Our trip to Huntsville....

Well....we are back from another adventure. After a long day of travel, we are safely back home...trying to recooperate. Overall the trip was a nice little getaway....but it added a curve ball to our "perfectly fine" life in Waco. Out of 38 applicants, Forrest is one of the final 2 candidates for the Head Coach & Athletic Director job at Clements HS (Athens, AL/ Huntsville, AL). They will call us tomorrow and let us know the "yeah or neah." We are of course anxious but have been so overwhelmed with the support and prayers from our friends here. It is so powerful and real to see that our Waco friends that we've had the priviledge of knowing and befriending for 4 years now...are our true friends who really do want the best for us and God's will....even if that means leaving Waco. This morning, Sunday School was on James 4 "Do not worry about your tomorrow's....if you move to this city or that..." so of course it was applicable to us. At the end, our class formed a prayer circle around us and prayed for us. (uhhh again...the power of God in them was/ is so overwhelming and humbling). I knew I shouldn't have worn mascara to church...or probably tomorrow. Then on our drive down our little neighborhood from church our sweet 70 year old neighbor, Leon, stopped us in the car and prayed for us...(again uhhhh...how moving right?).

A little about our trip... they do have a Starbucks, Super Target, and a mall. But more importantly, if it's God's will then HE will be with us too and be for us! What else do we need? How can we go wrong? Sometimes, God calls us to places we aren't expecting or wouldn't pick for ourselves. This might be one of those times (again)...no offense to our Natchitoches friends :) We'd appreicate your prayers as we wait to get "the call" tomorrow. Forrest feels really good about it 90% sure...but you never know. Here are a couple of pictures from our trip. His parents drove 4 hours from MS to spend the night and hang out with us. Very encouraging and sweet. This area is also on the Tennessee River... Here is a little neighborhood on the river and here are some condos on the river. And for no other reason but that she's the cutest thing ever...this is Bella always waiting for us to get home! :) Thanks for your love and prayers....check back with us tomorrow...to be continued...

Here we GO again...

So we are flying to Huntsville, AL tomorrow for Forrest to interview for the Head Football Coach's position at Clements HS in (Athens, Alabama). It's kind of a last minute thing...but his gut is telling him to go for it. This is 3 for 3 in applying for head coaching positions and being a Top 5 finalist. Not sure what I really think about all of this...I'm just going in support of my hubs. The weird thing is my college roommate, honorary bridesmaid, Meredith Shapley (Jackson), grew up in Athens, AL. How weird is that? So anyway...we'll see and keep you posted. A fun part of the trip will be seeing Forrest's parents. They are so sweet to drive from West Point, MS just for Friday night dinner and Saturday morning breakfast. Thanks Williams! The most positive thing going for this opportunity is that we'd be 2.5 hours from Memphis.

A fun highlight of my day was the fabulous bargain I found at Dillards Extra 30% off sale! Now, I really don't have time to weekday shop, but for this I made it...and went for 45mins...here is my best bargain...GINGER EAT YOUR HEART OUT!! $17.00 for my first pair of boots that were originally $139!! They are Gianni Bini, which I'd never heard of but they seem to be a really nice brand. This is our 4th year in TEXAS...it's about time I bought some right? Now that they are the "trendy" thing to wear (ha) but the people around here have always worn them and wear them year round. I love them, perfect for Baylor...green suede on the outside and dark gold on the inside. On a side note, I think I figured out why I like shopping so much. It takes me back to the "good ole days" of when I was little and in JH/ HS. My mom and I always went on the weekends just to "look" and "entertain" ourselves...and even the smell of Dillards triggers that time of my life and is comforting to me. Ahh mall therapy! No, seriously...it really is a special connection for me. Thanks Mom...miss you...let's shop soon! :)

END OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh it's the end of the year...and I'm still alive and breathing! We had our end of the year banquet last night before the students start exams. It was a fun night and hopefully the students felt valued and honored. I framed the seniors uniform tops and gave them to them for keeps. I made a Picasa 16 picture collage for the captains. Also thrown in the mix were "Oscar" trophies of the BU Spirit Program for Most Improved, MVP, etc. The highlight was the highlight video of pictures, practices, and games. I have 6 seniors this semester. This is a picture of Kim, my director and friend, me, and Erin (a Coed senior). She is very sweet. I'm really going to miss her. I thought I'd also throw in a picture of the SONGLEADERS (the dance team) 1st picture and BUAG (All Girl Cheer). The girl on top row far right (white pants) is my AMAZING Graduate Assistant in the Sonleaders picture. I also made her her own award, BEST GA EVER! I'm so blessed to have her keep my sanity together. I didn't get to snap a picture of Coed Cheer. This is my latest painting that I gave to Kim to hang in her office since she is BU through and through since she was a wee lil' pup. The words on the canvas are a verse in the Baylor alma mater (the song that BU chooses to memorize and sing after every game, not the fight song...but we are working on that). No rest for the weary. We had tryouts this weekend for ALL 3 SQUADS!! Now, I have the chore of tallying the scoresheets and choosing the new squads today. Please pray that it would be black and white...I don't like making people sad :( Then we have New Member Meetings for all 3 squads, uniform fittings and returns and then the year will be a WRAP!! Whew.... that's all folks.

A night under the stars and in song...

Well last night, after a LONG week and beginning of a LONG weekend...I took time to hang out with some of my good friends from church. We went to hear Matthew West and Bebo Norman. The concert was held at an annual Christian Frat campus wide party in the middle of campus. It definately led us all down memory lane, but moreso for the three of them because they all went to BU together. I am of course on campus all the time, but although they live in Waco they don't come to events as much as I. So we were all college girls again for the night (ahh those were the days). Here is a closeup of Bebo Norman (who still is the sole reason why my husband has about +1000 points for asking him to sing to me one of our wedding songs while at Kanakuk staff week, the summer we got married, 2001. Bebo sang it, "A PAGE IS TURNED," last night too!!! Of course I got very excited and nostalgic. Thanks Bebo...you still have a place in a frame in our guest bathroom :)

L-R: Katie, EJ, Jennifer, Kelly...hmmm I guess we are in look a like pairs huh?

These are two great Christian artists. I highly suggest their CD's!

It's the little things....

Ok...so call me a dork but I got excited about purchasing my first tea kettle this weekend. (Bed, Bath, & Beyond) Thanks for the inspiration Colleen. :) I mean wasn't it about time? I am a Steel Magnolia from TN :) and my husband from MS...sweet tea is the "water" of the South. Sweet tea is one of our favorite beverages and instead of paying a small fortune to McAlisters or Bush's Chicken every day...why not make our own? I was feeling like a slacker since Forrest mentioned that his mom's sweet tea pitcher was never empty. So I had to get on the ball.

The other "little thing" is Forrest's impressive efforts to spruce up our lawn. He dug up the grass around the air conditioner because it was a pain to cut around and it was just bad news when the hose ran and it became soggy lake city. Anyway...I'm proud of his "little" details. I know this entry might bore some of you but that's ok.



Last but not least, is our "little" girl who turns 1 in May. We were watching "The Passion of Christ," on Sunday...and Forrest got her sleeping literally on my lap. Sweet baby girl! Excuse the nappy hair I had laid out before this and....well you know the rest.

Morale of this blog entry...ENJOY THE "LITTLE" THINGS IN LIFE.

EASTER WEEKEND....

Let me start with the most recent and work my way back. We bought and watched the Passion of Christ tonight. We saw it when it came out in the theater but it's always good to refresh yourself and visually see the reality and power of the gift Jesus gave to us. I encourage you if you have not seen it to do so...and even buy it...it's worth the $13 to see it once every year to make it real and not just "a story" we know. HE IS ALIVE!


What have I left out? I already posted the paintings I have finished, the digital scrapbooking, and the flight to dinner on Friday so I guess the only thing I left out is washing the windows today in my bikini because it was blazing hot and the thought of putting on a t-shirt was unheard of (well at least for me) (ha) but I'll spare you the pictures.

Oh here is my Thursday night when we had a Spirit Squads social at the Ballpark vs. Texas. We lost 7-6 in 13 innings! Did you know that our BU baseball coach came from MSU? Did you know that the BU field is modeled after the MSU field? Both are great places to watch some of the greatest college baseball you'll see with each having their pro's. The MSU ballpark has a permanent "left field lounge," while the BU student body is still in the stages of "renting U-hauls." Come on now. However, the BU ballpark is quite swanky (ha) with great architectural details to make it look very first class. See for yourself! This is a beautiful pic I took Thursday night from my seats of the sunset...and and again a the architectural details that make BU so beautiful (that I admit I sometimes make fun of this one) because the steeples you see in the distance are to one of our parking garages!
I love my Baylor! Here's to a great week for us all !

My New Toy...

Well....(as all of my blog entries begin)...I dove into "digital" scrapbooking today. I bought a $19.99 software kit from Wal-Mart. Here is a humble attempt at my first digital page. What do you think? Now the trick is to print it off the size I want and put in a scrapbook. It has it's pros and cons...but so far I like it and Forrest was impressed. HAPPY EASTER all. May our risen Savior be in your heart today and every day after. love, me

WHAT A DATE NIGHT!

What a DATE NIGHT! We were surprised with being invited to FLY with our friends in Waco to Austin to have dinner with another couple that used to live in Waco and are moving back soon. Well instead of driving the 1 1/2 hours it takes to get there...we flew there!!! It took about 30 minutes. We felt like such celebrities to take a private plane to have dinner and fly back all in a night :) I will admit I was very nervous seeing how small the plane is ...but it was AMAZING! And so peaceful up there. We had a great night and ate at a restaurant called, TRULUCKS. I felt like I was in San Francisco...it was so nice and the service was great! We were a little underdressed but oh well. What an adventure...can't wait to do it again....Thanks Brenner & Stephanie!

3 of a kind...

Well, I get on these whims to paint so here is the 3rd try at my gift making and a therapeutic hobby...ministry :) The pink one I did today for a co-worker who is having a baby shower next week, whose baby girl is due in August. The far right is hopefully for a friend's baby due at the end of May if it's a boy, and the far left is for a couple friend who is graduating from BU Law at the end of April. Any requests for another masterpiece...a la EJ? :)

Interesting Creations....God's and Mine....

So there have been some "interesting" creations around here lately....mine and God's. What the h*** is that you are asking? Me too! I was driving down our street last night and there it was crossing over. Good thing I wasn't walking Bella....ahhhh. I call it an alli-turtle! It seriously has an alligator tail and has a turtle shell. I hope it went to live in the lake :(

Next onto my creation. The 2nd in the series of my canvas art, I am now available to paint for you...so if you see something you like...I'll make an original just for you (your colors, your wording, etc) No, this is not for me...but I think it will be perfect for a friend of mine :) Happy Wednesday!

WHAT ARE WE UP TO?

So let me catch you up. Thursday we had DIADELOSO...(The Day of the Bear). Basically it's a "college field day" where the students don't have to go to class and they play all day. It's quite fun. This year's theme was SNOW DIA. They drove in a "snow truck" to blow snow around a central part of campus. (See pictures). The squads performed a big routine (all 3 squads) twice that day. Jumping to the weekend...

We had a BUSY weekend. Saturday morning we got up and did Race for the Cure Waco....I ran with a friend, her husband, and dog...and Forrest was "the dad" and took pictures of us. :) We finished in the 29 min mark...but didn't "try" that hard. Next year, Forrest wants me to run as hard as I can and he just wants to finish it. Remember he said that! (Picture coming!) Then we had a cozy breakfast at McDonalds (the breakfast of champions) because Cracker Barrell and IHOP were too crowded. I didn't care where we ate...it was just such a treat to spend a Saturday morning together because usually he has Principal school and I have something at work...but not this Saturday! Then we went to the BU Spring Football game (I worked the game with the squaddies and Forrest watched). Sunburn #1.

Then after that was over...we got ready and went to dinner and to THE PROM! (HA) Yes, you read right. We were chaperones, so to speak, for Forrest's HS prom on Saturday night. More like "boob patrol" is what we felt like. I was kinda impressed that if the girls dresses were "showing too much" that they had to fix it in order to get in. Some put the corsages in the low cut area or pinned the dress together, one girl put her cell phone in the middle of them in order to not be showing too much. I even got a little paranoid that my dress was too revealing. Overall, it was a fun night to reiminese of the good 'ole days and to be thankful I'm married. A fun thing that happened while we were eating dinner on the river, some friends of the other couple painted the suburban with cute sayings. (See picture) So as you would think....we were pooped by the end of the night.

Today, Sunday, we went to church and to the BU Baseball game...Sunburn #2...then to HOMEGROUP for dinner, fellowship, and to discuss our book, Blue Like Jazz. We are only on Chapter 4 ...so I'm hoping it will get better. I hear it's a good one...so we'll see. Anyone read it yet? Here are the girls in homegroup (LR: Jennifer, me, Cindy, and Katie) That's all from Texas. Night ya'll :)

MISS ARTSY FARTSY!

Ok girls....I finished tonight...what do you think? Pretty good for my first one I think??? I just went for it. I kinda ran out of room at the bottom but oh well. I'll learn how to space better the more I do. Need to add Psalms 25:5 in the circle I think with a black sharpie. Colleen...we are definately thinking the same thing...my 3rd trip to Michael's in 3 days and yes I spend about $20+ every time I go. Thanks a lot MK...j/k. Lucky for me I just judged a tryout so I have some extra spending cash. But I think once you get your "base" supplies you are set for awhile. Comments requested. Night sisters.

Well, I took a baby step in starting a new "hobby" of art crafts, thanks to my friend from MS...Mary Katherine. Thanks MK. This is my first one and it's NOT finished yet...but I told the girls (MK & Colleen) that I would post it...so here it is. I still have to put the scripture verse on it. I used my stamps to do a negative imprint into the wet background color. It turned out pretty good. I hot glued a ribbon border around the edges too...to add a little more design to the project. Let me know what you think girls. :) Thanks for the inspiration....back to Michaels I go for paint pens and Hodge Podge! PS--In case you are wondering, it's a graduation gift for a couple friend of ours. Katie...if you are looking at this, then don't. If you don't like it just tell me and I'll give it to someone else. :)

OUR WEEKEND...WELCOME APRIL!

Well just to keep you entertained and up to date, here is what the "young" Williams did this weekend. It was a fabulous lazy weekend for the most part. Forrest didn't have principal school on Saturday so we slept in til 9AM and then did some yard work. I spent Saturday afternoon with some of my students doing a campus wide service project, STEPPIN' OUT. We painted the inside of a Animal Birth Control Center. Do you have one in your town? :) Isn't this window art hilarious? It was baby blue on the inside and we made it look a little more professional with a coat of white paint. What do you think? It feels good to serve. Then last night we ate with Forrest's Athletic Director and wife. Delightful evening at our favorite Waco restaurant, Johnny Carinos.



Then productivity kicked in and Forrest planted 5 trees in our yard and hacked away at the grass. The interesting find was the 5 miracle bunnies we found that Forrest accidentally mowed over. They survived....how cute are they? We are not showing Bella where they are...just in case :(














HAPPY APRIL!