It's for the dogs...

Kevin was Santa at TSC yesterday...for the dogs (the BoxAR dogs)!! BoxAR raised almost $900 in two days, so it was worth it. Right Santa? It was nice seeing people I hadn't seen in awhile and meeting some new BoxAR members since I've been preoccupied with my master's and stepped away from helping. I am easing my way back in but don't plan to sit on the board this time around. It's all for the dogs... :-)
That's all you get picture wise...I think our Christmas card pic is coming from this batch. I am super behind in getting those this year! oops!

Mission Accomplished!

Saturday was a BIG day! I gave my portfolio presentation at UCA for my Master's degree and am now officially FINISHED and have a Master's degree! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! And, as nervous as I was, my presentation went great. Well, once we got my flashdrive to work. I almost had a panic attack when the computer wouldn't recognize my flashdrive in any of the USB ports, but after a few nerve wracking minutes, all worked out. I cracked a joke, the audience laughed, I relaxed and I did my presentation like I was talking to a room full of people I knew...who knew I could do that? Not me! LOL!!
After my presentation, we had some family over for some Benson cooking and fellowship - a perfect way to celebrate getting my Master's degree and having my life back! woot!

My niece "trained" the pups all afternoon. They crashed as soon as she left. She had them worn out! ha!Poor Stella won't master jumping off the bed, so she was trapped for hours of Autumn torture! HA! She laid there with that hat on completely defeated! heehee! Finally, no more projects, homework or studying to keep us from doing whatever we want to do! Thanks for your patience honey! Love ya!

I love the UPS man!

My presents to myself for 4 1/2 years of working on Masters and finally being FINISHED arrived today!! Yippee!! So far, no one has a Christmas present but that's ok. Because I have a new laptop!!! Woot! Woot! This is what she looks like:

It's an hp dv6-1355dx blah, blah, blah....most importantly, she is pretty and has a 15.6" widescreen! ha! I love her already!!

As an added bonus (because it was Black Friday sales on-line and I got a steal), I got a new camera. Yipee!! A Kodak Easyshare (my fav brand) Z915. I didn't loose any of my zoom and it is not as wide as my previous easyshare so I can fit it in my back pocket when we go camping and hiking and stuff. Plus, I love the new viewing screen because it's bigger than my old one. I seem to have a thing for big screens! ha!

Don't forget to send me prayers and good thoughts Saturday morning as I present my portfolio to my professors. My last task and then I will officially have my Masters! yay!

Wordless Wednesday

Come on out!

Kevin and I will be there on Sunday and KEVIN IS SANTA! All you local folks with doggies, come on out and see us and help a boxer in need! All furkids need a Santa pic! :-)

Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson

*Book #16 in my New Year's Resolution to read more!

My thoughts: This is not the typical James Patterson book, nor is it an Alex Cross novel. I thought I was about to start the next Alex Cross novel (which are my favorites!!), but this book is written as if it were Alex Cross telling a family story. I had a hard time at first because of the gruesomeness of the lynchings. It also makes me extremely ashamed of white people when I read about how they treated the African Americans back in those days. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to stomach the book at first. But, I was soon sucked in and couldn't put it down. This isn't a mystery of sorts, but a great story of bravery and courage. I think it took me 3 days to read it and that was with family Turkey day in between! I would label this a must-read!

From the jacket: From his grandmother, Alex Cross has heard the story of is great-uncle Abraham and his struggles for survival in the era of the Ku Klux Klan. Now Alex passes the family tale along to his own children in a novel he's written - Trial.
As a lawyer in Washington DC, early in the 1900's, Ben Corbett represents the toughest cases. Fighting against oppression and racism, he risks his family and his life in the process. When President Roosevelt asks Ben to return to his hometown to investigate rumors of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan there, he cannot refuse. When he arrives in Eudora, Mississippi, Ben meets the wise Abraham Cross and his beautiful daughter, Moody. Ben enlists their help, and the two Crosses introduce him to the hidden side of the idyllic southern town. Lynchings have become commonplace, and residents of the black quarter live in constant fear. Ben aims to break the reign of terror - but the truth of who is really behind it could break his heart.

Turkey Day

This year was awesome because the family rented a building at a local park...no one had to get their house and yard ready. Yay! The day always goes by so fast though!