Hiatus again

Well, when I look at the last time I posted, I am amazed. It's been 3 weeks since I posted last and time has disappeared. Lots of changes with our family...

I thought I was going to finally get back to blogging with my HUGE number of followers. ;-) Thank you to the 4 of you that always prayed for me and stayed in touch. Anyway, I am going back to work (as of tomorrow) for the first time in about 7 years. Ugh. The feelings I have gone through over the last few weeks have been exhausting. Life is about to change. Again.

I am THANKFUL, but SAD, SCARED,  and a tiny bit excited. I was hoping I could stay at home another year since my youngest is a senior. But, with one in college and another on the way, it just isn't feasible. Gotta get more money coming in!

Maybe when we get in a groove after the new year, I will be back and can at least check in once a week or something like that. For now, I wish you all a

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

and a 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

What I...

I am taking a cue from Beki over at The Rusted Chain for my post today.



What I know...

Happy is he... whose hope is in the Lord. Psalm 146:5

What I miss...

Texas and Blue Bell ice cream

(and all of our family, of course!)

What I wish I were drinking...

Strawberry and lime water

        

What I was drinking...

over ice! YUM!

What makes me giddy...

Canada Geese

Where I like to go...

Oquirrh Lake, Daybreak, UT

What made me happy yesterday...

Receiving our Christmas ornament from

The Rusted Chain

What I love...

My family

So... What do you?

Instalove and a little more

It amazes me how fast the days travel by. There are many that slip through my grasp and there are those that I am happy to get passed. 
I am striving to live with better intention. With more purpose. 
To savor and thank God for the sweet blessings and thank Him through the struggles as well. SO.NOT.EASY.

I just have to tell you how much I love, LoVe, LOVE Instagram. I am a little addicted. Absolutely.

I may not use it exactly "right"... however that is. But I adore it.

First introduced by my girlies, I quickly became a big fan. I am blown away by the "real" photographers who are so amazing that my talent genes are crying out. They have the ability to transport you to places you have only imagined or dreamed of. You can visit when normally you wouldn't have the ability.

Yes, I know that photographs have long been published in books, in mags, and online. There is something different about this Instagram thing. They are all in one place. Tiny. But all together. Whether they are from Istanbul or South Carolina... you can see them all. You can pick and choose, you can comment or not, and you can like it or leave it alone. We each have the ability to make it our own.

I definitely have made my Instagram my own. I do not have a theme as most people do. Oftentimes you find scenery... drop dead gorgeous scenery. Those are the pics that help me take a deep breath and feel God's Peace. This time of year it is the fall colors. The trees and leaves which make me smell pinion wood burning. Don't know why... just does. It's calming.

Some people stick with people. I mean, they photograph people. Typically these are not my favorite. Yes, I know that sounds so wrong. It sounds weird. I think it is because I think of hanging them on my wall. The Instagram photos, that is. And so, I think... why would I want to hang a picture of someone I don't know? That being said, there are a few exceptions. I love seeing pics like this...

...that allow me a little glimpse into the life of my college girl and the crazy things she is doing. :-) I also love pics of people from my talented blogging "friends" like Carissa, Beki, and Kelle because I "know" them and like to see their family photos. Because they are my family, too. Most of those Instagramers are photographers as well, so their photos are jealous worthy. ;-)

MY feed is a mish-mash of stuff. From family photos to beautiful sunrises. Just whatever makes me happy at the moment. I do find myself "studying" things more closely. Stopping in the middle of the street because "Oh, that would be an awesome IG photo!" or my infamous "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?!". It works for me. Especially now... just a difficult season. Thank you IG for helping me see God's beauty.

My youngest introduced me to Kristin. Her photography skills are amazing and we both love her sense of style, if you will. However, my favorite thing about following her on Instagram is her ability to shoot her family. Of course, that is, take photos of her family. They are unique. They are vintage. They are creative. They are love through her eyes. She has been featured at A Beautiful Mess for their "At Home With..."  which will give you a glimpse into her life. You must check her out!

Speaking of my youngest, as I was a bit ago... this pic is one of my faves of hers. I might be a bit partial because it is of her sister.

She has entered it into a contest (don't have results yet) and used it in a portfolio that she submitted for Sterling Scholar at her high school. We found out yesterday that she has been chosen as the Visual Arts Sterling Scholar. WooHoo! So happy for her!

Now on to regionals...

Have a great weekend all!

It's Friday!!!

Funny thing about Fridays... for a stay-at-home mom, it doesn't signal a couple of days off. I DO get to sleep about an hour or so later. Just depends on when the dog decides he's hungry. His inner alarm clock tends to be painfully accurate.

On this Friday, I am aware of some of my favorite things...

1) this sweet boy (despite his early alarm)

2) that this girl will be coming home for fall break

3) which means that these 4 will be together again... and whole again

4) for this beautiful land that we live in

I am linking up with Rachel today...

(click on name not on button... problems!)

Monday, Monday...

1) Out in the real world, I am not so fond of Mondays. Usually on Sunday evenings I start thinking about all of the things that I should have accomplished over the weekend but didn't. I actually get this urge to clean my house from top to bottom and get excited about conquering the whole thing on Monday. I run all of the plans through my head and look forward to the sun rising so that I can whip everything back into shape. Then the morning comes... and I don't want to do any of it. Not one thing. What is that about?

2) In blog land, I enjoy Mondays because Carissa "gets it". Somehow she knows that my brain does not function properly on the first day of the week. I suppose there are others out there that go through the same thing and it could possibly be one of the reasons that Mondays have a bad reputation. That being said, I like Miscellany Monday so that I can be as random as my brain.

3) Catching up with all of the bloggers I have missed takes a LONG time. Lots of reading, smiling, oohs and aahs. It's amazing how fast time flies in other people's lives just like it does our own.

4) We have a new sporting goods store about 10 minutes from our house. We have been watching it take shape for many months and the doors are now open.

This is the centerpiece...

And, the "stuffed" animals can be found upstairs.

It is like going to a sporting mall. They even have restaurants on each floor and while we were there, a diver was cleaning the fish tank that you walk under. Nemo was there and Dory was, too. I have never seen anything like it. 

5) The seasons are changing in Utah. In Texas... not so much just yet. We went to the football game with our Sr. on Friday night. Wind chill = 39 degrees. Rain = pouring. Equipped = NO. Crazy = YES. Back in Texas at game time = 85 degrees.

So we have gone from this...

                   

 Mirror Lake, Utah

To these...

 Wasatch Mountains, Utah

It IS such a beautiful time of year with the changing colors and the sounds of football wafting through the house...

Happy Fall Y'all

Don't forget to link up!

Let's try this again ~

Hello everyone!

I had hoped to get a blog facelift before beginning again... it's just not in the budget. Time or money. So, for now I will just give a short and sweet update of sorts.

When I was last blogging, we were jobless and living with the in-laws. Yep... for real. One of those challenges God allows you to go through to grow you. You know? Well, I wouldn't say that we grew as much as He would've liked us to, but I choose to believe that there was some growth. I just can't actually put my finger on it.

After 13 L.O.N.G. months, hubby took a job in Utah. A world away from the south. We may have lived in 5 states since our girlies were born but it was always in a southern state. However, we were so happy for him to have a job that we really didn't care anymore.

My blessings

The climate would be different and the culture would be different. We knew that. Lots of prayers went up about both of those! We moved a mere 2 weeks before school started last year. Our oldest was going to be a Sr. (I couldn't imagine much worse than starting a new school as a Sr.) and the youngest a Jr. It was rough for a bit but God was faithful. He got us into a brand new house in a great area of the Salt Lake Valley and gave us a mild winter.

          Wasatch Mountains                                                                 

  

             So excited to have lots of Canada geese up here!                                        

                                          

We have now lived here 13 months, hubby LOVES his job, our big girl is in college (3 1/2 hrs. away!) and our baby is a Sr. I am still a stay-at-home mom but desperately needing a job. That is the new focus. Ugh.

For now, here are some pics of where we are now in our lives...

The girls had to represent. ;-)

The family at Provo Falls

Our pretty boy ~ Zippy

Our weird but wonderful cat ~ Baby

One of my favorite of her Sr. pics

The first visit home from college...

(Forgive me for the funky spacing... got to get back in the swing of things.)

Until next time...

Enjoy your blessings!

Hello? Anybody Out There?

Glory Be!!!

I am finally able to access my blog after almost a year and a half of being locked out!! Woo Hoo! Because of an invalid e-mail address, lost passwords, not knowing exactly how I worded my security question's answer, etc. I have been unable to connect with the blogging world. I've missed my few blogging friends... I'm WAAAAAAY behind on all of your lives... Probably more than half of my blog is outdated. Ugh.

Please be patient with me... it will take some time to get caught up and running again. I am looking forward to it! Boy, have I got news to share. :-)

  It's good to be back!  

Friends...

They say that not having friends can shorten your life by 7 years. Whoever "they" is... I believe it.

Not having someone to turn to, to lend an ear, to say a prayer, to hold your hand... must be the darkest of days.

I am so very thankful for my long distance friends and my lifetime friends. Some of which have become more like family. 

A good friend is someone who knows about all of the ghosts in your closet and isn't afraid.                 ~author unknown

Over Forty

Yes, forty is a big number. And I am a few years passed that. But I am thankful. Here's a couple of things I am thankful for...

My big girl

My youngest

Yes, I am blessed. :-)

I've been looking forward to joining this party of all parties!

The first thing that went through my mind was "what should I tell everyone?"; not far behind came "what would make someone want to come back?''.  I began to piece together the answers to the first question in my mind but decided that the 2nd one was not mine to answer right now. I long to have a "productive" and "fun-for-all" blog one day, but at this time in our lives, there are too many obstacles to overcome. I know that when the time is right, God will put it all together. And I will smile. Inside and out.

My name is actually Kellie... not Sue. The title for my blog came about because my husband used to tell me that my best attribute was my smile. He said that I had a "sunny" personality. Then one day at church, one of the older men (not old, just 20 yrs. older than me) that I did volunteer work for, and truly respected, told me that I lit up a room when I walked in with my smile. He was like a father figure and it meant the world to me. Well, hubby was there and heard his compliment as well, and Sunny Sue was born.

I am a mother to 2 teen girls who have grown faster than I could ever imagine. I remember big bows and picking out clothes. Now we are beginning to search for colleges and taking ACTs and SATs. I am proud of who they have become and the days when I long for their presence are fast approaching.

Hubby and I celebrated our 20th anniversary this year and have lived in 4 different states throughout our marriage. We began in Texas and are back "home" again. I love being a Texan but I use the term "home" a bit loosely. We are not sure where that is exactly anymore. Our family is going through the biggest struggle of our lives right now. Jobless for 9 months. I won't linger there because we know that God has a plan for us and we are trying our darnedest to hang in there and stay positive.

My blog is mostly about family and stuff I love. I love to scrapbook and plan to share more of some of my favorite things. I like to share about tips I learn, books I read, and blogs I love. I hope you will hang around and get to know me better.

For now, join the party and meet some new bloggers!

Miscellany Monday

Linking up with Carissa today...

1) Has anybody seen "Waiting for Superman"? It is a documentary about the failing public school system. Sound boring? It wasn't. It was actually scary. By the time the movie was over, I was sad, angry, appalled. You just can't imagine what innercity schools go through. 

I know that a large # of you bloggers out there are homeschool moms and I commend you. It just wasn't for me. I believe I would be in a hospital somewhere by now. My family agrees. (Not sure how terrible that actually is... denial.)

The movie is worth watching. If you have never heard of Geoffrey Canada or David Levin & Michael Feinburg, you simply must check this out. It is amazing what they have done for public education and yet, baffling trying to figure out why it is so hard for the rest of America to do the same.

One part of the movie I wish I could quote was about bad teachers in New York somewhere. They get sent to what is known as "the rubber room" because since they have attained tenure, they can't be fired. While these 600 teachers are there for up to 3 years, they play cards, sleep, read, etc. AND get paid their full salary!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, America...

2) Last week we had some baby calves in the pasture next door. They have been bottle fed by the neighbors and are just the cutest things. To have them run up to you (hoping you are hiding a bottle somewhere), with their baby mooing and licking the air with their LONG black tongues... well, it is one of those times when you are thankful for God's creations.

3)Finally, I have a few softball pics to share that were taken by another mom. This is where we have been spending our time, for the most part.

That's my big girl at 1st base.

After a huge tournament championship.

(My mgr. girlies are on the far left of 1st and 2nd rows.)

Tourney Champs again

(2nd and 3rd on back row)

Hope you all have a great Monday!

Happy Birthday Joanne!

Today I must begin with wonderful birthday wishes to Joanne! If you remember, she had a stroke in January and I have been praying for her ever since. (That's her beautiful pic there on the right.) She is making remarkable improvements and you can catch up with her HERE. Only God...

So~

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you JOANNE!!!

We have been so busy over Spring Break with softball that I haven't posted in over a week. Hopefully those pics I promised will come soon.

Before I close for today, I need to post my new verse for SSMT~

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16, NIV

Happy Sunday!

Just a quick trip to town for some WiFi with the girls. They are on Spring Break this week which is REALLY early compared to everyone else we know. No big plans for us, though. They have a softball game(s) every day of their break except Wednesday. That night... church. Busy is the word. No rest is what my mind thinks!

I wanted to ask those of you that  aren't able to comment on my blog to send me an e-mail at sunnysue66@hotmail.com. Those techy sorts said that I need to know what browser you are using before they can help me figure out why.

Thank you!

My Blogoversary & A New Party

Yes, it is true. It has been one year since I first started this blog. It has transformed and stalled (due to very limited internet) all within a year. There have been many blogs that I would like to imitate. There are many bloggers that I would like to be like. I would put cute little links in here for them, but today I am just short on time.

There are a few weird things going on with this blog as of late... commentors receiving e-mails that their comment was rejected and not being able to post certain pics with their links (such as the button I speak about below). Hopefully I will get it all resolved soon! Anyway...

HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY TO ME!

I have been seeing this cute little button (below) on some of the blogs I frequent. I have not been a consistent blogger because of our current situation, I only have a handful of followers, and I have a whole lot to learn about this blogging community. But, there is so much that I want to do with it!

My problem...
                     I want to know it all and do it all RIGHT NOW!


For today, I have decided to join this blog party. It seems like a fitting way to celebrate by letting you get to know me a bit better.


 

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?
George Strait, Matthew McConaughey, Beth Moore :-)

Who is your favorite blogger? Why?
Big Mama- F.U.N.N.Y.
Carissa - honest, real, and relatable

What is your comfort food/drink?
Dr. Pepper is my drink. Kind of wish I could stop drinking it to be more healthy. Kind of.
Ice Cream. Oh, ice cream. Blue Bell, of course. I am a Texan, you know.

Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself.
I am a bit of a germaphobe. Love me some Clorox wipes and Germ-X.

Do you have a strong desire to do something you’ve never done? What is it?
Work in a scrapbook store and/or create digital scrapbook papers and elements.

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Documentary, Comedy? What are your favorite genres?
Definitely Romantic Comedies like Sweet Home Alabama and Pretty Woman 
Dramas based on true stories like Remember the Titans and The Blind Side

 Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-Help, Devotional/Study? What are your favorite types of reading material?
Christian Fiction... Karen Kingsbury is my fave. Seems like the largest % of Christian Fiction writers like to write about the Amish or living in the Old West. Karen is current and so life applicable.
Would love any recommendations if any of you have any. :-)


Music: Funk, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Film Score, Blues, Classic Rock, Crooner, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Techno? What are your favorite types?
We used to call it Contemporary Christian. Now, it gets many names. Faves are hillsong united, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, etc, etc, etc. Way too many to name.
However, my overwhelming favorite would be if I could get our old church in Tulsa - Church on the Move to put out a worship CD. Andy Chrisman (4Him) and Kenneth Weston and the rest of their crew just make me want shout from the mountain tops.

I also like a little country like The King of country... George Strait, Keith Urban, Sugarland, and Lady Antebellum, etc. Too many for this list, too.

If you inherited a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with your money?
10% to the church, pay for my girls' college, buy a new house, take a vacation with my family (We have only been on one real one that wasn't to visit family and it was still in Texas!)

Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).
How about 2?
Scrapbook paper - I am a collector. I have a great desire to put it all to use someday!
Magazines - Creating Keepsakes, Scrapbooks Etc., Real Simple, and All You - LOVE THEM!

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?
I really don't have a clue. A medium sized town with 4 seasons.


What’s something you consider yourself to be good at? (Don’t worry, it’s not bragging, it’s acknowledging a God given gift).
Helping people. I love to open the door for someone, carry something for somebody that needs help, push someone in a wheel chair. Things like that.

What is one of your favorite things to catch a whiff of?
A fresh watermelon or cucumber
A Bird of Paradise Circle E candle

When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less?
Definitely less.

If money wasn’t a factor, what stores would you shop in?
Pottery Barn, Coldwater Creek, North Style (catalog)

What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?
Losing family or me not being able to see our girls grow up and have their own families.

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Our girls

What are your favorite animals?
Dogs, dogs, dogs

I think that is enough revealing for today! If you want to join in, you still have a few more days over at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground . I look forward to getting to know more about you, too!

SSMT Day

I had a longer post planned, but will just have to finish it tomorrow. It has been another tough day at our house. Seriously, I know God is doing his best to grow me somewhere. Maybe that's the problem... I'm just not getting it!!!!!!

Tough stuff on our list today:
1) Today would have been our Abby's 10th birthday.
2) My daddy is in a VA hospital for terrible leg and back pain along with depression.
3) Hubby just got another job rejection where he had made it to the final 3.

 I think my new verse is just the right one. Especially today.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. 
~2 Corinthians 4:18

**I don't know why some of you are getting a message that your comments aren't getting to me. I will do my best to check it out tomorrow and hopefully fix it! I appreciate your comments too much to miss them.

M is for Monday

What is it about Monday that makes it so, well, Monday?

Linking up with Carissa to share some Miscellany...



1) After some storming overnight, the weather is really beautiful today. A little extra wind but that just reminds me of Oklahoma.

2) Today marks the eighth  month that we have been without a job. Eight months of living with the in-laws. We are so very tired. We try to stay positive but each day that passes makes it more difficult.

3) Went to a wonderful softball tournament this weekend. We won, so of course that made it all better. Played against the hosting team and it was a nail biter. Too much fun!

4) Teens and attitudes. Yuk. Let me say it again just to feel better... Yuk. Actually this whole experience has been neat in the way that I see the girls more often BUT they are beginning to get on each other's nerves. And that gets on mine. If you have or have had teens, any advice would be appreciated!

Stuck in a Rut

OK, I know that I said I would be better at this blogging thing... obviously I haven't been. After losing Abby, we just kind of existed. Sadness was overwhelming some days and other days I felt like I was just going through the motions. Looking forward to weekends when we could all just be together and relax.

Softball season has begun here. One plays and one manages the team. For us, that means lots of driving back and forth, late night dinners, and no free weekends right now. So, we will settle into this new rhythm, enjoy the ballpark life and treasure our time together.  *pics coming soon

Goodbye Sweet Girl

REST IN PEACE

 

OUR SWEET VALENTINE

Hope's Abby Gail

March 1, 2001 - February 14, 2011

In life I loved you dearly, 

In death I love you still.

In my heart you hold a place

no pup will ever fill.

                                                                   Author Unknown

We miss you very much!



Abby

She's the sweetest. She's one of the best presents I've ever received. She's been in our lives for 10 years. She's part of our family. And now...   She's sick.

Over the past 6 months there has been a lot of diarrhea and vomitting. Gross, I know, but when it is a "family member", all that kind of goes out the window. Especially if you are a parent and have already been through many a diaper change and toilet cleaning.

In the past few weeks, everything has gotten more intense. We have been to the vet numerous times for blood work, sonograms, meds, etc. Today, a new vet. A tumor has been found and a biopsy sent off. And so we wait. With heavy hearts. And pray for our sweet Abby Gail. For those of you that are not dog lovers, this may not make any sense. But, to us...
she is one of our fur babies and we love her very much.

More Miscellany



1) So glad the winter weather is gone. Like being home with the family but sometimes things happen. This go-round the oldest lost her cell phone... at a snowball fight with about 20 kids... at a park about the size of a football field. So much fun spending hours on end with wet cold feet. Plus side? Phone found, still on, not even wet. Only God.

2) More snow headed our way. Cell phone will stay in the car.

3) Watched a donkey and a border collie playing while I ate lunch. We have never been around so many donkeys in our lives. They are everywhere. Cute when they are newborns, though. Lots of "fuzz". Loud when they grow up.

4) Beth issued a challenge today to go the rest of the day without criticizing or complaining. Ugh. Not one of my strong points. I think God must of told her to do that. I just know it!

Link up with Carissa and post your miscellaneous thoughts today.

Have a good one!