Update

Update on my mother-in-law:
She is out of surgery, everything went perfectly and she did great. Michael is spening the night again tonight to make sure she does okay. Thanks for all of the love and prayers..

Prayers Please!!!!

My mother-in-law needs some prayers. Tomorrow she is headed in for a second back surgery. In the fall of 2006 she had seven vertebrae fused, fall of 2007 she had both of her knees replaced and her back has failed her again. She is in what I would call debilitating pain. This time they are going to completely rod her back. Her movement will be limited, but hopefully she can live with minimal pain. These past few years have been so difficult, because she has had to learn to rely on other people, mostly her husband. So if you don't mind taking a few minutes out of your morning and just pray for her. Her name is Gayle, if you could ask God to heal her.

*I picked this picture because it reminds of a very different time just 6 years ago. She traveled all over for her job. She wasn't married at the time and she would stop in for the night and see a baby or two... Michael and I would fight over who she was going to give a back rub to first. I miss that Gayle...

Thanks!

Trader Joe's

Did you know that I am a HUGE Trader Joe's fan, I mean HUGE! The closest one to me is over in East Cobb and it is a hike to get over there. If you don't know about TJs it is the best little grocery. They have everything you need, it's healthy and their prices are better than Publix!!!

My latest favorite TJ recipe is Polenta with Bruschetta. I tried it with shrimp last night, but it did not taste as good as when I used kilbasa. Yummy yummy!!!
Anyway, if you live anywhere near me (West Cobb, Marietta, Georgia) please go to their website and fill out a request for location and make sure to put WEST COBB!!! We really need one!!!

Okay, enough goofing around, I have to go do my homework!!!!

Awesomeness

I just had to post something about my sister-in-law Vickie. Vickie is an artist of all sorts. She finds something that interests her, a new technique, materials, and she just goes in head first and makes some of the most amazing things. She is a true artist. She not only finds beauty in works of art, but in the world around her and she has passed that down to her children.

This past weekend the fellas and I went up to Nashville to visit with Michael's family. (sidenote: Michael was at home in front of the fire, yes I know how wonderful I am, just ask Michael's family...wink, wink.) We spent some time "in the city" with Michael's parents and then Saturday headed out to "the country" also known as Leiper's Fork. It is the neatest little community and my sil and bil have built the most amazing house on an amazing piece of property called Hope Ridge.

I could tell you about all the fun the kids had, but I'm not because I am posting to tell you the awesomeness that is my sil. She and her family go to this neat church in Franklin that is in an old factory, but it is really cool. When we walked into the church I asked Vickie if she decorated the place because it looked like an extension of her home. Neat church, neat people. But that is still not the awesomeness. Vickie is a mosaic artist, using pieces of tiles she creates some really neat things. She headed up a project for her church that was mosaic in the very front of the church. Each church member signed their name on the back of one of these tiles. It is really beautiful and I am just so proud of her. Vickie was gracious enough to let me take her picture in front of it and then I wanted my picture with the artist!

Isn't she awesome?

My First "Work of Art"

So one of the classes I am taking this semester is Art for Elementary Educators or in some circles it is known as Cut and Paste 101. I am most definitely not an artist and walking into this classroom makes my blood pressure rise slightly. So our first piece of art was called "All About Me". Now go with me here on my project.

My piece from the outside looks like a normal paper sack, nothing spectacular from the outside, just like me...

But you look inside and you see there is more than meets the eye...

So there you have it...Michelle the artist.

Monster Jam!!!!!!

For those of you that don't have little boys you can not even begin to understand the pure joy in a Monster Truck show. I mean it is LOUD, no really it is LOUD and those boys can talk as loud as they want and I still can't hear a word they say. This was our third year to go and it was as fun as ever. We went with the boys, my sister and her family (even my niece liked it), my nephew Josh and Zack's friend (and ours) Austin.

They all did so awesome considering all of the MARTA hopping we did and walking we had to do! We were impressed. Now Zack and Carter are staging all sorts of monster truck shows around the house!!

I'm still here...are you?

I have not disappeared, I have just merely begun spring sememster (although it does not FEEL like spring) at the big KSU. I am taking 5 classes and wondering if I am a lunatic. Lots of reading, lots of projects...I just keep telling myself to take one bite at a time! So I'm not sure if anyone missed me (even my family doesn't make comments...it's so easy, just set up a google account) but I promise I'm around, just a little overwhelmed!!!