Thanks so much to The Bray Bunch for the Honest Scrap Award.  I hope I always live up to this expectation.  As the receipent of the award I must state 10 things about myself and then pass this along to 10 fellow bloggers.

1.  I am a Christian
2.  I truly believe in the power of prayer. 
3.  Married to my college sweetheart- we met in Biology- we joke there was lots of chemistry.
4.  Wife of politician
6.  The only sport I dare play w/my hubby- bowling.  I can actually beat him.
7.  Like going fishing, but will not bait the hook or remove any fish I catch from my hook.
8.  Love to play scrabble on my vacation
9.  Enjoy polishing silver - love to see it shine
10.  Former Home Ec teacher

I'm passing it on to the following blogs:
It's a Golden Day
The Bogarde Buzz
Southern Living
Life In the Fun Lane
The Dowdy's Doings- Private
The Lettered Cottage
Mustard Seed Creations
Summer is a Verb
The Idea Room
Henley on the Horn

Time Magazine recently released an article entitled "Should Kids Be Bribed For Good Grades".  The article highlights several pilot programs to increase grades, test scores, graduation rates or reading.  All of these programs use monetary payment as reward.  Evidently, sometimes rewards work and sometimes they don't.

A friend brought this article to my attention when she posted a link on her Facebook page.  Is it just me or do we continue to throw money at problems that money can't fix.  The problem is very simple -PARENTING and the bad thing is we don't know how to fix it.  As a society we will not even point the finger at the problem.  Instead we spend zillions of dollars attempting to implement programs to supplant parenting.  When are we going to hold parents responsible for their children.

As parents, my husband and I sometimes need a little help and encouragment.  Several years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing John Rosemond.  His talk was refreshing.  He did not talk about protecting the self esteem of the child.  Instead he promoted creating a real sense of self -respect.  Mr. Rosemond's book Parenting by the Book is a Biblically based parenting book.  It is a wonderful book to use for a Christian parenting class or Bible study.  The book is also great for a husband and wife study.  I read this book with my husband.  As parenting questions arise it is the resource we depend on most often.  The book is a great gift for new parents and baby dedications.  John Rosemand also writes a weekly syndicated column.  Mr. Rosemond's straight talk is not well received by everyone.  Many find his parenting advice harsh.  I just call it common sense parenting.  

I’ve been awarded the “I love your blog” award by Bevy at It’s A Golden Day. Some of you might have read my post about meeting Bevy recently at the store in Aiken, South Carolina. Thanks so much to Bevy for this recognition- I've enjoyed discovering some really neat blogs over the last year.  I must say I’m very surprised anyone other than my immediate family even reads my blog. I started blogging last year to give family and friends updates about what is going on in our household. Blogging has been lots of fun so far and I enjoy the connection I have made with other bloggers.

Now I must:

• List ten things I love
• Pass this award on to 5 blogs I love
• And link and thank my friend who gave the award to me.

 Ten Things I Love:

1. My husband and children- My husband is the best- he is my very best friend and partner in life. He is an amazing father to our children. My children and I are so blessed to be loved by a Christian man. My children are truly gifts from God. My son has the kindest heart. He amazes me everyday with the things he is learning. My daughter is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. I love to sit back and watch and listen as she plays. She reminds me to use my imagination.  I thank God for my wonderful blessings each day during my prayer time.


2. Living in small town/South- I grew up in a small town and moved to my husband’s hometown (another small town). I love going to town and constantly running into people I know. The people in a small town really rally around other locals when they are in need.

3. Cooking- I started cooking at a very young age in my mother and grandmother’s kitchens. My mother would allow me to make cookies and Rice Krispy treats as my younger sister napped. My grandmother let me help her roll and cut out dumplings and biscuits. As a teenager I worked for a local caterer and decided to major in Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics). Cooking allows me to relax and create something yummy.

4. Football- I started enjoying football as a middle school band student. I never missed a high school football game for seven years straight. I continued attending games during my college years. God was preparing me because I married a SPORTS NUT. He starts getting pumped about football in August. We usually attend the spring games for both our high school and favorite college team. My hubby is the announcer for our local high school team so we never miss a game. We love it even more when we get to go to the playoffs and extend the season into December. During the fall we usually attend several college games. After high school and college ball are over we focus on the NFL season. I love playing the brackets with my boys- I’ve won the last few seasons- They still owe me my prizes. Time to collect.

5. Entertaining- Whether it is a BBQ, Cocktail Party or Elegant Dinner Party- I love to entertain. My hubby and I host an annual Derby Party every May. Having friends over for a good football game is just a great excuse for me to cook and serve. My newest entertaining idea is to host a neighborhood get together this spring.

6. The Pond- Our family’s home away from home. Just outside the city limits my husband’s family owns a small farm with a pond, pool and small cabin. We affectionately call it “The Pond”. We swim, sun, fish and relax at the Pond. No phone, no computers, just outdoor fun. We joke about entering the cabin at the Pond for an extreme makeover due to the hodge podge décor and furnishings. Basically, whatever you don’t use at your house- we use as furniture or décor at the Pond. If we spruced it up it would probably lose its charm. It has been the location for some of our fondest family memories.

7. Stephen Bonanno Sandals- These sandals are all leather and fit better than any shoe I have ever worn (might have something to do with my toes being so free). Best of all- the sandals are MADE IN THE USA. I just sent a pair for repair- can’t wait to get them back. At the end of the month Stephan Bonanno’s will be $20.00 off. Check out the website at www.stephenbonannos.com

8. Girls Night Out- I love my once a month date with two of my dearest friends. We have so much in common and have the best time together. Once we even went for a girls weekend and spent three hours sitting on a swing over looking the marsh. I’m not sure what we discussed, but it was great fun. We’ve traveled hours together just to buy clothes for our children. Sometimes we just love to go to the Cabin (a girlfriend’s home away from home) or the Pond and relax. Nobody can have more fun than we do watching the Bachelor.

9. A Canvas Bag- Just call me the bag lady. I love a Land’s End or LL Bean tote. I have found myself using them as luggage on our yearly beach trip. I also tote stuff back and forth to work in the bags. I’ve used them to tote blankets, pom poms, snacks and cowbells to football games. The bags are just so versatile. I have one in every size and color. They are great for toting all of my stuff. My favorites are the oversized ones I use for bathing suits and beach towels during the summer. I can’t say enough about these bags- one of my favorite gifts to give.

10. Tomato Sandwiches- Nothing taste as good as a slice of homegrown tomato between two slices of trimmed white bread w/a dab of Hellman’s mayo, a little grated onion and a few sprigs of fresh basil. I don’t have a green thumb so I have to go to our local farmer’s market to fetch fresh tomatoes. Last year I got to the farmer’s market (only open on Saturday morning) several times only to find the grower sold out- before the market opened.  Homegrown tomatoes were hotter than any illegal drug sold.  Thank goodness I know the farmers wife and got the inside scoop on how to score some fresh tomatoes before the farmer's market.  She mentioned he has a permit to sell fresh produce to food stamp receipents at the DFACS office on Friday mornings.  Guess where you'll find me on Friday mornings during the summer?

I am excited to pass this honor along to these bloggers:
 Kitchen Belleicious 
Jillian Inc.
Mom of Redheads
Southern Somedays
Laurie's Lagniappe

Today, we made the trip to Camden, South Carolina to visit a family friend at Cool Springs Plantation for lunch. Our friend Gaffney lives in an old antebellum home on an old plantation site. When we visit I can’t help, but imagine what has happened in this home over the last 180 years. Gaffney and his cook prepared a delicious lunch for us. He invited his friend Anita to join us. We enjoyed hearing about how they spend their time gardening and playing pool at Cool Springs. After lunch we took the children down to the basement for a game of pool. Our daughter doesn’t remember her last visit to Cool Springs Plantation so we also took her on a little tour. She was amazed by the staircase. Her favorite part of the visit was seeing the antique hair comb collection. After the tour we retreated to the porch to show the children the joggling board. Finally we spent some time in the rockers on the front porch. It always seems as if time just stands still when we visit Cool Springs.
On our way back home we stopped in another quaint South Carolina town to visit some of the downtown shops and eat dinner. Over the past few months I have followed Bevy at It’s a Golden Day. As we were strolling downtown, we came across the cutest shop- Tea Garden Gifts. I thought I recalled this being the shop Bevy mentions on her blog. We began looking around and were approached by none other than Bevy. I was so excited to meet a fellow blogger. Bevy is just as cute and magnetic in person as she is on her blog. She talked to us for several minutes- I felt like I already knew her due to reading her blog. The store is TOO CUTE- I was SO EXCITED to find a place to buy invitations. Several of the shops I used for invitations have closed. Tea Garden Gifts also had great clothing, shoes, jewelry, golf items, personalized stationary and CUTE, CUTE, CUTE Lilly Pulitzer gift items. I can’t wait to go back.

During the first few days of spring break the kiddos and I made a trip to visit my parents. My son and my dad went bowling-my son won! I spent most of my time working on an consultation job for my sister's gym. The walls are still bare so I spent a lot of time looking at vinyl lettering, artwork and display items for the pro shop.