Wiping off the Dust......

It's been too long since I've written an entry in my blog.
I know- it's been this or that... no excuse can really make up for the lost words that somehow do not appear on this blog-
Fall has officailly arrived in Hendersonville and it's nice- Course, it IS my favorite time of the year.
Alot has been happening in the past few months.

I plan on starting a journal of my journey when I am comfortable writing about all of this...
I have always been proud to call my self an "OPTIMIST" so what I write will be based on a positive outlook on the outcome in the "Long term" of things....

Let's just leave it with.... I LOVE my son Cody- he in an inspiration....
If you don't know him, you are missing out on meeting someone who will touch your life in a way you'll never know forever.....

Leaving a Legacy

Have you ever stopped for a moment and wonder how people would reflect upon your life after you are gone?
I know it's a weird and awkward thing to discuss but it will put your life into perspective if you do it.

I feel so lucky to have lived my life with such a great family.
I feel blessed that I am not ashamed to tell the world that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and that he died for my sins. I don't feel worthy of his love some days but he is always there to assure me I am HIS child and he loves me NO MATTER WHAT!

I believe that God had a plan for Bubba and I to be involved with The Make A Wish Foundation. I'm not sure why he chose this path for us, we literally picked the charity "out of the air" 6 years ago. We knew it helped kids and that was good enough for us.
Little did we know that this charity would mean more to us on a personal level in the years to come...
Now, we see just how AWESOME this foundation really is and how much good they bring to each family they help.

For those of you who may not know- Last fall my son Bobby's good friend, Trace was diagnosed with "Ewing's Sarcoma". It has been a very long fight in treating this cancer but Trace being the "Lil Fighter" that he is... has never given up the battle.
He has continued to live life as normal as one can and do all of the stuff he's been accustomed to doing... Trace is on the road to recovery and we look forward to the day when we can shout that he is CANCER FREE! I know that this day will arrive very soon.
Our community has come to the family with overwhelming support. They are sweetest, most kind family I've met in a very long time.

Bubba's tourney raised $15,000.00 this spring. YAY!
We are going to get to make "wishes" come true again... It's the most WONDERFUL feeling you could ever experience!

Hold your family close today, tell 'em you love them and then go out and make a difference in a someones life.

Let God lead you on the path that only he can.
Don't be afraid to listen to what he is saying to you...

BRING ON SUMMER

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything... for that I apologize. Life has been very busy for the ENTIRE Perry Family these last few months and to be honest- when I find myself with a few spare moments I try and catch a little more sleep or catch up on what I have stored on my DVR...

Bubba helped his friend, Eric Yutzy and entered 2 bowling teams for his Strike a cure for cancer tournament a few weeks ago. Eric is a big supporter of Make A Wish and also played in Bubba's celeb game back in April for Make A Wish.
Turns out, ole Big Bubba's team was the top scoring team! Each team had a celeb on it too. We had Ahmard Hall from the Tennessee Titans and Bubbas friend Chris Sanders ( ex Titan ) played on his team as well.
It was ALOT of fun for our whole family!

Bobby really enjoyed his trip to Washington, D.C. with People To People.
It was an anxious week for his mom and dad as we watched our oldest child fly away all by himself to such a big city, but we both survived!
He got to see so many things. I know he has a new found respect for all of the people that run our government and also defend our freedom on a daily basis.

Soocer is over for the season and I must confess I am ready for a small break. This past week we had tryouts for TUSC soccer for the next fall/spring season. Bobby has opted to play FOOTBALL for his jr. high school in the fall. I am so jazzed about this! He will play for the Ellis Cougars. Can you believe that he will be in the 8th grade in 2 months? UNBELIEVABLE!

Cody has been very diligent with his gutar. He applied for a music scholarship thru his music teacher and got one! I was so very proud of him. he had to make an audtion tape and play a bluegrass song. He chose- "old joe clark" LOVE that!
He has also done a performance at a local place with his music class and this time he sang and played his guitar!
Cody also took a movie class from our local theatre group. He learned the ins and outs and what all goes in to making a movie. The kids then made their own script and shot the movie. Cody was in the movie but he was also the director!
I had to giggle because when the credits rolled it said Director- Cody "quiet on the set " Perry too funny!

We have been painting the house in certain areas. Bubba and I decided we need some COLOR so we went with a cobbler (Burgandy) in our bedroom on just one wall and then we did a two tone green in the hall and divided it out with a chair rail. It is finally DONE! It looks really great too! Now, we have to start re -hanging pictures!

I really need to get a move on and keep pushing ahead- I promise it won't be MONTHS before I publish again....

The Month of March means.... The Bash is almost here!!

March is upon us now and we are in "full swing" planning the final touches to Bubba's 6th annual softball tourney for Make A Wish!

We pretty much work on it ALL year but this is the time it comes down to the "nitty gritty" ya know?

I pray for dry weather! I am not picky and if it is sub freezing weather, I will take it and promise not to complain.

We have so much more going on for the tourney this year- it really is an exciting weekend for all involved.

Bobby and Cody also donate their whole weekend to help these great kids who we strive to grant those specials "wishes".

It truly is a family project. Well not so much a project any more... now it is considered a "labor of love" for all of us.

We have decided to "try" and add a celebrity game to kick off the tournament on that Friday night.

WOW! It is REALLY hard getting to the"right people" of a celebrity!

It all has to do with timing as well. So many we have gotten thru to, would love to come out but will be out of town.

I truly believe that The Perry Family was meant to find the Make A Wish Foundation. They have taught me what it means to never give up and always believe that anything is possible. You just have to believe.....

It simply amazes me that even in the tough economic times that people are still willing to give their time and money to still help out those in need.

To see these kids makes my heart feel SO full.

I know that this is a time in their lives and the lives of their families that they can forget all that is going on in their lives and just sit back and relish in the happiness that a "wish" can give them.

It really doesn't matter what that "wish" is... it is what it is to THEM and that is all that matters in the end.

So whatever it takes, that's what we will do to keep this tournament going because a "wish" is what it is TRULY all about.

I will see you on the ball field!

It's that time again!!!

You know that spring is in the air, when Soccer practice/ season begins.
Hmmm, seems like it gets a little earleir each season but that's okay cause I really enjoy watching B out there on the old soccer field.

It's Monday!

Happy Monday!
Today is President's Day and the boys are out of school. I took a day from work and we are going to lunch and then catch a movie.
They each have a friend going with us so that should prove to be quite interesting.

I know it's been a bit since I have "blogged" anything BUT in my own defense life is pretty busy these days.
Winter time is coming to an "official" end for me because soccer season starts this week and my life as I have come to know it is pretty much over. Of course I am just kidding! LOL
I love watching Bobby play soccer and would be totally bummed if I missed a game.

This weekend he played in an indoor tournament that was held at his junior high and it was quite fun.
I am ready to go outside though and watch him in action this spring.
He loves to play the game and I love snapping pics of him with "the world's greatest camera".
Those of you who know me... well you know what that means *grin

We are also in high gear for Bubba's 6th annual Make a Wish Bash which is held at the end of March.
So much goes into the tourney and each year we strive to be that much better to make more money to grant more wishes. It is such a fun weekend and I pray for NO RAIN this year.

We are trying to take a step up this year and have planned a celebrity game to kick off the weekend on that Friday night. It is really hard to get people and their schedules to work out but we are not giving up and we are pushing forward.

Dear Mr. President

For as long as I can remember- inaugurating a new president was a BIG DEAL.
I mean, think about it- a man whom the majority has elected will run our country. One man... it seems kinda weird to think about it that simply. One man.... For me, making a decision about what to cook for dinner or what movie to rent at Blockbuster can be a decision in itself at times... what pressure a man must go through to be the president of OUR United States of America.

I listen to talk radio and consider myself quite a fan.
I listen to the conservatives (and they call themselves that) talk about how this is wrong and how that should be done.... in the end we all belong to the same country right?!
I will not argue about religion or politics. I think a person has their own right to what they believe in and why. I will say that I believe that a country must unite at some point if they want to succeed. Even if that means agreeing to disagree.

So when tomorrow rolls around and President elect Obama takes the oath of office I will be there to not only support him as MY president- I will look back with respect at our country- we have come SO very far in not looking at the COLOR of a persons skin.... but what is INSIDE that skin they wear..... that is what matters.....

We face some rocky roads ahead... but together we can move forward .. we owe it to our children don't you think?

BRRRR..... IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

I grew up in the north. Well I guess it's really called the "Mid-West" but being from Illinois, I was used to the cold temperatures that came with winter time.

I am from a small town with a population of 1,000 people. We lived in town but many lived in the "country". When the snow storms came schools did not close by county, they closed by each school individually. I mean seriously, why should one school close just because a school 25 miles away has to be closed?

I do remember at times the snow would blow and the decision was made that schools would be open to whomever could "make it in". Being a town kid I always made it in (bummer huh?)but the country kids had to rely on neighbors with snow mobiles or their daddys big trucks to get them out of their long and winding driveways just to get to school.

Getting out of school in Illinois meant you had some serious weather going on... One time my brother got out of his car and walked to close to a ditch without knowing where it was and BOOM he fell up to his chest in a snow drift. I still laugh about that!

The boys were out of school on Friday due to "extreme temperatures". I'm all for a snow day but wow, it's just amazing how things change ya know?

I'm ready for just "One Big Snow" this year....

after all, down here it'll be gone within the next day.....

Where were YOU 13 years ago?


I remember like it was yesterday........ I can't believe that it's been 13 years since I looked at my sweet precious Bobby Perry for the very first time.
I can still recall Bubba and I being so excited and relieved that it was finally over and there we were in the hospital room and Bubba was telling me how well I had done throughout the whole ordeal when my good pal Dr. Murphy interrupted and said " Don't you want to know if it's a boy or girl?" I still laugh about that to this very day.
So, here I am about to become a mother of a "teenager".... yikes! The very thought of that really makes feel odd. It's not that I feel old, it's the simple thought that I could actually have a child that will officially be a TEENAGER-
I have seen many "firsts" in Bobby's life so far like- glasses, braces and of course becoming a "soccer mom" ( I NEVER would have seen THAT coming) and I expect to experience many more.
Today, we received his official packet for his acceptance into "The People to People World Leadership Forum" in Washington, D.C.. He was nominated by his teacher at school and got picked to attend. There are 259 kids in the program and they are from all over the world.
He will be gone for a whole week in April.
I am so very proud that Bobby was chosen to be a part of this once in a lifetime event. I know he will represent our family and his state very well.
The very thought of him boarding a plane all by himself and flying across the country is more than words could ever say....
What a great and exciting opportunity this is for him.
I can only imagine what GOD has in store for Bobby and what he will choose to do with his life.
I only know that what ever it is I will always be there standing on the sidelines... ready to cheer him on...

Happy Birthday Bobby Perry.......

Love,
Mom

Going to the Opryland Hotel has become somewhat of a tradition at the Perry House.

It is probably my favorite place to visit during the holidays. We usually spend 3-4 hours looking at all of the lights and decorations throughout the hotel.

This place has a special place in my heart because Bubba and I were married 17 years ago in the conservatory. It still makes me giggle to this day when I remember walking down the aisle and seeing people peering at us through all of the plants and trees. It kinda reminded me of "Wizard Of Oz" where all of the munchkins lived... hee hee

The holidays are pretty much over and today we finished getting everything packed up and stored for next year. The house just seems kinda "naked" without all the lights,trees and decorations everywhere. Cody and I agree that we should move to "Christmas Town" and that way it could be Christmas all year long! Now, THAT's a thought huh?!

Tomorrow I return to work and I think it'll kick in that it's the start of a new year. The boys return to school on Tuesday and we will start to get back into the rock-n-roll routine that The Perry's have come to know and love.....

Bobby is playing in a Futsal league and that will end about the time that spring soccer will start.

Cody has his guitar lessons each week and his acting group is having a winter session that he will probably take part in so that will keep us busy for 12 weeks, and we also have cubscouts going on with a big campout the end of January in Gatlinburg. The boys get to "Sleep with the Sharks" at the Aquarium... I'll for sure post pics of that!

I guess with a new year comes the eagerness to pursue something new and adventurous. I figured that this would be a way I could post pictures and news of all of the things that happen to us as we follow GOD's journey and what HE has planned for us as we live "Life As A Perry".

As with any family, we have our good days and bad and even some stressful times as well. Life can be hectic at times as we juggle work, school, homework (yuk) and all those extra activities we encourage our kids to participate in... Sometimes I wonder how we ever get it all done in a 24 hour period.

Having said that, I have always been an optimist and can honestly say I always can find a positive in pretty much any situation I've been in...

I am going to make every effort to update on a consistent basis and post alot of pics as well. I have the "World's Greatest Camera" and use it quite alot.

In fact, my Kodak file informed me last night I had taken over 5900 pics in 2008........... wow!

I have a feeling I'll be typing quite alot these next few months.............