Danette's Dialog

Planning, planning

2011-08-15T21:54:00.003-04:00

I am a "planner" so I am definitely having fun (even in the very early stages) of planning my wedding. The big day is Saturday April 21, 2012. It will be in Lakeside Park, KY. And I already have the most important part picked out....

The GROOM!!!!

You thought I was going to say the dress, right? Actually I have that too :)

:)

2011-07-25T08:55:00.000-04:00

Jamie asked me to spend the rest of my life with him...I said YES.

April 21, 2012 is just the beginning!

6 months

2011-02-11T08:30:00.006-05:00

Thanksgiving together

Christmas time

Playing the Wii at my sister's house

Beautiful silver standup Kitchen aid mixer...Christmas present from Jamie

Fun week night date...Applewood By the River Looved the fried mushrooms :)

He picks a good bouquet of flowers

At our first Red's game

Hanging out at my parents house

I started dating a wonderful guy 6 months ago. In some ways it seems forever because we have been friends for so long. In other ways, things are still NEW. It has been an incredibly fun journey!He is so sweet and good to me. Sometimes I wonder how I would "manage" my own house if he wasn't around to fix things, install appliances, etc. etc. Many times I have come home from work to find the leaves raked, snow shoveled...one time he even broke into my house and did the dishes. I don't deserve it!
I LOVE spending time with him and also love that he enjoys going home to my parents just as much as I do. He bought me a Kitchen aid mixer for Christmas..and I didn't even ask. He has EVEN gone shopping with me a few times (something I NEVER imagined I would do with my boyfriend LOL) He is truly my best friend!

MY HERO...MY GRANDPA!

2010-11-11T14:01:00.002-05:00

On August 13, 1950, at just 19 years of age, Raymond was granted the 3rd highest medal available (among more than 200 medals) to a soldier in the US Army. It might also be interesting to know that this medal is only granted to 1 in about 500,000 soldiers and only 1 Silver Star has been awarded since the current conflict with Iraq has ensued. This gives you some idea of its extreme significance.
The following is a synopsis of the actual presentation of the award made on August 13, 1950:
By direction of President Harry S Truman, the Silver Star (which you can see on display here tonight) for gallantry in action is awarded to the following named officers and enlisted men: Private First Class Raymond E. Collingsworth, RA15412586, Field Artillery, United States Army, a member of Battery B, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, is awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 16 July 1950, near the Kum River, Korea. The 19th Regimental Combat Team, to which the 52nd Field Artillery battalion was attached, had been overrun by overwhelmingly large enemy forces. The enemy had also succeeded in placing a road-block between the withdrawing American units and safety. Several attempts had been made to clear the block. Private Collingsworth approached the senior officer present and volunteered to undertake any duty assigned to him. In the face of withering enemy fire, he assisted in rallying drivers, in overturning wrecked vehicles blocking the road, and in moving unattended vehicles that were impeding progress. He assisted in leading the wounded on operable vehicles and volunteered to man a machine gun that was mounted on one of them. With the approach of dusk, it was determined that a last effort should be made to clear the road-block since, at that time, enemy fire would be less accurate. Just before the signal to move was given, the driver of a quarter-ton truck abandoned his vehicle, thus blocking all behind him. Private Collingsworth coolly took over. He secured an automatic rifleman and a rifleman to assist himself and the convoy started. Private Collingsworth drove skillfully and courageously, refusing to stop even when other vehicles did so. He drove through three islands of enemy resistance in his break for safety. By his daring coolness and gallantry, Private Collingsworth assisted materially in extricating a group of completely surrounded men from certain annihilation. His actions brought high credit to himself and to the military service. He entered the military service from Dayton, Ohio.

World's Best (and easiest) Peanut Butter Fudge

2010-10-25T10:11:00.005-04:00

So I made up the name of this fudge because we never had one for it. It is the easiest recipe for fudge I have ever come across. And one of the best!

The end result is a creamy chocolatey peanutbuttery fudge! :)

Ingredients:

1 lb of powdered sugar

1 cup of chocolate Nesquick powder

2 sticks of butter

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

Melt 2 sticks of butter

Mix in peanut butter

Stir in Nesquick

Stir in powdered sugar

Spread in a pan (I usually use a pie pan or something similar in size)

Refrigerate at least 1 hr

Enjoy!

Something new

2010-09-01T08:53:00.001-04:00

Hamburger Ranchera...yum!

2010-06-28T20:42:00.004-04:00

I just love new EASY recipes...so here is another ! :)

Hamburger Ranchera

Brown 1 lb of hamburger, adding 1 small can of green chilis.

Drain.

Mix 1 bag (I didn't use the whole bag) of lime tortilla chips, 1 large can of mushroom soup, 1 small can of olives, and the hamburger in a large bowl, crushing the chips.

Spread in a 9x13 pan and cover with shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 deg. for about 15 min (to melt the cheese).

I fixed black beans to go with it. Love the lime taste that the chips add.

Enjoy!

RJB

2010-05-22T23:19:00.004-04:00

Rylee Joy Baker made me Aunt Dani on April 1st. I love her to pieces!

Mother's Day

Bath time
All dressed up for church

1 day old
1 hr old

I LOVE easy, cheap recipes!

2010-02-17T08:23:00.005-05:00

I found a new recipe for a very yummy soup....Bean-Potato Chowder. It is awesome and very cheap to make (about $6).

1 20 ounce package refrigerated diced potatoes with onions (I chose one with peppers added as well for a little extra flavor)

1 14 ounce can of vegetable broth (I prefer chicken broth...mostly because I searched for 5 minutes for vegetable broth with no success)

3 cups of milk

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1/3 cup of flour

1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed

1 15 ounce can navy beans, drained and rinsed

In a 4 quart pot, combine potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 4 minutes. Add milk, bring just to simmering
In a medium bowl, whisk cheese, flour and Italian seasoning together until combined, toss gently to coat. Gradually stir into potato mixture
Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Stir in drained beans, cook and stir for 1 minute

I made biscuits to dip in the soup. I love to buy the package of "cheesy garlic biscuits" mix. I get it from Walmart...one package is less than a $1 and you just add water (so easy!), mix and bake for 10 minutes. They are so good!

ENJOY!

(Reg and Dad..since you are my only "audience" you must make this recipe for your spouse so that it makes this post worth it:)

My favorite season..fall!

2009-11-19T18:49:00.006-05:00

Bilko growing up!

I LOVE hoody weather and it's that time of year again! Wohoo!
I already have my Christmas tree up...BUT before you think ill thoughts towards me for skipping Thanksgiving. hear me out. I use my moms tree that she bought a couple of years ago and never uses. My parents brought it down last weekend and I don't have anywhere to store it so I went ahead and set it up. I don't have any lights on it yet. Thats the fun part but I am waiting until after Thanksgiving.

I started playing soccer again. Tonight is the 3rd game for "Team Shankapotamus". Having lots of fun and its great exercise.

I bought a new stove this week..my first appliance purchase since I bought the house. Can't wait to get it and start baking and cooking lots of yummy food! (Guess I better keep playing soccer:)

I don't have any pictures of the stuff I just talked about but a post is MUCH more interesting when there are pictures so I found a couple from the last couple of weeks of my life.

A star I got from Flower Factory (I didnt' have a ladder so I had to hang out the window to drive in the nail:)

I am going to be an AUNT....and no Brent isn't pregnant!!!

A strawberry cake I made one evening when I got off work early (love when that happens!)

Off to SOCCER!

Cheesecake Factory

2009-10-13T07:57:00.004-04:00

Out to eat at Cheesecake Factory
The name of this dish is escaping me at the moment but it was SOO good. I might have to get it again. It was sweet corn cakes with guacamole and sour cream and a bunch of other stuff..yum!
I have been working a whole bunch lately. I have also been painting some on my house. I still have the downstairs bathroom, hallway and guest room to finish. I love picking out paint colors but can't decide what I want to do the guest room in yet.

Mom had a horse in her barn for a couple of weeks. Her name was Ella.

Lunging Ella

Off to work!!!

Message From Bilko

2009-09-13T22:27:00.002-04:00

This is me in my new coat with my suitcase. Dani is leaving me this week on a business trip. But its OK...I'm going to spend the whole week at Grandpa and Grandma's...I even get to go to the Vets to get tutored!! My cousins Dudley and Bullwinkle will also be there!

Even in the valley....

2009-09-01T21:00:00.003-04:00

High upon the mountain the sun is shining bright
My heart is filled with gladness
Here above the cares of life
But I've just come through the valley of trouble fear and pain
It was there i came to know my God
Enough to stand and say...

Even in the valley God is good
Even in the valley he is faithful and true
He carries his children through like he said he would
Even in the valley God is good

This road of life has lead you to a valley of defeat
You wonder if the father
Has heard your desperate plea
There is hope in that rugged place where tears of sorrow dwell
Cant you hear him gently whispering
I'm here and all is well

Even in the valley God is good
Even in the valley he is faithful and true
He carries his children through like he said he would
Even in the valley God is good

Even in the valley God is good
Even in the valley he is faithful and true
He carries his children through like he said he would
Even in the valley God is so good

God is so good
He carries his children through like he said he would
Even in the valley God is good

2009-08-01T01:28:00.003-04:00

So instead of trying to catch up on everything that I have been doing since my last post, I am just jumping right into the present. Whenever I am not at work, I am home working on my house.
My most recent project has been the bathroom off of my room. Its fairly small and has low ceilings so the painting didnt take long at all. I have a cabinet/mirror that still has to be put up on the empty wall and then I will be mostly finished with this bathroom (finally!) I may add another decoration or 2 if I find a good deal.

I am headed home tomorrow to go to a race with my family. Then on to camp on Sunday. Then back to the grind on Monday.

I am blessed!

Moved in

2009-05-14T20:30:00.004-04:00

I am finally moved in...or at least for the most part. I still have boxes in the 2nd bedroom and I can barely walk through there. As I have been finishing rooms I have been putting all the clutter into the 2nd bedroom. I don't see me getting to that room for awhile. I have had a ton of help painting and moving in. My family and Holley R have been the biggest helpers. I couldn't have gotten nearly this much done in 2 months without their help.

Big purchase

2009-03-30T17:28:00.007-04:00

So, I took the big plunge....decided to do something crazy!

Meet Bilko

Getting his first bath

He has been staying at mom and dad's but Dad is bringing him to me this week.

Dudley and Bilko have become good friends and I think Dudley is going to miss him when he leaves. Bilko came from the same place as Dudley.

Love that face!

Oh yeah.....I bought a house today too.

Beach Bums

2009-02-28T13:33:00.003-05:00

Friday night we went to a cook out nearby on campus and had hot dogs and hamburgers. Then we went to the campus intramurals. Ally and Luke's teams played each other. One team killed the other team..I won't say which one was which. It was fun watching them anyways. Then we went to Starbucks and Walmart. This Walmart has palm trees growing the parking lot :)I took a jog this morning and went to the beach. I think it took me about 45 minutes to walk/run there and back. "We" sent the alarm for 8:45 and at 9:30 Ally was still snoozing away so I decided to take off on my own for a bit. The parking lot for the part of the beach I went to was already packed when I got there. It was quite a pretty morning with lots of joggers. I saw someone pulling in a fish from their boat while I was going across a bridge on the way to the ocean. When I got back Ally was FINALLY dragging herself out of bed. We packed up some snacks and books and headed back to enjoy some more sun with a couple of other girls. Now we are back at the dorm and getting ready to go get some lunch and do some shopping.

Mini-vacation

2009-02-27T11:11:00.003-05:00

Mom and dad bought me a plane ticket for my birthday. I woke up at 4:20 a.m. on Thursday so I could be at the Dayton Airport by 6:00. My flight from Dayton to Atlanta left at 7:00. I don't remember my last ride on an airplane being quite so "bumpy". I guess it was just a windy day up high because we hit a couple of spots where I was grabbing the armrest.

The temperature in Dayton when we arrived at the airport was probably in the mid 40s. By the time my plane landed in West Palm Beach, FL at noon it was a beautiful 75 deg. Ally and her friends picked me up at the airport about 1:30. We hit up Chick Fil A and then headed back to Hobe Sound. We took a walk around campus and ate supper in the cafeteria. We stopped by to look at the van that Ally and her friends had a wreck in. It was pretty banged up.

Ally had a class in the evening so I took a nap while Fred, the fish, swam wildly in his tank.When she got back we stopped by the beach real quick and then went to a local grocery store to pick up some snacks. Two of Ally's girlfriends joined us in her room last night and those snacks came in handy (Mom, both boxes of those cookies you sent are ALMOST gone!)

I slept until about 8:30 while Ally was in class this morning. Then I joined her for chapel at 9:30. After chapel, I smiled the whole way back to the dorm. The weather is JUST wonderful this morning! Beautiful blue sky, warm sun and beautiful breeze through the palm trees just does something to your mood. More later!

Where I will be in 72 hrs....

2009-02-23T13:00:00.002-05:00

Finding the positives

2009-01-21T17:24:00.002-05:00

Things I like about living alone:
1) I get the WHOLE pizza to myself! (Not that I eat it in one meal but the fact that I can if I want is the difference)

2) I never have to make my bed (who else is there to see it??)
3) I always know what food I have in the pantry
4) If the dishes sit in the sink for a day (or 3), who cares?
5) I always know when I am about out of TP
6) I can take a 15 minute shower and not feel guilty
7) I can put on my PJs when I walk in the door from work and not get any strange looks
8) No keeping track of who is supposed to be home when, etc.
9) I can buy a new couch without checking to make sure it passes someone else's inspection (see new couch below)
10) Leftovers!!! (which I happen to really like)
I would do a post of things I don't like but that would take too long :)

Mom and Dad came down for the weekend. Dad had to go to a conference nearby so mom and I went shopping all day...it was a lot of fun. They brought Dudley along...he was a good shopping buddy.

Bachelorette

2008-12-14T21:49:00.004-05:00

Mary, my roommate and best friend is moving out right after Christmas. We decided to get some pictures taken of us before she leaves. My cousin Courtney took them for us. It was freezing that day and we could barely sit still for 10 seconds but we survived.

What I did this weekend....

2008-11-30T16:34:00.003-05:00

I decorated my tree for Christmas....

and changed my oil on my car...since I now know how!

I also did a little bit of shopping and got a couple of deals., but I didn't get any pictures of the mad shoppers...I didn't go early in the morning like last year (2 a.m.)!

October Activities

2008-10-23T22:09:00.006-04:00

I learned how to change my oil this month. I am not saying I will always do it, but I have been wanting to learn how for quite some time.

Dad going after the wasps...he couldn't just leave well enough aloneMom, Dad and I went to Shipshewana for a weekend. Here they are on the porch of the Blue Gate restaurant, waiting to eat.
All ready to eat
Me and Liv going shopping in Amish country

The Amish buggys lined up at the grocery store on a Saturday morning
Inside a cold Amish auction barn
PBR in Cincy

Brent, Holley and I are on a co-ed soccer league that Brent got together with several of his friends. We have a lot of fun!

Fishing in the fall

Horsepower

2008-09-21T23:47:00.004-04:00

This past weekend was full of "horsepower" First, dad and mom and I went to Eldora Speedway to watch the World of Outlaws. It is the winged sprint cars which are my favorite. Kasey Kahne owns one so of course I was rooting for his #9 car. It won too! A scary wreck happened right in front of us with a wrecked car getting broadsided. One guy walked away while another had to be cut out of his car. He got away with a compound fracture on one of his arms. It looked pretty bad when it happened.

On Saturday, we went trail riding at Sycamore State Park. We rode a 7 mile trail and then came back to camp where dad grilled hot dogs. It was great weather for a ride. I didn't bring my camera on the trail but got some pics of the camp site

Florida

2008-09-01T09:34:00.007-04:00

During the middle of August, my parents, Jamie and I took Ally down to Florida for college. It was a long haul but wasn't too bad b/c we drove at night so that made it go alot faster.

On the way down, we went a little out of the way so we could stop by The Track.

Dad showing off
Breakfast in Stuart, FL

Dad wanted me to take a picture of him under this palm tree

Dad went fishing in the ocean for a bit

Ally's dorm roomMy Crabmeat Mango and Avacodo Stack I ordered at The Crab HouseA stingray we saw in the water..we saw one even bigger than this one that I didnt get a pic of

State Fair

2008-08-11T22:46:00.007-04:00

Ally showed Dan the Man at state fair in Columbus 2 weeks ago. I went down there for two days, especially since its her last time to show at state. She did really well. She also showed Wednesday at a quarter horse show on the grounds. She got high point and won a brand new saddle. Not bad!Breakfast in the barn Our yummy cheesecake.

Quick story: I got there on Wednesday night which was the same day Cheesecake Factory was having cheesecake for $1.50. a slice..any kind! They normally range from $6-$7 a slice. Sooo..we only had to wait about 2 hours! And that was after it took me 10 minutes to find a parking spot..and 20 minutes to walk there after parking WAY to far away. Ally was about to kill me. It was worth it...almost.

This is serious stuff! :)

I had to snap this picture of the judge...guess he got tired of standing!

Mom was trying to get a pic of me, Ally and Dan, but Dan would not look at the camera. He kept trying to eat my turkey leg and drink my sweet tea!

Corn on the Cob

2008-07-27T14:53:00.002-04:00

I went home this weekend for a family reunion. I didnt take any pics at the reunion :( BUT I did take a couple of pics of mom and I putting away some corn. A couple of weekends ago, when I was at home, mom fixed some corn and it was soo good. And I have been craving it ever since. I bought 3 dozen, saved some for lunch on Sunday, and bagged up the rest for the freezer. It was sooo good. And fun too!

Planning a Day Off

2008-07-15T11:03:00.004-04:00

Last night, my uncle called saying I didn't need to come to the office today because of some other issues. I could have went in to work at my other job BUT I decided not too. The idea of a day off with nothing pre-planned sounded to good.

I was awake at 6 A.M., already planning what to do on my day OFF. So much for sleeping in! I'm doing a little bit of work from home for my uncle, then I plan to: go running, clean my room and the house, wash/sweep out my car, pick up something from the post office, cook something for supper (instead of eating a frozen dinner), do some laundry and maybe go to a softball game tonight.

Now, getting all of that done will take some more planning :)

Tata for now!

Kasey Kahne

2008-07-07T20:16:00.005-04:00

While on vacation in TN with the family, THE Kasey Kahne was scheduled to be at NASCAR Speedpark. What luck!!! I didnt get his autograph but I did get a couple of pictures. So cool!

Dad also had to try out Earnhardt Sr's car.

Ally and Denny Hamlin

Kentucky Speedway

2008-06-20T13:13:00.005-04:00

David Ragan

Pit road--we had pit passes
Pulling in to the track

Media waiting for all the Sprint Cup guys at their haulers
Clint Bowyer
David Reutimann

Carl Edwards

I went with Dad to the Kentucky Speedway for a race for his Father's day present. See his blog or Regi's blog for all the info. I will just supply the pics :)

2008-06-18T12:04:00.002-04:00

Age: 24
Burger of choice: probably from Steak N' Shake or McDonalds
Car you drive: Mitsubishi Eclipse
Dog's name: Dudley, Remax, Oreo, Jessica
Essential item: moisturizer
Favorite show at the moment: dont have time
Game: Dutch Blitz
Home State: Ohio
Instruments you play: the radio
Juice: punch
Kind of drink you prefer at Starbucks: White Chocolate Mocha
Last restaurant you ate at: Skyline
Most time spent without sleep: I think it was about 26 hrs when I went mushroom hunting with Dad and bro in MI
Number of Piercings: 0
Overnight hospital stays: 2 I think-birth and once as a child but dont remember what I had I just remember I couldnt breathe and dad was running stop signs on the way to the hospital :P
People you were with today: no one so far (except co-workers..guess that counts)
Quiet time: not enough
Regret: too many
Status: tired and hungry :) (but lunch is soon!)
Time you woke up today: 6:14 a.m.
U - what you consider Unique: cant think of anything interesting at the moment
Vegetable you love: cooked carrots with brown sugar
Worst habit: procrastinating (but I work better under some pressure!)
X-rays you've had: Ankle-soccer injury Shoulder-when I was younger I had some problems with it
Yummy food you ate today: homemade peanut butter fudge
Zodiac sign: dont keep up with that stuff :P

PBR

2008-06-02T06:50:00.007-04:00

Last weekend I went to see PBR (professional bull riding) in Lexington Ky They were scheduled to come to Cincinnati awhile back but it got cancelled (bummer!) It was a very busy weekend for everyone so I dragged Jamie along with me It was actually in Rupp arena which is where THE Kentucky Wildcats play Here are some of the retired jerseys hanging from the ceiling of a very HUGE Rupp arena

I

2008-05-28T10:30:00.006-04:00

I am…ready for the summer weather to get here
I want...to visit Australia some day
I have…a purple car
I wish…it was time for vacation
I hate…rush hour
I miss…living in the country
I fear…giant rats
I feel…like going for a long run right now
I hear…laughter
I smell…honey roasted peanuts
I crave...a double cheeseburger from McDonalds
I search...the clearance racks first!
I wonder…if its going to rain this weekend
I regret...shopping so much (kinda!)
I love…Ghiradelli chocolate
I ache...through my abs, I did some sit ups last night
I always…set two alarms
I am not…an outgoing person
I dance...on pay day(ok not really, but i feel like it sometime)
I sing…in my car and church..thats just about it
I cry...when other people are hurting
I don’t always…look around for the cheapest gas station..that needs to change now
I fight...for the last slice of mushroom/pineapple pizza
I write…lists to keep myself organized
I never…go anywhere without my phone (probably a bad habit)
I listen…to a fan at night in the summer-helps me fall asleep faster
I need...a tall White Chocolate Mocha
I am happy…that this "I" survey is over :)

Youth Show, Columbus OH

2008-05-18T09:27:00.007-04:00

This was Ally's last year to participate at the youth horse show in Columbus OH so I went down there for Friday and a little of Saturday Dan and Ally did really well

Getting Dan cleaned up before a class
Dan getting some hydration for a long day

Dan's snack-a lollipop

A truck at the show I was considering (not) buying

What I have been up too

2008-05-11T19:18:00.004-04:00

I finally got the (hopefully) last picture for my room and Im done decorating Its taken me awhile because I lost motivation to do it after awhile I got the giant boot picture I have above my bed at Hobby Lobby I think it fits my western theme perfectly and adds some color

When I was home, Ally and I decided to go mushroom hunting...alone This is what we found :)

My new hobby...hopefully I have only played a couple of times but Mary and I are planning on playing a bunch this summer
A peanut butter pie I made for a carry-in at work
My new cookbook Mary (roommate) was laughing at me the other night b/c I was using it as reading material before I went to sleep It looks to have a bunch of easy recipes that call for "normal" ingredients :)

2008-05-07T10:20:00.005-04:00

YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD

Not as easy as you might think

Where is your cell phone? desk

Your significant other? noidea :P

Your hair? up

Your mother? wonderful

Your father? hilarious

Your favorite thing? pizza

Your dream last night? scary

Your favorite drink? RootBeer

Your dream/goal? kids

The room you're in? work

Your hobby? shopping

Your fear? drowning

Where do you want to be in 6 years? married

Where were you last night? work

What you're not? outgoing

One of your wish list items? truck

Where you grew up? Dawn

The last exciting thing you did? umm

Your life? good

Your mood? undecided

Your car? purble

Something you're not wearing: hat

Favorite store? Dillards

Your summer? vacation

Your favorite color? green

Favorite vacation spot? beach

Another week come and gone

2008-04-27T19:14:00.005-04:00

I went home this weekend Friday night we went mushroom hunting in a woods not far from the house We found 54--they were all pretty small but it made just enough for us too all have a couple of good bites We rode Jamies four wheelers and did a little go kart riding The weather was great on Friday Then on Saturday Ally and I went shopping, did some more mushroom hunting (no luck this time) The rest of the weekend included grilling out, target practice and a little fishing

Mushrooms (and cookies!)

My "big" catch

Our "toys" for the weekend Getting ready to fish

Dudley showing off his tricks, including the newest one known as "Bang" (playing dead)

Weekend in review

2008-04-13T09:27:00.002-04:00

I went home Friday for one last Lavy basketball game of the season Saturday morning I had chocolate chip and peanut butter chip pancakes (I have been craving them for 2 weeks..not sure why) They were good Basically we were just lazy all day I came back home in the afternoon and went to Joe's Crab Shack It was my first time I really liked the crab stuffed mushrooms I ordered However it was extremely loud, probably the loudest restaurant I have been in We were ready to head out as soon as our check came

Dad taking a break from basketball

My pancakes

2008-04-10T20:52:00.001-04:00

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertakeTo guide the future, as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

2008-04-08T19:31:00.006-04:00

Ally came up this past weekend I got some Reds tickets from work so Regi and Jason joined Ally and I at the game It rained for a little bit so the start time was about an hour later They lost but we had fun We were about 12 rows behind home plate

Waiting for the rain to stop

It was really nice on Sunday Mary and I took a couple of pics outside

Ally and me after a long full day of shopping

Friday Night Plans

2008-04-04T17:59:00.002-04:00

Mary is going on a date....Here she is primping :)

And guess where Im going....:)

I work right beside the Reds stadium and I got some free tickets at work today...its supposed to rain but they were free so couldnt pass them up :)

Down on the farm

2008-03-25T19:17:00.004-04:00

Why, oh why...

2008-03-17T15:53:00.003-04:00

Is it goose/geese and not moose/meese???

I have wondered this for many years but have never gotten a good answer Is there one?

Whomever can answer this question to my liking gets a big prize (to be handed out by Dad)

2008-03-05T18:45:00.011-05:00

My blog seems to have become just a summary of my weekends but nothing too exciting happens during the work except work so here ya' go

This past weekend Brent and his friend Alvin, Regi, Jason, Jamie and I all went up for Lavy basketball Me, Regi and Ally took on Dad, Jamie and Jason Somebody whooped somebody but I will let you figure that one out Then Saturday we went out to eat at Pappadeaux for Jamies birthday It was really good Dad, I think you would really like it

Ally, Jamie and I stopped at a "whole in the wall" restaurant on the way to the gym It was pretty good except for the rotten applesauce

The "winning" basketball team :)

Picking up teams

Dad can still play with the best of 'em

Saturday night dinner

My plate "Crusted Citrus Tilapia" Sooo good!

Weekend in February

2008-02-28T06:38:00.012-05:00

Reg and Jason took me out to eat on Friday night for my birthday Mary, Jamie, Amy and Kyle went too We went to Carabbas Italian Grill It was really good Then on Saturday Mom, Dad and Ally came down to visit for a couple of hours Mary and Jamie went out to eat with all of us at HOggys (love that restaurant) They bought me a shirt there (see below) Mom and Dad bought me a PS2 for my birthday :) I figured it would be a fun thing to have especially for when we have company Brent and Jamie decided to "test" it out for a couple of hours Saturday night to make sure it was working right Ha! The strawberry cheesecake they brought me didnt last long :) And of course it wouldnt be a family gathering without a little wrestling!

2008-02-12T08:02:00.001-05:00

Update: 8:02 a.m. I made it to work

Its a miracle

(Actually, it has been letting down some ice for a couple of hours My windshield had about an inch of ice on it and the roads were a little bit slippery but not too bad We are under a winter storm warning until 1 a.m. tomorrow)

2008-02-12T05:59:00.000-05:00

Update: 5:59 a.m. Wow...Its pushing 1" of snow Hope I can find my car this morning

2008-02-11T19:58:00.000-05:00

Update: 7:58 pm.

The ground is now covered Its looking like its gonna be a biggie!

2008-02-11T19:56:00.000-05:00

Update:
6:33 pm. The first snowflakes have now been reported hitting the ground in Northern Kentucky

It has arrived.

Very Cold

2008-02-11T18:13:00.000-05:00

Well, the Great White Death is heading our way This picture was taken at 6:12 p.m. "It" hasnt arrived yet but when it does...look out!! As you can tell, we have stocked up on all the essentials such as pizza, IBC Root Beer, Blueberry Cobbler creamer and toilet paper. We could be stuck inside for days....weeks....maybe even months.

There are media outlets at every turn ready to record the first drop of snow And when that happens, you can catch it right here so stay tuned

2008-01-31T18:36:00.000-05:00

I have no life which is why my blog is lacking anything new lately We are supposed to get a tiny (probably none) bit of snow tonight or tomorrow Im sooo ready for summer
The last two weekends my lil sis Ally came down to visit We didnt do a whole lot, just mainly eating and playing volleyball (lots of volleyball) I got a couple of pics of us after church and on a Saturday night just hanging out Tonight Im going to watch my brother play soccer

2008-01-12T10:12:00.001-05:00

Right now Im sitting at work...doing pretty much nothing! We have been so busy this week so I came in this morning around 7 to try and get caught up About 8:05 everything went black The power stayed off for about 1 1/2 hours So we all did some busy work When the power finally came back on, our systems were a mess so we still cant do anything Im giving it 10 minutes and Im outta here

So thats my update...:)

Updating (better late than never!)

2007-12-31T12:01:00.000-05:00

This year, for Collingsworth Christmas, we all gathered at my aunt and uncles house and spent the night Friday night we ordered pizza (a Collingsworth Christmas tradition) and stayed up very late (some till 6 a.m.) We "woke up" to a wonderful breakfast of french toast, with all kinds of different syrups including peanutbutter syrup (compliments of Gloria Gaither herself!), sausage and bacon It was a lot of fun and I think everyone is voting to do the same again next year It was a blast!

Taking it easy

2007-12-16T16:28:00.000-05:00

This weekend we got some snow here in Kentucky Saturday morning I woke up at 8:00 and it hadnt started but by 10:00 the ground was covered I had an itch to get out anyways so decided to head to the nearest mall about 5 minutes away By the time I got there, it was spitting ice so I decided to just run in to one store and get some wrapping paper so I could wrap the presents that I already had

Then around 12:30 I headed back out to do some Christmas shopping and was very successful Im almost completely done I came home made some cookies and cleaned the house

In the evening, Kyle, Amy, Jamie and I spent a couple of hours just hanging out I gave them all their gifts because I wasnt sure if I would have another chance before Christmas Jamie and Kyle decided to model their new shirts for Amy and I
Here are some more pics of my tree for you, Mom I tried to get some closer shots (Mom let me borrow hers this year since Im not allowed to have a real one)

Soooo...maybe its a little early

2007-12-02T13:22:00.000-05:00

Mary and I put up our tree on Monday night We were just going to put it up and then finish decorating it the next day but once we started we didnt want to stop We even had to make a trip to Walmart at midnight for some more decorations When we had it all finished we were so much in the Christmas spirit we decided to exchange our gifts right then at 1:00 in the morning, in November no less!

Resting and relaxing with family

2007-11-25T16:54:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving was at mom and dads house this year Uncle Phil and family couldnt make it this year so we were short a few but still had lots of fun

Dudley getting his bath before company comes

Dad actually puts his towel in the dryer while giving him a bath "so it will be warm for him after his bath"

I was in charge of the mashed potatoes

Playing a game of Mad Gab

"The turkey I shot for dinner was THIS big!" says Aunt Connie

Ally and I left for Best Buy Thursday night at 11:00 to get a laptop They opened at 5 a.m. but were giving out tickets at 3 a.m. (which you had to have to get the laptop I wanted) At 3:45 they were out of tickets and we didnt get one When we pulled into the parking lot at 11:45 there were probably 100 people in line They had tents and fires going with the coffee brewing It was crazy! We felt like amateurs with our little double chair and sleeping bag It snowed the whole time It was the first (and probably last) time I had done anything like this It was worth a shot at getting a good deal We definitely made some memories :)

Quite the catch!

2007-11-12T06:53:00.001-05:00

You guessed it..another mouse! This time it didnt take long I saw it on Sunday and got it on Monday

I didnt do a whole lot this weekend Friday night we had a game night at Amy's house

Saturday I made a pumpkin pie and some Southwest Chicken Chowder The chowder was a little spicy for me but still tasted pretty good

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas :)

Putting in the hours

2007-10-31T22:05:00.000-04:00

We are pretty busy at work right now so basically I have been getting up in the morning around 9-10, getting ready, and then head to work till late Today was 11-9:30 I dont mind at all b/c when we are this busy, the days (and week) really fly by and the weekend is here before I know it

Last weekend was Youth Challenge (a church retreat) which was fun to see friends and just hang out Then Ally (little sis) came over, spent the night and went to church with me on Sunday

Ally and Me in Gatlinburg '06

Mary, my roommate, will be home tonight She is babysitting tomorrow and then will be leaving again either Thursday night or Friday morning to head to her parents house for the weekend

Kentucky had their first game tonight I was able to listen to it at work They sounded pretty good Im excited to see how they do this year under a new coach

Off work

2007-10-24T11:56:00.001-04:00

Reasons I havent updated:

1) I seemed to have lost my digital camera card so I cant take and/or upload any pictures Its on my list for my next shopping trip

2) I have been sick with...I dont know what Just not feeling well I called off work yesterday for the 1st time since I have been working there and I called off again today I thought a day on the couch would fix it but I guess I need 2

3) Nothing too exciting has been happening that I think anyone would care about :)

Nothing much going on here...

2007-10-03T22:08:00.000-04:00

...So in an effort to update my blog I am just posting random pictures

Ally and me

Courtney, Ally and me-Thanksgiving 06' This picture makes me soo ready for fall!

Clarissa, Mary and I downtown Cincinnati

Entire family at Collingsworth Thanksgiving

Me, Dad and Ally at Regi and Jason's wedding Sept 06

ME

2007-09-26T12:54:00.000-04:00

I have been tagged...

1) My favorite childhood memory is going on family vacations every year (which we still do)

2) I love Dillards (as much as one can love a place that takes your $$$!)

3) My 2nd favorite memory is going camping at Huston woods in the fall and bringing the horses Nothing like waking up to scrambled eggs and bacon fried over a fire

4) I own my "dream" car (Mitsubishi Eclipse)

5) Im taking an online class for Equine Massage Therapy (sooo..its taking me forever to complete but I havent given up...yet)

6) I very much dislike public speaking

7) New ambition: Learn how to play tennis I have always "hated" tennis because the only time I played I got hit in the face with the racquet We will see how it goes this time

Legend Of Sleepy Hollow

2007-09-25T10:41:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Kyle, Jamie, Amy and I went to an outdoor drama up in Xenia, OH where they normally put on Blue Jacket The play was OK (I have seen better) but it was nice to do something outside before it gets too cold We stopped at Der Dutchman restaurant on the way Yummy!

Kentucky...Louisville to be exact

2007-09-17T01:16:00.000-04:00

This weekend I went to National Quartet Convention with Amy and Jamie to watch Aunt Kim play the piano She played at Pianorama with Dino She also opened the concert on the main stage in the evening She got a huge standing ovation It was a beautiful day and quite enjoyable..and we didnt even get lost! (One year I went with a friend and we ended up in Lexington instead of Louisville..whoops!)

Just Fishing

2007-09-09T09:45:00.001-04:00

The last two Saturdays I have gone fishing with friends, Jamie and Kyle Last weekend we went to a pond owned by a lady in our church but didnt have much luck This time we went to my aunt and uncles pond The first 30 minutes was pretty quiet but then some how the catfish came alive They really like hotdogs :) We caught at least 6 nice catfish and a couple of smaller bass and blue gill
The guys usually have at least 5 lines out at once which can get really confusing One time Kyle was fishing on the bank and had left a line out on the dock where Jamie and I were. Jamie and I saw it go under and we grabbed the pole as we were hollering for Kyle Jamie hooked it just about the time Kyle was rounding the corner of the dock, full speed ahead Next thing I know, Kyle is flat out on the dock with his legs hanging over one side of the dock and his hands trying desperately to grab onto something to keep from falling in Apparently the rain that we had gotten an hour earlier made things a little slippery I havent laughed that hard in a long time! All that trouble and it ended up getting off the hook before he could pull it in

We saw these deer as we were pulling up the long drive to the house so I took a quick picture before they ran off

Jamie caught one and was trying to pull it in towards the bank when it decided to swim around the post that was holding the dock up The guys were determined to not let it get away The pic of them laying on their stomachs with their heads in the water is their best attempt Needless to say, it also got away

I Have No Idea

2007-08-26T09:34:00.000-04:00

Not really sure who these people are but I was told they were on the tail end of a pretty busy 1 1/2 weeks and this last car ride was evidence of the fact

He Already Sees

2007-08-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

When the storm raged about them
The disciples were afraid
For the waves were high and the ship was tossed
They could not find their way
Then they awoke the master
Saying Lord please save us now
He rebuked the winds and the sea grew calm
And they all wondered how

God sees the storm from the other side
He knows the lessons learned
And just beyond the clouds He sees clear skies
He speaks peace to the raging storm when peace could not be found
He already sees the rainbow when we see only clouds

Like the man on the sea did
I have called on God in prayer
When it seemed to me all hope was gone and in my deep despair
I remembered what the Lord said when He calmed that troubled sea
And I know once more how He sees the storm
And peace floods over me

God sees the storm from the other side
He knows the lessons learned
And just beyond the clouds He sees clear skies
He speaks peace to the raging storm when peace could not be found
He already sees the rainbow when we see only clouds

And when the storms of life come crashing in and trouble me
I can feel Gods arms around me and he whispers
Let it be, Let it be

Good Ole Gatlinburg

2007-08-13T10:14:00.001-04:00

This past week, I went on a trip to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg with friends Amy, Mary, Jamie, Kyle and my sister Ally We did things like horseback riding in the Smokies (with no guide :), cooling off in the Pigeon River, eating lots of good food, shopping, Ober Gatlinburg, go-karting etc. Instead of rambling on, I will just post some pics

Fresh dirt

2007-08-06T23:30:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I went to a local horse track and watched the horses run for a little bit I love the smell of horses, fresh dirt etc. It was VERY hot but sitting in the shade made it bearable There is a lot of seating so I can go up high in my own little corner and just enjoy the horses I also brought my books and notes from my class that Im taking (equine massage) but I didnt get much studying done There is always tomorrow :)

Excellent weekend

2007-07-31T00:09:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we had our annual family reunion up near my parents So I drove up to that Saturday morning Dad and I left early to go home and get ready to go to Indy to a race with a friend We had to get the tickets early so I had really been hoping that it wouldnt rain It LOOKED rainy all day long but it didnt rain :) The race was a lot of fun I didnt get back to Kentucky until about 2:30 a.m. but it was so worth it Here are a few pics

Family reunion in the park...

Head count: about 85

Volleyball is always a hit with the Lavys

Aunt Geneva and I posing for a pic

Dudley and I..and if you ask Dad, he is

considered a part of the family

Dad and I by the #9 hauler

Michael Waltrip, owner and driver, as well as Dad's favorite driver, hanging out before the race

Racing under the lights

Driving Daringly

2007-07-22T09:03:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite kind of weekend I only had plans to do one thing, and that was Saturday evening Sometimes I just like to spend a day or two all by myself Friday night I did a little bit of shopping then came home and fixed a pizza, all for myself :) I didnt eat it all, but it felt good to be able to know I could if I wanted too (ok, maybe thats a little weird but its true:)
I can sleep in on any day of the week, except Saturday Knowing that I dont have to work I just hate to sleep in too late, for fear of wasting a completely free day :) By 9:00 I was up and at 'em, as my mom used to say First I went to Starbucks and got a cheese danish and a Rasberry Mocha then spent the morning shopping (yes, again) even though I didnt buy a thing! In the afternoon I did a load of laundry and straightened the house
About 5:30, I headed to Georgetown to help out my aunt and uncle at a concert They sing Christian music around the country and I love to go when they are close by It was a fun night with a great crowd By the end of the night, they were almost completely out of their new CD and they had to be in PA by 2:00 Sunday afternoon for another concert (a 13 hr drive and it was already about past midnight) Since my car could make it back home much quicker than the big bus, my cousin Courtney and I hoppped in and took off for the 45 minute ride When we got to the house, we realized that we didnt have a key and every door was locked SO, being the brilliant blondes that we are we came up with plan We fetched the ladder from the wall in the garage, leaned it against the house and Courtney scurried up the ladder to the second floor balcony By the time she reached the top, we were laughing hysterically It was about 1:15 a.m. and I was sure the neighbors were going to call the cops on us, thinking someone was breaking into the house Courtney reached the top and fell onto the balcony, literally, Thankfully the door up there was unlocked We grabbed the boxes and "raced" back to the truck stop to meet the bus
One more problem... The man in the little white car with colorful lights on top didnt appreciate my racing I saw him following closely behind me but it was too late He actually pulled me over just as we were pulling into the truck stop I will never forget the look on Aunt Kims face as she was walking towards the bus and saw someone getting pulled over At first she was just a curious onlooker until she realized it was us! Later she told me that she was just sure Courtney was the one driving, which thankfully she wasnt (she has her permit) We all know she wouldnt have been speeding though, right Court? ;) I explained everything to him, pointing out the bus, the CD's in my back seat, the late hour etc. When he was headed back to his car to "do some checkin" Courtney reminded me that we forgot to tell him we had just finished breaking into a house SO, I called him back to my car... Just kidding! He was kind enough to give me a warning (yay!) Going 14 mph over the speed limit, I deserved a ticket but thank goodness for mercy! Anyways, we loaded the CDs up and they were on their way My only regret of the night is not having my camera!

Fun stuff!

I did find this picture of Courtney and I-partners in crime!

Caught!

2007-07-17T07:34:00.000-04:00

For awhile now, my roommate and I saw the evidences of a mouse in the house I even had the priviledge of spotting the creature at one point The other night my friend Jamie set a mouse trap for us Last night, the life of the mouse was ended in one snap! It was exactly 12:41 when it all came to a head I had only been sleeping for about 20 minutes but I heard it go off I sprang up in my bed, at first having no idea what had caused the strange noiseI thought someone had come in my door but then after a couple of seconds, realized what had happened It only took my heart about 15 minutes to calm down so I could go back to sleep, and a little bit longer of me thinking I was going to have to take care of the thing in the morning

This morning I tiptoed around the corner into the kitchen, and bingo! The trap had done its job I took a papertowel grabbed the tail and threw the thing in the trash, trap and all Tada! I was going to take a picture of the poor thing but due to the graphic nature, thought it would be too much for small children and those with weak stomachs

We have softball tonight Our church made up 2 teams and is playing against another church on Tuesday nights Hopefully it doesnt rain

Beach Vacation

2007-07-12T01:45:00.000-04:00

Family vacation is a highlight of my year We have gone on 18 straight family vacations with all 6 of us (now 7 including my brother-in-law) We have gone to Gatlinburg TN, Pennsylvania, Virginia Beach VA, Wisonsin Dells, Florida, Branson MO, Mackinac Island MI, and Myrtle Beach The most recent being Myrtle Beach Here are just a few pics

Getting ready to drive a racecar at

Myrtle Beach Speedway

The balcony view from our place on the beach

Checking out the beach

My siblings

Relaxing after a morning of fishing

All new

2007-07-11T13:10:00.000-04:00

I decided to start a blog I had been thinking about it for awhile I enjoy reading other people's blogs, especially family that I dont get to see much Im sure I wont be updating nearly as much as other certain persons but hopefully at least once a week