Get the Poop!

I know this is awful but I have found a very interesting website (I'm even going to add it to my links on the sidebar of this page)...it sounds disgusting (www.poopreport.com) but there is some really funny and also some serious stuff on here...Anyway the reason I had to share it is because there's a new product out that many people aren't aware of I'm sure that would make life so much sweeter and I had to share...check it out at this website:

http://www.poopreport.com/Consumer/poo_pourri.html

I'm gonna buy some for my bathroom...sounds like a winner in my book! LOL.

Prop us up.

A wonderful messaged I just wanted to share with everyone:

Lord Prop Us Up

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.

So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time.

I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot
Of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't . So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

Look at the picture above:
If you stare at this barn for a second you will see who will help us stand straight and tall again. Pass this on to others who might need Propping Up, if you wish to!

Good luck Ryan!

I am crossing my fingers and saying prayers for Ryan...today he has his first job interview. Good luck son!

Bonfire fun.

Saturday was a scorcher here in East Tennessee...the temps got up to almost 90 and it sure is hard to believe it is September. It was so hot that Brian actually got in the pool last night.

We spent the morning resting up from Friday night's excitement at the concert and then later that afternoon we went to E-town for the car show. It was nice...the guys looked at the cars while I shopped in the antique stores. When I caught back up to them they let me know that they saw my niece and she wouldn't even speak or look up at them after she first glanced their way. Such a shame that it has come to that. Being in that town really made me miss Noah. I'm sure he will grow up not knowing how much his Aunt Ashley, Uncle Brian and Cousin Ryan love him. We haven't seen him in almost two months now and I'm sure by now he wouldn't remember us at all if we did see him. I am really disappointed in my brother in law who always told me that he'd never keep my nephew away from us. I'm not surprised that we haven't heard from him either though.

I quickly got out of my funk when we got back home though. Whitney and Daniel came by and the guys shot their bows, getting ready for archery season, until they ran out of daylight. Brian loves his new crossbow that I bought for him. Then we had a bonfire some jello shooters and some beer and enjoyed the night. We laughed and laughed it was a really good time. Nothing like real friends! Thanks guys...I love ya.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert

All I can say after last night is WOW! We went to the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert over in Boone, NC at the Appalachian State University campus. It was a beautiful ride over the mountains and Ryan had no idea what was going on...we just told him we were going for a ride in the mountains. When we got to ASU and parked in the event parking garage Ryan asked us what event we were going to and we told him a monster truck rally...he just said oh...then when we got into the building and he realized we were at a Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert he was ecstatic!

A group called Mountain Heart opened for them and they are awesome! If you haven't heard their music you should. A little bit of bluegrass mixed with some southern rock and they wore it out! We all loved it.

Then it was time...time for Ryan's ultimate experience...Lynyrd Skynyrd...he yelled, screamed, danced, sang and played the air guitar for 2 hours. They played everything and put on an unforgettable show. Ryan said it was the greatest thing he had ever seen in his life!

When it was over he was so worn out from the excitement that he passed out in the backseat for the hour and a half ride over the mountains back to the house. When we got home he said he'd never forget it as long as he lived.

Friday Night Concert

Yay...it's the weekend! We are surprising Ryan by taking him tonite to see his second favorite band ever...Lynard Skynard. He has no idea and we aren't telling him until we get to Boone, NC where the concert is. He has been good this week, no trouble at school, so we figured this would be a nice reward. Shhhh...it's our little secret.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend!

Happy 1st Birthday Samantha!

Yesterday was Samantha's 1st birthday party. She was such a baby doll and had a big time digging into her cake all by herself. She is pulling up and trying to stand holding onto the furniture, what a big girl! Happy Birthday Samantha!

I have really enjoyed my family lately. Last Saturday after the picnic I got to spend time with Doug, Jenny and Brenda...we decorated Doug and Jen's new home, moved furniture around and had a few laughs...their home is spectacular, and we had a lot of fun in the process. Brenda is recovering nicely from her broken arm. It has taken alot of healing time though. Yesterday I enjoyed Kristina, Eddy and the kids. They really have a beautiful family. The girls are just precious. We've gotten to spend more time with them this summer since we've been out at the lake more often and it's been really nice. Dad is still busy as ever but I enjoy dropping by the office to chit chat with him from time to time. We also really had a great time with Missy, Chris, CJ and Courtney this summer at the beach.

I've got to get up to West Virginia soon and spend some quality time with my Momma and Mike. Maybe I'll get to do that this Saturday or the next.

My Song

I love this song and the message behind it! I feel like it was written just for me. You can listen to it or read the lyrics below...it's great. Thank you Mary J Blige for an awesome song.

Let it go……
Can’t let this thing called love get away from you
Feel free right now, going do what you want to do
Can’t let nobody take it away, from you, from me, from we
No time for moping around, are you kidding?
And no time for negative vibes, cause I’m winning
It’s been a long week, I put in my hardest
Gonna live my life, feels so good to get it right

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
No stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my mind right
I aint gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
Keep your head up high
In yourself, believe in you, believe in me
Having a really good time, I’m not complaining
And I’m a still wear a smile if it raining
I got to enjoy myself regardless
I appreciate life, I’m so glad I got mine
So I like what I see when I’m looking at me

When I’m walking past the mirror
Aint worried about you and what you gonna do
I’m a lady so I must stay classy
Got to keep it hot, keep it together
If I want to get better
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

I aint gon’ let nothing get in my way
(I ain't gone let nobody bring me down, no, no, no)
No matter what nobody has to say
(No way, no way, no way)
I ain’t gon’ let nothing get in my way
No matter what nobody has to say

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
It’s a really good thing to say
That I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
No stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my mind right
I ain’t gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Company Picnic

We had another fun weekend at the Kendrick house. Friday night I had a really good time with Whitney, Daniel, Rhonda and Brittany...we went out to eat Japanese and then came back to the house for some more fun. Congrats to Brittany for winning Mrs. Cougar! What an inspiration this beautiful young woman is she truly is a special girl.

The Edward's company picnic was a really good time. All our friends from Brian's work were there and we enjoyed the park, music, paddle boats, train, food, etc...

We spent Sunday in Kingsport shopping and eating at my favorite place...Cheddars! Yummy!

Ryan managed to avoid the camera for the most part but you can catch a glimpse of the back of his new hairdo in my previous post.

Coming Soon!!!

Just an update today on Ryan. He has now been in school exactly one month...he has spent a week of that month in ISS off and on for one thing or another. He just got out of it yesterday and the phone rang again this morning and it was his Vice Principal who I'm on a first name basis with now..."Kim"...anyway...seems he's gonna get 3 more days...and if that doesn't work...he's off to alternative school. WAY TO GO RYAN!!!! Here's a pic of Ryan and his haircut.

Thanks Whitney

Had to share this that Whitney sent me on myspace and I just loved it! Thanks girlfriend! Right backatcha:

Interesting!

Just had to post a link to this article that a friend sent me yesterday...it is very interesting reading and good advice from an old Hippie!

http://www.hippy.com/php/article-121.html

Today has been unusually busy at work and I love it! Makes the day go by so much faster...we have been slow slow slow here for the past 2 months it seems. You know the economy is really in a slump if we slow down here. My boss is on vacation this week so the office is extra quiet. Looks like the sun is coming up outside the office here which means I should be able to enjoy another evening by the pool. YAY!

I forgot about my review of the movies we watched over the weekend...Please do not waste your money by renting "Meet the Spartans" it was terrible. We really enjoyed "What Happens in Vegas..." loved Cameron Diaz and Aston Kutcher in this one...really cute. We also loved "Witless Protection" with Larry the Cable Guy...it was one of his better movies. "The Scorpion King II" was so so...not as good as the first one but sequels usually aren't.

Wanted to also say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Mom and Mike!!! 14 years! Way to go...they are still very much in love and right now traveling to unknown areas to celebrate their marriage. Love you guys! Ashley

Labor Day

Labor Day 2008 was alot of fun. We held a cookout here at the house and I swear I've never laughed so much in my life! My stomach hurt from laughing so much. Brian grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, I had potato salad, brown beans, watermelon, corn on the cob, and lemon merangue pie.

I guess this is a definite sign that summer is coming to a close although they are saying it's gonna be hot hot hot the rest of this week. I hope so because I wanna spend as much time by the pool as possible before I have to close it. Also last night the Vol's played their season opener against UCLA...I was all jacked up for the first game but unfortunately we lost in OT by a field goal. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that UT will have a great season this year. Go BIG ORANGE!!!

Summer Mountain Trip

What a beautiful day in the mountains!!! Brian and I took off with Rascal and headed to higher elevations. It was an awesome drive and we ended up at our favorite spot by the lake. South Holston is extremely low right now. All of the mountain streams were dry...it was a big reminder of the drought we are currently in. We saw a deer and several people up there riding on horseback. Rascal enjoyed the water and the ride. On the way back we made a stop along the river...it was a beautiful day.

Baby Deer

I just had to share these pics of our baby deer. We've caught a couple of glimpses of them since mid summer but this is the first time I've caught them on the trail cam. Aren't they just sweet with their little white spots? I am really happy that they've survived this long...I know it's dangerous for them crossing the road to get to our patch of woods but the momma jumped out in front of Brian crossing the road the other day and the little babies just waited until he stopped and they cautiously looked at him until they knew it was safe to cross then they took their leap. All made it safely into the corn patch up the road. Momma has trained them well. Good luck little babies!

Thirsty Thursday

Well obviously the weather is starting to change some and I can tell because when I wake up in the morning my throat is scratchy and I have to blow my nose for 5 minutes. I know...gross...but it's true...and I'm thirsty when I wake up. I don't know why I do this everytime the seasons change. I haven't done anything different inside the house...the air conditioner still kicks on from time to time but since it's cooled down at night it doesn't kick on as often. I haven't opened the windows or anything like that. We change our filter every month as well.

It's Thursday before a long holiday weekend. We are off Friday through Monday...Yippie! I can't wait to lay around and sleep late...I think Brian and I are going to go out one night on the lake, weather permitting. I think I'll round up some buddies this weekend and do something fun and maybe cookout too...Lord knows we have enough hamburger and stuff since we bought that cow...my freezers are still filled completely up. Sometimes you will open the door and frozen hamburger will jump out and fall to the ground...you have to jump back really quick and hope that it doesn't hit your toes and smash them. LOL. The downstairs freezer is full of pork from the hog that we bought. I also have plenty of canned and frozen veggies so we are ready for the winter months. The garden is starting to die out which is good in a way. I can't handle anymore veggies although I'm going to really miss those garden tomatoes...they're just so much better than what you buy at the store.

It has rained here for the last 2 days and I am in a lazy mood...I guess when the weather is nice outside it really keeps me going and I go home do house chores and then go outside to enjoy it. I love the summer. Now though it seems it's turning into fall all of a sudden and I just feel wiped out and have no desire to do anything except rest and take it easy inside.

Ryan seems to have made a change for the better this week...he had a real awakening at a church function on Sunday night and he says he really got a good feeling from it...like the Lord was speaking to him. It seems to be reflected in his actions lately too. I hope he will stay on the right track and continue to improve.

I hope everyone has a safe long Labor Day Weekend!

It's Bristol race time!!

I'll add some pics later but we had a blast in Brian's company's suite on Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. Lots of friends, food, drinks, and fun were had by all. I think we're going to skip the other races this weekend and spend all our time on the lake. The weather is perfect and I can tell we don't have much longer before it's going to start cooling off and we won't be able to spend as much time out there...so...Boone Lake here we come!

Still having teenager troubles at our house. Ryan's been in school 2 weeks and got ISS for leaving class without permission. We didn't let him attend the first homecoming game and dance last night and he just couldn't understand that. I went through his room and found some things I shouldn't have. Oh the joys of parenting!

I heard this today and I love it so I thought I'd share:

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance!

I think that's my new motto.

Oh I almost forgot...I left work yesterday and went by Pit Row Liquor store and met Junior Johnson and got him to autograph some bottles of his very own Midnight Moon Moonshine. I was thrilled! I bet those will be worth something someday.

Two Wolves

I love this message and thought I'd share it in today's post:


One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'

The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'

Bipolar Disorder

After talking with a friend last night I felt compelled to write this blog today about Bipolar Disorder...mainly because I have a family memeber who is bipolar and was diagnosed as bipolar several years ago after a suicide attempt. I also have a friend who I now believe suffers from this same condition but has not been diagnosed.

Over the years I have researched and learned more about bipolar disorder than any human being should ever know about it. It is extremely painful and difficult to cope with if you are a loved one of someone who is affected by this disorder. I have dealt with it for years and what most people don't realize is that the people who tend to suffer most from this are the loved ones and family members who are close to a person with this disorder.

Most people affected by Bipolar Disorder deny that they have a problem, even if a doctor has diagnosed them with this, most believe it was a mistake, or don't think that they have this condition at all. A majority of bipolar sufferers who are on medication go off of their medication at times believing they are cured or no longer need to be treated for their condition. Often times sufferers turn to drugs or alcohol to self medicate.

Here is an overview of Bipolar Disorder from an online article that I found. If you know someone with these symptoms please encourage them to seek help.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a type of mood disorder. Bipolar disorder was called manic depression in the past, and that term is still used by some people. It is a psychiatric illness that causes major disruptions in lifestyle and health.

Everyone has occasional highs and lows in their moods. But people with bipolar disorder have extreme mood swings. They can go from feeling very sad, despairing, helpless, worthless, and hopeless (depression) to feeling as if they are on top of the world, hyperactive, creative, and grandiose (mania). This disease is called bipolar disorder because the mood of a person with bipolar disorder can alternate between two completely opposite poles, euphoric happiness and extreme sadness.

Symptoms of both mania and depression sometimes occur together, in what is called "mixed state."

The extremes of mood usually occur in cycles. In between these mood swings, people with bipolar disorder are able to function normally, hold a job, and have a normal family life. The episodes of mood swings tend to become closer together with age.

When a person is in the grip of this disease, chaos can occur. Bipolar disorder can cause major disruption of family and finances, loss of job, and marital problems.

Severe depression can be life-threatening. It may be associated with thoughts of suicide, actual acts of suicide, and even acts of homicide in some cases.

Extreme mania can lead to aggressive behavior, potentially dangerous risk-taking behaviors, and homicidal acts.

A number of people with bipolar disorder may turn to drugs and alcohol to "self-treat" their emotional disorder, resulting in substance abuse and dependence.
Most people start showing signs of bipolar disorder in their late teens (the average age of onset is 21 years). These signs may be dismissed as "growing pains" or normal teenage behavior. On occasion, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, but the condition can often be misdiagnosed at this age and improperly labeled as a behavioral problem. Bipolar disorder may not be properly diagnosed until the sufferer is 25-40 years old, at which time the pattern of symptoms may become clearer.

Bipolar disorder occurs in both men and women. About 5.7 million people in the United States have the disorder. There is no racial group that is more afflicted by this disease.

Because of the extreme and risky behavior that goes with bipolar disorder, it is very important that the disorder be identified. With proper and early diagnosis, this mental condition can be treated. Bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that will require proper management for the duration of a person's life.

Another fun weekend

Well we had another fun summer weekend. Brian's and Daniel's boss Rick got married and had a beautiful wedding in Johnson City and the reception following at the King's Ballroom was a blast. We (Me, Brian, Ryan, John, Kerri, Whitney, Daniel, Jimmy and wife, and Dale) all enjoyed ourselves. I even managed to get Ryan to dance with his momma.

As usual Sunday morning Brian and I hit the lake early and the water was like glass. We went to a beautiful spot on the lake (which is now my favorite spot) and he and I both had several good bites...but we didn't manage to get anything in the boat...at one point we were approached by the game warden who chatted for a bit...he gave us some pointers on what people were catching fish on that morning. He was also conducting a survey and asked us several questions about our day on the lake. He was a very nice guy...not what you'd expect a game warden to be like. Anyway...

Brian managed to get my last new storm door up and the new doors look sooooooooo much better than the old ones from the 70's did. Slowly but surely we are getting our little old house fixed up.

This week is race week in Bristol. Should be an interesting one. Whitney and I are planning on going to Food City race night and trying to get a chance to meet Casey Kahne. I hope we get in line early enough.