Publix in Pajamas..and Seizures

Today in Photos: (Top) Me with the Milk Bones--I'll do anything for my pup--even go to Publix in my pajamas; (Middle) Me lovin a good deal--Cap'n Crunch = yum!; (Bottom) if you've seen Bedtime Stories--you will understand. I saw the Wheat Germ and started laughing! :)

Dear Friend,

Tonight's post is going to be short because I am in a weakened state--but have no fear, I'm hoping to be recovered tomorrow!

This morning started great with Honey Bear snuggled up against my legs! Then I got up and my poor pup was so sad because we ran out of her "cookies" the other day, and it's messing up her daily routine not having them. She gets a cookie every morning after she comes in from going potty outside. She was just standing and staring at the empty box on the floor in the garage--then she sat down and stared at the empty box, and then she laid down and looked at the empty box with longing eyes. I couldn't handle it--so Christy and I decided that she must get a cookie without delay!!...So we went to Publix in our pajamas. Christy's pajamas didn't look as pajamas-ish as my pajama shorts...I was wearing a normal shirt, but my shorts were ridiculous. I loved it! My mom ended up giving us this list of stuff to get, and then I kept seeing the lovely "Buy 1, Get 1" signs--those always get my attention and I got two boxes of Captain Crunch today for the price of one--I felt like a conqueror (see photo).

So the trip to Publix was an event to say the least. Then I came home and chopped up onions, celery, and bell peppers for my mom who was making spaghetti and jambalaya! Then I ironed clothes for a while. I took a break from ironing, and checked facebook and then realized I wasn't feeling very good.

I thought I needed to eat something so I ate two bowls of jambalaya but just kept feeling worse. Soon I felt like i couldn't move, my sis, bro, and mom helped me get to my mom's bed and then they just watched for a while, I finally was able to get up and noticed the tingling in my hands wasn't getting better--but worse. Within a few short minutes I was in a full blown seizure. I am very tired from the experience, but with the help of my family--they were able to help me get through it. Seizures are scary experiences and I hate them so much because I feel trapped in my own body. I'm glad they don't happen often because I can't stand them...and they are extremely exhausting. My whole body is utterly exhausted and sore. So on that note..

Friend, I hope you have a pleasant night and sweet dreams, and you are experiencing good health!! :)

Lotsa Love,
Linds

Not All Treasures are Silver and Gold

Dear Friend,

I hope you had a pleasant Friday! I had an amazing day...allow me to share.. :)

So, I started packing--I basically took 3/4 of all my hang-up clothes and draped/hung them around our room (Christy and I share a room). I still have to get my folded clothes out, but that can wait til Sunday. I have a list of items I need to buy--not much so that's good! I don't even know how I'm going to pack all these clothes--I know I will end up shipping some clothes home before I get back at the end of June!

I painted my toe nails a fuchsia pink that I love! I figured it's best to give my spunky-ness room to breath because I'll have to paint them a reasonable/professional pink color when I start working.

I got to babysit my girls last night. Okay, gear up---I'm about to go into full lovey-dovey/woman mode!!! I love these girls soooo much. They bring an endless amount of joy to my heart! Whenever I'm around them, I fully understand the saying "my cup overfloweth". They are the sweetest girls, they love Jesus so much, and they are so well behaved and just a joy to be around. We have such a good time together, and I'm like their big sister, and I LOVE IT!!! Last night we only had a couple of hours together, so we ate pizza, played "Dancing with the Stars"..I was the judge for Caroline and Abigail twice (they had to take turns being the boy for each other), and sweet little Sarabeth was the singer--she stood on the "stage" (their mini trampoline) and sang along with the High School Musical soundtrack. Then I had to be the boy for each girl, and when it was Sarabeth's turn to dance I dressed her up in a pretty Cinderella dress. She is quite the character already--we did a slow dance and I just held her the whole time and she rested her head on my chest and stole the show!! Then we ate popcicles and ice cream and watched 30 minutes of Ella Enchanted and then they had to get ready for bed. Abigail had to have 4 teeth pulled at the dentist so we had to get ready for the Tooth Fairy (she wrote the Tooth Fairy a thank-you note--I told you they were sweet girls!!). Then Caroline wanted me to tell her a bedtime story. Well I just watched the movie "Bedtime Stories" so I had a lot of good material in my head. I told a tale of a beautiful princess named Caroline and then when it was her turn she told a tale of a beautiful mermaid named Lindsey :) Then we all said prayers and I tucked them in.

I sat down to watch more Ella Enchanted when I saw a bright light outside and thought it was from their neighbor's house--turns out it was lightning--the crash of thunder even scared me it was so loud! Sarabeth woke up crying--so I ran in to comfort her and i laid down next to her and would watch the window and whenever I saw lightning, I would whisper to her not to be scared but some thunder was coming. It took her a really long time to fall asleep, I just kept running my fingers through her hair and rubbing her arm, then she fell asleep holding my hand :)

I just laid there because I didn't want her to wake up and then get scared again, so I have to say watching a child sleep is one of the most peaceful things in the whole world. She was so cute and warm and snuggly, I fell asleep after a little while. Angie woke me up :) That was probably one of the greatest moments of my life. I can't wait to have kids, they truly are God's greatest blessing!

Then I got home, and poor Honey Bear was sleeping by the front door, and she was crying and whining she was so happy to see me! I ended up sleeping in the bottom bunk so I got to sleep with Honey Bear, and before I had even gotten in the bed, she had jumped up and laid down--just waiting for me to join her. I got in the bed and she came and sat in my lap and laid her head on the crease of my arm and just licked my arm for like an hour! Those of you who don't know my dog--she's not the most affectionate dog..she only has affectionate moments and they are usually short lived. It was a sweet moment I will cherish while I am away from home.

Last night the Lord really blessed me with these treasures that some may think nothing of, but they mean more to me then silver or gold.

I hope you take the time to enjoy things and find God's blessings in your life, Friend, that have no monetary value whatsoever...because those are the things that truly matter. This is my "Friday" blog so I will be posting again later tonight for Saturday! :)

I hope you have a pleasant afternoon, filled with sunshine and bliss! :)

Lotsa Love,
Linds

Driving, Walking, and Cheesecake...all very dangerous, and delightful things!

Today in Photos: The American flag outside Chik-Fil-A with my purple toes; my hair--I felt like Belle because I was wearing a yellow shirt and I had my hair up like Belle! (I'm such a Disney princess!!!); the beautiful Moon behind a palm tree; and my yumm-o cheesecake! :)

Dear Friend,

Today, like everyday, was filled with greatness!

I over-slept (yes, again), but made up for missing the most of the morning by doing lots of stuff!

Can I just say that if you ever need someone to go run an errand, or get you from Point A to Point B as fast as possible--I'm the person you should call! In my family, it's like everyone just knows this...yesterday my mom was running late leaving for church so she asked me to drive (because everyone knows we'll get there the fastest if I drive); today my dad asked me to go pick up some shipping tubes from FedEx--I asked him when he needed them...what was his response? "Now."....I was still in my PAJAMAS!!! He has his shipping tubes before he knew it!

So I'm getting stuff in order for my trip (I think I'll explain that tomorrow...too tired tonight, but I did just book my plane ticket! Exciting!)..I basically have a list of things I need to make lists for...it's so much work! Then I vacuumed the house for my mom and my dad calls. He's in Fort Pierce and needs someone to meet him in West Palm with keys to my grandparent's house. Sooooo....I'm the go-to person for things like this because--I LOVE IT!!! I get to drive (which, I love to drive--not on i-95 so much, but I'll take what I can get) aaannnnndddd--it's like a 2 hour JAM SESSION!!! I just found my iPod that had been lost for who knows how long so I'm rediscovering all my old great music! (My new computer isn't synced to my ipod b/c my ipod was synced with my last laptop that crashed...so...it doesn't have any new music on it)...but it's still filled with great things to jam to! So I went to the doc for my weekly B-12 shot and then jammed out to all sorts of things til I got to North Lake Blvd. Then I waited at a Chik-fil-a for my dad. I was sitting in the parking lot when I noticed how beautiful the flag looked blowing in the wind. I am really thankful to be living in America, and I know our country has issues, but I'm still a proud American, and I think I live in the most beautiful country! So I took a picture of the American flag (and my feet! The purple nail polish has got to come off soon...I'm sick of it.).

I get home and helped my mom shuck corn and make chicken rice, then while all that cooked, I took my beautiful puppy on a walk. Normally I wear my running shoes and we'll jog a little bit so she gets extra worn out. Today, I didn't even realize I was just in sandals--so of course something HAS to happen to my feet! A little boy was riding a skooter outside my neighborhood and, of course, Honey Bear has to act all tough like she wants to eat the poor child--when in fact she's just curious and...not that ferocious (at least I don't think so..?). So I brought her close to me and kept the leash tight and we walked in some yards to give the kid plenty of room on the sidewalk, and I smiled at him to try and make up for my ferocious beast on a leash! OF COURSE the yard I walk through for all of 15 seconds is basically JUST stickers!!!!! My poor feet were crying out in pain from the darn things!! So I get back on the sidewalk, grit my teeth and try to pull the lil stickers out--and they get stuck all over my fingers!! Now usually they don't hurt this bad, but just my luck--they were like thorns in my fingers and I was just COVERED. My fingers were actually BLEEDING from the darn things, I couldn't get them out!! I actually at one point thought I might cry they were so painful and I couldn't get rid of them, and Honey Bear was trying to scare a small child--it was a lot to handle at one time! I finally got them all out and Honey Bear and I finished our walk peacefully. I think my dog is too much of a city girl...there is a large strip of grass for like 1/4 of the area we walk, and i like to walk in the grass and feel it crunch under my feet--and my dog prefers the sidewalk...?!?! I really enjoy our walks though :) She has a new harness, and I love it! I'm gonna take a picture of it soon and post it on here! :)

After dinner my mom treated us to Cheesecake Factory cheesecake! I got the red velvet cake and cheesecake with white chocolate shavings on the side---Mmmm..soo good!!! We left to go pick up the cheesecakes and the moon was so beautiful I had to take a picture of it for you, Friend!

Goodnight dear Friend, I hope you have had a beautiful day, and enjoy peaceful, sweet sleep tonight! :)

Lotsa Love,
Linds

Healthy Lunches, Butterflies, and Creepy Guys! Oh My!

Dear Friend,

Today was a grrrr-eat day! :) I slept in wayyy too late, but that's alright because I was as busy as a bee the rest of the day!

Quick recap from yesterday: Didn't get to post yesterday because I had a TERRIBLE migraine last night! So, I do have something to say about my day yesterday: I watched one of my FAVORITE movies: Fool's Gold! I could watch that movie all the time--I just LOVE it! Also, if you are looking for some good deals on Christmas stuff--summer is the time to buy! I bought a BEAUTIFUL tart burner and a couple of Christmas smelling tarts for only $10--what a deal! I always look for old holiday stuff after the holidays have past and then use it next year--why pay full price if you can just get it later!?!? So there's a shopping tip! I love a good deal! :)

My lil bro started his finals today so I picked him up from school and took him to go eat a healthy, well-rounded lunch at McDonalds. (See photos..the one of just me is how i eat fries sometimes: I drive with one hand and hold the fries and grab the fries with my mouth..it's classy.) ..We are all about eating healthy--lemme tell ya! ;)

So then I had to take a package to the post office. I jammed out to Taylor Swift's "Today was a Fairytale"...it always makes my smile a little wider! I'm standing in line, and the post man calls me up when it's my turn to come up to the counter, and there is a woman working in the station next to him (but she wasn't taking customers), and he is an older man and he keeps smiling at me. All of a sudden the lady exclaims "wow, young lady, your eyes are just so beautiful and so bright!!!!" and then the man smiles and says "Ah, I know!! I couldn't help but look into them! So beautiful indeed!!"...I'm pretty sure I blushed, but I thanked them for their kind remarks!! I think every girl should be complimented on something about themselves at least once a day--it's such a great feeling! So here's my challenge: If something about someone strikes you (in a good way,LOL)--you need to tell them!!! Don't feel awkward because I can promise you that 100% of the time you are going to totally make their whole day (or week, month, or year!!).

Then I spent the rest of the afternoon uploading photos. Can I just say that the thought of having to upload photos makes me want to have a temper-tantrum and throw myself on the ground and pound my feet and fists against the floor and whine!!! It is so boring and time consuming...I can name 10 things off the top of my head I would rather do (1. go outside 2. walk my dog 3. peel potatoes 4. paint my toe nails 5. wash dishes 6. dance around in a vacant room 7. climb a tree 8. wash my car 9. cross-stitch 10. eat/bake something--BOOM BABY!! That's ten things off the top of my head that I would rather do than upload photos!!!) Here's the protocol for uploading photos that drives me CrAzY--upload photos from camera to computer; go through all photos and take out red eye (I always get red-eye!!); then I have to upload all of those photos onto snapfish.com (I like to have my photos on snapfish to ensure that if my computer ever crashes--my photos are safe online!)...now you know why my photos RARELY make it to Facebook...that's double the time waiting for these photos to upload!! I'm determined though to get all my old photos done, clear out my photo card and then it will be a much quicker process..I think the fact that I wait until I have 400 pictures to do at a time is the reason I hate it so much,lol!!

Oh, Friend, I saved a butterfly today! For those of you who don't know every secret about me...here's one: I'm TERRIFIED of butterflies. It's ridiculous--I know--but guess what, what about me isn't ridiculous?! They get caught in our patio screening in the backyard, and I've saved like 4 butterflies, and I think I'm getting to place where I may be able to touch one to save it (I've been using the pool net). So I saved a butterfly today, but my mom had to help me--she ended up getting the butterfly out, but I helped! :)

After church tonight, I was pumping gas and Friend, if you are a guy--listen up, I have some advice for ya: If you want to make an "impression" on a girl--DO NOT drive slowly by and do the whole creepy stare thing. It's called "the whole creepy stare thing" because it's CREEPY!!! Creeps aren't appealing...they CREEP girls out!!! Don't be creepers!! A girl wants a guy who will sweep her off her feet--duh!! Okay so that's my advice.

Music Advice: Listen to Frank Sinatra....he's the man! I've been sharing his goodness with the whole family the last couple of days--let me tell ya: they are enjoying it! :)

I hope you, dearest Friend, have a pleasant night, sweet dreams, and a very very good night :)

Lotsa Love,
Linds

Baking Bonanza

Dear Friend,

I hope you have had a great day, filled with sunshine and smiles! And if not here is a big smile from me to you { :) }...everyone deserves at least ONE good, sincere smile every day!

Today was great! I got to skype for a few minutes with my "adopted dad" in Gainesville, Tom. It is his birthday today so Christy and I sang "Happy Birthday" to him :) . Then I went to my regular treatment at Nova, my headaches are really improving from the therapy! The number of headaches are reducing, as well as the amount of severe migraines! Praise God!

On the way home from Nova...my mom and I stopped at a few nursery's to see if we could get a coconut palm. Well, we didn't have any luck (the cold we had this past winter has basically killed them all), but I was able to point something out to my mom...Friend, do you remember the Mango Madness story where I listed the reasons why I HATE mango trees??? If you didn't read that--you should at least glance over the list. Now knowing the reasons why I hate mango trees, and I plan on killing the one in my back yard...here is some devastating news: the person who lived behind us...has THREE..not one...not two...BUT THREE mango trees growing in their backyard. I showed my mom the size of them in comparison to the mango trees growing at one of the nursery's. I can't disclose any details...but the mango trees in my neighbor's yard must not be allowed to thrive much longer...

So anywho--came home from the doc, and decided "I need to get 'my bake' on!!!"...so that's just what I did!!

I baked banana nut bread especially for my sister because she requested it! Then I baked some peanut butter heaven cookies that Angie introduced to me last week. And I made some brownies for my man, Tom! I was literally in the kitchen baking from 2pm til like 6pm-ish!! The house smelled sooooo good!!!!!

Friend, let me just tell you--there are few things in life as enjoyable to me as baking under the right circumstances. "What are the right circumstances for baking?" you ask??
1. No time pressures....I don't want to be rushed!!
2. No shoes.
3. A cute apron.
4. GOOD MUSIC.
5. A clean, organized kitchen.

*Bonus: Wearing a cute dress and having lipstick on...I know...I'm weird!

So all of these factors were present today, which made my baking experience oh-so-lovely! Except--the bonuses weren't present...I was in jeans and an old t-shirt and didn't put on any lipstick. But that's okay--they were my favorite jeans and my favorite old t-shirt so it all works out! At least I was barefoot! :)

So today I baked...tomorrow I research most effective ways to kill trees. I sort of feel like a federal agent or something--which reminds me: the series finale of 24 was tonight. It was sooooo good!!! I'm so glad they didn't kill Jack off!!! I feel a movie comin in the near future--at least I can only hope so! :)

I just uploaded some pics from Saturday's yard work..I still haven't really figured out how to use this blog thing but I'm gonna upload a picture of my baked goods so hopefully it doesn't look as weird as Saturday's blog. I want to put the picture at the end of the blog..but can't figure out how to...?!?!

Well, good night dear Friend, I hope you have very pleasant dreams and awake refreshed and ready for a new day! :)

Lotsa Love,
Linds

P.S. Here's a shout out to my sis: thanks for helping me come up with cool names/titles at the drop of a hat. You. Are. Awesome!!!! ;)

Rolling Away Stones

Dear Friend,

Today I woke up not knowing what the day would hold for me, but I knew two things: 1.) my dreams were far too stressful for me to even think about returning to them and 2.) I was going to church in a few hours.

So I woke up quite early (considering I could have slept a couple hours longer) and just laid on the sofa (with my faithful companion, Honey Bear, of course!) and many thoughts swept through my mind. I had no idea what the service was going to be about, but God knew that I needed help.

*Warning: this blog may end up being more serious and thought provoking than just readable entertainment. My apologizes if that is not what you are looking for--come back tomorrow for some more laughable stories (I have a feeling tomorrow's blog will have something funny!).

I've been struggling with certain things lately that I wasn't sure how to deal with. Lately I feel like I am almost being suffocated by my past, and wondering if God can heal all hurts--if allowed to. I know God can do all things, because nothing is impossible for God....the part I struggle with is: how do I allow Him to heal places in my heart I've tried to ignore for so long, thinking that if I just ignore them--they won't exist any longer.

Well Friend, take it from me: ignoring pain doesn't make it go away...laying band-aid after band-aid on top of a wounded heart will only make the heart grow heavy.

I feel as though certain events happened in my life that caused damage to my heart and I haven't been able to fully give those damaged parts over to God to heal because I haven't wanted to deal with the pain of those circumstances again. I have been able to harden my thoughts to those circumstances and talk about them with certain people as a matter-of-fact circumstance as if it were an everyday occurrence. But I recently shared some of these events and...it made my heart hurt to remember some of these things. So I slapped another band-aid on my heart, changed the subject, and told myself to get over it--I told myself, "it was in the past, why get upset now?". But just because something is in the past doesn't mean it isn't affecting my present and my future if I'm not healed from those hurts. If my heart isn't healed of these hurts, the pain will prevent me from fulfilling my purpose and destiny God has for me. Pain causes fear, unworthiness, shame, guilt, insecurities, and slew of other un-Godly emotions. Over the past month I have felt God tugging at the band-aids layered up on my heart, within the last couple weeks...I've been slowly, painfully peeling back the band-aids. I'm not sure if all the band-aids are off yet, but I feel like I'm holding this piece of mangled, damaged beyond recognition lump of heart that only God could turn into something beautiful again.

My sister helped me more than she'll ever knew when we drove home from Gainesville last week and I blurted out something about my past and several layers of band-aids were shed through the wave of tears I cried. She helped me see past the pain to the light at the end of the tunnel. She prayed with me at a service plaza and broke through the pain that had become like a suffocating cloud around me. And I don't normally cry in front of people (which is probably one of the things from my past I have to come to terms with) but I think I really needed to cry...for like the majority of the trip home (sorry Christy for not being as fun as I normally am).

I know there are certain things God has for me, but I have to be in a position to receive them...and I'm ready to get to that position...even if it means rolling the stone away.
What about rolling the stone away, you ask?
Well, in church today, God knew He needed to give me a message...so the sermon was on "Rolling Away the Stone. What stone do you need to roll away in your life?" and the main scripture was in John 11 when Lazarus died and Jesus raised him from the dead. It was an excellent sermon (you can watch it on www.abundantlife.tv under "media"). There were several things that really stuck out to me:

If you want God to do something He's never done before in your life, then you have to be willing to to do what you've never done before. [change]

If I am willing to do the difficult, God will do the impossible.

Once we roll away the stone, Jesus is free to say, "Come."

And I hope whoever reads this realizes that there was soooo much more to the sermon than just those three quotes, but those three stood out the most to me, and in relevance to what I've been sharing. I would like to leave you these few verses and a song and then bid you, dear Friend, goodnight. I hope what I have written tonight is clear, and understandable (I know I shouldn't wait until it's so late--my thoughts get too jumbled when I'm tired!!). Thank you for taking the time to read this blog message..I know it's missing the usual spunky-ness and entertaining stories I try to produce, but sometimes...there is a time to be serious. I am a sincere person who tries to be as honest as I can...so it would be insincere of me to not share what is on my heart with you.

I also hope that if anyone reads this and is going through painful transformations, that they would find hope and joy in knowing that they are not ever alone. My goal is to one day be able to share my story with young girls and women..if not as a precaution to guard their hearts and bodies, but as a way for them to understand forgiveness and God's love and mercy. If anyone reads this blog and would like to learn more of my story, please feel free to ask and I will share what I can. My goal is be able to help females free their hearts so they can love freely, with nothing holding them back...I just have to allow myself to get to that place! :)

2 Corinthians 5:17-- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new

Romans 8:28-- And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Psalm 139:1-4-- O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

Psalm 139:13-14--For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

Psalm 139:17-18--How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.

Psalm 139:23-24--Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 30:2--O Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.

Jeremiah 29:11--For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope.

Hebrews 13: 5(b)--For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Ecclesiastes 3:11--He has made everything beautiful in its time.


An amazing song...the lyrics have def. been the cry of my heart lately.
"Beautiful, Beautiful" By: Francesca Battistelli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbCfyZHSQbE

Mango Madness...and Other Fun.

Dear Friend,

I have quite a bit of non-exciting fun things to share because today (like everyday) was...interesting!

I woke up, and went to Boca Helping Hands to sign up for volunteering! If anyone lives in the Boca area--you should sign up to help out at Boca Helping Hands--they are a fantastic organization! I really look forward to getting involved there when I get back in July! They have tons of things for you to get involved in--cooking, stocking, picking up from supporting companies, data entry, making sandwiches, making food bags, etc. There are tons of ways to help out, and it's a great cause. They are really organized too--which is a definite plus!

After the Boca Helping Hands orientation we came home (Mom, Big Sis, and Lil Bro are in on the whole volunteer for good causes thing too...what can I say?!...we're awesome.) and I was sitting at the dinning room table making out a list of foods I need to make/pack for my upcoming trip (more on that later) when my beloved pup starts puffing*.

*Definition of Puff: it's not a bark--it's more like the sound a human makes if they were to *huff*....it's a precursor to Honey Bear's loud/warning bark

Okay--back to my story: Honey Bear is puffing and looking out the front window. Anyone who knows my dog knows that she barks at EVERYTHING...ALL THE TIME!!! So the fact that she was puffing instead of just being obnoxious got my attention. I turn around to look out the window and what do I see?...an old black Corolla...looking like it's going to park in front of my house...oh wait--the car is parking in the city grass (where the mail box is)...no the car is turning around and just all up in my grass....NO!!! Guess again. The car is pulling into MY YARD. Yes Friend, my YARD!! Not the strip of grass that technically doesn't belong to me--the actual chunk of land that is MINE (well...my parent's :)). So...we are all freaking out inside thinking that the car just isn't going to stop (it's coming in at an angle..so it's headed for our parked cars in the driveway...did i mention they are in the middle of my YARD?!!?) So...an old lady gets out of the car (LOL)...we thought she was having a stroke or something because in my mind--that's the only possible excuse to pull into someone's YARD,LOL. Christy and I run outside to see if she's okay...(LOL)..she's smiling and waving a plastic walmart bag and proceeds to ask us if that's our mango tree in the back yard and if she can go pick some Mangos...I can't make this stuff up--that is the honest reason why this old lady pulled up into my YARD and nearly hit my car and my mom's van!!! FOR MANGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to burst her bubble--we don't have any mangos...i climbed the tree a couple weeks ago and sawed off all the fruit-bearing limbs LOL...and the ones that still bear fruit (unfortunately) are not producing ripe fruit yet. She was let down, but then started to ask if the next tree belonged to my neighbor. We informed her that the next mango tree did belong to our neighbor...and she asked if she could leave her car (in the middle of my YARD) while she goes to ask for some mangos. Christy kindly asked her if she could move her car off our grass (I was just staring at the old lady in pure shock).

If I could...I would give that old lady my mango tree. She deserves to have her own, and I honestly hate that tree.

Reasons Why I Hate My Mango Tree:
~I'm allergic to Mangos!!! I can't touch the thing or else I break out in hives!! Why do I have one in my backyard?!?!?!
~No one in my family eats Mangos...so what does that mean? A bunch of rotten fruit that I have to pick up off the grass--WITHOUT TOUCHING IT!!! (Can you see how this is annoying??...just wait--I'm not done.)
~Mango trees are the Sasquatch of fruit trees...they just grow and grow and grow taller and taller and taller...They take over.
~The fact that mango trees are sasquatches is extra annoying because it's going to be THAT much harder for me to annihilate.
~The leaves go everywhere...I really just hate Mango trees. LOL

So after all of that...I went out in the backyard and weeded both of my mom's rose beds, cleared all the vines off the fence, filled in the two holes I created from digging up trees over Spring Break :) and got some old palm fronds off my coconut palms by jumping up--grabbing them--and then hanging until they came down :)....and I raked up about 10 tons of leaves. Honey Bear was a great helper today too! I will put a picture up tomorrow of her..she was so cute (and filthy!!!). I would clear a spot in the rose beds and move on to another weed infested area and she would lay down in the dirt I had just uncovered :)...AND she would drag the palm fronds into a pile. She really is a very smart pup!

Well Friend, that's about all I have to say about today. I'm exhausted from all the yard work, but it felt so great to be outside!!! It was a beautiful day today too! Not a cloud in the sky and nice and HOT!! :) Gotta get to bed now because rumor has it we are going to the early church service in the morning (which means I have to be up at 6!!). Good night, Friend...sweet dreams!

Lotsa Love,
Linds

P.S. Photos: one is me holding a caterpillar I saved, then one of my "serious yard work face...do work!" and then sweet Honey Bear sitting in the rose bed right next to where i'm working :)

Hello World!

Hey you!
Well, I figured my summer is going to be pretty busy--and what better way to document it than through the use of a blog?!?! So here I am!! I think my goal for this blog is to share summer adventures/stories with friends who have nothing better to do and are lookin for something to read while they are bored or procrastinating from doing something way more important! Hey--I know that if I had a paper due or chores to do--I would wish one of my friends had a blog so I could read it instead of having to do those things!
So things I'm going to share with you are of course my summer adventures, and photos of said adventures. Also, I will share songs that are meaningful and awesome, and then...songs that are just awesome (maybe not so meaningful). I really love music, so I figured that's gotta get a spot somewhere in my blog! I'll also share completed works of whatever--i.e. cakes, paintings, landscaping, etc. The final thing I will share is probably something about my dog since she's awesome...and so cute! :)

Well I hope you enjoy this blog whether you take the time to read it when you're busy or bored! I hope you have a great day!

Lotsa Love,
Linds