Look around you!

If you live here in the Ozarks, you no doubt love this time of year. This is what I see as I drive into town every day! The colors all around us are simply amazing. This year I have been very aware of the beauty. I thinks it's because I must be getting older and learning to appreciate it when things are good, because so often times things may not be so good. I just had to go around and take pictures this year - I've got some great ones for that HSBC photo contest! And yes, I can enter because I'm not judging.

So I just have to share this thought for you, a little more on the serious side...

Why did God make the trees turn color?

There is a scientific process that occurs, I know, but I am asking why did He do that? God could have simplified things a bit and just made the leaves go from bright, summer green to all dried up and falling off the trees. I don't really have THE answer, and I think there may be many. But this year, for me, it's just beauty. God creates beauty. Look at us, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. No, we're not perfect now due to sin, but he restores us and creates that beauty again and again, just like those leaves. So, look around you and remember who you are, who God is, and what we're here for. Heavy, but that's what's in my head this week.


We're going camping tonight in the rain, 7 kids, possibly 3 dogs, and 2 campers (not tents). I'll let you know how that goes...

Rockbridge Adventure

I call this an adventure, because we were charting new territory. New to us, that is...
I think the kids will always remember the day we spent in the car when they were really hoping to go camping in the wilderness somewhere far away from a toilet.
Instead, we drove down through Ava, MO, but not quite to Gainesville, where I once played basketball. Glendale against Gainsville?? What were they thinking?? We shut them out, with the final score being something like 60 - 2. We also yelled, "Go, Go, Goat-ropers!" in the huddle to start the game. Now that's high class for ya. I digress...

Rockbridge, MO is a beautiful place with an old grist mill and a restaurant, and a humidor??? Oh well, here are a few thoughts about our day:


*Don't tell the kids you might camp there, simply nothing less will do.

*NEVER skip rocks with an eager Lab by your side. Poor thing just couldn't stay out of the water. At one point, Nathan hurled a crabapple into the river to see how far he could throw it, when out of nowhere - there goes Duke, flying over the bank and into 5 ft? deep water after that "ball." He finally gave up and tried to swim back to the edge, only to find he could not climb up the steep bank at that spot. Emma cried and we all got a little nervous, but he made it on down the river. I think he's still looking for that crabapple.

*Make RESERVATIONS at the restaurant. We didn't, but I hear it's amazing...

*35 mm camera's actually take film...

*Beware of large dogs with behemoth heads from the movie, "SandLot." 

Birthday Tribute

I miss my Sister so much my stomach hurts. She is so far away, seemingly happy and content with her little and not so little ones all around her. Her friend, Tami, lives with them and I check her blog daily for small glimpses of her life. It may just be that big Sis thing where I think she can do no wrong. But seriously, there's not much wrong she can do. She is smart, funny, devoted to her family, godly, and she can preach better than anyone I know (no offence to my pastor!), but she would never take the pulpit, unless it was totally appropriate. Best of all, she's really, really fun. She knows every song ever written. Back in Junior High, she created a list of song titles with actual names in the title for a KTTS radio contest - she came up with hundreds!. My sister loves to dance, and even tried to teach me the Texas 2 step in our backyard because she was preparing for a barn dance. She is an amazing cook, and even willing to take up snow skiing at age 41 ( although she's as bad as I am). She is raising 7 incredible kids and loves her husband dearly. She is strong willed, though, and Mom has always said she had to spank her alot. Somehow, that makes me feel better. But strong she is, now and always. I still look up to her, my wonderful sister.

Happy Birthday, Sa.

[OK, she may be great and all, but I can probably kick her tail in basketball. And there was that time when I was about 5 yrs old, my sister and my cousin, Gina, and their 2 dogs got "stuck" in the tree and sent me running for help through fields and mountains, over rocks and streams, tears streaming down my face because I thought she and my cousin were gonna die??!! Yeah, when my Dad got to them, they really thought they were gonna die. Guess I still haven't got over that one.]

Yes, those Pumpkin Spice Lattes are amazing. But I must confess, I have another addiction.

Running.

I know, I know. Sounds like a blast, doesn't it?! But I am growing to love it. I am still only doing 4 miles at a time, but I want to do a half marathon in November, if my body can handle it. Greg, pictured here, might go for the big one: 26.2 miles. Yikes. Every time I run I fight some sort of pain, and I just get so winded that I involuntarily yawn all the time while running! Plus, I'm by myself (for all you internet wierdo's out there: I take my killer dog with me), so I wear this radio earphone to keep my mind off the pain. I'm just not cool enough for the ipod. You see, I want this new gadget from Nike and Ipod where the shoe has a brain in it that sends messages to the Ipod! Tells ya stuff like how many miles you've run, calories burned, etc... I just wanted to hear the voice of Lance Armstrong come over the earplugs and tell me how awesome I am for just completing 5 miles!!
Yep, that'd be sweet.
So here I go, limping, yawning, listing to KLFJ, wearing my husbands sunglasses and a ponytail. It's quite a site, I know, but I think I'll keep going... 

The Enemy Is Here

For the first time in my life, I have an enemy. A tangible one, that is. There is a woman who was working the counter at a local Starbucks in a grocery store where I was buying a nice little giftcard for my niece. She must have seen the glint in my eye that flashed as I noticed the poster declaring the return of their beloved "Pumpkin Spice Latte." For the very moment I finished my transaction she added, "would you like one... free?" How could I resist? I'm a sucker for a bargain, but for me to like anything containing coffee or anything that tastes remotely like coffee would be a miracle of God. I have always hated the morning addiction and swore I would never fall prey. But here I am, I said "yes," to that woman.

Now, I must clarify, SHE is not my enemy. That would be unChristian-like. That unbelievably wonderful latte IS. All those delicious spices virtually cover up any molecule of coffee flavor in there. Although I seem to have just entered the world of "coffee" lovers, I must fight this battle looming ahead. A tall Pumpkin Spice Latte is a whopping 370 calories when ordered with whole milk and yummy whipped cream. That's enough to kill my 1/2 Marathon efforts coming in approx 8 weeks. Maybe I could have a friend stationed throughout the race to supply me with a P.S. Latte at various mile markers. Better yet, maybe it could be THAT woman from behind the counter.

Lost Sunglasses

To whom do these lovely shades belong???
I'll give a day old Bratwurst to the first person who comes forward and rightfully identifies the owner...

Labor Day?

Labor means "work," right? I don't think so.... Here we are having FUN, an absolute blast!












Here's what we did:

*College Class Activity at our house on Sat.

*4 Wheelin' at Mineral Springs on Sun. (Thanks Joe and Shannon!)

*Hillen Taco's, swimmin', horse ridin', 4 wheelin', dust makin', and adventure hikin' on Monday at our house.

WHEW! Now that's work, huh? And for all you you who are just hungry for some trivial knowledge, and want to know the true meaning of Labor Day (It's not quite as good as Christmas, though)... go to www.DOL.gov
I'll let them tell you all about it.

Bovines

OK, this photo just made me laugh. Why exactly, I'm not sure. 

Weight Loss Program for Dogs

I'm not kidding, my dog has lost a lot of weight this summer! All due to chasing around the pool cleaner, Steve. Maddie, the dog, thinks that "Steve," the robotic pool cleaner, is ALIVE. It's great entertainment for us all to watch her whine, bark, and even get sprayed by the moving "tail" which Steve likes to swing back and forth. Steve even climbs the walls and enjoys the deep end, eating bugs and debris from where I cannot (choose not) to go. This weight loss program simply includes running around and around and around and around... all day. I am trying this program, too, and have lost 5 lbs myself. You know, maybe Steve really is alive. 

Cousins

My big Sis is now Stateside to help out my Mom, and she extended her stay so she could roadtrip to Detroit to watch 2 of her boys compete in the Little League World Series!!! How awesome is that??!! The best part of it is that I got to see her and hug on her little girls 2 times already.


Hey! I finally figured out this picture grid thing. Many thanks to Rachel B. and Picasa. I love that program, I will have to add it to my grateful list this Fall.


My kids started back to school today. August 16th is a little early, don't you think?! We had a time of grieving and mourning last night as we put the backpacks together, followed by a night of the throw ups via Emma. BUMMER, she missed the first day of school! The first and the last days are the only 2 good ones all year, right? 

Sooners go to Texas

This Sooner loving family, who happen to live in MO, took a roadtrip to San Antonio,Texas. Here are some moments to remember:

First stop, Lulu's house...

Princess dress up
homegrown food, specifically, fried ocra
pickin peaches off the trees
frozen banana slices (try it, it's very good)
frizzy pigtails
big Aunt Teri hugs
fairy dust ( chalk dust)


On to Texas:
I-35 TRAFFIC
This is our room? Next time we need to try Hotels.com
Alamo - the shrine. Take that OU hat off, Nathan.
Rivercenter Mall - Imax, Starbucks
Riverwalk floating taxi - very cool
Mi Tierra's - authentic texmex, even down to the $5.00 song at your table
Cartoon likeness of the kids
Market center
Tower of America's , the fanciest meal the kids have EVER eaten, the floor rotated so we could watch a 360* view of San Antonio
finding the location of every bathroom downtown.

Sea World:
Shamu (he really is dead you know)
Dining with "Shamu"
Feeding the dolphins
Mom getting kissed by the mime
Mortified kids
"Lost lagoon", which smelled like it was everyone's first bath of the summer.
234 - average weight of women who wore their string bikini tops to show off their new tatoos.
Dressin' Sexy at Sea World is alot like the Ozarks Empire Fair, I'm guessin'.

Shlitterbahn:
Yeah, it's real river water. (on the old part of the park)
65 acres of lines, 4 hour waits, people, people, people everywhere.
Not your average "Lazy" river.... 2 lives lost and my big toe stabbed a guy in the neck.

Austin:
Lunch with the Gotcher's in his own home town, how cool is that?

Last Stop- Lulu's house:
cheese fondue that stunk up the house, but was amazingly delicious
planting peach trees (it's the pits)
swimming at the cousin reunion
watching the "Doodlebops" in the morning

We had fun, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun...

AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!


...except Daniel who must have slept through it.

Irony

You Know You're in the Ozarks When...

Life is good, may I explain?

Friday: I kiss my Mom and head home again, leaving Lulu at her house with a fridge full of groceries, friends who I know will check on her all the time, and Mom being in relatively good health now. We are over the worst of it for awhile, I am quite confident about that. What can I say? God answers prayers. Thanks to all of you who took it to the Throne with me. It is an awesome feeling to know that there is a huge family out there who rally behind you when you need it. Thanks to everyone who watched my kids, prayed, or simply asked how things were going. It just said to me that you cared.

OK - so I get home and try out that new place... "San Francisco Oven"?? I think that's the name. If you've been there, tell me what you think. So far the reviews are mixed.

Saturday: My Birthday. These aren't as exciting as they used to be, I'll admit. But I have decided that I won't have a problem with turning 40 in A FEW YEARS as long as I am in the best shape of my life and have made those major healthy changes to get that way. So here goes...

In the afternoon we saw "Nacho Libre." Very stupidly funny in a Napoleon Dyn. kind of way. For the record, I did laugh, even hard at one point. It was just the sheer ridiculousness. Spend your money at your own risk on that one.
Later, some friends came over, we ate BBQ and the kids swam, swum, swimmed? I have never figured that out. Also, poor Maura got kicked in the stomach by Charlie. I mean she went flying backwards. That horse is history! (Charlie is NOT the one that knocked me off.) Maura is a tough little girl, though, and she is OK.Thanks for all the fun cards and presents... Now I have to learn to TANGO! Let's just hope Antonio Banderas is my instructor.

Now for today, Sunday, FATHER'S DAY, which isn't even over, yet: We got up and went to church, heard an awesome message to Dads by Pastor Eddie, and came home to a crock pot full of Robert Roast. Greg opened his things from the kids and asked to saddle up the horses. After his quick tour around the 10, I took the girls around. Sophie, the big white mare, never gives us any problem. She is great. Amigo is the one that can get a little fiesty. Well, today he was fine! Not a problem. We just have to keep working with them, and they will get better and better. Although, I don't think I'll ever stop praying before I hop on a horse's back.
Now, on to the Reynold's for a chinese buffet...

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND!

Lulu Update

For those of you who are wondering...

Mom is doing pretty well right now, there are good days and not so good days. Good moments and not so good moments. The big operation actually happened last Wednesday morning at 7:45am. It lasted for about 6 HOURS. The other surgeons must have had assembly lines set up, they were knockin' them out like flies. Here comes one doctor to talk to the family, then another, then that first one again.... Some volunteer drill sergeant was in charge of the desk and kept yellin' out the family names, and once he came by with hard little apples of which I am still carrying one around in my purse to use as a weapon if I need it on my long drives to OK. Back to Mom - She came through the surgery with flying colors, and went to her own room a day later. They had her up walking around the floor doing laps, and I still can't seem to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day. All was going well, but now we are seeing signs of infection settling in and that isn't good. The symptoms actually could be signs of rejection, which is easier to handle, believe it or not. So, keep praying us through this time. I go down again tomorrow and hopefully she will come home from the hospital very soon.
That's all for now!

Roy Roamings

Hey, like the new title? Don't know how long I can keep up the RR thing, but I am no longer wanting to admit that coming out to the office for hours on end to blog and surf is really a big waste of time. I like having a pictoral journal of our happenings, sure beats scrapbooking.

GIVE ME YOUR INPUT and cure yourself of NCS: answer this question...

Where is the best place to take a cheap, fun, family friendly roadtrip this summer?

(Be advised it cannot include purchasing a set of mouse ears. )

The Horse + the Post = One badly bruised hip bone and a possible cracked rib...

Who wants to come ride a pony???



Mom update: THANK YOU to all of you who have checked this blog and prayed for my Mom. They have postponed her surgery until June 6 or 7??? This is a transplant surgeon so his schedule has to be flexible. Of course his office could use a little desk help in communicating with the patients and their families, that would be nice. Just so you all know, if you ever want to get anything done and you keep hitting a brick wall, call my husband. He'll take care of it. After a day and a half of me trying to get some info about rescheduling the surgery, Greg got the number and talked to the surgeon himself within 30 minutes. He was even nice, too. It must be a special gift to be able to work with people so well. Almost 16 years ago, he pulled that on me and I married him! Go Greg. You're the hero.

The Waiting Game

8:30am Ready to walk out the door after a sleepless night, Mom has fasted, the bags packed and everything ready.

8:31am The phone rings, it's the hospital. SURGERY POSTPONED.
The surgeon had to perform emergency surgery on someone else and we don't want a tired doctor cutting on my Mom. OK, we'll wait. Just let us know when he's good and ready. Hopefully Tuesday?

8:45am Out the door, we want some breakfast! So we went to Cracker Barrell and came right back home. So now we are sitting by the phone, anxiously waiting the call that will tell Mom when it's time for her big dance. Don't you hate that "Don't call us, we'll call you" scenario?!?!?

For all of you who read this blog and still suffer from NCS (No Comment Syndrome), I am very thankful you are here and now I need to make a request. It is time to take a momentary break from my usual sarcasm and/or fluffy stuff of life type entry, so here goes:

Please pray for my Mom. She goes in for sugery this coming Monday at Noon. I couldn't possibly make an accurate description of what they will do to her, but to make a short summary, I'll do my best... (If you aren't into details you can skip the next paragraph)

She recieved a liver transplant a little over one year ago, and her recovery went better than we could even hope for at first. She did not reject the liver, and adjusted her lifestyle to match the many needs of a transplant recipient. However, since Christmas she has had a difficult time. The liver has not been functioning properly mainly due to the bilary tree not draining well, this is the place where all the ducts come from the liver and move into the small intestine. She also has a very uncomfortable incisional hernia that is causing all kinds of problems, too. After some pretty severe pain, she finally cries out for help and spends a week in the hospital trying to get better. They sent her home for a week to regain some strength and now we are slated for surgery on MONDAY AT NOON. As I understand it, the doctor's will actually remove this "bilary tree" and somehow connect the small intestine to the liver... didn't know you could do that. There is still a lot I don't know, but I will ask many more questions to better grasp what is happening. They are saying, though, that this will be "even more extensive" of a surgery than the transplant was, and to expect her recovery to be the same: approx 3 months?? Well, she was Wonder Woman a year ago, so I am hoping and praying for the best.

If you have EVER even met this precious woman, then you know what a jewel she is. Proverbs 31 in the flesh. I keep trying to put into words how amazing she is... but they don't seem to make it into any one complete sentence. She is calm through all of this, and encourages me through scripture when it should be the other way around.

So, I ask you, my faithful bloggers, family, and friends... if you talk to God, please talk to Him about my Mom. I sure am, our kids are, I hope you'll do the same. I will be in OK for the big event, and will try to post from my Mom's computer so you can all have an update.

AS FOR MEMORIAL DAY: If all goes well, I will try to be back home, but I can make no guarantee and so bummer, we cannot plan a big blowout pool party here at the Roy Ranch. Maybe we can aim for Flag Day or something! We'll keep you posted on that as well!

THANK YOU!!!!