Happy 10th Birthday, Ryan!!

(Ryan & Crystal)
Ok. So where has the time gone? My baby is 10 years old & I have no idea how it happened! Ryan was not the first baby we were pregnant with. Two months before we got pregnant with him, we lost a baby. We don't know why, but it was meant for God to take that baby back home to Him. We were devasted, but know that our Lord has a reason for everything. When we found out we were preggers with Ryan, we were very excited, but also hesistant. We didn't want to tell too many people at first & we were very cautious of things I did, ate, drank etc. My pregnancy couldn't have gone better & we laughed when we first heard Ryan's cries in the delivery room. (long story about the laughing, but of course there were tears too.) Ryan has always been a good kid. He's got Micah's laid back personality, sense of humor & long eyelashes. :) He does have my temper when he gets mad, but at least we don't have to wonder what he's thinking. Ryan does really well in school & his teachers have nothing but good things to say about him. "He's such a pleasure to have in class. He's a great kid. He's so helpful & considerate of others. He has such good manners." (I take full credit for the last one. LOL) Ryan has always had a passion for baseball. It's never been just a hobby for him, or just something to do. It is a part of him, that if ever taken away, would crush his heart. He just got his first out of the park homerun on March 31st ~ the first game of this season. Talk about proud parents!! But no matter if it's making good grades, getting endless compliments from teachers, or getting into the major leagues out of college, (no pressure, Bubby) we couldn't be prouder just to be his parents. He's such a good kiddo & while I'm sad that he's (already) turning double digits, I've loved getting to this point with him & I'm excited to see the person he becomes in the coming weeks, months & years.


HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, RYAN!!! We love you!

Please Read & Help!!

Ok, not the best way to make a come back, but I thought this was very important to get out there...
I received this email from my SIL. It's from an OB/Gyn here in town that she used to work with. Please take the time out to make a difference..... Hopefully none of you ever have to experience something so horrible, but put yourselves in Shelley's shoes & ask what you would want done if it did.
Thanks for taking the time to read...

Hello my friends,
I write this to illustrate a grave injustice in our Texas laws and implore you to take 5 minutes read this and then act on Texas HB 494.
Dr. Shelley Ferrill is a Family Practice physician that attended medical school with me. She was on some of my clinical teams and, in fact, I tried to convince her to do OB/Gyn because she was great at it! In 2006, her husband of 8 years hired someone to have her killed. The hit man had a change of heart/mind and went to the cops, who set up a sting and busted her husband. There was no history of domestic violence....just the fact that her husband tried to arrange her murder to get her out of the way for his affair. This would have left her then 5 and 7 year old kids without a loving and devoted mom.
He comes up for parole in April of this year. In the wonderful state in which we live, he still has PARENTAL RIGHTS to see his children, although he tried to murder their mother. Can you possibly put yourself in her position and imagine being forced by law to allow the man who tried to murder you have time with your children? Texas HB 494 would change the law so that those who attempt to murder their children's other parent would have their parental rights involuntarily terminated. It is up for vote this session....session is happening NOW. His parole date is in APRIL.
PLEASE take the time to contact your State Representative and Senators to ask them to pass this bill so Shelley doesn't have to face letting her ex-husband/attempted murderer have visitation rights with her children. And yes, unsupervised visits are a possibility! If he had succeeded in murdering her, his rights would be involuntarily terminated. Why reward the inept criminal and allow him to continue his rights?
You can contact your state senators and reps by going to the following site and entering your address. It will tell you who your reps are and how to contact them. http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members.htm#FYI
PLEASE take the few minutes it takes and do so. If you think twice about doing this, please put yourself in Shelley's shoes and consider what you would ask others to do for your children or loved ones.
Here is a video clip of Shelley confronting her husband in court. Please watch it and you see the depth of love for her children and his complete lack of remorse. http://www.click2houston.com/video/11037048/index.html I've also attached a pic of Shelley and her kids. These are not anonymous news stories that happen to "other" people. This happens to people we know and care about. Shelley is my friend. Shelley is Garrett and Kaitlyn's mom.
Please help by contacting your reps. Time is vital. Please feel free to send to anyone who lives in Texas and ask them to act now.

5 Things

I stole this meme from Tori. It was fun reading her's & seeing what things we had in common. It's a 5 things meme where I try to name something that nobody else would be able to say as their answer. Let me know if I was right or wrong!!

CD I Own:
Kris Kross - Totally Krossed Out, "Beverly Hills 90210" soundtrack, "The Heights" soundtrack

Book I Own:"Little Girl Lost" - Drew Barrymore biography from when she was like 14

DVD/VHS/whatever I Own:
"Donna Martin Graduates" & "Graduation" - episodes of Beverly Hills 90210 that I have recorded

Place Visited:
I got nothing! Ummm.....the Roadkill Cafe in Sturgis, SD

Piece of technology or any sort of tool I own: (I'm totally stealing Tori's b/c I can't think of anything else.)
I have a mp3 player adaptor thing that I can put plug into my mp3 player and then stick into my tape deck in my car. Then I can play my mp3 music thru the stereo system. I have this b/c I'm not cool enough to own a real IPod.
If you'd like to participate comment me your answers!

Life is Good

Okay, I have been blessed in my life in so many ways that I'm sure I don't deserve. So, I always have MANY things to be thankful for. But, I'm taking a minute to focus on two awesome things in my life right now.....

# 1. My Crystal is gonna have a baby!!! I can't wait to meet the child I will spoil almost as much as my own. =}

# 2. My Tori is moving back to Texas!!! So glad you've finally found your way home. =}

Life is good. Love you guys!

Happy Turkey Day, Y'all!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please take a moment & reflect the things you truly are thankful for. & please say a quick prayer for our men & women in the military who can not spend this day with their families because it is their job to keep us safe. God bless!

Stacy-ology

Stacy-ology
Rules: Let others know a little more about yourself, repost this as your name followed by "ology."
MOUTHOLOGY
Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A. Chipotle.
Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
A: Pasta.
Q.What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A. Hamburger & mushrooms on alfredo pizza.

TECHNOLOGY
Q. What is currently on your computer wallpaper?
A: Default nature scene.
Q. How many televisions are in your house?
A: 6.

BIOLOGY
Q. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A. Right-handed.
Q. When was the last time you had a cavity?
A. To my knowledge I've never had a cavity.
Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A. Yes & my teacher kept yelling at me b/c she thought I was faking.

OTHEROLOGY
Q. What color do you think looks best on you?
A. Don't know if it looks good, but I try to stick w/black.
Q. Have you ever saved someone's life?
A. I've never been in that situation. Thank God!
Q. Has someone ever saved yours?
A. Not that I know of.

DUMBOLOGY
Q: What is in your left pocket?
A: Nothing in my left pocket.
Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A. It's a flippin' great movie. What do you think?!
Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A: My last ticket - it's been a few years.

LASTOLOGY
Q: Last person who called you?
A: Grandma.
Q: Last Person you hugged?
A: Ryan.

FAVORITOLOGY
Q: Number?
A: 18.
Q: Season?
A: Winter.

CURRENTOLOGY
Q: Mood?
A: Blah ~ I think I'm getting sick. :(
Q: Listening to?
A: Micah & Aaron playing Halo 3.
Q: Watching?
A: Myself answer this quiz.

RANDOMOLOGY
Q: What can you not wait to do?
A: Have a few days off at Christmastime.
Q: What's the last movie you saw?
A: "Knocked Up" & I was cringing the whole time b/c of the language. OMGosh!
Q: Do you smile often?
A: All the time. Life is good! =}

TAGOLOGY
If you just read this, YOU'RE IT! Just let me know :)

God Bless Texas

This came to me via email & I thought I'd share. If you've never had the pleasure to visit Texas, you should come sometime. We really do ROCK like that.......

In Texas we really do pull off the road and stop for funerals......nobody moves until the last car has gone by.

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):
"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas . The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts.
When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued .. for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The military presence..at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard who attended James, and some who served with him .. was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.

I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like. These photos are awesome !!