tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25082167317947825332024-03-14T02:06:09.347-05:00LatelyLauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-80811329667350338832011-04-14T20:22:00.000-05:002011-04-14T20:24:50.345-05:00The Laurel Crown<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Towards the end of college the pastor’s wife of the church that I attended sent me a note describing the meaning of my name; it was something that she enjoyed doing for people. I wish I still had the original note but here is a little of what I remember plus a few thoughts of my own:<br /><br />The name Lauren comes from the word "laurel” meaning "crowned with laurel". Laurel is an evergreen and back in ancient Greece laurel crowns were awarded to triumphant warriors, athletes, etc.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >The crown was a symbol of victory</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >The bible also speaks of a crown, not a perishable one like this world offers, but an <i style="">imperishable </i>one<i style="">; <span style=""> </span>the </i>crown of victory won by Jesus Christ when He was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world.<span style=""> </span>Perfection was killed in the place of imperfection.<span style=""> </span>Victory came of tragedy. <span style=""> </span>Dancing changed from mourning!<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Life</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > born from death.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >On hard days I think a lot about the picture of Christ in the laurel crown.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >I dream of a day of victory, the return of Christ; and then I soon consider rest.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >No More Strife.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Peace for my soul</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >.<span style=""> </span>Freedom!<span style=""> </span>Home.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >But for now, these words echo: <i style="">press on</i>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >“Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.” <span style=""> </span>“Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us <i style="">run with endurance</i> the race that is set before us, looking to <i style="">Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith</i>.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Jesus Christ, Faithful and True, The Word of God.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Press on.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Also, the bay laurel was also used as medicine that was believed to have protective and healing effects.<span style=""> </span>Laurel has a scent that is something spicy but also sweet… which I just kind of liked.<span style=""> </span>;)</span></p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-37212698765669403982011-04-14T15:09:00.002-05:002011-04-14T20:21:11.086-05:00Already April? of 2011???Welp, I've decided to post a few things. I've had some thoughts rolling around my head and some of them have finally snowballed into a sentence, a paragraph, and possibly... a blog. (!)<br /><br />Sometimes I feel writing is like putting together a puzzle. Moving pieces around, looking at things from this way, then that. Cheating with the box... giving up... Then finally coming back with some resolve. <br /><br />(months later)<br /><br />Maybe there should be a blog that connects the last post to these, but I don't think there will be. So just roll with it ;)<br /><br /><br />P.S. As always, excuse the punctuation. I'm making it up as I go. (I was flirting in high school English class, not learning.)Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-4068923929820601562009-10-14T21:13:00.004-05:002009-10-14T21:18:28.998-05:00It Really Will Get LoudMy dad wrote a blog! I think it's excellent. Check it out <a href="http://blog.stephenarnoldmusic.com/2009/10/09/it-really-will-get-loud/">here</a>.Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-39049478453460700572009-10-08T16:53:00.003-05:002009-10-11T12:11:14.910-05:00What is a Yak?<div>Jerry and I were visiting his parents in Huntsville and we happened to drive by an airplane show. It was raining so we walked under one of the hangers where four of the pilots were getting ready to fly in formations. Jer's parents knew one of them <em>and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> he asked if Jerry and I wanted to go up with them</span></em>!!!<br /></div><br /><div>This was no AA flight. The planes were tiny, two-seater, prop planes called "Russian YAK's" which is what they used to train pilots on how to fly bombers... Which means they are fast... and swoop up, down and all over the place... Which is what we did!<br /></div><br /><div>When the pilot asked me if I wanted to go up I said, yes, and ignored all the questions that went through my head, such as:<br /></div><br /><div>"Is there a parachute?"<br /></div><br /><div>"How old is this plane and do you often have it inspected?"</div><br /><div>"You do realize it's raining, yes?"<br /></div><br /><div>"Who are you?"<br /></div><br /><div>"Do you have a strong will to live?"<br /></div><br /><div>I didn't want him to start second guessing his partner choice so I kept my questions [panic] to myself. The only question I asked was, "How long will we be up in the air?"</div><div><br /></div><div>This question was key was because we just ate a big breakfast at this southern home-cooking place called "The Squirrel" and I needed to know how long I would have to hold on if my stomach turned on me; but the pilot answered me by saying, "Not too long."</div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't sure what that meant.<br /></div><br /><div>Even thought I was scared I couldn't help but praise God for arranging this for us! He knows I miss being flipped and twisted all over the place in cheerleading! :)</div><br /><br /><div>Here are the pics:<br /><br />Me in the plane, strapped in, and ready for lift off [sans the peanuts and sodas].</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfo4orZTdI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/pZWLyBPriuc/s1600-h/jer+and+pilot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388531538861837778" style="width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfo4orZTdI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/pZWLyBPriuc/s320/jer+and+pilot.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jerry in his plane- you can see his smilling face! :)<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfo4McrcTI/AAAAAAAAA5I/DPSeGFfHJGY/s1600-h/jer+before+take+off.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388531531283919154" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfo4McrcTI/AAAAAAAAA5I/DPSeGFfHJGY/s320/jer+before+take+off.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Starting the engine. (We could wave to each other while doing the formations... Pretty fun!)<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfo3xkYFJI/AAAAAAAAA5A/fQxRmoVdMvc/s1600-h/lauren+before+take+off.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388531524068447378" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfo3xkYFJI/AAAAAAAAA5A/fQxRmoVdMvc/s320/lauren+before+take+off.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lined up on the grass "runway" (Way down there on the left).<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SsfoLNTYYvI/AAAAAAAAA4g/8J8VzRoP3Pg/s1600-h/lined+up.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388530758419243762" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SsfoLNTYYvI/AAAAAAAAA4g/8J8VzRoP3Pg/s320/lined+up.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Me lifting off!! You can't tell but I am wearing an Anne Taylor shirt and big hoop earrings... which I just think is funny.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SsfoK0WPE9I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/AYMAD1WJMFc/s1600-h/lauren+taking+off.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388530751720330194" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SsfoK0WPE9I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/AYMAD1WJMFc/s320/lauren+taking+off.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Us doing a diagonal, way up in the clouds!<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SsfoKqlEGEI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/8zbYbqXJs14/s1600-h/Angle+in+distance.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388530749098170434" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SsfoKqlEGEI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/8zbYbqXJs14/s320/Angle+in+distance.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am in the back and Jerry is in the front. It's the scariest thing to look up and see the belly of a plane right on top of you!!!<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfn7hcdu2I/AAAAAAAAA4I/ZnUhkBaJKvs/s1600-h/diamond.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388530488948144994" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfn7hcdu2I/AAAAAAAAA4I/ZnUhkBaJKvs/s320/diamond.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Safe landing!<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfn7CbovYI/AAAAAAAAA4A/kPaJqwp5R-g/s1600-h/Jer+landed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388530480623172994" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfn7CbovYI/AAAAAAAAA4A/kPaJqwp5R-g/s320/Jer+landed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jerry = Ecstatic!<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfn6v1Eq3I/AAAAAAAAA34/SHKfLI8nXMk/s1600-h/Jer+getting+out.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388530475629587314" style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Ssfn6v1Eq3I/AAAAAAAAA34/SHKfLI8nXMk/s320/Jer+getting+out.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-2748872593337019782009-09-09T21:28:00.008-05:002009-09-12T18:41:52.479-05:00Loose EndsI feel I leave a lot of loose ends on my blog. So as not to keep anyone up at night I will try to tie some of them up.<br /><p>1. The iPhone Itch.<br />Still itching. But it's quite manageable most of the time; sometimes subconscious altogether. (Except when I get lost on the road which brings the itch to life with an acute vengeance.) I did go ahead and get an iPod though. Must... have... music!<br /></p><p>2. Vampire Nerd (Hi, my name is Lauren and I read teenage novels.)<br />Maybe I could blame my lack of blogging on reading the Twilight series but as anyone who has read them knows, it only takes you 4 days to read all four books because they are that enveloping! I can't wait for the next movie which happens to come out on my exact birthday!<br /><br />3. Photos<br />Anyone remember me mentioning this project of getting photos in albums? Well, as suspected, I started the project and abandoned it for months. BUT randomly I picked it back up again and knocked them ALL out! Hurray!!<br /><br />Other info you might (not) be interested in:<br /><br />1. "This Side of Paradise."<br />I picked it up because he's one of my Dad's favorite authors. All in all... I think I out punted my coverage on that one.. didn't quite get some things. But there is one paragraph that I may have to post when football season really gets rolling because it's just hilarious! (Um, unless ole F. Scott meant that part to be serious...)<br /><br />2. Kids Camp!<br />I went as a leader to The Village <a href="http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/blog/hvchildren/?p=70">Kids Camp</a> this year. We are not allowed to post the pics of the little munchkins but take my word it was SO FUN! I LOVED my cute little girls!! I was over 4 little punkins who were going into 4th and 5th grade. I felt honored to hear their little hearts through out the week. Sweet sweet sweet.<br /><br />3. Scripture Memory<br />I am terrible at this. I kept thinking it would just happen.. but lo.. it has not 'just happened'. So I decided to approach this with the same vigor that I do when training for a marathon and that's when someone told me about <a href="http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839973/Topical-Memory-System-The-Navigators">this</a>. It's so Type A and boarder line nerdy with this little pouch that you carry around... but I guess I am Type A and a little nerdy myself because I LOVE IT. Desperate times call for desperate measures :)<br /><br />4. Jerry's garden: Jalapenos and Tomatoes :)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379653528811233746" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SqheYb94YdI/AAAAAAAAA3o/7R5jH6aIQ2o/s320/DSC00755.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379653538271407762" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SqheY_NXLpI/AAAAAAAAA3w/ni1dmSq0KE0/s320/DSC00757.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />On a final note:<br />Shout out to my little brother who graduated from UNT last month! SO proud of him!<br /><br />Good night!! </p>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-27472645988215116362009-07-02T12:01:00.002-05:002009-07-02T12:05:24.070-05:00Hermit<div>Please excuse me while I read the Twilight series.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SkzovkpkdXI/AAAAAAAAA3g/_VYOWs_o7rA/s1600-h/Twilight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353909961026205042" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SkzovkpkdXI/AAAAAAAAA3g/_VYOWs_o7rA/s320/Twilight.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-24682942876990256402009-06-21T17:41:00.002-05:002009-06-21T17:46:56.852-05:00Dad<div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Sj6qlk5EkxI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/eyF57Uj1wA4/s320/WJF+Savannah.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349900969897661202" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This blog is to my dad to wish him a Happy Father's Day. For you who don't know him but might read this, here are a few little snippets into the sillier side of my dad... It seems I may have gotten some of my writing quirks from him... </div><div><br /></div>This is an email I received from him on a normal, average day that needed a laugh:<div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">New Bike Speed Record Set By Really Old Dad</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">In a recent event, a Garland, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tx</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> resident set a blister pace on his<br />Trek </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Madone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> 5.9 bike yesterday. In a 30-mile sprint the aged one, Joe<br />Falkner, set a new land speed record for a man on a bike. "This<br />surely is a feat that dwarfs my seven Tour De France wins", said Lance<br />Armstrong upon hearing of the achievement. "I only hope", Armstrong<br />continued, "that when I am his age, I am half that good."<br /><br />In fact, Mr. Falkner's speed was so great that the air friction on the<br />air ripped open his small storage pouch that fits under his saddle<br />seat. Unfortunately, the open pouch allowed for Mr. Falkner's cell<br />phone to become dislodged and fall to the ground, smashing to tiny,<br />tiny bits, Mr. Falkner reports.<br /><br />For those wishing to congratulate Mr. Falkner on his remarkable<br />achievement, he, for the time being, can be reached only on his<br />office phone.<br /></span><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Sj6qlTmlvEI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/IyMyGL9mlYI/s320/WJF+bike-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349900965256739906" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's another couple of funny writing tidbits that he wrote when we (me and my 2 siblings) we young; the age where Cheerio's are a necessity to life:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ode to Cheerio's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>How 'bout them </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cheerio's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br />Just lying in the bowl,<br />Soaking up the white milk<br />In their round holes<br /><br />Little white eyes<br />not even blinking<br />Makes a body wonder<br />what could they be thinking<br /><br />Little crunchy critters<br />Each and every one,<br />Scoop 'em up in your spoon,<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Chomp'em</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> have some fun.<br /><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ode to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Snifflin</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">' Kid</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">s<br /><br />How 'bout them </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">snifflin</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">' kids<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Goopy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> nose and all<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Wiping</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> on the backs of hands<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Wiping</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> on the walls<br /><br />They're dripping in their rooms;<br />Sniffing all the time<br />Little brats are sneezing now<br />Blowing out their minds.<br /><br />The little twerps are sickly<br />We got to catch it in the nip<br />Got to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">wipe 'em</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> down with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">kleenex</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br />before they kiss you on the lips</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh parenthood. (I have no idea do I!!) </div><div><br /></div><div>Now I can't possibly go into all the reasons why I think my dad is the greatest on a blog because "all my readers" would trail off somewhere on page 22. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I will say that I am so thankful to have my dad as my dad. He is pretty much the easiest person in world to admire. </div><div><br /></div><div>He loves our family; always takes the brunt of life for us. He is a hard worker, very smart, very athletic, very funny, and very kind to everyone. He has been an encourager to me all my life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks, Dad, for being so great! Jerry and I both love you and we also have a little Father's Day "prize" for when we see you next :)</div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-64849424892397894812009-06-09T14:12:00.005-05:002009-06-11T14:55:52.487-05:00L.O.D.is for Long. Over. Due.<br /><br />Jerry and I went on a cruise in April!!<br /><br />(I haven't been able to muster up the umphf to wrestle with loading photos on Blogger. I think my little Apple is past her prime so I have to be in a very patience state of mind to upload.)<br /><br />Anywho, here are some pics. This is our first full day on the boat. Jerry is on the "Flow-rider." It's a simulated wave that goes so fast it will have grown men flying through the air like little tots.<br /><br />LOTS of wipe-outs.<br /><br />Quite the entertainment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six4h-GMy8I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/sSoHKH-3LR4/s1600-h/DSC00700.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344779382781955010" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six4h-GMy8I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/sSoHKH-3LR4/s320/DSC00700.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next Jerry and his dad played in the super-serious, ever-popular Dodge Ball Tournament.<br /><br />They definitely looked the coolest. Matching bandanna's = SCARY :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six23n1KkiI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/C1lLbccw2Ok/s1600-h/DSC00645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344777555738792482" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six23n1KkiI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/C1lLbccw2Ok/s320/DSC00645.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Jerry and his mom at one of the jazz clubs that night..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six4iMUTa2I/AAAAAAAAA2g/n5Wz8hHhHR0/s1600-h/DSC00725.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344779386599205730" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six4iMUTa2I/AAAAAAAAA2g/n5Wz8hHhHR0/s320/DSC00725.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p>Our first port- Labadi, Haiti. So lush!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345146920513067586" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Si3Gze10WkI/AAAAAAAAA24/lY_40p_qs80/s320/n1163887491_30163818_6254257.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p><p>Here we are on the beloved hammock. Sadly Jerry didn't move from this spot once all day because he was sick. :( </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344777563175240226" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six24DiJwiI/AAAAAAAAA1g/fU5ur5-ZxAk/s320/DSC00652.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Ah, pretty Labadi! </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344777568564290466" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six24XnAI6I/AAAAAAAAA1o/6egrTsgojBM/s320/DSC00656.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Next stop- Ocho Rios, Jamaica!</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six3whoVlsI/AAAAAAAAA14/ZL7fXlJFWCg/s1600-h/DSC00682.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344778533326919362" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six3whoVlsI/AAAAAAAAA14/ZL7fXlJFWCg/s320/DSC00682.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>For an excursion we climbed up a waterfall! </p><p>I wish I could post the pics but every one is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">hilariously awkward</span> because we are all in swim suites; legs and arms flailing. </p><p>Seriously, I could not believe they let people do this! We didn't even sign a waiver! One false move and crack goes your skull! "No worries" in Jamaica though, I guess..</p><p>This pic is at the top of the falls.. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344778530049243298" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six3wVa4OKI/AAAAAAAAA1w/FNdkKAc5dyc/s320/DSC00664.JPG" border="0" /><br /></p><p>(Please do not judge the shoes.) </p><p>(They made you.)</p><p>(And I enjoyed them.) </p><p>After this day (with all the waterfall climbing and what-not) Jerry went from feeling bad to REALLY bad.</p><p>See. :(</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six3w9B_-SI/AAAAAAAAA2A/APBoZ9lMOQ0/s1600-h/DSC00687.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344778540682311970" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six3w9B_-SI/AAAAAAAAA2A/APBoZ9lMOQ0/s320/DSC00687.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>But he survived.</p><p>And even busted out some smooth-moves to "Staying Alive" later that night.</p><p>Next stop- Grand Camen Island!</p><p>This stop was a favorite of the group. B-E-A-U-tiful water. Blue and clear even WAY far out. I road a jet-ski, John and Lecia para-sailed, and John and Jerry sailed a catamaran..</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six3xGMwyLI/AAAAAAAAA2I/gUAam8mhlu4/s1600-h/DSC00695.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344778543143372978" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six3xGMwyLI/AAAAAAAAA2I/gUAam8mhlu4/s320/DSC00695.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Final stop- Cozumel!</span> </p><p>This one was my favorite stop. We rented scooters and drove around the island. </p><p>Ahhhhhh, so wonderful! You could smell the tropical flowers and watch the huge waves crash on the rocks while zipping along the road. </p><p>I love you beach! </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345114539300463826" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Si2pWpbHpNI/AAAAAAAAA2w/sNoMwqw_Zkc/s320/DSC00721.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><br />And our final day on the boat I went for it on the Flow-rider! </p><p>(And I also ate it on the Flow-rider seconds after)..</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344779378665102066" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Six4huwqmvI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/AFSJA05xEmc/s320/DSC00698.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Such a great trip. Beautiful world.<br /><br />the end. </p><div>sniff </div><div></div><div>sniff. sniff. </div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-7280179873988509942009-05-28T17:30:00.001-05:002009-05-30T14:24:14.427-05:00The Great 8<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ok, Kristen tagged me on this. There are supposed to be 8 answers in each section but I used my blogger license to bend the rules. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Things I look forward to:</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. Future trips to the beach</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2. Christmas</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. Home group</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.) </span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Things I did yesterday:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. Unpacked the rest of my things from the beach</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2. Went on a walk with Jer</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. Sat and stared at the lake</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Things I wish I could do:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. Cook. It's just not happening people. Lindsey Brittany promised to give me a lesson or two which is great because I am telling you, she made some tiramisu that sent me to the third heaven</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2. Run a marathon </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. Go to Tibet and meet some sweet Tibetans and see their rosy cheeks</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4. Redo moments in my life. Where's my remote? Rewind, Delete, Fast Forward...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">5. Love people better</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">6. Think quick on my feet </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">7. Travel the world</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">8. Pay to take my friends and family with me</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shows I Watch:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. So You Think You Can Dance</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2. The office</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. Lost</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4. If Designing Women was still running then I'd watch that too!</span></div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-33658376925325157952009-05-01T16:02:00.006-05:002009-05-01T16:13:05.008-05:00The Bobcat<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Hello, Mrs. Williams.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hello, Doctor, thank you for seeing me today.</span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">And what brings you in?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Well, it's finally happened. I had a heart attack.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/Sftkr4YMI1I/AAAAAAAAA1A/gafyzCrgM4U/s320/DSC00746.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330965288954110802" /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SftksBdTywI/AAAAAAAAA1I/axOeJVnoxZ4/s320/DSC00744.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330965291391503106" /><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-26351555760770204322009-03-30T21:54:00.001-05:002009-03-30T21:56:41.491-05:00The iPhone Itch<div>Some how I have managed to steer clear of the iPhone craze mainly because I didn't see the need.</div><div> </div><br /><div>But what once was simple has now become complex and I need the sanity of my fellow bloggers to keep me from jumping over the edge... or push me over altogether.</div><br /><div><strong>Here are the facts:</strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> I get lost more than anyone I know (depsite being a Dallas resident all my life) and in these times of lostness I can't seem to get my go-to people on the phone (Sister, Husband, Mom). Thus I end up in tears somewhere between a one-way street and a missed right turn. The twilight zone does exist.</div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> The iPhone has a GPS</div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> My iPod went ka-put a while back so I don't have one of those</div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> The iPhone IS an iPod</div><div> </div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> We have a stero system that only plays an iSomething. No radio/CD's/Tapes. The only iSomething we have is Jerry's phone which means I can only listen things to when A.) Jerry is home and B.) not on the phone. Are you feeling me? </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Do people still use the term 'stereo system' now-a-days? Sounds a little 90's to me)</span></div><div> </div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> I sit at my desk most of the day so I have no need for a phone that does anything but ring 90% of my life</div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> The reason iPhone DOES all these cool things is because you PAY for it... we can not forget that part $$</div><div> </div><br /><div><strong>Fact:</strong> I think Looped looks fun!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">So here are your voting options:</span></div><div>A.) Purchase an iPhone</div><div>B.) Purchase an iPod </div><div>C.) Sit contentedly and enjoy the quiet</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">THOUGHTS??????!!!</span></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-71428208814761200222009-03-10T15:01:00.003-05:002009-03-10T20:21:14.298-05:00What a missing cord will do to you...Obviously I am a bit behind. But my dad always told me "Better late than never" and "Sooner better than later."<br /><br />There was a third saying but I can't remember it now, which is unfortunate because I am sure it holds the answers to all my life's errancies.<br /><br /><div>First things first:</div><br /><div>Christmas at my parents house...<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXY6OuEtHI/AAAAAAAAAzo/b0QOljzm33w/s1600-h/DSC00552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311389830448723058" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXY6OuEtHI/AAAAAAAAAzo/b0QOljzm33w/s320/DSC00552.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>Then, after one short drive to Alabama, Christmas at Jerry's parents house.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311389838078028930" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXY6rJCrII/AAAAAAAAAzw/DLa5vFIb3hE/s320/DSC00558.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div>Both were a Blast! </div><div> </div><div>On the way home we swung by Memphis with Jamey and Mel to see tiny little Z and her new Mama and Daddy.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311392259410767138" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXbHnTwLSI/AAAAAAAAAz4/WgyP6bHkZF4/s320/DSC00571.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311393310282011314" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXcEyG-0rI/AAAAAAAAA0A/rWmzr-QWPgI/s320/DSC00580.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div>So fun :)<br /></div><div>And then there was Summer's house-warming party where everyone was in rare form (without the help of even caffeine.. just plain-old crazy running though the veins). At this point only Geoff and Kevin had lost it, which you can tell if you look them closely in the eyes.<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311394488786172066" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXdJYYROKI/AAAAAAAAA0I/2Mfi4KBoxH8/s320/DSC00587.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div>Next in photos we have a picture of my good friend Jenny's rehearsal dinner at Nick and Sam's where I had my first steak since middle school. I was pretty sicked out with myself the next day but I didn't feel right about ordering fish at one of the best steak houses in Dallas.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXhMaFly_I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/Yd3NKljDIu4/s1600-h/DSC00608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311398938830818290" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXhMaFly_I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/Yd3NKljDIu4/s320/DSC00608.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Then there was the wedding which I didn't take many pics at because they had an instant-photo booth set up. Man, an instant-photo booth will bring out the narcissist in the most humble of people. </div><br /><div>It was awesome!!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXhMkDN1nI/AAAAAAAAA0g/q-fVwrXlhFY/s1600-h/DSC00615.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311398941505214066" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SbXhMkDN1nI/AAAAAAAAA0g/q-fVwrXlhFY/s320/DSC00615.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>And that brings us up to date!<br /></div><div>Sorry you only get the details on events that I took pictures at but those are the only ones I remember at the moment!</div><div></div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-24591971315745435902009-03-09T14:18:00.001-05:002009-03-09T14:28:25.897-05:00For my MomThis blog is in honor of my mom who's birthday was on Friday! I am not going to say which number she turned but let's say it's a nice round number that's worth of making note! :)<br /><br />These are a few of her pics from the University of Alabama homecoming. She got to go on the field because she was a cheerleader when Paul "Bear" Bryant was there!<br /><br />Obviously, we have cheerleading in common but there is so much more about my mom that I love and and hope to inherit.<br /><br />To name a few:<br />Southern Charm, Quick whit, Strength, Beauty (you would never guess her birthday!!), Determination, Positive, Always encourages to do the right thing even when it might go bad (aka: tell the truth about a 'cheerleading shoes' mishap!), Knows more about College football than most guys I know combined!<br /><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!<br /><br />My mom and brother Scott<br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNv0nuw6I/AAAAAAAAAyw/fzeLriAcPBY/s1600-h/DSCN0395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283933746786911138" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNv0nuw6I/AAAAAAAAAyw/fzeLriAcPBY/s320/DSCN0395.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><br /><br />Mom pointing out her brick at the Pi Phi house!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNvvkw8uI/AAAAAAAAAyo/0AucBUzbY5s/s1600-h/DSCN0337.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283933745432294114" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNvvkw8uI/AAAAAAAAAyo/0AucBUzbY5s/s320/DSCN0337.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Brother (luckily) standing in front of the Bama Pi Phi house<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNu3wsaiI/AAAAAAAAAyg/q_UaVJ1S3vQ/s1600-h/DSCN0327.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283933730449943074" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNu3wsaiI/AAAAAAAAAyg/q_UaVJ1S3vQ/s320/DSCN0327.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Don't know my college football trivia but I know that this guy is real good!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNudDGEAI/AAAAAAAAAyY/KZSfs0jEbgg/s1600-h/DSCN0322.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283933723279364098" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SVRNudDGEAI/AAAAAAAAAyY/KZSfs0jEbgg/s320/DSCN0322.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ok, that's it for now. I found my photo cord so hopefully I will get a chance to update soon...<br /><br />Plus, before my mom's birthday there was another family member with a significant birthday that I will blog on too! I just need a few things first...Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-61711666577930146412009-02-01T14:23:00.009-06:002009-02-01T22:20:22.541-06:00Lists of Things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Things I am enjoying while Jerry is out of town fishing:</span><div>1. Being able to park smack dab in the middle of the garage</div><div>2. Being able to turn my heating blanket up to full blast when I go to sleep at night</div><div>3. Hmm, yep, that's it. COME HOME HUSBAND!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Things I have been obsessing over in my fridge/pantry:</span></div><div>1. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Almond stuffed olives</span>. Don't even really like olives but these are irresistible.</div><div>2. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Blue cheese</span>. A few weeks ago I made blue cheese stuffed turkey burgers and fell in love with the flavor. </div><div>3. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Smoked Gouda</span>. Why did I waste most of my life without trying this? Why wasn't there intervention?? Are you not my friends?</div><div>4. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cinnamon</span>. I have been putting this on anything remotely sweet; coffee, toast, cereal, ice-cream. Yummm</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Things I have been doing with my spare time:</span></div><div>1. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cleaning out and organizing all my pictures</span>. This is a CHORE. Right now I have pictures from all time periods in random nooks and crannies of my house and car. It's time for some adult organization. I am only in the beginning stages of this but hope to finish by this time next week... we'll see.</div><div>2. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Painting</span>. I fell in love with a painting that was expensive so I though I would just try and paint it. Is this the picture of over-ambition? Probably. Anyways yesterday I sat down on my kitchen floor and gave it a go. (That's the one and only bonus to hating your floral print kitchen floor- you can paint on it and not worry too much about making it look bad). Well the picture I was trying to emulate was an abstract and my finished product looks decisively literal. Oh well. Maybe Jerry will like it :)</div><div><br /></div><div>In closing I would like to apologize for the lack of photos. I can't seem to find the cord that hooks to my laptop. Probably in a nook somewhere with aged photos.</div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-73799634082954347302009-01-23T22:08:00.001-06:002009-01-23T22:08:49.336-06:00The President, the Passengers, and the Patience of GodI liked this article. I found it <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/">here.</a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">January 21, 2009</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes we are so overwhelmed at being treated better than we deserve that we must exult in the all-sovereign God—the God of birds' flight and Obama’s rise. When King David pondered how many were God’s “wondrous deeds,” he said, “I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5). That’s the way I feel watching God’s public mercies in the last few days.<br /><br />Have you considered how unlikely was the crash of USAir flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15—not just the rescue but the crash itself? Picture this: The Airbus A320 is taking off at an angle—maybe 30 degrees. It’s not flying horizontal with the earth. Not only that, it is flying fast—not full speed yet, but perhaps four times as fast as your car would go at top highway speeds.<br /><br />The geese are flying horizontally with the ground, more or less. They are not flying in a cloud like a swarm of bees. They fly level with the ground, often shaped like a V. In view of all that, what are the odds that, traveling at this speed and at this angle, this airplane would intersect with the flight of those geese at that very millisecond which would put a bird not just in one of those engines, but both of them?<br /><br />Two laser-guided missiles would not have been as amazingly effective as were those geese. It is incredible, statistically speaking. If God governs nature down to the fall (and the flight) of every bird, as Jesus says (Matthew 10:29), then the crash of flight 1549 was designed by God.<br /><br />Which leads to the landing in the Hudson River—which is just as unlikely. The airbus now has no thrust in either engine. The flight attendants said it was as quiet as a library in the plane without the sound of engines. The plane is now a 77-ton glider with its belly full of fuel. Captain Sullenberger decides to land in the river. Anywhere else would mean one big fireball.<br /><br />He banks and misses the George Washington Bridge by 900 feet and glides the plane into a perfect belly landing. A few degrees tilt to the front or back or the right or left and the plane would have done cartwheels down the river and broken up. On the water, the flight attendant does not let passengers open the rear door. That would have flooded the cabin too fast. The emergency doors and front doors provide exits for everyone and the plane floats long enough for all of them to climb out. Ferry boats are there almost instantly. The captain walks the aisle twice to make sure everyone is off. Then he leaves. Later the plane sinks.<br /><br />If God guides geese so precisely, he also guides the captain’s hands. God knew that when he took the plane down, he would also give a spectacular deliverance. So why would he do that? If he means for all to live, why not just skip the crash?<br /><br />Because he meant to give our nation a parable of his power and mercy the week before a new President takes office. God can take down a plane any time he pleases—and if he does, he wrongs no one. Apart from Christ, none of us deserves anything from God but judgment. We have belittled him so consistently that he would be perfectly just to take any of us any time in any way he chooses.<br /><br />But God is longsuffering. He is slow to anger. He withholds wrath every day. This is what we saw in the parable. The crash of Flight 1549 illustrates God’s right and power to judge. The landing of the plane represents God’s mercy. It was God’s call to all the passengers and all their families and all who heard the story to repent and turn to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and receive forgiveness for sin.<br /><br />I am writing these thoughts on the evening after the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States. I cried twice today. There were two points when I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. Once was when I prayed with some brothers after Obama’s speech and was overcome with the sinfulness of my own racist background. The other was in trying to express my emotion to an African-American brother about what this must mean for him.<br /><br />As much as I reject Obama’s stance on abortion, I am thankful to the bottom of my soul that an African-American can be President of United States. The enormity of it all is unspeakable. This is God’s doing. The geese were God’s doing. The landing of Flight 1549 was God’s doing. And the Obama presidency is God’s doing. “He removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21).<br /><br />And I pray that President Obama has eyes to see. The “miracle on the Hudson” and the “miracle in the White House” are not unrelated. God has been merciful to us as a nation. Our racial sins deserved judgment a thousand times over. God does not owe America anything. We owe him everything. And instead of destruction, he has given us another soft landing. We are not dead at the bottom of the Hudson.<br /><br />O that Barack Obama would see the mercies of God and look to the One whose blood bought everlasting life for all who trust him. The parables of God’s mercy are everywhere. The point of them is this: God is a just and patient Ruler, and Jesus Christ is a great Savior. Turn. Turn. Turn, O President of the United States and passengers of this planet.<br /><br />Full of thanks for all God’s mercies,<br /><br />Pastor John</span>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-32851710411353887622008-12-17T14:31:00.005-06:002008-12-21T08:42:52.483-06:00The Interruption!So last week we were interrupted with the classic 'knock on the door.' Actually it was more of a 'frantic banging and doorbell ringing'.<br /><br />It was a policeman telling us to get out of the house cause there was a fire. So we ran out around back and saw that our shed was in flames about 15 feet high going up the two trees and down the fence. Pretty quickly three fire trucks whipped around the corner, hooked up their hoses and began working on putting it out. (that's gonna be you Kevo!)<br /><br />I am not going to lie, I was scared. I wasn't really afraid of the house burning down so much as I was afraid seeing a fire so out of control. The result? Feeling vulnerable. And I <em>do</em> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">not</span> like feeling vulnerable.<br /><br />But it is good. I hope to become one of those weathered women that knows and trusts in the Lord through experience of Him being faithful. Even when the fire trucks don't come and everything burns to the ground.<br /><br />So I didn't exactly float around the fire trucks saying "Ah, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" but I have hope that Jesus will finish what He has started in me. Even when it looks like we have a long way to go :)<br /><br />Here are some pics i got once it was clear that the fire was pretty much out:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279865969115606994" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXaH_7PL9I/AAAAAAAAAwI/gplNapHfPLg/s320/DSC00510.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279865988583650050" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXaJIcx8wI/AAAAAAAAAwY/rZf0932RUIY/s320/DSC00512.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279865998434502882" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXaJtJaCOI/AAAAAAAAAwg/BiVq_GTiAag/s320/DSC00513.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279865985422556786" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXaI8rHfnI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/iCxP7SOwnmk/s320/DSC00511.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><br /></span><br />The aftermath:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXceqWLqmI/AAAAAAAAAww/vXyOw2Ay9wA/s1600-h/DSC00520.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279868557483289186" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXceqWLqmI/AAAAAAAAAww/vXyOw2Ay9wA/s320/DSC00520.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279868565990919474" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXcfKCjzTI/AAAAAAAAAw4/RSojnu-XaAw/s320/DSC00516.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXceFEoqLI/AAAAAAAAAwo/CqBDS5-WxZI/s1600-h/DSC00514.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279868547477579954" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXceFEoqLI/AAAAAAAAAwo/CqBDS5-WxZI/s320/DSC00514.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And in come the demolition team:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279871067719643042" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXewxtKr6I/AAAAAAAAAxI/k0AXVbvCPaA/s320/DSC00540.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />First you hook the dolly (clearly)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279873758100605618" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXhNYJ-SrI/AAAAAAAAAx4/xU8ubPVLbCk/s320/DSC00536.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Then you tie it to the truck<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279873750793487842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXhM870heI/AAAAAAAAAxw/MDvSlZ_iVqE/s320/DSC00535.JPG" border="0" /> <div><br /></div><div>Then you watch as the impossible happens<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXhN63B2xI/AAAAAAAAAyA/Z3HVG-s80Sw/s1600-h/DSC00537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279873767416388370" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXhN63B2xI/AAAAAAAAAyA/Z3HVG-s80Sw/s320/DSC00537.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Victory.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279873788790775266" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXhPKfFHeI/AAAAAAAAAyI/MT5fua1J2_8/s320/DSC00538.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Little game of tug-a-war</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279871087915512082" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXex88PMRI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/eCx4iobe3nA/s320/DSC00541.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Heave!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXeyYuMrII/AAAAAAAAAxY/uiEpt8LUdl4/s1600-h/DSC00542.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279871095372819586" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXeyYuMrII/AAAAAAAAAxY/uiEpt8LUdl4/s320/DSC00542.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">HO!</span><br /></span><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279871098232700146" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SUXeyjYC_PI/AAAAAAAAAxg/NavSUKBJMHo/s320/DSC00544.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All in a days work! </div><div><br /></div><div>(Seriously, thanks to all who helped, i know Saturday mornings are precious!!)</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Post Addendum:</span></div><div>What caused the fire? Squirrels. They found little squirrel-home residue (nuts and the like). They think they gnawed off the insulation on the electric wires in the shed. If they found a roasted little squirrel I didn't want to know about it!! </div></div><div></div></div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-66683868075130829582008-12-02T12:11:00.006-06:002008-12-03T12:31:40.257-06:00From Fall to Winter: All the fun thingsThis is my favorite time of year for a few reasons:<br /><br />1. Lot's of family birthday's<br />2. Football championships<br />3. Leaves turning fiery red (even if only slightly here in Texas)<br />4. Cold weather (thanks to birth control- who knew hormones had a play in what kind of whether you preferred?)<br />4. Reading by the fire<br />5. And celebrating Jesus during the Christmas season!<br /><br />One random thing:<br /><br />Did anyone know that this is an actual line in Little Drummer Boy-<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">"The ox and lamb kept time, par-rum-pa-pum-pum." </span><br />Weird. Kind of Narnia-ish.<br /><br />Even after noticing that odd line it's still up there in my top Christmas songs. I love the picture of the little boy playing his heart out, his <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">V</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">ery Best</span> (which may or may not have actually been that good) out of love for Jesus.<br /><br /><div align="center">Anyway, here are some 'Fall to Winter' pics:</div><br /><div align="center">Jerry acting very adult and intellectual in the coffee area of the DMA- one of my favorite places to wander. </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274629285001322914" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/STM_Y3ZgYaI/AAAAAAAAAuo/lfbIpCuI03w/s320/DSC00466.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center">What's fun is to notice my taste change and change again through the years as different areas in the museum become more or less appealing.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">After this we went to my All Time Favorite restaurant, <a href="http://www.kenichidallas.com/">Kenichi</a>. If you go please order the 'Blake' roll and the 'Baked Freddy'. You will die on the spot it's so good. And if you don't, you will definitely die when you get your check. </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274633082681767202" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/STNC163FNSI/AAAAAAAAAu4/-KS2XwilFSM/s320/DSC00472.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">And everybody loves free birthday desert- especially if it's fried ice-cream (I didn't know we were at the fair). </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Sorry for the black and white- i don't even know how that happened- but you needed to see the ice-cream</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274633834641124610" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/STNDhsIKbQI/AAAAAAAAAvA/SbYpoVEm7jg/s320/DSC00481.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center">Another HUGE day of note is when we bought our first Christmas tree! We went to a cute little tree farm and looked for trees. It turns out that the trees at the tree farm were <em>3 times </em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">more</span> expensive, <em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">for </span>no<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> visible reason</span></em>, than the ones at the <a href="http://landjwilliams.blogspot.com/2008/07/what-was-that.html">Neimans/Walmart</a>. So we went back there instead!</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274636244529576034" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/STNFt9qV-GI/AAAAAAAAAvI/jiFZi78Sgi0/s320/DSC00485.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center">Only thing is that at Neimans you can't tell what they look like cause they are all bound up.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274639797069139090" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/STNI8v5xzJI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/beQ4JQ8UUx8/s320/DSC00486.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center">But i think we got a good one! It's so pretty!</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275038930085759682" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/STSz9WQeSsI/AAAAAAAAAwA/oJbHBzAJGs0/s320/DSC00498.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Yea Christmas!</div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-51695162958971100852008-10-31T08:00:00.000-05:002008-10-31T16:46:09.413-05:00Happy Birthday Jerry!<div>this is my husband...<br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQscmXT4JvI/AAAAAAAAAuc/LkqbKd6vpkY/s320/DSC01080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263332034930550514" /><br /><br />and he is a Halloween baby...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262769913477482690" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQkdWltwSMI/AAAAAAAAAt0/7php5ctg_4A/s320/DSC00769.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Today he is turning 29!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262771706634058418" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQke-9vmOrI/AAAAAAAAAuE/XcOaa3vB3Ew/s320/DSC00830.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />So let's celebrate!...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261682441565234258" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVATZJn5FI/AAAAAAAAAtE/ZasuwXOOG9k/s320/DSC00255.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />by talking about...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262776093053775010" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQki-SbjbKI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Bye70xbfxr8/s320/DSC00038.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Jerry.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261676704703268178" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU7FdrJRVI/AAAAAAAAArc/-hG5hYvz9PU/s320/DSC00338.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Jerry "The Risk Taker" Williams- who on our first road trip ran out of gas and literally costed off the highway and rolled right to a stop at the only gas station around for miles. (my dad was real happy to hear about that one)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262768639142276946" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQkcMackL1I/AAAAAAAAAtk/NE-mjeIxseA/s320/DSC00571.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Jerry- who made my dream come true of riding a horse RUNNING (this was no trail ride people!)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262768645984200402" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQkcMz7zptI/AAAAAAAAAts/XRRu5kNuopo/s320/DSC00586.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Jerry- who has friends that are as silly as he is<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261680995151898786" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU-_M1z6KI/AAAAAAAAAss/NFyxqnOIeq8/s320/DSC00226.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />And who makes ME act silly too!<br /><a></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQkdW1PKlgI/AAAAAAAAAt8/5kB0kWKFlwo/s1600-h/DSC00821.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262769917644150274" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQkdW1PKlgI/AAAAAAAAAt8/5kB0kWKFlwo/s320/DSC00821.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Who is always up for adventure (especially if it means he can wear a bandana)</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262782030509804546" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQkoX5LYjAI/AAAAAAAAAuU/37pNqOvWMI4/s320/DSC01044.JPG" border="0" /></div><br />And EXTRA especially if it includes windsurfing<div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261678004912467058" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU8RJVLLHI/AAAAAAAAAr8/QryxqAt-kZc/s320/DSC00328.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div>Jerry- who I love to hear sing and strum his guitar<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU7FNepqEI/AAAAAAAAArU/-irLrZ5K92w/s1600-h/DSC00370.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261676700355897410" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU7FNepqEI/AAAAAAAAArU/-irLrZ5K92w/s320/DSC00370.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Jerry- who my family loves<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVASVCpadI/AAAAAAAAAs8/rw57GYs_OjM/s1600-h/DSC00246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261682423282362834" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVASVCpadI/AAAAAAAAAs8/rw57GYs_OjM/s320/DSC00246.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Who is one heck of a tree trimmer<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVCZu3zDgI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_xfU9gdYSgY/s1600-h/DSC00205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261684749498519042" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVCZu3zDgI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_xfU9gdYSgY/s320/DSC00205.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><div>See- one heck of a tree trimmer<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVARsJQnuI/AAAAAAAAAs0/LQihAfOtZVs/s1600-h/DSC00231.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261682412304244450" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVARsJQnuI/AAAAAAAAAs0/LQihAfOtZVs/s320/DSC00231.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Who buys me flowers<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU--3BWduI/AAAAAAAAAsk/ku3FoHee6Kc/s1600-h/DSC00314.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261680989294720738" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU--3BWduI/AAAAAAAAAsk/ku3FoHee6Kc/s320/DSC00314.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And plants me flowers<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU--X4FqqI/AAAAAAAAAsc/XHJ5HEh8FKU/s1600-h/DSC00315.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261680980934372002" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU--X4FqqI/AAAAAAAAAsc/XHJ5HEh8FKU/s320/DSC00315.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Who's life is complete with a bug zapper and a grill<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU9g5VTUxI/AAAAAAAAAsU/2xM3JefY72Y/s1600-h/DSC00333.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261679375007568658" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU9g5VTUxI/AAAAAAAAAsU/2xM3JefY72Y/s320/DSC00333.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And who is a mean griller at that.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU9gvl6O9I/AAAAAAAAAsM/fayr-oktPAc/s1600-h/DSC00335.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261679372392872914" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU9gvl6O9I/AAAAAAAAAsM/fayr-oktPAc/s320/DSC00335.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Who works hard at everything<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU9gecGckI/AAAAAAAAAsE/iRxFl_VCvHo/s1600-h/DSC00337.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261679367788327490" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU9gecGckI/AAAAAAAAAsE/iRxFl_VCvHo/s320/DSC00337.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br />And who is a joy to build a home with<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVCaPCeaSI/AAAAAAAAAtU/keCW66-IUgY/s1600-h/DSC00163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261684758133238050" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQVCaPCeaSI/AAAAAAAAAtU/keCW66-IUgY/s320/DSC00163.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />All in all my husband is...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU8QMRjxTI/AAAAAAAAAr0/VfFIQdU9DVo/s1600-h/DSC00280.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261677988522738994" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SQU8QMRjxTI/AAAAAAAAAr0/VfFIQdU9DVo/s320/DSC00280.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Happy Birthday my love :)Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-27997569631257078632008-10-25T16:51:00.004-05:002008-10-25T18:45:01.433-05:00i am officially getting old...but i loooved cheering at Oklahoma so you are just going to have to relive all this with me :)<div><br /></div><div>Every other year OU invites the alumni cheerleaders back to cheer at homecoming. Yea! It was so fun! (Um, but here is the part i can NOT believe... This was my THIRD alumni game so that means i have been graduated how many years??? This can not be! Has that much time really passed? Well the answer is yes, and my aching legs and shoulders can attest to the fact that i am pretty far removed from those days! </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway enjoy the pics- at least i know mom and dad will :)</div><div><br /></div><div>The first hour was spent catching up (which means all the girls going around saying to each other "How are you?? You look great!!" and the guys saying to each other "Whoa! You got fat!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we started to "practice"! </div><div>(That's me, Nicole and Laren- we were roommates my junior and senior year.)<br /><div><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPq00zyVv9I/AAAAAAAAArM/FmvgTdkEP14/s320/DSC00345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258714334256021458" border="0" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is 'Jelly'- my stunt partner my senior year. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPq00WFvgxI/AAAAAAAAArE/wz8VFhC1bnU/s1600-h/DSC00349.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPq00WFvgxI/AAAAAAAAArE/wz8VFhC1bnU/s320/DSC00349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258714326284337938" border="0" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Whooo! </div><div><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqz8-xxCvI/AAAAAAAAAq8/rr3lyQY4K4Q/s320/DSC00350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258713375133731570" border="0" /><br /><br /></div><div>After practice we went to O'Connell's an Irish pub next to the stadium.</div><div>This is Rachel, my roommate in the dorms my freshman year :) </div><div>(if those walls could talk!!)</div><div><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqz8hAlXzI/AAAAAAAAAq0/eerFZGn8cOA/s320/DSC00369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258713367142817586" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Look who's wearing an OU t-shirt!! (usually a staunch Baylor fan but i have been recruiting!!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqz8Lm7sQI/AAAAAAAAAqs/9B9CXf-qMLI/s1600-h/DSC00371.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqz8Lm7sQI/AAAAAAAAAqs/9B9CXf-qMLI/s320/DSC00371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258713361398083842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>And here we go for a game-day warm up! (getting more sore each min that passed by)</div><div><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqysMAAHLI/AAAAAAAAAqc/kTZHjPnZoa4/s320/DSC00379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258711987113696434" border="0" /><br /><br /></div><div>ooh- that's not quite so natural feeling as i remember<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqyr6R7BxI/AAAAAAAAAqU/F33ViQxuKlw/s1600-h/DSC00380.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqyr6R7BxI/AAAAAAAAAqU/F33ViQxuKlw/s320/DSC00380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258711982357022482" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />last pic before the game- i loved the little alum tee's they gave us :) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqysR5fm0I/AAAAAAAAAqk/Km4c9XeqC1M/s1600-h/DSC00375.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqysR5fm0I/AAAAAAAAAqk/Km4c9XeqC1M/s1600-h/DSC00375.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqysR5fm0I/AAAAAAAAAqk/Km4c9XeqC1M/s320/DSC00375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258711988697013058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>PREGAME! i always LOVED pre-game! the crowd was always out of control and there was so much energy in the air i'd have goose bumps<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqxom4DhWI/AAAAAAAAAp8/JqHOnfkD__8/s1600-h/DSC00399.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqxom4DhWI/AAAAAAAAAp8/JqHOnfkD__8/s320/DSC00399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258710826097018210" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>i am kind of blending in with the crown but that's me making an "O!!!!!!!!!!!!" with my freshman year partner Robert<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqxo1HTeDI/AAAAAAAAAqE/vnuIwIa2CQw/s1600-h/DSC00387.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqxo1HTeDI/AAAAAAAAAqE/vnuIwIa2CQw/s320/DSC00387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258710829919074354" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>On the way out i made Jerry do a little Pi Phi swing-by :) </div><div>i slept by the window on the top left. Sooo many memories! </div><div><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SPqxoMrJanI/AAAAAAAAAp0/Xb2SRmIGx8E/s320/DSC00402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258710819063556722" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I was going to throw in a few cool pics from back in the day when i was actually cheering (you know, back when i didn't think twice about wearing a skirt the size of a match box and i didn't even know what the word cellulite meant) but i decided that might be a little over the top. :) </div><div><br /></div><div>anyways, Go Sooners!</div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-58895348343787940052008-10-08T19:09:00.003-05:002008-10-09T09:43:29.282-05:00my heart will go on<strong>1. Okra from Mr. Glass</strong><br />Mr Glass is one of our sweet neighbors. He is probably in his early 80's and he is a hoot. He and his wife have a garden in their back yard and they give us vegetables whenever Jerry comes over to help him with something.<br /><br /><br />I had never cooked okra so i had Mrs. Glass tell me how to cook it. So i did it just like she said. Fried.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254933071276389634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SO1FyVfhtQI/AAAAAAAAApc/auH8oIkPbjU/s320/DSC00341.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />I hardly ever eat anything fried so cooking this was a first. (Well maybe this isn't that big of a landmark because i probably have only cooked 5 legitimate meals in my life.) Anyways it was a vegetable for crying out loud so i figured it could slide under the radar.<br /><br /><br />And why not eat a hamburger with your fried okra?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254932699958203090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SO1FcuOX0tI/AAAAAAAAApU/13k0OhCCYU4/s320/DSC00343.JPG" border="0" /><br />Jerry was elated :)<br /><div><br /><strong>2. Nov 20th</strong></div><div>Dawntoya's little baby girl Zip is due on my birthday so i feel like i have special rights to brag about her. :)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254934411270258674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SO1HAVW9f_I/AAAAAAAAApk/0bJ495P1hSc/s320/DSC00322.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><br /></strong></div><div><strong>3. Titanic</strong><br />The movie got me again. Seriously, every time I watch it I get my hopes up that this time they will use better wisdom. '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">NO, don’t accelerate!! Maybe there are enough lifeboats this time??!!! AGH! I just want Jack and Rose to live happily ever after!! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR???!!!!'</span></div><br /><div><strong>4. Lame</strong></div><div>Sorry this post is lame. I have started blogs that are a bit closer to my heart but the words kept falling short. I found myself militantly yelling at them like a drill sergeant, '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">STAND UP STRAIGHT!' ' TUCK THAT SHIRT IN!' </span>but they have not cooperated thus far. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe someday.</div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-76802445612963457842008-09-22T22:15:00.000-05:002008-09-22T23:00:05.937-05:00is this allowed?in light of these things...<div><br /><div>1. i got Jerry to sing Christmas carols ('O Holy Night' to be specific) in the car last night with me</div><div>2. i took a detour into Hallmark just so i could stand in the isle and look at their Christmas things and smell their Christmas candles. i might have shed a tear.</div><div>3. i had my cube-mate's full support when my itunes 'accidentally' rolled through to the Josh Groban <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Noel</span> album. (Katie is perhaps more Christmas psyco than myself)</div><div><br /></div><div>...so i light of this i thought i would post some Christmas 2007 pics BECAUSE I WANT TO, OK!!! </div><div><br /></div><div> </div>yea! my first pea coat (Jerry picked this out all by himself!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs5ZIqeXI/AAAAAAAAAoU/8stOEv3o5E8/s1600-h/CIMG1023.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs5ZIqeXI/AAAAAAAAAoU/8stOEv3o5E8/s320/CIMG1023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247939199049038194" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>my own left handed glove! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs58eX7RI/AAAAAAAAAoc/4uOWctxumPU/s1600-h/CIMG1026.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs58eX7RI/AAAAAAAAAoc/4uOWctxumPU/s320/CIMG1026.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247939208535338258" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>mmmm Christmas lunch! seriously, my mom makes the Best food everrrr. (Stephen, A.K.A. The Ear model, was sacrificed to take this picture)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs6puFOlI/AAAAAAAAAok/La3EhfyzTO8/s1600-h/CIMG1044.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs6puFOlI/AAAAAAAAAok/La3EhfyzTO8/s320/CIMG1044.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247939220680817234" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>one of the fun gifts was a bike for my :) so fun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs7IQaSoI/AAAAAAAAAos/FimW9Pa0RbE/s1600-h/CIMG1052.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNRs7IQaSoI/AAAAAAAAAos/FimW9Pa0RbE/s320/CIMG1052.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247939228877867650" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>See now. wasn't that nice? can't you just smell the cranberry candles and sugar cookies? i know some of you have real problems with the mention of Christmas before Thanksgiving so i apologize. no more out burst like this at LEAST until October :)<br /><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-6848346660491856462008-09-17T20:40:00.004-05:002008-09-18T09:12:09.523-05:00Jerry finally put his foot downthis is what we did last weekend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNGyHtPe89I/AAAAAAAAAoM/zvbwvlK3BFc/s1600-h/DSC00330.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247170886336705490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SNGyHtPe89I/AAAAAAAAAoM/zvbwvlK3BFc/s320/DSC00330.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />while waiting for the aftermath of Ike to hit Dallas, Jerry and i decided to drive over to the Shops at Highland Village. on the way over there we had a near collision [emphasis on the word 'near' people!]. i was driving and Jerry was in the passenger seat with his right foot up in the dash board (tacky, i know). <br /><br /><br />when i made a left turn cutting it a little to close to oncoming traffic for Jerry's comfort, he slammed his foot into my windshield (you know the imaginary break that all passengers use, at least when riding with me.<br /><br /><br />well the glass cracked as we swerved by a mini van<br />jerry let some colorful words fly<br />i let some colorful words fly<br />he yelled asking me what i was thinking?<br />i yelled asked him what was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">he</span> thinking!<br />then we both died laughing<br />and finally we settled into the slight depression that always follow an unexpected expense. <br /><br /><br />but i guess for a weekend that promised to hold a lot more destruction, a cracked windshield's not to bad.<br /><br /><br />so anyway, eyes on the road and hands at 10 and 2 from now on. i promise...Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-9149521150226633872008-09-10T20:50:00.000-05:002008-09-10T21:08:39.948-05:00better late than never<div>this is a picture of our new house. </div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhqb7wmRGI/AAAAAAAAAlo/1PIylPb-07o/s320/DSC00008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240055194576110690" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>just kidding, this is where we went for our one year anniversary (still not exactly sure where we were, somewhere in the Ozarks between Arkansas and Oklahoma). </div><div><br /><div>dang, we are approaching fall and i am just now posting our 1 year anniversary pictures from spring. i guess this post can be in celebration of our 1.5 year anniversary which is this month??</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhvBbFby7I/AAAAAAAAAnA/sM6bGhtSI0k/s1600-h/DSC00030.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhvBbFby7I/AAAAAAAAAnA/sM6bGhtSI0k/s320/DSC00030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240060236686674866" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>we did some hiking...</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhsKdX770I/AAAAAAAAAmA/YS82nFyMLBU/s320/DSC00013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240057093385088834" /></div><div><br /></div><div>some kayaking (jerry did anyways- the water was waaaay to cold for me to risk falling in)...</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhsK1dNJCI/AAAAAAAAAmI/1RQ8tSc43nU/s320/DSC00026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240057099849638946" /></div><div><br /></div><div>and lots of talking and enjoying the scenery.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhsKEwbfCI/AAAAAAAAAl4/EOULvZDld24/s320/DSC00010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240057086776933410" /></div><div><br /></div><div>here's the view of the river that was a lot murkier than normal since there was a storm the night we arrived. </div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhqcFwiahI/AAAAAAAAAlw/bSAA1q30P10/s320/DSC00018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240055197260212754" /><br /></div><div>way out there the stars are really bright and the lightening is even brighter! i was excited because one of my favorite things is a lightening storm and that was the second time God planned a lightening storm at the beginning of a little getaway.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>there was no tv, dvd or dishwasher so i bought paper plates and read a lot :) i think this book was <a href="http://www.thereasonforgod.com/book.php">A Reason for God</a>. </div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht0uo8uCI/AAAAAAAAAmY/Vr_0N1PL62U/s320/DSC00031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240058919085979682" /></div><div><br /></div><div>every night Jerry gathered firewood</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhsLN2fgWI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/DEOaCdbWsyQ/s320/DSC00028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240057106398151010" /></div><div><br /></div><div>and with much precision, </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht1JpAEdI/AAAAAAAAAmg/uGY9zQr9kc0/s1600-h/DSC00033.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht1JpAEdI/AAAAAAAAAmg/uGY9zQr9kc0/s320/DSC00033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240058926333956562" /></a></div><div><br />and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">areful</span> alignment,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht1UQMBII/AAAAAAAAAmo/zC-QBjrIsGs/s1600-h/DSC00034.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht1UQMBII/AAAAAAAAAmo/zC-QBjrIsGs/s1600-h/DSC00034.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht1UQMBII/AAAAAAAAAmo/zC-QBjrIsGs/s320/DSC00034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240058929182672002" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>built us a fire<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht1xOoOEI/AAAAAAAAAmw/QZBUSyvUurE/s1600-h/DSC00039.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLht1xOoOEI/AAAAAAAAAmw/QZBUSyvUurE/s320/DSC00039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240058936960759874" /></a><br /><br />viola!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SLhvAwoN9XI/AAAAAAAAAm4/DjZcFMlEnB0/s320/DSC00047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240060225289844082" /></div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-3319453959267123822008-09-02T21:39:00.009-05:002008-09-02T22:46:06.578-05:00Caillou and other things<div>no real theme to this post... and i always like a good theme.</div><div><br /></div><div>between this post and the last i watched Kite Runner. movies like that really stick to me a couple of days and make my thoughts churn. they make me so thankful that we have a perfectly wise God who is fully just and fully merciful. How amazing is that?! Praise Jesus that He would even deal with us! Ugh, some of those scenes ripped my heart right out. </div><div><br /></div><div>moving on</div><div><br /></div><div>this weekend we got together with Jerry's family. as always it was a blast! i didn't take many pics but here's one i thought was funny- apparently Caillou is appealing to all ages. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL4DC2OjEWI/AAAAAAAAAns/ArPzjXmfo0o/s1600-h/DSC00320.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL4DC2OjEWI/AAAAAAAAAns/ArPzjXmfo0o/s320/DSC00320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241630363756990818" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Little Huddie! (um and the unfinished cabinets) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL4DDU47b8I/AAAAAAAAAn0/Qyj-76O4s8s/s1600-h/DSC00319.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL4DDU47b8I/AAAAAAAAAn0/Qyj-76O4s8s/s320/DSC00319.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241630371987812290" /></a></div><div><br /><div>right now Jer and i are watching the Republican National Convention. poor Jer, i make him rewind lot and explain things, which he mostly does very graciously, but every once in a while i will get a, 'babe, maybe if you'd quit blogging and pay attention!'</div><div><br /></div><div>not to go off on a political tangent but my favorite quote so far hasn't come from Obama, Hillary, John, Sarah or George but from my husband while watching the Democratic National Convention, "i have laughed more watching this than watching Seinfeld!"</div><div><br /></div><div>anyways, below are a few final beach pics. </div><div><br /></div><div>this picture may not reflect it but these are Double-red-flag waters which means under no conditions should you get in the water... unless you are named Jerry Williams, then by all means, go ahead and wind surf after the lifeguard has gone home.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL39_3_JV5I/AAAAAAAAAnM/JrObA7NzOSU/s1600-h/DSC00285.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL39_3_JV5I/AAAAAAAAAnM/JrObA7NzOSU/s320/DSC00285.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241624815131514770" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Jer, Dad and Scott in front of another favorite restaurant, Hamilton's (aka: Stuffmyface)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL3-AUQuPRI/AAAAAAAAAnU/xYk76x9j3IU/s1600-h/DSC00299.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL3-AUQuPRI/AAAAAAAAAnU/xYk76x9j3IU/s320/DSC00299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241624822721428754" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dad and Jer fighting the undertow, me from the safety of the umbrella- although i did venture out there everyday<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL3-A1fPh3I/AAAAAAAAAnc/UphOfA4Jnkg/s1600-h/DSC00294.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL3-A1fPh3I/AAAAAAAAAnc/UphOfA4Jnkg/s320/DSC00294.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241624831640700786" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL3-BAMW4oI/AAAAAAAAAnk/lm2I_IT8oBU/s1600-h/DSC00275.JPG"></a></div><div>i like this one of Jer. Should i start a photo business? ;)</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL3-BAMW4oI/AAAAAAAAAnk/lm2I_IT8oBU/s1600-h/DSC00275.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SL3-BAMW4oI/AAAAAAAAAnk/lm2I_IT8oBU/s320/DSC00275.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241624834514281090" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>i love the beach because it's like a constant pedicure. that perfect white sand gently smoothing my tired heals. quite the metaphor really.</div><div><br />thanks mom and dad for letting us tag along! we love you both!!</div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508216731794782533.post-54838885088432382682008-08-11T12:23:00.009-05:002008-08-11T14:52:30.372-05:00a couple thousand wordshere's a peek of the last 24 hours. <div><br /><div>our first night: one of our annual stops, the frequented mom and pop shop "Shuck'em's" known for their mouth watering oysters</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SKB49QitwKI/AAAAAAAAAbM/ckjWi3MgOjw/s320/DSC00257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233315760812441762" /></div><div><br /></div><div>yummy! (at the beach my eyelashes go on vacation too- no mascara)</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SKB6RjEkthI/AAAAAAAAAbk/Optx5d2gNzs/s320/DSC00258.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233317208895305234" /></div><div><br /><div>me with my book and Jer and Scott with the windsurfing board</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SKB319qgG3I/AAAAAAAAAbE/2bqYidiPvXU/s320/DSC00261.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233314535974116210" /></div><div><br /></div><div>little brother, they grow up so fast!</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SKB4-rgY0eI/AAAAAAAAAbc/7cjIP9LRUTk/s320/DSC00271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233315785230307810" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>right now we are in due to a brief ocean shower. not to worry. we are neither sad nor dismayed at this cause these sprinkles are always short and sweet... and right now, just in time for lunch. </div><div><br /></div><div>and just because we miss them here's a pic of megan, stephen and their newest member- Grady aka L.T. (little terror)</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X7Cb1S8sB00/SKB8AqgGdLI/AAAAAAAAAb0/98rkHKVkAz0/s320/DSC00254.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233319117855290546" /><br /></div></div></div>Lauren Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04694065464536391085noreply@blogger.com12