A Year in the Life

This is one of favorite sayings from the movie, The Help.  The way Skeeter says it with just the right touch of 'I don't give a flying monkey's behind' is perfect...I.mean.PERFECT.  And you have to say it like  you are from 1960's deep south.  Which means you don't really pronounce your r's.  Here's the clip from youtube. This is a saying I'll say sometimes if somebody is talking about something I don't give two shakes about.  I thought it just a few hours ago as I was listening to the radio.  But to back up just a bit so you know why I said it... ...The older I get the more I don't  understand our fascination with Hollywood stars, musicians, and people who play collegiate/professional sports.  Most of them are not worth our time of day.  There is a large portion of them that are just, well, trash.  If they were living in your community, and were just a plain Jane normal person, you probably wouldn't have anything to do with t...

On our way ...the smell of coconuts, the ocean breeze, the sun shining on your face, long walks, eating fresh seafood, people watching, or taking drive in a convertible, do I have the destination for you! Hopson likes for us to get away if we can for a few days each year or two.  Just us, no rugrats.  We love said rugrats, but sometimes mama & daddy just need to decompress.  He looks cute in a convertible! He booked us a few days in the Florida Keys.  When we left Thursday, it was cold and rainy.  When we landed in Miami, it was in the high 70's and sunny.  Thank you Lord for the sun!  I don't think I had seen it in almost two weeks.  I'm sorry, do I live in the pacific northwest or the deep south?  Right now I'm leaning toward the pacific northwest just with southern accents.  It's been a crazy wet winter. 17 miles on the odometer... We wound our way through the maze called the Miami airpo...

I know Valentine's Day was 4 days ago, but I have to write about Henry's class party.  His teacher did something so wonderful and different & I loved it!!! Caleb drew Henry & guess what's in the heart...CANDY! Now, before I talk about the party, I need to let you know some things about how I view Valentine's Day & school Valentine's parties.  I absolutely abhor Valentine's day.  Well, abhor may be a little strong.  I dislike it...a lot.  We didn't celebrate Valentine's day in our house.  I don't want one day a year to show Hopson I love him.  And, I do not think that Valentine's should be given from parents to children.  That's just my opinion, and it's my blog & so, yeah, there you go. I love it when Hopson brings me flowers for no reason, or if he surprises me when I've had a really bad day.  I've actually saved every one of them.  I have different containers around the house that have all the dried buds,...

You know how I feel about little precious.  :/  It really bothers me when little precious thinks that he/she can do anything they want whenever they want.  And you know that we don't have that problem in my house, car, or when we're out in public.  When the chicks were little, and we would go to:  Wal-Mart, the grocery store, out to lunch/dinner, to a department store, OK, basically anywhere we went, they would get one warning to behave/mind  your manners in the car before we even stepped foot anywhere.  I would not, and have not hesitated to take them into the bathroom and let them fully understand my displeasure at their attitude or disobedience.  There are too many of them and only one of me & I don't have time to chase you or deal with your attitude.  Just behave and everything will be fine...or I'll discipline you, and then everything will be fine.  The little chicks are old enough now that all I have to do is u...

Raising Godly men in this day and age can be difficult.  The prevalent environment of today is for men to be feminized.  I think I'm just gonna say, um, no.  My boys are going to be  Godly chivalrous men .  They are going to treat women for the princesses they are.  Because you know what?  You need to know who your messing with.  Each girl is a princess to the King of Kings, and I don't think you want Him mad at how you treated one of His prized possessions. I was talking with Hop about it the other day.  Our pastor said something in a sermon last year that really hit me hard.  It was a message to the young people about dating.  He told the boys to treat their girlfriend how they want their future wife to be treated by whomever is dating her.  I know that sounds so weird, but when you wrap your mind around it, it makes total sense.  That also means that whomever you are datin...

Stephanie & Hop I have to say, my boys have great taste in girls.  The girls they hang out with (and date) are just as pretty on the inside as they are on the out.  And to this momma, that's a big deal .  We don't have time for mean girls around here.  A BIG telltale sign about the kind of girls they are is that they are kind to little siblings.  They never complain when the little ones want to say hey, or get excited that other teenagers are in the house.  Elizabeth mentioned that she feels like she has a lot of brothers because of all the guys who come in and out of the house.  The girls are just as nice.  Hop's girl friends, and his girlfriend, Stephanie, are always sweet to the little ones.  Thanks kiddos!  Mama Nance loves you for this!!!  Last night after Sadie Hawkins, Margaret & Haley wanted to wake up Henry last night to say hey, and they pulled in Harry to help.  Any chance...

No, not the kind you eat.  Yuck!  Although, my MeMaw used to gig, cook & eat frog legs.  That's like eating Kermit, and I just can't do that.  Well, maybe now I could.  Kermie I think has become a socialist.  How about you just love the pig and do your little show?  But, I digress. I love Intellectual Froglegs .  I know I've talked about him before, but hey guess what?  I'm going to talk about him again.  Joe Dan Gorman is hilarious & hits the nail right on the head. His allegiance is to God, truth and freedom.  Yes JDG, I'm right there with you!  And, I'll have a double of what ever you're having!  It's good stuff. Go check him out, he loves Jesus, he loves America, he's southern & he's awesome.  FTL, in his latest video he uses a song Eddie Murphy sings in Coming to America!  It's great & makes me want to watch the movie!  Click HERE for his latest video. ...

I wrote a posting for my sorority alumnae blog and I would love for y'all to read it.  It's about the beauty of grace and mercy.  When they gave us the choice of topics, mine was so easy to choose. I hope you enjoy it & remember that Christ offers you grace and mercy every day!  Click HERE to head over to Live Sigma Kappa. Celebrating Life! ~ashley

I want to thank the weather men for dropping the "s" word tonight. Now the fam is praying for a blizzard of 3" of snow. They are hoping to go to school until 11 & then have to be let go.  We can handle the heat, but not the snow. The threat of snow will shut this city down.  Notice I said threat. On the news they were interviewing the city workers on how they were going to prep the roads. :/  I'm not going to panic, because there's nothing to panic over. But don't think for one minute that I won't be watching for those beautiful little flakes to fall to the earth! Oh well, if you can't beat'em, join'em. :)  ...and I'll grab my camera!!! Celebrating life! ~ashley

Alright, at the house the fam has started noticing me really getting into politics.  Sometimes I become that really frustrated angry mom on the right.  At what point will we declare that we just can't take it anymore?  I hate mainstream media.  They make me want to plug my ears with cotton balls and hide in my closet.  Unfortunately, change will not happen that way, so I'm going to arm myself with a smile and my computer.  I'm using a lot of different multimedia sources to find things out.  I love:  Breitbart, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Chicks on the Right, CWA, and my newest find:  Intellectual FrogLegs .  OMG, Joe Dan Gorman is hilarious!  He is a good 'ole boy who uses humor and truth to point out the flaws in liberalism.  He had me ROLLING!  If  you need a dose of truth, you have to check him out.    It drives Hop crazy because I'll really only read conservati...

Can I just say that I don't know what some mothers are thinking letting their daughters wear dresses that expose everything ?  Yeah, girls, let me drop a little knowledge on you.  Teenage boys (and men) are very visual.  They see and respond.  Hence why Victoria's Secret, even though she has no secrets, and porn are booming businesses.  You order one thing from VS & you will get a magazine at least 2-3 times a week from them.  It's crazy!  But men see, and they want.  Boys are the same way.  When you parade like a stripper in your very  short dress/skirt and some hooker shoes, do you not know that you are a stumbling block for guys.  Do you not know how they see you?  Now, I love me some very high heeled shoes, but it's what you wear with them.  I don't care if it's what is the height of fashion, you still have a choice to wear it or not.  I know you don't want to be seen as an ob...

My sweet Elizabeth.  She truly loves people.  She truly loves her brothers.  She is proud of their accomplishments, and when they are disappointed she feels it too.  I don't know how I am so blessed to have such a kind child.  God knew I needed a living example in my household of how I'm to be, so He gave me Elizabeth.  She is the person I aspire to be. Hopson played his last high school football game in November.  I didn't realize it would affect Elizabeth so much.  I mean, I knew I would cry and be upset, but I'm his mom.  As the last two minutes ticked down, Elizabeth looked at me after she took some pictures with tears in her eyes & cried that she couldn't believe it was over.  Yes, I know it's over.  Oh how I know.  I think it is a realization for her that we are not going to be a family of 6 for forever.  I have to stop writing about this, I'm making myself cry.  (I am not redoing my makeup fo...

This is for some friends from high school, but it applies to so many of us.  If you've ever, in your adult life, had someone say ugly things about you behind your back, this posting is for you.  If you've ever had to remind your child that what someone said about them is untrue, this posting is for you.  If you are fighting your past, your present isn't the best, and your future looks dismal, this posting is for you. KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!  I wish I could say that I wrote this document , but I didn't.  (click the link & it will take you to a google doc.  I tried to post it on the blog, but it didn't show up in two columns like it's supposed to.)  It was given to me, and now I'm giving it to you.  It's one of those papers I keep tucked in my bible so I can remember that I already  know who I am.  I hope it blesses you.  God's words are truth!  Choose to accept these words and choose to reject any negative w...

You know that this past fall Hop received an acceptance letter from Auburn.  War Eagle!  I have to share another letter he received from another school.  I'm not going to name the school it came from, because that's not important. In the letter, the person who wrote it, told Hopson he might not get into the more selective colleges.  Really?  Why are you telling any child that?  Shame on you.  If my child wants to try to get into the hardest school out there you better believe Hopson & are going to encourage him to do it.  I don't need you telling him otherwise.  It's hard enough to build up our children, without them becoming narcissistic, and to encourage them to push themselves as hard as they can in the hedonistic society we live in.  Please don't do anything to undo some of the positive strives we've made over the years.  Any of my children can do anything they set their minds t...

Henry, Elizabeth, Hop, Harry and Hop's first best friend, Will D. Birthdays do make me happy.  It's another year to celebrate life.  (and eat birthday cake!)  A chance to celebrate both what has been and what will be.  Having a birthday over the Christmas break can be a bummer.  Friends are out of town or already have plans.  Poor Harry.  He really wanted Mooyah! for dinner that night but they were closed, so we ate Mexican instead.  When Harry was little would have his party on his half birthday.  It's easier to have it during the summer.  This year he just wanted to have a few people over to watch movies, shoot pool, hang out, and eat cake.  Not a problem!   Happy Sweet 16 Harry! WooHoo!! 2 drivers in the house! Harry's favorite cake is a cookie cake & so I made him a double decker birthday cake with lots of icing.  I think he liked it.  :)  Yea for the mommy who doesn't like ...

This is going to be a rant from me today.  I just wanted you to know ahead of time. First, we live in a very child centered culture.  Second, our culture is growing more hedonistic.  It really hacks me off if you want to know the truth.  Because of these two things we have children who have no respect for anything.  They are self-centered and uncontrollable.  Most parents who allow this, think that letting their children 'find their own way' is a good thing.  But then later lament their child's mouth and behavior.  Hey parents, what did you expect?  Did you expect to allow your child to do what ever they wanted & then when they become teenagers and are out of control that they are suddenly going to respect your word and be obedient?  That is not how it works.  Have y'all heard of this total transformation program to change your child's behavior?  I think it's great that a mom has come up with ...

Have guns, will hunt... Our family is a bunch of Jesus loving, gun toting, football watching people.  We love to hunt animals and we eat what we kill.  We believe in loving our fellow man.  We believe in personal responsibility for your actions.  We believe in absolute truth; that the Bible is the inspired Word of God; and that the United States of America is the greatest country in the world. If you don't agree with me, that's your problem.  And, it's my blog, so if you don't like any of those things then I would like to invite you to quit reading.  I say this all in the most life giving way of course.  :) Because we believe in all these things, when our niece Claire, who lives in Alexandria, VA wanted to come down to God's country to hunt, of course we said a resounding YES!  Any chance we can share southern hospitality with kin (which is family for those of you not from the south) is a good day. Claire & Hopson in the shooting ...

He's ready to be called to the back to begin this thing! So as  you know, Harry & I tried to go get his driver's license this past Monday on his birthday, but they were closed.  Total bummer.  We made plans then to leave our house by 7 am today to go for his driver's test.  I figured with four days worth of 16 year olds wanting to take their driver's test it would be busy.  And...momma was right.  (but then again, when is momma not right?) ;) At 7 am Harry was the third person in line.  Yea!!!  It was cold this morning just in case you were wondering.  We have all the paperwork needed, and I'm sitting in the waiting room while Harry goes in to take care of everything & at this point I'm excited for him.  I know he's going to ace this thing.  Harry's driven a ton.  If he's in the car with me, more times than naught he's the one driving.  He's driven on the interstate at both day and...

...anyone know what movie that is from?  Anyone?  Pirates of the Caribbean.  Jack Sparrow says it.  I love those movies.  Johnny Depp is just too funny.  The title of this posting really has nothing to do with this post itself; I just like that line in the movie.  Well, on second thought, it does sort of go with this posting. Grammar & Speaking Rules   This is a little bit of a hang-up for me.  It started with my mom.  Which today would be her 65th birthday, so how timely that I'm writing about grammar.  Growing up we had to speak properly or she wouldn't acknowledge us.  And now, much to my children's chagrin, I'm the same way.  We may be from the south, from the state of Alabama, but you will speak properly.  (insert most charming smile here.)  :) Last night as I waited up for Hop to get home from a friend's house I was cruising Face Book.  You know what was bothering me ju...

I'm mean, how could you not love that face? Today marks a wonderful day in my life.  Today is Harry's birthday.  Not just any birthday, but his sweet 16!  December is chocked full of birthdays for the fam.  Hopson's oldest brother's wife's birthday is December 20th, I'm the 26th, big Hopson the 30th & Harry is today.  December is a little expensive, but so worth it. Harry got online to see if the DMV would be open, and they said they would be closed the 1st.  He was so excited because he knew he would get to take his driver's test today. Yea!  Another driver in the fam.  So, we go out to the DMV & guess what is posted on the door?  You guessed it; they are closed for the 31st and the 1st.  This made for one very sad 16 year old.  I had to wait two days to get my license too.  It really stinks. Oh well, there was nothing for it, so we'll go back on the 2nd. Harry decided to go to a new restaurant...