My Prom Date

Yes, you read that correctly... Lee took me to Prom last weekend! (as chaperones that is)

Lee is always the life of the party!

Although the night started off a little rocky because we couldn't find anywhere to eat that didn't take a hour wait... we ended up eating at a random pizza place that was most definitely not suited for formal attire. Ha! Oh the looks we got when we walked in... priceless! But it all worked out in the long run. (However, Lee still owes me a fancy date night now)

This was the ceiling of the event center that Prom was held in.. How neat?!

We had so much fun at the BHS 2014 Prom. This is an incredible group of young men and women. It was a joy to be able to share with them in a big event like their junior/senior prom. 

Oh how our coaches had too much fun... =)

Coaches heading into the Photo Booth. Haha!

I am not looking forward to this group of kids graduating in May, but am excited to see what the Lord has in store for each one of them. 

Spring Break in Arizona

Did you think I disappeared? Life around our house has been eventful the past few weeks. We have been here there and everywhere.... from sporting events and family milestones to spring break get-aways and more house renovations.

My favorite part of March was the week we flew to Arizona to spend Spring Break with my brother. My brother is in his forth year of medical school and is currently doing rotations in Scottsdale, AZ. Since he wasn't able to be home for Christmas, we all decided that we would spend Spring Break with him. He was the best tour guide! He had every little detailed planned for us before we even arrived. Although he wasn't able to be with us during the days, he still had options and suggestions of where we should go and what we should do while he was working. He had even asked his girl friends where the best shopping, etc. was... he knows me well. =)

Arizona was beautiful! It was nothing like I had imagined. The weather truly was amazing (although I still don't believe them when they say it's not "hot" until it reaches over 115).

They had cacti EVERYWHERE. The shopping malls had even pulled the sharp points off of the cacti so that no one (particularly children) injured themselves.

Spring training was going on for many major league baseball teams and Jason had planed for us to go see the Giants and the Indians play. It was a toasty afternoon so we were very grateful that our seats were in the shade!

That night Jason took us out into the middle of the desert... really. To this little outdoor western themed restaurant that had a live band and lots of dancing. It reminded me of an old western movie. They had the best BBQ and such a fun atmosphere. Who would have ever guessed something so neat and unique would be out int he middle of a desert? (Wish I would have taken more pictures there)

(Side note: I learned something new about the desert that evening. It gets REALLY cold really fast once the sun goes down. Without humidity, there is nothing to keep the warmth in the air... wish I would have realized that before I packed all warm clothes. Ha!)

All of us at dinner (except for dad, who was taking the picture)

Later in the week, we made the long drive to the Grand Canyon. Although I may never live down this event with my husband and father, I am still glad we went! (It was 8 hours worth of driving to see the Canyon, that the boys weren't so thrilled about... but who can be that close to the Grand Canyon and not go?!)

It was absolutely breath taking beautiful!!! No one can see this and still claim that there isn't a God. Pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. 

(Side Note: If you ever make the trip to the Grand Canyon, don't expect to eat a good meal while you're there. Although there aren't many options, the options they do give you are not worth the crazy hiked up prices that come along with it)

The drive home was gorgeous. Snow capped mountains in the background and we finally saw TREES! I can only imagine someone from AZ coming to good ole Oklahoma... were trees are rampant! 

And back to the desert we went...

Although Arizona was nothing like I had imagined and expected, I loved our time we spent there. It is a beautiful part of our country that now is home to one of my favorite people. Although our whole family is ready for my brother to head back home to us, I am very thankful that he loves where he is and that he is only a short flight away. Hurry home, Jason! I'm sure Lee will need your medical attention by then... Ha! =)

Be My Bridesmaid Cookies

The daughter of my husband's superintendant recently got engaged! She called me asking for a little help in creating a fun way to ask her friends to also be her bridesmaids. So after collecting a few ideas from her, we ended up with these darling cookies.

She added them inside a box full of goodies for her girls. I loved making these cookies and am very happy with how well they turned out! 

Congratulations, Cassidy! 

Happy Wedding Planning!!

Baseball Galore

A dear friend of mine, and fellow coach's wife had a birthday today. So of course I had to celebrate by making her some sugar cookies!

With opening day upon us (despite this crazy icy Oklahoma weather), I decided that baseball cookies would be a perfect fit. Not only would it be a birthday love gift, but also a fun way to kick off the 2014 Baseball season. 

Stacy has been a blessing to me ever since Lee and I found out we were moving to our beloved town. Her joy is contagious and her smile is never ceasing. 

Happy Birthday, Stacy!! 

Hope you hit it out of the park this year! 

My first batch of cookies completely on my own. Phew!

Girly Birthday Cookies

Over the last several months, I have been in charge of the Athletic Department's hospitality room at every home basketball game. I have had so much fun cooking and decorating for our coaching staff, administration and school board members. Although a little overwhelming at times, it is a nice change up from the football field.

This past weekend was the District Tournament for Basketball and I recruited my mother to come help me cook. She graciously agreed and when she showed up at my house, she had birthday cookies in tow! Woo!!

My husband was gone at a football coaches clinic all weekend so friday night was a girls night at our house. Mom, a dear friend and fellow coach's wife, Jade, and myself had dinner out and then came back for some birthday cookie decorating. They weren't perfect as the icing was a little persnickety due to the humidity {or rather lack of} in my house. Baking is more of an art rather than a science... and now next time I know to factor in the humidity into my icing recipe.

Here is a look at the cookies I decorated...

Love Jade's Blue dress!

I loved our girls night and look forward to many more!

Another Year Down

I can't believe another year has come and gone... pretty soon I'm going to stop celebrating birthdays and stay the same age. That's acceptable, right?!

Birthdays around our house are never forgotten! And this year was no exception.. my husband just might be awarded the sweetest husband award... 

He started working on my birthday present last FALL! Yes, you read that correctly... 4 months before my birthday month even came... he was already on the ball with getting me the perfect present. 

Last football season, a mom of one of our players had the most adorable hand-stitched Beggs Demon quilt. It was not only gorgeous but so warm!! And those of you who share in the friday night light experience with me in Oklahoma, you know how important warmth is once the playoffs arrive! This past year we had one game that I seriously thought my feet might not regain feeling... ever again. Thankful that was not the case.

Anywho, Lee remembered how much I loved the mother's quilt and went about finding how to have one made specifically for me. The grandmother of this same player gracious made me a gorgeous spirit filled quilt. 

Hand-made quilting is a dying art and I am SO excited to be able to have one of my own to pass down for generations.

This beauty will most definitely be frequently visiting baseball and football games!

That night, Lee took me out to my favorite restaurant and a movie. We had a fun date night and a great ending to a special birthday. 

Root of the Problem

Over the past year, I have noticed a huge gap in society. Humanity as a whole puts incredible emphasis on careers and "making it" at a young age. So much so that I believe our children are the ones paying the consequences of our actions.

The news is overloaded with crazed maniacs who go on shooting rampages and have thoughtless acts of violence for no found reason or cause. Everyone has their outlet to blame for the behavior and many think it's an issue of lax laws.

Now I am by no means stating that the parents of those who have committed crazed crimes are to blame; I am however proposing that our generation as a whole has lost track of what is truly important.

We get so wrapped up in ourselves and our own name and accomplishments that we forget what is around us. We spend hours upon hours advancing our careers, but at what cost? Our children are being raised by daycares, strangers, & extended family members. Children ride buses home after school to empty houses for hours on end. They have friends that no one acknowledges or cares about because we are too wrapped up in our own advancement that we don't have time to worry about those "petty" things. They will be just fine, we say... Or my favorite, "I turned out just fine."

Statistically, it is not fine. Teenage birth rate is at an all-time high in my state. Emotions are rampant in and out of the school system and our children are the ones that face the long-term consequences.

Stay-at-home moms are shunned for not being in the workforce. They are labeled as "spoiled" or "pampered" by a self-seeking generation.

Yet I see it completely differently. I see stay-at-home mommas as the real heroes. Without mothers who care enough to take their own agendas off the table in order to establish their children, our world would have already self-destructed. Biblically, women were created to be man's helper. No, I am not being sexist or medieval. I am simply stating scripture.

"Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make

 him a helper suitable for him." 

Genesis 2:18

Yet we live in a generation where if you are a housewife or a stay-at-home momma, you are shunned and deemed lazy. 

The past 9 months I have been a housewife. Although I have my bachelor's degree, my husband and I both feel like our house would run smoother if I was at home to take care of what needs to be taken care of. I am by no means lazy or spoiled, I simply am a wife who CHOOSES to be of aid to my husband. Being a coach's wife is often times a full-time job. Yet, over the past 9 months I have received SO many opinions on the decision my husband and I have made. I am always shocked and appalled when someone references the choice I have made as if it affects them. 

Now granted, some mothers do not have the luxury of a choice and need the income to support their family. I GET THAT. There is no shame in that nor should there be. I am talking about a generation where choice is an option, yet is overlooked in order to advance themselves. Is it possible to be in the workforce AND still be an involved parent? Absolutely... yet more often than not, that doesn't happen.

When looking out over the America that has risen up in today's society, I see one that is self-seeking. I am saddened by outcome and the consequences we are leaving behind for our younger generations. Yet all I can do is pray. Pray the Lord puts someone in the paths of these young people that is able to guide and lead them on a path of righteousness. For although my heart is constantly heavy for those children, His hands are forever faithful. 

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations." 

Deuteronomy 7:9

Miss Kay's Chicken Chow Mein

At Christmas, my mom gave me Miss Kay's Duck Commander Kitchen Cookbook. I've made several recipes and they are all DELICIOUS! Really. If you like southern comfort food or cajun cooking, order the cookbook NOW! Your husband will thank you.

With that being said, I decided to try another recipe from Miss Kay last night. Pork & Chicken Chow Mein. 

At first I thought, a cajun making Chinese? But then realized it was the second recipe in the cookbook and surely she would have put some of her better recipes in the front, right? Her sweet notes on the bottom (love this about her cookbook) said that it was one of Phil's favorites. So off I went to the grocery store and grabbed all the ingredients to make her Pork & Chicken Chow Mein. 

This is where it gets ugly.....

I did everything as directed, yet the end product was NOTHING like I was expecting. Apparently my interpretation of what "chow mien" should be and what her idea of what it should be are completely different! 

I kept smelling, stirring and adding more seasonings, yet no amount of seasonings was going to fix this... 

I took a quick picture with my phone and texted it to my husband. 

He responded with "umm no. Pizza?" haha. So pizza it was for dinner! 

Although he never actually tried the Chow Mein, I'm confident that pizza was the correct decision last night. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches when it comes to cooking. 

[Note to self: always stick with your initial instinct when it comes to picking recipes.]

If you do have Miss Kay's Cookbook, here are some of my favorite recipes:

Melt in Your Mouth Biscuits

Mac & Cheese

Stuffed Bell Peppers