Happy Birthday

I don't have any pictures on the computer from "way back then" and a lot of my older pictures have been made into a scrapbook by my sister so I don't have any to post here! But - it is once again the time to wish someone a Happy Birthday!!

Early this morning Dave's cell phone rang and it was David. Being the strange and weird mother that I am, sometimes I get a little nervous when he calls. The conversation began like this:

Dave: Hello?
David: Hi, Dad!
David: Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me!

I thought I would crack up!! The kid has such a weird and wacky sense of humor! I do NOT know what I would do without him!!!!

David, Happy birthday! You are the best son in the world and by far my very favorite Marine ever! I am so very proud of you and would not trade one single minute of your life with us! Ok - maybe one or two!!! :)) But I do love you and am extremely proud of you!!!!! Have a grand and glorious day!!!

An Update (and even some pictures)

Before you go to looking, there are no wedding pictures. For one, I didn't even pick up my camera the day of the wedding - that is what we hired a photographer for! Second, posting pictures of the wedding is Carrie's privilege - not for her very proud mom!! So, the following is just a quick update of the different things that have gone on in our lives over the last couple of months!

First of all, Dave was the evangelist at a camp in NC and David and Christa drove over for a weekend! He was so excited to get to see his kids! I think they all had a blast!


Then my sister (brave soul), Carrie, Ashley and myself made a very fast and very long trip to Florida for a bridal shower for Carrie. Ok - it was a blast and we had a GREAT time but trust me, NONE of us want to do it again!!!! The decorations were beautiful and the food was delicious and getting to stay at Tara's house was an added bonus!!!!


Then this beautiful young lady turned 20. Yes, that is very hard to believe but it is the truth! The girls have 2 years and 8 days between their birthdays so we had a family picnic on Sunday at our house to celebrate for both of them! But, Carrie's comes first! Josh was able to be here for her birthday and that was a great present for her!!


We had a special cake done for the girls that day! There is a long story behind their nicknames that I won't tell right now but they sure did enjoy the names on this cake!!!


Then this beautiful girl turned 18. And just in case you are wondering, yea....it is hard to believe that my youngest child is 18 already!! But - she is my "favorite youngest child" and I wouldn't trade her for anything!!!! We planned a surprise birthday party for her at some friends house (although she probably knew about it anyway) and we had a great time!! Mexican food, volleyball and a homemade bomb that scared a deaf horse!! It was great!!!!

I am pretty sure that she enjoyed the food and the volleyball and the bomb but for some reason, it is the guy beside her that keeps her attention most of her waking moments!!!


So the week of the wedding was one of the busiest I have had in awhile! There was so much that happened that would literally fill a book but I will just hit the highlights! My wonderful friend Angie so graciously opened her home for a bridal luncheon for Carrie and her bridesmaids. It was decorated so beautifully and the food was delicious and it was a relaxing time for everyone!


Carrie had a great group of girls in her wedding! Let me see if I can name them and put then in order starting from left to right!! Ashley (maid of honor), Katie (cousin), Anna and Esther (bridesmaids and sisters to Josh), Christa (matron of honor), Marianne and Kyla (bridesmaids and Carrie's best friends from high school), Bethany (cousin) and Rebecca (bridesmaid and sister to Josh). It was a great time for all of us!!!


The rehearsal dinner was really good and the best part would have been the dessert table! :)) The Kline's had the dinner at the same place where we had the reception so that went well!


We did learn however, that these two should never be trusted if they are off in a corner and whispering! The song (if that is what you want to call it) that came from these two was something that will not soon be forgotten!!!


The rehearsal actually went really well and I was so glad!! What helped the most was having a dad who has a loud voice, a bride that knew exactly what she wanted and people that kept their opinions to themselves!! :)) Carrie and Josh had t-shirts made for everyone in the wedding party and so this is the group all together!! They were all fantastic and we all agreed we had the best Bible Bearer and Flower Girl that EVER were in a wedding!!


So that is it for now! There is plenty more to tell about but that at least gives you some idea of what we have been up to!!!

Apologies

I realize that I have not updated this in a month but in case you didn't know, things have been a little busy around here! I am promising to do several blogs in the next week or so. About what?? Well, lets see - had a daughter turn 20, had another one turn 18, drove to FL and back for a bridal shower, took a weeks vacation for a wedding.......ummmmm......I think that about covers it! So, once I get my camera and a laptop all together in one piece and the proper permission is obtained, I will get to blogging!

But until then, just know that the Fulton Family Funny Farm is alive and half sane. Well, the last part is seriously questionable!!

New stuff!!

Ok - so there are no new pictures of the garden to post yet but only because I have not had the time to go take more! But - there is news and plenty of it!

Why do I have to have life-changing events happen to me so close together?!?! In two weeks, my youngest child will turn 18. In four weeks, my middle child will be getting married. In 8 months or so, I will be a grandma! Yes, you read that right! There is just something wrong with that picture!

Now for the disclaimer! For those of you who are blessed to meet my husband when I am not around, please do not judge him by the writer of this blog! The poor man has come home and reminded me on several occasions of people who read this!! Just do not blame him for my craziness!!!!!

Sorry this is so short and so full of meaning (not!!!)!! I may be getting too old to blog but time will tell!!! LOL!!!!

A Fast Update

Ok - so I have about 5 minutes to do this in before I head off to work. This is a busy hectic time around our house! In case you haven't heard - we have a wedding coming up in about weeks or so. The girls and I and their Aunt Sandy are taking a fast road trip to Florida this weekend so that should be interesting!

We worked in the garden last night and I thought I would post a few pictures. The first one is from up by the house and that is where the first tomato blooms are!


This is the garden at this point! We are really happy with it! Not exactly everything has turned out like we planned but we are still happy!!


There is a lot going on around here and many things to do so the blog will not get updated too frequently but I will do my best!!

My physical and spiritual garden!!

One of the things that I have looked forward to ever since I first discovered we were moving back to Indiana was getting to have a garden again! Gardening in Florida was too big of a challenge - living a mile from the ocean meant the soil was sand! Anyway, Dave spoke with our landlord a few weeks ago and asked about having a small garden in our backyard and they consented. So - yesterday was planting day! Dave had already plowed up the spot but due to a lot of rain, there was no planting to be done. We got our seeds and plants yesterday, roped off the rows and planted the garden! Dave and I were so excited!
This is the beginning!

My "master" gardener!!

I can't believe I am posting this picture but I am and will see if I can laugh about it at some point!!

All done!! Its not huge but it is ours and that is all the matters!

I forgot to take a picture but up by the house, we planted a few tomato plants and three pepper plants also! I can't wait for fresh tomatoes!!!!!
So - while I was doing all this, I got to thinking about my spiritual garden. I wonder if I am up for the challenge of the thinning out and the weeding as I grow! This probably won't make sense to anyone and I am actually just thinking this out as I type. I think for my sanity - I need to leave this and come back to it when my mind is not so tired. I just have been thinking a lot about spiritual growth ever since Pastor Johnson preached a message about it a few weeks back. One thing I have learned is that growth can be painful but the end result is oh so precious!! I think that I will blog about this again later! Guess you will have to check back now, huh?!?! :))

Life on the Funny Farm

Oh wow - look.....a new blog, and one with pictures!!!! Where oh where do I start??? Well, how about with Ashley! This girl has given me more grey hair in the last 3 weeks than I deserve!! :)) First of all, she decided to come down with the stomach flu. We got rid of it in time for her to head off to the land of strep throat. Then.........

.....yea...she sorta totaled her sisters car. She was driving along a street here in town and a lady stopped at a stop sign, didn't see Ashley and plowed into her drivers door and spinning her around until.......

.....she hit a telephone pole. She did very well at not going into a state of panic but called her daddy to come and rescue her!! :)) Thankfully, other than a few bruises, she is fine! Well enough in fact, that after a few minutes.......

.....she was on the phone!! Three guesses as to who she was talking to but the first two do not count!!! We are actually very thankful that she was not hurt and reminded her that cars are replaceable but she is not!! Although in the last few weeks, I have considered it!!!! :))

Now on to the next daughter and wedding stuff!! Engagement picture have been taken - below are three of my favorite shots of them! Mind you these are MY favorite, not necessarily those of the future bride and groom!!



What a beautiful couple!!!! Wedding plans are coming along really well and of course, there are still many more to do!! Carrie has such a great handle on things and I am so incredibly proud of her!! She makes bigger and better lists than her mother and trust me, that is saying something!! :))
Well, I think that is enough for now! The body is tired and the mind is weary and the bed is calling!! C-YA!!!!!!