My Lineman

Steven has been very blessed with his work. I am so happy that he has found a career that he loves that also pays well. For a while, he was getting rather discouraged. It isn't easy to find a career that will allow a man to be outside, working with his hands, that will also pay well enough to support a family. I thank God everyday for my husband's job. (I also pray for his safety everyday!)

When I traveled to Texas a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to photograph Steven's crew while they were working. It definitely made me even more appreciative of the hard work they do. They spend hours up in a bucket, covered from head to toe in multiple layers in the horrible Texas heat. I took these photos at 10:00 in the morning, and I was sweating by the time I left the job site! (It has been above 90 degrees there since before Memorial Day.) Not to mention the fact that those wires have large amounts of electricity traveling through them.

Carter Giggles

Here are a few giggles from my week with Carter.


Carter:Elmo Elmo
Me: Do you want an Elmo cracker?
Carter:I do! I do! (pause)Two!


Carter: (while chasing Sweetie across the backyard) No running. No running. No running!


(Looking at a book about farm animals...)
Carter: Duck, duck, duck.Cake. Duckcake.
Me:Duckcake?
Carter:Duckcake!

I have no idea how cake interrupted thoughts of ducks or what he thinks duckcake is, but he talks about it a lot.

Ten Things Tuesday

Be sure to click the sign above and add your 10 Things link to the list!

Today I am Thankful...

1. my dogs are always happy to see me - even when they have been left home, alone all day.

2. my husband hates pasta. I actually have a love/hate relationship with this one. I love it because I can cook any kind of pasta at anytime, place it in a cute little pink bowl in my fridge, and know that it will be there when I come back for it...every.single.piece..ALWAYS. (I hate it because it makes cooking anything we both enjoy nearly impossible.)

3. Carter takes long naps. I even got a 30 minute nap in for myself today.

4. Sunday my husband told me I needed new earrings. (Apparently I wear my favorite silver hoops too much.) That made me feel less guilty about ordering some new ones at the jewelry party last night.

5. my hair is shorter. It now looks much cuter in a ponytail.

6. I get random free samples in the mail. This week I received a set of 3 Ziploc Twist 'n Loc containers and a Glade PlugIn with scented gel insert.

7. there is nothing to stop me from going to bed as soon as I post this.

8. I don't have cable tv. I would be worthless. I have no will-power against decorating/wedding/baby shows.

9. today is Tuesday. The weekend is a little closer.

10. My husband didn't spend any money today. It's a miracle. :-)

At least he's honest.

We were recently at a party and the topic of being a housewife came up. I mentioned that if I wasn't home to do it, "Our house would NEVER get cleaned." Trying to help Steven out, someone commented, "Oh, I bet Steven pulls his weight, too." I held my breath, half-expecting my husband (who was standing right behind me) to agree. Nope. His reply was, "No...I really don't...."


I must admit, he does help out occasionally by mopping, vacuuming, or cooking. It's just rare.

Ten Things Tuesday

I LOVE making my Tuesday list. I love that it makes me sit down and think about all the things I have to be thankful for, even when I'm trying to be in a bad mood.


This weeks list goes something like this:

1. I got my hair cut today! Woo hoo!

2. That I have wonderful memories of Amanda Rhea Jones, my former classmate that passed away this week. Today was the visitation, and as I was leaving I remembered a funny story from elementary school.
In fifth grade, all the girls in my class were obsessed with Hanson. We even made our own "club." Every time they were on television in the evening, we would meet at someone's house to watch it. The first time, we met at my house. There were about 8 or 9 squealing little girls, all crammed on my twin size bed, propped up on elbows. From outside, people probably would have thought they were actually in the room with us, the way we were all carrying on. I'm pretty sure Amanda was the loudest of all of us.

3. I am thankful that I have become good friends with the wives of Steven's friends. We used to only hang out when the guys were together, but in the last year that has shifted. I have become especially close with two of the girls. I'm glad his friends picked such fun girls!

4. My BlackBerry finally updated itself and stopped erasing my text messages. It was getting annoying.

5. The weather has not been unbearably hot this week, so far. I was able to go for a run even though I woke up late. It was still breezy at 9 this morning.

6. I am thankful my dogs and cat like to be cuddled. Emerald just came over to me and put her front paws on my leg. All she wanted was to sit in my lap with her head on my shoulder. :-)

7. My mom helped me shampoo the carpet in my bedroom yesterday! I'm still really happy about it.

8. That my very talented hair stylist is also my friend. I love Ally! I am also very thankful that so far she has had a very healthy pregnancy and is expecting a sweet little girl in September!

9. I am thankful that I did not forget my hair appointment today! Last time I made one, I forgot. Three months later, I'm finally got around to making another one.

10. I am thankful I'm about to go to bed, and I have a bed to go to.

Post-Wedding Chop!

There seems to be a trend among girls to let their hair grow in preparation for a fancy hairdo at their wedding, and afterwards to cut off the long locks. I have been saying since December I would do it. I was tired of the long hair. (I was tired of spending 20 minutes just drying my hair.) Well, today I finally did it! She started by cutting off a ponytail that was about 5 inches long, and then she cut probably another 2 inches while stying it.

Get this...my hair can have a little volume now! Anyone that has tried to fix my hair knows that is no small feat. She cut a few thin layers into the top, so that with the help of good hair spray and a little scrunching (ok, a lot) it has the tiniest bit of volume...for about 30 minutes. :-)

These aren't the best pictures. I only had my cell phone to use as a camera. (I know, me? No camera around?) Anyway, tell me what you think. I, personally, love it!

G is for...

is for...

Gift Ideas!

I have been buying lots of baby gifts for friends lately and more to come! My favorite gifts to buy are personalized things. Check out this web site for lots of cute gifts for babies and kids.

Angel Accents

For wedding (or any occasion) gifts...

I really love these! I can't wait to get my bedroom and kitchen repainted so I can order something.

A Simple Impression

And then came another idea...

Why should babies get all the cutesy hair stuff? I wanted a flower, too.
I made this flower piece with a comb, for older girls and adults. I have some ideas and stuff to make some more elaborate ones...somewhere. I just couldn't find it (the supplies) at the moment. I'll post pics of those as soon as I get them finished.

New Craft

I have had this headband and flower sitting in my craft room forever with the intent of putting them together. I finally did it tonight!

It's hard to tell, but the band is a chocolate brown, and of course the flower is pink. I think I'm gonna post it on Etsy.

F is for...

I have been slacking on the alphabet posts lately, and for that I am sorry. I will continue though.

is for...

Funny Stuff!

I guess I have a bad habit of speaking without thinking. I often make comments or ask questions that Steven so kindly refers to as, "Those Redhead Questions." Thankfully, I learned at an early age that it really is okay to laugh at myself and not take everything so serious. Here is the most recent example of one of my "moments."

Last Sunday, we were making the long trip from Goodman, Missouri to Longview, Texas. At one point, I looked up (from whatever other world my mind was in) and realized Steven was driving in the left lane, passing a car to the right of us. Then I notice that he is not getting back into the right lane and start to panic a little! So I opened my mouth and asked a simple question while trying not to let him know I was panicking, "Um, babe? Why are you driving in the wrong lane?" He turned very slowly to look at me and gave me his crazy eye look that always means I've asked another one of "Those Questions." He just stared at me for a few seconds. (I now believe he was wondering, 'Why on Earth does my wife keep having these thoughts?') At that moment, I realized he wasn't really in the wrong lane at all. We were on the interstate! There just happened to be a large grove of trees blocking my view of the two lanes of traffic going in the opposite direction!

Prayer Request

Please join me in praying for the Jones family. They lost their daughter/sister, Amanda today.
She had been battling leukemia since 2006. Amanda fought a long hard battle, but God said it was time for her to come home to Him.

You can read her story here.

She's here!

Kaeleigh Jo Rippy has arrived! She weighed in at 9 lbs. 4 oz. She also has a head full of reddish blonde, curly hair.

I'm not sure when we will have pictures though. :-(

Coming soon...Hanna's little sister!

We will soon be Aunt Emily and Uncle Steven to a second little girl. We are currently waiting on Steven's mom to call us back. Baby Kaeleigh Jo is on her way into the world! They induced Kathi at 6 this morning; it has been a long day for her.

Thirteen Thursday

I'm going to try to come up with 13 confessions again.


1. I haven't worn my contacts in weeks, until yesterday. I wore them yesterday, but today I only wore one.

2. This is my second summer to participate in my church's playgroup days. I don't have kids.

3. I rarely drink cokes, but I am addicted to sweet tea.

4. I have been trying unsuccessfully to organize my office for two weeks now.

5. I have not had my hair cut since my wedding day when Ally trimmed it just a little. I do have an appointment scheduled for this month though.

6. At restaurants, 9.8 times out of 10 my meal includes chicken.

7. I have absolutely no sense of direction. I can get lost anywhere.

8. I have at least 12 pairs of flip flops. (I say "at least" because that's all I could see just glancing in my closet. I am too lazy to actually go dig around and count.)

9. Four of them are black.

10. The band on my promise ring Steven gave me 4 years ago broke not long after we got engaged, and I have still not had it fixed. It is still sitting on his dresser. One day...

11. I listen to Christmas music all year.

12. Steven and I have an agreement about housework. He doesn't have to do any inside cleaning that he doesn't want to do, and I don't have to do any yard work that I don't want to do.

13. I have never mastered the art of packing lightly.

Nieces

It's hard to believe it has been over two years since my niece Hanna was born and I became Aunt Emily. Not only that, but she will soon be a big sister! We are hoping baby Kaeleigh Jo arrives this weekend while Steven and I are visiting.

This is a little collage I put together of Hanna.

10 Things Tuesday...on Wednesday

I admit, I completely forgot yesterday. oops

Ten Things I'm Thankful For:

1. I got to spend time with my bff, Lauren yesterday, and we are probably going to hang out this afternoon too.

2. I have received three random, unexpected gifts in the last two weeks.

3. I have VERY sweet and thoughtful friends. See #2.

4. My roof will be finished by this weekend.

5. I have VERY loving and generous parents. I love them.

6. God answers my prayers. He gives me specific answers. He shows me which way in life I am supposed to go, and He gives me the confidence to follow His directions.

7. Minnie Pearl slept out of her crate last night and didn't potty in the floor or chew anything up! I am so proud of her! I didn't mean for her to sleep out of it, either. We were watching TV in bed, and I fell asleep without putting her in the crate.

8. My parents have agreed to keep our dogs next week while we are out of town. I am very thankful for their willingness to help, even after my dog has eaten Mom's recipe box and a hole in their wall. Of course, this time she will be crated. ;-)

9. My friends, Nikki & Jason and their son Carter. They are such a sweet, fun, Christian family. And did I mention talented? It has been such a great joy to sing with them every Sunday. I love visiting with them, too. There is always plenty to talk about, and their little Carter is such a smart, sweet little boy. I think I might just be as excited as Nikki every time he learns something new. I can't believe he will soon be 2! (Nikki, I really need to get some pictures of him playing his new version of peek-a-boo! haha, It's too cute!)

10. All my girlfriends from high school. I am still so amazed that I have such wonderful friends. We have all been friends since elementary school, and three years into college, we all still make a point to get together as a group at least twice a year to have a girls' night. Two of us married, two engaged, one finishing nursing school, one headed to dental school, all so different lives and living spread out across the state, but we still make time for each other. I love you girls!

After-prom Party 2005
(Please mentally airbrush out all of the guys except Steven from this picture, haha.)

E is for...

E is for Emily!



(There's me a few years ago, about to eat the ear of our snow kangaroo.)

I found this little meme online and decided that since I have yet to come up with a better "E" entry, I'll just use this.

In your entire life, have you ever...
~gone on a blind date? yes
~skipped school? Yes. Isn't that what those allowed absence days are for? :-)
~watched someone die? no
~been to Canada? No
~been to Mexico? No
~been to Florida? yes
~been on a plane? no
~been lost? oh yeah. I stay lost.
~been on the opposite side of the country? no
~gone to Washington, DC? no
~swam in the ocean? yes. It's one of the best things in the world.
~had your booze taken away by the cops? no
~lettered in a high school sport? no
~cried yourself to sleep? yes
~played cops and robbers? yes, with my sister!
~played dolls? yes
~recently colored with crayons? no, but I plan to tomorrow actually
~sang Karaoke? yes
~paid for a meal with coins only? yes
~done something you told yourself you wouldn't? yes
~cheated on an exam? yes, once in 5th grade the teacher handed out our tests then left the room for at least 5 minutes. Needless to say, there honestly wasn't one person in there that didn't cheat.
~made prank phone calls? not that I can remember
~laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? yes. That hurts.
~caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
~danced in the rain? yes
~written a letter to Santa Claus? Yes
~been kissed under the mistletoe? yes
~watched the sunrise with someone you care about? yes
~been arrested? no
~blown bubbles? yes; I just did that tonight with Carter!
~gone ice-skating? no
~been skinny dipping outdoors? yes
~had a nickname? Yes, several. Em, Emmy, Dairy Queen, Babycakes, Emily Ann, Miss Ann, etc.
~been to Africa? no
~eaten cookies for dinner? yes
~been on TV? yes
~stolen any traffic signs? nope
~been in a car accident? yes

What is your....
~mother's name? LeAnn
~favorite drink? sweet tea
~birthplace? Forrest City, Arkansas.
~favorite vacation spot? Greers Ferry (yes, I will even venture to say that I have come to love that place more than the beach, if only because it doesn't have jellyfish.)
~favorite salad dressing? Ranch
~favorite pie? apple or pecan
~favorite number? 12
~favorite movie? The Notebook
~favorite holiday? Christmas
~favorite food? chicken fajitas
~favorite day of the week? Wednesday
~favorite brand of body wash? bath and body works
~favorite toothpaste? Crest Whitening
~favorite smell? the ocean
~Do you have any...tattoos? no
~body piercings? ears
~Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door
~What do you do to relax? read or clean
~How do you see yourself in 10 years? Well, I'll be 31 and married to Steven, hopefully with a few kids, and maybe we'll be building a new house.

The things you find...

It is amazing the things I find when I start organizing. I am in the process of cleaning and organizing my craft room. Due to the wedding and all the school projects I had last semester, I managed to turn the room into total chaos. As I'm going through the boxes and drawers, I've come across a lot of things I forgot about/have been looking for forever/didn't even know I owned.

My bridal picture cds - I've been looking for these for a couple of months now. They had fallen and gotten pushed under one of my 3-drawer organizers.

A tablet of bristol board - I have since bought at least one more tablet because I couldn't find that one.

1 can of Krylon "Make it Acid Free" - I have been looking for this for over 6 months. (That's pretty pathetic.) I refused to buy another can because I knew it was somewhere in my craft room.

a pony coloring book - This is one of those things I forgot I owned, but I'm pretty excited about finding it! (Yes, I still like to color.)

a pair of tweezers - Who knows?

a 1 GB USB drive - This I lost during my Spring semester of 2007, and I have since bought and lost two more. Again, that's pathetic.

I'm sure more discoveries are to come.