Boo!

I guess you are surprised to see me, huh?!

It is not that I am a lazy blogger...okay maybe a little. Moreso, life is just in auto pilot right now. Things are cruising along, but not really exciting.

I don't think you really want me to give you a run down of my grocery shopping adventures, the mounds of laundry I have been doing, how excited Deuce Mullenix is over this new food I found for him, or the fact that I was called out in front of everyone in church Sunday night - yes, I was called out for being a Dave Ramsey nerd (I suppose that was better than being called a drunk or a harlet LOL!).

Or I could talk about sopping up water from the basement, cleaning the black gunk off of my car, how wonderful the new cafeteria at work is, or the fact that I am furious that someone opened their car door on my car some time this week and gashed my paint up {grrrrr}!

So instead of torturing you with the boring details of my week, I will just share a little goodie I made for Sweet Memories over the weekend when I found a little "me" time in my sanctuary:





Maybe I will buy a Mad Libs book, so I can come up with a fictiously, exciting life....do they still make those?

~MM

Only The Good Die Young.....

I have always loved this circa late 70s Billy Joel song. It has a fun upbeat tempo, and the lyrics are fun. It's cliche, but on this day 2 years ago one of the best died way too young.

None of us could have ever dreamed how September 22nd, 2007 would rock our world. How could a seemingly healthy 31 year old be fine one minute and then gone in the next? Adrian Lanning had waited all of his life to finally get to this place. He was happily married with a 6 month old baby boy. I seriously have never heard of anyone who did not like him. (I wish I could say the same for myself.) He was a wonderful, considerate man who was mature way beyond his years in his demeanor and compassion for others. He was also prankster, and didn't seem to get bent out of shape when the joke was on him. He was a man of even temperament - I don't think in all of the 15-16years I knew him, that I ever once saw him mad. He was someone that you could count on - his word meant everything to him. If he said he would do something, you could take it to the bank. He also put friends and family above everything else. If you had a need, you could be sure he would do everything in his power to meet it. He made all of our lives richer for knowing him.

Civil service was in Adrian's blood. I remember him counting the days down until he was 16. Not so much about be able to drive, but so he could be a junior firefighter at the local volunteer fire dept. He worked in the jail at the Sheriff's Dept, and was so excited with Burrell Langley gave him his big break, and sent him to mandate school for the city of Bowdon. He worked there for several years, and then he transferred back to the county. He joined his 2 brothers in serving and protecting Carroll County.

When God took him home 2 years ago, we all lost a part of ourselves that we will never get back. I'm sure I will go to the grave and never understand how this tragedy fits into the big picture. I can't comprehend why God would not let Adrian be a part of his little boy's life for no more than he was. But I know there is a purpose, and nothing happens by accident.

This one is for you, Adrian "Hotdog" Lanning. You will never, ever know how much you meant to me, and how blessed I am for knowing you! Only the good die young.....

Rain, rain - GO AWAY!

I was working on a blog post about how I am consumed w/ all of the "stuff" in my house and in my life, but that will have to be for another day - because today I am consumed w/ sadness, confusion, and blah from all of the rain that we have been getting. I've always felt compassion for those in other areas that deal w/ natural disasters, but it is much harder when it is people in your community, people you see in passing at the grocery store, people you work with, people that are your friends.

Yesterday morning, I dumped my rain gauge. We had 5 inches from Friday - Sunday. Last night around 8:00, I dumped another 1/2 inch or so. Then the flood gates opened, and it poured all night long. This morning at 5:00 - I dumped 5 1/2 inches, and there is already another 3 from just today. To say that we are water-logged would be an understatement!

I am so over this rain and all of the destruction that it has brought with it. Here in Carroll County, we have lost 3 toddlers to weather related incidents. It breaks my heart to know that these parents will not see their babies grow into sassy 8 1/2 year olds like mine. I know God is in control, but I really have to catch myself from asking why.

Bobby got called in @ 2:00 am this morning. They spent most of the morning rescuing people from their homes. Bobby was on a jet ski, and said it was no where near as fun as it is on a calm lake. Fortunately, they were able to get all of the ones they went after. Most were very gracious, except for one ornery old man who wanted to have a cup of coffee first!

Southwire was also hit - all of the Carrollton plants flooded and were w/o power for most of the day. The plant workers are already on short time, and now they have missed a couple of days. I hope it will all be over and cleaned up soon so those folks can get back to work.

All in all, we personally are good. A little bit of water in the basement, and a day off of school and work. J's out of school again tomorrow, but I will have to work.

Here's hoping for drier weather and happier days!
~MM

Growing up is tough!

I know, I know.....I have been neglectful to my blog again. Well, just go ahead and report me to DFCS. J would love that b/c according to her, I am a "mean momma". Little does she know that I take that as the highest compliment :)

I am big on personal responsibility, and I refuse to raise an "irresponsible, blame everyone else, and take no ownership of the circumstances" brat. J learned today that I meant business. She has left her book at school a couple of times. The first time, her teacher bailed her out, and let her in the room to get it in after care. Today she forgot it again. Her 1st grade teacher offered to let her in today, but I said "thanks, but no thanks". So for the first time ever, my child will not have her reading homework done tomorrow. I don't know what the punishment that carries b/c we have never been there, but.....I'm thinking for the long run and will take the consequences.

Here's where I got the designation of "mean". I made her write sentences. I know, old school, but I made her say them out loud as she wrote. Hopefully that will stick in her brain next time :)

I promised not to scrapbook this photo, but I didn't say anything about blogging! ;)

And speaking of growing up, someone in our family never will. But he is older! Bobby turned 40 on Labor Day. We had a BBQ, and his mom presented him w/ a old timers necessity kit. He said the sad thing was that he could use most of the stuff!


The craziest thing about the whole day was that the person who doesn't eat sweets ended up w/ 2 cakes! His mother made the one w/ the photo on it, and McGee's bakery here in town did the rockin' GT cake.



Have a good week!
~MM

Daily Dose of Inspiration

If you guys are not regularly going to Sweet Memories blog, now is the time to get your act together. Erin has implemented a new deal for year #2, and it involves daily updates to the blog that are chock full of great ideas.

There is something for every scrapbooker from the novice to the most detail oriented scrapper. Just think of it as a moment to do something just for yourself. And some days there will even be blog giveaways, and you would HATE to miss that. So bookmark the site and visit it daily. You'll love it - I promise!

Sweet Memories Scrapbooks

~MM

Ode to Chick-fil-A

The Mullenix girls LOVE Chick-fil-A! We hold it to be the standards of every fast food dining experience. (And sadly, most fail by a long shot.) Kids' nights on Tuesdays are always fun - we see some of the same people each week, there are fun activities for the kids, and no way could I cook for what we pay for the discounted kids meals. It is the perfect excuse not to cook, and yes - we ate there tonight ;)

We also enjoy every 3rd Thursday when CF hosts NPCA School Spirit Night. The Eagles descend on the store, and it is a brawl to the finish to see which class will win the coveted cow.

They also have the coolest special theme days.....Cow Appreciation Day (dress like a cow), Customer Appreciation Day (get your whole receipt free at next visit), and coming up on Labor Day - the Labor Day Giveaway for everyone wearing their team's colors and logos. Hope to see you at the Carrollton store, where we will be sporting our GT gear ;)

I think I'll close this one w/ a song that pretty much sums up how much I love Chick-fil-A.



~MM