DNOW

This weekend is a Discipleship Now weekend at our church and Scott and I are going to be a "support" home. I am so excited/nervous. Last night was the kick-off. There was a Christian Magician and then they told everyone which who their host home would be. There are 325 kids participating. We didn't have this when I was in high school and I think I heard about it in college but never did it. So this is all new but I think it will be fun.
It's going to make for a full weekend. We are helping our friends Jason and Lisa. We have 7 10th grade boys. Scott and I have the job of helping drive the kids around to all the functions. And just helping Jason and Lisa. The theme for the weekend is "Deeper Dive". They are challenging the kids to get a deeper relationship with Christ. The speaker is David Nassar. I am VERY excited about that - he is awesome. He grew up a muslim and now is a Christian Evangalist. I met him the first time when he was travelling with Rick Ousley the summer before I started OBU and was working at siloam. I have a picture of us when I was 17 with big hair and he was probably 19 or 20. I'll have to post it later.
Pray that the kids who come who aren't saved will find salvation and that the kids who are Christians will be challenged to walk closer with God. And pray for all the adults and college students coming to work with the youth. This is a huge event for the youth.

Two fun meals

I had two fun meals yesterday in between work.
I got to eat lunch with Laurie and little Emily. We ate at Gusano's pizza which was yummy and cheap and Emily smiled at her Aunt Kelly the whole time which made my heart happy!
And then last night Julie and I were going to work on our Sunday School material for the month of October and so she invited Scott too to come over and eat dinner and hang out with Guy while we worked. She made one of the delicious Pass your plate meals plus some yummy sides and it was so good. It was also fun to just hang out with them for a little while.
It was a nice Tuesday! ;-)

The Hogs and Food

Well - thanks to a bad kicker once again - we pulled off another win! AMAZING! That was one crazy game today. We really didn't play very well but somehow in 2 overtimes - we beat Alabama! I was nervous about going into OT without Matt Jones but did it - and a win is a win!
I was expecting a cold rainy game and itstead it was sunny and blazing hot. So I'm sunburnt very badly on my face now. Oh well.
My mom sent me a few more pictures this week that show my love for 2 things: the Hogs and food. And some things never change. Those are still my 2 favorite things. :-)
(I'm calling the hogs in the 2nd picture. At least my family raised me right!)

FBC Ladies Retreat

Last night and this morning - I went to a women's retreat at the Embassy Suites for the women of our church. It was so fun. It was more of a fellowship and fun retreat than a women's conference and I really enjoyed it. Sheena Ober showed us a bunch of decorating tricks and I thought she did such a good job - she even gave us tips on where to find very CHEAP finds! She made the most beautiful wreath! I'm dying to get to Hobby Lobby and try my hand at copying her but I'm sure mine will never turn out that beautiful. I got called on stage to help her make this urn full of flowers and then she gave it to me! I was so excited but so embarrassed to be on stage.
Then they had a fashion "what not to wear" show by the lady who owns a dress shop in town.
Most of the women spent the night, which would have been fun - especially if you had children and just wanted a night of rest and adult conversation - but I chose to sleep in my own bed. Only the storms kept me up half the night.
Today our pastor's wife had written this play that was so good. She and 3 other women performed and it was just wonderful.
I just love all the women in our church. There are so many with so many different talents. And they are all so friendly and so loving and just REAL Christians! I feel so blessed to be in their fellowship!

Hair cut Day!

Before
After

Don't I look cute with my new haircut and Thomas the train scarf?

Love, Dawson

Question of the Day

If you read this blog........... I have a very serious question that I really need you to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

DO YOU TIP AT SONIC?

I've heard both ways on this subject and since I frequent Sonic at least once a day - it has really been bothering me. I want to do the right thing so I need to know your answers.

P.S. I just want to add that I usually always let them keep the change (when I'm not in the drive thru) but when I don't have cash and I use the Debit card dealie .....then I felt bad. It's been bugging me for a year now on the right thing. I mean it's fast food .... but I don't want to be the only one not tipping either. :-)

Happy Birthday Mary!

Today I want to dedicate my post to someone who has been a second mom to me for about the last 12 or 13 years. She is the funniest woman I know and I just love to be around her! And she is LOVING being a grandmother now! She is Laurie's mom and Scott's cousin.
I know she reads this - so Happy Birthday Mary Delezen!!!!

Hogs Beat Vandy 21 - 19

Well thanks to a bad kick by Vandy - we slipped by with a win.
Does anyone know the name of Springdale's defensive coordinator from last year? I've got to give him a call. We might want to hire him too. Our defense thinks we are playing "touch" football instead of tackle.
Thank goodness for the players/coach from Springdale. They give me a little hope!
Anyone else worried about Alabama?

A few more fun day pics

The girls (Kelli, Stephanie, Norma) and me.

Fun Day

Today was "fun day" at our office.
First they brought in lunch from honeybaked ham ( a personal favorite). And then we loaded up in our "assigned" cars and headed towards Eureka Springs. First we went on a hay ride. We had all submitted an interesting fact about ourselves and we had a little game of "guess who this goes with" on the hay ride. We stopped at an old country church and finished playing. Then we went into town and took a trolley ride to the Crescent hotel. We looked around there and then took the trolley back and headed home. It was a nice day! Enjoy some pictures of the people I work with.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

In honor of his birthday, here are 10 of my best memories with my dad:
1. In 7th grade when I attempted to play basketball and sat on the bench the whole season - he came to EVERY game.
2. When I made cheerleader - he not only came to EVERY game but tried to help me with my cartwheel skills and would offer to pay me to try one.
3. How he always made family car trips fun - we always got fun candy at the gas stations and ate at fun places. Even now - it's fun.
4. Going to millions of razorback games (football and basketball) - just me and dad. And how we'd talk about the team on the walk there and talk about the game on the way back. I loved every one.
5. How he cried in the parking lot when he dropped me off at college (when I couldn't wait to go back in the dorm)
6. The day he married me and Scott.
7. How he always knows how to make me feel better when I feel sad.
8. How he always makes me feel like I can do anything.
9. How he shows me how a husband and a father should be.
10. He told me about Jesus. And he told others. And my favorite memories will always be of him preaching and going on mission trips and watching him do all the things that pastors do.
I love you dad! Happy Birthday!

Fall Fashion

I'll admit. I love clothes. I'm getting old but I still like to try to keep up with the latest styles and be somewhat in fashion. Up till now - I think I've done a pretty good job.
But ..........I am not happy with what is happening this fall. They are bringing back the 80's and I just can't do it. I grew up in the height of the 80's and I've been there done that. I've worn the leggings. I wore hot pink neon shoelaces in my nikes (white with a red stripe leather). I wore the reversible puffy sweat shirts, the swatch watches, the coke rugby shirts, the neon bracelets, the tight rolled (acid washed) jeans. I've worn the vests. It was not a good look for anyone then and no matter what you think - it won't be a good look now. And as a 32 year old married woman - I don't think I can justify going around in a mini skirt and leggings. (unless it's halloween). I guess for once and for all - I'm going to have to give up. All I have left is to start wearing "mom jeans."
My biggest fear is that next they are going to bring back big hair. And I'll have to start looking like my picture again (circa 1989). I just don't have 2 hours every morning to hot roll and curl and hairspray my hair anymore. But boy was I good at it once. :-)

Five Years Later

I can't believe it's been 5 years.
I remember clearly that morning. I was at work (of course - I was still working at Wal-Mart) and I heard someone outside my in the hall say "A plane just crashed in the World Trade Center". And I thought what we all thought....."what a terrible mistake that pilot made."
We were lucky to have a TV in our office and we turned it on......only to see the

2nd plane hit. And then hearing of the other planes.........in PA, the pentagon. I remember thinking the world was coming to an end. I remember thinking "this is it" and just pure fear. I worked at the world's largest (and sometimes) most hated company. I just knew we would be next. I called all my family and friends. I just wanted to hear their voices. I remember all the cars lined up at the gas station cause "we would run out of gas in less than a week." I remember going home and just sitting on the couch with Laurie and watching hour after hour of footage on TV and crying.

But mostly I remember the pride I felt every time I saw someone drive with our flag on their car. I remember loving my country more than I ever have that week. I will never understand why God has blessed me so much to live in this wonderful free country where I can work, live and worship freely however I want. Where I have more than any person ever deserves to have when so many have so little. I am so thankful for america and for all the people who are sacrificing now in Iraq and for all the men who gave their lives so many years ago in wars so that I can have the life I have now. If my pap-pa hadn't gone to WW2 and been in a prison camp for 3 years with so many other brave men like him ......I might be living the life of women in China or Iraq right now.

And mostly I'm sad for the terrorists. I'm so sad that they are so full of hatred. And that they are willing to give their lives because they think that is act of worship to a god that doesn't exist. I want more than anything for them to know the God that I know - who died that we might live. Who died that we might have life - and life more abundant.

Weekend

At the game!
Mom and Dad in their "hog" attire!
The razorback dishes Laurie's family got me for my wedding.
The guys watching football - Dawson looks thrilled!

We had a busy but good weekend.
Friday night I helped serve at our church's choir appreciation banquet. It was really fun and I had such a good time with the other women who were helping. We have so many nice and neat Christian women in our church.
Saturday my parents came to our house for lunch and to spend time with us before we all went to the game. I got to use my razorback dishes! Scott and Dad watched football while mom and I drove around and looked at houses. And then it was time for the game. There's not much to say about that except maybe " a win is a win".
Sunday was a busy day - church and Sunday School. I started a new afternoon Bible Study last night "just for women" that I think it will be very good. It's designed to help you understand how men think and to help build better relationships and marriages. I think it will be very helpful!

My dad is having knee surgery this morning so say a quick prayer for him!

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

#16

LET THE MITCH MUSTAIN ERA BEGIN.

I'M READY!!!

GO HOGS - BEAT UTAH STATE.

My prediction: Hogs 56 USU 24

Cupcakes

Whenever anyone in our office has a birthday - we always decorate their office/cube and take them to lunch. Today was a new guy in our office's birthday and he's a big Cowboys fan and he also is coaching upward football so we did his birthday in a football theme and I made some football themed cupcakes. Some were Dallas Cowboys, some Arkansas and some were football fields. ha!

Dawson enjoyed taste testing as I made them last night. He woke me up at 2 a.m. crying and whining so I got up to go out with him and instead he led me into the kitchen and started jumping around by the stove - meaning he wanted some CUPCAKES. He must have been dreaming about them. ha! Needless to say he didn't get any and I was not happy.

Labor Day Weekend

We had a nice labor day weekend.
We spent Saturday relaxing and watching football. We ate at Chili's that night and then went to the game. It was a fun exciting game. It was a very disappointing loss but at least we have found our QB! I think the hogs are going to have a very good season. I'm excited about what's to come.
Sunday was church and then Sunday night we went to look at a house that Laurie and Steve are going to buy in Bentonville (yeay!) and then we all ate at Outback.
Today was official clean up day at the Stamps house. Scott cleaned out our garage and I cleaned out a few closets. It was nice. I even made us waffles this morning (at the request of Scott and Dawson). Tonight I'm cooking jambalaya and then we are going to watch football/TV and relax.

WHOOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOIE!

Tomorrow is game day and I am sooooooooooooooooo excited! For good luck I have worn red every day this week (I missed taking a picture of Monday - but I did wear a red dress). And this morning I "pimped my ride" and put all our car magnets and car flags on my car!
USC is practicing today just down the street from my office (BHS) and I'm tempted to go down there and tell them just to go home cause they are about to get beat tomorrow!!!!!
My prediction: 31 - 28 HOGS!

Strawberry Banana Pizza

I had our Ladies Bible Study at my house last night and I made strawberry banana pizza. It was really good so I thought I would post the recipe. (It's just a different spin on fruit pizza).

Strawberry Banana Pizza
Spread out sugar cookie dough on a pizza pan and bake.
Mix 2 pkgs of cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar (or more if you like it sweet) and spread on cookie once cool.
Slice strawberries and bananas and spread on top and then top with cool whip.
Easy and yummy!