Summer Fun

My favorite part about summer is the month with the kids! It was too cool when we got there to pick them up and my baby girl was so excited that she didn't wait for the truck to stop before she had her door open.

When we got home we went over to the Price house to visit our friends. This house has got to be any kid's dream come true. They're right on a pond and they have all kinds of animals! As soon as we got there, Miss Bella caught one of the ducks for her friend Bethanie to hold:

Then Jud told the kids if anyone could catch the rooster, they would get a dollar. Austin was ready for the challenge and was in on that one in a heartbeat:


Of course if Brother gets to hold a rooster, than Sister must too. Here she is, rooster in a football hold and her friends by her side:


After all that excitement, Bella, who loves bugs of any kind, shouts "There's a stickbug, don't step on it!!!" Austin grabbed it right up:


At the end of the day, after the kids were worn out, my baby girl brought me these:


I have the best kids ever!!

Dream House

Remember this? The Barbie Dream House. Every little girl's dream home from the time we could ask for it. Actually, I wasn't really a Barbie girl, but my baby sister Julie was. She's a bit young for the original orange and yellow model with the signature plaid sofa, but she had her own two-story custom Barbie Dream House along with all its amenities. I remember many hours spent getting her house decorated just so. Julie would ask us, "PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE come play Barbies with me." My sister and I would reluctantly obey our parents commands to play with her or be grounded forever.

Now, my home may not be every little girl's childhood image of their future dream home...but it is my dream come true. If you don't know, in December we bought a house that was built in Panhandle in 1920 as a line shack out of derrick lumber. At some point it was moved to Borger and placed on top of a basement that is almost the entire size of the house.

When we got the house, I made my plans, laid them all out in 3D on floorplanner.com, and dreamed of what my home would look like. Even in my dreams it wasn't as beautiful as it has become. It is the result of the hard work of so many. It is the result of many prayers, aching muscles, cuts, scrapes, laughter and tears. It is absolutely beautiful. Although, we still have the bathroom to do and we won't be doing the floors for 6 weeks or so, it is beyond my sweetest dreams.

It may not be a mansion high up on a hill. It may not be what some women dream of. It didn't cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. But its mine, no bank owns it. It was created for my taste, in my style and I think its beautiful! I truly have my very own dream home!!!

On another note, please pray for Vaughn's mom. Her COPD is acting up and she has a serious bronchial infection. She will be in the hospital until at least Wednesday.

A Decade of Life - Austin Sean

Okay, if my scrapbooks weren't packed, you would be looking at a picture of my sweet baby boy from when he was a baby. But everything is packed, so you can pretend. He was a gorgeous fat little baby with beautiful blue eyes.

At 3:44 this morning, my son, Austin Sean Boggs, started his 11th year of life (he turned 10). I pray that he knows how proud I am of him. I pray that he feels loved. I pray that he grows into a Godly man.

In honor this celebration of a decade of his life, I wanted to list some memorable things that have happened since he was born:

1999
-Austin Sean Boggs was born in Amarillo, TX
-The People's Republic of China launches the first Shenzhou spacecraft.
-Lance Armstrong wins first Tour de France.
-NASA intentionally crashes the Lunar Prospector spacecraft into the Moon, thus ending its mission to detect frozen water on the moon's surface.
-Roman Catholic Church and Lutheran Church leaders sign the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, ending a centuries-old doctrinal dispute over the nature of faith and salvation.

2000
-January: The last "Peanuts" comic strip is created by Charles Schulz. February: The last original Peanuts comic strip appears in newspapers a day after Charles M. Schulz died.
-America Online announces an agreement to buy Time Warner for $162 billion, the largest corporate merger in history.
-Presidential elections are held in Russia, and Vladimir Putin is elected President.
-Hillary Rodham Clinton is elected to the United States Senate, becoming the first First Lady of the United States to win public office.
-Vicente Fox is sworn-in as President of Mexico, ending the 75 year control of the PRI.
-The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore, deciding the presidential election of 2000.

2001
-64-year-old Sherman Bull, of New Canaan, Connecticut, becomes the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
-Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has a 2-1/2 ton Ten Commandments monument installed in the rotunda of the judiciary building, leading to a lawsuit to have it removed and his own removal from office.
-The Syracuse Herald-Journal, a U.S. newspaper dating back to 1839, ceases publication.
-9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and airplane in PA

2002
-US President George W. Bush faints after choking on a pretzel.
-Super Bowl XXXVI: The New England Patriots defeat the St. Louis Rams, 20-17, to win their first Super Bowl championship.
-A near-Earth asteroid estimated at 10 metres diameter explodes over the Mediterranean Sea. The resulting explosion is estimated to have a force of 26 kilotons, slightly more powerful than the Nagasaki atomic bomb.
-Antonio Meucci was recognised as the first inventor of the telephone by the United States Congress.
-The Tandy Center Subway in Fort Worth, Texas, ceases to operate.
-The U.S. Homeland Security Advisory System is set to Orange, or High Condition, for the first time.
-International Day of Peace recognized by the United Nations as a full day of ceasefire and nonviolence.

2003
-Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which will be its final one. Columbia disintegrates 16 days later on re-entry.
-Last successful contact with the spacecraft Pioneer 10, one of the most distant man-made objects.
-US troops capture Baghdad, Saddam Hussein's regime falls two days later
-U.S. President George W. Bush announces the end of major combat operations in Iraq.
-The last Volkswagen old-style Beetle rolls off the assembly line at Puebla, Mexico.
-The Cedar Fire is reported at 5:37 pm. It becomes the largest wildfire in California history.

2004
-Mohammed Bahr al-Uloum becomes President of Iraq.
-Six Flags sells 8 of its theme parks to private investors.
-A 4 kg meteorite hits the house of Phil and Brenda Archer in Ellerslie, New Zealand, destroying the roof and a couch.
-Barry Bonds becomes only the third Major League Baseball player to hit 700 or more home runs.

2005
-Deep Impact (space mission) launches from Cape Canaveral by a Delta 2 rocket.
-Adriana Iliescu gives birth at age 66 and becomes the oldest woman in the world to do so.
-The new Canadian War Museum opens, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of V-E Day.
-W. Mark Felt admits in the magazine Vanity Fair published today that he is the anonymous source Deep Throat in the Watergate scandal. The Washington Post would confirm this on June 1st. Felt was at the time (1972) the number two man at the FBI.
-President Bush announces his nomination of Harriet Miers to replace retiring Sandra Day O'Connor as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

2006
-Saddam Hussein is convicted of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court and hanged in Baghdad.
-President Bush uses his veto power for the first time, striking down legislation that would have expanded the number of stem cell lines available for embryonic research using federal financing.

2007
-Nation Mourns President Ford. Some 3,700 people attend a state funeral in Washington, DC, for the 38th president.
-Harvard Names Its First Woman President. Board of Overseers votes to name Drew Gilpin Faust, a historian, as the university’s first female president in its 371-year history.
-Sarkozy Wins French Presidential Election

2008
-Barak Obama elected the first African American President
-Alaska Governer Sarah Palin ran for the first female Vice President with Presidential Candidate John McCain
-Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in the Bejing Olympics.

2009
-Hillary Clinton confirmed as Secretary of State
-Obama/Biden sworn into White Hosue.
-Octuplets born to California woman.
-President Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package into law.

My Secret Project

I have watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition for years. Doing this house has made me feel like I am doing my own small version of the wonderful show. Especially the part where all the friends pitch in to help. I know I keep going on about it all, but I really can't thank you all enough. Anyway, so I thought I would steal an idea from Ty. My own secret project.

Okay, so I have pretty much had free reign in the house as far as design and colors and stuff go. But I have run mostly everything by Vaughn first. This is the exception. I told him last night that the bedroom is off limits. Once he gets the closet finished and the carpet laid, he is to exit the bedroom, never to return, well not never, but never until the project is finished.

I have it all laid out in my head, just still looking for a few things. I have ideas for most of these items and can't wait to see how it all turns out. I have ideas for a bed bench, floating nightstands and beautiful ambient lighting. I will post before and afters of the items I make myself, like the bed bench I'm making out of an old coffee table I bought at the perpetual yard sale on the corner of 3rd street.

A couple of people said I missed my calling, that I should have gone into Interior Decorating, I don't know about all that. I'm just having fun. Keep checking back and I'll let you know how the room unfolds!

More Before and (Almost) Afters - Front Room

Here are a couple of pictures of the front room I was telling you about yesterday:

The window on the before picture on the west wall went away and you can't see the little window because the door is open. All of the windows on the west side of the house went away because we will build a garage at some point in the future.

On the floor, thats my upper kitchen cabinets! Aren't they gorgeous!? They're Oak with Provencial Stain.
All that's left to do in here is hang the lights and sand and finish the hardwood floor.

Proverbs 14:1

Every wise woman buildeth her house...

I Don't know if you could call me a wise woman, but I do know that God has blessed me so greatly. I have been given the opportunity to literally build up my home with my hands and the rewards are immeasurable.

Friday night Vaughn was working at Aaron's cabinet shop, learning from him how to build cabinets, while they built my kitchen cabinets (which are absolutely GORGEOUS, by the way). As he worked, I worked at our house in the front room. I definitely had an idea of how I wanted it to look, but I am not blessed with being able to see the finished product in my mind. It just doesn't work that way for me.

After all the time I have spent in there, when I finished, I felt so very satisfied. I had quite a sense of accomplishment, but it was nothing compared to what I would feel in a bit. When Vaughn came home late that night, I had all of the lights out. I didn't turn them on until he was right at the door. Not only did I have the room painted, but I had the curtains in the windows, giving it a much more finished feel, even though we have yet to do the floors. When he walked into our new front room, words cannot describe the look on his face. It was so wonderful. He said, "WOW! It looks great, Baby!" There were actual tears. My husband was moved to tears by the work of my hands. I was so happy. So happy to have made my beloved so happy.

I may not be the Proverbs 31 woman, but I think I can feel what verse 31 is talking about when it says "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." I am so thankful to have this fruit of my hands. I am so thankful that I have pleased my husband.

I pray that this house becomes a sanctuary for my beloved, a safe place for my children to come home to, a haven of peace and comfort for all who enter in...a place where Jesus resides constantly.

Shout Out!

I really like to do this from time to time. Say thank you to some folks that mean so much to me. As we get closer to moving into our house, I HAVE to say thank you to those who have made it possible. If I leave someone out, please forgive me, we've been up past midnight every night this week and my brain is truly fried. I will try to go in order of events so that no one gets forgotten.

To the Bryan/Forrest Family: The daughters and grandchildren of Mrs. Opal Marie Bryan. The sweet woman who befriended mom and lived in our house before us. Thank you for allowing God to use you to answer Vaughn's 5 year prayer, selling us your Momma's house. I can't wait for you to come see what it has become. I will be mailing you invitations to our housewarming party sometime in the weeks after we move in.

To the wonderful ladies at Pioneer Lawyer Title Co, who endured my daily phone calls, filed excessive amounts of paperwork and were very patient with all of us through the entire process. Thank you.

To the Francis Family: Brad, Katie, Barbara (and all of your sisters), Ron, Suzanne, all of you have supported us in one way or many ways and honestly there are just not words enough to say thank you and I cannot think of any way to ever adequately repay you. You've done more for us than you will ever know!

To my trusty electricians: Jim, Aaron, Scott, Robbie, and Luke, I know it was hot up in that attic, but thank you. Jesus is the light of the world, but thank you for allowing Him to use you to light up my home.

To my girls: Sandi, Tina, & Ember, helping every chance you got, not just with the house with being a wife, mother and woman of God, you girls have it all. Thank you for being there for me. Know that I am here for you!

To the painters: (the ones that aren't girls) Tye, Floyd and Gunther; Thank you. I may still be painting, but I would have a whole lot more to do if you guys hadn't helped. I truly appreciate you. Floyd, you left your paint stuff! I will try to remember to bring it to church.

To Aaron and Lisa: All I can say is Wow! I should have had my camera last night and gotten a picture of the guys building my cabinets, but its not done yet, there's still time. I just can't believe I'm getting custom built Oak cabinets. I can't believe that we have friends like you guys! Thank you for everything you have done. In the midst of everything you guys have gone through since we started this, you have been there for us. For that, we are eternally grateful. All I can say is, when we get moved in, you must come over and let me make you some enchiladas.

Finally, to Vaughn, my love, my wonderful husband. Thank you Baby, for all the hours, blood, sweat and tears that you have put into making this house our home. You are my hero!! I am so very blessed to have you for my husband!!!

And the most important for last, to God, for moving the hearts of all the people in this post, for giving them the love to share with us, and for answering Vaughn's praying and giving us this home.

We love you all. If I can pray for you, please let me know.

Colorado Trip

This weekend, Vaughn and I had to go to Denver for a Conklin Conference. We took the opportunity to go through Colorado Springs and visit Vaughn's son Cody and his beautiful daughter Destiny. In every set of vacation photos I have, there is one of these. You would think he would learn to expect it.

I really like this picture. I don't know why. Something about the green plants and the train and the mountain. Oh, how I miss Colorado.

Here she is, my beautiful granddaughter, Destiny Marie. I got the idea for the background in this picture from Becky Higgins blog. We were in the bedroom and there was a blanket sitting on the floor, so I picked it up, tucked the top into a drawer that was taller than Miss Destiny and stood her in front of it. Made for such a sweet picture. She has her Papa's blue eyes!!! I thought they made me melt until they were attached to this sweet face. I was done for!

Papa was done for too. She has him totally wrapped around her tiny finger. All the ice cream he fed her at dinner proved it.

This is the Starbucks where we got coffee on Thursday morning. I so miss Starbucks. You see, when you live in a town with a total of four stoplights, you don't get Starbucks. You get Coffee Ranch. Don't get me wrong, the Ranch rocks, but its not Starbucks. Anyway, the fellow there on the right, with the curly blonde hair, he looked at me in total disbelief when I ordered in coff-ese in my cowboy boots and Texan accent. It was so funny. Not quite as funny as Vaughn's face when he heard me order a "Triple Grande Non-fat Six Pump Mocha". It was like he suddenly had no idea who I was. So funny.

These two ladies pretty much sum up the natives of Colorado. The one on the left is your typical short and hiking sandal wearing, granola eating, tree hugging very sweet, happy Coloradan. She had a pretty smile. The one on the right, well she was at Starbucks in her Denver Broncos PJ's. Nuff said.

This, well it is what it is, the sign welcoming all to Pike National Forest. A wonderful place. Home to Pike's Peak, all 14,110 feet above sea level!

This is the sign that lied to us and said it was open all the way to the Summit.

This picture here is for my Texan brothers and sisters. Pay attention now, this is something we don't have at home. This is a TREE! Several of them actually. They smell amazing!

This is the road up to the Summit. No pavement, just slick mud, right next to a 13,000 foot drop. Yay!! See those clouds right in front of us? There were clouds BELOW us!!!

Did I mention the 13,000 foot drop. Did I mention my severe fear of heights. Thus, this picture. This is where my hand stayed for the entire trip up the mountain and most of the way down.

My sweet man, no fear of heights.

This is the Ranger that pulled up just as Vaughn was filling our ice chest with snow. Told us there was a $5 for snow. He was nice, even though Vaughn complained to him that they shut off the road to the Summit right in front of the car in front of us. We got to go 18.5 of the 19 miles. It was cold up there, very cold.

A nice family up there asked us to take their picture and then returned the favor. I'm wearing Vaughn's sunglasses because the reflection off of the snow was killing my eyes. Also, you can't see it, but my ears are frozen! It was cold up there.

Some hippies from Manitou Springs. I really loved that little village. It was like stepping into a different world.

Shopping. We shopped for hours. It was fun. The bonus, I made it out of there and only spent $20. I was so proud!!! The most fun of it all, was this view of my sweet man. When I lagged behind because I was looking in windows, I got to see this. The rest of the time, he held my hand. He's so great, he holds my hand everywhere we go. He is the most wonderful man!

He would kill me if he knew I posted this picture. When he saw it he said, "What am I doing with my mouth?" This is at lunch, some little cafe/bar that we stopped into. We ate off of the appetizer menu and I was stuffed! Good food. Great day!

We also stopped in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame before heading out of the Springs, but didn't get to see much because they were closing. I am really thankful that we got to spend this time together. It was a much needed rest from the stress of trying to get our house ready.

The next two days were spent at the Radisson in Denver at the Eagle Summit Conference for the Conklin Company. I got to speak to a room full of millionaires about how to do a home party. It was so very cool. I was so very terrified! Don had to tell me to slow down. Anyway, I gave a good presentation and signed up someone while we were there. The last party I did made over $200, that could be $200 in your pocket. It doesn't matter where you live, if you want to do a Conklin party and make nearly $100 an hour, let me know, its so much fun (and you don't have to do anything but make a list of your friends)!

Vaughn and I had a great weekend. Now we're home and rested and back to the work of getting the house ready for the kids. They will be here in less than three weeks!! I can't wait. For those of you who asked, we will be having a housewarming party. I will let you know when.

Please pray for my friends Lisa and Aaron and their baby Carson. Carson is in the hospital with spiking temps and seizures. Have a great week and be sure to let me know if I can pray for you!