Day 7 - Post a picture of your most treasured item.

Of course my most treasured "items" would be my family. However, for the sake of the project and choosing a real "item" -- I choose this:

Our house.

(No, that is not my VW Bug, LoL)

It may not be huge, or perfect to "the worlds" standards. It may not be two story or be on two acres. It may not have perfect paint and there may be dust bunnies near the foot boards here and there. There are pen marks on the kid's bedroom door.

But it is OURS.

It is our home. Our home - sweet - home. We love every inch of it. It may not be perfect, but it is perfect for US and we love it. We come home after a long day of work, kick off our shoes and enjoy each other's company. We watch movies and play board games. Thousands of meals have been cooked in this kitchen and enjoyed. Several birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmases have come and gone. Yes, we may have scuff marks on the floor or pen marks on the kid's door.

But in our dining room, we also have a secret height chart we have been keeping since Brad was 6 and Jake was born behind a painting and the computer desk. It's home. It's our home.

And I don't plan on ever moving.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 6

Day 6 - post a picture of a person you'd like to trade places with for a day.

I don't know if I would like to trade places with her - but boy I would love to sure hang out with her!

The lovely Miss Paula Deen!

I love her food and her personality. Cooking is very therapeutic for me. If I have a bad day, I cook. If I have a great day, I cook. If I am joyous, I cook. Sad, I cook. I love to cook and I am a Southern girl - born & raised - so Paula's recipes are great versions of the foods I grew up eating.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 - post a picture of your favorite memory

This was another tough one! I have many wonderful memories. I mean there is my wedding day, having Bradley, having Jacob... going through my photos, I came to this one. Everytime I see it, it just stops me in my tracks.

In this photo, Jacob was about 4 days old. Bradley was 8 years old. I can just see the amazement and the love in Brad's eyes for his little brother. He was and still is his brother's protector and best friend. Jake follows him around and waits for him to get home from school. They now have bunk beds and share a room. Many nights when I go to check in on them before I go to bed, I come in to find that Brad has climbed down from his top bunk and gotten into bed with Jake to sleep beside him. When Jake cries, Brad is there. When Jake wants to play, Brad is there to wrestle with him. They have a bond that is unspeakable even with their age difference.

When I announced to Brad that I was pregnant with his sibling, he told me that he knew it was a boy. I told him, "Now Bradley, there is a possibility that it will be a little sister, so if it is, I don't want you to be upset". He was positive it was a boy and he was getting a little brother.

Because he said he had been praying to God for a little brother.

He was right.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 4

Day 4 - Post a photo of something you wish you could forget.

Okay, this one was tough. I don't want to forget the person by any means but I sure do wish I could forget the day he died. My father, my daddy, Scott. He passed away when I was 11. He committed suicide. It rattled my life and changed me and my family forever. He was a good man, he was just depressed beyond measures and well, the medicines didn't help and he ended his life.

I wish he could still be here. I wish he could have walked me down the aisle, and met his grandsons. I wish he could be here to see how my brother & I have grown up. So many things I wish, but what is done is done and even though he has been gone more than half my life now, I still miss him. While I wish I could forget the day he died, I hope and pray that I can make his memory live on with me forever.

Francis Scott Martin, Jr.

March 19, 1954 - August 7, 1995

Gone but NEVER forgotten

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 -- a photo of the cast from your favorite TV show...

Well, this is not the most "current" cast because it changes from season to season, but this is my guilty pleasure...

BIG BROTHER!! :)

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 2

For day two, you are to put a picture of the person who you are closest to... and here he is! :)

My husband, Hans!!!

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 1

Hello from my living room!!! I know, I know... I have been a terrible blogger. Really, I have, I know. My apologies. I have a tendency to read everyones blogs and comment on those then update my status 100x on Facebook and then before I know it... I forget to blog again! :(

I was reading my friend Jennifer's blog over at Family Musings and she is going a 30 Day Photo Challenge that looks really fun, so I thought I would step back into the "blogging" game and give it a try!

Day one you are supposed to post a picture of yourself and share 15 facts. So, here goes!

1. My favorite color is red
2. I have worked for The Walt Disney Company before. I was a reservation agent for a year. If they paid more, I would have stayed there forever! :)
3. When I was a teenager, my hair was jet black from the time I was 13 until I was 17. My mom actually let me dye it (I have no idea why...). I thought I was sooooo cool, LOL!
4. I have a sweet tooth that is insane. For the longest time, I had to have two Chips Ahoy or Oreo cookies w/ a glass of milk before bed. Seriously.
5. I am going back to the gym, and loving it. Even though deep down I am a total couch potato.
6. I have had the same Fossil watch for the past 6 years. I wear it everyday. When I do happen to forget it, I have a bright white tan line streak on my wrist from where my watch should be. It is quite hilarious, if I do say so myself. :oP
7. I'm eating a Little Debbie brownie right now. See #4.
8. For a while, when Lilo & Stitch came out, I collected Stitch stuffed animals. I had about 25 at one time.
9. I am right handed.
10. I cook and bake when I am stressed out. The more stressed I am, the more ornate/complex dish I cook.
11. My father died when I was 11. I still miss him tremendously.
12. I wish I could play an instrument. Mainly the piano like my oldest son does. :)
13. I love my house, even though it is not ginormous or perfect. It's "home".
14. My Samsung Captivate rocks and if I ever lost it, *I* would be lost! The best part is I got it for $0.97 on Black Friday.
15. If I was ever not terrified to get on a plane, I would love to see Italy or France one day.

And here is what you can expect from me over the next 30 days:
Day 2 - A picture of you and the person you are closest to
Day 3 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 4 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 5 - A picture of your favorite memory.
Day 6 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Day 7 - A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 8 - A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 9 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with.
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21 - A picture of your favorite night .
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25 - A picture of your favorite day.
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss