February Get-A-Way

February is FULL of birthdays...my dad, sister, mom, granddaughter, step-daughter, nephew and mine! Plus Valentine's Day! And my sweet husband set up a weekend away for just the 2 of us. As thoughtful as he is, it revolved around me mostly, and the things I like. Without me knowing where we were going, we headed out on a Friday. Now remember, we live in the Texas Panhandle. Outside of Amarillo, it is a 4-6 hour drive to anything "exciting" and different. This can be a challenge for a short weekend away!

First clue...

This is where we ate on Friday night... For those of you who do not know, Underwood's is located in Brownwood, Texas.

And this is where we stayed...a quaint little bed & breakfast just outside of town.

Breakfast was brought to our room each morning...and I don't mean fruit & muffins. Hot, homemade, yummy breakfast. (Banana's Foster Waffles, hot ham and fresh fruit, to name one.) So good that I ate it up without taking a picture. However, we did get our own Keurig and the cutest little carafe of milk. Side note: bring your own flavored creamer! 

The room was tastefully decorated...

And this was our view...

First morning, we headed out on a mile long nature path on the property. On our way, we passed the Spa Room where your massage is given.

Some interesting stuff along the walk... 

For some, this may not be your thing but Terry & like to check out interesting attractions and shop in antique stores. So we took a little drive to some surrounding towns...one of which was Dublin, Texas. The original bottling location for Dr. Pepper. Took a little tour...

 Flavored, filled and capped our own soda...

And learned some history.

Found some neat goodies to take home too.

We returned home on Sunday feeling very relaxed and refreshed just in time to make a fire since this is how it turned quickly...

Some big hugs n kisses to my hubby for thoughtfully making all arrangements at a neat place for us to explore and shop. 

He spoils me! 

I kinda like it!

Happy New Year

We wish you a New Year that is filled with much joy and love, lots of time spent with family & friends, and peace to no ends! Happy 2015!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

We enjoyed our family Christmas together a little early...unfortunately it was without Reese Webb (Ft. Hood, ARMY)

L-->R Terry & Allison Webb...

Jared(santa hat) & Alysha Bratcher, Harper(4 yr,) 

Cadden(4 yr) & Holstein(2 yr)...

Adam(holding baby Brax) & Alyssa Webb, Braxton(9mo)...

Travis(cap,) Jack & Kate Dowty.

I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas with all your family & traditions but mostly remembering what exactly we are celebrating...the birth of our precious Jesus Christ. 

Travis' New Path

October 29, 2014 marked one year since Travis' horrific motorcycle accident in Amarillo, Texas. Travis has been driving a school bus for AISD since this school year began. Besides driving a regular school-to-home route, he also picked up a lot of field trips and such...mostly for high school teams going to sporting events.

On November 8, 2014, Travis drove a swim team to Lubbock for a meet. We had already planned to pick him up and have lunch and hang out until the meet was finished and he had to drive them back to Amarillo. About the time I expected to hear from him saying he was ready to be picked up, he called. Instead, he told me there had been an accident...a pedestrian ran in front of him and was taken to the hospital. Once I had clearance, I drove to the scene of the accident. 

First the motorcycle accident, now a bus-to-pedestrian accident...both times, Travis has been delivered to Lubbock! Praise God I am in Lubbock too!

As it turned out, the man chased his dog into a very busy street and unfortunately paid the ultimate price with his life. The front corner of the school bus had shattered glass and dents from the impact. After several hours, the investigator reassured Travis that he had done NOTHING criminal. The girlfriend of the man, a couple of witnesses and Travis all said the same thing...the man did not yield to the bus. (Lubbock Avalanche Journal) 

As Travis remained on leave with the bus company, he started waiting tables again for the restaurant he was with before the motorcycle accident last year. What else he had been doing I was unaware of...

Today, on December 15, 2014, my first born...my 24 year old son swore into the ARMY. Travis will leave for Fort Sill, Oklahoma on January 12, 2015 for BCT (Basic Combat Training.) After that, he is told to expect to go to Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas for his AIT (Advanced Individual Training) as Dental Specialist. 

He is VERY EXCITED!!

I am excited! I am proud! I am surprised...pleasantly! I am not sad...I am not scared! God has carried Travis through quite a few less-than-desirable situations, most of which he chose, in the last 5 years or so...and I am certain God will be with him in his new, positive chapter of his life!

Furry Visitors

We had some visitors the other morning... That is actually our neighbors shed these 2 cute furballs are chilling on and I'm pretty sure at this point, they wished they had already escaped the sunrise.

I think they were under the impression they needed to lay low and maybe our 2 eager dogs would not be interested in them...HA!

After putting our precious pups up, I think they felt safe enough to escape...cautiously!

 Very cautiously!

 Surely they weren't scared of me and my little ole camera as I stood there in my nightshirt and slippers. No worries little cutie, I will not be chasing you today!

Back To College

Weekend Road Trip to Stillwater, OK

October 9-12, 2014

In case you don't know this, I graduated from Oklahoma State University (Bachelors of Animal Science, 1996.) It has been about 7 years since I have been back on campus so this trek was long over-do. When I was attending OSU, we were too broke to afford to attend games so THIS was my FIRST football game to support the Cowboys...also referred to as Pokes!

On our way, we passed through Amarillo and saw Travis. He is totally enjoying driving the school bus for Amarillo ISD.

Next came OKC...seeing how I was attending OSU when the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building occurred, I was sure to plan some time to stop and visit the memorial and museum since I had never seen it and I am always up to showing the kids some history.

Overlooking the chairs that represent the 168 lives that were lost

Tree of Life

The Reflection Pool

If you get the opportunity to visit the museum, I highly suggest you do so!

From there we took in a little bit of downtown OKC, specifically Automobile Alley, where Jack and Kate enjoyed their first meal at the Hideaway...amazing pizza joint!!

After a scrumptious meal, we drove the 50 miles to Stillwater!

Next day was GAME DAY!! Had to get some OSU gear before heading into T. Boone Pickens Stadium.

Great game! OSU 37 v Iowa State 20

After the game, it was time for Eskimo Joe's and their famous Cheese Fries. What would a trip to Stillwater be without eating at the famous Eskimo Joe's? 

The perfect weather begged us to walk around campus and see where "mom" spend most of her time in college. I had to show the kids Theta Pond...a beautiful spot on campus. A memorable spot for Travis. When he was 4 years old, Travis fell in the pond in the dead of winter. He was quickly yanked out and rushed to the truck to strip down and wrap him in my coat.

 Of course I am telling the kids this as we are walking up to the area, then proceed to show them where he was standing & fell in. Jokingly, I said, y'all be sure not to repeat history. Well, not a repeat but something similar...Kate stepped in a very deep mud hole!

She was not real thrilled about his but Jack & I thought it was rather humorous!

On another note, while we were on campus, we found my truck. Actually, Terry has been in search of a 1950's model Chevy to re-do. He is rather handy that way, in case you didn't know...see my earlier post on the Farm Table he made. Of course this one was not for sale but it sure did look like something I imagine for Terry & me. Think I can talk him into ORANGE?

Gotcha Day

I want to introduce you to Holstein Zane Bratcher...

Holstein is 2 1/2 years old!

He is feisty!

He is snuggley!

He is talkative!

...and he is ours...our grandson!

Officially adopted by Jared & Alysha on September, 18, 2014.

And this is our little princess, Bailey Harper Bratcher...

She is 4 1/2 years old!

Harper is shy...in the beginning!

She is girly!

She is nurturing!

...and she is officially our granddaughter!

Adopted by Jared & Alysha on September 18, 2014.

You may remember...or may not...our first grandson was adopted exactly one year ago on the same day (Cadden's Adoption!) This is Cadden as of today...

So now this family is official... 

And as their GiGi, I do solemnly swear to love, spoil, tickle, and kiss them for all the rest of their days!