My Favorite Little Cowboy..............

If you are from Houston you know HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO is upon us. The trailriders are coming in today and tomorrow. The world famous cook-off starts today. The parade is Saturday. It's Go TEXAN day tomorrow and a lot of your schools are having Cowboy Day or Rodeo Day or Western Day at school.

Steph just sent me this picture of the cutest little cowboy there is. Today at his preschool is Cowboy Day.

Meet Cowboy JD. HE IS PRECIOUS. Steph called me a few minutes ago and I told her to tell him that his KK thinks he is the cutest and best looking cowboy she has seen!!!!!!

Now It's Our Turn..................

Last weekend Stephanie and Jimmy took off for a long 4 day weekend away. This weekend Tim and I do the same thing. Every year we take our very dear friends, Ricky and Tanya to a NASCAR race. Dr. Rick (what I call him professionally - but Ricky is what I call him as my friend) is our coporate physician and has done so much to help us that this is our once a year thank you to him.

The last two years we have gone to Phoenix in April. We would all fly to Phoenix and Tim and Ricky would take care of a day's worth of work at our Phoenix office and usually go by the clinic there then the rest of our trip would be fun. This year we decided to do the Vegas NASCAR race so tonight after work the 4 of us head out and don't return until Monday night. I can't wait. We are going to have a blast, that I can assure you. They are both so much fun to hang out with.
Personally, I am looking forward to the time with my husband. We are in a spa suite so plan on doing some down time too and just chill. When we return on Monday life will kick up a HUGE NOTCH for about 6 weeks. Tuesday night, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo starts and Tim and I are both on committees. My team opens the show on Tuesday with Rascal Flatts (yeah!). Then for the next 3 weeks we will be working 2 out of every 3 nights. And there are a few nights off we'll be there seeing a performer we can't miss. Rodeo ends Sunday, the 22.

Monday after RODEO we go full force getting ready for our yearly AGC cook-off with work. I chair the event each year (our 5th year) and Tim is the head cook. We are already working hard on it but that week before is CRAZY..............I MEAN CRAZY. We set up Thursday all day, season meat, get ready and Friday it's full force. The event is Friday night and Saturday. Last few years we have done a saloon/western theme (which is why you see Tim and I looking like Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty below) and have won several of the events..........ribs, people's choice award, best hospitality and theme. BUT, it's time to change our theme so we are doing the ANIMAL HOUSE TOGA PARTY. It is going to be great. But it is some of the hardest work we do. It is so much fun but such an exhausting weekend.
That week afterwards should be ok but we leave the next weekend for my birthday weekend in Ft. Worth at the spring TEXAS NASCAR RACE. Our company uses Dewalt tools non-stop and have a great relationship with them. Well, the local rep and I worked on a lot of stuff for my boss and the World of Concrete earlier this month so Nathan is treating me with 4 tickets, infield with the Dewalt team, the works for the race. Hey, I couldn't think of a better birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After that race on April 5, life should slow down. But you never know.

Just looking forward to this weekend away with my BABY!!! We NEED it!

Missing my Little Ones.............

I wanted to blog yesterday but coming back to work after two days of vacation is not fun. It was a crazy day at work.

BUT, just wanted to say that I had an absolute blast watching my JD and Kenzie girl all weekend. It helped so much with Tim gone until Saturday afternoon then he had Rodeo set up on Sunday so was gone most of that day. I usually pout and miss him terribly. I missed him, yes, but no time for pouting. I was having too much fun with JD and Kenzie.

JD is absolutely the smartest, funniest, and cutest little guy I know. He NEVER stops talking and it is not just rambling. He asks you so many questions. And he wants to talk about everything. I do think he asked me 100 times over the weekend, "KK, you really love me and you love for me to come to your house, don't you?" And 100 times I answered, "JD, KK loves you more than anything and I REALLY love for you to come to my house, cause it makes me SO HAPPY!" He just smiled. I got to watch him at both of his T-ball practices. He has SO MUCH ENERGY. He will be good at baseball. I can already see it. Just like his Uncle Matt!!! OH, and he loves to play with my cell phone. He can operate it better than me. I told Stephanie he can get around that phone, have music playing, playing games and never ask me how to do anything. I was a little sad that he reset my game, Bubble Bash, which I was on level 6 and about to beat the game. It has taken me forever to get there. Now, I am at level 1 again. :(

Kenzie is absolutely the most beautiful little thing in this world. She has a smile that just melts my heart. I wish I could have captured a picture of this but you should see her when she looks at you, tilts that head ever so slightly and smiles so big, with her whole face. Oh, I miss that right now. She loves her KK. I tried all weekend (well, I try all the time) to get her to say KK. Nope. It's mama. She calls me mama. I know in time she'll be saying KK and I'll love it. Oh, but she CAN say Papa. Thanks. Papa Tim gets home and says to her, "say Papa Tim." And immediately out of her mouth, "Papa. Papa. Papa." She loves her Papa Tim too! Oh, and she has the strangest fascination with BIRDS. That's my girl. I have always loved birds and fed birds and even video taped baby birds or birds feeding in my yard (which I have been given much ill-treatment over it by my girls). Well, Papa Tim goes Pheasant Hunting in South Dakota now and then and has a beautifully mounted pheasant on our bookcase. She constantly points to it and says, "uh. Uh." I know she's saying, "Papa Tim's bird." Cause that's what we always say!!!

I am a blessed KK. I get to see my grandbabies all the time but I surely enjoyed the consentrated 4 straight days of it. Everyone asked me yesterday at work if I was tired. Was I worn out? Well, maybe a tad but the joy of being with them and caring for and loving them outweighs any tiredness I may have felt.

I miss them both!!! Thank you Stephanie and Jimmy for needing a trip away. I needed the JD and Kenzie FIX!!!!

Looking Forward to Tomorrow......

And you ask why?

Not the fact that my wonderful and handsome husband is going out of town again, to our office in Phoenix. He'll be home Saturday mid-day so that's not too bad. Anyways, I won't be alone. I'll actually have much wanted company from my two most favorite little people to be around.

JD and Kenzie! I leave here from work at 5 and go straight to JD's t-ball practice where they will be with their Fufu (Jimmy's mom). Steph and Jimmy are headed out of town for a much needed 4 days away!!! I am watching JD and Kenzie for all four days..........and I can't wait!!!!!!

They were at my house this past Saturday visiting Eric and Alison, who came to see us and show off Alison's beautiful new engagement ring (wedding next year in Maryland - yeah!!!) Anyway, when they left, I told JD to start counting down the days until he gets to come stay 4 days with me...........because I would be counting down the days too!!!! Stephanie says every day he asks how many and he himself, is pretty dang excited!!!

I have stayed up on my housework and plan to spend extremely fun, quality time with the two little loves of my life!!!!

I'm sure I'll have plenty to post about after the weekend!!!

OK, had to share some pictures we took at Thanksgiving. I so wanted a good picture with JD and Kenzie.

Take #1 - JD and Kenzie look, smile. Nope.
Take #2 - C'mon JD and Kenzie, KK wants a picture. Kenzie decides to think about it. JD wants no part in it!
Take #3 - Please, please, please. Nope. Don't think so.
Take #4 - Just one......................nope, we're getting aggrivated.
Take #5 - PLEASE - see how I am sweet talking them.
Take #6 - If you can't beat 'em - join 'em!!!!!!
Oh, I love those two. We're going to have a blast this weekend. Spoil Rotten Time!!!!

My Man is HOME Safe and Sound......

I was fast asleep when I heard the house alarm start chirping last night because someone had opened the door. Normally that would scare me to death if I was by myself. Last night it brought joy and a sense of relief. Tim was home.

I've shared that Tim has been out of town most of this week and last night was like a bad dream with him trying to get out of New York to come home. He called me yesterday and said he was worried about getting out of LaGuardia (LGA) because of some high winds. I started looking into it and all flights out of LGA were already running about 3 hours behind. He was on the last flight out so I knew it would probably end up being cancelled. Started working on getting him out of Newark, NJ (EWR) and was able to get him on a 5:30 pm flight which was already showing a 1 hour 13 minute delay.

He made it to EWR with no problems but once he was at the gate it became like a bad dream. There was constant delays. When they finally had a plane and a crew (7:30 EST) they loaded up. We talked right before they closed the door. I was so relieved he was about to leave. I then get a text message (8:13 EST) saying they pulled from the gate and then the co-pilot ran out of hours. He couldn't fly anymore. So they pulled back to the gate to see if they could get another co-pilot. Jetway was broken and wouldn't pull out to the plane. Great. After getting that fixed, a new co-pilot and reboarding of plane some "dummy" opened one of the side doors of the plane. Would they ever take off?

We talked off and on during this time but were both irritable at the situation. At 10:04 EST I got the text message that the door was shut. I called and checked flight status after a few minutes and Praise God the plane had taken off just a few minutes before.

My thoughts last night during all this? Aggrivated. Irritable. Why was this happening? Was God delaying the plane because of the strong winds and trouble? Worrying. I remember praying to God to please put a hedge of protection around that plane and get my Man home.

My thoughts this morning. I opened my eyes and there was my Baby. I was happy. Grateful. Joyful. Relieved.

Then we turned on the morning news to hear of the tragedy that happened to Continental Flight 3407 that had departed just minutes after Tim's flight from just a couple of gates down, in the same terminal from the very same airport. My heart dropped. I was so burdened to pray for those families who lost loved ones last night.

I have had so many emotions running through my mind this morning and right now feel so aggrivated at myself for getting so frustrated and irritable because of all that Tim went through to get home. At least he made it home.

Families of Flight 3407 can't say that. Please pray for them.

A Very Blessed Mama......

I had something hit me afresh yesterday evening as I was making the drive up to Huntsville, Texas to hang out with Shannon at Sam Houston State University. My girls don't just love me............they really, really like me. They like to "hang out" with me! I am blessed.

Tim has been out of town most of this week. He actually has been doing a lot of traveling here lately. AND I FLAT DON'T LIKE IT! I understand it, I respect his job but I don't like it one bit that he has to travel. It wasn't as hard when Matt lived with me every other week and when Shan was not in college. Now, when Tim leaves, I am pretty much by myself. I usually go see Stephanie and the grandkids or get caught up on things around the house. Fun, fun!

Shannon and I are both HUGE Aaron Watson fans. http://store.aaronwatson.com/bio.php He is an Abilene based artist with such a great sound. He is so dang down to earth and obviously has his head on straight. He talks about all the offers for the "big deal" and how he would rather do it his way and stay close to his fans and treat them like friends and family. He said instead of taking the elevator straight to the top (which he could easily do), he would rather take the stairs. He is so in love with his wife and speaks of her through-out his show. Shannon shared with me that he doesn't even allow women on his tour-bus, the other guys that are single can't bring women on. How awesome is that? He doesn't even allow temptation to walk through that door. All these qualities plus his incredible voice, hooked me from the first time I heard Shannon and Stephanie listening to him.

Anyways, he was coming to the local college hangout/honky-tonk there in Huntsville and Shannon wanted her mama to come up and go with her. She, I and my son, Dustin, went to see him about a month ago in Beaumont (yes, Tim was out of town). So, Shannon said we had to see him again. Actually I think she and would travel around just to hear him sing.

Shannon had been invited by a "guy" at college to go to the basketball game last night but she turned him down to hang out with her mama. She said some of her friends couldn't believe she was inviting her mom to come up and go out to the local college hangout. "they would never do that."

All this got me to thinking, "I am blessed." I remember a couple of very dear friends of mine over the years couldn't care less about their moms. Stephanie has had a friend or two that doesn't have relationships with their moms or really could care less about them. I don't understand this. I know it is real out there but I can't imagine it. My mom is one of my closest friends in this entire world. I treasure the moments I have with her like gold! She is funny. She is sweet. She is real. I love her.

Shannon was so fine to have her mama along, She was practically sitting in my lap. She pulled her chair close to mine and we had a blast. We sang and clapped and danced in our seats. She was not ashamed of her mama being there with her. She likes me. And, boy, do I like her!!! I was even invited to spend the night in her dorm which I did. I enjoyed meeting her room-mate and suite-mates!

I was telling one of Tim and my good friends here at work about it this morning. He and his wife and kids are like family to us. They moved from Chicago a few years ago and with no family here, they adopted Papa Tim and KK and crew as family. Shannon babysits for Bill and Traci just about every single weekend. Anyways, he said to me, "but Kim look, you are so tight with your mom and your girls grew up watching that and you and your girls are tight." He is right. We are tight. I love my GIRLS!!!!!!

Selah.......

Selah is my favorite Christian Music artist and I am listening to them constantly here lately. As a matter of fact, their Greatest Hymns CD is playing in my laptop CD player as I type. I'm on my lunch hour and have been staying in while I have been fasting. Though I am done with the 30 days, I'm still in a major health eating mode. Tim is out of town today so I just decided to blog and have some of my favortie Cashew Ginger Carrot soup and some raw carrots. Yummy!

Just wanted to say thanks to the Lord for this side of the fast.....this side of a rough season!!!!!

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
What ever my lot you have taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though the devil will ruin, though trials may come
Let this blessed assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And He shed His own blood for my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
And the clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Yes, Lord, thank YOU, it is well with my SOUL!!!!

Celebrating the Birth of my Soul-Mate......

45 years ago today Timothy Eugene Gannon was born. I was 1 day from being 10 months old. It wouldn't be until some 40 years later that Timothy and Kimberly would fall in love, realizing they were born to love one another and were definitely SOUL-MATES.

I am so grateful that the Lord created this special person through Delton and Cynda Gannon. He is indeed special. The Lord Jesus is my ROCK and reason for living! BUT, I am grateful that on this earth HE gave me Tim to be my tangible Rock and someone to share this life with. Oh, God is so good.

Tim is my very BEST FRIEND. He makes me laugh so hard each and every day, which if you know me, you know I love to laugh. He makes life fun and worth living.

He is so very handsome to me. He has eyes that calm me when he stares at me and makes me feel like I am the only one in the world. He has a smile, a beautiful smile that makes me melt. BUT as incredibly wonderful as these attributes are they don't compare to his heart. His heart is made of gold. He has been such a tremendous support and encouragement to me through a very, very tough year. Even in times that it stretched us, when we didn't agree on something, he still loved me and never left my side. I have never in my life felt so loved, treasured and wanted by a human being.

Thank YOU God for my Soul-Mate, my Best Friend, Lover and Partner for LIFE!!!! You have blessed me beyond measure and my cup indeed runneth over.

I love you Tim Gannon, more than a pig loves slop! Thank YOU for always being there for me. I look so forward to growing old with you and especially look forward to our "date" when we're 80!!!!