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| Kirk Loved the Dolphin Encounter |
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| My Daddy |
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| Bucket list stuff! |
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| My Momma and Daddy |
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| Dinner Dates |
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| Daddy and Lynn |
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| In Grand Caymen kissing a turtle |
Count Your Blessings, Bella
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Vacation- 2014- Cruise Baby
After a very hard and trying school year for both Kirk and myself, we decided to go on a cruise with just ourselves and my parents and take some time to be a couple. We left out of Galveston on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and sailed into the Western Caribbean. We had a marvelous time and most importantly, we enjoyed time together. We had dinner with momma and daddy every night, went on excursions with them, and occasionally saw them on the boat. They are a great couple to travel with. This is our second cruise with them and I am sure there will be many more to come. We went on the Carnival Magic. Had two days on the boat, a stop off in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. We then had one more day on the boat before it was time to come home. We ate awesome food, drank fun drinks, spent our boat days in Serenity ( the adult only area), slept a lot, swam with dolphins, held sea turtles, rode in a jeep, was waited on hand and foot at a private beach, and of course stopped at Jimmy Buffets. It was a wonderful, magical vacation. Here are some of the highlights of the trip:
A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.
Count Your Blessings, Bella
Count Your Blessings, Bella
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Happy Birthday America
We celebrated July 4th in grand style. Kirk and I headed down to San Antonio. We went to our in laws Sasha and Juan's home for the day. We had a pool party. They were such gracious hosts and entertained all of us- Brooke and Travis and the boys and Abbey and Wyatt. Justin had to stay in Austin to attend to some pressing business. We then went to Brooke's neighborhood party for fireworks. Brooke and Travis' neighborhood is crazy on July 4th. It was tons of fun. Good food and a jump house for the kids. We had to say goodbye early July 5th and head back to Dallas for our cruise the next day ( see next blog).
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis
Count Your Blessings, Bella
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| Happy Birthday America! |
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| At the Pool Party |
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| Caleb and Hudson loved Wyatt's car at his Nona's House |
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| I got the boys Old Navy July 4th shirts |
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| Walking to the Neighborhood party |
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| Caleb is beginning to love his Bella ( especially if I feed him) |
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| Wyatt, Abbey, Bella, and Caleb |
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| Brooke and Caleb ( the boy likes to eat) |
Count Your Blessings, Bella
The Class of 1979 is Well and Mighty Fine
The class of 1979 is Well and mighty fine!
I went to a small high school, in fact my graduating class had only 32 students. I had attended the 10 year reunion. It was fun, but everyone at their 10 year reunion tries to impress. I attended the 25th and had an awesome time. No one really cared what you had or had not achieved. I was so excited to attend the 35th and did not leave disappointed. Kirk and I headed to Houston in June. We stayed with one of my classmates- Lisa Branch Long and had a terrific time. We so appreciated the hospitality of Lisa and her sweet husband Sam. We had a casual dinner with my classmates. Many thanks to Annette Ford Harper and the committee for a great time. We were able to raise close to $1000 dollars that night for our departed classmate Dorothy's family. I also saw my best friend in high school, Sheelah Wooten. We have not really talked since high school and picked up right where we left off, 35 years later. I had connected with many classmates through facebook, so knew about their lives. It was just so very nice to see people you grew up with, shared your childhood with, and went to school with for many kindergarten through 12th grade. Here's to the next 5 years St Thomas Class of 1979. You can always find me on facebook.
My senior quote in the 1979 St. Thomas Yearbook
"The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, the way to be happy is to make others so."
Count Your Blessings, Bella
I went to a small high school, in fact my graduating class had only 32 students. I had attended the 10 year reunion. It was fun, but everyone at their 10 year reunion tries to impress. I attended the 25th and had an awesome time. No one really cared what you had or had not achieved. I was so excited to attend the 35th and did not leave disappointed. Kirk and I headed to Houston in June. We stayed with one of my classmates- Lisa Branch Long and had a terrific time. We so appreciated the hospitality of Lisa and her sweet husband Sam. We had a casual dinner with my classmates. Many thanks to Annette Ford Harper and the committee for a great time. We were able to raise close to $1000 dollars that night for our departed classmate Dorothy's family. I also saw my best friend in high school, Sheelah Wooten. We have not really talked since high school and picked up right where we left off, 35 years later. I had connected with many classmates through facebook, so knew about their lives. It was just so very nice to see people you grew up with, shared your childhood with, and went to school with for many kindergarten through 12th grade. Here's to the next 5 years St Thomas Class of 1979. You can always find me on facebook.
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| St. Thomas Class of 1979 |
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| The beach group |
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| Jimmy Smith- lived down the street from me and went to St. Thomas most of his grades of school. He is a true Austinite- Lucky Guy! |
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| Happy Reunion Class of 1979 |
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| Lisa Long and Diane |
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| Sheelah and her husband Jay |
"The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, the way to be happy is to make others so."
Count Your Blessings, Bella
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Four Special Birthdays
With a family as large as ours, seems like there is always a birthday. We were able to celebrate Connor, Luci, and Carter for their late June and early July birthdays. I flew down to San Antonio to spend a week with Brooke, Travis, and the boys. We met Paige and Connor in New Braunfels at the Gristmill to celebrate Connor. That weekend everyone came to Dallas to celebrate Carter's birthday. That beautiful boy turned 4 on July 2nd. Luci's birthday is July 4th and my moms birthday is also July 4th. Whew!!! That is a lot of celebrating. Here are pictures of the festivities.
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| Hudson at Connor's party |
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| Wyatt at Connor's Party |
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| The birthday boy and his momma! |
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| The Birthday boy at Gymnastics party |
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| Finley and Riley |
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| My momma celebrating with Kirk and me on the cruise |
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| Beautiful Luci had a great birthday. Here with beautiful Brooke! The sun rose today with a very special charm, the clouds cleared today with a very special intent and the trees are all swaying in unison - just to wish you a very Happy Birthday. Count Your Blessings, Bella |
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
More Life on the Ranch
We continue to spend as many weekends as possible at the ranch. I find solitude as I watch my children and grandchildren play, laugh, and work together. We even take the kids out to the ranch if Jeremy and Luci are out of town. We had Kirk's brother's family visit and they had a great time. Here are more living picture of life at the ranch:
Count Your Blessings, Bella
You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
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| The babies always want to climb in the deer feeder |
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| The deer feeder pose with the big kids |
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| The pose with Uncle Connor |
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| These cactus are beautiful, but have prickly slivers when you touch them- I made that mistake |
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| We have cows now! |
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| The Smith kids- Uncle Ross and Aunt Deb's family |
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| Loading the deer feeder |
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| Pulling the automatic feed- it shoots out - quite an experience to a three and five year old! |
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| The dogs love the pond! |
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| Loving the four wheeler |
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| Riley's favorite activity at the ranch |
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| The Smith clan- great family weekend |
Friday, June 6, 2014
Living the Dream
Well it has been a little over 10 years since I entered this journey as a Principal. I was an AP for nine years at two middle schools in Round Rock and always had a calling to be a Principal. As a write this today, I am standing on the shoulders of all those in Round Rock ISD and now Dallas ISD who have supported this journey. Yes I am a Dallas ISD Principal!!!! I went to my new school today and was introduced to the community and staff. The school is a high school which houses two special high school programs. The Maya Angelou High School- this is a school of choice for pregnant girls and the Multiple Career Magnet Center - this is a school for the intellectually disabled in helping them to become active citizens. There is job coaching and career development. It is such an honor to be trusted with this campus. I am in awe of those principals who I have worked with and how they must have felt that first day. The school is in terrific shape and I have big shoes to fill. I was given a warm welcome and look forward to taking this school to the next level. I would be remiss if I did not thank my family- all 7 of my kids for taking this journey with me and my sweet parents who have always supported me. Most importantly, my wonderful husband Kirk who is the wind beneath my wings. I would not be 1/2 of what I am without him. I have already begun the transition, I even had to make my first principal decision today! I am feeling a little overwhelmed, but have confidence that I am up for this challenge. It will also take courage as well. I will leave you with an awesome quote from the lady herself:
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
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| A family that supports each other and creates a legacy! |
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| This is why I do what I do! Count Your Blessings, Bella |
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Carry the Load- Memorial Day 2014
Last weekend, Kirk and I participated n a great event called Carry the Load. It is a movement to honor and remember our fallen that have served us. We saw many people walking the course and "carrying the load " for those that could not. What I really like about this event is that they honor first responders as well. Jeremy has been involved in this event for a few years as a volunteer. This year he and his friend Kyle set up all the water stations. He has his kids walk the course to help them remember why we have Memorial Day. Great Daddy moment!
Here are some picture to honor those that served:
My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place - police, firefighters and members of our armed forces.
Count Your Blessings, Bella
Here are some picture to honor those that served:
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| Each ribbon symbolises a lap on the course. |
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| Flags line part of the course. |
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| Kids walking part of the course. |
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| Here they come for the finish |
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| Thank you for serving! |
My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place - police, firefighters and members of our armed forces.
Count Your Blessings, Bella
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