The Ussery Update

Tomorrow afternoon, we are driving to Odessa (my hometown) for two big celebrations and to spend some time with my family over Memorial Day weekend. Our niece Hillary is graduating AND getting married in the same weekend - what an exciting time for her! Here she is as a little girl - isn't she too sweet?? (she still is)... The arrow is pointing to her at my graduation and now I'll be going to her's - WOW, where does the time go?! Here she is with me at the our wedding reception with her little bouquet. She was a junior bridesmaid and caught my bouquet - now's she's getting married herself. After this weekend, I'll have a picture of me with her in her wedding dress - so special. This is Hillary now with her husband-to-be, Jake. They are such an adorable, happy couple. We are so very happy for them and know God will bless them with a wonderful marriage. I was in the 7th grade when Hillary was born and it's been such a pleasure to be her Aunt. She has ...

For a while now, I've been wanting to add a small bookcase in the hallway that leads from our entry way into the living room. I've had some decorative wall panels hanging on the walls in that area, but needed to fill the space underneath. I had several pictures that I wanted to put out, but running out of display room. Plus I wanted to have another place to set out decorations for the various holidays through the year. My handyman husband kindly put this bookcase together for me on Saturday. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out and it really helps fill this space. I might add a few more things here and there, but for now here are some before and after pictures... The black and white picture of John and I, on the top right shelf, was a gift to me from John for our anniversary back in February (read about it here ). It's a picture that I've been waiting to put out because it needed a home and now it finally has one! The black and white salt and pepper shakers on ...

Thursday has been my favorite day for many years. I know - it's kind of an odd day to be one's "favorite day of the week", but it's mine! I guess Friday is most people's favorite day and I LOVE Fridays, but I guess it's just an understood fact that everyone loves Fridays. One thing that makes Thursday so great is that you know and can tell yourself "Tomorrow is Friday"! It's so nice to get through a Thursday and appreciate that the weekend is ahead. These days, Thursday is "grocery list making night" at our house - does it get any more exciting?? I honestly do get excited about stuff like that. We buy our groceries every Friday night (which you can read about here ). That being said, the list must be made on Thursday night. We do keep a running list on the refrigerator, but I take that list and then do a check through the house and kitchen to see what else we need to add to the list. Then, being the obsessive person that am, I tak...

No, No...I'm not one of those people who think Elvis is still alive (but no offense to those who do - he is "The King" afterall)! I'm talking about Elvis Andrus - Shortstop for the Texas Rangers. A couple of weeks ago, we went to our first baseball game of the season. Here's me and my baseball buddy... It was such a fun night - we love Ranger games! They didn't win, but it was awesome weather, great seats, beyond yummy food and the best company. Before the game, we were watching the Rangers take batting practice. As they were winding down, Elvis came over to sign autographs for those watching so we jumped in the line. We usually carry baseballs and Sharpies to the games just in case autographs are being signed by the players (sometimes they do and sometimes they don't). We were lucky enough to get Elvis' autograph on both of our baseballs. Elvis is only in his 2nd year (just turned 22) and is an amazing player. He's a gem for the Rangers and great...

I am so blessed and thankful to have a husband that is very committed to making our marriage better and stronger every single day. Right after God, our marriage is our top priority in life. We want to treat it daily like the treasure and gift that it is. We do numerous things to make sure our marriage isn't neglected or doesn't get stuck in a rut. We never want our love, friendship, bond, happiness or joy fade with time. It seems like more and more marriages are falling apart or simply empty these days. We want to do all that we can to combat anything negative happening to our marriage. We want to shine the light of Christ through our marriage as a Godly couple. We may be viewed as "too focused" on our marriage or a little "out there" for how into our love and life we are, but that's just who we are - Mr. and Mrs. Ussery - so happy and so in love. One movie we absolutely LOVE is "Fireproof" and it just happens to be about marriage... You MUST ...

We are now into May so it's time again to post my favorite "things to be happy about" from my desk calendar in April. If you need to catch up you can read about the previous months by clicking on the month - January , February and March . Here are my April things to be happy about... Lemon wedges for fish ~ Fresh lemon squeezed on seafod is so yummy and makes it taste a notch better Displaying things on easels ~ If you walk around our house, you will see pictures, plaques, plates and other things propped up on display easels - I love using them in decorating The swirl of a skirt ~ Being a girl, big flowy skirts are so neat - there's something about spinning around and making your skirt look like an umbrella . I wish we still lived in the days where women wore dresses and pearls...those were the days "Amazing Grace" ~ One of the greatest hymns of all time - classic, timeless and so comforting...it always warms my heart Extra Virgin Olive Oil ~ A stapl...