Her name is Hazel.

And up until about two years ago, I lived right next door to her.  Upon moving to Oklahoma, we became fast friends.  She was home all day, I was home all day.  She liked to watch HGTV, I liked to watch HGTV.  She liked to try the foods I made, I liked to make them.

Did I mention that she’s 82?

The 44-year difference between us didn’t matter.  I liked listening to her.  I liked laughing with her.  I liked hearing stories about her life.  I liked getting her opinion about things.  And contrary to public opinion, I was usually the one who had to hear the honey, I’ve got to get going now speech, not her.

Pashaw.

I find myself enjoying people who are older than me.  Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and realizing that I don’t know as much as I thought I did.  Maybe it’s because I’m walking new territory as a mother and need all the advice I can get.  Maybe it’s because I want to stay married to the love of my life, all of my life.  Maybe it’s because I want to know how to keep my love for Jesus strong when I’m well into my 80’s.

Or maybe it’s all of those things.  All I know is that I like old people.  I like their stories.  I like how they repeat their stories.  Over and over and over again.  I don’t mind.

My advice for the day is this:  Listen to old people.  They have a lot to share.

Hellllloooooooooooo.

And how was your June?

Mine?  Well, let’s see.  I did a handful or thirty things.

I think I’ll make a list.  It’s long.  With pictures.

1.  Spent eight days in Orlando, Florida, at Walt Disney World with my hubby and sons. I highly recommend going.  HIGHLY.  And get the regular meal plan.  SO. WORTH. IT.

2.  My baby boy, the five and ONE QUARTER-year old, had a few Tball games and practices. Love going to these.  There are fewer funnier things, in my opinion, than watching five and six year olds play Tball.  Good for the soul, it is.

3.  My ALMOST seven-year old stepson spent five weeks with us. Oh, I miss him already.  He’s such a joy to have and pretty dog-gone funny.  Did I mention he has mad dance moves?  Indeed he does.  Indeed, indeed.

4.  My oldest, the 10-year old, began his summer basketball season. Got new basketball shoes and everything.  Fay-yun-cee.  He’s never played before so we are hoping he learns some great skills so that he can play like his 6′4″ Uncle David.

5.  Did some fun activities with my BSers. My BSers, Bible Studiers, and I had Pool Tuesdays, went to a movie, picked blackberries with our kiddos and are excited about our upcoming cookout at my house where we could have 24 adults and easy 20+ kids.  Yowza.  Good times.

6.  Cooked a lot, cleaned some. Do you have ANY idea the amount of dirt three boys bring into a house?  Did I mention they play outside a good portion of the day?  Yes, right.  DUHR-TEE.

7.  Read three books. Tribes by Seth Godin, Axiom by Bill Hybels and Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  Seven more books to read before school starts.  Tribes was okay mainly because most of it was over my head, Axiom was uh-MAY-zing and I’m still processing Crazy Love.  A good, uncomfortable processing.

8.  Enjoyed many hours on the back porch with my hubby, @chrisdbeall. We seriously built our house with that porch in mind.  It has not disappointed.

9.  Had a few doctor’s appointments. My bloodwork showed that with my 30-lb. weight loss, my cholesterol has dropped from 213 (back in December) to 166.  THAT IS A 47-POINT DROP!  Hoping that means I can get off my meds.  We’ll see Woo hop!

10.  Oh, and I finished my first draft of my new book. I FINISHED MY FIRST DRAFT OF MY NEW BOOK!!!  Can you tell I’m excited?  Doesn’t mean that there won’t be more work ahead because there will be.  What it means is that I FINISHED THE FIRST DRAFT OF MY NEW BOOK!!!  Sorry for the yelling, but I. AM. SUPER. THRILLED.  At least 80% of it is NEW content so if you have read the one I have on my website, stay tuned.  And please pray. I don’t know what sort of route we’ll take with publishing.

But enough about me.  What about you?  I feel like I don’t know what’s going on in your life.  So, will you tell me?  Give me a comment and give me some of your June highlights.

Cuz I sure missed you.

I’m doing something for the next month that I haven’t done since the day I started this blog.

I am taking a month off.

Now, for the 23 of you who are still reading my blog, I do apologize that you’ll not get your share of words ending with in’ and even a few “hollas” for the next several weeks.  While I know I don’t owe you an explanation, I feel you should know my reason so that (1) you will pray for me and (B) you will pray for me.

Get the point?

If you don’t know, I am re-writing my book.  While many of you have already read the version I have online, rest assured, it will be very different.  I’ve already written seven new chapters for it and am now in the process of finishing it up.  My first draft is due by June 30th.

JUNE 30TH!

So, will you pray for me as I write and reorganize?  Pray for inspiration and also pray for my writing coach as he is giving MAJOR vision to this project which is a tremendous help.  Quite frankly, I couldn’t do it without him.

And there you go.

See you Wednesday, July 1st

We are pretty excited about something.

PRETTY DARN EXCITED, I tell you.

Tomorrow morning the hubby and I will take our three boys to one of the most magical places on earth.  Or so we’re told.

This is a trip we’ve been planning for years.  Since our youngest is 5, we decided that it was the perfect time.

So, for the next week, stay tuned to both of us on The Twitter (@chrisdbeall and @cindybeall) as we’ll be giving updates of our trip.

Have a great weekend!

It is not secret that I am a Texan.

A full-blooded Texan.

Not the kind who move to Texas and put a “Native Texan” sticker on their car to convince themselves they were born there.  Not the kind who moved there when they were mere children.  And  certainly not the kind who moved there to retire.

Pashaw.

Native.  Born and bred.  Proud of it.

It’s who we Texans are.  Snobby?  Perhaps. Proud?  You betcha.

And because of this upbringing, I’ve been cursed blessed with some traits that may or may not make me a redneck.  These said traits often make me do things that I really wish I hadn’t.

But I do them anyway.

Case in point:

1.  You might be a redneck if you get on your husband’s zero-turn lawn mower, drive down the street with a gas can and fill up your kid’s dirt bike.

2.  You might be a redneck if you sit in your driveway wearing your sleep shorts and wife beater shirt all the while having it raised up so that your white belly can get some sun.

3.  You might be a redneck if you jumped up and down when Webster added “y’all” to the dictionary.

The saving grace in all of the redneck-ness is that at least I have a college education.  That’s something, right?

Signed,

Your Friendly Educated Redneck