Omaha Here come the bulldogs!!

So today was good. Geoff and I did not want to get out of bed for church..but we both knew we needed to. Glad we did. It usually happens when I don't want to go that I have a good day at church. It was good to here from two graduate students from seminary...none from my class though. And from Br. Stevenson from the HC. He gave a good talk and kept us chuckling throughout. So after the 1st hour I went to nursery and Geoff taught his class. Good Job honey on teaching Sunday school. One day one of your kids will come up and thank you for doing it.
Nursery was good. Had a couple of visitors and Mom helped me today because Melissa decided she needed to take her son to Disney. Why she didn't volunteer to take us is beyond me! Ha anyway nursery was good. Oh yeah when we got to church Mom and Dad had the Gerratt kids because Julie was have contractions but now it is almost eight and no baby yet. We are just waiting for the call to go stay with the kids or do what ever we need to do to help them and Emilee since she will be doing most of the watching. She is so good with those kids and I think they really like her. Good thing huh because Julie asks her to babysit a lot! Go Emilee!!
So any way back to my title. Geoff and I came home and of course I took a nap while Geoff prepared our dinner. Steak and baked potatoes! Yum my fav. So we got a marinade for them and he soaked them while the potatoes cooked. So we had a great afternoon.........
Steak & Baked Potato + Georgia Baseball+ Each Other= EXCELLENT
and to make it even better the BULLDOGS are going to OMAHA!! I know we love football but it was great to sit and watch Georgia Baseball together. And winning the game to go to Omaha is even better. So next Saturday our day is planned! More GEORGIA Baseball and good fun and food!
All I can say is GO DAWGS!!!

Lonely

So I am sitting at home waiting for my amazing husband to get home from work so we can decide what we are going to do! I don't know why but I am totally missing my BFF Ellen. I have thought about how much fun we had on our cruise and just wishing we could all go again! I feel like it has been forever since I have seen Ellen and Kyle and I am not liking the fact that our lives are so busy we cant drive the hour and a half to visit each other! Well to myself desired pitty party for missing my friends I am off to watch some TV!

Wish you were here Ellen....and Kyle! (OK and Bryant!) Come visit!!!!!!!!

And Geoff come home from WORK!!

Special Time

So I am taking heed from Chels and blogging about one of my sisters. Yes it is that time when we all get some mail that contains announcements for high school grads. Well I did help the economy by printing labels for Jessica's to be sent to friends and family. I think she liked if she even saw them, don't even know that Mom did them for her. Just some things I don't know anymore since I am "out" of the house.

So Jessica did it!! She graduated from her High School career. Jessica attended an Academy that is linked to a bunch of "Base Schools" in the county. She majored in pre-med. Which I guess means she took special classes while also taking her basics like Math, Science, Social Studies and English and a Foreign Lang. The language she was interested in was french. Only reason I know that is because I saw her with a French Book. She was actually studying. She did this a lot her senior year. Don't know if she was trying to make up for the playing she did her junior year or what but I am so proud of her. I know that being in the schools here is not easy. You don't have a support group of members by any means. You are basically all on your own except for the few from the ward but we all end up hanging out with different groups and tend to not stick together. But Jessica did good. She went through the normal annoying High School Drama that we all hate and cant wait to get out of but for some reason sometimes it is not that easy. But she was a good example to her friends and always tried to do the right thing.
I am so thankful for her in our family. She is very sweet and also very unpredictable at the same time. How I don't know but I am very glad that we have grown closer over the past few months. She is really funny and full of spunk!
Jessica I hope that you will always remember our Heavenly Father in everything you do! Remember who you are and that you are very special. I love you so much and cant wait for us to share more memories together in the future! Just be strong in your college years and make the best of them! Go forward with faith and the Lord will bless you in your desires to continue on your journey!
I love you sis!

Happy Birthday DAD!!!

So today is my dad's birthday! I wanted to just write a little something about him so when Geoff and I print this out We can remember it, I can remember it.

So 26 years ago I born to an amazing set of parents! I was reading in my baby book one day and noticed something that my dad asked me as a baby and I think of it often. He must have been holding me and he ask, "What was heaven like?" Today i love to think of that because when my grandpa Maples passed away the only thing that really got me through was knowing that he would still be able to know my kids. I am so thankful for the Plan of Salvation and what it teaches us. How lucky we are to know that we existed before we came here to earth and also knowing that there is life after this one!
OK so back to my dad's birthday. Not sure what we will do except for the fact that dad told me he wanted me to buzz his hair. That is easy enough but I want to do something more! I have not always been close to my dad but something changed when I got married. Actually before I got married. I think our relationship changed after I graduated High School. Life was a little uncertain b/c i didn't know what I wanted to do for a living. My dad came home one day and said The girl who cut my hair today was only 18. Why don't you go to school to do hair. Well from that point on my dad has had a big influence in my life. Well way before that but that is when it really sunk in how much he cared for me and my future. So ended up going to beauty school. I finished and today I work at a salon and at a resort and I love both of my jobs!
I just wanted my Dad to know how thankful I am for him and for his love and support through out my life.
Dad you are an amazing man! Even when you are silly and don't always choose the right things to eat. But Just remember that I love you and I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father sent me to You and MOM!

Dad HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I LOVE you!

What a weekend!

So this weekend did not start off to a good start! So I worked Friday at both places. I had two haircuts at lunch so I went to the salon and did them. I went back to the office and I was starving so I had a PB&J for lunch. Earlier when I was cutting hair I started feeling bad. Didn't think much of it till after I ate lunch, then I started feeling REALLY bad. I got clammy and a little yucky feeling. So I tried to stay at work but by three I was feeling horrible. I called Geoff so he could call and tell a family that we could not babysit for them. I felt really bad for canceling at the last minute but we will make it up to them. So I came home and just layed on the couch feeling terrible. Nothing really happening, so I just tried to sleep and hope that I would feel better after I woke up. Well Jessica needed her brows waxed for her Graduation on Saturday so i had to do them for her. I was fine with that b/c after i got done she stayed with me for a little while. Well she left and then shortly later Geoff came home thank goodness. I hate being home by myself. So Geoff took care of me and I slept some more. Well our friends called and wanted to stop by so they did and it was nice of them to come by. They offered to go get me some ginger ale if I thought I needed it but I told them I was fine. I thought I was anyway and we had sprite. So not long after they left it all came up! My lunch and my Popsicle. I don't know why in the world that happened but it did. I cried because I have never done that in front of my husband. But I guess there is a first for everything. He was so good to me! He did not hold my hair though! I guess mom's just do that for you! So I went to bed after all that excitement and slept on and off all night!
Well I got up Saturday morning feeling a little bit better and so I sat in the tub b/c my body hurt so bad! I had to get feeling better b/c Jessica had her Graduation Ceremony today. Well come to find out Emilee was sick TOO! So it was not just me feeling like poop. Needless to say we both went to the ceremony and made it almost to end before we had to visit the bathroom. Just the feeling was there that was not good! So we missed Jessica walking across that stage!
But I am so proud of Jessica and her accomplishments. She did struggle with all the high school drama we all dealt with but in the end she did really good! Jessica, I am so proud of you and I am so thankful to have you as my sister. I hope that we will continue to grow closer as sisters and be the best of friends! You go girl! Just remember that the road does NOT get easier but it is fun and exciting. Just remember to pray about some of your decisions and the Lord will help you! I love you sis!

OK enough with the mushy stuff. So We had dinner tonight for Jess. She wanted Flank Steak and Taco's! It was good but would have been better if I was not afraid to eat! Oh well. Life goes on sometimes with food and sometimes we just have to go with out till our stomach can handle it! Well sorry if I made you sick by my weekend. It will be all good when Monday comes.


Oh yeah seminary graduation is tomorrow in Florence! BOO! Mom is making me go you know just because I taught. I guess I should go for my two graduating seniors Kevin and Jessica! You two go on with your bad selves! They did really good well Kevin did anyway. He tried to read on his reading chart and memorise the Scripture Mastery's, and Jessica mostly told me when it was time to end or she slept! Oh well maybe she learned something with having a lazy teacher like me!


Pictures will come later b/c they are on mom's camera from graduation and I will take some tomorrow in FLo town!

Oh yeah Our cousins in Utah are having a fast for their baby. Go to their blog and read it! And if you need something to fast for PLEASE remember them! We love them and pray for them often! Thanks so much for the prays in their behalf! May God bless them in their time of need!

Memorial Day 2008

So today was really fun! We spent time with family and friends at the beach. When I have been leaving comments on Brytts page I have been saying, "love the beach crew" So i thought it a good idea to actually go to the beach. So being that we all had the day off we went. Still remembering the real reason for the day.

We had Jessica, Emilee, Andrea and Talera stay the night with us Sunday night. We got up and I made Cinnamon rolls for everyone and we then got ready for a morning at the beach. We were to meet some friends there at ten. We met Mandy, Tiff, Vic, Ginny, Julie, Kennedy, Rex, Jared and Melissa came latter. So we all met up and played in the sun and water. It was really nice to be able to relax and enjoy being with our friends and family.

After the beach Geoff and I headed over to our other parents house for a little pool action. Swimming pool that is. So we met back up with Tiff, Vic, Mandy, Ginny and mom Terri. We lounged by the pool and got burnt and the water was really cold. But all in all it was fun being with our extended family! Thanks for including us as part of the fam! We love you guys so much and are so thankful that you are in our lives!

So after the pool we came home and got cleaned up and ended our day at dinner with Mom, Dad, Blake and Emilee! We ate at Ruby Tuesdays and I had ribs and it was delicious! So our memorial day was very nice.

But again like I said in our earlier blog...Thank You to the men and women serving for our country right now! May God Bless your families and loved ones while you are away!

Memorial Day

Ernie and Carol

Joe is the man in the Center!

So today means a lot to me. Not because it was a day off for Geoff and I but because we have family that has served our country!



So First I just want to thank all the the Men and Women serving today for our country. I am so thankful for them because I am not brave enough to leave my family and fight in a war. Today I have been thinking a lot about Men in my life that make me thankful for this day. I am going to start with the one that I am closest to which if my Grandfather Ernie. He left home at a young age to serve in the Korean War. He did not do fighting he was an assistant to a Chaplin, I think that is right. But First he served a mission for his church at the age of 19. Then he came home and met my grandmother and then soon left for the war. I am not quite sure how the history goes but I just wanted him to be remembered today. He was an amazing man! He always took care of his family and served to the fullest in his church callings. He loved life and enjoyed telling me his life stories. When I was younger we would go ride bikes together, bowling, and the thing I remember the most is Walking on the beach with my grandpa and rubbing our worries away on our worry rocks! He taught me that if you picked up one of the smooth stones on the beach and rub it while you walked you could rub your worries away! We would just walk and talk. Then on our way home we would stop at the gas station and get a "Big Gulp" grandpa would get a Pepsi for us to share. Pepsi was his fav. But today I remembered him as I was at the beach with my husband, family, and friends. So today I dedicated to my loving Grandfather! Thanks Papa for your sweet spirit and strong testimony! I will never forget the good times that we had here in Myrtle Beach! XOXO



OK the second person who I want to remember today is Geoff's Dad Joe! He served in Desert Storm. He was/is a Col. in the United States Air Force. An amazing man. The coolest thing ever though is that is plane is on the "old" Air Force Base in MB!! It is named the Dawg Hawg of course. But Geoff has a wonderful Dad. He is loving and Kind and always willing to help. He has become someone that I can look up to and I am so thankful for him in my life. Thank You Joe/Dad for serving our country.



And last of all Is another guy named Joe who is serving NOW in Kuwait. He has an amazing wife who supports him 100%! She is enduring a lot being a mom and supporting a man in the uniform. Thank you Joe for fighting for our freedoms and safety.





God Bless and the Men and Women serving on this Memorial Day 2008!

Just Because

So I have not blogged in FOREVER!! Sorry. Seminary is Ending and I am just working my brains out! So Shannon is off this week(she is the girl i work with at the Resort) and I am doing the job we usually do as a team. It has been a little overwhelming doing that and making appointments for me at the salon. Thank goodness it has not been one of those weeks where everyone and their brother decide that their hair grew over night and all needed to get in like yesterday! HA
Don't get me wrong I love those times at the salon because that means I can put a little money back for play money!
So Geoff and I have just been doing the norm. Wake up do seminary go to work at both jobs. Geoff gets up an hour later gets ready goes to work, then we both come home talk about what we want for dinner how tired we are and how our day was! Sometimes I feel like we are just going threw the motions!
I guess the only thing that could change that for a little while would be to add a kid to the mix! Not saying that we are prego. But that would be some way to change our motions!
Anyway enough of the Childish talk for now, there is NOTHING in the oven so to speak!
I have been thinking a lot lately how much of a blessing seminary has been in my life. Yes it has been hard and yes I have been way tired but it has blessed us so much. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving us opportunities to help us grow. Not only as an individual but as a couple. Geoff has been a HUGE help with all the house work. We have both slacked off here at the end but he really has been amazing at helping with everything! Although he never offered to get up and teach except for when I went to Utah in October for my grandfathers funeral, he did do it then for four days! Thanks honey. But I just wanted to say Thank you to my Heavenly Father for the blessing he has given Geoff and I this school year of 2007-08. I just hope and pray that i will continue to study my scriptures and that Geoff will be interested in joining me in doing so! But again I am very Grateful for the church and the joy and blessing we receive from it!


Ok so I guess I went on roll with that! But things have been going good here at the Beach! We miss and love everyone we don't see often. But now that I will have more time to blog it will only get better and will have pics!

We love you all! (MinDee)

Mother's Day!

So today was a special day! I got two orders of flowers for our mom's in on Thursday and then Geoff and I spent time together picking out necklaces for our mothers. It was fun. Seeing Geoff look for the perfect one for his mom and Me looking for the one that said, "MOM"! I found a really pretty butterfly for my mom and Geoff found a really pretty heart for his mom.


So i had Geoff call his mom and ask her if she wanted to do breakfast this morning at Nibbles and of course she said YES!! Yeah. It was nice to meet Em and Joe there for breakfast and give her the gifts and flowers. We got her the necklace and then I printed out three pics. One to go in a frame that said "I Love Mom" and the other two were of me and her at the football game at Vandy! She loved them and that made me happy!


I called dad in the middle of the week to see what he had in mind for my mom! I asked him how about we do dinner, ribs mom's fav! So he said yes and then we planned more..Dad invited The Gerretts over too so Julie would not have to do much. Geoff and I got the ribs and cooked them. We used a recipe from the Rachel Ray Mag and i think they went over pretty good. I did not get any but don't worry we will have them again! They smelled good and they looked great! We also did hamburgers for the kids! Easy! I think mom enjoyed it. So I also made a cake and icing and took it to mom's and had the little kids help me decorate it with gummy lifesavers! I had fun with that with the kids! After dinner they watched the Jazz game and then we did cake and presents! Emilee got mom a flat iron cover in her pattern of Vera Bradley! And Geoff and I gave her the necklace with a frame that also said "I love Mom" with a pic of all the kids! It was pretty cool!





So to all the mother's out there! Thank you. I know I have the GREATEST mom ever and that is probably b/c I have the GREATEST grandmother too! I actually have two GREAT grandmothers! I am so thankful for them and for the way they raised my parents. My Grandma Maples did wonderful. My mom is AMAZING! Even when times are tough she stills seems to get through it! So Thank to Mom for all she has blessed me with and given me! THANK YOU MOM and I LOVE YOU!!


To all my other moms out there including my mother in law and Grandmothers and Aunts and Friends Moms and Women who have touched my HEART......THANK YOU! Stay strong and always remember to PUSH!!!! Pray Until Something Happens!

THANK YOU for our Earthly Mothers!!!

Here are the pics we put in frames!

The Tag of Three

THREE Joys: Being with my family, Being with Geoff and Having a Good day!

THREE Fears: Not being able to stay out of debt, car wrecks, and being alone!

THREE Goals: To make everyday a GREAT day!.... Thanks Grandpa Mapes!, To Make people happy, and to set more goals! HA

THREE Current Obsessions: Brownies and Ice Cream, Work, and Sleep

THREE Random: I love to blog!, I love being with my husband and not by myself, And best of all I love being ME!!


I TAG.......Mary Ellen, Kim, and Geoff!!!!
Love all of you!! (MinDee)

PS
Thanks Chelsee for the TAG!!