the lazy days of summer

Yeah, right. Remember when summer time was a time to slow down? I find myself looking forward to school starting and the schedule that comes with it. And then in the spring, true to my nature I look forward to the change in schedule that summer brings. But lazy summer days?

This summer is especially busy with our college reunion coming up next week. What on earth was I thinking when I agreed to be the secretary for the reunion committee? It is so exciting getting things ready for friends to come together for a weekend to get reacquainted and caught up. When I was around 5-6 years old, my aunt and uncle opened their home to some of the first students of the college. Then my cousin went to the college in the mid to late '70's and Larry and I were there in '83-'84. So, I know lots of people from several of the college years. And it helps that it was our church denomination's college. That makes it a smaller world.

Some of my summer highlights so far are:

1. A trip to Oklahoma City to watch our grand-daughter be dedicated to the Lord.

2. A trip to Amarillo, TX to see my Mom and sister

3. Starting back to work at the library, but this time in the library not the cafe.

4. Celebrating my baby's 16th birthday.

Coming up:

1. CFC Reunion

2. Annual Burress-Fye Labor Day Weekend- 10 year anniversary!

3. Our Baby Girl's 21st birthday bash

We are planning to homeschool Ryan again this year. We did for 5 years and then he has been at a Christian school for 2 years. The curriculum we used when we homeschooled works better for him. He made excellent grades with the curriculum the school used, but it just didn't work for him. It will be different with me working, but he may get a job also, or he will work some with Larry.

Well, I finally got another post in, brief and though it be. I am going to try and insert some pictures in here.

*** Okay, i thought I would pu the pictures at the end... for some reason they are at the beginning of the blog. No time to figure things out now, but at least they are on here

I will leave with this thought,

"God decides what we go through. We decide how we go through it."

I showed her!

Ok, so Rachel may know me better than I know myself where computer time is concerned. I did try to post 2 other times, but I had trouble with the keyboard. I was seriously wondering if I should even be doing it! One other time I was on Bebo and I had written this long blog and Larry and Rob came home from work and had to check their stocks and instead of checking on my screen name they switched to Larry's... so, you see I have had several attempts to blog go wrong one way or the other! And I have been busy! Last week was testing at Ryan's school and so I helped out with that, we were in revival and I shopped for a new refrigerator. I don't like to shop, but I do like to get new "toys!"

My new toy arrived yesterday. Our old refrigerator is older than Rob! We bought it and a stove when we moved into our first house and although we have been on the second stove for a few years the refrigerator is still running strong, we just needed more room. We have needed one for a few years, but the kids were in college and then Rob got married and so finally we were able to get it. They cost a little more than they did 23 years ago! And then if you know Larry you know he had a list of things that it had to have. That is one thing I appreciate about my husband. When he buys something he buys quality. Right now I have 2 refrigerators in my kitchen. I moved a free standing cabinet and put the old one in its place. We already have 2 freezers in the basement (beef and deer) and there really isn't anywhere except the laundry room to put the old fridge so that it won't be on the same circuit. And I don't really think I want it in the laundry room, but I know I will like having the second one available, especially during the holidays! Oh, well, we'll see!

I haven't had time to figure out how to get all of the banners and such on the blog page. But one thing I enjoy reading on others blogs is the Monday Menu Planning. Usually my menus start on Thursday. The ads come out on Wednesday and so I make my menu and my grocery list. I have a list that is on my computer that goes according to the aisles of my grocery store. (I would rather go back home and get my list than try to shop without one!) Anyway, I am always interested in what other people are cooking. I know it is not Monday or Thursday, but here's our menu for this week:

Tuesday- balsamic bbq chicken, baked potatoes, baked beans and salad
Wednesday- chili
Thursday- pulled pork & slaw sandwiches and curly fries
Friday- chicken parmesean, green beans and salad
Saturday- "second blessings"
Sunday- ham, scalloped potatoes, carrots, broccoli, devilled eggs, cheese chunks and rolls
Sunday after church- pizza burgers, veggies and dip, sugar cookies
Monday- sirloin steak, roasted red potatoes and salad
Tuesday- roast chicken, fettucine, broccoli
Wednesday- church dinner

On Wednesday nights our church serves dinner at 6pm to make it easier for people to get to church. We have very dedicated ladies that prepare a meal every week! We haven't been going because our schedules are crazy, but we are going to try to start going. We will be going more to get to better know the people we worship with, but having someone else fix dinner for me sounds pretty good, too!

I need to get going for now. This has been fun and I hope to meet you all back here in a day or two!

Talk to you later! Mari

"The best way to get on your feet is to get on your knees." -unknown

Decisions, decisions

A few months ago a friend suggested I start a blog. I told her I was too busy and just didn't have time for that. That was true then. I was working at the library and even though it was a part time job I couldn't have squeezed in another thing. Since then I have given up my job. Life is still busy, but I have had so much fun reading the blogs of my friends and their friends that I decided to join in on the fun. My Rachel says I will never last.... but I'll show her!

I would have started one a few weeks ago, but there are just so many things to consider! Do I have the time? Do I have anything to say? Larry is the talker of the family. If he had a blog you'd know every step of his day and every bite he took. Me? I am more of a "Yeah, I had a good day and lunch was really good." And then the hardest decision was that I had to name the silly thing! I ran several names past Rachel and settled on "the Fye Files." I am known for making lists and I like things to have a home and be "filed" away. I have several files for crazy things like seasonal decorating (actual pictures from our house), emails with some friends (so I don't repeat myself), and of course, a Grandma file (fun things to do with my grandbabies). So, I thought that was it. Then the other day I was looking through a magazine and saw a sign that read, "Simplify." It clicked. That's us. Simply the Fye's. Not real fancy. Just us. I used to tease Larry that his hobby is working. Mine is taking care of my family. So, you see, we are just the normal busy family that loves the Lord and loves each other. So, here I am ready to share little peeks into our world. I hope you will check in with us again!

"Everything should be as simple as possible, but no simplier." -Albert Einstein

Have a Great Day!
Mari