Online Shopping

I am a huge fan of online shopping and I have been for awhile now. It is just so easy, so fun, and so convenient. These are 3 of my online ebay purchases of the summer. They are Carley's back to school items. She needed a bigger lunch box and labels for her big girl sippy cups. The backpack was too cute, I just couldn't resist. It is her new diaper bag for church.

My online shopping horizons have been opened now because of amazon.com. I always buy books there (or half.com). The other day I decided to see if I could sell books online. I listed 9. There were all old books from either a psychology class, a former bible study, intro to marriage and family therapy, that Willard Tate class at ACU, or random books like that I never read. In 24 hours I sold 4! I could not believe it. I went back and listed about 10 more and in 12 hours, 3 more have sold! Can you believe it? Amazon gets part of the profit, but still, I make more than I would selling them in a garage sale and I am tired of them just sitting on my shelves not read.

I love our techno friendly world.

Do you do much online shopping or selling?

Our Week

I have so much to say and then nothing important to say at the same time. Ever feel like that? Here is where the Nelsons are these days I guess. I am just trying to hang on to Summer as long as I can. I only have a week and a half left and I am trying to truly savor each moment. So here are stories about how I have been filling my time.

In Utah I had a blast and worked hard too. The coolest thing to tell about is the afternoon we went to Olympic Park. It was amazing. My camera was broken and I am still waiting from pictures from friends to post so you just have to take my word for it. My favorite part was that my friends Jill, Gina, and I did the Olympic bobsled course! It was one of the best 59.8 seconds of my life. How many people can say they went down the actual Olympic track? It was a ride like no other. We went down in actual Olympic bobsleds with acutal Olympic drivers. We also went on Alpine sleds and Alpine coasters. It was super fun.

On the way home, I read Harry Potter 7. It was AWESOME! The series was really interesting to me and just drew me in. At the end of book 7 one of the characters says that is just trying to take it in...the whole scope and traged of it all. That is how I felt as well. It was a great story.

Wednesday, Carley and Charlie had a date at Jump N Jungle. Carley had such a blast. She is such a fun age and I love to watch her get excited. She just squeals and squeals or starts clapping and saying "YAY Carley". It melts my heart. You can see the fun in the pictures below.

Thursday night we had a family date to On The Border and then to the drive in to see Hairspray. It was really entertianing. I had no idea it really wasn't about hair. The cast was outstanding. It was really cute.

The main things on my mind these days are babies and pregnancies. A girl from work had a baby two weeks ago at 23 weeks. Little Zane is doing as well as he can be for being so early. As always it seems, I have friends who want to be pregnant and are not yet. It breaks my heart. At the same time I was able to hold my new friend Conley who was born last Friday. He is a handsome, healthy baby boy with the sweetest little face who made it to 39 weeks! I am looking forward to meeting my other sweet new friend Kellan on Monday. His mommy has made it a whole 9 months this time! What a miracle pregnancy and babies can be.

The news on the family front is that my sister sold her house! We have been praying for this for so long! I am so happy for them. Too bad they aren't looking for new homes in Lubbock!


Here is my big Jumping girl.



Have you seen this poor, sweet boy's parents? Don't worry, Charlie. I'll make sure you don't get kidnapped.


Oh, there they are....look at the neglect. (I do think Amy beat Andy in the basketball shoot off though)

Have you read it?

I do not want to take away from my Happy Birthday post to my sweet husband earlier today, so please read it and comment if you want to do so.

BUT, I am dying to ask......"Who has finished Harry Potter 7"? I finished it this afternoon and I am dying to discuss it. I don't want to put any spoilers on my blog, so just make sure and comment on where you are or if you have finished it and I will call you or email you. I am bursting to discuss.

You don't have to say it....I am a nerd. I am a dork. I am a Pottergeek. I know, I know. I am proud of it!

Happy Birthday, Cody

Cody turned the big 2-8 today! Happy Birthday to my sweet husband who makes each day better and brighter, who is the rock for our family, who exemplifies servant leadership, and who is the best father and husband. We love you so much!

Guess where I am staying

You know I am in Utah at a conference. I am at the National Curriculum Mapping Conference in Park City, Utah. Obviously, you are so jealous that you in your home and I am in a curriculum conference. I mean, so much fun, right. Well, no, of course, education nerds from around the world (Literally) are here. Well, we are staying at this super nice place and it it BEAUTIFUL. I mean it is the nicest place and it is really incredible. I am staying the typical queen room suite, except it it anything but typical. It has full kitchen, washer/dryer, dining room table that seats 8, a separate bedroom, a living room, and a full patio with a grill. It is INCREDIBLE. Now, if you know anything about schools, you know that they never put school people in nice rooms, so this is the cheapest type rooms they have. There are about 24 of us from Frenship here and we all have similar rooms (suites) Turns out the place I am staying is the place of the Sundance Film Festival! You know, the one that Robert Redford hosts and all the stars are come to each year. Who knows, Jennifer Aniston could have stayed in my same suite. Isn't that cool? My camera is broken so I will have to buy postcards and scan them, but you have to take my word for it, this is a really cool place!

Carley turned 18 months old at the end of June. I still can't believe it. I never imagined it would go this fast. We had had (and are having) such a good summer together. She is a true blessing. This week I am going to a conference in Utah. I will be gone for over 4 days from Cody and Carley. I am excited about this trip and the friends from work that are going. I know it will be beautiful, I will learn alot, and have a good time, but I will sure miss Cody and Carley. I have really sad feelings about being so far away from her. I know she will LOVE this time with her Daddy and they will really bond being together so much. But, oh the heartbreak of leaving your kiddo (and husband). Pray for a safe and speedy trip if you will!

Reviews from the Book Nerd

A friend at work always uses the quote, "A Good Book is a Good Friend". I find that to be true. I have read some really great books lately that have really touched my heart. The conversations in the books seemed so real and it really made the characters come alive to me.

If you have not read the books of the "Redemption" Series by Karen Kingsbury (and Gary Smalley) you really need to do it. There are 5 books in the series, Redemption, Remember, Return, Rejoice, and Reunion. They are an incredible story of how God works in the lives of a Christian family with 5 adult children. You seem them struggle and doubt God and their relationship grow and then be tested again. It has been a real testimony to me of God's faithfulness and they way he works. You just have to read them! (Of course there are great love stories in them as well, which always fires me up!)

I also read "Pants On Fire" which is by Meg Cabot and it is an excellent teen chick book. It is about this high school girl who can not stop her self from kissing all these boys. It is so funny. It definitely will not work on your heart, like the Redemption Series, but it is super cute and a great book that will make you laugh.

Those are the books I have read and the last is a the book I am just reading chapter by chapter. It is called "Life On the Vine" by Phillip Kenneson. It is the book our church is doing it's lessons and sermons on each week. It is about the fruits of the spirit. It has been a really good and powerful book. The part that really strikes me when I read it is that we are known by our fruit. No matter how nice we are, no matter how much you pray, no matter what you do, if the Holy Spirit is not able to grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control inside of you and if you are not producing these things, then the other stuff doesn't matter. It is a great book to read if you are looking for something to challenge you. There isn't a love story in it so I can't go on and on about it too much.

I am very excited about the book I will be starting next Saturday.....Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 7! I know I am a Harry Potter geek. I freely admit it. I am totally a nerd and emotionally invested in the story lines and what will happen to my Hogwarts friends. I will say, I think Harry will live. I think he and Ginny will get back together at the end. I think Hermione and Ron will hook up. I think that good will triumph over evil. I think that one of the Horcruxes is at Grumauld Place, one is at Hogwarts, and one is at his mother's home. I do not think Harry is a horcrux. I think he will think he is though for much of the book. Umm, I guess that is it. I can't wait.

So go find a new friend and start a book! :)

What A Week!

We have had quite a week and I am exhausted!

My cousin got married this afternoon in a beautiful ceremony at our church. She is a very special cousin and friend to me and it was a special day. Because of the wedding, Alyssa's family came in on Monday and stayed the week. I am SO spoiled having my sister around so much in June and July. We have had such a good time together and our girls have played together perfectly. My brother-in-law, Clint, is so fun to be around and our families just really enjoy the time together. You can read Alyssa's blog in the following days to see some different and better pictures.

Proof that our girls were tired of dressing the same and taking pictures

Tuesday we celebrated Clint's birthday and had a birthday party for my parent's dog, Daisy. These pictures are so hilarious that they deserve their own post. Alyssa has some really funny ones too.

The 4th was a great day. Cody was at the station for the day, which is always sad, but we had fun at the parade with our friends and family. Then we went to the station to eat with Cody where the guys had family lunch and we ate with all of the guys and their families. It was so great. I am very thankful for Cody's calling to help people in his profession and the sweet guys that he works with and feels so close to in so many ways. My sister has cute picture of my whole family on the truck that I will post soon. That night we went and cooked out with lots of families and friends and then came home to put Carley to bed.

On Friday my cousins and aunts started coming in for the wedding. It was SO good to see them. They are all so special to me. Lauren was flower girl in the wedding and she did a really good job!