Monday, November 3, 2008

Elections and a laugh!!

I know that Sara has picked up on the election tomorrow since we have talked with the older kids about the importance of voting etc and she has heard us praying about it for a while now. (Oh, and Lee taught Clayton how to say "No Bama" instead of "trick or treat" on Friday night but that is another blog!!) Tonight at dinner she was trying to be such a big girl and talk about the voting tomorrow.....I explained that Mommy had already voted and tomorrow we didn't have to go. Sara's reply was so cute.......and I quote......"Mommy, I hope you didn't vote for 'A ROCK O MAMA' the other one was better for us." The serious look on her face was simply priceless!!!!!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I am scratching my head!!!

Maybe I'm crazy but I had to share!!!!! This week at Daniel and Rebecca Ann's school it is red ribbon week to educate the kids about drugs etc.....There have been activities all week of fun things that the kids are encouraged to do or wear. Monday was wear red day, Tuesday was crazy hat day etc. Today was "hero day" and the kids were to asked to dress up like their favorite hero. We had a teacher and Paul Hamm....pretty normal, right? I asked the kids who had the coolest idea for a hero.....they both said the kid who was ELVIS!!!!!! Didn't he die of an OVERDOSE!!!!! Boy, I am glad I'm not that Mommy........but it was a FUNNY ride home!!!!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Now that is what I call tired!!!!!


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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
Sara Grace had a family picnic at school a couple of Friday's ago and we talked all the way home about how much fun she had with Daddy and all of her friends. She fell asleep in the neighborhood and slept a full 2 hours!!!! Being cute takes a lot of energy!!!!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

"The Fall Tree"


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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
Every year the kids know that fall is almost here when they see this skinny little tree on the road from our neighborhood. It is the first tree every year that changes colors and the Goolsby's have named it "The Fall Tree". I pointed it out to Daniel 10 years ago and he would show it to Rebecca Ann and now I have Sara Grace pointing it out to Clayton every time we pass it. I had Lee stop this morning and take a picture to capture the memory (I am sure the neighbors think that we are crazy!!!). I don't want to forget the "little things" that always make me smile!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Patty asked me to help her load this video to her blog and then she fell asleep.
Penne Rustica is our favorite dish at Macaroni Grill. There is nothing like finding a great copycat recipe for your favorite dishes. Patty and I spent her birthday evening cooking this together. It turned out to be an exact replica if not a bit better than the original. The video is very entertaining and after watching it you can head on over to http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/ and find the complete recipe. The site seems to be a membership site but this recipe is free. Can't wait to try some of his other recipes. Wonder if he has cloned Bonefish's BANG BANG Shrimp?
Posted by Lee

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Just call her "Grace"


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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
Sara and Rebecca Ann have a new hobby. They like to make up plays and dances for us to watch. They are all funny but tonight we laughed ourselves to tears!!! Thanks to big brother Daniel for capturing this on his camera!!! Does anyone think that we can send this one in to AFV? We love you sweet Sara!!!

Friday, August 29, 2008

The Burning Bush

Anyone who has talked to me this week knows it has been a long one!!!! I have half joked all along that if God has been trying to teach me a lesson then He is going to have to put a burning bush in my path for me to get it!!! Today, He did just that.........
After dropping off the kids this morning, I decided I should go home and get the house picked up since I am working this weekend. (I always feel better when I can at least see the floor) Good use of my time, right? Anyway, I got home and it was too quiet so I decided I needed music to get me going.....only finding a working CD player can be challenging now that Clayton likes to take things apart. :) The radio...too much talking.....then I thought about the blogs that I visit with music.....good idea.....searched until I found something upbeat...put in the ponytail.....rolled up the sleeves....it was time to get serious!!!!!
I started picking up...then cleaning....and then it was scrub time in the kitchen.....and then I felt so convicted!!! God started working on my heart in a way that is hard to describe....as I was SCRUBBING the TOP of the FRIDGE (I'm telling you...it had to be God....I never go up there) I started thinking about all of the ugly in my heart...all the things that I need to clean out to make myself more attractive and usable....(who knew there could be 3 pairs of scissors on top on the fridge?? Hard to use them if you can't find them, huh?) That is when I realized my 10 year old had just taught me a lesson.....I have used the Colossians 4:6 verse as my goal only to realize that I need to work on my heart first.....just because it doesn't come out of my mouth doesn't mean it is not in my heart. New goal: Luke 6:45b "For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks." I can't ask of my children what I don't have myself. The burning bush!!!!!
Instead of 3 hours of cleaning house.....it was 3 hours of cleaning house and heart, prayer, and praise. But best of all peace!!!!! That is what I needed....all week I have felt like I've been swimming up stream....trying to keep my chin up and not be upset by things I can't control but without peace.....it was impossible!!! I am so thankful God had time to teach me a lesson today....I can look at car problems and dryer malfunction as things that got my attention this week to a much bigger problem that was going on inside of me. It was a wonderful morning.....Now......I wonder what lesson I might learn if I start cleaning the garage? Another day......Right now I'm praying I have a dryer working by bedtime....a public laundromat was a humbling experience this week!!!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

I am going to have to write a book!!!!!

I love the sound of excited voices coming in the house after the bus brings Daniel and Rebecca Ann home......I can tell before they are all the way in the house what kind of day it has been.....only today the joke was on me!!!!!! It was Daniel in first grinning from ear to ear.....I thought he must have some confession (sounds better than tattle tale) to make about his sister......he was so excited!!!! He ran up and gave me a big hug and then said "LOOK!!!!" Can anyone guess WHAT I was looking at????? His very first ZIT!!! He even knew the word....I was speechless...but I had to just laugh. As Sara Grace would say...."It almost cracked my head off!!" (that was for you Lauren) Love that big boy!!!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

You just gotta laugh.......

Over breakfast this morning, Sara Grace and I were talking about what we wanted to do today.....you know, just the usual chatter from the very happy four year old who lives here :) Anyway, I really think seeing Rebecca Ann Sunday night has really interested her and today she announced that she is "NEVER getting baptized...NO WAY." I didn't panic....just thought she probably didn't quite understand....and that is when I nearly choked on my muffin!!! She announced that it "wasn't very nice for that man (Lane--one of our ministers) to get all those people in the pool and not let them wear their goggles" I love that girl....she keeps me laughing all the time!!!!!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Grandma Time!!


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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
We had an awesome weekend.....another sweet memory was Clayton asking Grandma Cauthen (his great grandma) to read his favorite book to him. How awesome it is to see the kids with her and to realize how blessed we are to have so many people who love us so much....Thanks Grandma and Aunt Marcene for coming to GA for a special weekend and for "making memories" with us!!! We love you!!!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

A Sunday to Remember

What an awesome way to start a new week!!! Rebecca Ann was baptized tonight!!! I have so many memories over the years that are so special and this is certainly one of them!!! Just to sit and think about what this decision means for her......and how strange it is that the time has gone by so quickly!!! It seems like only a few days ago that she was learning the words to Jesus Loves Me and now she is able to understand what that really means!!!!! Awesome!!!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

End of Summer Fun!!!


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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
It has been a busy end of summer for the Goolsby's.....Daniel is away at FlipFest. It is a really neat gymnastics camp in Tennessee. He is spending hours in the gym, hanging out boys from the team, there is a ropes course, dance night, haunted hikes, and best of all unlimited caffeine!!! I reallly thought maybe he was missing me as the phone rang Monday morning and woke me up...it was so sweet to hear "Hey Mommy." With one eye open I asked him if he had slept well and was sad to hear "No." My heart was just starting smile thinking about how much he must miss all of us only to have him snap me back to reality with the real reason....THREE COKES at 9:45 p.m.!!!! He makes me laugh!!!!! :) Guess I better loosen up on this boy before his 1st night away at college, huh?



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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
Rebecca Ann enjoyed a day with Rebekah Grace her friend who moved to Louisiana. These girls only see each other a couple of times a year and it is fun to see them pick right up where they left off. It was a day full of giggles!!!!!



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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
And then there is my Sara Grace.......my sweet girl who has a laugh that is contagious and who can talk her brother and the neighbor into anything!!!!!



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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
Clayton is bowling!!!!! This was sooooooooo funny!!! I am sure we provided tons of entertainment today!!!!

Friday, August 1, 2008

August 1, 2008


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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
For everyone who knows me well it will come as no surprise that my sweet husband is video chatting with me from the living room (while he does accounting homework) to help me get started with this blog. I hope that it is a good way to keep in touch with family and friends. The telephone seems to be a luxury these days for me...I have to hide to be able to talk to those I love the most!!! And I rarely get to share what life is really like on any given day. Anyway.....this is the down and dirty at the Goolsby's!!!
For my first entry (yes...Lee did the July entry) I wanted to intro everyone to "the girls" ...Melissa and Karen. These are the girls that I went to Pensacola with and came home with a tattoo!!!! Most importantly they make me a better wife and mommy....Proverbs 31 lived out today.....we just went to New Orleans and had a blast...hopefully it won't be 3 years before I see them again...I love you guys!!! Are we really thinking 1/2 marathon in Jacksonville???? I better start training now!!! :0)

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

When daddy is working


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Originally uploaded by Goolsby Gallery
Look what the kids like to do when daddy is not home. Daddy wants to take Clayton to a football or a NASCAR race now.