Betty's Blog: August 2007

Savanna and I just spent a week in Tennessee visiting our family. We arrived on the 6th of August in the evening. We drove straight through which is about 13 hours with the dogs. We had to stop more often with them (puppies can't last a long time without potty breaks). We also had to eat all of our meals in the car and take turns in the restrooms due to the fact that it was so hot that we couldn't leave the critters in the car without it running. They were good little travelers although Lexie cried for the first 56 miles of the trip on the way to TN and thank goodness only cried for 11 miles on the way back :-) Here they are in their "car seats" they were both strapped in and did really well.

While in TN I took Savanna's senior pictures. Jennifer let me use her studio equipment. I haven't bought my equipment yet and wanted to use hers and get familiar with it before I make that jump. Since I have 7 weddings booked I am going to have to make that "jump" soon! We did studio shots which a sample is below and we also went out to Rutledge Falls where we trekked down a treacherous path and even had an encounter with an angel (I kid you not!!) Jennifer and her kids went to the falls with us. The way down wasn't too bad, our angel encounter happened on the way back up. I must tell this story!! Sam was in front of me and Jen and Claire (she was carrying Claire most of the way) were behind me. I was finding my way up the rocky path trying to carry my big camera bag when all of a sudden I slammed my foot into one of the big rocks! OH the PAIN!! when I could get to an area where I could sit for a minute and lick my wounds I sat and looked down the path and saw Jennifer struggling with Claire as she climbed this treacherous path. I said a quick prayer for them and then headed the rest of the way up. When we got to the top, Jennifer said that an angel had saved her and Claire. She said she had felt herself falling backwards and all of a sudden she wasn't falling anymore and had caught her balance. My mouth dropped open as I told her what I had done while sitting on the rock. I have to tell you, I had chill bumps!! Of course my family had a quite funny take on the whole scenario. When I was telling Brad and Matt about our experience they said (or maybe it was Savanna - I can't remember) that if I hadn't broken my toe I wouldn't have sat down and said that prayer. We started cutting up and laughing about it then saying that I had woke up Jen's guardian angel who wasn't paying close enough attention. And then someone said, "yeah, your angel pushed you into the rock in order to save Jennifer!" Yes, my family has quite the sense of humor!

While in TN we were able to see almost all of the family except Stephanie and Danny who live out of town. Reid and Debbie, the RVers, happened to be in town which made me very happy so I got to see them and take a tour of their new RV - now that is the way to live!!

We had a family picnic that was moved indoors due to the over 100 degree heat. It was a lot of fun even Jeannetta was able to come with the new little "Rucker" although her name isn't "Rucker" :-) She is a beauty!! Her full name is Dyxiekay Lien (pronounced LeeAnn). Yes, that is all spelled the way her mommy wants it spelled!

Roxie and Lexie got to meet their new cousin Daisy this week also. We were hoping Roxie and Daisy would play together as both of them have old fogie dogs that they come into contact with and don't get much rough puppy play. Well, Roxie really did want to play but Daisy scared her because she was so much bigger than she was and let's face it she was a little crazy. Crazy Daisy!! She is very hyper! But, what a sweetie!!

We really enjoyed our time in Tennessee but we are so glad to be home!!