A few moments from 2013

It's January of 2014, and it's time to look back at 2013 and see where we have been, and where we plan on going.

Last year Shek and I did the hot chocolate run. It was actually hot outside for the winter time run, but wehad fun doing it together

Karlie was sparkly at her first winter formal at K.A.

Easter...last year was the first time we put money in the eggs...that way everyone wanted to participate.

the kiddos with the grands and great grand

Father's Day

Shek found a new passion! Tennis

Zach and his band played at a 4th of July event

Lunch with friends and the governor's wife.

Jolie likes to pose

The first day of school

The Advocare 500 race...my kids and friends representing Advocare

Karlie and her friends did a fashion show at the talent show..

Leo joins the family, and Emily likes him too.

My favorite photo with my girls

Zach and Emily at Christmas at Belmont

The family visits Callaway Gardens for the Christmas lights.

Me and my Sweetie...what? What? We celebrate 24 years of marriage this year. Wooo hooo 

Can't wait to see what 2014 holds, because I know more than ever that God has an awesome plan for each of our lives...for such a time as this...and I don't want to miss out on His extraordinary plan that he wants us to accomplish.

Take me back to Central Time Zone

Last night, my oldest kiddo, Zach, was at the studio getting his songs mixed. He lives in the central time zone, I wish we did, it's my favorite time zone. What a difference that one hour makes, especially when it's 1:10 here and a little after midnight there. That's when the phone rang...some time in the middle of the night...he was excited that his song was complete...he was living on adrenaline, college student night owl life....and momma was sleepy...no really a sleep like a rock asleep.  So daddy did the talking. Central time zone, maybe that should be the title of his next song...

Finally, I shook off the sleep, and was able to listen to his finished song. It's a free download on reverbnation. He's excited, and we are too. It's one of his originals. And it's country.

It's nice to see and hear all those music lessons, camps, countless practices, rehearsals, and performances from all these years as well as  almost four years of college education at work.

Earlier this month I posted more of my Zach photos.

 Emily sings background vocals, I think they sound awesome. Can't wait to see what God has planned around the corner.

Today I am linking up with my favorite photographer and bloggy friend, Lisa for Favorite Photo Friday at The Long Road to China.

If anyone asks, It's cold outside!

Back when I was in college at Mississippi State, my roommate and I used to joke when the weather was cold, and say "It's like 1 degree out here." It never was 1 degree, but we always exaggerated how cold it felt to walk from our dorm all the way across campus in the  freezing cold. In fact, I don't think I have ever experienced 1 degree in my southern lived life. Not even in China when it snowed at the great wall while we were there, was it 1 degree. It was cold though don't get me wrong. I did experience some drastic wind chills back in 1993 when a blizzard came to atlanta. Yes a blizzard! That was a first to me, I had never experienced that much snow in one time EVER, and have not since. I am a hot blooded southerner for sure.

BUT....
Now, we are experiencing a Polar Vortex, or something, I'd rather it be The Polar Express and at least someone would come singing about hot chocolate and serve me some. My oldest boy, has experienced a real 1 degree this week. He also attends the ONLY school in Nashville that did not close school. Even all of the public.private schools in my area have shut down, it' s cold, people! And we southern people can't handle this kind of new habitat. It's so cold that everyone has decided to post photos of their temperature  from their phone. I posted photos of summertime instead,. Cause I am ready for it. Laugh. Out. Loud!

Not only did my oldest boy have the only school in the territory to keep classes in, but my two middle kids' homeschool academy did as well. I guess it's all good, there's no ice on the road, and my car doors were not frozen shut (only because it was in the garage)...and it doesn't run on diesel, so there's no worries aboutthe fuel turning to GEL. However, the condensation pipe on my parents' heater froze up stopping their heat for several hours, and ours was well on the way too, until, Karl got out there with my heat gun (from my crafting days) and heated up the pipe....hey we have got to stay warm....

So while we wait for this polar, arctic freeze wave to pass, we'll just stay warm the best way we can, or try to for heaven's sake.

 I do believe that Em has discovered that Leo is a good source of warmth.

Karlie

Karlie's turn!

Karlie's school had a winter formal last night. 

Earlier in the week we took a lot of photos in her dress. 

Karlie likes sparkles.

 And this dress definitely had the sparkle and glitz.

 Karlie is beautiful

 inside and out.

Quiet, with a touch of

Sass!

She's a great big sister...very patient, and loyal.

Karlie, we are so thankful that GOD blessed us with you.

 Karlie rode to the dance with our carpool friend and classmate, Isabella and some of her friends that attended the dance as well. Isabella's  brother wanted to photobomb so bad, so I let him on one picture, but not the other..

Here they are ready for the winter formal, on probably one of the coldest nights in over 20 years.