Happy Father's Day...

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there, but especially to my Dad, aka "Bebo" as he is known around our family these days.  

I cannot say enough about my Dad.  What a selfless man he is with a servant's heart as big as TEXAS!  He would give anyone the shirt off his back.  His unfailing love for his family, friends, community and the many organizations he supports is easily recognized.  He is not perfect, but I couldn't be more blessed to call him not only 'Dad', but my friend.... 

Thank you for loving me...

 Door to door insurance salesman, are we?!:)

5 Favorite/Quirky Things about My Dad:

1.  This Man has some SERIOUS cooking skills.  He always has his cooker fired up and ready to roll!  Brisket, ribs, sausage, steaks, you name it! Steve-O can cook it...  And when he cooks, it is an INSANE amount of food.  Let's say, he is cooking for our family of 11 - there will be enough food for 20!  There are always left-overs, even enough for the whole block!  

2.  His undying LOVE for food.  This man can eat some food.  And, we all wonder where in the heck it goes.  In all reality, he should weigh at least 400 lbs, maybe more.  His metabolism must be TO DIE FOR.    We all poke fun at him because when everyone else if finished with a meal, Dad has barely started.  Not the fastest eater for sure... And the snacking - It's like something I have never seen; Famous Amos Cookies, celery filled with mayonnaise, Chex Mix, Pink-Iced Animal Crackers, etc...  Whatever it is, it's certainly not a fruit or veggie, unless you have some butter or mayo to put on it.

Snacks on the beach with his lil buddy.

3.   He has a slight obsession with taking out the trash.  We all joke with him because, (I am not even lying), he takes the trash out at least twice, sometime three times a day (And it's just him and my mom).  In my hometown, we have dumpsters in the alleys behind our houses. He will gather all the trash receptacles throughout the house, and haul it out to the alley (morning, noon, and night).  It doesn't matter if it is one Kleenex and a gum wrapper....  Those suckers will be thrown away an hour after they hit the kitchen trash can.

4.  His "Mo Betta" hat.  So, so many ask me about this hat and I truly have no explanation nor have no idea!  He ADORES this hat.  And don't worry, this isn't his first one.  I think he had to track down the company and order more.  Not to be morbid, but Dad relayed to us that he will be buried with this cap on his head.  It's like a "Steve Trademark".  I really don't even notice anymore. It's like a permanent fixture, other than his cowboy hat. 

"The" Cap...

 

 The other alternative

5. But my all time favorite thing about my Dad is the way he treats people.  He is the kindest man I know.  He gives and gives without expecting anything in return, ever.  He has a hard time saying "No" sometimes, but that is what makes my Dad so special.    

Here are my other favorite two Dads.  They are simply amazing Dads to K, B, and Miss M.  What a great example of unselfish love and dedication those three precious children see every day!  Love you brothers...

Happy Sunday Everyone!  Have a great Father's Day!

Love,

~H

Hodges Family Vaca...

Well, back to reality this week.....  What an amazing time we all had together in Watersound!  It was the PERFECT location, nestled right between Seaside and Alys/Rosemary Beach.  What a quaint place this was.  Beautiful sand, water, people, shopping, and everything you could want.  A fabulous 7 day trip it was full of sun, sand, relaxation, pure glutton and tons of laughter!  

Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful week...

The Florida Panhandle... IF you have never been to Watersound, Seaside, Rosemary Beach... GET THERE FAST!

 72 Yacht Pond Lane....  Our sweet digs for the week! 

"We made it Selfie!"

SO excited to be at the beach!  

 Early morning walk... Sans hair and make-up!

Love the speed limit in our neighborhood...

Picturesque view...  Can we move here?!

Local Farmer's Market in Rosemary Beach

Twins with their babies and popsicles!

The longest 80 minutes of my life.  Ummmm....  Not a bike rider I found out.  And didn't know I would be riding bikes with Lance Armstrong Wainscott.  Sigh...

 Alys Beach.  Classy, white, and very swanky; Perfection...

Ice Cream and Glowsticks.  What more could you want?!

Ampitheater in Seaside.  So fun!

Grandparents with their grandbabies...

Knox loved his Uncle Brad!

We loved riding in the golf carts...

Spent quite a few nights here!

Loved our plunge pool at the house...

SWEET Marlowe loved the beach!  Briggs especially loved the snacks on the beach, but he bravely conquered the water the last day:)

Flying kites...

And being buried alive...

Feeding the troops...

There was some work going on...

Night time beach trip...

We had a professional photographer come take our pictures Wednesday evening on the beach.  I cannot wait to see all the final pictures when Katrice gets finished.  This proof was one of my favs!

What a week full of memories we will have forever.  

I sure do love these people....

Happy Summer Everyone!  

Love, 

~H

Summer is Upon Us....

I cannot believe that this school year is OVER.  WHERE has this year gone?  

I dreaded this year, I did; the move to another state, being so far away from family and friends, starting over at another elementary school, leaving Lakewood where I spent 6 glorious years, and leaving the big city of Dallas...

BUT - It has turned out to be a good thing!  I have had a great year at Woodlake with a FABULOUS group of kids and wonderful co-workers.  Brad's job is extremely busy, but going very well.  We have found a church we love and friends that we have so much fun with!  The move that I so dreaded has completely made Brad and I rely on each other since we are on our own.  We have grown closer and I am so thankful for that!  And I know that if God wants us here for now, this is where we will be.

The following pics tell me that summer is on the horizon, school has come to an end, and vacations are about to begin.  6 days until I see the WHOLE Hodges Clan and I am just so gitty about it, I could SCREAM.   

 After school runs at the lake...

Sweet end of year notes... (Note to self, need to work on "you're" a little more next year.)

End of Year Water Parties...

My favorite special visitor!

This is the way we empty folders in Mrs. Wainscott's room... Shhhhh!

"Paper" Angels anyone?

We had "Game Day" on Friday and one student brought this gem.  I LOVED this game when I was young!

Last Day Selfies!

And in six days, we will be here:  Watersound, Florida for a whole week.  Cannot.wait!

Hope Everyone is having a great long weekend!  

Love,

~H

My Mother's Day List...

Well, today is Mother's Day and I want to discuss my mom...  

What a true meaning of "Mom" she completely embodies.  

Ten Favorite Things About My Mom:

1.  She is a true role model for me.  When I was little, she was first a teacher.  Then moved up to an assistant principal, next a principal and now she is retired and STILL working with student teachers around West Texas.  She is a true natural when it comes to working with children and with teachers (And working with 40+ females on a daily basis, cannot be an easy task at all!) 

2.  This lady NEVER sits down.  I can count on one hand how many times I have ever seen her laying horizontal (other than nighttime!)  Seriously, she never sits down.  She watches TV standing as she is cooking.  She does paperwork or schoolwork standing, and etc.  You get the point.  She is the best multitasking, busy-body I have ever known.

3.   She loves the Lord and lives by her Christ-like example.  Her faith is number one to her and it shines daily throughout her walk with God.  I am beyond grateful for the amazing Christ-like role model she was for us three kids growing up and continues to be!

4.  This lady can COOK!  (My Dad even sent her to a cooking school with Paula Deen, in Savannah, Georgia for one of her Mother's Day gifts!)  I swear Brad and I diet before going home to a Hodges Family Thanksgiving or Christmas, because my Mom will feed you!  

5.  Growing up, my mom was a Mom first and not always a friend.  I find that so important these days.  Yes, I am not a mom yet, but so many women want to be "buddies" and are scared to be an authoritative mom.  Thank you Mom!  I never thought I would say those words.  I am pretty sure my Mom and I might have come close to "hating" each other when I was in high school.  Oh it was bad my friends....  She wouldn't let me go to certain parties, date certain boys, stay out past 11:00pm, or wear certain (short shorts) clothes!  Tears, screaming, maybe a slammed door or two, YOU NAME IT!  It was awful.  My Dad and brothers would just want to run, hide and never come out of their secret hiding place come Wednesday of EVERY WEEK....  That's when it started:  The yelling and screaming all over a bratty 16 year old's weekend plans.

In all seriousness, THANK YOU MOM!  Thank you for being strict, and not letting me wear the daisy duke shorts to high school, date certain boys and go to the parties where you knew nothing good was going to happen.  If a had a dollar for every time my mom said,  "Nothing good happens after midnight" -  I would be a RICH WOMAN!  And now - I agree.  I will definitely be saying that to my daughter or son one day!

6.  She is always so put together.  Rarely have I seen my mom without make-up and earrings.  That is the FIRST thing she does every morning.  Even if she is going to the grocery store, mowing the yard, having a garage sale, etc. those earrings and make-up are on!

7.  She puts EVERYONE before herself.  Her children, grandchildren, sisters, my Meme, my Dad, friends, etc.  You name it!  Such a selfless woman, that would give the shirt off her back for others... That's my Mom. 

8.  She is a great dancer and singer.  In her second life, she jokes that she will return as a Broadway singer and dancer.  She has great facial expressions and some serious dance skills, but I guess the First Baptist Church Choir will have to do for now.  

 
9.   She is the core and rock of our family and the most self-less woman I know. When it comes to trying times with our family, she is very level headed and calm.  When my Pa Paw was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, that was one of the hardest things I had to watch my Mom endure.  As sad and gut-wrenching as it was, she always remained calm and collective and knew that God was in control, whether or not we understood it.

10.  If I can be half the Mom, Sharon Frisbie Hodges, has been to me, then I have succeeded in life.  I cannot imagine my life without her;  her love, her generosity, her advice, her love for God, her zest for life, her fabulous food, and her drive.

I love you Mom.

And I was blessed with another Mom as of July 13, 2013...  

Thank you Debra for being a great Mom to Brad and I.  You raised an amazing, selfless son that I was so fortunate to meet, date and now be his wife!  I love you so much.

 And two other moms in my family that are maybe the best two mommies that I know - My two sister-in-laws; Lindsey and Christy! 

Knox, Briggs and Marlowe are so blessed to have the two of you for Moms... 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there.  Hope you have a great day!

Love,

~H