Someone had a different plan

Well, it turns out that birthday weekend was put on hold for a few days. Obviously someone had a different plan for us. Wednesday night Ben had a ballgame at Cameron Brown fields in Germantown. While we were there someone invited themselves into his car and stole his wallet and iphone. He had put them into the middle console of the car. So, for most of the night Wednesday and Thursday we were cancelling cards and talking to the bank. Yuck! However, Ben and I were able to find the silver lining in this situation. Despite the sad change of plans here are the good things that we discovered:

1. Nothing else in the car was disturbed..CD's, headphones, baseball equipment, his Oakley's.

2. The car was not damaged or stolen.

3. When we called VISA to cancel the card they said the card was no longer active. They had supposedly sent us another card back in May and the old card was deactivated as of June 14th!! No harm done there.

4. AMEX had noticed suspicious activity after they used the card at the 3rd gas station and cancelled the card before we called. AND they already credited our account for what was spent.

5. Ben and I had withdrawn extra cash a few days ago and have been using it for everything that we have purchased for the past few days. (very random for us to do that). He had $3 left when his wallet was stolen.

6. First Tennessee had also noticed suspicious activity and placed a hold on the card.

7. All the credit cards gave us the gas stations AND times the card was used. We called the gas stations and they have security cameras. (Security!!!- Bon Qui Qui).

8. We were the only people to file a police report in Germantown on Wednesday.

9. Ben and I got to spend a lot of time together on Thursday :)

Even though this is an inconvenient situation we still feel like the Lord was watching over us. BIG TIME! The damage could have been really bad. Here are some things that we learned from this that I would recommend everyone do in case this happens to anyone else:

1. Record all your card numbers (credit and debit). Not the account number, but the actual card. The police and credit people will ask for that.

2. Record your serial number on your phone, ipod, etc. (Memphis has a security system in all the pawn shops where the person has to be fingerprinted then they run the serial number. If it is stolen...Bam they got em.)

3. Double check that you lock your car...even in Germantown, the safest town in the Midsouth.

4. Don't carry your social security card in your wallet.

5. Call the bank as soon as you notice your card is missing.

Hopefully, this will never happen to you. But, in case it does it would be best to be prepared. I hope that everyone else is having a good week. Ben and I will be glad when it is over. Oh, and I didn't even post about the storm Friday and everything that we lost in it....that is another story for another day. :)

-Sara

Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben's birthday was yesterday...27 years! We celebrated the evening downtown with Ben's parents eating some BBQ and going to the Redbirds game. If anyone knows us, we are the biggest "celebrators." We both have a good day at work....let's go celebrate. It keeps life fun, and we figure we need to do these things while we still can. So, for Ben's birthday we are having multiple day birthday celebration. Here is what we have done so far:

Day 1: Monday I cleaned out the garage for Ben. No small task! Especially considering the heat.

Day 2: Actual birthday! Redbirds game and BBQ.

Day 3: Birthday lunch at Swanky's

Day 4: Home cooked birthday dinner- Chicken rolls at Ben's request..of all things!

Day 5, 6, 7: Yet to be determined!

Here are some pictures from our night at the game. Ben was such a good sport to take all the pictures that I wanted, with sunglasses and without, standing and sitting.....

It was Bo Hart bobblehead giveaway night!

This button was in the card that Ben's parents gave him. He is so funny.

Turns out that Bo Hart was also at the game!

I am looking forward to the next few days of celebration. I would strongly encourage all of you to celebrate the big and little things too. We all have so much to be joyous about! Happy Birthday Ben!

Carter's First Baby Shower

This weekend I drove over to Nashville for Stephanie (my sister), Michael, and Carter's first shower. Stephanie has 10 weeks to go, and we are ALL so anxious to meet Carter. One thing is for sure..that baby will have a lot of stuff and some really cute clothes. Here are a few pictures from the shower. Stephanie with Aunt Jeanmarie, Brianne, Madison, and Kelsey

Madison was so cute at the shower. She was touching Steph's belly and saying baby.


Stephanie with Kristin, Aunt Susie, and Caitlin



The hostesses! Stephanie's sisters in law Sara and Dinah and mother in law.

Nana and Stephanie. Thanks Nana for letting us stay with you on Friday!!

The proud Grandmother to be, my Mom and Stephanie.

Me and Steph

Rebecca and Steph

Can't wait until June 6th weekend for more showers!!

When I grow up I want to be just like my Mom

Since it is Mother's Day I thought it might be nice to brag on my Mom a little. Growing up children always desire to be just like their Mom.. we play house, dress up like her, and play Mommy. Only that dream has never ended for me, I still want to be just like my Mom.

My Mom has always been my rock. She has sacrificed so much for all 5 of us and has always been there to heal any boo boo's or broken hearts. She has offered support and kind words through tough times. But, most of all my Mother has shown me Christ. She has shown me by example how to be a woman of God. She has prayerfully led me through all that life has given me..big or small.

I love my Mother and I will always strive to be just like her. She is the best Mom anyone could ever ask for and will always hold such a special place in my heart.

Happy Mother's Day!

How do you mess up sloppy joes?

Ok- so Sloppy Joes are probably one of the easiest and oldest recipes in the history of the South. And somehow I TOTALLY butchered this common dish. This is how bad it was...Ben tries everything that I make, and eats it with a smile no matter how bad it is. Tonight he wouldn't even taste it.

About once a year I get the taste for a Sloppy Joe. Today was that day. So, I got online to find a new recipe and I came across a Paula Dean recipe. Thinking that it would be satisfying, I am off to the store. The recipe says to make French Onion soup, brown and drain ground beef, and then add 1/2 cup of the soup and 2 tablespoons of flour. Simmer for a little bit and serve on a bun. As I am cooking I am getting suspicious of this dish....imagine the color of this mixture....all brown...turn off #1.

So, I decide to add some ketchup, Worcestershire, and mustard. Now, picture the color again....darker brown....now starting to resemble something that would come out of the body instead of in the body...turn off #2.

After mixing all of these ingredients the smell is very fragrant, so I decide to add some garlic powder...I mean who doesn't like the smell of garlic. Another bad idea, a heinous smell... and turn off #3.

I promise I am a better cook than this. And I have no idea what prompted all of my great ideas. But, next time I am going to quit while I am ahead. Life lesson learned.

I hope everyone else's dinner was more successful than mine. Happy Monday!!
-Sara

Spring Sing, old friends, and tornadoes..what a weekend!

It's that time of year again! Harding Spring Sing- I have not missed a show for 10 years. I don't know if that makes me a big dork or just a loyal supporter of Harding. Either way I don't really care I love going. This year Rebecca (my youngest sister) was in the show. It was fantastic and SO hilarious. If you can't tell from the pictures they are supposed to be "old people." Their show won in all categories AND won best overall! Congrats Reba! After the show I was able to meet up with my family for dinner before I headed back to Memphis.

Rebecca and Ben

Me and Mom


My precious Mom and Dad

Dad and Quentin

Shannon and Kyle

Friday night I went to Little Rock and spent the night with one of my dearest friends in the whole world...Emily (Wade) Wilson. We have been bestest friends since the 3rd day of college. It was so great to spend some girl time catching up with her.

Friday a F4 tornado hit my hometown of Murfreesboro, TN. This picture sent chills down my spine. My parents still own a house in the neighborhood that was hit, but thankfully their house was not damaged. The devastation in the town is incredible.

Hope everyone has a great week!

-Sara

Jamaica Mon!

Ben and I went to Jamaica for my spring break this year. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay. The weather was perfect and the resort was amazing! It was a perfect get-away. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

This is how we spent the bulk of the day, reading and napping by the pool.

The view from our room and the pool.