The Pioneer Woman Book Signing

Everyone who knows me, knows how much I love The Pioneer Woman. Ree Drummond has become an obsession! Well, maybe her website is my obsession. When her cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl went on sale for pre-order, I ordered several. One for myself and some for birthday and Christmas gifts. It is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I have ever seen. It isn't just a cookbook it is a beautiful representation of her life on their family ranch in Oklahoma. She has included beautiful pictures of her family, the ranch and of course her recipes. She dedicated the book to her husband, "Marlboro Man." That page is a must read. It is beautifully written and so sweet. Her love for her husband and children is one of the many reasons I am drawn to her site.

As soon as I heard The PW was coming to Dallas for a book signing, I entered it into the calendar on my phone. December 1st was a sacred day. I was going to Dallas to meet Ree and have her sign my stack of cookbooks. Barry thought I was insane...well, he still does. He teased me, but at the same time totally supported me attending. He was so fantastic that he went to Borders the morning of the signing to get my wristband. Do I have an amazing husband or what?? He was able to get two gold wristbands. One for me and one for our friend, Andy who is also a PW groupie!

December 1st arrived with rain and even some snow in the early morning hours. That didn't deter this fan. Barry agreed to chauffeur us to Dallas to the signing. He took his laptop so he could sit in another part of the store while we were in line waiting. We arrived about 6:15 and Ree was schedule to appear at 7:00. The store was PACKED already. I'm not sure how many people were in attendance, but it was more than I anticipated. I was so very thankful that Barry was able to get our wristbands earlier in the day. Boy, was I thankful!!! We got in line with the other gold band folks. Here was an entire store of men, women, children and babies who adore The PW as much as I do. Well, a few may have been forced to attend, but I doubt many. We chatted with some great people in line and discussed recipes we had tried. I soon realized I need to step up my cooking.

At just a bit after 7:00 Ree appeared. The store went crazy. We were at the back of the store in line so we couldn't see her. I went up closer to get a couple of shots a bit later and got a few, but nothing really great. We inched our way closer and as we got close enough to see her, I got nervous. What would I say to her? Would I sound like a babbling idiot? Most likely I would, but I decided that was ok. Many of our fellow groupies brought presents. Weren't they smart??!!! What had I been thinking? I should have brought something for her. Too late now!

It was finally my turn to walk up to her table. I can't even remember exactly what I said. Andy was right behind me and I am sure he said much better things than I did. I was a total dork, of that I am sure. But, it didn't matter. I got to meet this sweet woman who is just as gracious in person as I imagined her to be. She was charming and made me feel at ease. She signed all of the books I brought and made small talk. I'm sure that can't be easy for her considering there were hundreds of people there and she does this over and over again, week after week. BUT, she did it. I walked away from her table flushed and smiling like a fool. Her beautiful daughters were just to the right of the table handing our her beautiful shirts. She GAVE us all a free t-shirt. Made by the wonderful woman at Wild Olive Tees...if you haven't been to their site, you need to. They have some beautiful tees. I had each of the girls sign my book and went to find Barry. We had made it through the line at just a bit past 8:00. Not too Shabby. We headed out into the rain and made our trek back to Sherman. It was an amazing night full of fun, laughter, camaraderie and a realization that Ree is just what I imagined...and maybe more.

If still haven't checked out her website, you really MUST! I am positive you will love it just as much as I do.

The Golden Ticket

Doesn't Barry look thrilled?!

Here we are waiting in line...

Sneaking up front to take a picture. Don't you just LOVE those boots!?!?

The girls handing out the tees. They are just so beautiful and very sweet!

Eeeeeek!! How exciting. She is just so beautiful. Loved her jewelry!

I look so blah. It made me realize I have to get lose some weight! AND I think I hate my hair!

Andy, me and Ree

Sooooooo Excited!!

Tonight I am going to Dallas to The Pioneer Woman's cookbook signing!!!!! I cannot tell you how excited I am!! I have been reading her site forever. I pre-ordered 3 of her cookbooks the day they went on sale and went through mine cover to cover the day it arrived. I ♥ her!

I will have lots of pictures tomorrow of the book signing! If you haven't been to her website before, you must go check it out. She has amazing recipes, a cooking site, photography tips, homeschooling info and ranch life confessions. You won't be disappointed....I promise!

Now to wait until 7:00 tonight!!

No Luck

We did our first IUI on the 5th and it didn't work. The next cycle we will use a different medication and shot. I didn't really expect it to work the first time because they are finding out so many things at the same time. Even though I wasn't too optimistic, it is still hard to hear that it didn't work. Don't get me wrong...my doctor and his nurses are amazing! They are so delicate and sweet, but it is still difficult. You put all your effort and hope into something and then nothing. Hopefully, the next time I'll be more optimistic. But, right now I'm not feeling that way. After two years of trying and nothing happening, it gets frustrating.

I think part of the problem is that I am just soooooo tired. I have a really tough class this year. Well, I should say I have three very difficult students. I leave each day exhausted and unhappy about what I'm getting accomplished because all of my time is spent dealing with severe behavior problems. This on top of the fertility issues have made me feel tired all the time. Friday is the beginning of a week vacation for me. I am ready!

I going to OKC to spend the weekend with some girlfriends and then on Saturday we are going to Tulsa to Affair of the Heart. Apparently, it is a huge flea market/craft show. It will be fun to get away and have some girl time. Then we are going to spend Thanksgiving with Barry's family. I'm ready for some down time.

Do any of you have fun plans for Thanksgiving?

Sweet Hope

Sweet Hope is an organization dedicated to helping orphans worldwide. Sweet Hope began when Derek and Lisa were trying to raise money to adopt their son from Russia. They sold truffles to raise enough money to go to Russia to bring him home. After he was home with them, they continued to get requests for their delicious truffles. They continued with making them, but with a new focus to help not themselves, but orphans around the world. This year, all proceeds from the sales of their candy goes to help orphans in Khabarovsk, Russia.

Sales of Sweet Hope truffles and caramels will begin November 9, 2009 and continue through November 27. Sweet Hope candy makes fantastic Christmas gifts or just a little treat for yourself.

To learn more about this wonderful organization, go to Sweet Hope. While you're there, grab a button for your blog and vote for your favorite truffles. Sales begin November 9th. I for one am hoping for my favorites make the cut!

HOPE

After trying to get pregnant the "old fashioned" way for over a year, we decided we needed to get serious. Don't get me wrong, we were serious before. It's just that at this point we decided it was time to bring in an expert. I had talked to my GYN at my appointment in March and she did run some blood tests to check my hormones. Everything came back great and our next step was a SA for my sweet hubby! He had just started a new job and so we waited for things to be more convenient so he didn't have to leave work early. Fast forward to this fall.

We scheduled our first appointment with our RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist). We immediately loved him. He explained several possibilities or areas that could be a problem and scheduled further testing. I was worried that it could just be that I was getting too old. I'm only 38, but my uterus could feel older...thankfully she doesn't! The RE told us that even with my age, it shouldn't be this hard for us to get pregnant. That there is obviously something else going on. After our tests it was determined that the something else going on is lazy sperm. :) They look great, but they just don't want to get the job done.

In order to help these guys out, the Dr put me on Clomid. I take the Clomid for 5 days to help increase the number of eggs that are released. Then sometime next week we will go into the office and I'll have an IUI (Intrauterine Insemination). We are hoping this does the trick. I know the success rates aren't huge and we may have to pursue some other form of treatment. I want to be soooo positive, but I am also guarding my heart against another BFN (big fat negative) pregnancy test. I've had all too many of those over the last year and a half.

This baby journey is such a roller coaster ride. If you haven't been through it, it's really hard to understand. Believe me...I know! I used to be a woman who had friends with fertility issues and certainly felt bad for them, but also never understood their pain. I love kids...for crying out loud, I spend all day with them! I enjoy spending all day with them. I just honestly can't imagine my life without having children. At the same time I know God is good and He does have a perfect plan for us. Whether it works out this way, through another type of fertility treatment or through adoption someday; I truly don't care! ha! I want to be a mom and can't imagine that I will be denied that desire. So I hope....I hope this IUI works. I hope it happens the first time. I hope this brings me closer to my husband. I hope this journey allows me to help others as some friends who've went through this help me now. I hope!

New Fall Shows

I'm not a tv junkie, but I do have a few shows that I hate to miss. I DVR most of my shows and then watch them Friday night while Barry is out officiating football games. Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice and Brothers and Sisters were my favorite three. This year, I've added a couple new ones to my lineup. I really enjoy The Good Wife and then there's NCIS: Los Angeles.....Have you seen NCIS: LA??? Not only is it action packed, it's packed with a couple of great looking guys! Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J.

Need I say more???

Do you have any favorite shows?

Gratitude

During a discussion in our small group Sunday night, someone mentioned gratitude journals. A couple people said they have gratitude journals, others know people that have one. In the journal you list things each day you are thankful for, but not the same thing twice. I decided that I want to start a gratitude journal. I believe this will help me become more aware of the little things. Many times each day, I overlook the people or occurrences that God places in front of me because they might be insignificant to me. I realized I need to look at things more closely and really appreciate how blessed I am.

I spent a lot of time thinking this week, but didn't actually start my journal until today. I've been thinking about how many things I have to be grateful for. I want to make sure and focus on these things instead of worrying about the negative stuff. I have struggles, there are things I want to happen that don't happen in my time. But, I also know it's not my time that's important.... God's timing is what counts! That's something I pray about daily. :)
The bottom line is that I am blessed!!

I'm going to list some of the things I'm thankful for on my blog every now and then. Just so when I look back, I can remember that I do have so many blessings and am truly grateful...even for the little things.


"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude."
~Denis Waitley

Things I Am Grateful for Today:

1. The fact that I have a student in my class that makes me laugh everyday after rest time when he says, "Wakey, wakey, eggs and bacey." He says it with such excitement that we can't all help but join in with him!

2. That my husband is a man that I am so proud of not just today, but every single day.

3. The sun came out for just a bit today after weeks of rain.


What are you grateful for today?