Quote from the past

A really cool post popped up on my Facebook page the other day... a friend wrote the following quote on my wall stating that she found "an old note [from me]... dated May 2003". Here is what I wrote to her over 9 years ago...

"The Bible is an armory of heavenly weapons, a laboratory of infallible medicines, a mine of exhuastless wealth. It is the guidebook for every road, a chart for every sea, a medicine for every malady, a balm for every wound. Rob us of our Bible and our sky has lots its sun." 

- Thomas Guthrie

Cincy Vaca - Continued...

Other Adventures in Cincinnati, OH

Following Friday's full day at King's Island with my man and taking some time to clean ourselves up after our adventures, we had the awesome opportunity to meet up with some dear friends that moved to Columbus, OH several years ago from Memphis. The Armstrongs are special folks, and we rarely have a chance to connect with them, so this was an especially awesome night! Not to mention we were able to celebrate Brent and Kelly's birthdays together - Brent's birthday is August 24 (that night) and Kelly is the day after, August 25. We had a fun birthday celebration complete with good food, quality conversation, lots of smiles, and many laughs.

The Armstrongs - Brent and Kim

Me and Mr. McGoo - he got a little sun at King's Island

Downtown Cincinnati had a music festival type atmosphere all weekend just a short walk from our hotel in their "square". Each night another genre was represented with a few bands, so following dinner, the four of us walked across the street to people watch and listen together.

The birthday boys! Regardless of their age, some things never change: GOOFY!

After our full day Friday with King's Island and visiting with the Armstrongs until very late into the night, we enjoyed a slower pace morning on Saturday. We slept in - me, more than Mr. McGoo and leisurely prepared ourselves for Saturday's adventures.

Around lunch, we made our way from our hotel to the river, crossing the bridge into Newport, KY to meet some friends at Hofbrauhaus. It was a beautiful day, although we definitely worked up a sweat during our more than 2 mile walk with pace. We passed by The Great American Ball Park on our way...

We met the Bergers - Scott and Summer at the Hofbrauhaus. I've heard Mr. McGoo talk about this place, but it was my first experience. What a fun environment! Good ole German vibe and laid back. We enjoyed some food, good company, and delicious brew. It being Mr. McGoo's birthday, Scott got the accordion player to wish him a happy birthday - check that off the bucket list: hearing "happy birthday" accordion style! In addition, Summer and I had a chance to participate in the world renowned "chicken dance". Ha. It's a Hofbrauhaus tradition to stand on the tables, so we joined our fellow guests and took that dance to town. Scott and Mr. McGoo did not join us, but instead made fun of us, I'm sure.

Image from their website: http://www.hofbrauhausnewport.com/

The fab Bergers -  Scott and Summer

The McGoos sharing a German brew

After lunch we caught a ride from the Bergers back over the river to The Great American Ball Park - GO REDS! There we enjoyed a Reds game against the Cardinals (Reds won). It was a perfect day for baseball and we had seats nicely tucked in the shade a little off first base.

If you didn't' know, Mr. McGoo is a REDS fan - he grew up in Lexington, KY so Cincinnati is a mere hop skip and a jump from Kentucky, so he grew up saying "go reds". It was fun to celebrate his birthday with a good game!

Sunday morning we got a wild hair and decided to make our way back home through Lexington, leaving Cincinnati earlier than planned to stop and enjoy some of Gram's famous waffles. It was a perfect completion to our trip getting to spend some quality time with Grams and Granddaddy. We even had the opportunity to visit with Mr. McGoo's sister, Jess. A great morning in Lexington.

Granddaddy and Mr. McGoo - love these guys! GREAT men!

Mr. McGoo and his beautiful sister, Jessica

Jessica, Mr. McGoo, Grams, and Granddaddy

The McGoos with Grams and Granddaddy

Last, but not least, we stopped in Nashville for a couple hours on our final leg home. We definitely made the best of our journey to Cincinnati, getting to enjoy family time along the way and seeing friends while having quality time with each other all weekend! It was great!

In Nashville we were able to see my parents (who were also there visiting), my middle sis, brother-in-law, and our handsome, nephew. Even though it was a short visit, it was worth the time. My sister caught this photo during our time there... I love it!

Fisher enjoying his reflection - happy baby!

If you cannot tell, we had a blast on our Cincy Vaca! I'm certainly looking forward to the next adventure with Mr. McGoo!

Cincy Vaca - King's Island

My handsome hubs and I had an opportunity during my short nursing school break to get away for a long weekend. We enjoyed Mr. McGoo's birthday weekend in Cincinnati, OH. I took a Friday from work, an actual "ME" day to do something fun, unlike when I usually take time off these days (for school). It was great!

We left Thursday night and made our way to downtown Cincy. Our official Cincinnati Adventure began Friday morning. We work and made our way to King's Island. Mr. McGoo grew up in Kentucky, so he has many childhood memories of King's Island. In over 5.5 years of marriage, we had never spent time together at an amusement park, so we were pumped to experience this together. We had a blast!

The weather could not have been ANY any better! Gorgeous day! The park had minimal visitors, so we were able to ride rides repetitively and with ease - taking advantage of each ride 2-3 times each over the course of the 8.5 hour day. We couldn't have asked for a better day in general, if you ask me!

The Diamondback was the best roller coaster I've ever been on. The 2nd and 3rd peak were AS BIG as the highest peaks in other roller coasters. The first peak was worthy of making Mr. McGoo and I question why we got on the ride (or again) when we rode it, panic spurred and the "get me out of here" feeling rose quickly! Once we were halfway down the opening peak, everything else was pure joy - AWESOMENESS!!! There is a pic below with an overview of part of the King's Island grounds - the Diamondback is on the right - see what I mean?! Best roller coaster I've ever had the chance to enjoy - it actually scared me!

Here are the Diamondback details from the King's Island website:

At a Glance

Location:	Rivertown
Duration:	3 minutes
Height Requirement:	54 inches
Manufacturer:	Bolliger and Mabillard
Speed:	80 mph

---

• One of the top-ranked steel roller coasters in the world as voted on by Amusement Today readers and other Industry publications and polls. 
  
• The tallest and fastest roller coaster at Kings Island, standing 230 feet at its highest point with a first drop of 215 feet at a 74-degree angle and reaching speeds up to 80 miles per hour. 
  
• Diamondback features six drops of more than 100 feet along its 5,282-foot-long course ((215', 193', 131', 129', 110', 106') and a spectacular splashdown ending. 
  
• The ride's steep hills and drops provide riders with an abundance of airtime.
  
• Adding to the ride experience is the use of unique, open-air, stadium-style seating on the trains which provide all riders with an unobstructed view of all the thrills this steel monster offers.

 

 

Mr. McGoo's favorite coaster as a kid

 

 

We actually got stock in a tunnel for 20min on the Adventure Express

Stuck in the dark in the Adventure Express tunnel - scary!

  

View from the Eiffel Tower - see the Diamondback on the right - wow!

Of course, we enjoyed some Soak City time while at the park!

We definitely had a blast on Friday, enjoying the fun that King's Island provided for 8.5 hours of our day. I asked to call it quits at the 8.5 hour mark, choosing to scoot out before we planned. We could have stayed longer to see their firework show, but this lady wanted to get off my feet for the day. It was fun taking this adventure with my handsome man!

In addition to King's Island, our Cincy Vaca included other activities... more updates to come...

As for me, Psalm 71

I was reading the Word yesterday and came upon this awesome nugget... my heart began to cry out with excitement, "I want that to be me!" But then conviction set in about how far from this I really am on a daily hourly basis... oh, how thankful I am for God's grace, because I fall so short!

Lord help me, that I may praise, tell, proclaim, and declare for You each day!

As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Psalm 71:14-18

TFC Blog: I Can Advocate!

In the fall of 2009, the Lord began to truly open my eyes and break my heart  to the reality that many children in this world are without the most pivotal of needs: LOVE.

God solidified this ache within me to “do something” for the least of these in June, 2010. He allowed me the opportunity and provided for my husband and me to go on a short-term mission trip with our church. We went to Ethiopia to support and serve the ministry of our homegrown missionaries, Joe & Karyn Bridges. The ministry was The Forsaken Children, and the Ethiopian partner ministry we worked with was Onesimus. My life has never been the same since that journey, and I have not been able to ignore the numerous mentions in God’s word regarding our responsibility as believers to love and care for the least of these.

I have not returned to Ethiopia since my two trips in 2010. Although I’ve yearned to go back, [. . .]

  

[ Finish reading my blog post at The Forsaken Children Blog ]

Massive Monster Bush

We've talked about it numerous times, but always delayed removing the massive monster bush to the left of our house. Although a beast, it offered some extra privacy to our living room and ultimately we were unsure what to do with the space. However, before Mr. McGoo left for his family reunion at the beginning of August, he decided "NO MORE!" and coordinated to have it removed while he was away.

I was amazed at the difference as I walked up to my house following class one night. We are still undecided as to what we want to do next. I'm not to keen on another flower bed because I do not have a green thumb and we put little time into our yard these days. So we're still in discussions... we shall see.

Before

After

Instagram Dump Continued

Walking with Dexter Doo

Don't choose the computer/homework over me again, please?!

Missing daddy while he was away

Beautiful flowers from a friend who encourages me

So thankful for my hubs

Hot Memphis Day - Ice cools ya down

My hubs stylin and profilin with some Pyramex glasses

My boys before we head out of town

Dexter, Maeby, and Mak

Fisher catching a nap while we wait in line at the Pancake Pantry

 

My fab, and goofy youngest sis