8's Day

For this week's favorite 8 things, I've chosen smells.

1. Rain: it can smell so good...it reminds me that things can be washed again and again and again...a starting over.
2. Roses: so sweet!
3. Babies: They always have that baby powder smell...it's also a reminder of innocents and a hopeful future...miraculous smell!
4. Snuggles Fabric Softener: Just lifts me up and makes me float.
5. Amber Sensual: though Bath and Body took away from wall scent...they still have it in lotion form...it is magnificent!
6. Food: I just love homemade food...especially something baking in the oven...you know it's almost done when it starts to fill the house with pure sugary goodness....yummy!
7. Husband: he has some awesome cologne now...let's just say it's very very nice! :) *giggles and smiles*
8. Romance Perfume...my absolute favorite....I just get lost in it...it's so pure and refreshing...and makes me feel beautiful.

Okay, there are so many more smells that I love. These are just some of them. Now your turn, tell me your top 8 smells. Praise God for my nose...especially that it works for the most part! :) HAHAHAHAHA I look forward to finding out your smells!

TIME

Just when I think I'll get some time...I am totally wrong. I feel like my schedule is so penciled in that I can't do much else. I think I am destined...perhaps all of us are destined to deal with balancing life struggles for a long time. I used to think I wanted 48 hours in a day, but I would just somehow get that scheduled tight up and wanting more time. :)

I look forward to getting back to somewhat of a normal life in about 3 weeks. DC was a blast with the 4-H'ers and Extension Staff. We learned so much. It made me a little depressed in getting a behind the scene look of where our country is headed. We take most things for granted. If only our past leaders could see what we have done to this country. Actually, I'm hoping they don't ever have to see it. I just pray we can get headed into a better direction.

I do hope...yes...HOPE...that each person can take a break in time and see where they are going. What if we could all just do our part. The "what if" world was fading away in my life. I had decided I didn't want to live in the "what if" world any more....well...I was wrong. If I leave the "what if" world behind, then I am losing my hope...and let me tell you...no hope is not a good place to live.

It sucks! I want to dream big and believe that anything is possible. I know that not every dream will come true, but some of them can come true. I have to believe! Believe God will help me continue to find the positive things in life...to hope for a bigger and brighter future...to believe that I am meant for something...more than even what I am doing right now.

REDEFINING MY LIFE...this is the stage I am at in my life. Liking it or not...I must buckle up and speed forward. I want to believe that there is more to life than to expand the population. I think that each of us can relate to having to want something that just may not happen. I know I've been so focused on a plan...a path...a purpose that I've almost missed some amazing adventures.

May you be awake every day...no matter if time flies...slows down...as long as it exists...live...stretch...create...but don't give up. We all have a purpose...no matter what....we have a purpose...or we wouldn't still be here...you wouldn't be reading this entry right now. Good luck!

Homeward Bound - Day 9

Okay, I'm not a dude...but there's no telling what I look like...or even feel like at this point in the trip. I can only guess that I've had no sleep...had to keep a few in line...and my poor old body that should be Young, but I burnt both ends of my candle stick...and am ready for a pedi and mani ASAP! Poor feet...walking all over the place...experiencing things...Thank GOd for eye sight and the ability to move. Hopefully, I will not be too exhausted...for my next few weeks back will be jam packed with the following events for work:

Tulsa County Free Fair - July 21 - 26

• Set up
• Judging and Display day
• Farm To You - Child Care Day
• Bluegrass Ice Cream Festival
• 4-H Alumni Reunion & Dinner

88th State 4-H Roundup in Stillwater with teenagers again - this time from all over the state Jul 29 -31

Tulsa County Record Books and County Youth Officer Election - August 6

4-H Metamorphosis Leadership Retreat for new County officer team, Ambassadors and Jr. Ambassadors - August 7 & 8

4-H On TRAC Club Training and Volunteering Training with all Community Clubs in Tulsa County - August 10 - 14

Then I will be on annual leave - plans TBD August 20 - 24

WOW... it makes me really tired typing all that....it's going to be nuts! Hopefully, I can get some personal time in...most importantly...my running TRAINING!

Well....I'm not home yet to do that schedule...I should probably sleep on the bus ride home...yes, that's what I SHOULD do...pray that I get some sleep.

July 19th-


8:00am - Load Bus for Home
Lunch & Dinner on road


9:00pm- Arrive Okmulgee

HOME

Another summer day
has come and gone away
In Paris or Rome...
but I wanna go home...
uhm Home
may be surrounded by
a million people I
still feel all alone
just wanna go home
I miss you, you know

And I've been keeping all the letters
that I wrote to you,
Each one a line or two
I'm fine baby, how are you?
I would send them but I know that it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane, another sunny place,
I'm lucky I
I wanna go home
I got to go home

Let me go home

I'm just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I'm living
someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
when everything was going right
And I know just why you could not come along with me
This was not your dream
but you always believed in me...

Another winter day
Has come and gone away
in either Paris or Rome
and I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I'm surrounded by
A million people I
still feel alone
Let me go home
I miss you , you know

Let me go home
I've had my run
baby I'm done
I gotta go home

Let me go home
it'll all be alright
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home"

On the Road Again - Day 8

July 18th-

6:00am - Leave for Nashville
Lunch on Road
6:00pm - Arrive Nashville

Where Music Calls Us Home --- Now I've been here before...but it's been a long time. Enjoy seeing what's available at http://www.visitmusiccity.com/

Hang out at Opryland Mall

Did someone say shopping? I think by the time we have gotten to this point in the trip, I've spent my birthday money. I can't be for sure, but I can say it's a much higher possibility than not! :) Guess I'll just have to window shop like the girl in Shopaholic! :)

On the Road Again

On the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again

The life I love is makin' music with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again

Goin' places that I've never been

Seein' things that I may never see again,

And I can't wait to get on the road again.
On the road againLike a band of gypsies we go down the highway

We're the best of friends

Insisting that the world be turnin' our way

And our wayIs on the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again

The life I love is makin' music with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again

Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway

We're the best of friends

Insisting that the world be turnin' our way

And our way

Is on the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again

The life I love is makin' music with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again

And I can't wait to get on the road again

Still Rocking Along in DC - Day 7

July 17th-

Breakfast at 4-H Center
Free Day

Back to Jennifer & Chrissy's "Free Days" Itinerary: "Where We Rock DC"

• Destroyer Barry - USS Navy Ship http://www.history.navy.mil/visit/visit5.htm



• United States Botanic Gardens http://www.usbg.gov/



• Smithsonian - National Museum of American History http://americanhistory.si.edu/



• Smithsonian - National Museum of Natural History http://www.mnh.si.edu/



• Embassy Row (if time) http://www.washingtonwalks.com/tours/embassy-row.

6:00pm - Meet Back at 4-H Center
7:30pm - Hard Rock Café Group Meal (Bus)

http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=102&MIBEnumID=3

I can't wait to buy a magnet from here! I collect them...yes I do...and I'm proud of it! :)

It's MY BIRTHDAY - Day 6

My SWEET Trip on MY BIG 3 - 1 BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to Me

Happy Birthday to Me

Happy Birthday to Happy Happy ME

Happy Birthday to me

AND MANY MORE!

Yummy...now that's a birthday cake...one of the largest made. Strawberry Shortcake...eat your heart out!

July 16th-

7:00am- Breakfast
9:00am - Tour Washington Monument

Visit http://www.nps.gov/wamo for more information.

9:30am - Free day Tour

Jennifer and I have an awesome day planned!

It's the Jennifer & Chrissy's "Free Days" Itinerary: "Where We Rock DC"

• Ford Theater & Petersen House Presentation and Tour
• "One Destiny" (2person Play) or Park Ranger Presentation
• United State Holocaust Memorial Museum
• US Bureau of Engraving & Printing

6:00pm - Meet at ballpark to eat and game, Bus back to 4-H Center

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

"Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don't care if I never get back,

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game."

What a day of celebrating my birthday by doing all this....WOW...it's gonna take a lot to beat this. :) I'll try though! You are only as old as you think you are! HAHAHAHAHAHA

Capitol, Cathedral and Monuments...oh my - Day 5

July 15th-
8:00am –Wake up & Breakfast National 4-H Center(orange polos, khakis, shorts acceptable)9:00am - Load bus for legislative visit with Congressman Boren


12:00pm - Lunch Union Station1:00pm - Capitol Tour
2:30pm - Cathedral

Visit http://www.nationalcathedral.org/visit/ for more information! :) Wonder if I can find some of the strange things from the movies. HMMMMMMMM we shall see.

6:00pm - Dinner at 4-H Center8:00pm - Load Bus for Monument Tour - YIPPEEEEEEEE - Touring at night...everything lit up...priceless....you couldn't pay enough to see it all! :)


He was hilarious in Night at the Museum 2! :)

Monticello - HELLO - Day 4

July 14th-

8:00am – Breakfast at Hotel
8:30am - Leave for Monticello
9:00am-12:00pm - Tour Monticello

Want to know more about Thomas Jefferson's place, visit http://www.monticello.org/index.html

12:00pm -1:00pm - Lunch in Charlottesville
1:00pm - Leave for Arlington
3:00pm-5:30pm - Tour Arlington

Just in case you haven't been to this spectacular place, visit http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

6:30pm - Dinner National 4-H Center - I hear the food is tasty!

Finally, I get to stay at the National 4-H Center...it's been a long time coming! Visit the website to check out this fantastic place, http://www.4hcenter.org/

8:00pm - Free time

Now this is sure to be a loaded day of experiencing history. I haven't been to Monticello before now! Arlington was amazing the first time! I can't wait to see it with a different perspective.

More Heritage Discovered - Day 3

July 13th- 7:00am – Breakfast
Morning- Cherokee Farm and Traditional Games
Noon- Meal in Cherokee
1:00pm – Depart for Charlottesville, Virginia (Meal on road )

10:00pm –Arrive Charlottesville

A Poem: Wake Up In a Land Of Dreams

Wake up in a land of dreams;

Enchanted with mountains hollows and streams;
Where morning sun becomes your friend;

And the gentle breezes of the four winds whisper for the day to begin;
An eagle and a hawk soon soar above;
While well below are the calls of robins and doves;
A whitetail deer heads home on an early morning trail;

While young squirrels spend the day hiding behind trees as they chase each others tails;

On a lazy afternoon in the mountains a black bear takes a nap;

After a delicious meal of ants and termites and a dessert of honey sap;

For a moment evening sun sits on a mountain top before he descends down;

And pretty soon native night creatures will be the only sounds;

Then the mountains become covered with a smoky mist;

As nature gives the land a good-night kiss;

Every star is lit as they sparkle throughout the night;

And treetops dance in the water with shadows by the moon light;

And soon the land of Cherokee becomes quiet;

Until morning, nature says goodnight.

Frank Goss, 2006

Possible Cherokee Games we might be playing, but not for sure:

A-ne-jo-di, or the Stickball Game, is a very rough game played by not only the Cherokee, but many other Southeastern Woodland tribes and it is also popular with many Canadian First Nations. The game resembles the modern European game of lacrosse. This game is a pre-requisite before a Cherokee Stomp Dance can begin, but it is also played socially or competitively without the Stomp Dance occurring in conjunction with it.

Di-ga-da-yo-s-di or Marbles is another popular Cherokee game, which is played in tournaments. The marble game dates back to approximately 800 a.d., and is a complex game of skill and strategy played by adults on a five-hole outdoor course. The "marbles" aren't the small shooters used by kids today. They were carved from stone until the early 20th century. There are still a few traditional marble makers, but today most people use billiard balls to play this game.

Find out more about Charlottsville at http://www.charlottesville.org/

Work and Play - Day 2

July 12th-

7:00am – Breakfast
7:30am – Leave on Bus for Oconaluftee Indian Village for the morning

See how cool this place will be for us...totally magnificent

http://www.cherokee-nc.com/index.php?page=17
Afternoon- tubing

Evening- Educational Program (I can't wait to see what the Cherokee 4-H'ers will have for us, but it's bond to be a very interesting program).

Not sure how long of a day this will be, but it's sure to be jam packed and lots of funnnnnnnnnnnnn! Wow we have an adventure in store for us! I'm excited to do a float trip again. If this one goes well, I may have to petition with the PAC to bring back our Tulsa County Float trip!

Charter Buses...oh my! Day 1

If you haven't caught on...I'm auto posting...yes...I am! I actually was a night owl this past week and got tons of these posts ready for you! :) Lucky you! Any who, at this point I have been on a charter bus since 6:00 a.m....not sure how I will be feeling, but I can only guess it will give me many fab stories to tell you later on! Keep praying for us...we should be arriving in North Carolina tonight.



Here's Day 1's schedule:




July 11th-


6:00am- Check in at the Creek Nation Complex
6:30am- Depart Okmulgee
2 meals on the way to Cherokee North Carolina


10:00pm-11:00pm- Arrive at Cherokee, NC





It's a looooooonnnnnnggggg day! Keep praying for safe travels! :)

Tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. ---- AWAY WE GO!!!!!!!!!

I get the privilege of chaperoning along with 9 other adults....up to 48 teenagers from the 4-H program. Now these teenagers come from the 11 counties within the Creek Nation 4-H area. It's going to be an adventure of a lifetime. I'm enthusiastic about this trip. It's been a long time since I stepped foot in DC. I'm glad to experience it through my adult eyes, plus I get to be in DC on my 31st birthday...pretty cool if you ask me.

Any ways, please send prayers up for safe travel, good behaviors and awesome stories. I look forward to reporting back to you, plus posting all the pics on facebook. 4:30 a.m. will come too soon though...the only downfall I see in the plans. We have to be in Oklmulgee by 6:00 a.m. and I have teenagers staying at my house for a shorter drive. We have 4 going from Tulsa County...YIPPEE! Let the memories begin! :) Toodles...Trip 1 of many more to come!

Traveling I will Go...A Traveling I will GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I have been known as the traveling girl most my life. Every opportunity that I could travel, I have...yes, I have! I will be returning to Washington DC this next week. I haven't been there since my 8th grade trip with Coach Rhoten. Oh the good old days! :) I leave Saturday with the Creek Nation 4-H Trip. It is going to be awesome. This is not my only trip set for this year. Here's a quick line up:

July 11 - 19, 2009

Washington DC with many stops along the way...I will post when I get back.

August 15 - 23, 2009

TBD I will be taking annual leave...I have options...and some will be traveling.

October 24 -30, 2009

Rochester, NY for the NAE4-HA Conference - MY VERY FIRST ONE WITH THIS ORGANIZATION...I LOVE CONFERENCES!

November 5 - 11, 2009

GREECE & Egypt ---I will be running the Athens Marathon (God willing)!

So this is what is set thus far for my traveling ways. I am always so happy to travel...it's a blast...and I get to take lots of pictures...I've missed having so many pictures. I'm sure there will be some short road trips in the fall sometime...it just depends on money! :) Thank God two of the trips are for work!

I absolutely love the number 8, so I'm going to start a new Wednesday tradition for myself on this blog. I will find a topic and have 8 items to cover and why.

First topic for my 8's Day is.....

My favorite FRUIT?

1. Strawberries - they are delicious, especially with chocolate on them. My absolute favorite.

2. Oranges - I love the Old Bagel Shop's homemade orange juice. You can see the oranges squeezed in their funky machine...love it!

3. Bananas - my all time favorite is in bread...banana bread....do I need to say more...no!

4. Kiwi - I really do love this fruit...its sweet and juicy.

5. Apples - Have you ever had Hideaway Pizzas salad with walnuts and apples....its fabulous! So is the Fuji salad at Panera! YUMMY!

6. GRAPES - I can't forget grapes...these are amazing for snacking! SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOD!

7. Peaches - I just had the best homemade peach ice cream over 4th of July...thanks to my Great Aunt Janice - I'm pretty sure she made it. Delicious...fresh peaches!

8. Cherries - love them especially in cherry limeades or Shirley's! :)

What's your favorite fruit and why?

4 years and almost 1 month

I know...crazy pic. Believe it or not...this was me at 25...just starting out as the 4-H Extension Educator for Tulsa County. Yes, this was my picture at the New Employee Orientation...it was raining that day. I never thought in a million years how amazing this job would be. Now it definitely has had some downs, but there have been more ups. I praise God for giving me this job. My 4 year anniversary was on June 13, 2009. I look forward to many more years. I hope you are enjoying your work. It's not always this way. I'm very happy...though behind...I'm still very happy!

Hello FREEDOM!

Yes, I said it.....HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FREEDOM! This is a very special 4th of July for me. After 5 1/2 years of struggling and concentrating on getting pregnant..........I am breaking the chains and living for today. It's been a long struggle....and for those that have had to bear it with me....THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. Thanks for not leaving me behind.

This attitude of living for today and concentrating on me and my hubby has been going for a week now. When I spotted last Thursday, I thought I was going to be crushed. I was wrong. I got back up...decided to be happy with today...and have been so much happier since.

I am lucky enough to travel to DC on the 11th - 19th. I am very honored to be visiting a place that appreciates the efforts of others who have fought for another freedom! Praise God for those that have given me the opportunity to decide for myself on anything. FREEDOM does not come without a cost. Thank you to those that serve or have served to make our freedom exist!

May God Bless You, Your family and the United States of America. May we remember that we were built on the principles...and not to forget the words written long ago... IN GOD WE TRUST!