Drum Corps International

On Monday, Brant called me and sounded like a giddy little school boy. He asked me if we had plans that night, which of course we didn't, so he asked if we could go to the drum corps show. Well I said yes, having no clue what in the world the drum corps was.

A little unknown secret fact about my husband is that he is VERY musically gifted. He can sign like an angel, play guitar and was chosen to be a member of the Denver, CO Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps for playing trumpet when he was in high school. Needless to say, he was beyond thrilled when he found out that the Drum Corps International program was going on in Denton!

Now when I was in high school, marching band was for the geeks; however, I gained a new appreciation for them on Monday night after watching the immaculate skill, talent and coordination it takes to make it to the drum corps level.

This is a video I found of the Best of 2009 Drum Corps Competition:





Then this is the 2008 Best Moments...This video is AWESOME! These groups run like well-oiled machines with perfection and grace!

The Appeal

POLITICS, POLITICS, POLITICS! On Saturday, I finally finished reading "The Appeal" by John Grisham, and it was all about (you might have guess it...)POLITICS!

Now I hold a BS in Political Science, and I work in a law firm, so this book was certainly my cup of tea!

The basic premise of the book is about how politics and people of power can so deeply affect our judicial system. Although the book did now end how I wanted it to, it ended in realistic way. In my opinion, John Grisham didn't write this book to make you smile and laugh, he wrote this book to make the American citizen realize that there is a need for judicial and political reform.

John Grisham definitely did a fine job of writing a fictional story about the factual world of politics. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who either 1) love politics, or 2) wants to know more about the world of politics! I have read quite a few Grisham novels, and this one was definitely different than all the rest. If you're a Grisham fan, pick it up and give it a read.

The next book I've decided to read is "Await Your Reply".

The Amazon book description:
The lives of three strangers interconnect in unforeseen ways--and with unexpected consequences--in acclaimed author Dan Chaon’s gripping, brilliantly written new novel.

Longing to get on with his life, Miles Cheshire nevertheless can’t stop searching for his troubled twin brother, Hayden, who has been missing for ten years. Hayden has covered his tracks skillfully, moving stealthily from place to place, managing along the way to hold down various jobs and seem, to the people he meets, entirely normal. But some version of the truth is always concealed.

A few days after graduating from high school, Lucy Lattimore sneaks away from the small town of Pompey, Ohio, with her charismatic former history teacher. They arrive in Nebraska, in the middle of nowhere, at a long-deserted motel next to a dried-up reservoir, to figure out the next move on their path to a new life. But soon Lucy begins to feel quietly uneasy.

My whole life is a lie, thinks Ryan Schuyler, who has recently learned some shocking news. In response, he walks off the Northwestern University campus, hops on a bus, and breaks loose from his existence, which suddenly seems abstract and tenuous. Presumed dead, Ryan decides to remake himself--through unconventional and precarious means.

Await Your Reply is a literary masterwork with the momentum of a thriller, an unforgettable novel in which pasts are invented and reinvented and the future is both seductively uncharted and perilously unmoored.

I hope you'll read with me!

1095 Days of Bliss

So today I have been married to the love of my life for 3 long wonderful year! Marriage really has been fun and I can't wait for another 3 years...and 3 more after that, and 3 more after that...for a lifetime!

Brant gave me a card this morning because he said it described us perfectly. If you may, allow me to share with you what me and my hubs are really like!

We laugh; we flirt; we love!
We make out, and make up;
We drive each other CRAZY - keep each each other sane.
We hold each other tight, and we hold each other together.
We are each better because of the other.

For those of you that are single, I'll be blunt...marriage is not always peas and carrots - its not always fun. But it is worth it! Yes, Brant and I still flirt with each other! Yes, he drives me absolutely batty sometimes times, but he truly does keep me sane and grounded during the hard times. I am a better person because of him. And that is why marriage is worth it - because I get to spend everyday with my helpmate, my partner, my very best friend!

Brant Williams - I love you more today that I ever have before, and I am honored to be your wife. My life has never been the same since the day you entered it, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Girls Weekend 2010!

This past weekend, I went with some of my girlfriends from college to Lake Bob Sandlin. Jill's dad has a lake house and was gracious enough to let us come for a visit. We left Friday night (yes, in the pouring rain) and headed for the lake. After stopping for a bit to eat, and a quick trip to Wal-Mart we finally arrived around 11:30 that night.

Being the old friends that we are, we spent the rest of the night laughing at silly stories and terrific tales of life after college!

Saturday morning we slept in (until 8:30), then got up and made some delicious mimosas, and a delectable gourmet breakfast!


Then we were off to the water! It was still a bit cloudy, but that didn't stop the 5 of us from getting in! We anchored ourselves to the boat so we wouldn't float too far away!

Now this is what I call relaxation!

Jill, Michelle and Jessica

Me and Mary

Michelle takin' a swim

Me, of course, with book in hand!

After playing in the water, we came in, relaxed some more then got ready for dinner. We had reservations at the Los Pinos Winery in Pittsburgh, Texas. It was a great evening!

Our wine tasting was fabulous.

Mary liked the sweet ones!

And this is us: (From left to right)
Jessica, Michelle, Jill, Mary and Me!

We have a fabulous time together!
I love these girls and can't wait until Girls Weekend 2011!!!

Favorite Bible Verses

Today, Kelly's Korner Blog hop is your favorite Bible verses.

Just a personal favorite:
Call to me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you did not know.
Jeremiah 33:3


Right now going through an almost two year battle with infertility, one of the verses I have prayed over and over is Micah 7:7. This verse constantly reminds me that I am waiting on his time, not my own. He does have a plan for Brant and I and our hope remains in Him, alone.

But as for me, I will watch in HOPE for the Lord.
I will wait for God my savior.
My God will hear me.


Another verse that I love is one that I fell in love with during a study of the book of Philippians. I did this study in college, which is when I was teaching a Sunday School class of Senior girl. This became the verse that I prayed over them, and have prayed over many, many others, and of course prayed over myself.

⁹And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11


If you know me at all, you probably know that I have a passion for high school girls - which I why I was leading a Sunday School class with them when I was in college. If there is one thing that I remember from high school it was the temptation! I remember so many nights of crying and self doubt because I had fallen to the temptation. This verse is a constant reminder to me that I am not a slave to sin and that there is always a way out of Satan's temptations. This is also a verse that I drilled into the girls' heads to remind them of the same.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

Fabulously Frugal Fashion

One of the great things about working in Downtown Dallas is that there are people selling stuff all throughout the tunnels! (FYI - the tunnels are just that...an underground system of passages that take you to different buildings) Each day there are different vendors with all sorts of different things to buy.

Well today, there just happened to be a jewelry lady and she was having a huge sale on fashion rings!

These are my fabulously frugal fashion rings for only $2 each!!!!!!!! Can you believe that - only $2!!! I was so excited!

Fourth of July Weekend

We had a very fun, but busy Fourth of July weekend!

Friday night, we went to Lone Star Park to see Robert Earl Keen. We had been told that even though it was outside, the concert would go on rain or shine...so we were determined to be there.

Jessica and I were prepared for rain!

Me and B!

Me and Jalah

Then on Saturday, we were invited out to our good dear friends' house, Mike and Krista. They have a gorgeous pool and it was a great day to be outside...mainly cloudy with a bit of sun, but not too hot! We had a good time grilling and swimming!


Then the guys decided it would be fun to have a canon ball contest! Brant won!!!

Sunday, we went to church then came home and I clean house a bit while Brant went golfing with a good friend, Derek. When they got back, Derek invited us out to his mom and dad's house for a great firework show. They live outside the city limits and the whole neighborhood has fireworks shooting off! For 3 hours we sat out on the patio and watched fireworks. It was great.

On Monday, Brant and I took borrowed my parents boat and enjoyed a day at the lake with our friends Chad and Jalah, and Derek and Emily. The six of us had a great time tubing, relaxing and just playing in the water. Here are a few pictures of Derek tubing!

And yes, he is tumping out in this picture!

It was a fabulous weekend full of friends, fun and fireworks!