Lake Cumberland

Micki and Shawn at dinner at Giovanni's - 1st night

Todd & Kristin at dinner

Todd enjoyed this sign

Start of Day 2 on the lake 

Chris and Amanda and Micki and Shawn

This is what happened when I drove the pontoon - we hit wake from a speed boat and
Amanda and Chris got drenched

King of the World!

Notice Shawn's red back? -ouch!

Shawn redneck skiing - notice that only his arm was out of the water

- we had a pontoon, not a skiboat, did not have skiis or an inner tube, but decided to try out 

hanging onto a rope and being pulled - hence the term:  Redneck Skiing - 

believe it or not, no one had anything to drink

Kristin - she actually did pretty well

Chris giving it a try -the backward method worked well for breathing

 

Todd eating some wake

And of course I wanted to try it

 We had a great weekend at Lake Cumberland with Micki and Shawn, Amanda and Chris, and Kristin and Todd.  Brian, Todd, Shawn and I went down early on Friday to take most of our supplies and for the guys to play some golf.  The other 4 met us later.  We enjoyed pizza at Giovanni's our first night and then went  back to our cabin and hung out together.  The next day we rented a pontoon and cruised around Lake Cumberland.  -We took several videos:  me attempting to dive and Amanda redneck skiing were my favorites, but I was unable to download the videos.  We had a great day together and then went back to the cabin for the evening and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and played games and hung out.  Fun Weekend!

Pretty Sheri Mommy Girl

 

January 2004--Sheri, Me, Kara, and Cheryl--only a few weeks after I had met these wonderful girls-

ski trip to Bittersweet

 

Carley, Kara, Cheryl, Me, Julie and Sheri at Summer's wedding -?2005

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Back row:  Nikki, Kara, Leah -Front row:  Cheryl, Carley, Me, Sheri -at Julie's wedding 

dinner rehearsal August 2005

 

Brad, Addie and Sheri - at our wedding 12-9-06 -Brad officiated and Sheri was one of my beautiful bridesmaids- if Addie was just a little bit older, she would have been my flower girl -I copied this picture from her facebook page

 

Sheri and her sweet son Drew -Nov 2007

 

Brian and Drew -I added this picture because I think it's really sweet

Back row:  Nikki and Julie;  Front row:  Drew, Cheryl and Me -my house Nov 2007

Troy, Brad (Sheri's husband), Josh, and Andy

Brad and Sheri --copied this picture from her facbook page, so it's not the clearest,
but they are quite a cute couple

I have decided to let my girlfriends know how much they mean to me, so over the next few months I am going to do a post on all of them.  So... Here I go!

I instantly fell in love with Sheri when I met her back in January of 2004.  She radiates love and joy all the time.  She is one of my go-to girls for everything.  She always has time for my random calls, unfortunately I'm usually complaining about something.  When I have a prayer request, she is at the top of my list.  She has been with me through many ups and downs and always reminds me of God's love and grace.  Even though she is only two years older than me, she is a million times wiser (although, I don't consider myself wise at all).  I love that her best friend is Jesus and that her wonderful husband Brad married Brian and me.  I was blessed to be in the delivery room with her when she had Addie -one of the highlights of my life - and blessed that she was one of my bridesmaids.  She is an amazing mother to the beautiful Addie and sweet Drew.  -I have a lot of nicknames for my friends, and Sheri's nickname  kept growing.  It went from Pretty girl to Pretty Sheri Girl to Pretty Sheri Mommy Girl when she became pregnant with Addie.  In return, she has nicknamed me Ashley Love.  Makes me want to change my middle name.  I couldn't ask for a better friend. 

Sheri, you are such a blessing!    -Thanks for all the great memories!  

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

Guest post from Hannah

Hi, I'm Hannah!  This past week I got to hang out with my friend Ashley for a couple of days.  We had a great time together.  She played with me, fed me, read to me, rocked me, sang to me, and then made me take some naps.  At first I really didn't want to sleep, there's just so much to see and do, I don't want to miss anything, but eventually I gave in and decided it was probably best to sleep.  As you can see from two of the pictures above, I am holding my head up well.  Ashley kept trying to move my arms up to help prop me, but I wanted them back by my sides.  I was really interested in the camera,  but not quite up for smiling.  Well, I had better get going, things are busy in my world.   I hope you're having as much fun discovering life as I am. 

This is the day the Lord has made.We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

Ronald McDonald House

A group of us from Lexington Clinic volunteered last evening at The Ronald McDonald House.  We had a great time making dinner and serving the families.   We made pork sandwiches, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, cowboy caviar, watermelon, strawberry shortcake, and brownies.  I missed the memo to wear special shirts (actually, I don't think I ever got mine).  The House has a great kitchen with plenty of space.  Volunteers included:  Jackie, Lynne, Dana,  Sonya, Renee, Erica, Jonathan, Craig, Suzanne, Jonathan, Alexander, Lisa, Elizabeth, and me.  Volunteering/Serving the families definitely made us all thankful for our families and health. 

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3 1/2 years

Today is our 3 and 1/2 year anniversary.  I realize it's a little cheesy since it's only our 1/2 anniversary, but today I have been thinking about all the great things God has done for us by bringing us together.  We have been abundantly blessed:  I see Jesus through Brian's love and patience and encouragement, we have awesome friends brought to us by God, we have a church that Loves God and Loves People, we both are continuing to grow spiritually, God has continued to provide jobs for us even during this economy...    

 I love this man!

 

I'm so thankful for him!

We're a perfect match!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above."  James 1:17

Pizza and Smores

 

The pictures are a little out of order.  The first three were later in the evening.  We came inside for some smores- it was a little buggy and muggy outside.  Kristin, Micki, Shawn and Matt

 

A little corn hole

  

Shawn, Brian and Chris hanging out

 

Sarah, Amanda, Kristin, and Micki

We had a great weekend.  Matt and Sarah invited everyone over for grilled pizza.  It tasted amazing.  They made the dough and had fresh vegetables and delicious cheese to go with them.  I think it was possibly one of my favorite homemade pizzas and the rest of the sides were really good as well -pasta salad, cantaloupe, garlic cheese bread, lemon bars, peach tea.  I love their backyard, it's quiet and private and decent sized.  (I had some pictures of the baby, but I didn't check with her parents, so I didn't want to post them without their permission, but she is so...cute and sweet. Sorry, Amanda, it is a great picture of you holding her.)