my mother-in-law minority."

i am saying that God broke the mold after he made Martha.

she's a wonderful WIFE, MOM, MIMI, and Mother-in-Law.

she takes all those titles seriously and she is the best a person can be at all four.

she's a Christian, she loves her neighbor as she loves herself......she's selfless.

she's sweet, she's thougthful, she's kind, she's loving, she's smart and she's a country girl at heart!

AND she's celebrating a Birthday today! 

happy 60th (it's the new 70) Martha!

love, ali


P.S. she's so special they named a town after her in Oklahoma!

*not really, but if "the town naming people" met her they surely would!

1 mile South of Blair, Oklahoma in Southwest Oklahoma

no followers? no problem!

seriously, it will take so much more than only having two followers (i love you two) to make me give up this new found blogging fun!

are you kidding me?  i am a married woman!  i am used to not being listened to!  my sweet, sweet, SMART husband is good at throwing out uh huh and yes when i'm talking and he's not listening!

GAWD i sure like to blog and GAWD i love my man!

this man.........