Long time no post! Sorry everyone!

It has been crazy busy around here. After the creative arts show my little brother got married! So I had been busy with that, and then Easter and just trying to get things calmed down around here. I just kinda forgot about the blog.

So things I have been doing since you last heard from me. Well I went to the Dallas arboretum with my husband. He took me on a nice trip for our 10 year anniversary.

It was the peak of the tulips...Dallas Blooms I believe they called it. It had a little shower the night before so all the flowers had a nice dew on them.

He is so bored, but tried to be very patient with my picture taking.

 Such pretty colors!

Such a wonderful man God has blessed me with!

My brother and his wife are also expecting a little boy in June. So I decided to paint something for the baby's room. I used this duck as a reference. I named him Mr Quackers. What do you think?

This painting is now hanging in the nursery waiting for the arrival of my nephew!

 Also made this diaper cake for the shower  hehe. 

I have been doing a lot of creative things lately. From helping with a wedding shower, to the wedding, doing wedding photos, painting class, photos for fun, drawing and more baby shower fun.

Here are some other photos that I took just for fun.

I'm picture happy and can't just pick one!

My first creative arts show, and a nice surprise.

So I mentioned I was entering a few things in the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Creative Arts fair.

This was my first time ever entering anything. So I entered a little bit of everything I do, a painting, two drawings, and two photos.

Can you believe my surprise when I learned I placed. I got two 4th places!

Here they are:

My Iris oil painting. I love this picture. I am not used to bragging on myself, but this just got me so excited. Can you believe this was only my second oil painting ever?!? I love oil painting. Although it is very time consuming.

This is Lexi, isn't she a cutie! I drew her and her siblings for Christmas, their mama's present from daddy.

So today I went to pick up my entries. I was told that everyone loved my painting and my drawings and the judges had a hard time picking. Especially between the two drawings I did. Apparently it was a very tough decision for the judges and they took a long time to pick lol. Good for me I guess LOL

Then I went to pick up my photos and got a really nice surprise. I WON FIRST!

This is the photo that won first in its category:

HOW COOL IS THAT! I'm so excited! haha

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Look at that ribbon! lol I'm such a dork.

Here are the other things I entered just incase you were curious:

Anyway I just wanted to share my excitement!

Got the itch

I've been in the hospital...and I have the itch to take some photos. I just gotta!

Creative Arts Fair

DUN DUN DUNNNNN!

So I finally decided to take the plunge and enter into the creative arts fair. Well as long as they still take my entry form tomorrow. Yes I procrastinated, I couldn't decide what to enter.....part of it pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Do I expect to place at all? No. But it is a neat opportunity and you never know. There are so many other very talented people out there who will be entering too.

I'm going to enter two charcoal drawings, an oil painting, and one or two photos.

Here are two of the entries. I'll post the drawings later.

I still need to get my Uncle's permission to use this, but I am 99% sure he will be more than happy to let me use it.

And maybe this one of a local water lily.

What do you guys think?

Winter Happenings

It's been a long time. I've been busy with the holidays and haven't made time to update the blog.

Thanksgiving came and went. Christmas came and went.

We went to Ruidoso for a few days after Christmas. I got some neat photos there, and it was nice having a "white" Christmas for once haha.

The deer pictures were taken through a foggy windows, so they aren't all that great. But I am surprised at how well some did turn out, especially the mama with babies (she actually had triplets) and the close up of her.

Loved the contrasting colors.

And here is a silly picture of my dog Samson....his favorite toy is a ball if you can't tell. haha!

Thankfulness part 2 & 3

So I missed this last weekend of Thankfulness.

Since I missed last weeks and it was Veterans day last friday I will start there.

I am thankful for our veterans, current active duty. They sacrifice so much. They sacrifice not only themselves, even with the possibility of being seriously injured or killed....but they also sacrifice their personal lives and family. All this because they believe in what America stands for, they want to fight and serve their country with honor. They do this with little pay and little thanks. I would like to believe that as U.S. citizens as a whole, we have become more thankful for the sacrifice of our military. But since I am to young to remember how its been for years...I just can not be sure. I am truly grateful for them all though. I have many family member, from my grandfathers on both sides, many uncles, my cousin....and to my brother. Can't leave out my many friends currently active duty, or who have just signed up to join different branches of our military. What an honor it is to know you all.

This was taken this past June, on my brothers return from Afghanistan.

My Brother Home! what else is there to say.

My Grandmother and Granddaddy on their 60th Anniversary.

Granddaddy was in the Navy during WWII. I love these two people dearly.

 My Uncle Richard. He holds a special place in my heart too. 

He does Calvary re-enactments too.

My Papaw with my brother Christmas 09. I love this picture.

Papaw was in the Army during WWII.

They don't look related do they? lol

Just a few pictures of family members that have been in the military.

I am very thankful for my doctors and caring medical staff. They take such good care of me and treat me like a friend instead of words on paper. Mostly I am thankful for good medical coverage too. Without it I'd be scared of where I would be.

Here is a picture of a sweet lady and a great nurse I have in the hospital. Now you other nurses reading this don't be jealous, I just don't have your picture. lol

I am thankful for my friends. Two in particular I would like to talk about right now. Sun and Fred. Sun and I have been friends for over 10 years now. I started dating her best friend all those years ago, and she became my best friend. It has been a wild and crazy 10 years I'll say that. Man, a lot has gone on. We have both grown in so many ways. It's kinda neat to look back on. She has been through a lot in that time. She may not see it, but she has grown in her walk with God through it all. She has met a wonderful person, her husband Fred...who is perfect for her. It had been my prayer she find someone to love her like she needs...and he is that for her....and her for him. God's perfect match. His family has become hers. There is nothing I am more thankful for that she has them. Though there are events that have happened and are currently happening that is extremely difficult for them...they are still strong in their faith and for each other.  Even if Sun doesn't feel like she has any strength left at times, somehow God gives it to her. You my friend are a strong lady. It may never get easier, but God will bring you strength when you have none left. God will hold you when you think you can't stand any more.

Thankfulness part 1

Most of my friends are posting one (or several) things a day that they are thankful for till Thanksgiving.
I thought I would write a blog once a week...because what I am thankful for I can't just say in a few sentences.

I am thankful for being saved by Grace. Jesus sacrificed everything to the point of torture then death, so that we may have forgiveness and eternal life with the Father in Heaven. No amount of words can describe how thankful I am for His sacrifice. I am a awful sinful person, yet God loves me so much. No matter how many times I turn away form what He wants me to do, I come back and He welcomes me with open arms. He guides me everyday from the simple and mundane, to the very difficult decisions in life. I have learned that it's easier to just give it all to Him and let Him tell me what to do in those decisions...It's not always easy to know if it is really Him saying this or that...but when the answer comes you just know its right. I am thankful for that.

My heavenly Father spoils me. I would have nothing if it weren't for Him. I know that I would be in a miserable and depressed state it I did not have God with me. I am thankful that He never gave up on me all those years ago when I kept telling him no. Once I finally said "Ok God I give up, I give myself to you and you handle it all"....there was immediate peace. Ever since then no matter how hard things have gotten, I have always had God's peace. There is nothing like it.

I am thankful for my best friend, my husband. He has always been there, even before he was my husband. He is protective, kind, and sweet. He spoils me too. I don't deserve someone so wonderful...and yet God sent Tyrel to me. He takes care of me. He is strong in so many ways. This huge strong tough guy, taking care of a small frail sick lady...carries me when I can't walk. Holds me when I am sick....he holds me when I am well. He is everything I need....he is who God made for me. I am forever grateful.

I am thankful for my Mamma! She is one of the strongest ladies I know. Working hard and always taking care of her kiddos. Even though they are grown adults, she still gives us "treats"  and takes care of us in her mommy way. She's the best Mamma (even though most everyone may say that about their moms). She is the outdoorsy type..Taught me to be tough! She taught me to not be scared of bugs and getting dirty. Although we both hate snakes and mice...eeee. She taught me to not be scared of having cystic fibrosis. She treated me like any other normal kid, I just had to do extra stuff. No big deal, so what. I love that she did that, and that the rest of the family (extended included) did the same. I'm sure when I was younger I tried my hardest to get away with things and play the "sick card", what kid doesnt? lol....but my Mamma played a huge role in who I am today....I am forever thankful she didn't turn me into a sissy cry baby! lol No crying mom!

I am thankful for my family. They are a wonderful mix of people. My brother who is a "tough guy". He is my pal. A former Marine! Sometimes I think we have our own language. We get to talking and it's all over the place, and no one else can keep up...some how we can. We can just hang out on the couch and not say a word, but have a great time. (I love his GF too, she is super cool!) I am thankful he has someone to love and love him back.

I have a HUGE family, meaning all my extended family and in-laws. I don't like calling my "extended family", extended. They are just family. All my aunts, uncles and cousins. We have country folks and city folks (sorta they are country at heart). We have biker chicks, and stay at home mommies. There are hyper ones, and laid back ones. They are all my family. I am thankful I have them in my life, each has a special place and a special memory. Many summers staying the night with some. Horse back riding. Fun photo sessions...and just being silly. You know who you are. I love you all.

Oh my in-laws deserve their own paragraph. I think I am one blessed lady to have the in-laws I do. They aren't in-laws, they are in-loves. My mother and father in-love are two very special people. They took me into their family fold and love on me as if I was blood. All my brother and sister in loves (there are like 6 of them), and all their kids (there are like 10!)....WOW what a wonderful family. They really are the best, and I was made to be a part of it. I am thankful God put them here as my family.

I am thankful for my church family. They are a wonderful bunch of folks of all ages. They love on you and take care of you when your down and when you are up. It is amazing to see how they come together when a friend is in need. It's funny to see how they come together just to have fun! Oh they make me laugh!

I am thankful to our pastor and his family. His wife is sooo funny and loving. She has a calming spirit about her,she lights up a room when she smiles, and you see her love for God in everything she does. I love how she picks on her husband too! lol Their boys are very sweet and respectful. Their daughter is fun and a good friend. Our pastor has a love for God that just beams out from him, and from his family. He has a hunger for God's word and learning more, and teaching God's people. I love how they have become my and Tyrel's friends. I am thankful God put them in our lives.


I think that is enough for this week.
Sorry no photos, no time to find some right now.