Babies and Birthdays

Today has been a memorable Summer day. I finally got to meet sweet Baby Harper and visit with Kelly today! Harper was soo happy and just smiled the whole time she was at our house!


















We enjoyed our visit.





















Amy is thirty-eight weeks pregnant and all throughout her pregnancy, I have told her "Let me know if you need ANYTHING!" She hasn't asked me to do anything until today! She asked me to make her a banana pudding! Well I did today! And I will post the recipe tomorrow! Talk about EASY-this is a easy summer dessert!





















HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY! Here we are! We are so ready to meet Leighann! She will be here in 2 weeks! :)

Here is Amy getting the clothes a little more organized for Leighann's arrival. Amy, you are such a wonderful friend! Thank you so much for always being there for me! We always have a great time together! Love you!

Today was a very busy Summer day! July starts tomorrow and we have an even BUSIER month planned!

Summertime and the Living is Easy

It has been soo HOT here lately! We are about to melt! But despite the heat, Summer is always a great time of the year! Thursday, Russell and I randomly decided to just take a road trip to Tulsa. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and it was just soo good! Here is Russell looking at the menu! This thing is like a novel! HA! We also browsed around the mall there.























I had to take a picture of this: Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes=YUM! We shared this and it was just too good for words!

And how can you go to the Cheesecake Factory and not have cheesecake? We had the original. It was yummo also! :)

My sister, Kelly and Lauren came on Friday. We went with our aunt, Molly, out to eat Italian-always good! Have ya'll ever heard of Monte Ne Chicken House? Well, most people from NWA have but there is a very interesting story about "Coin Harvey's Monte Ne". Beaver Lake is near Monte Ne but there is also an ampitheater in the lake! Go to http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/74200 for the story!

They moved 2 of the chairs from the lake here right where Lauren is sitting! We thought it was a very interesting historic story!

Saturday, Kelly, Lauren and I went to a wedding and it was so sweet. I love weddings! Today Russell and I made homemade pizzas for lunch and I made a Raspberry Limeade cake for dessert!

I just love my sister, and I am always so happy when she comes. She is my best friend!

Quick Summer Look

Allison LaMarr, A Love Story, and Weekending!

WOW! We have been EXTRA BUSY lately. I have a few things to catch ya'll up on! Wednesday night, we had another Mary Kay event. I was so excited to meet Allison LaMarr! She is a Mary Kay National Sales Director and one of the sweetest, genuine, most down to earth ladies I have ever met! She was the speaker for this event.

Thursday morning, we packed up and headed to LA (lower Arkansas). When we got to Jackie and Ricky's, it was time to eat. Jackie made seven layer salad, garlic biscuits, and yummy chicken spaghetti. It was yum! We also watched the movie, Marley and Me with them because they hadn't seen it until then.

Before I move on, I absolutely have to tell ya'll a little love story! Back in October '08, I mentioned to my friend, Lindsey, about a single guy named Todd Huffman (Russell's best friend). Lindsey didn't say much at first about it so I just forgot about it for a little while. In May, I told Lindsey again about Todd and gave her his number. I wasn't sure if she would call Todd, but she did! Todd called Russell and I and said, "I bet we talked an hour and a half, Meredith! She's just a REAL GOOD person!" And Russell and I thought, "WOW!" So anyway, the next day, Todd came over to visit us. He talked with Lindsey a lot on the phone and when he wasn't doing that, he was talking about her! Keep in mind, they have not met in person at this time! I could tell things were going great though. Todd even bought some Mary Kay lotion and perfume from me to give to sweet Lindsey! The day he left our house to go back to McNeil, he stopped in Fordyce to meet her. The rest is history!

Here they are: Todd and Lindsey!

Friday night we went to Texarkana with the "lovebirds" and had a blast! First, we headed to Texas Roadhouse for steaks, then we went shopping/browsing at Lifeway store, Target, and of course, the guys had to stop at Home Depot! We ended the night by going to Cold Stone Creamery for some yummo ice cream. I had Chocolately Goodness ice cream which is limited time by the way! HA! Russell and I could tell right off that Todd and Lindsey are made for each other and we are sooo very happy for them!

Here we are at Texas Roadhouse!

Saturday morning, we visited with Russell's Mamaw Lawson and Aunt Connie. We went to lunch with our friends Haley and Keith at Backyard BBQ-the best BBQ in Magnolia! Then we stopped by Mamaw and Papaw Price's house to visit also. They are so sweet. By that time it was off to Camden to see Mama! Then we visited with my Mamaw! We had dinner with Laurie, Steve, their sweet little girls, and Mary and Russell, Laurie's parents.

Sunday morning we went to church with Jackie and Ricky and the service was soo good! And again, we went to lunch at Red Lobster! That afternoon we visited with more family and went back to Camden. We had a good visit with Mama. I do wish I had taken more pictures though. But I hope ya'll enjoyed reading! We got back last night and are kinda tired! HA! Hope ya'll have a wonderful week!

A Special Visit

Friday afternoon, Logan and Lauren came to visit us! As most of you who read my blog know, Logan and Lauren are our nephew and niece. We had a great time with them! Here is a little greeting I made for them!

We took them to Mad Pizza for their favorite food, then went to the movies to see "Night at the Museum 2" It was SO good! We all loved it!

Saturday, we went to Branson and had lunch at Hard Luck Diner. The waiters and waitresses sang during lunch! It was pretty funny!

We took them to see the Titanic museum too. They learned so much about the history of the Titanic. The great thing about that museum is, it is great for all ages. There's something for everyone there.

Our neighborhood pool opened recently and we were glad we got to take the kids swimming. They are absolute experts at swimming too.

Sunday we went to church and then later Russell and I took them to the Wild Wilderness Safari! There were MANY animals! We even saw a razorback there too! GO HOGS! WOOOO PIG SOOIEE!!

Here they are in our front yard. They are just so sweet and Russell and I were really happy they got to come and visit us.

Aunt Meredith just LOVES her niece and nephew! And Uncle Russell of course does too!

Guess Who's Coming to Our House!!!

Logan and Lauren!

Who are our most favorite kids ever! Russell and I are so very excited. They are soo special to us and we are picking them up tomorrow!

Praise You

I just had to share this. Most of you who read my blog know what our family has been going through recently. I know many many other people have trials and tribulations in their lives. I know it can be very hard at times. I also know that God is the only One who can help all of us get through. Of course, we can help each other along the way, but there is nothing like the love of the Lord helping us and getting us through good times and in bad times. Recently, every time I have sung in the church choir on Sunday mornings, I cry or really tear up. This Sunday was definitely another time like that. We actually sang 2 songs that were entitled, "Praise You". Here are lyrics to one of them and ya'l are probably familiar with this one.

Praise You

Lord I come to you today with a simple prayer to pray.
In everything I do, let my life Oh Lord PRAISE YOU
Praise You, Praise You, Let my life praise you
Praise you praise you, let my life, ohh Lord praise you
Lord you formed me out of clay and for your glory I was made
Use this vessel as you choose, let my life oh Lord praise you!

A smaller ensemble from our choir sang a song by Casting Crowns, "Praise You in the Storm"
It talks about how even if you are going through hard times, you will still praise Jesus. Here are the lyrics to that song. I wish I could you tube this. Russell is not right by the computer to help me put it on this post! BUT, please read these lyrics, ya'll. I believe they are awesome and even if you have heard this song tons of times, God can still tell you something from it!

Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now God you would have reached down
and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen and it's still raining.
As the thunder rolls, I barely hear you whisper through the rain, "I'm with you".
and as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for you are who you are no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried you hold in your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind; you heard my cry to you
and raised me up again; my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find you
And as the thunder rolls I barely hear you whisper through the rain "I'm with you".
And as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.

Chorus

Yes, this song is awesome! I will try to post this on the blog this week!!! Hope ya'll have a wonderful week!