We're HOME!

Here are some photo highlights from our trip this week. (Explanation below)

Hello, FRIENDS!

Man, do I EVER have a LOT to tell YOU! Grab a comfy seat if you have a few and let's catch up! ;-)

Now, before I fill you in on our week I want to take a minute to remind everyone that our first bloggy giveaway (In MEMORY and in HONOR of Brent) will be held on Brent's birthday. October 28. If you've not already registered, please take a moment and sign the guestbook. That's ALL you have do to enter! Click HERE to read the details.

Next, I want to tell you about how one of my new girlfriends has blessed me/us! She's holding her own giveaway in memory/honor of Brent. Please take a minute to go over to Amie's and read her tribute to Brent, and of course, register there too.



Okay... so here's the low-down on where we've been, what we've been doing, and why I didn't say anything about our trip BEFORE we left.

Well, I tell you what.. since I'm SO FORGETFUL, I'll just start with the end and go back. (I'm just that crazy - I'd SMOOTH forget to tell you WHY I didn't announce we were leaving)



See, one time a few years back, I shared from Brent's site that we were going on a mission trip BEFORE we left. I truly don't know if the person I'm about to tell you about knew this.. but it was TOO close for comfort all the same.



So, we'd JUST arrived back home from a week long trip to KY. We left our home again just long enough to meet the church bus and get the rest of our luggage. When we came home there was a car parked just outside the garage and there was no one inside. (Our garage door was CLOSED!) There was nobody on the front porch - no one in sight ANYWHERE.



I noticed the back door of our house was OPEN and not a person in sight.



Just as I started to back the truck to leave, this tiny little woman comes running out of my back yard and attempts to stop me. (I'm thinking that she herself isn't a threat to me, but I had no idea if there was anyone else inside)



She proceeded to tell me that she knew Brent had been sick and that she was "praying for us." (I'm wondering the whole time what in the world this has to do with her having been in my house)



She claimed that she was lost.


Seriously, now.


How many of YOU would go in someone's back yard and then let yourself into their home?? (Keep in mind - I've NEVER met this woman in my life) I agreed to follow her back to town (thinking the whole time that I just wanted her out of my yard and to get the police there ASAP)



Fast forward a bit... I have a cousin who's a policeman. I later learned that this lady that was in my home had been in jail for drugs, had JUST gotten out, and was likely in our house looking for something to make drugs with. (I mean, we had a BOAT LOAD of medicine at the time)



Thankfully, nothing was missing. It shook me up enough that I NEVER leave our home without setting the alarm. I also make sure that our dogs are ALWAYS loose. All of that to say, that I will NEVER, EVER give out that much info (beforehand) EVER again.



Okay, now that I've got my "cops and robbers" story out of the way... let me tell you where we've been.



Hey, you aren't sleeping on me, now are you??? Hehehehe



SOOOOOO... here's our vacation story.

My sister (Kerry) and her family invited us, along with our Mom, to go on vacation with them. (My Daddy had to work)

We went to the GREAT Smoky Mountains! It was a BLAST! I can't tell you how much it meant that they asked us to go.. and that we were kept busy as the days are leading up to Brent's birthday. It's been a true blessing.

The boys had just as much fun playing pool with Ash & Clay in the cabin as they did doing the "fun stuff" in town. (My personal favorite was the motor trail ride AND of course the day "the girls" and I went shopping) Hehehehe (The men took the boys to the Bass Pro Shop, and then did lots of other "guy" things while we hit the Tanger outlet! WOOOOOHOOO! =-)



Okay, so I've "yacked" enough! I guess I'm going to sign off for now. I'll start catching up on what's been going on with you guys tomorrow. I've MISSED ya! =-)