Monday, after the Fourth of July, Russ's side of the family got together to celebrate. It is always fun having the Johnson family together for many reasons...one of those is because there are 8 nieces and nephews ranging in age from 4 to 18! Such fun! All the women worked on sides and extras for the meal, and Russ and Jim grilled burgers and hot dogs. Let me see if I can remember everything we had...hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw salad, hot wings, canteloupe, banana pudding, strawberry shortcake, cupcakes, homemade grape sherbet, and vanilla homemade ice cream. Yummo!

Russ's mom and me

There was enough food to feed a small army! And we needed it! The preacher's family also joined us for lunch. His wife and six of their seven children came. There was a house full, and we loved it! After joining in the kitchen for the prayer, everyone fixed their plate at their own risk! Ha!

I believe that brings the total to 14 children and 9 adults for lunch.

The older children and Sam

The younger girls

After lunch there were several things going on. I think Toy Story 2 was playing in the sunroom, the moms visited in the living room, Russ and Roan played on one of the many Apple toys...

Roan and Russ playing with her laptop and iPad

Some sat outside watching the kids...

Rebekah, Russ's dad, Phillip, and Jeff

Some giggled, played, and performed acrobatic tricks...

Leah R., Leah J., and Grace

Some enjoyed their dessert outside in the sun...

Elle and Will

While some of us played Badminton!

Look at that form!

That's right! I pretty much played from after lunch until the sun went down. I think I only took two short breaks all day! Needless to say, I was soaking wet by the end of the day! It was a hot and sunny day. And I loved every second of it! We used a break (some kind of heavy metal equipment used to bend metal) as our net. You know how it is. Make the best of what you have, right? Ha!

Jeff, Seth, Jimmy, and Leah R.

We played with the kids...

Clay, Russ, and Will

We played all adult games...

Seth, Elle, Jeff, and Grace

We played with Pop (Russ's dad)...

Russ's dad - He could barely move the next morning!

We played girls against boys and Mansels against Johnsons...

Will, Jenny, and Clay

We had such a fun day outside, visiting, eating, playing, and just enjoying each other with the Johnson family and the Richardsons!

Happy Fifth of July!

Slugburgers

Well, this is a big weekend here in my hometown of Corinth, MS. It's the weekend of the Slugburger Festival! Now, I know many of you are thinking, "What in the world?!" Let me fill you in. I grew up going to the Slugburger Festival every summer. Riding rides, listening to good entertainment, meeting up with friends, and most importantly seeing slugburgers everywhere!

Slugburgers originated right here in Corinth around 1917. In fact, as I was teaching Mississippi history to my fourth graders this year, we came across Corinth and slugburgers in one of our books. The students got a kick out of it! No, these slugburgers are NOT made with real slugs! To find out what makes a slugburger, all you have to do is Google it. Locally, slugburgers used to be sold for a nickel. A slang term for a nickel was a "slug." This is the reason these burgers are more commonly known as slugburgers.

Now that we have our history lesson out of the way, let me share one embarrasing thing with you. I have lived in Corinth all my 20 + (rounds up to 30!) years, and I have NEVER tasted a slugburger! GASP! I know. Crazy, right?! I met my parents, Teri, Dustin, and Jordan for lunch today at Borroum's Drug Store downtown.
This and White Trolley Cafe would probably be known as the "Homes of the Slugburgers." Ha! I thought I'd mark this Slugburger Festival weekend with a little taste of my hometown goodness. So I ordered one. Apparently, you are supposed to order a slugburger with mustard and pickles. However, since this was my first time...I ordered it plain and dressed it myself. I don't eat pickles (unless they're fried), so I dressed it with ketchup and mustard.

And I tried it! Of course I documented this monumental occasion with a picture!

Dustin didn't realize until after we took the picture that this was my first. He was appalled! But, it was yummy! Now that I'm a pro at this whole slugburger thing, you can come visit and I'll hook you up! But, for tonight...Russ and I plan to take in the Slugburger Festival experience just like we used to. We are looking forward to listening to the bands and seeing old friends. We may even have another slugburger sometime this weekend! Who knows!

P.S. - Slugburgers now cost more than a nickel. Just thought I'd make that clear! Ha!

Show Us Your Life: Favorite Bible Verse

Kelly's Korner is doing her Friday blog carnival again, and this week we are to share our favorite bible verse. This is easy for me, in some ways, but hard in others. There are so many verses that have helped comfort me, shield me, and guide me through the years.

"God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine." Ephesians 3:20

This verse keeps me going many days...which is why you find it on the sidebar of my blog. This has been a long journey of infertility. And, although I had many days when I just didn't think I could wait any longer, I could look at this verse and remember that He is able to do more than I could possibly dream. Upon talking with Abbey from Landlife, she has given so much encouragement for me as we pray about our next steps to parenthood. The statement she shared with me (and that I have, in turn, shared with several other women in my position) is that "God WILL give us the desires of our heart because he promises to do so. He just changed [her] desires." She now is the mother of one little boy and waiting to bring TWO more sons home from Taiwan. God has done immeasurably more for her and I know he will for us too. There is no way she could have imagined the blessings God provided for her.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

I have spoken about this before here. I am a people pleaser by nature. In life, in relationships, and in my job. What I have found and learned is that although pleasing others is a wonderful feeling, it is nothing compared to the feeling of pleasing our Heavenly Father. There are times when people's expectations are way off from what I feel is best. These are the times when decisions can be easy. Simply do all your work with all your heart as working for the Lord...not for men. We are servants of Christ, and we should live our life as such. So, this has been a great verse to keep me on track...especially during my teaching.

What is your favorite verse? Link up with Kelly's Korner and share!

Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July from Corinth, MS! I saw on Kelly's Korner where she was posting about this mannequin in a window of someone's home in her hometown. The residents change the outfits according to the season or weather. Well, we have our very own quirky icon here in this small town too! The Shiloh Road gorilla was decked out for the Fourth!

What did the Smiths do for the Fourth? Well, we headed over to the "Yaya Pool!" Ha! Yaya Sherra was out of town, and we decided since the pool is part Yaya property, we would take it over! Ha! Thanks, Yaya Sherra for sharing! We had a ball!

Teri, me, Kristin, and Mama

Teri and Jordan joined us again. What can I say? We're all family anyway! The girls spent most of the day sunning while the boys played. And, when I say "play," I mean PLAY! Mama and Teri were assuming they would leisurely float around in the pool in their fancy little floats. WRONG! Just look at these faces below and tell me they look innocent...

Russ, Jordan, and Lee

Absolutely NOT! Ha! It wasn't long until Russ, Lee, and Jordan had jumped, cannon balled, can openered, and splashed around until Teri and Mama were both soaking wet. So much for that leisure sun! Ha! Daddy must have felt a little left out, because he jumped in to play too!

Daddy and Mama

In case you still don't understand what I mean when I say that we had a great time watching the boys play...I'll show you exactly what I mean. The guys spent the entire day at the pool playing made up pool games.

Russ, Lee, and Daddy

For example, this game lasted a while. They took turns jumping off the diving board while shooting the ball. The goal was to get the ball into the floats. Each float had a different point value. I don't know the details, but they had a ball!

Russ and Daddy

Next, this game. One team member held the net while the other jumped off the diving board shooting the ball. The goal was to catch the ball with the net. You just never know!

Russ and me

We are thankful to have such fun friends and family to spend our holidays with! As we sat around the pool, we started concocting a plan for the night. What we came up with was pizza and ribs with all the sides. We couldn't agree, so we just did it all! Ha! After supper...a movie! In the back yard! Call it a drive-in movie, if you will. Toy Story 2!

The guys set up the big screen and hooked up the cords...

...while the girls sat and watched!

The Tulls

The Johnsons

Mama plugged in the lights and lit candles in the trees from the wedding for our viewing pleasure! It was a perfect night for a movie.

The Gurleys joined us again, and we all feasted on pizza, ribs, baked beans, slaw, cantaloupe, and corn on the cob. Delish! Mama also fixed homemade ice cream! A lovely summer night!

Russ with his ice cream

After supper and ice cream, we all settled in outside to watch the movie. Mama came out in her apron yelling, "Popcorn! Peanuts!" Lawsy! This family cracks me up!

Our neighbors on all sides began shooting fireworks. You see, we always have major fireworks on holidays. However, Dustin wasn't in town this time. So, Daddy ran to the garage and grabbed a box of leftovers from years past. Jordan, Lee, Russ, and Daddy began shooting bottle rockets. Throwing them around. Hiding them under people's chairs. Setting them off by our feet unsuspectingly. Basically, just acting like a bunch of teenage boys!

The girls all sat around and enjoyed the chaos! The sparklers in the planters is always a nice touch! Ha!

Teri kept Farley calm for me! Thanks!

Teri and Farley

Happy Fourth of July!

Finally, Daddy gave the 3 minute warning. We all got seated, snuggled, and watched Toy Story 2. Movie theater style...on the back deck.

Jordan, Lee, Kristin, Daddy, and Joe

Mama, Teri, and me taking our seats

By the end of the movie, some of us got a little more comfortable...

It was a true summer night at the Smith house on the Fourth of July!

I'm On a Boat

One of the benefits of Russ's residency right now is the WEEKEND! I was particularly excited about this weekend - Fourth of July! We took full advantage of it! Lee and Kristin were generous enough to invite us, Mama, Teri, and Jordan out on the boat with them Saturday. I LOVE the lake! We had an amazing time!

Teri and Jordan

Me and Russ

The boys were kind enough to let the girls have the front of the boat to get in some good sun. Thanks guys! So, we enjoyed the sun, played some music, danced a little, and had a great time!

Lee, Russ, and Jordan

Mama and Teri didn't know all the dance moves, so they started their own!

Teri and Mama

The Cap'n and his wife!

Me and Kristin

After a few hours, we decided it was time to add a little action to this trip! We made a stop at a nearby marina and aired up the intertube! Who's up first? Well, Teri was itching to get out in the water, and Russ jumped in with her.

Russ and Teri ready to tube!

Hanging on!

Next up...Jordan and Lee!

Lee actually tried to do a few tricks while riding. Ha!

The Smith girls did not tube this trip. It takes a great deal of peer pressure to get me out there! So we rode backwards watching all the fun! Mama, however, had something to keep her busy! But, the backwards riding didn't fare well for her hair! Ha!

Hilarious! The hair plus the sunglasses are just a perfect conversation piece...don't you think?

I love summertime for many reasons. One of those being the sunshine after 8 PM. It was SO relaxing to be out on the lake during the evening. All the girls just put up our feet and took it all in!

It wasn't long until I need to remind everyone...

...that "I'm On A Boat!"

Sistas!

We had a wonderful day at Pickwick! Thanks, Kristin and Lee, for taking us out on the water for a fun filled day!

We had a blast!

Yesterday

Yes, I know that my title is super creative and you are so jealous! Ha! Yesterday was the beginning of a new journey for Russ and me. For those of you who aren't following our life on a regular basis (I mean, really. Why would you not want to!? Ha!) let me fill you in. Russ graduated medical school last summer. He started his intern year in July of 2009. It is now July 2010 and he is a second year resident. Since Russ chose radiology, his residency is a little different. He had a preliminary medicine year, which means he did a normal medicine residency for a year, in Jackson. After that year, he completes four full years of radiology residency in Memphis. Well, that began yesterday!

So, yesterday was the beginning of this new journey. What did I do during Russ's first day? Why, played of course!

Jenny and Grace came by the house yesterday morning to visit. I listened to a little Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus before going to eat lunch with my parents and friends. Then, I came back so that we could run a few errands to some local shops in town. The weather was beautiful and very pleasant, so Grace and I played outside a while with Farley while Jenny ran to her house for some things.

We posed for pictures, ran around, climbed trees, and sat on the swing.

Yes, we had a full day of play before Russ came home from his first day as a radiologist! He made it. It was basically orientation, but he was quite tired.

Poor Russ has no hope...at least as long as we are staying with his parents...because his mom and I both took out our cameras when he walked in the door! Can't you see the excitement on his face? Russ scarfed down a BLT before running upstairs to change so that we could watch my brother and others playing on the church softball team.

Yesterday was a good day! A day full of new things, fun, and a night at the park. Life is good here in Small Town USA!

Toy Story 3

Well, I'm trying to play catch-up from all the blogging I've missed this past week. Russ and I have been packing up and moving on to new experiences. And blogging just got away from me. During all the busyness, Kristin and Lee came back from their honeymoon. Thank goodness! I had packed up everything in my kitchen. What was left? Paper plates, cups, and forks. Nothing to cook with. No food. No drinks really. Well, Kristin (being a newlywed and all) has been cooking fantabulous meals that Russ and I also enjoyed a few nights! Yummy!

Friday night, Russ, me, Lee, and Kristin went to the movies to see Toy Story 3. Before you go making fun of us...you may want to know that there are countless adults who not only went to see this movie, but cried! Just sayin'. I can also say that a few tears escaped me as well. It was an excellent movie with such a sweet ending.

Of course, I say this now. When we first entered the building and were asked to pay $24 for two people to watch this movie, we almost passed out! Russ and I expected it because we had seen Avatar 3-D. However, Kristin and Lee cracked me up! Then, popcorn and a drink was $8 (just for me! Russ also got a drink.)! What has happened to the movie theaters these days?! And, worse yet, WE PAID IT! No wonder the prices keep rising! Ha! I feel quite old as I think back to when "Movies used to be $5. Now they are 12!" Yep. If you're sitting here in amazement as we were calculating our total cost close to $40 per couple for the night...hold on! I immediately thought about Roan and her family of SEVEN! That is no night at the movies! That is a night out in a fancy restaurant complete with a carriage ride and rose petals on the bed for Russ and me! Ha ha!

Then, we figured it out! The reason it costs so much is because of these fancy glasses...

Kristin and Leeroy

You see, Kristin and Lee said that Starkville 3-D glasses aren't quite as nice. So, I guess that's it. Oh, the price we pay for a pair of nice 3-D glasses.

Me and Russ

The moral of my story...start saving NOW, and go watch Toy Story 3!