Make the Most of Your 'Dash'

Today I had to attend a funeral for a long time mentor and friend, Ms. Pat Terrill. Ms. Terrill, as I always referred to her, was a teacher at Townley Elementary when I was a student there 22 - 24 years ago. When I started teaching 8 years ago, she was a big mentor to me. YES, she was still teaching there. She lived her life to the fullest and gave everything she had to those around her. At her funeral today, the pastor proposed the message. He said that Ms. Terrill had made the most of her 'dash'. The dash is the time between your birth date and your death date. This hit home to me and really made me wonder, if I was making the most of my dash. Have I given as much as I can to those around me? Have I made a change in the students that I work with daily? Have I raised my kids so they reflect God's love and mercy? I was not able to answer an absolute yes to any of these (and other) questions so I vow to walk the walk and talk the talk and to live the way God has called us to live.

So to honor my dear mentor and friend Ms. Pat Terrill, I ask you, are you making the most of your dash?


May Ms. Terrill rest in peace with her Lord and Savior. She will dearly be missed!

"I am my beloved, and my beloved is mine"

This was the theme for my youngest sister's wedding that we had last weekend. I am not sure what is worse...knowing that I am old enough to have both my sister's married OR that my kids were just so cute and old enough to be a part of the wedding. We had a blast being a part and the kids were fabulous. I remembered what a blessing it is to have someone to spend your life with. Have you told those you love how much you love them? Being surrounded by family that weekend in that little country chapel, reminded me how special my famiy (and friends) are to me. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the wedding.

We're Back

Well, it has been a long time, but the O'Briant's have come back around to report.

We have been busy the last 8 weeks since Christmas. So many things, normal daily life things, going on to report. Most importantly two great things have happened. Keith and I found time (by the grace of my mom - THANKS A LOT MOM) to go on a cruise together. We had a BLAST !!!! We flew to New Orleans and sailed out with a group from Keith's corporate office to Cozymel, Mexico. We spent our days doing WHATEVER we wanted - laying out by the pool, eating what we wanted, and most importantly - sleeping as late as we wanted. The weather was beautiful. I even got a sunburn - imagine that - but in February. - WOW!!!!

Then today, like many other families in NorthWest DFW, we enjoyed a winter storm. After fighting a normal 15 - 20 minute drive home, which today took 45 minutes, we played out in the snow and loved every minute of it. Our front yard easily received 4 -5 inches of snow. Real snow..not just the slushy, wet stuff.

Jesus is Our Gift!

Friday night, the girls had their program at their school. Because their day care is a church, it was the children's version of the Christmas story. Clara's class were the shepards and Ashley's class were the animals of the inn. It was so very precious! I have posted some pictures for you to see. They are not the best. We have only had this camera for two years and because technology advances so rapidly, we have not been able to keep up with the times. It just doesn't have the zoom that those newer ones do. But you can get the point through the pictures we do have. Maybe, my awesome husband will splurge and get us a new one for Christmas.

Hope everyone is staying well and looking forward to the holidays!

4 1/2 more days of school!

YIPPEE!!!!!

Out of the mouths of babes!

Have you had your "BUTT BREAD" today? As we were fixing sandwiches for lunch today, Clara noticed that Ashley got the heel of the loaf. All of a sudden, she yells out "Ashley has the butt bread." We were a little taken back by what she said until we realized what she was referring to. Then it was hillarious ! So my question to you, is Have you had your butt bread today?

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving day in the "snow" (whatever that is in Texas). It is amazing to see the kids faces all lit up with joy.

The girls had their Christmas dance recital last Friday night. They had a blast !! It was Ashley's first dance recital so it was a lot of fun. Can you imagine a group of 3 year old girls on a stage attempting to dance? It was so much fun! Thanks to Erin, Clark, Andrew, Corinne, and Mimi for coming to watch them. They enjoyed having the audience ~ especially Clara.

Fall Happenings!

Fall is our families' (and everyone else's) busy time of the year. Keith is gone most weekends from before sun up to after sun down. In light of us keeping up with each other and "keeping the flame alive" if you will, we have resorted to using our children's toys to leave little messages for each other. When I came home the other day from school, I was greeted to this message as I went to begin dinner. It is amazing how it will make you feel when you receieve those little notes of love when least expected.

Since Keith is gone all day for the entire weekends, I have to find something to keep the kids busy and for us to enjoy the wonderful weather. This past weekend, we went to a church fall festival and had a blast. The kids are excited at the opportunity to dress up twice for halloween and to get twice the candy!

Finally, since the weather has changed, I decided to spend my weekend changing out the girls' summer clothes for winter clothes. After I realized that the stored winter clothes were not so clean because they had been stored in a trash bag that had come untied, I had to wash them all. As you can see from the picture this took the ENTIRE weekend just to wash their winter clothes in preparation for winter weather. The most amazing part of it all, all of these clothes pictured are hand-me-downs. They are all winter clothes that have been passed on to us. Thank God for wonderful friends with older girls.

Other small events going on in our lives....

1) I have 5 classes down and all As in my quest for a master's degree.

2) Not sure what is new with Keith, haven't seen him in 4 days

3) Girls are still dancing and loving the practice that we do at home (behind closed doors I practice too)

4) My sister, my mom, and I took the 3 youngest grandchildren to the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens a couple of weekends ago. I am so excited that Andrew and Ashley are really growing up together and building a bond!

5) Richard is just being a typical 9 (almost 10) year old. Testing every limit placed upon him!

6) I went shopping a bought a dress for my little sister's wedding this weekend...I am super excited that she is getting married..BUT I HAVE TO LOOSE WEIGHT!!! wowwie!!!!

Off to the gym.....

Man Tag

I have been tagged by my sister's blog tag! Enjoy!

MAN TAG:
1. Who is your man? Keith
2. How long have you been married? 3 years
3. How long dated? 2 years
4. How old is your man? 31
5. Who eats more? oooh... Keith
6. Who said “I love you” first? Keith...after MANY years!
7. Who is taller? I think we are the same height
8. Who sings better? um, neither
9. Who is smarter? I am (I can say that I think)
10. Whose temper is worse? Keith's
11. Who does the laundry? both of us!
12. Who takes out the garbage? Keith
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Keith
14. Who pays the bills? Keith
15. Who is better with the computer? I am
16. Who mows the lawn? Keith
17. Who cooks dinner? we share that experience
18. Who drives when you are together? depends on whose car it is
19. Who pays when you go out? we both do...joint account!
20. Who is most stubborn? We are both hard headed!
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? me
22. Whose parents do you see the most? I'd say its pretty equal
23. Who kissed who first? Keith after many years of chasing!
24. Who asked who out? Keith asked me out on our first official date after knowing each other for 8 years.
25. Who proposed? Keith
26. Who is more sensitive? KEITH
27. Who has more friends? um, me I guess
28. Who has more siblings? me - 2 sisters (Keith has 1 bro)
29. Who wears the pants in the family? ME (I think)

I tag Stacie Nix!!!!