It's a Sister Thing...

2 weekends ago, my step-sisters (For the remainder of the post, I will refer to them as my sisters.  I was tring to cut down on confusion, but they really are MY sisters.) and I participated in something that has become a yearly tradition for us...the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. How thankful I am that we can walk in celebration and not in honor of... 

On December 5, 2006, my oldest sister Cindy's world was rocked to it's core.  At 41 years old, she was diagnosed with stage III B breast cancer.  She endured 4 rounds of chemo before having a bilateral mastectomy in March of 2007, and another 6 rounds of chemo post-surgery.  It has been 2 years, and she as remained CANCER FREE!!!!!  PRAISE GOD!!!!!! 

I cannot tell you how thankful I am that my God, the Great Physician, chose to heal my sister while allowing her to remain on this earth with us.  I cannot imagine my life without her!  This may sound crazy, but her journey through breast cancer was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  She would probably disagree with my last statement, so, let me explain...If I were in her shoes, I would have fallen apart a long time ago, but my sister was so solid through it all.  She radiated this peace that was absolutely undeniable.  It was obvious that she totally trusted in God, and gosh, He has truly rewarded her trust.

She is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING, and I am SO glad that she is MY sister.  I look forward to walking in this walk every year in CELEBRATION of Cindy Scott.

My Sweety...

Has anyone seen my sweety lately??  I apologize for my obsession with taking pictures of my dog, but if you have ever met him, you know how addicting Winsty love is!!!

Winsty LOVES squash (as well as Krystal Hamburgers, Cupcakes, Ice Cream, and Pork Loin).  If only I could get Michael to eat squash!! 

LONG Time, No Blogging...

So many people (mainly the Usual Suspects) have incessantly nagged me about my absence in the world of blooging...SORRY, GUYS!!  It seems that my life has been very busy lately, but when I look back, I cannot recall any events of note that would result in the chaos that I have been experiencing.  It seems that all I do is work, feed Michael, feed Winston, feed myself, clean up, sleep, work, feed Michael, feed Winston....

This weekend was a fabulous break from the usual routine.  On Friday, I celebrated my birthday with my grandmother at Julep, and went plant shoppping with my mother.  Much to my mother's surprise, I have become quite OCD about my yard now that I pay the mortgage.  On Saturday, Michael and I spent the day gallivanting around toun.  On Sunday, we celebrated Easter by going to church with these folks.  Because it's my birthday week, I was also able to bribe Michael into taking me to PF Changs for lunch.  I love it; he hates it, but he knows the rule for my birthday week :)  

I am looking forward to April 24th.  I will be going to Gulf Shores, AL with four of my wonderful co-workers.  We will do a lot of sunning, shoppping, and of course, eating.  It will be a much needed break!!  Michael is excited because:

1) he HATES the beach (if you look at his skin, you will understand why), and this is his way of not having to take me to get my annual beach fix.

2) he knows that there is a Polo and Banana Republic outlet store!! 

I have some really cute pictures of Winston.  I will post them as soon as I find my camera charger.  Also, I will try not to stay away so long this time :)

What a year...

I am technically 2 hours late posting...oh well.

One year ago, March 15, 2008, I became Mrs. Michael Edward Ford.  It is SO very hard to believe it has already been a year, but what a year it has been!!!  I should have known that getting married and graduating would not simplify my life as I thought, but I definitely cannot complain.  God has truly blessed us so much in one short year.  I spent some time today looking at my proof book (because I just recently ordered my wedding ablum due to my inability to make a decision on pictures...thank you Ron Blaylock!) and reminiscing about such a wonderful day.  Unlike today, it was a beautiful spring day.  Beautiful beacuse of the weather, but also beautiful because I became a wife to the most wonderful man I know.  Here are a few candid shots from our special day... 

Wish I was here right now with the love of my life...

"Hoppy" Easter...

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

I have insomnia...he's just crazy...

I love my husband so very much, but I must say that trying to sleep next to him and obtain a restful night of sleep is nearly impossible.  

Let me paint a picture of what it's like.  Hang with me...When I was in nuring school, I did a rotation through the Mississippi State Hospital, formerly known as Whitfield.  I was placed in the all-male schizophrenia unit.  I will let you guess how much I enjoyed that!  Anyway, one of the nurses that worked in that unit spent the majority of her day sleeping...let me rephrase that...I never saw her awake.  Anytime some crazy person (my former professors would DIE if they read that) would run through the halls (usually naked, being chased by some person they had imagined, or thinking they were on fire), the nurse, who looked something like this would yell, "You crazy fools don't stop runnin' in here naked, yelling, and waking me up, I gone have to quit this place!!!"  

I won't even go into explaining my concerns behind her, but I can totally relate to how she feels when she is trying to get her beauty rest.  Not that Michael is running through the house naked (although he would probably like for you to think that he does...seems like something he would say), but he sure does manage to keep me awake at night.

Last night, around 1:00 am, Michael was asleep, and I was lying in the bed watching TV.  All of a sudden Michael jumps and looks over at me with a look that can only be compared to when you dump water on a baby's head in the bathtub...you know that panicked look.  He starts brushing his pillow off saying there was a spider on his pillow.  I HATE a spider, so I jumped out of the bed and ran over to his side.  I was asking some qustions about the spider, and he looks at me with this very angry look and says, "It ain't no spider, it's just a spidey lookin' thang".  He said that phrase at least 5 times before I could get back to my side of the bed.  Now do you see what may contribute to my insomnia?!?!

He has also been known to do the following while sleeping:

* jump out of the bed gasping and snorting because he "stopped breathing"????

* sit straight up and yell, "Winston is still outside!!!!!!!!!!!!" (We have a fear of leaving him outside)

* hold his arm up in the air just long enough for you to realize what it is and then drop it directly on your face.

* Sit up and yell, "Get than bird cage out of here!!!!!!!!!"

I am about to start yelling...You crazy fool don't stop runnin' in here naked, yelling, and waking me up, I gone have to quit this place!!! 

Off to give Winston a bath...pray for me :)

I have a new addiction...

I have never been one to do a lot of online shopping.  I guess I'm the type that likes to see and touch something before I buy it.  I am also not the type of person that can wear just anything. When you have hips and a butt the size of my house and pasty, reddish, freckled skin...your best bet is to try something on and take a looooonnnnggg look in the mirror before purchasing it.

Recently, I have discovered this website.  I have always wanted to be a granola girl and I guess this is my way of doing it.  Esty is a website that sells handmade unique items.  They have the most beautiful jewelry, and it is usually very reasonable.  So, if you are in the mood to do a little online shopping, I suggest you stop here.  I think you will really enjoy it :)  Look at what I bought...all of the earrings were under $20!!!!