Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day 2013

What is a Mom?

a Peacemaker 
a Confidant 
a Listening Ear
a Shoulder
a Hug
 Crafty
a Cry
a Hand holder
a Voice
a Rock
a Light bulb
a Truth
a Encourager
a Smile
a Giggle
a Word
a Tickle
a Eye
a Heart
a Worker
a Healer
a Jungle gym
 and So much More

My mother has been all of these in my life as well as my brother.  And because of these things we have bumped heads over the years. Either I didn't understand where she was coming from or she didn't understand me or we just didn't see eye to eye. I've done things my on way and how I see fit. But deep down I was soaking the words and actions in.  I can say that because of how I am with my children today. The times I pick up the phone and call her. The times growing up and learning which way I should go. She taught me to lean on God in the good and bad. To be the best for my husband and my children. She taught me not only in words but in actions. Growing up she was a great example of the Proverbs 31 Woman -God, Family, Self. For all the examples she has been and is to me I respect the woman my mom is. I pray that I am half the mom she is. So make sure and call your mom today. Send her a message and let her know what she means to you. You never know when it could be the last time. Celebrate the Day, Celebrate the Mom!
Happy Mother's Day!

Proverbs 31 

The Wife of Noble Character

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

~ hugs and prayers~
Kim

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Love Story Part 3

........... Engagement and Planning ..........


 Sorry the last post was long but all the parts were important for the story. Glad you came back for this part of the story.  Enjoy!

We are engaged let the planning begin. 
Questions to answer:
1.  long engagement or not~ okay not.
2. Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter ~ Fall it is
3. Cookeville, McMinnville, Smithville ~ Cookeville check
4.Inside, Outside ~ Inside, what if it rains or turns cold
5. Church or Somewhere else~ well duh Church
6. Small or Big Wedding ~ have to be Very Big with family, friends ours and parents, church family
7. Maid of Honor and Best Man~ Who
8. Wedding party number~ 6 at least
9. Music at the reception~ Band or DJ
10. Alcohol or Not ~ No, first off we are at our church second we had really quit drinking so much
11. Sit down Meal or Finger Foods~ Heavy Appetizers it is
12. Colors~ Yellow, Purple, Orange and hints of Red Fall time colors
13. Flowers
14. Minister~ Mr. Duke or Mr. Allen Morris~ Allen
15.Wedding Dress Style 
16. Tux or Suit 
17. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen attire
18. Photographer
19. Rings
20. Budget~ who was paying for what and how much

 and Lots of other details that I have forgotten through the years

Can I say planning a wedding while going to college full time and working full time is CRAZY!!!!
Some things I was ready to pull my hair out with and other things were a breeze. And of course everyone had an opinion of what should happen and how. But Daniel and I told them, Hey it's our wedding. Thanks but no. We of course did this in a nice way. Not about to make everyone mad for no reason and become the Bride Godzilla. We just knew what we wanted, US at the end, the details would work out. So October 6, 2001 couldn't get here soon enough.
One of those details would soon become apparent and would change our course. The story of the best laid plans come to mind.

 Daniel had been invited to church, by his boss and friend Tom and Pat Brown along with George and Nina Scott, while going to TECH. Daniel had visited other churches in the county but never felt at home with them , he was lost in the crowd. He visited one church for several weeks and was a visitor every week. They never could remember who he was or if he had been there before and yes it was the same people each week. And Daniel is kind of hard to forget. George and Tom would take turns every Sunday calling Daniel and wake him up and say we are on our way to get you. Remember if you come we will take you out to eat afterwards, Free food to a college student was like gold. They spoke to his physical needs as a human but they were touching his spiritual needs too. Well Daniel would drag himself each week to church and sit through the service even though her would rather be at home in bed. But because of Tom and George calling and checking on him and stuff he didn't want to let them down either. Daniel was like me that growing up you were at church each Sunday. He went to several different ones but still he was in church. I grew up in the same church. We both wanted to live for God growing up. Then hello college no one checking up on us and making us, so church fell to the waste side. At least Daniel had went to visit some in the area, I didn't. If I wanted to go to church I would drive home, heck it was only a 30 minute drive. But God had put George and Tom in Daniel's life for a reason. Remember me talking about meeting his parents for the first time. Well little did I know at first but I had 2 more set of parents to go through. Tom and Pat and George and Nina, they were his Cookevillle parents. When I first meet them, while we were dating, I knew if I didn't pass their test I was out the door. Daniel respected them that much. To be honest. I think that their opinion mattered more than his real parents. Yes, they were that close. Lucky for me, I was accepted. We were going to church every Sunday morning at First Christian Church for the early service, 8:30. And then we would go grab some food either at a restaurant or meet at our apartment, or go out to Tom and Pat's to swim and eat. This was our regular Sunday. So when they found out we were engaged, it was as if their own children had become engaged, they were that happy.


 During this time Pat along with Nina gave me the BEST  marriage advice: 
It takes a special women to marry a fireman. You will be left sitting at home at all hours. You will be left sitting in a restaurant. You will be left with no car (so drive separate if you can) at places. He will get up and leave in the middle of a meal or never show up for the meal you took all day to cook. There will be times you may only get a quick glimpse of him. But Love him and support him.
And Tom and George gave Daniel some too: Everything is YES Dear!
Yeah some great advice from very special people that made "us" outsiders family.

 So life was going great. We had family here in Cookeville and a church family! But plans were about to take a different route. We tried to be at church every Sunday we could. There were times we went after being out all night at the Joe, on a fire call, or out with friends. But we were still there. We helped teach the 7th and 8th grade Sunday School class.  Allen our youth minister at the time asked if he could stop by our apartment and talk with us. We said sure come on over. He came to tell us that the leaders- Elders and Deacons- wanted us to step down from teaching because it didn't look good for us to live together and teach these young kids. Say one thing while doing something else kind of thing. Now here is where lots of people would get offensive and tell them fine and stay mad. Well not us. We took it to heart instead. Once we stopped teaching the kids in the class begged for us to come back. and couldn't understand why we weren't teaching anymore. We wouldn't tell them the real reason, part shame on our end, part we didn't want them made at the leaders. But it killed Daniel and me. 
My brother came up on a Sunday afternoon in April and we went and watched a movie. After the movie we came back to our apartment and Jimmy went back home. Daniel and me got talking about life. How hard it was go to church each Sunday and not be Sunday School teachers. We hated to see the kids upset and missing us. We hated thinking they thought they had done something wrong. When it wasn't them it was us living in sin was the problem. We also knew my dad wasn't well and his arthritis was giving him trouble and who knew if he would be able to walk later too. So we decided who says we can't get married now instead of the BIG wedding we were trying to plan for October. We sat up ALL night and talked. We decided right then and there, Let's do this. Do we really care for all the stuff a wedding entails. As long as we are there at the start and at the end. That's all that matters.But we both wanted out parents to be there. So we thought this weekend as in the coming Saturday, sounds good to us. Now to call our parents and tell them. So I told Daniel call your mom first and see if it works for her, she lived the furthest away. She told us she couldn't be here that weekend because she had planned her stepdad's birthday party for that time. So Daniel was like well what about the next weekend how's it look. She said looks good nothing on the calendar, why whats going on. So we both yelled, We are Getting Married next Friday night be here! Jennifer, WHAT! YAY! Happy for you! After we got off the phone with Jennifer,  Daniel called his dad, Bob and told him. The first question he asked Daniel was, Is she pregnant? Why else would you move a wedding up? Daniel told Bob, No dad she isn't we just decided we know we want to spend the rest of our lives together so why wait. Later he explained the thing about stepping down from teaching. Next was my parents, can I just say I didn't know how they would react especially after Bob's question. So of course I woke my parents up. It was late when we decided to do this and we knew if we told there was no second guessing ourselves. Straight from the hip. When my parents got on the phone. I asked if they had any big plans for the next weekend. My dad was like probably not and my mom was quite. So I blurted out,  well you do now, We are getting Married next Friday night!!! And No I'm not pregnant! My dad ,coughing in the back ground, was like umm we never said that you were. So I had to tell them about Bob asking. Then my parents were like sounds good to us. What are the details. We have have no clue, just next Friday night. You can call and tell everyone tomorrow. But we just want it to be small, family only. Not the big one we have been planning. We will talk in the morning. Good night, love you guys! 
TWO WEEKS to plan a wedding. Can it be done!?!?!?
YES
So after we hung the phone with my parents we started working on details. We decided since it was short notice we wouldn't worry about me getting a actual wedding dress or him a tux. I was going to go buy me a plain white dress and he was going to wear a suit. I would just get a small bouquet of flowers and get a friend to a take some pictures. And I would bake a small wedding cake. The church if we could on short notice. Instead of having all the his brothers and my brother stand up for him and the friends I had chosen we would just have one person a piece. Just Us, our attendants. Allen, our parents, our siblings and our grandparents that could make it. Not Friends, extend family, church family, no fire department family. Just a hand full of people. Very simple and  very easy.
Well remember me saying at the beginning that everyone had there own ideas of what and how. Well now they were coming out the wood work.So Daniel and I had to present a joint union already. This is and this isn't what we wont. 
The day after we called our parents, my mom called me and told me to call my brother Jimmy and tell him. Jimmy and I were super duper close, he was my best friend next to Daniel. So I said sure, that afternoon I called him and well I was in for a surprise. Instead of Jimmy being happy for us. He was the opposite, he couldn't believe were doing this so soon. I was still in college and didn't I know how hard it would be to finished now. And I was to young. He liked Daniel but how could I be so sure,since you only dated not even a year yet. And then the kicker, if you are going to get married next Friday, I will NOT becoming! I will not stand by and watch you make the biggest mistake ever! WHAT!!!! I was crushed. I was also speechless and anyone who knows me knows I can talk.
So I just hung up the phone and broke down in our yard and cried and cried. Daniel came out side to see what was wrong and I told him I couldn't marry him if my brother wasn't coming. I loved him more than anything but my brother was my brother. Daniel knew how close we were. And he just held me, saying nothing but okay, we will wait. Which made me cry harder. Well it wasn't long after that my phone rung and it was my parents calling, Daniel answered it, I couldn't. My dad had been sitting next to Jimmy and heard every word he had said to me and told him I was wrong. It was my life, the good the bad, my choice.If I was making a mistake then I would learn from it and move on. Jimmy got on the phone and told me he was sorry and that if this was truly what I wanted then he would be there. Jimmy had just went through a divorce and wasn't to keen on wedding and marriage in general. I told him while sitting in Daniel's lap, Daniel was the best thing to happen to me and that I truly did want to be his wife. Jimmy then told me I will there. Get married. Relief!!!
As word got out that we we were moving our wedding up. People were talking, really I think lots thought I was pregnant but I didn't care. We knew the truth and that's all that mattered.

 I had went home during the week to see my parents and talk about what needed to be done for the wedding. We were going to be able to use our church. Has someone to play our music selections. But still needed to decide what we were wearing, flowers, cake, food for a reception. When I told my dad I was just going to wear a simple white dress he told me he didn't think so. He then proceed to hand me a blank check (for the second time) and told me to go get the wedding dress I had found a few weeks ago with my mom. Mom and me had been in Murfressboro shopping before we had moved the wedding day up and ran into a dress shop. I found my dress that day. When I first found that dress I had the Big wedding in mind. After our shopping trip that day when we got back to my parents house, my dad asked if we found anything, I told he yes, The dress! When he asked why didn't we get it I told him it cost $1000 dollars. Which doesn't sound like much and it was a really good deal but to my dad it was as if I had asked for a new truck. I told him that's okay dad I would find something cheaper, no biggie. After that I went to bed, in tears. The next morning when I walked into the kitchen, my dad handed me a blank check and told me to go get my dress. I told him it really was okay, $1000 was a lot of money for something I would only wear once. I'd find something cheap and just as pretty. He left to go to work and then I looked at my mom. She told me she had a long talk with him after I went to bed and told him I had never asked for anything really expensive growing up. As a girl I could have cost him a whole lot more through two different proms. This was my wedding and hopefully my only one. And they were going to give me what ever I wanted, no matter. They had helped with Jimmy's first wedding too. So when I told said I wasn't even going to wear an actual dress, my dad informed me that if I didn't pick a real dress out then he would. And that Daniel would be in a tux. Even if we were getting married in two weeks were going to do it right, no regrets. Okay dad, I will find something. So a few days later I went to a bridal shop here in town and looked at a few different dresses. I asked if they could hold them for me so my mom could come help pick one out. They said sure as long it was by the next evening before they closed. So I left and called mom and asked her if she could come. She said she should be able to. So the next evening my Mom as well as my Dad, Grandmother Arminta,and my Aunt Melody came up to see what I had chosen. I really didn't want my dad to see any of them until the day. But it sat down on the couch and said lets see what you got. I tried all the dresses on and then narrowed it down to two I really like. My dad was actually the one who chose my dress. He told me out of all the ones I had put on that was the one you made me look the most beautiful. So it was decided. Then my dad was going through the store picking this and that up. My mom told him she would make my veil because they were super easy. My grandmother was letting me borrow a necklace and earring set that had been my great grandmothers. And I already had shoes. Things were coming together. Denise told me she would make our cake. I told her I just wanted something very simple with real flowers on it. She was also going to bring some flowers from her garden we could use. Wonderful! When we were stating we are getting married next Friday we didn't realize it was Mother's Day weekend. This helped in us getting cheap flowers for me to carry as well as my Aunt Mel who was my maid of honor. She had found her two dresses through the JcPenny catalog and sent me a picture to look at it. I told her I trusted her judgment and to wear which ever she was comfortable in. We had ordered Daniel and Robby's tuxes from Goody's and they would come in a few days before the wedding. I had called an reserved a few tables at Nick's Restaurant for our reception as a dutch treat. We decided not to get a photographer, this was before everyone was making pictures, because of the cost. Sister in laws said they would just take some. Little did I know my dad didn't like that idea at all and had hired one from McMinnville. No regrets remember. Only thing left on the list was to talk to Allen about the ceremony, who knew there were so many different types to choose from. The puzzle was almost complete. 
Until people started to find out they weren't actually invited to our wedding. This was mainly from friends here in town. One group of friends or should I say family told us there wasn't anyone or anything to keep them from being at our wedding, yup Tom and Pat and George and Nina along with their boys- Adam, Devin, Spencer and Elliott. They said you want even know we are there. We will sit in the back. Yeah right, hows about right behind my family front and center. And we won't stay for the reception. We will leave right after the wedding.  Umm yeah right. Just the way it was suppose to be.
Time for the big day!


Another long post, sorry. I want you know and see where we were. Enjoy the next post.
~hugs and prayers~
Kim




Friday, May 10, 2013

Love Story Part 2

.......The Dating .......
This post is super duper lonnnnnngggggg. As most dating really is. Lucky for you it wasn't years and years. Only one years worth. So let the next part start.....

Sorry to say I can't pin point a exact day that Daniel and I officially started dating, I can say it was in the Spring of 2000 of  in the middle/end of April to the first week of May. And to be honest I'm not really sure if we said, Let's be boyfriend and girlfriend, it just happened. When I wasn't working or in class we were together. We could be found at my apartment, the Fraternity house, out eating, out bowling, at Cotten Eye Joe's, or at my work. Snyder would stop by and see me at work to say hello after mowing, getting out of class, or off work. Since I worked at the only Japanese restaurant in town and the only place that severed sushi at the time. It was always a busy place. I loved it. I started working there as a Hostess, then a server during the day, (they weren't that busy during the day and often I was the only server at that time), server at night, and sometimes I would be the bartender. I made good money. So since most people in Cookeville had never had sushi I dared Snyder one night to try it. Snyder and his friend Hotsy had stopped in to say hello. I told him if he didn't like it I would pay for it and if he did he had to pay. Pretty fare deal to me. So he told me to order him something nothing to weird though, hahaha. I ordered him a Crunchy Shrimp Roll, a California Roll, a  Spicy Crab Roll, and a Eel Roll. He pulled out the chop sticks and learned real fast to use them, he had to be authentic, ha, I still can't use them. At first he was like not to bad, then he decided he actually enjoyed it. Daniel and I still enjoy sushi now, 13 years later. My boss loved Snyder and often would give him free sushi and fried rice. That year I had to work that night for Mother's Day. I went and saw my Mom during the day. Snyder was a little bummed I couldn't join him for the evening. Since two of his brothers, Rob and stepbrother Dylan lived in Cookeville and were going to TECH they decided to come up here to eat to celebrate Mother's Day with Snyder's stepMom, Denise. So Snyder suggested GoTen for something different. Well of course no matter what time of the day you go out to eat on Mother's Day it is CRAZY at the restaurant!!! Which helped when it came time for his family (total of 12/13, it's been a while since that ate and I worked, hard to keep track who was and wasn't there) to eat. I got to sit down and talk to them for awhile and say hello. I think looking back it was good to meet them while I was working because they could be overwhelming with 9 in the family.

So then it was time for Snyder to meet my parents. I had to go home for something and told my Mom that my friend Snyder was coming in with me to eat too. Well they were excited to meet him because they knew we had been hanging out for awhile doing stuff. And I was moving on from the Ex. We went to my parents after church on a Sunday afternoon. Little did I know that my brother Jimmy would be there for the day. Jimmy had told me he would never like another guy I brought home no matter what, after what all my Ex had put me through. I told him Snyder is different you will see. Jimmy told me he didn't care. Words and actions sometimes have to eaten. We ate and sat outside and enjoyed the day. Jimmy in all his brotherly glory said something smarty pants to Snyder and I was like oh, crap he won't ever talk to me again. Before I could tell Jimmy to shut up, Snyder turned around and said something smarty pants back to him. Jimmy stood there kind of shocked and then smiled and said, You'll be alright. I let out the breath I was holding but I don't think I left them alone together to be on the safe side. I know Mom and Dad had told Jimmy to be nice and I knew Jimmy was only being protective of me. So after we left my parents, I told Snyder sorry for my brother. He said, It's okay I'd do the same for my sisters if they had been put through what you had been.

During the next week or so Snyder and I became closer. It was during this time Snyder asked me to call him by his first name, Daniel, all the time instead of Snyder. There were two other guys in the Fraternity house named Daniel and they all were called by their last names. It's a guy thing, ha. So from then on I called him Daniel. That weekend I had to go see my parents because I was getting ready to go out of town with Daniel. So I called my Mom and said I was coming in as well as Daniel. She wanted to know who this Daniel guy was and what happened to that nice guy named Snyder. I tried to explain to her but she wasn't getting it. So finally I said, well give this guy a chance I think you will like him too. Daniel and I laughed about it all the way to my parents. When we got out of the car my Dad said glad to see you again and then my Mom came out and just starred. She said, I thought you said you were bringing a guy named Daniel to eat, this is Snyder. Did you drop the other guy already. I couldn't help it I stared laughing and said Mom I'd like for you to meet Daniel Snyder, they are the same. My dad had no clue what was going on.

So it was time for his sister Sarah to graduate from Vanderbilt and his Mom, Jennifer and stepDad Marc were coming in from Michigan for it and then taking Sarah on a vacation to celebrate. Also, to be here the following weekend for his stepbrother Byran's wedding. They invited Daniel and me along so they could get to meet me. I worked the details out to get a few days off from work and off we went. We were going to meet Marc and Jennifer at Sarah's apartment in Nashville and then leave for a few days to go to Arkansas. I went by the fraternity house to pick Daniel up and get on the road, well we didn't get far until we got ran into by another car. They didn't realize we were coming because the car in the other lane was turning. Luckily Daniel was paying attention and God was guiding him because when they slammed into us they sent us toward the gas station. Yup that could have been really bad. Daniel was freaking out because he didn't know how my parents would react, afraid I was hurt and all sorts of things. I was worried he wasn't okay too. I could care less about the car (red grand dam). I was scared to call my parents and tell them what had happened, my dad was a worrier and I was afraid he would tell me I couldn't go. Yes, I was in my early 20's be I still respected my parents and listened to them. Daniel as like call your parents and see what they say, I will fully understand. So I called and as you have it they didn't answer the home phone, so I left a message and said that we had been in a wreck and it was only a small dent and we were okay. My dad had cell phone but it was used when he needed it in the mountains. So the cop told us we could go and the car was drivable so we were good. It looked bad the whole driver side door was crashed in but it still shut all the way and locked. So I told Daniel let's go on anyways. We were just getting on the interstate when my parents called. They were more worried about Daniel then they were about me, not really but they didn't know how his family would react. People use to sue whoever the owner of the car was no matter who was driving. They didn't know if that would happen. They still sue over crazy things today. I told them it was just a little dent and everything else was okay when we got back from our trip I would call the insurance company back and we would see what needed to be done. As I was talking Daniel was saying little dent my butt, it's the whole door. I wasn't about to let a little dent hurt us going out of town for some fun. We got to Nashville and I met Jennifer and Marc and we headed to Arkansas for a few days. We had a great time driving back roads through the resort that that they were still developing, playing golf and games with Sarah, Jennifer and Marc.

We had to be back so Daniel could be a rehearsal and I had to work on Friday night. So we left late Thursday afternoon from where we were staying and were going to drive all night to get back in town by Friday morning so we could rest before the night got crazy. We stopped a couple different times when we would spy a firetruck or such and take pictures. We hit Memphis and decided to stop for supper on Beale Street, famous for Bar-Q and Blues music. We parked  my car in the garage at the Peabody hotel and went in search for food. We hit several places and ate lots of food and had several drinks. When we got back to the car we sat there for awhile to make sure we were okay to drive. We had stopped drinking long before we knew we would leave. After a little while we decided to get back on the road. Well by that point we were getting sleepy and thought we should probably stop and spend the night somewhere. Well if you have ever been on interstate 40 after Jackson there aren't many place to stay. Daniel remember that his fraternity brother Rusty was from down that way and called to see if he was around and if we could crash with him at his parents house for the rest of the night. He said he was actually out of town but his parents wouldn't care for us to drop in and stay. Mr and Mrs. Chiclutt were lifesavers that night. They told us sure thing but the only bed they had was a twin size bed. Well we took it and got little sleep, hello us two sleeping on a twin size bed super duper close, good thing I am small. But it worked and we got some sleep maybe a couple of hours because we left as the sun was coming up. I had to be back at work by 3 that afternoon and we still had at least a four hour drive home. We made back to my apartment long enough for me to change and pull in at work at 3 clock on the dot. Daniel had to be in Smithville for the night and then I would meet back up with him for the wedding. I was about to meet family and friends for the first time. It was a gorgeous wedding. The first of many that Daniel and I would attend together. 

We went to another wedding during the summer but it was in Michigan for his cousin Eliza, Frank and Sue's daughter and Jon the groom to be. We were suppose to ride with Dylan, Latonya, and Joe in Dylan's tracker but it tore up and so I said we could drive my car, my parents didn't know about that trip. We went to the wedding it was during the morning. We had time to kill before an afternoon relaxing party at the couple's house. While we were killing time,  Dylan wanted to go the casino but Latonya wasn't 21 yet so we decided to go across the border into Canada, before you had to have a passport to cross, for a couple of hours to have some fun. In Canada you could gamble at the age of 18. Well we had to stop in customs so they could check our id's and see what our plans were while in Canada. I was freaking out a little because I had needles and pump supplies all in my car because of my diabetes, I don't go no where with out it and wasn't sure how they would react. We were cleared to go and enjoy ourselves. We were only going to be there for a hour or so. So Daniel and I put $10 a piece together and got tome coins for the slots. We won (no more than 50) and lost it all but really we only started with $20 so that was all we lost. We had a great time. We also stopped and played around of put put golf before going back to Frank and Sue's house to crash for the night. We were meeting Bob and Denise at her parents (Mr and Mrs Dupius) house for breakfast before heading back to Tennessee. A quick weekend trip up and back. This time my car stayed intact, thankfully.

These times all happened during the first few months of us dating during the summer  with lucky not a lot was going on. What a fun time already. Next up, enter a new semester of college for me at Vol State, my grades had slipped while at TECH  and Daniel going to EMT school. Daniel didn't sign up for any fall courses because he thought he would get hired on the Cookeville Fire Department back in the Spring. He had been a Volunteer with the county for several years. But wanted to quit college and start a career with the Fire service as a fireman. Well he didn't get hired from this list. And wasn't sure what he was going to to do. So on the advice of others on the county department he started EMT school. Let me just say this was a trying time during our dating time. I was driving to Livingston every day and one night during the week for class as well as work at GoTen. Daniel was mowing and doing leaves while working at BP, going on Fire calls and going to EMT class at night time. So during this they would have study times together and often time they would turn into hanging out or party times. So a very stressful time on a new relationship. I finally told Daniel I felt like I was put on the back burner to his study times. If that was the case then I would find something else to do. This really bother me more have having cooked supper and he didn't even show up. During this time Daniel had put an application in Murfreesboro for the Fire Department, they were hiring several men and women. Daniel got a call back to go take a written test and then agility test to see if he placed high enough on the list for a an interview. Well Daniel did get hired. But he turned it down because he didn't think it would work our with EMT school and he didn't want to throw his hard work out the window. After he hung up the phone I was like what did you just do. You have wanted that since I first meet you and you turn down a paid full-time position. After thinking about it he called back and told them he had made a a mistake and if it was to late. They told him it was. Ugh. Well a couple days later a friend Jim had got offered one of the positions too but turned it down because it wouldn't be the best thing for his family. He had told them he knew daniel and that he wished he hadn't turned it down so quick.  Daniel called Murfreessboro back and talked with them and they decided to give him another shot. So Daniel started with Murfressboro Fire Department in December 2000. During this he had still lived at the Fraternity house when he wasn't at my apartment. So he was going to have to move out by the new year since he was no longer a student. We started talking about moving in together because I was already living by myself and we were practically together all the time anyways. We were buying grocery's for the both places, sleeping at both places, with him in Mufreesboro I was taking care of his dog Buford so it made since. I was like okay lets do this. Daniel was like wait we have to okay this with your parents before I even look at places. Okay I will talk to them. I kind of mentioned to my Mom they we were talking about it and all she said was you have to ask you Dad. We went to see my parents for supper after church one Sunday in December and I said, Daniel and I are thinking of getting an apartment together since he has to move out of the Fraternity house in January and we are together all the time. It just makes since money wise. You could hear a pin drop it was so quite. Finally my dad looked up from his plate and said sounds good to me when are you moving? My mom and Jimmy were like, What!?!? See my brother had moved in with his first wife and was in the process of a divorce and mom and dad gave him a hard way to go about them moving in together. And here nothing was really being said negativity. When questioned why, my dad said it was better for me to have Daniel as a roommate than to be by myself. He had kept quite about his little girl living alone in apartment with no one and had worried every night, I might have a insulin reaction or someone would break in. Now he wouldn't worry so much. So the hunt was on for an apartment, that we could have a dog, store his lawn equipment, more than one bedroom and didn't cost an arm and leg. Which isn't the easiest thing to do.

One of the girls I worked with, Charlene, at GoTen told me the apartment beside her and her mom was open and offered everything we needed and was ready to move into. We looked into and moved in January. Also during this time I had to quit my job at GoTen because me and several others at work did not agree with how our manger Julie had handled a situation involving another employee. And because we spoke up she fired us the whole staff during a Friday night busy shift and then hired us back when she realize what she had done. She was know to loose her control and start cussing us in Japanese when she got mad. When she was happy she was great to work for but mad, watch out. So we all quit that night. So now it's the holidays, I'm out of work , Daniel and I are moving into an new apartment and I'm look for a job. Can you say stressed!!! But come January, Charlene had heard through another friend a new restaurant was coming to downtown Cookeville and was looking to hire staff. We all went in together and got hired on the spot. And was to start a few weeks into January. They wanted Crawdaddy's to be the place to be in Cookeville. And it was and has been since. Still yummy food after all these years. So I was starting a new job, Daniel had started his new job and was working 24 hour shifts and off 48, I had college and we moved into our new apartment. Life was going Great! 

Daniel and I had grown very close. He was my best friend! We would sit up all night on the couch and talk about our lives growing up, things we wanted out of life, where we saw ourselves, family and anything you can think of. If he was home and I wasn't working we went every where together. I rode in the county firetrucks every time he would go on a call, no matter the time or the call.  If we wern't in the fire truck we were racing through townin his gray ford or my red grand dam. I can remember going on a structure fire call and being asked if I was a certain girl that Daniel had dated right before me and then telling the guy nope, I'm Kim. It was kind of funny to watch that guy squirm. Another call we went on was at Crazy George Bridge here in Cookeville, going up Buck Mountain from Algood, a couple of teens had sent a fire in the middle of the bridge to see if the ledge was true and instead got the cops called on them and the fire department to put it out. The cop told them they should have to take us out to breakfast for getting us out of bed for them being dumb. They had to apologize, too. So funny.  I went to training and watched these guys work as a team. They all became like brothers to me. The Fire department is truly a brotherhood and family. 

Daniel and I was living as if we were married and we had talked about one day on more than one occasion. We knew how the other one felt and what they wanted out of a marriage. We really got talking about marriage and if we were ready for it. We loved each other a lot but could we make it. that sort of thing. Well I didn't know this but Daniel had asked my Mom on one of my trips to Nashville, before all this with stepping down from teaching, to see my diabetic doctor what kind of insurance was the best for a diabetic. She told him to make sure in was in for the long haul because caring for me wasn't cheap. My parents paid thousands a year keep me healthy and alive. Diabetes isn't cheep. So the gear were already working towards us getting engaged. So much so that Daniel had even talked to my dad and had asked his permission to marry me. My Dad told he are you sure, she can be a spitfire. Thanks dad!  So on March 26th Daniel went and test drove a new truck. While he was out driving this truck he asked the guy if they could stop by the jewelery store so he could pick up a ring. The guy said she'd really say yes if you show up with a new truck and a ring. I was work and had no clue this was going on. When I got home I came in a changed into comfy clothes and sat on the couch. I then asked Daniel what he wanted for supper and he said I think we will go out to eat, well okay sounds good to me. So then he asked were your serious the other day when were talking and you said you would marry me when I got you a ring. I was keep say yes, I was serious. I think Daniel asked 3 or 4 times and finally I was like dummy I told you I would marry you when you got down on one knee. When I turned around to see what he was doing, he had been in the kitchen, he was standing beside me and then proceeded to drop to one knee with a opened jewelery box in his hands. I was like really (exciting voice). Daniel then said, Kim will you become my wife. I screamed YES as he put the ring on my finger and gave me a kiss. Oh and no he didn't buy the truck.  We had just become engaged. The talk had become real. Life was Great!!! I was going to marry the man of my dreams. I was one lucky girl!!!

........Told you it was long.......

~hugs and prayers~
 Kim




Our Love Story Part 1

....The Meeting....

I was working at GoTen, a Japanese restaurant here in Cookeville, and got off work early on a Thursday night in the Spring of 2000. My roommate at the time Emily was working at Chilli's and I went by to see her and grab a quick bite to eat. When I walked in the restaurant there were several guys waiting to be seated. I knew a couple of the guys, Rusty, Tevis, and Basham from having classes with them at TECH, so I stopped and said hello. They asked me to join them and I was like ummm no thanks. Really how would that look, me being the only girl sitting with at least 10 guys. After a few minutes they were like come on its better than sitting by yourself. So I gave in and sat down with them, little did I know. Emily stopped by our table and we talked about where and what we were doing when she got off work. And of course the guys gave their opinions too. During the course of the meal I pulled my insulin pump out and gave some insulin to cover my meal. Several guys asked what it was and if I was diabetic. So then I explained yes and what I was doing. After the meal, Emily was still going to be at work for awhile but would meet me at the apartment and then we were going out to Cotten Eye Joe's, a local bar, for the night. I was walking outside when this gray ford truck with the words, Gone Fishing and Jesus fishes on each side, pulled up and the driver whose name is Snyder  asked me if we would be at the Joe later, of course I said yes. All the guys were like we will see you there, ummm okay. So Emily, her boyfriend at the time, and me meet up with several of the guys later at the Joe for some drinks and to dance the night away. I wasn't ready to date anyone after being in a long high school relationship that didn't end well and another break up with a guy after a few months. And Snyder wasn't looking for anything serious either. He had just got out of a relationship before this too.  So each week Emily, her boyfriend and Emily's sister Amanda, who was a friend of mine too and other friends would meet up for several weeks. Snyder and I talked off and on as friends. Well Amanda keeping asking me who Snyder was and I told her I didn't really know him except through friends but I would introduce them. Well Amanda was dating a guy on and off at the time who was a jerk, as of this night they were off. So being the friend I am I introduce them to keep her from the jerk. So they hit it off and went out a couple different times. Some of the times they would go eat, I would get a phone call to join them and usually did. We were all friends. This probably went on for a couple weeks of them going out. Then Amanda would be like Kim, you just go, I don't feel like going to eat after we were suppose to to be meeting him. So I talked to Emily and was like your sister has been bailing on Snyder here lately, she felt the same way. Well to come to find out she was also seeing the jerk without any of  us knowing. So Emily and I invited Snyder over to tell him. We both thought he is to nice of a guy to not know what was going on. After Snyder left, Emily was like Kim I think you should date him. You need a good guy to go out with and have fun. I had been talking to my Ex off and on the last few months and Emily as well as my family weren't to happy about it. I had actually been reconsidering to date him again and get serious. So when Emily suggested I should date Snyder,  I was like ummm hello he was kind of seeing your sister and she was said yeah but not really. So I said we'll see. Snyder and I hung out and talked a lot and I was still talking on and off with the Ex but the more I hung out with Snyder the more I wanted to get to know him better. Snyder was working for Brown's BP gas station at the time and often worked nights and Saturday mornings. I would sometimes bring him something to eat. One night when Snyder was working I told him I would cook and bring him meal because I had the night off. And friends do nice things for each other. Well my Ex showed up that night out of the blue, in the last week I had told him we were over, he had come to pick up some stuff he had left at my apartment. And because I am who I am I offered him supper before he left with his stuff. He had come to talk and try and win me back. When he wanted seconds to eat I was like um, No. So I told him I have to take supper to my friend who is working, I didn't tell him it was a guy friend, oops. So I packed the food up and we went to get in my car. Well we pulled up at the gas station and my Ex figured out quick this was a guy friend and not a girl. Snyder didn't know my Ex was coming with me and came to the car. I turned to my Ex who had held the food on the drive across town to get the plate for Snyder. You could tell they were sizing each other up, kind of funny at the moment and even now years later. After I dropped the food off I went back to my apartment and told my Ex that it was over and maybe one day we could be friends but that as of now all communication was done, no more calls, visits or anything. I couldn't keep going back and forth with him. I was tired of not being cared for and I deserved to be happy. He wished me well. I think it took seeing Snyder and the Ex together to show me what needed to be done. The Ex didn't even take his stuff, mainly a stereo system(which we still have outside in our garage). Later when Snyder got off work, he called or I called and I said to him I need to talk and for him to come over. Lucky for me he came, I was kind of worried he wouldn't. So when he knocked on my door, I was very happy. I told him it was very much over with the Ex and I wanted to get to know him better. I think we talked all night. The start of a great love story.............

~hugs and prayers~ 
Kim

Warning, Warning.......

......Warning..... 

The next few post are about when and how Daniel and I met. The reason for this blog isn't for the world to know about us but it's for our children to know us. What makes their parents and what makes them. The start, the middle, the ups and the downs, the end results. So our story is an important part of that. I want them to know the story and since I am putting it out here in blog land anyone can see it. But I know my children will always hopefully be able to read it where ever they are as well as their children and so forth.  Which can be scary. But guess what that's keeping it real. I want our children to know we are real people.
We hurt. 
We cry. 
We laugh. 
We love.
 We have fun. 
We make mistakes.
We take our beatings.
 We get right back up.
We fight for what we believe.
We work things out.
We stand for God.
 We stand together.
 We aren't perfect.
 We struggle.
 We loose our focus.
 We pray for them.
We pray for each other.
 We pray for others.
 We ask God for forgiveness.
 We ask each other for forgiveness.
 We aren't always the best.
 We Love!!! 
This is as much their story as it is ours. This is where and who they come from. And we have and will go through a lot of the same things in life and they can see how we handle ourselves. So if you want to know the story stay tuned for the next couple of posts . If not wait until Mothers Day for something besides a love story but it's another one all it's own.
~ hugs and prayers~
Kim

Monday, May 6, 2013

Banana Cake

Momma Sue's Banana Cake


This is one of our family favorite morning foods beside the normal bacon, sausage, eggs and biscuits and gravy. It's easy to make and really yummy! It's great straight from the oven hot with butter or the next day. When we first had it our neighbor Sue made it for us and we have been hooked on it since. After a while I finally asked for the recipe so I could make as often as possible. I've made it for friends, holidays, church, Community Bible Study(as was the case for this post), teacher gifts and so forth. Actually the last time I made it for a teacher gift was when I went into labor with Laura Mae and didn't know I was in labor. I told Daniel I have to finish this cake for Amos' teacher's Christmas present. Yeah, she didn't receive it for a gift. When it came out of the oven. I was on my way to the hospital to have a little girl. It went into the freezer and was forgotten for awhile. Love the fact I can put a story with this recipe. I think recipes and stories go hand in hand. This is just like banana bread but a cake instead. Hope you and yours enjoy it just as much as our family. And thank you Momma Sue for the recipe.

~Banana Cake~

1 box yellow cake mix
1 box vanilla instant pudding (I use french vanilla)
1 mashed large banana (I sometimes use 2)
4 eggs
3/4 cup of water
1/2 cup of oil

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into a well greased bundt pan and bake in 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.
and Enjoy!
This is optional. and most times I don't even make it but there is a glaze you can put on top if you like.

~Glaze~

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 mashed banana
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon milk
Mix together and put onto cake with hands.



hugs and prayers~ Kim

Saturday, May 4, 2013

HERO RUSH 2013

HERO RUSH
April 20,2013
 Tough, Crazy, Fear-Facing Fun 
a 4-5 mile race with unique firefighter and “hero” themed obstacles,
a mile Kid's race ,
Food, 
Games for the by standers 

This makes the 3rd obstacle themed race Daniel has accomplished. The first race was last year at the Tennessee Fire School which he ran with his sister Sarah and her husband Randy. The second race was for Habitat a local charity which he ran with a group of guys from the Fire Hall one of which was our friend Jon. And for this race Daniel got to run with Sarah and Jon. Two great people who have supported Daniel and his running. These races have become a family affair. It is a Great way for us to get to see and spend time with Sarah and have some fun too. For this race Amos and Carter got to run. They had a one mile course for the little guys with a few kid sized obstacles. This race was All about firefighting...... start with a stair climb then sliding down a fireman's pole, rope walls, half wooden walls, tires, creek water,hose carry, hose climb, hose walk, slide into water, water pit where you are sprayed by fire nozzles and last but not least jump over a few rows of fire. Sounds fun, right?  As most obstacle races go they have different waves or starting times to run. With the Hero Rush they have a special one that you can choose to be a part of. Daniel choose the 343 Wave for them to run in. They would be running in remembrance of the brave men and women who lost their lives on 9/11. Each racer's bib showed a fallen hero's name. It cost a little more to run in this wave but the money was matched by Hero Rush and donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The kid race is way scaled down from the adult race, no water for them. Amos and Carter were a little bummed by that. I was happy because it was a extremely windy day and a little on the cool side. Daniel, Sarah and Jon were a little cold after running through the different water spots, luckily they were at the end of the course. So enjoy the pictures........


the starting point
the Runners
brother and sister
This the start for the 343 Wave. Daniel ran in memory of Thomas Haskell. This was the biggest group of runners.
It was great to hear this guy playing the bagpipes before Daniel and them started their wave in remembrance of the fallen Hero's
the boys showing their support for their dads
Daniel going down the pole.

Daniel

Amos spraying the runners in the water pit
Jon wore a video cam as they were running.
And Sarah had a camera with her on the course but it was hard to get many pictures
almost to the end
I think they caught some air going down the slide
around the bend is more water
All the kids were ready to spray them with water.
jumping over the rows of fire
They made it!
After the race. Thanks to my mom for watching Isaiah and Laura Mae.
getting their game faces on
Amos, Daniel and Carter
Amos going down the pole. How exciting for the boys!
Carter
the last picture of them together before the end of the race
Carter climbing in and out of the noddle mess
Carter leaving them all behind
Amos all tangled up
Amos carrying fire hose
Carter almost to the finish line
Carter crossing the finish line or should I say the tire line
Amos at the finish line
So proud of these boys!

hugs and prayers~ Kim