Thoughts From A Twenty-Something

Road to 14

2012-01-11T14:43:00.001-06:00

I spent the past few days in New Orleans. To say I had a wonderful time would be an understatement. While I have been to New Orleans many times in the past, this trip was no ordinary trip. Instead of going to shop on Magazine and Royal streets and eat the yummy beignets from Café Du Monde…though I did all of those things…I went to cheer my team as they competed for their 14th National Title in College Football.

The days were filled with lots of walking, shopping and yummy meals, and of course the game…but the best part was by far the time spent with family. There were so many times over the course of the trip that I thought to myself “I am so blessed.” Whether I was sitting amongst family and friends eating late night beignets or cheering amongst family and fans in support of the Alabama Crimson Tide, I got to experience something this week that many can only dream to experience. The thing is, I got to experience it not because of who I am…but because of whose I am. I got to experience so many wonderful things because I am blessed with grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles that take great delight in showering me with goodness. They were the perfect reminder of how Jesus delights in showering his children with gifts. With each thing that I undeservingly was given…nice meals, souvenirs, game ticket…I was reminded how much God truly loves us.

Bet you weren’t thinking you were going to get a “God analogy” in the football post, huh? Probably not…but it’s so true.

So, thanks for the undeserved blessings, family…and thanks for the win, Bama!

January 2012—All smiles with my Mom after the big win. ROLL TIDE!! 14th Title

January 2010—Celebrating the 13th National Championship in Pasadena. 13th Title

January 1993—In New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl for my first National Championship experience. 12th Title

I’ve been through enough great Alabama seasons and not so great ones (AKA…college) to know that life doesn’t revolve around football. Whether we had won the game or lost it, the sun still would have shown the next day…but I sure do love it when we are doing winning!

Fall Recap

2012-01-07T10:34:00.000-06:00

Before my most recent post, it seemed that I settled in for a long fall nap. While I wasn’t blogging…I was most certainly not just sitting around doing nothing.

The remainder of October and the months of November and December were jam packed for me. Most of the time was spent with my head in books. I found my little spot in the school library…and when they kicked me out of there, I found that the Waffle House was a suitable substitute for late night studying.

I most certainly never perfected a balance among school, my family, my friends and daily tasks…but I did find a little time to just relax and have a good time. Here are some pictures of some of the highlights. Maybe I’ll be better in 2012 at actually blogging as the memories happen…but I’m not making any promises.

I spent many a Saturday in Tuscaloosa cheering on my favorite team…and got fabulous seats at many a game thanks to this sweet friend and her family!

I loved every minute of the MBHS fall show…especially since I got to watch one of my favorites perform.

I spent every Friday night cheering on the Mountain Brook Spartans…and definitely cried like I had actually attended the school when they beat Hoover.

My roommate and I had our Sunday School class over for a Halloween pumpkin carving party extravaganza.

I missed my first class ever so that I could see these sweet senior girls in their final homecoming pep rally and parade. Totally worth it. I’m currently in denial that they are going to be graduating and leaving me in a few months.

I attempted to throw my roommate a birthday party on Halloween night. Seeing that she is Ms. Martha Stewart…it paled in comparison to any party she would throw, but we still had fun.

We had a visit from these sweet kids that we baby-sit for…by far our favorite trick or treaters!

I attended more Alabama football games with friends

I celebrated my cousin’s 18th birthday…Lumberjack theme, anyone?!?!

I was reunited with two of my all-time favorite families in Atlanta.

It was a full fall. I finished my first semester of Divinity School…sometimes fighting with the Lord…but I did it. I found a way to juggle full-time school and practically full-time work. I was fed spiritually by some of the best Sunday School teachers I have ever had. I focused lots of my free time on my sweet high school senior girls and though it meant lots of things had to fall to the wayside, I know it was worth it. I formed new friendships…and rekindled some old ones that I had missed so much.

Through it all…God was faithful.

God is Faithful

2012-01-06T09:25:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week, I took a group of girls from Birmingham to Atlanta for Passion. I had been looking forward to it and praying over the time we would have there for months. After attending Passion previously, I expected God to show up in big ways. He most certainly did. What I didn't expect was what happened on the drive over.

We were driving along...laughing lots and singing at the top of our lungs...and then we topped the hill and I caught my first view of the Atlanta skyline. My throat tightened up and my eyes welled with tears. In my two years of living in Atlanta, I had made the drive from Birmingham more times than I could count. Since I've moved, I've made the drive a handful of times each year. Yes, I have gotten teary before...but this was different.

When I left Atlanta in 2009, I cried almost the entire way to Birmingham. Atlanta was so good to me. The people especially. I had friends that loved me for me. Bosses and coworkers that wanted nothing more than to help me grow as a person. Families and children that I loved and that loved me back. High school girls that I connected with. A pastor that had helped me grow in my spiritual walk more than any other pastor had before. Atlanta had been so good...I didn't want to leave. I knew Birmingham couldn't be anything like it.

I was reminded of all of that as I drove a car load full of high school senior girls from Birmingham into my home of Atlanta. God is faithful. He knew my heart. He knew my longings. He knew that as wonderful as Atlanta was for me, Birmingham could be even better. In Birmingham, I have been blessed with yet another wonderful roommate that loves me for me, holds me accountable and encourages me to have fun. In Birmingham, the list of families that have welcomed me into their home with open arms seems to lengthen with each passing year. In Birmingham, I have been blessed with a group of high school girls that would blow you away. I'm currently in the state of denial that they are graduating in May and moving away. In Birmingham, I have found a church that I can grow in, fellowship in and serve in.

His plans may not always be my plans...but I can always trust his plans. I can do that because I know without a doubt, when I'm dreaming big dreams...He is dreaming bigger ones. God is faithful. Even in the smallest of things. I'm so thankful for that.

Lil Light O' Mine

2011-10-10T05:23:00.000-05:00

I will never forget the first time I walked into the door of the DeFeo home. A sweet mom greeted me at the door and a little girl, not even a year old, with a head full of curls looked up at me. It was love. Instant love. That was September 2007. Over 4 years have passed since then. In that four years, I've watched Courtney love on her children and the children of others. I've seen her fill my heart and the hearts of others with encouragement, love and biblical truths.

It is with great excitement that I get to share with you the news that the same mom that I met almost 4 years ago has started her own company, and it is launching TODAY. Lil Light O' Mine was "created to empower moms and change little lives" and I have no doubt that it will do that and so much more!

The website is incredible. The facebook and twitter pages will encourage you.

I'm not a mom, but with as much baby-sitting as I do, I know a good thing for moms and kids when I see it, and let me tell you...this is a VERY good thing.

I've got ABC scripture cards on the way to my house as I type and I can hardly wait to have them in my hands...and then to give them to some of "my" families.

Sweet Courtney...I'm so sorry for breaking down when I called today. I really was trying my best to keep it together, but my excitement just had a way of coming through in tears. I'm so excited for you. Thank you for your willingness to step out into the unknown and allow the Lord to use you. I can hardly wait to see all that he accomplishes through you and this company!!

ABC about ME ME ME

2011-09-28T18:29:00.000-05:00

I have a BIG Greek test tomorrow. So, the blog is getting some love.

My friend, Lindsee, was the first to do this yesterday...and then I found out that lots of people love Lindsee too, because my reader had lots of posts with people copying her.

So, here it is..Lindsey in ABC format...

A. Age: 26...savoring every last minute of it before the next birthday

B. Bed Size: Full...I'd be perfectly fine with a twin though because I don't move.

C. Chore that you hate: Dusting...or any kind of yardwork. Thankfully, my roommate and I have a yard boy. Who knows, one of these days we may just get a maid, too!

D. Dogs: None here, but one at my parents house named Maggie

E. Essential start to your day: Ok. This is a little embarrassing. Every morning, without fail, I start the day by saying "It's going to be a great day!" I've done it every day since my senior year of high school when our high school football coach encouraged us to do it.

F. Favorite color: Hmm...I LOVE color. Blue is probably my all time favorite...just can't pair it with orange!

G. Gold or Silver: Both. Just not at the same time!

H. Height: 5'8'....technically it's almost 5'9", but I like 5'8" better

I. Instruments you play: The piano...but only the treble cleff and the French Horn.

J. Job Title: Sales Manager...and full time student

K. Kids: None of my own, but plenty that I would claim as my own!!

L. Live: Alabama. Love this sweet state and my current home in Birmingham.

M. Mother's name: the same as my middle name...Robin

N. Nicknames: hmmm...the typical ones are Linds, Lindzi, Lindzers, Linrobsmi...but then you have the odd ones that I acquired through the years: Bob and Corn top that list. I won't mention the millions that my younger sister has for me.

O. Overnight hospital stays: summer before first grade when I had pneumonia...lots of stories from that visit, let me tell ya!

P. Pep peeves: Most of them center around English grammar. I just can't handle it when people misuse the words their/there/they're or your/you're! I know spell check doesn't pick it up, but it's in the 2nd grade grammar book. Maybe I'll do a post on that one day.

Q. Quote from a movie: I love movies. Don't watch them nearly as much as I used to. One of my old time favorites is Serendipity. Lots of great quotes from that one, but here's one you can journal on: "You know the Greeks don't write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died. "Did he have passion?" Those Greeks...they were on to something.

R. Right or left handed: Both. I write, eat, and throw left handed. I bat, cut, and shoot a gun right handed.

S. Siblings: Two sisters. One 4 years older. One 4 years younger. I am the quintessential middle child and am only now starting to get over my "middle child" syndrome.

T. Time you wake up: 5AM...usually without my alarm clock. Though now that school has started and my naps have been removed, I will say that I often sleep right up to it.

U. Ultimate vacation: Greece. Now that I'm taking some Greek, I'm trying to convince my parents that this would be a great way to "better my knowledge."

V. Vegetable you hate: I think I like, or can at least tolerate, them all...wait, no, I do not like beets.

W. What makes you run late: I subscribe to the adage of "if you're on time, you're late" and am often at least 5 minutes early. Except for church. Despite the fact that I can see the building from my front porch, I'm almost always at least 30 seconds late.

X. X-Rays you've had: My lungs. See letter O

Y. Yummy food that you make: I don't cook near as much as I used to...with the roommate I have, it's not really necessary. But, if needed, I can make pretty much anything. My specialities are appetizers and desserts though.

Z. Zoo animal: Giraffe! I'm also partial to the elephants and monkeys.

So there you have it...26 random thoughts about me.

2011-09-21T22:24:00.000-05:00

When I left Atlanta and moved to Birmingham, I had a lot of reservations. I knew Birmingham was where I needed to be, but it was still so hard. One thing could have made it much easier though...a suitcase so I could take all of my "Atlanta people" with me. Specifically, I wanted to take the sweet families that I used to baby-sit for and move them to my new neighborhood.

After years of baby-sitting, I feel like I'm an expert on the subject. Well, let me clarify. I'm not an expert on baby-sitting by any means...but an expert on knowing a good family when I see one, that I am. You may think it's easy, but they are hard to come by! After all, you have to have kids that are fun and obedient, and parents that trust you and aren't especially weird. :) So, as I explained in this post, my Atlanta families were the best of the best and I often wondered if there would be even one family in Birmingham that could hold a candle to them.

Two years later, I'm blown away at the sweet families that I get to hang out with. The moms wear the hats of counselor, mentor, and friend. The dads show me qualities of a Godly husband and father. The marriages give me a constant reminder to trust that God's timing is perfect, and waiting for the right mate is always worth it. The children make me laugh and cry, strengthen my patience and remind me to live life to the fullest.

Then, when school started, those sweet families climbed to new levels of sweetness. Seriously my love tank is overflowing. I've gotten texts, calls and cards almost everyday filled with encouraging words. I think my favorite was the little boy that asked if I was going to be in his kindergarten class. :) Then, as if the words weren't enough...because they totally were...one sweet family even remembered that I was thinking about getting a new coffee maker for myself to help with the late nights and took it upon themselves to surprise me with the Cadillac of coffee makers. You know, the kind that has the little cups you put in so you have the exact amount that you need. To say I was a bit overwhelmed would be quite the understatement.

My precious Atlanta families will never be replaced, but after two years in Birmingham, I can say with confidence that in so many ways the Lord has proven himself faithful to my prayer for sweet families, and for that, I am grateful.

this one's for the girls

2011-09-12T19:01:00.000-05:00

Ever heard of the Martina McBride song "This One's For the Girls?" It's been one of my favorites for years, but now that I'm back in school...reading hundreds of pages a week, writing papers and being called on in class to give my theological interpretation of a Biblical passage, I'm finding that it's running through my head more, but this time with a different insight into the words.

There are many reasons I am going back to school to get my Masters of Divinity, but most of them include these precious faces. This one's for the girls. The teens of today, and the teens of tomorrow. Just typing these words and seeing these faces has given me the extra push to get back to my reading...even if I don't have a clue what in the world the words mean!

**Yes, I thieved these pictures from blogs and facebook. I did it without permission. I am happy to take the picture of your precious girl down if requested. I promise, I won't take offense. In addition, if your picture isn't on this post, it does not mean that you aren't loved...it just means that you weren't in the pictures that I was able to quickly locate. My study schedule only allowed for a 15 minute break. :)**

2011-09-07T20:44:00.000-05:00

Before I started Divinity School, one of the most common pieces of advice was don't let your reading for your classes cause you to lose time for your own personal quiet time. I tucked that little piece of information away, but didn't really think I'd have to worry about that. Of course I'd want to continue my daily quiet times. I love them.

Then school started. I was assigned hundreds of pages to read a day. Papers to write. Quizzes to be prepared for. A new language to learn. Things got crazy real quick...clearly, I've barely been in school a week...and my early morning quiet time has been replaced with one final read through of the homework. My 30 second Jesus Calling reading and 5 minute drive to and from class has become the new morning devotion time. Not good. I know.

Well, as ~~luck~~ God would have it, this arrived at my house today.

I heard about this book months ago because I'm a frequent reader of Emily's blog. I knew I would love it, but was almost afraid to read it for myself. It's not a secret that one of the things I struggled with the most is giving myself grace, and since I've worn the "good girl" label pretty much my entire life, I had a feeling that this book would really rock my world. Well, after reading so many great things about it, I knew that I just had order it. I have a feeling this book may be just the ticket to get me back in my morning quiet time routine and I can hardly wait!

Meet My Crew...Allison

2011-09-05T03:32:00.000-05:00

About three months ago I decided I'd start a little blog series called "Meet My Crew." It lasted for all of one post, and then I kind of forgot about it. Good thing is, my cousin, Allison did not. Since she did the honors of reminding me, I figure she deserves her own little post. So, without further adieu...Meet Allison!

When I was growing up, I always envied my friends that had cousins that lived nearby. Not only did I not have a cousin super close in age, but none lived close enough for me to see much more than holidays. While I still wish that I had some of those cousin memories from when I was a kid, I think it makes me appreciate the ones I am able to make now even more.

One of the best things about moving to Birmingham has been, hands down, getting to know Allison better. In lots of ways we are alike...but we're different in all of the ways that make her better than me!

While I love to bake, Allison can out bake anyone, any day, and her cooking skills are getting better, too. Don't even think about challenging her to a Just Dance danceoff...she can beat you blindfolded! She can speak French. For real. Not just like a wannabe. One day, if I ever make it big, which, is HIGHLY doubtful, but if I ever do, I'm taking her to France with me! She's a trendsetter. Want to know how the term "deuces" became a common phrase in her community? That would be Allison.

She is, by far, one of the wittiest people that I know. Her sense of humor is one of my favorite things about her. Even the mundane is hilarious when Allison describes it. She has a comeback for everything, and now that we have twitter she has perfected her comebacks to 140 characters or less.

It didn't take her long to clue in that I love hanging out with her, and it makes my day that she invites me to do it! True, I would probably invite myself over anyway, but I love that I don't have to. She's always so sweet to text me with an invitation to dinner, a request to call out things for an upcoming test, or if I'm lucky...she'll even swing by my house for an impromptu visit.

Her home is always hopping. Yeah, she has a great space for people to hang out, but that's not the only reason why. The people come because she is such a fabulous friend and host. Her friends are some of the best in the land...but to have a friend, you must be one, so clearly she is a great one!

Allison is the school spirit queen. I was never one to miss a school sporting event growing up, so I totally understand her excitement. She's not just about the pep though. I guarantee you that she knows more about sports than any of those other cheerleaders out there...and probably more than a majority of the people that are playing the sport!

While she would probably disagree, Allison is a leader. I love watching her with a group of people. She's respectful of others and their opinions. When she talks, others listen. She's giving. She's humble. Always putting others before herself. She loves the Lord and her relationship with Him is something I could only dream to have when I was in high school. Pretty much, Allison is incredible. It's easy to forget that there are 9 years between us because she is so wise beyond her years. I'm so thankful she's my cousin because that means we'll be together forever...thank goodness, because I sure couldn't handle family get togethers without her!

One week down...

2011-09-04T16:19:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm a week into school and let me just say, WHOA! As I sat in class each day last week, I just kept thinking to myself, why in the world am I doing this? What was I thinking? No..what was God thinking?

I have read through my old journals every night this past week...gotta remind myself that it was not of my own strength that I am actually doing this. I got into school because it was the Lord's plan, and I will make it through...if that's His plan. :)

I expected that I would learn and grow a lot, but after 4 days of class, two papers and 400 or so pages of reading, I think it's safe to say that I'm going to be growing in ways I never dreamed possible.

I've been so confused and stressed these past few days that I haven't been able to really think. Instead, I've been turning up the music and using it to worship. Currently playing...Kari Jobe. Kari is one of my all-time favorite worship leaders. I love the honesty in her music...she's one of those that just leads you to the throne when she opens her mouth. Truly a gift. This past week, I have been claiming the words of her song "You Are For Me." Well, this morning, for the first time that I can remember, the praise band at our church sang a Kari Jobe song...and not just any song...yes, they sang "You Are For Me." For those sitting around me today, sorry for the waterworks. As if the words of the song weren't enough already to remind me that God is there, it was such a special treat for them to sing it. As I sat and listened to the words it was almost as if God, Himself, was singing over me. Powerful indeed.

Here's the clip of Kari introducing and singing the song. Take a listen...then go get a copy of the CD for yourself. I promise, it won't disappoint.

Ready or Not...

2011-08-29T21:49:00.003-05:00

I bet you thought after almost 3 months of no posts that I was no longer writing. Truth be told, there have been lots of times over the past few months that I debated deleting the account and writing it off for this chapter of my life. Thankfully, I didn't...because days like today just have to be shared, and now that I'm going back to school, I feel like this blog may really start to get some attention. Procrastination at its finest. :)

Lots of things have happened over the past three months...maybe I'll do a post in the near future about that...but for now, I'll just pick up with today and ask for grace on everything that I've missed.

Today was a bid day for me. After months of anticipation, I found myself sitting in a chapel, surrounded by people I had never met as we became "oriented" to the Divinity School. The place we will be spending the next 3-4...or more....years. In many ways, it was like a dream come true, with a few nightmarish parts thrown in for good measure. The dream part was listening as Dr. George spoke on Hebrews 11. Often known as the "Faith Hall of Fame," I have read the verses that make up that chapter time and time again. The passage took on new meaning this morning, however, as we were instructed to move from certainty to trust, security to vulnerability and temporal to eternal. I felt like I couldn't write his encouragement down fast enough. Then came the words I wished I had never heard...you know, the phrases of "This is not summer camp. This degree will be every bit as hard to earn as a medical or law degree." Definitely not what I wanted to hear. Or how about "whatever grades you made in undergrad, expect to make a letter grade less" my over-achiever side about had a heart attack when that was said!

Thankfully, as I looked around the room, I saw so many faces that looked the same as mine. Fellow believers that have a desire to grow more in their own relationship with the Lord so that they can impact the Kingdom. I have no doubt that there will be tears shed between the time the first class begins tomorrow morning and the time that we receive our diplomas, but I also have no doubts that the support that I will receive from the students and faculty alike will be insurmountable.

After the end of a full day, I left still very excited about the future, but a little more apprehensive than I have been in the past. As I drove, I asked the Lord to calm those fears and to help me remember the reason that I was going to get this degree in the first place. It was not for me...it was for Him. Then, because God is in the details, tonight I got a message from my cousin asking me to come to her house for a small group Bible study that she and some of her friends were starting tonight. I'm not going to lie, it warmed my heart on so many levels...one, because they were meeting on their own accord to dig deeper into God's Word and two, because they wanted me there. As I sat and listened to them share their desire for authentic Christian community, it was all I could do not to cry. I mean, I teared up, but I don't think they even noticed. Really, it was just too much for my little heart to take today though. The way they encouraged one another and were honest about their struggles was encouraging. It's no secret that high school and college aged girls are my favorite group of people in the world. As I sat and listened, it was almost as if the Lord was right there, confirming and affirming that girls ministry and Divinity School specifically, is right where He wants me.

So now, instead of being nervous, I am choosing to be thankful. Thankful for the opportunity to grow closer to the Lord so that I can in turn minister to others in a way that will give them a desire to grow closer as well.

Copying is Flattery, right?!?!

2011-06-05T20:27:00.007-05:00

What does one do when they have a blog that is currently on life support and continually finds themselves with nothing to write about? I don't really know the answer, but it's a question that I have been asking myself over and over again and I have decided that what I will do is take ideas from blogs belonging to my friends and hope and pray that they take the copying as a sincere form of flattery!

Up first...an idea from my roommate and newest addition to my blog reader, Martha. After years of reading blogs, she has decided to venture into the blog scene. Though she's just getting started, I'm sure her blog will be filled with lots of wonderful posts. In order to introduce the blog world to all of her friends, she has started a little series called Meet My Crew. I love the idea and realized that there are quite a few people that I have mentioned on my blog, but not really talked about. So it begins...my first installment of Meet My Crew.

Since I am taking the idea from Martha, I feel it's only best to start with her.

Martha and I first met right before I officially moved to Birmingham. I was visiting a Sunday School class and she introduced herself. Despite the fact that she was an Auburn grad, I knew, even then, that we would be friends.

A little less than a year later she found herself in need of a new place to live and I found myself getting blessed with one of the best roommates ever. I tell everyone that I'm going to live with her until one of us gets married...I sure hope she doesn't get sick of me before I walk down the aisle...or that she walks down the aisle and leaves me too soon!

As small town, southern baptist, SEC football loving, sewing machine owning girls, we have a lot of similarities. Yet even with all of the similarities, she has taught me so many new things...and helped me to love even more the things that we have in common.

Here's a small smattering of reasons why Martha is the absolute best...

Parties, Parties, Parties...I've always wanted to have a warm and welcoming home. Now that I live with Martha, I no longer have to want it, I have it. She exudes southern hospitality and because of that our home is always filled with people, especially when she decides to throw one of her parties.
Mad cooking skills...she may not cook every night, but whatever she cooks, or bakes, always turns out PERFECT.
Words, words, words...She knows my love language is words of affirmation and she speaks it to me oh so well. It's one thing to speak words of encouragement and thanks when they are expected, but Martha has the "out of the blue" note down to an art. Walking into my room and seeing a little envelope with my name on it sitting on my dresser is sure to bring a smile...and more than likely a few tears as well.
Old school music...Some of my absolute favorite times are when we are sitting around in the living room, both on our computers. When all of a sudden we start taking a walk down memory lane with our old school music...especially the old school church music. I don't know, but it delights me to no end.
Tough love...she says that I'm the queen of giving it, but she's pretty durn good at giving it right back. I love how whenever we are talking I know that she is always looking out for my best interests. It's the part of friendship that you can't teach, and she has it.
Curly hair...I literally have hours of my life back thanks to Martha. After years of trying, I thought it was hopeless, but in 10 minutes one night she had me feeling like a real, live, curly haired girl.
Pictures...I love pictures, and have always done a good job at organizing them and getting them printed. Martha takes it one step further and keeps the frames updated. It's so nice to see updated photos of people we love all around the house.
Thinker...It's not uncommon for us to listen to a sermon and then chat about it. I feel like my observations are pretty basic, but Martha always seems to dig deeper. I love that, and it helps me to dig deeper too.
Embracing the moment...Martha truly knows how to enjoy the moment. I'm so glad that I'm getting to live my "single days" with her because it makes me love this stage of life even more. We don't spend hours wishing and planning a wedding. Instead, she has helped me to see the fun that can be found in the present.

The truth of the matter is, whether it's late night chat sessions, movies, walks to dinner, road trips, dance parties or pool days, life is definitely better with Martha! God has truly outdone Himself with this roommate. I pray that I will never take one minute of living with her for granted!!

The Joyful Reactions

2011-06-01T07:56:00.003-05:00

Friends divide the pain and multiply the joy. I don't know if I have ever experienced the multiplicity of the joy part of that statement more than in the weeks following my acceptance to Beeson.

In the months prior to finding out, I had been secretly making a list of people that I wanted to call when I found out the news...whatever news it would be. It seemed a little crazy at the time, but I'm so glad I did it because I didn't have to think of who to call. I won't bore you with the reactions of every person on my list, but there are some that I don't want to forget...

Natalie...my best friend that has walked the journey of apply to school, get too scared, apply to school, get to scared, apply to school the entire time. She has faithfully prayed for me, asked me the tough questions and cheered me on every step of the way. Sending her the message with the word TOP in it brought tears to my eyes immediately. Truly a dream realized.

Mrs. Teresa...During my interview I was asked to name a person in my life that has done for me what I long to do for others. Without hesitation, I began to describe the relationship that I have with Mrs. Teresa, my mentor. I met her when I was in middle school, and despite only living in the same city for 3 of the past 15 years, she has given poured into me, encouraged me, listened to me and loved me unconditionally. If I can do for teenage girls even half of what she has done for me, I will feel like I have accomplished something. Her squeal of delight and affirming words were a blessing.

Sarah Beth...another dear friend that has walked the journey of applying for school with me. She was my daily encouragement to fill out the application, read the books and write the papers. Her accountability was just what I needed...and I sure hope it doesn't stop when the real school begins! She was one of the few I got to share the news with in person, and she immediately decided that a trip to Summer Snow was in order to celebrate.

Allison...my cousin in high school. She isn't one to show much emotion, but when she does...you know it's real. To see her excitement, and the subsequent excitement as she shared the news with her friends, was such affirmation for me. After all, I want to work with high school girls...and their smiles, hugs and cheers gave me reason to believe that they though I would actually do an okay job at it.

Sweet Moms...I love to fill my free time with baby-sitting. One of the greatest compliments in the world is when parents welcome you into their home and give you the chance to love their children. One of the neat things about baby-sitting as a twenty-something is that the parents are becoming more and more my friends. I loved getting to call so many moms to share the news with them...especially since I know they had prayed over the decision for so long.

Mark...my former boss at Chick-fil-A. I will never forget the conversation I had with my boss to tell him that I felt the Lord wanted me to work in ministry full-time and that in order to do that, I was going to need to leave the job I loved. That was more than 2 years ago. He was by far the best boss I have ever had, and leaving him was one of the hardest things I have done. Finally being able to call him and tell him that I was, in fact, going back to school, was so special.

Martha...my dear roommate. I know, I mentioned her in the earlier post, but she was such a large and important part in the whole process that she deserves at least one more mention. Her reaction was one of my favorites. She was the one, reading the letter...and doing a much better job of comprehending what it said. She was the first one to congratulate me. She was the one that sat there as I whipped out my list of people to call. She was the one who sat there as I began to go down the list, only to have NO ONE answer the calls. She was the one that I joked with and said "it looks like the rapture happened and the newly admitted divinity student was left behind." She cheered me on the whole way, and I know she'll be cheering me on the whole way through New Testament Greek, Spiritual Formation and Old Testament Theology this fall.

Okay...I think that's enough of the divinity school posts...at least until school starts this fall. Thanks so much for all of the encouraging words, cards, texts, emails and calls. My words of affirmation love tank is filled and overflowing!

March 26...When Dreams Came True

2011-05-11T18:34:00.000-05:00

I'm obsessed with dates. Not the fruit, not the social kind, but the ones on the calendar. For that reason, I can remember the exact date that things have happened, and from now on, I will stop and smile whenever March 26 rolls around.

March 26, 2011. It started off as a normal Saturday. I was up early...typical because try as I might, I have inherited the "wake up early" gene from my Dad. My sweet roommate, Martha, doesn't have the "wake up early" gene, so by the time she was waking up around 10, I was contemplating a nap, but when she mentioned she was hungry, I realized I hadn't eaten so we decided to go out for breakfast. We picked a girly brunch place and enjoyed catching up on the events of the week. A true treat.

When we got home, I noticed that the mail had come. A little odd because the mail usually didn't run until late afternoon on Saturdays. As I pulled it out of the mailbox and took a glance I realized that, for once, something important had come in the Saturday mail. A letter I had been waiting on.

At this point, I should probably back up to say that a few months before, after much prayer and research, I had decided to pursue my dream to get my Masters of Divinity from Beeson..a dream that I have had since high school. I filled out the application, wrote the essays (it's a wonder I didn't die during that process), and went for the interview. I pretty much did it all with only a handful of people knowing. As much as I wanted to get in, I figured there was no chance that it would happen, so there was no sense in telling people about it only to have to tell them a few months later that I didn't get in.

As I held the letter I realized that things were about to get really interesting. I remember looking at my roommate and showing her the letter as I fumbled for my keys to unlock the door. She just laughed...probably because she had just asked at breakfast if I had heard anything. I held the letter in one hand and noticed that it was heavy...that must be good, right. Martha assured me that it was...more papers, and things to return. Still, I wouldn't let myself get too excited. There was always a chance that it would say "sorry...but here is a brochure for some other options."

After what seemed like 15 minutes, I finally got the door unlocked and we sat on the couch to open and read the letter. I found myself reading and rereading the first paragraph because I just couldn't believe what it was saying...I had been accepted. My roommate, on the other hand, had already gotten the chance to read further down and was noticing that there was more to the letter than just a congratulations, you're in. She asked if I knew what it meant and I said, "I think this means I'm going to school." She said yeah, but keep reading!! I got to the next paragraph and about fell off the couch when I saw that not only had I been accepted, but I was selected to receive a scholarship. Not only had God fulfilled my dream to go to Divinity school, he had totally exceed it!

I got teary then, and I still get teary now when I think about it. God is so so good.

Needless to say, finding out about school changed my weekend plans because now I knew I had to go home to see my parents. For those of you that know me, you know that I don't make it home too often. In order to make sure that I didn't scare them to death with a visit, I called my sister, told her about school, and got her to agree to come up to Brewton so I could tell my parents that I really wanted to see my niece, so I was going to drive down for the day and they were going to drive up. I wouldn't be able to go down until Sunday, so I spent the rest of the day in thankfulness and awe. It was actually kind of nice to be able to reflect on all that had happened to bring me to that point.

I got up early the next morning and called my parents to let them know I was on my way. My Dad went on and on about how this was a waste of time and money, but I just kept my mouth shut. I knew that I wanted to tell them in person, so a down and back trip was really the only possible solution. As long as I live, I will never forget that drive down to Brewton. What would they think? Especially since I hadn't even told them I had applied. How would they react? What would they say? Heck, I wondered how I was going to tell them. To say I spent my drive praying would be quite the understatement.

I made it into town just in time to go to meet them at church. I did my best to act normal and enjoyed chatting with lots of people I hadn't seen since Christmas. We went home to a little mini-feast my mom had whipped up and I finally decided that I would tell them over lunch. Well, I guess it was more of a show than a tell. You see, on the way down, I decided to just show them my acceptance letter and let them read it. I figured parents-to-be did that with ultrasound pictures, so why couldn't I do it with my letter?!

Like I said, I didn't really know what to expect, but their reactions were priceless. Mom's mouth dropped wide open, and after about 5 minutes, Dad asked me if I was going to actually go. Well, yes, Dad...I do believe I will. :) I did my best to answer all of their questions and apologized for not telling them about it sooner. After all the questions had been answered, both seemed eager to tell their friends, so I knew then that they were happy.

After we chatted, I didn't have much time before I knew I was going to need to get back on the road, but there was one other person that I had hoped to tell while I was there...my childhood Pastor, the one who prayed the sinner's prayer with me and baptized me, and one of my all-time favorite neighbors, Brother John. I walked across the street sat on the same couch that I had sat on almost 18 years ago to the day and given my heart to Jesus. Yes, I cried. It was such a blessing to be able to thank him for all he had done for me, and then to have him pray over me was more than I could take.

It's been a little over 6 weeks since I opened the mailbox to find a letter that would change my life. In that time I've gotten to share the news with so many, some that have prayed for this day for years, so it has been a delight to thank them for those prayers. I have been reminded yet again how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family and friends.

As for school, classes start in August...August 29 to be exact. More than likely, it will take me 4 years. I am incredibly nervous about having to write theological papers...I'm not a theological thinker in the least...but, I am super excited to learn, and I know that I will get through it, and be a much better person because of it. When I graduate, I will have a Masters of Divinity, and for now, I feel that the Lord is calling me to use what I learn to work for a church as a Girls Ministry Leader....sort of like a youth leader, just for the girls. I have always had a heart for high school and college aged women, and I can think of no greater joy than to be able to do life with them daily.

So there you have it. Pretty much the reason I've been so quiet on the blog has been because I have wanted to say all of this for the past 6 weeks, but couldn't because I haven't been able to tell my current boss. You see, I really wanted to tell my boss in person, and since I work from home, I wasn't able to make a trip to the office until now. But, as of today, the office knows so I can now shout it from the rooftops...or the blogtops as the case may be....I AM GOING TO BEESON DIVINITY SCHOOL!!!

A Ring for the Roomie

2011-04-23T16:03:00.003-05:00

There are some moments in life that no matter how much time passes, you are still able to remember every single detail. One of those moments is the time a little over 8 years ago. I was a senior in high school, visiting The University of Alabama, and I met Lauren for the first time.

I'm actually going to skip over the details because that's not the purpose of this story...maybe another time...but the thing to know is that at the end of the day, we decided that we would be roommates the upcoming fall.

I can't tell you how many times I've thought back to my freshman year and said a prayer of thankfulness for the opportunity to live with Lauren. We weren't exactly alike by any means, but we respected each other and enjoyed spending time with each other...and all these years later, I can't think of a time that we ever fought.

While we were only roommates for one year, but our senior year, we were pretty much attached at the hip. We had all but one class together, and were always in each other's group for group projects. I pity her for having to put up with me, but there was no way that I was going to be in a group with anyone but her...a true marketing genius!

As it so often does, graduation forced us to part ways,. However, we've always managed to find a way to see each other at least a few times a year. This past visit was just a few weeks ago and I must say it was one of my favorites.

Lauren's parents have recently build a beautiful home in our old college town. She had planned to make a trip down to see them, and the trip only got better when she became engaged the weekend before. Once I found out that she was going to be in town for a few days, I knew I would have to make the drive down. There was just no way I was going to pass up seeing one of my favorite people, her new fiance, her precious family, and the RING!

It was the perfect time to get caught up on each other's current life as well as exchange stories from some of our more memorable college times...we definitely had some that we will never forget!!

As I drove home that night, I just kept thinking how grateful I was that it was the Lord's plan for Lauren to be my first roommate. She was the perfect match for me. One of the best people to go through college with.

Now, I'm thrilled beyond belief that she has found a perfect match in Griffin, and the perfect person to spend the rest of her life with.

Birthday and Belles

2011-04-19T20:29:00.006-05:00

Apparently I am on the post every two weeks cycle...not intentional, but what can I say, I'm not the best at blogging.

Here's a little glimpse into what's been happening...

This precious girl had a birthday! I cannot believe that Little C is already a year old. She has grown so much these past few months and it has been a treat to see her personality really shine. I hate that she won't remember her first birthday, because her sweet Mom really did a wonderful job executing the ice cream theme. Truly a special day to celebrate a special girl!

There were a lot of things that my small town didn't have....mall, movie theater, starbucks...but I think the things I wish we had the most revolve around old Southern social events. When I think about it, I'm surprised that Brewton d0esn't have debutante balls and Belles to act as hosts for the city, but alas, we don't.

Thankfully, I am able to live my childhood dreams of those things through some sweet girls in Birmingham. My cousin and her friends were selected and presented as Birmingham Belles a few weeks ago, and to say it was one of the highlights of the year would be a dramatic understatement. I loved getting to see all of them all dressed up in their fancy hoop dresses.

Aren't they all so pretty?!?! These girls bless me beyond measure.

Most of the rest of the two weeks has involved packing, donating and cleaning. Martha and I are moving next week and to say we have amassed some junk in our twenty-something years of life would be quite the understatement. We have determined to only take the bare essentials, so as we've weeded out, we've made good friends with our neighborhood salvation army. While the house is not suitable for pictures now, I'll make sure to take some in a few weeks for a little tour. In fact, that will probably be about two weeks from now, so it will be the perfect thing to post about.

Yet Another Catch Up Post

2011-04-02T22:58:00.005-05:00

I just hate it when someone says "sorry I haven't been around lately...I wish I could tell you why, but I just can't." Don't you hate that?

Well, as much as I don't like it, I'm going to have to take that line for myself. Things have been really busy lately. Change is most definitely in the air, but I just can't blog about it quite yet. Don't worry, it's killing me as much as it's killing all 3 of you that read this thing...maybe even more because I know what the changes are!

Since I'm not able to blog about the changes, I'll leave you with a few pictures. It's been almost 6 weeks since my last post. EMBARRASSING! Pretty much the theme of my life since then has been travel. Feels like I've been pretty much everywhere but home. Trips to Pensacola, Seaside, Spartanburg, Key West, Atlanta...and of course the typical work trips to Auburn and Tuscaloosa.

The Alabama basketball team provided Martha, Christen and I with a great mid-week activity. We all enjoyed cheering the Tide on to victory...even Martha!

I got to lead a group of sweet 9th grade girls at a Disciple Now in Pensacola. One of the best things about the weekend was having Courtney in my group. I used to baby-sit her when she was a toddler....so fun to see God working in her life!

Mrs. Teresa...AKA, the mom to Courtney and the world's best mentor. Can't imagine life without her. She's one of my biggest cheerleaders and to date, all of the advice I've gotten from her has been incredible.

The weekend after my trip to Pensacola, I packed my bags again and headed down to Seaside with some of my dearest friends for a little vacay AKA Adult Spring Break. To say we had a great time would be quite the understatement. We've already made plans to return next year!

Martha...my roommate...the runner.

The first night, we went out in our work clothes...and the nights after we went out in t-shirts and jeans. Getting dressed up is highly overrated. Oh, how times have changed.

The trip wouldn't have happened without Megan. Truly, it was her idea to get a group together for the Seaside 5K/half marathon.

The whole crew...runners and cheerleaders...after the big race!

While the travel has been tiring, the trips have helped to fill my 26th year with some wonderful memories, and for that I will be forever grateful. But...I am still really ready for things to slow down just a bit...is it summer yet?!?!?

Siesta Scripture Memory Team, Verse

2011-02-16T16:02:00.001-06:00

Siesta Verse 4

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV

Dreams Still Come True

2011-02-13T20:06:00.003-06:00

Over the years I have been blessed with many friends. I would even say a handful of them could be called “best friends.” But, I only have, and will only ever have, one “childhood best friend.”

I don’t really remember the first time I met Laurie. We grew up in the same small town with older sisters that were the same age, and with exception of the preschool years when I went to St. Stephens and she went to Rainbow Circle, we attended school together until we graduated from high school.

In the beginning, our friendship was little more than play-dates and birthday parties, but as the years went on, the friendship grew. We shared secrets and fears. We took classes together and spent lots of time “studying.” We prayed for each other and dreamed of what life would look like when we were old and married.

A few years ago, Laurie met a special guy named Miller that she seemed to really like, and I was thrilled. He treated her like a princess and it delighted my heart to no end. Last month, Miler proposed, and the joy just seemed to overflow from my heart. When we were growing up, we used to talk about our dream wedding and it seemed that things were falling into place for her dreams to come true. I was smiling for days.

Last Thursday, Laurie and I met for lunch. Not surprisingly, much of the talk was about the upcoming wedding. And then, just before we left, she said something that left me speechless and took me right back to Brewton, Alabama and the days of dreaming about our weddings…she asked me to be a bridesmaid.

It’s not every day that your childhood best friend gets married, and to say that I am honored to be a part of it wouldn’t even begin to describe my feelings. While it’s something that we always talked about, that was years ago. Like many friendships, we’ve been through good times and we’ve been through some hard ones.

As the years have gone by, we have gained new friends. Those new friends could have easily taken “my place” in the list and I would have understood completely. But, they didn't, and by asking me, she totally made that dream of being in her wedding come true...I truly can't thank her enough!

Sleep When You're Dead

2011-02-08T12:15:00.007-06:00

Things kicked off on Friday with a trip to Tuscaloosa. Someone had a birthday earlier in the week that had to be celebrated.

Sarah Beth picked Chucks for dinner and, as always, it was yummy. I'm pretty sure that I could eat sushi every day, so even though I had already eaten it twice that week I wasn't complaining!

We continued the celebration at Innisfree. Since we had all already graduated from Alabama, much of the conversation was around how old we felt.

There was even a bet placed on how late some would be able to make it before calling it a night. I was pretty impressed with my ability to not be the first one to leave, but by 12:30 I knew I had to get myself on the road to Birmingham. While the drive is an easy one, one hour in the wee hours of the morning after working a full week isn't the easiest. By the time I got home and in bed, it was 2AM...way past my usual bedtime!

Brandon, Sarah Beth's boyfriend, and I being good little Episcopalians. HA!

Saturday morning there was no rest for the weary. I had gotten a call from Caitlin earlier in the week about a little demo/reno project going on at her house. As a surprise to her mom, they were going to be tearing down and rebuilding to make a large master closet/laundry area and then finishing off a bathroom.

Pretty much HGTV in real life...I knew I couldn't pass it up! It was so much fun getting to do all of the things that I see on TV. Sadly, I had to leave before it was finished, so I don't have any after pictures...Caitlin?!?!?!

By mid-afternoon, I was ready for a NAP, but I pushed on and instead made a road trip to Albertville, AL with Molly and Kathy for a show choir performance. While my high school has a show choir now, when I was there we did not, so the whole SC thing is new to me. I must say, I absolutely LOVED it though. The groups were incredible. We didn't take any pictures, but if we had, you would have seen lots of big hair, stage makeup and bright costumes. Those pictures, of course, would have been of the performers. Pictures of Molly, Kathy and myself would have been of chair dancing and our true blue wristbands. Despite the fact that Molly was down a contact and occasionally had to close an eye to see, (at this point, I was grateful that one of my childhood friends used to frequently wear one contact so I was never nervous!) we made it home and I once again found myself climbing into bed at 2AM.

I don't know how I did it, but somehow I got myself up for the early service on Sunday. With all of the running around on Saturday, I didn't have a chance to go to the grocery store for Super Bowl snacks until after church. So many people!! The afternoon was a whirlwind. We typically host groups over at our house, but I'm so glad this time we were going somewhere else. Getting everything done plus getting the house ready would have been too much for me to handle.

Now it's Tuesday and I still haven't fully recuperated from the weekend. Clearly I'm not the spring chicken I once was. What am I saying...I've never been one to stay up until the wee hours of the morning. Hopefully I'll be rested up by this weekend because it looks like it'll be another busy one!

Siesta Scripture Memory Team, Verses 2-3

2011-02-03T11:40:00.002-06:00

So, I was a blog slacker and forgot to post my second verse a few weeks ago...and I'm a few days behind on verse three. Whoops!

Posted on the blog or not, I'm loving committing these verses to memory...especially since I know so many others are participating.

Yesterday my roommate and I exchanged verses...and I'm thinking I have a few ideas for some great ones to memorize in the future.

Siesta Verse 2:

"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence." 2 Peter 1:3 NLT

Siesta Verse 3:

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13 ESV

Happy Birthday, SB!

2011-02-01T13:16:00.004-06:00

While not a dedicated commenter, I know for a fact that I have a dedicated reader of this here blog. Sarah Beth is in law school and likes to take study breaks for blog reading. So, whenever I let too much time pass between posts---which is pretty common these days---she says something.

Well, she didn't ask for this post, but she is getting it anyway. You see, today is her birthday!! And not just any birthday, the big 2-3. You know, the year where people finally start to respect your opinion a little bit. It's a big one.

Since she's dedicated to studying for law school pretty much all the time, it's hard to see her much these days...so I knew that I needed to find a way to see her on her special day. I made plans a few weeks ago to get down there...nothing like a trip to the dentist. :) The dental visit was totally worth it to get to see SB on her birthday. There's just something about getting to see someone on their special day and getting to see them open their gift....I like to see people's reactions, so mailing gifts is not something that I really enjoy.

The big celebration will come on Friday night...pretty much the only time that she can be convinced to put away the books. I'm sure we will have a great time...as we should because she's an incredible gal.

Happy Happy Birthday, sweet friend!! I've been blessed a thousand times over by your friendship and can hardly wait to party it up with you on Friday!

A Catch-Up...Kinda

2011-01-22T22:26:00.006-06:00

Don't you hate it when you run into someone that you haven't seen in awhile and they say something to the effect of "I've really missed seeing you...things have been really busy for me lately...I'd love to tell you about it, but I can't." You hate it, don't you? I do too...but I'm about to have to do that. Things have been crazy busy...some I can blog about...but most of it I can't. Guess all 2 of you that read this thing will just have to forgive me, and hope that one day I'll be able to share.

So the last post was three weeks ago...whoops! The days have been such a blur, but for the most part, it's been a pretty good blur!

A few weekends ago, I found myself snowed in...well, more like iced in. Birmingham got hit with some really cold weather, and since Alabamians don't really know how to drive in the snow, we were pretty much couped up. Thankfully, we knew it was coming, so I was able to get over to my Aunt and Uncles house. Let me just say, if you are going to have to be snowed in, there is no greater place for it to happen than there! We ate, watched movies, ate, napped, ate, played wii, ate, watched football and oh yea...ate. It was perfect, but after 2 days, I was thankful to be released to go home.

I've traveled, traveled and traveled some more. Colleges are back in session, so I've been traveling a lot for my job. My first days back were actually in Auburn. Things were pretty crazy those first days. Lots of toilet paper in trees and it seemed everyone was smiling. I did my best to stay away from all of that!! Things weren't all bad in the enemy territory...I got to see some of my favorite girls and was even introduced to a great breakfast place I had never tried before...Barbecue House. Yummy!

I finished up my meetings in Auburn on Thursday and spent Friday getting myself organized from the week...and the weekend. I had the opportunity to participate in Disciple Now at my current church. I was one of the leaders for the most precious group of junior girls ever. I hope they enjoyed it, because it was by far the best Disciple Now weekend that I have ever been a part of...and that's saying a lot!

Let's see...that gets me up to January 16. Goodness...I'm not doing a good job at this!

The past two weeks have been spent traveling, baby-sitting, church, hanging out with family, going to high school and church league basketball games...and tons more that I can't even think of.

Pretty much, I'm wimping out on this post...maybe February will be better!

Libby Lou

2011-01-07T15:42:00.003-06:00

If you don't already think I'm crazy, I'm guessing you probably will after you finish reading this post!

For as long as I can remember, I have absolutely loved spending time with and getting to know high school girls. While not all girls are the same, quite often they are so full of life and ready to take on whatever it brings, they are searching for what's next in life, they are learning what it means to have real friends...and how to be one, and to top it all off, I have found so many that love the Lord with a reckless abandon. True, they make mistakes...but don't we all?!?!

For me, one of the best things about moving to Birmingham has been getting the chance to know and "do life" with some of the sweetest high school girls I have ever met.

I got the chance to have dinner with one of those sweet high school girls on Thursday night...Libby.

I remember the first time I saw Libby. She is a dancer for the same school that my cousin cheers for and was performing at a basketball game. I knew nothing about her, but out of a group of almost 30, I picked her out as my favorite. That was almost a year ago, and now she is still my favorite, but for so many more reasons than just being the best dancer. Her encouraging spirit, compassion towards others, strong work ethic, positive attitude and love for the Lord truly make her a young lady that is beautiful inside and out.

Dinner with Libby was by far the highlight of the day, but who wouldn't want to spend time with someone with all of those qualities?! We ate dinner at Zoes, one of my favorite places...we chatted...we laughed. It was perfect...and I can't wait to do it again!

Yet Another Week In Review

2011-01-07T14:57:00.004-06:00

Since I work with college students, I typically get the same "holidays" as they do. I mean, I still have to work during December...but the work is totally different because I'm not driving to campus to meet with clients. My schools get cranked up for the spring semester next week, so I used this week to do get prepared...and do some things that I won't have as much time for when school starts and I'm traveling a few days each week.

At the end of last week, I got a call from someone that I baby-sit for. One of her dear friends fosters children and she had just gotten twins placed with her....8 week old twins to be exact...and she wanted to see if I could come and help out some during the day. It didn't take must time at all for me to agree to that. The mom works from home, so it was pretty much the perfect set up. We worked, fed babies, worked, rocked babies, worked, changed diapers. At the end of the day I felt so accomplished.

Since I was tied up with babies on Monday, I spent most of Tuesday at the house. Cleaning, laundry, organizing. I was exhausted by that evening, but had to push through because I had plans to go to go to a high school basketball game with my family that evening. I absolutely love watching high school basketball...especially when the place is packed out, and it definitely was that night.

On Wednesday I packed up my work things again and was off to spend the morning with my best friend, Natalie and her precious little girl. I couldn't get over how much little C had grown since I had seen her before Christmas! This picture of her eating her snack just cracks me up!

I love spending time with Natalie because we're both able to do our own thing---for some reason, it was a pretty busy day for me work wise, and she went to town with her new embroidery machine. There was nothing super spectacular about the morning, but I think that's why I liked it so much. There is just such an ease to our friendship that even when we are just casually hanging out, it makes for a great day.

The day just kept getting better when I met Lacey for dinner that evening. I was introduced to Lacey when I first started my job. She was..and still is...my college intern at Auburn. She is the best intern ever and has become a dear friend, too. We enjoyed a relaxing 2.5 hour dinner, definitely one of the last groups to leave. I'll be a sad girl when she finishes up her grad school program and I have to find another intern, but hopefully she'll be packing up and moving to Birmingham so we can still have our dinner dates!

Thursday I headed back to take care of the twins in the morning, and then joined my favorite O'Henry's working buddy, Megan, for a few hours of work and catching up. The holidays have really gotten us off of our schedule, so we had lots of catch up on this time! I finished up the evening with my family, doing one of my favorite things...calling out anatomy and Spanish. No, really...I love it.

Now it's Friday. I had planned for this to be a relaxing day, but then I realized just how many errands that I needed to get taken care of. I spent most of my morning running all over Birmingham, but I finally got everything that has been on my list accomplished, so I can enter the weekend with nothing to do! YES!

Siesta Scripture Memory Team, Verse 1

2011-01-03T20:30:00.002-06:00

I realize I'm a few days late posting....but I wanted to try to keep my posts in chronological order. :) However, just because the post is late doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking about this.

I've decided to join Beth Moore's Siesta's to commit to memorize 24 scriptures this year...two a month.

The first verse I'm going to learn this month is found in one of my favorite books, Ephesians:

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

I'd love it if you joined me....with this verse, or with any other that you'd like to memorize!

Since January 1...

2011-01-03T12:46:00.007-06:00

---I've cleaned out my closet...three large trash bags of clothes are gone.

---I've played Wii dance more times than I can count...best workout ever!

---I've watched a lot of football...love love LOVE watching Alabama football with my family! ROLL TIDE!!

---I've held, fed, and loved on some sweet 8 week old twins.

---I've organized my office. Ready for the new school year to begin!

---I've gotten caught up on my blog...FINALLY!!!

---I've watched the Passion 2011 live stream and decided that next year I will be there as a volunteer.

---I've rejoiced with my childhood best friend who is now engaged!

I'm only 3 days in, but 2011 looks like it's going to be a great year!

New Orleans? Yes, please!

2011-01-03T12:46:00.005-06:00

For the most part, I'm a very planful person, but every now and again I'll do something spontaneous.

Probably the most spontaneous thing I have ever done was when I was a freshman in college. A friend and I really wanted beignets, so we left around midnight for New Orleans....ate beignets...and drove right back to make it in time for an 11 o'clock class. Crazy? Most definitely, but still one of my favorite college memories.

Well, this past fall I drove my cousin and her friends to most of the Alabama football games. It worked well because they didn't want to ride with their parents and I needed someone to keep me up on the late night drives home. During one of those trips, I told them about my last minute trip to New Orleans. They decided right then that they wanted to go to New Orleans over Christmas break. I told them to ask their parents, and if they agreed, I was up for it.

Seriously...I doubted that the parents would go along with it. I mean, I'm only 26, it was the holiday season and there were going to be 5 girls so we wouldn't fit in my car and would need to borrow one of their parent's cars.

All I can say is that the Lord must have known how much all of us would need that trip, because it all worked out...and we were even able to convince them to let us spend the night! We left from my cousin's house early on Thursday the 30....drove to New Orleans, checked into the hotel, ate lunch, shopped, walked around, ate dinner and enjoyed some time at the hotel. The next morning we got up early and finished our time with the whole reason for the trip---beignets...and of course, a little more shopping.

Of course, when you're in a car with 5 16/17 year old girls for 5 hours at a time, you've got to know that car rides were quite eventful as well. We laughed a lot, took lots of pictures, there were some good conversations, and once I figured out a little system of ipod music sharing, there was great music for all!

I got home from the trip absolutely exhausted, but with a heart that was overflowing with thankfulness. I truly can't think of any way I would have rather spent some of the last days of 2010 than with Allison, Alston, Anne, Libby and Virginia! Five of the sweetest, God-loving teenagers that I know. Can't wait for our next trip!

Christmas Eve/Day

2011-01-03T12:34:00.004-06:00

The Christmas Eve/Christmas Day recap is going to be incredibly boring because I don't have any pictures. It was easier to just use one camera, but my family isn't quite as quick on the sending of pictures as I'd like them to be. Sorry about that.

We got home form the beach on Christmas Eve morning and got to cleaning. For the past 10 years or so, we've always had a few families over after the Christmas Eve service for soup and sandwiches. The house is filled with people, but it's laid back and one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

Now that Emma Kate is almost 5, she has really gotten into Santa. We had the Santa tracker pulled up, brownies out and reindeer food on the lawn.

Christmas morning was filled with more traditions....reading the Christmas story from Luke 2, taking pictures in our pajamas on the stairs, digging into the stockings, checking out what Santa brought, pancake breakfast and then all of the presents from under the tree.

My big gift this year was from my parents...a nice big contribution to my retirement account. Sure, I won't be able to use it for years, but I'm thankful, and will be even more thankful when I'm old and grey!!

I also got some fun and beautiful jewelry, a beverage dispenser---perfect for parties and "The Doors of Brewton"---a poster I've wanted for a long time!

Family Vacation

2011-01-03T12:13:00.004-06:00

When I was growing up, we used to take family vacations every year. Now that we are all grown and out of the house, family vacations don't seem to happen quite so often. Back in September, my Dad decided that he wanted us all to go to the beach the week before Christmas. All expense paid trips don't come along in the Smith household too often, so we were all quick to say yes.

We arrived on Monday and left on Friday...had to be home for the Christmas Eve service and for Santa to visit my niece!

The days were filled with lots of laughter, yummy food, naps, reading, walks on the beach, swimming in the pool, visits to the steam room, shopping, gingerbread house decorating and breaking in my parent's birthday gift---a wii.

Ahhh!! Can't believe this "little" girl turns 5 this month!!

Parties, Pet Sitting, Candlelight and Broadway

2011-01-02T21:55:00.006-06:00

After two late nights...and lots of driving, I was pretty worn out after I got home from Nashville, but there was no rest for the weary.

On my way home, my aunt called to tell me that they were going to be having a party at their house that evening. Around 30 teenagers would be coming over after the Holiday Assembly presentation and she wanted to see if I could come and assist. I drove straight there and helped with some cleaning and preparations and then headed home to get a little rest before going back over that evening. I ended up not getting home until 2AM...way past my bed time...but worth it to be able to help out my aunt and see my cousin and her friends all dressed up.

In addition to the party festivities, I also got a little visitor on Friday. My visitor actually stayed with me for the weekend and had four legs. :) I by no means am ready to have a dog of my own, but I loved being able to help Sarah Beth and Brandon out by taking care of theirs for a few days. Brooks was on his best behavior the entire weekend. We took lots of walks, and he was an excellent napper.

Saturday was a pretty lazy day...thank goodness, because I was in need of one! I spent most of the day catching up on things around the house and napping. Brooks also enjoyed an afternoon of relaxing and since I couldn't bear to make him stay in his crate, he got the royal treatment...the bed.

That evening a group of us from my Sunday School Class met to go to the Candlelight Service at church followed by a nice dinner out at Tavern. I've been to many a candlelight service in my years, but I must say that the one done by Dawson was the best I have ever witnessed. The perfect way to get prepared to celebrate the birthday of our Savior!

I've been so blessed by this group of friends.

I wrapped up my fun-filled weekend Sunday night with a little cultural activity. This year I decided to purchase season tickets to Birmingham Broadway. I will definitely be doing it again next year because the plays have been excellent and my seats are INCREDIBLE! Sunday nights production of of Beauty and the Beast was wonderful. My cousin had been talking for weeks about wanting to see it, so I decided that it would be a good little cousin date time. Don't know why we didn't take a picture because it's not often that we get dressed up.

GARTH!

2011-01-02T21:22:00.003-06:00

Over the years, I've done my best to surround myself with people that possess the abilities that I don't. One of those such abilities is being the social planner...and one of my favorite social friends is none other than my roommate from Atlanta, Christen.

We share a love for many of the same things, she's just the one that typically finds about the activities and signs us up.

About 6 weeks ago, she sent a brief message: Garth is going to Nashville in December. Wanna go? I quickly responded yes and before I could even get my calendar up to write it down, she had the tickets purchased and the hotel room booked.

Our birthdays are about a month apart, so we decided that it would be the perfect gift to each other. Little did we know when we set out for Nashville that Thursday afternoon how perfect it would end up being.

We usually ride up together, but since we didn't really have the time to meet up before hand, we decided to just meet in Nashville this time. We arrived just in time for dinner...Cantina Loredo. Hands down, best guacamole in town!

After dinner, we headed over to check in and take a brief nap before the late night concert. Garth Brooks performed a series of 9 concerts in a matter of a few days. Due to the number of concerts, many were back to back. Ours was the 10 o'clock concert, and when we got to the arena they were still cleaning up from the previous concert.

We somehow squeezed our way to the front of the pack and were able to get to our seats...behind the stage in the upper section...relatively easily. Since Garth hasn't had a concert tour in ages, we decided a trip to the merchandise table was necessary. Then, Christen had the bright idea to try to go and take a picture so that we could get the stage behind us. It would mean someone would have to let us in a different portal, but we were hopeful.

We found who we thought to be a security guard and asked if we could go in and get a closer look at the stage. He asked went on to ask a series of questions...do you like country music, are you big fans, are you from here. We answered the first two with resounding yes's and then explained how we come to Nashville often for concerts, but are from out of state. As we explained, he reached into his pocket and pulled out two tickets with the words "these should help you get a good view of the stage."

At first, I didn't know what was happening...and then when I looked at the tickets and saw that they were for row one, I thought it must be a joke. Seriously, Christen and I just stood there too excited to even scream. We found the nearest worker and he assured us that the tickets were in fact real and that our seats were on the FLOOR!!! We made our way down to the seats only to find out that not only were they on the floor...they were FRONT AND CENTER!

The concert was incredible. Garth sang all of the good ones...and his wife Trisha Yearwood even made an appearance.

We finished the trip off with breakfast at Pancake Pantry the following morning...followed by a little shopping at some of our favorite Nashville places. It was definitely a trip I'll never forget. Next year's birthday celebration has A LOT to live up to!

End of the Semester Celebration!

2011-01-02T21:11:00.004-06:00

Last August, I lost a friend. Not to death...to law school.

Sarah Beth was quite the diligent studier these past few months. All of the reading and typing of papers really put a dent into her social life. We often joked that I was more social than she was...and that's pretty pitiful!

I seriously don't think we would have ever chatted had it not been for g-chat...or the fact that her study group was full of guys and sometimes she just needed to hear another female voice!

Wednesday, December 15 marked the last day of her exams. It also marked the day that I got my friend back! So, I made the drive down to celebrate. A good time was had by all...can't wait to do it again in May!

The Blessing of Friendship

2010-12-23T19:13:00.011-06:00

Before I ever started blogging, I read blogs. Back then, I didn't really know anyone personally that blogged. I had a few that I would read, but never imagined that I would ever read blogs written by people that I knew...or attempt to write one myself!

Nowadays, my google reader is brimming with blogs, many of which are written by people that I actually know. I have loved getting to know people better through the blog world. I feel so much more connected to people these days, even if they live miles and miles away.

One of my favorite bloggers happens to belong to an in real life friend. In fact, I think she was the first person that I actually knew that blogged.

Jennifer and I met in college. Other than my roommate, she was the first person that I met...and it happened before school even started...thank you sorority recruitment! While our paths didn't cross an awful lot, they crossed enough for me to know who she was...and I know that when I "grew up" I wanted to be just like her.

We weren't in the same sorority...sorry about that, Jennifer...but I always hoped that I would be able to impact my house the way she impacted hers. She knew what she stood for and lead by example. In fact, she still does, and I'm still trying to be like her!

Football season provided me a few opportunities to get together with Jennifer, her husband, little girl and precious family. I've loved seeing our friendship grow and develop.

All that to say, I realized a few weeks ago that she really doesn't live as far from me as I thought. December is a slower month for me work-wise, so I decided to take a day off and make the drive to visit her and her sweet little girl. We had a wonderful time catching up, sharing dreams and playing. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!

Jennifer and I totally forgot to take a picture together that day...but we had the chance to see each other a few weeks ago when she came to Birmingham so I grabbed this one from her blog.

Waiting for our lunch...loved getting to play with Miss Charlotte!

Happy Graduation

2010-12-23T18:40:00.004-06:00

December 11 was a big day for the Smith family.

My younger sister was all smiles because she was officially finished with college. My parents were even more excited because they had successfully put three children thorough college and they still have money to spend on themselves!

Congrats, sis...best of luck in finding that job!!

At one point during the 2 hour long ceremony, I was telling Emma Kate how everyone in her family graduated from The University of Alabama. She took one look at the stage and looked right at me and said "I'm going to go here, too." If that's the case, I can't wait for 2028!!

Spartanburg

2010-12-10T09:45:00.000-06:00

There are so many things I like about my current job. Most of the time I'm able to do it from home, and for me that quite often means lounge clothes and a blanket! If I'm not working from home, it means that I'm usually on a college campus meeting with some of the best clients in the world. The flexibility that the job offers is another thing that I wouldn't trade for anything.

But, every so often, I find myself craving an office. Dressing up. Going in at 8:30. Stopping by to say hello to coworkers on the way to the coffee pot. Meetings...yes, even the meetings.

A few times each year, I get to do all of those things, and the December meeting is my favorite of all. It's a time of celebrating all that happened and making projections for the next year.

I went up to Spartanburg a few weeks ago and I must say it may have been one of my favorite trips...one of the busiest, but one of my favorites.

I got to spend time with some of the best co-workers/friends, was showered with some fun gifts, sat in enough meetings to have me set for a few more months, and ate some delicious food!

With Lauren and Erin...is this really the only picture I took all week??

In the "off time" I was able to do some outlet shopping and some relaxing in a hotel room...I absolutely LOVE hotel stays!! The week was pretty much exactly what I needed to cure the "lonely" blues.

Catching up on December

2010-12-03T08:43:00.007-06:00

Since I still have not mastered the discipline of daily blogging...I present you with my week in review...the first week.

I was hopeful that when I awoke on Monday morning my voice would be back...negative. So, I spent pretty much the entire day not talking. It was definitely different. Seriously, I probably spoke 100 words...and the majority of those were because I had agreed to call out Spanish vocab for my cousin!

After a day of voice rest, I was finally able to make out some scratchy words on Tuesday...thank goodness, because I had a little one to entertain. I've realized that children typically like to be spoken to and played and the more high pitched the voice and goofy you act, the better. Little Miss Carrington is getting so big! We played games, sang and danced to Christmas music...then her teeth started killing her and she promptly decided that the best cure would be sleep. Smart kid!

Wednesday was super busy. My roommate and I were having people over that evening, so the house needed to be straightened. Then, I found out that I was going to need to make a trip to Tuscaloosa to pick up some packages that had been sent to my grandparents. The trip kind of threw a wrench in my schedule, but it did give me the chance to eat Bento for lunch...with Julia, nonetheless. Though short, the trip was a success.

I got home with a few hours to spare before the party and made fast work of cleaning thanks to my Black Friday purchase of the Shark Steam Mop. I seriously loved it. So, if you have hardwood floors that need cleaning, let me know!

With the house decorated and straightened, all we needed were the guests...if you should call them that...because really the people that came over were much more like family. A few times a week, a group of us gets together for lunch/dinner. This week, we decided to wear some tacky Christmas regalia and enjoy fellowship. It is such a blessing to have a group of people to share life with.

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

A few weeks ago my mom called to let me know that she and my dad would be coming up to Birmingham so he could attend a meeting. She has been really wanting to make a trip to visit her college roommate that lives in Boaz, so we decided to make that happen during this little business trip. My mom arrived late Wednesday night, so Thursday I took her to Boaz. We had a yummy lunch at Mill Street and even had a little time to spare for some shopping. I found a few Christmas gifts...and even picked up something for myself!

Thursday night was spent with two of my all time favorite groups of people...high school girls and little kids. My cousin and one of her friends came over to visit right before I had to leave to baby-sit. The plan was for them to arrive a little earlier, but Allison has NO sense of direction, and Libby wasn't helping too much. Nevertheless, I was happy to have them stop by, even if only for a few minutes. Thankfully, the family I was baby-sitting for lives within walking distance of me, so I didn't have to worry about being late. Baby-sitting is one of my favorite ways to spent my time, and the precious boys I got to play with last night are some of my favorite people in the world! True, John is a year old and Robert is four, but they are still some of my favorites! John has mastered saying my name in these past few weeks, and let me tell you, it's like music to my ears. On top of that, Robert has pretty much learned how to write and recognize every letter of the alphabet...lots of fun letter games!!

Friday, oh Friday. One of the things I miss most about working in an office is the people. I'll often find myself packing up my things and heading to a coffee shop just to have some interaction. Trips to the coffee shop are even better when Megan is able to join me. Friday was a success because we were able to land our favorite table, after minimal stalking. We worked hard all morning then I headed out to have lunch with one of my favorites. Anna and I officially met in college and would get together every few weeks for lunch or yogurt. Now that we both live in Birmingham, we have enjoyed adding the lunch date to our schedules again.

Weekend in Review

2010-11-30T09:58:00.004-06:00

I'm not a fan of the Iron Bowl being on a Friday...except for that it gives me two full days to recuperate after a loss before I have to get back to work on Monday. :)

The two days looked a little like this...

---Furniture shopping with my Aunt. Since I spend so much time over there it feels like I'm getting new furniture, too!

---Christmas festiveness at the Ingrams. Christmas china out. Wreaths hung. Christmas Village all out and lit up. Train assembled and one tree decorated.

---Football...specifically the Egg Bowl. We all rallied around our friend, Megan, in support of her one and only dawgs. The cow bell was rung and good times were had by all.

---Decorating at 203, part 1. I bought an artificial tree last year on SUPER sale after Christmas. It looks pretty good now, but I was a little worried for about 30 minutes when I realized there was a defect in one of the parts. Thankfully, there were boys at the house...and one of them had a drill. Tree crisis, averted.

---Rearranged some furniture, because that's just what Martha and I like to do at 1AM on a Sunday morning. :)

---Church. The first Sunday of Advent! Great message on hope.

---Yummy lunch at La Paz. The perfect cure to the Thanksgiving food overload is most definitely Mexican!

---Trip to Lowes to get fresh garland and lights.

---Decorating at 203, part 2. Garland hung. Mantle and tree decorated. House is starting to look and smell like Christmas!!

---Back to church for Hanging of the Greens.

---Bed because my voice was COMPLETELY gone.

Black Friday

2010-11-30T09:06:00.003-06:00

I don't remember the exact item we were looking for, but last year my cousin Wayne and I decided to brave the Black Friday craziness and head to Wal-Mart. Yes, I know it's the place where people get trampled, but we had nothing better to do.

All for tradition, we decided that we would do the same thing again.

We checked out the ads and made our list. The store opened at 5, but we decided that since the things we wanted were probably not their "high ticket" items, there wasn't much need in getting there much before then. We arrived a little after 5 and found our items without much trouble at all. The top find for me was this...

I've been wanting a Shark Steam Mop since the day I moved into my house. The hardwood floors are hard to clean and this makes the chore so much more fun!

We ended our morning of shopping with breakfast at Waffle House...another tradition. We had the same waitress as last year and everything. We didn't remember her, but she sure acted as if she remembered us. Too fun.

No pictures...but really, who wants to see me at 5AM pre-shower? Can't wait for next year to do it all again. Even if there's nothing to buy, I know we'll be out there!

In all things, give thanks

2010-11-27T07:38:00.002-06:00

Over the past few days, I've been reminded of some of the things I am very thankful for. Here's a little glimpse into the Thanksgiving season...

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. We divide up the cooking and both families live in same city, so the celebrations are pretty laid back and the traveling is minimal. On Wednesday we picked up lunch from Zoes and ate with my mom's parents. After that, we headed over to my dad's mother's house for dinner---soup and sandwiches.

Good times are always had when this little one is around. Can't believe that EK is about to be 5! Seems like yesterday that she was born.

This is one of by far my favorite picture of EK with my grandparents...her great-grandparents.

On Thursday, I got up early and set to work baking the traditional coconut cake for the Ingram family Thanksgiving. I was pretty impressed with how it turned out...just like one Nannies or Ella would have made! We enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast with all of the basics: turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, squash casserole, salad and rolls. I sat at the kid table with the usual suspects...it's going to be a sad day if I ever get promoted to the adult table! So thankful for family!

Friday morning the sun rose and there was only one thing on the mind of everyone in the family...the Iron Bowl. It was a little chilly, but thankfully the torrential downpour that was predicted earlier in the week did not occur. On the way to the stadium, I stopped by to see my freshman roomie at her tailgate. It's always fun when she's in town. Love her and her sweet family! So thankful for friendships that remain...even though we are miles apart!

Quick photo-op with some college friends

Cell service on gameday is never good. So, when I got a message right before kickoff I could hardly believe it. One of my sweet clients/turn friends spotted me when I was walking to my seat and came down to find me. I LOVE me some Caitlyn...even if she does cheer for the other team. So thankful for a job that I love and the fun people I am blessed to work with!

If you're an Alabama fan, the game started out better than any could have ever predicted. It was so much fun sitting with the family and cheering for a team that we all love so much. We have watched many, many games together through the years...here's to many more! So thankful for the opportunity to watch Alabama pretty much every time they play...win or lose...I LOVE The Crimson Tide!

Cheering on the Tide with the family

Sweet Home Atlanta

2010-11-23T18:36:00.009-06:00

One of the best things about being a 26 year old single lady is the ability to use my vacation days the way I want to use them. I realized a few days ago that the end of the year will be here before I know it...and just as quickly, my vacation days for the year will pretty much vanish. No rollover. Not wanting them to go to waste, I decided that I would use the days to see some of my favorite people. After all, it is the season for thankfulness and giving.

I took my first vacation day today and made the drive to Atlanta. Atlanta was the first place I lived after graduating and some of my favorite memories involve the people that I met while living there.

When I lived in Atlanta, at least one day a week, I found myself baby-sitting some precious little girls. They weren't sisters, but they often acted as if they were. Their parents were in a church small group together and I was the lucky one that got to watch them each week. When I moved away, my worst fear was that they would forget who I was. Thankfully, their sweet moms have done their best to make sure that doesn't happen.

I loved spending my morning with Courtney and her precious girls E and L. Usually when I'm baby-sitting, I'm doing just that...taking care of the kids. Today was so special because I got to take care of the girls while Courtney ran to the store, but I also got to spend some time with Courtney. I loved being able to see her in mommy action. For as long as I've known her, she's been a FABULOUS mom, but seeing her in action with those two little ones just made my heart smile. She's the BEST! We laughed. We read books. We danced. We sang songs---complete with pretend microphones. It was a day that I hope I never forget!

at the New Yorker Deli

winding down before nap time....pictures like this make me want to pack up my stuff and move right back to Atlanta!

The original plan was to visit with Katie and her precious girls EK and H, but a stomach bug decided to work it's way through their house, so we decided to put that visit off until the next time I come. Katie did send me a picture of EK after she heard that I wouldn't be able to come though.

One of the other pros to going to Atlanta today was getting to see Sara. Sara was one of the first people that I met when I moved to Atlanta. We had some great times when we were interns. It's amazing that they didn't fire us before the summer was over...and that they hired me. We've both moved on from that job, but thankfully the friendship has only deepened. While we haven't seen each other in over a year, the second I walked in the door, we picked up right where we left off. Good conversations. Good laughs. Good hugs.

typical Sara

This trip was extra fun because Sara had a special guest visiting for Thanksgiving. After hearing about Anthony for so long, it was great to get to finally meet him. We bonded over being the middle child...and shared common tastes in beverages. It really was perfect.

I wrapped up my trip with a quick Christen visit---can't believe we didn't get a picture, friend! Christen and I lived together for a year in Atlanta, and I honestly don't know what I would have done without her. In so many ways, we are at the same place in life and it was great to be able to catch up on each other's latest news.

All in all, I'd say this vacation day was a success. These last few months have been crazy with work and time spent with good friends...and precious little ones...was exactly what I needed. Getting to see them in one of my old "hometowns" made it even more special.

Now I just have to decide where my next trip will be. :)

Tutoring Session: The Breakdown

2010-11-22T22:22:00.003-06:00

A study session with my cousin typically consists me calling out lots of facts and her trying to remember them. She has a pretty good memory, so it works fairly well.

That all changed tonight. Her friends are home from college and so they decided to come over to participate in the calling out.

The group...Caitlin, Allison, Julia and Aaron...they look sweet and innocent enough here

but don't you be fooled...this is more what times with them are like

It didn't take me long to realize that not all caller-outers are created equal. In this case, we have a few different different options:

Julia Blackerby. The kid was an anatomy whiz back in the day and for that reason, she can't handle any mistakes. She spent most of her time pacing the floor huffing and puffing when she didn't the answer wasn't called out immediately and yelling at Allison for any mistakes. Despite Allison's objections that she doesn't respond well to yelling, Julia just couldn't seem to adapt. Julia and studying with Allison can pretty much be summed up with this picture:

Aaron Adams. The only guy of the bunch who insisted that he cared about Allison's performance was promoted to caller-outer after Julia was stripped of her position. His demeanor was much different. Calm. Cool. Relaxed. He read the questions slowly and did his best to explain the answers.

Caitlin Holt. The kid is happy to be anywhere. Laid back. Easy going. While she didn't call out the material, she was always the first one to stick up for Allison when Julia started yelling. She was also excellent at thinking up different ways to memorize some of the harder to remember facts.

Me. The daughter of two educators, I've grown up around teaching. While classroom teaching isn't for me, I have really come to love tutoring. From the beginning I realized that Allison thrives in an encouraging atmosphere. So, I call out the facts, circle what she misses and praise what she gets correct. Pretty simple, but highly effective.

In the end, we determined that while Julia is great at many things, tutoring is not one of them, and she will no longer be invited over for study sessions. Aaron, however, would be a great second option if I'm not available.

Tuscaloosa and a Surprise

2010-11-22T19:07:00.004-06:00

One of the things I love most about my job is the flexibility that it offers. I have goals. I have things to accomplish, but as long as I get them done, I can mix work life with my personal life. It's perfect, and I'm so thankful for my job.

Today I needed to make a trip to Tuscaloosa to drop some things off to one of my clients. For the record..I hate the word client. After working with these people and talking to them for so long, they feel more like friends. Anyway, I decided that if I was going to make a trip down there, I might as well make it count. So, I made plans to have lunch with a friend. Bento, no less...and the friend wasn't just anyone, it was the one and only Margaret Ila. To say we laughed the majority of the time would be quite the understatement.

I dropped her off at work and then headed over to meet Sarah Beth to get a key to her house. She's been holed up at the school for weeks studying. I don't know how she does it. After weeks of asking her if there was anything I could do to help, she finally thought of something...the room needed cleaning. Room cleaning may sound odd to most people, but it is in fact one of my favorite things. You know you're true friends when someone lets you clean their room!

After I finished, I decided to go ahead and make my way back home so that I could finish up my work day from home. I'm so glad I did that because I hadn't been home for 15 minutes and I got a knock on the door. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I thought it must be a package from the office. I went to the door and much to my surprise, Julia was standing there with a smile on her face and a fun birthday treat in her hand. She's in her first semester of college at Alabama and just got home for Thanksgiving break. It's always fun to be remembered on your birthday, but I think it's even more fun when you're surprised!

Since the "recap the day" style blogging is new for me, I haven't quite mastered taking pictures to go along with the events, but I did remember to snap one with Julia before she left.

I'm wrapping up the day with my family. My aunt, uncle and cousins live about 10 minutes away and invited me over for dinner. My aunt cooks and I clean. It's the perfect combo. Now it's time to call out some anatomy to Allison and call it a night.

26 is still looking good...and I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to make it look even better!

It's My Birthday

2010-11-21T16:34:00.003-06:00

It's true, I wasn't so much looking forward to my most recent birthday, but now that the day has come and gone, I can say it was perfect...and the days leading up to it were fabulous as well.

My mom came up on Friday to celebrate. Such a fun little surprise! We got lunch at one of my favorite local places, ran some errands and did a little shopping. Nothing like shopping with your mom when you're birthday is near! We finished up in just enough time to make it to a pep rally for my cousin's team. My mom hadn't gotten to see her cheer all year, so it was perfect. We had a little family birthday party at dinner that night..complete with my favorite Friday Special for dinner and a cake. Then we donned our green and gold and made our way to the stadium to cheer on the Spartans. They won, so we are now headed to the semi-finals next week!

Saturday was another wonderful day. Most of it was spent watching football and napping. Then, that evening I joined some friends at Sips n Strokes for painting. It was by far the most difficult painting I've ever done there...even the instructor said it was a hard one! Mine looked a bit different from the "original" but I'm still pretty impressed...and I bet my mom will still love it! She doesn't know how to read the blog, so I don't have to worry about her finding out before Christmas!

with Meredith, Erin and Laura...pretty impressed with our results

Painting is a long process, so it was almost 10:30 before I made it home...quite a bit past my typical bed time...but since I was up, I decided that I might as well enjoy the last 90 minutes of 25. I'm so glad that I did, because right before midnight, Sarah Beth video chatted me. Since we were video chatting when the day changed to November 21, she was the first person to tell me Happy Birthday on the official day.

Having a birthday on a Sunday meant that I got to spend my birthday lunch with my "Birmingham family." While none of us have any blood relation, we get together for meals a couple of times a week and they are by far some of my favorite people. I can't imagine any better way to celebrate. I chose Cracker Barrel for the big event. Nothing super fancy, but definitely delicious. I was also hopeful that I was picking a place that did not sing Happy Birthday, but I was incorrect about that. I was serenaded by Tony and the gang...I'm pretty sure my roommate got that on video, but I'm hoping it never makes an appearance. It definitely won't be published on the blog!

Many thanks to all who showered me with love and sweet birthday wishes. If this year is anything like the past few days, it's going to be one that I never forget!

Did Someone Say Birthday???

2010-11-16T13:17:00.002-06:00

In the past few days I've gotten lots of little messages alluding to a birthday. My birthday, to be exact.

Voicemails with countdowns. Emails with request for gift ideas. Text messages asking for my latest mailing address.

Try as I have to keep my birthday under wraps, it is coming and in just a matter of days I will turn the big 2-6.

I don't know why, but this is the first birthday that I haven't really looked forward to. Something about it just seems so old. 25 was great...right in the mid twenties. 26, not so much.

Regardless, the big day will be here before I know it and instead of pouting about it...like I have been doing for pretty much the past 2 months...I am going to embrace it.

I'm going to do by best to be a more regular blogger during year 26. I'll be focusing less on the words, and trying harder to document the days. Then maybe, a year from today, if I'm bemoaning the coming of 27, I can look back on all the goodness that 26 brought and smile.

Gameday...or something like that

2010-11-16T12:50:00.003-06:00

I had been looking forward to last Saturday for months. Alabama vs Mississippi State. Friends would be coming in from all over. Some to cheer for the Tide...some the Dogs...and others as neutral bystanders to enjoy Tuscaloosa in all it's glory. I went to bed Friday night with much anticipation of the day that I was sure I would remember for quite some time.

The day did in fact provide me with memories, but sadly not ones that I was thinking. I woke up Saturday morning feeling a little under the weather. A bit nauseous, but missing a day of tailgating and cheering on my team were too much to bear, so I poured myself some gatorade and began the drive to Tuscaloosa.

Sadly, I didn't get better on the trip down...I started feeling worse...so my afternoon of tailgating was reduced to a single picture with some friends.

My afternoon and evening were spent napping and casually watching games. Not even a cheer. Despite the big win for my team, I was just too weak to even clap.

Yes, November 13 is definitely a day to remember...but sadly, not for the reasons that I had originally hoped.

Many thanks to this cutie for risking her room being invaded by the germies and letting me crash. I probably would have died on the quad had it not been for you, Jules!

And many thanks to Caitlin for swinging by to keep me company during the final minutes!

Happy Birthday Martha!

2010-11-16T11:37:00.003-06:00

For as long as I can remember, November has been my favorite month. Typically by that time, the south has cooled enough so that you can wear your "winter" clothes, the leaves are changing colors in full force and in my book the holiday season officially begins.

This year November began with a bang because my sweet roomie celebrated a birthday...her 25th birthday to be exact.

When your birthday is at the beginning of the month, it makes it harder to celebrate all month...so we improvised and celebrated for her birthday week.

Martha's request for her actual birthday was tennis and yogurt. Some of us hadn't picked up a racquet in years, but we still had a great time. The weather was perfect and the company even better.

The week was capped off with a dinner out, Happybakes cupcakes and a little laid back fun at Dram.

I sure hope Martha enjoyed celebrating her day as much as we enjoyed celebrating it with you.

with the birthday girl

the one and only megan...the woman behind the party planning

Vacant Lot No More

2010-11-01T12:15:00.004-05:00

There is a lot in my neighborhood that has been vacant for almost a year. The buzz was that the owners of the house adjacent had purchased the lot in order to add onto their house.

A few weeks ago, I was leaving my house and noticed someone in the lot measuring, so I was hopeful that the building process would soon begin.

Then, last week, I woke up to this:

Yes, friends. That would be a mock cemetery less than 100 feet from my house. Complete with columns, lights, coffins, bodies and sound effects. It brought spectators from miles around.

Now the question is...will the lot house a winter wonderland for Christmas?

The New Team

2010-10-25T19:54:00.005-05:00

One of the things I loved most about my hometown was the way everything pretty much revolved around the school...specifically, the sport teams. Since graduating from high school, I've lived in a few different places and I've always hoped to be able to find a team to cheer for. I found it when I moved to Birmingham.

I have two cousins that go to Mountain Brook. One cheers and the other plays football. Friday nights feel complete again now that football is in the mix.

At the beginning of the year I got out the schedule and filled up my calendar with all of the games. I circled one as a MUST NOT MISS---Mountain Brook vs. Hoover. I hoped it would be a game, but I'll be honest, the main reason for the importance was because of two sweet girls---Emily and Molly. I met these two a little over a year ago when I moved to Birmingham and started attending a Sunday School class that their parents taught.

Isn't Emily precious? So glad I was able to find her!

Molly was the first person I saw after walking in the gate. Perfect way to start the night!

Homecoming at UA

2010-10-25T19:50:00.003-05:00

When it was announced that The University of Alabama homecoming game would kickoff at 8:00 PM, I was not a happy camper. I've been a faithful attender to all of the Alabama games this season, but I was iffy on making the trip down because I didn't want to have to drive home so late. The only problem was all of the family was going to be in town and the trip was kind of mandatory. Thankfully, the driving crisis was averted when my cousin, Allison, and her friends, Laine, Anne and Libby figured out I needed riding partners. With four high school girls in tow, I knew I wouldn't have any trouble staying up on the drive home!

I'm so glad it worked out to go. I loved being able to see campus decorated in its homecoming finest. Add to that a Bama win and getting to see family and friends...it was pretty much a perfect day.

The first of the fast-food stops of the trip. The CFA Cow was the highlight of this stop. The highlight of the Wendy's stop: Anne ordering the Double Baconator.

Look who I found on my way to the strip. :) Love these two chickadees. Don't love how the sun totally messed up the picture.

Cousin picture. Probably my favorite of the two of us.

Going Home Highlights

2010-10-25T19:40:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago I made the trip south for a weekend at home. After almost four months, I'd say the trip was long overdue and exactly what I needed.

I got to watch my high school football team pull out a win on the last play of the game and spent the next day making memories with my niece, sister and Dad. A weekend at home never fails to remind me how blessed I was to grow up in such a wonderful town.

The quarterback and star of the team, Wil...and his precious TRM cheerleader girlfriend, Madison. I'm sure I'm a little biased, because many years ago, these two were some of the first kids I ever baby-sat for...but they are by far some of my very favorites!

There is truly nothing like a niece. Love this girl more than life! We took a trip down to the zoo for the morning and I had a blast watching her enjoy all of the animals.

Friendly trip to the Zoo

2010-10-20T14:13:00.003-05:00

For the first twenty something years of my life, I pretty much aged at the same rate as my friends. Now, at the ripe young age of 25, I find that many of my friends are in different phases of life. Newlyweds, many years younger than me, grad school, parents, home owners, many years older than me. It took some getting used to at first, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. Being surrounded by so many at different phases of life reminds me of all the wonderful times I have had...and of all the goodness that lies ahead.

A few weeks ago, I got the chance to see the goodness that lies ahead when I went to the zoo with two of my friends and their precious families.

Jennifer was one of the very first people that I ever talked to when I moved to Tuscaloosa for college over 7 years ago. Our paths crossed a few times over the next four years, but for the most part, I looked up to her from a distance. Our friendship has definitely gotten deeper because of social networking, but I still say that it officially began at the food court of University Mall. :) She is now happily married to Jason and they have a precious little girl, Charlotte.

Natalie is one of my dearest and best friends. We have a rather fun how we met story and I'm beyond thankful that for now we are living in the same city. She is married to Scott and their daughter, Carrington, is the cutest and happiest sixth month old around.

A trip to the zoo with these sweet families was a perfect way to spend my Sunday afternoon. Yay for friends in different phases of life!

Jennifer did a WONDERFUL job of describing the day in words and pictures. She did such a good job that I'm "borrowing" some pictures and telling you to read her post for the recap.

Just the girls

Jennifer and sweet Charlotte

Charlotte with her Daddy. The best ride in town!

The Orrs. Jenn, how did we miss a group shot of your sweet family?

At some places they PLAY football...

2010-10-04T14:53:00.004-05:00

at ALABAMA we LIVE it.

Well, we are 5 weeks into football season. Some people are wishing it would hurry up and finish...others of us are trying to soak it all up. I am definitely a member of the latter group.

With the exception of the minor heart attacks that tend to occur during the close games...and the sometimes late drives back home, I love every bit of it. Listening to the sports talk radio on the drive down to Tuscaloosa, tailgating and visiting with family and friends before the game, cheering on my team at Bryant Denny, celebrating the victories after..and that's just for the home games. The new tradition of having friends over to watch the away games has been a welcome addition this year.

With the first part of the season in the books, I'm hoping that the last part will continue to rack up more tallies for the win column. ROLL TIDE!!

Making Memories

2010-10-04T13:59:00.003-05:00

These past few days have been some of the best of 2010. When you think about it, life is a mixture of simple everyday moments and once in a lifetime experiences. The past few days have been the perfect combination of both.

One of my favorite things about fall is football games. College is my favorite, but I love it all! This past Thursday I finally got a chance to see one of my favorite seventh graders cheers for her middle school football team. I hated that it didn't work out to see her before the last game, but I'm so glad that I was able to finally see her. Picture after the game with the head cheerleader.

After the game, I got back on the road and headed to meet up with some friends. Earlier that day, Jessie sent me a message and asked if I was busy that night because she had an extra FREE ticket for Sugarland. It took my no time to decide I would love to go. The excitement only increased when I learned later in the day that our seats were in the CENTER section on the SECOND row! By far a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks for a great night, Jessie!!

Even though I was up past my bedtime on Thursday night, I woke up bright and early on Friday excited for the day ahead. As I said before, one of my favorite things about fall is football season. Hands down, my favorite is Alabama football, but a close second is high school football. I grew up cheering for the T.R. Miller Tigers, but now that I'm living in Birmingham, I have adopted the Mountain Brook Spartans as my team of choice. One of my cousins is a cheerleader and the other plays on the 9th grade football team. This past Friday they had homecoming and I enjoyed every bit of it from the Pep Rally and Parade to the pregame tailgate and game. They won big and it looks like they have secured a spot in the playoffs, so more football!

Memories like these...whether everyday or once in a lifetime...they are the things that make life so special.

Blessed to Baby-sit

2010-09-29T21:23:00.000-05:00

Today was a typical Wednesday. I put in a full day of work. No traveling today, but enough emails, phone calls and text messages to keep my head spinning. Then, when the work day finished up at 4:30, I closed my computer and walked across the street for a few hours of baby-sitting. I take care of kids so often that it rarely merits a post...these days, there isn't much that does...but something about today was different. Something about it was extra real.

Three kids. Ages 15 months, 5 years and 6 years. Oldest and youngest girls...middle, a boy.

When I got there, the youngest was asleep, the middle was working on a coloring sheet for homework and the oldest was in time-out because she was getting frustrated over her math. I watched and assisted when necessary as the middle powered through his homework and after chatting with the oldest decided that it would probably be best to wait until after dinner to take another stab at the math.

Dinner. The kids weren't interested in any of the things that were already prepared. Against my better judgement, I decided to ask what they wanted...I mean, if they had said popsicles I could have used my veto power. After a little discussion, they decided on pancakes. Thankfully, my Dad is the pancake extraordinaire, so I knew just what to do. I outfitted them both with aprons and did my best to divide it so everyone could do the same amount of "helping." Smiles were in abundance and they hadn't even eaten. The first batch was a little rough, but that's typical...and the remaining three batches looked great and tasted delicious. The kids were beyond impressed and asked if I would make them pancakes everyday.

Faces were wiped and I sent them outside to play while I cleaned up the kitchen. I absolutely LOVE the layout of their house because you can clean while watching. As I washed and dried dishes, I could hear the squeals of delight coming from outside and it made me so happy that I teared up. I pray I never grow tired of the blessing of loving on children.

With dishes washed and dried and energy expended, the kids came back in. The little boy grabbed some crayons to color and the oldest daughter finished her math without one cross word, and just as I was doling out pudding for dessert, I heard the youngest waking from her late nap. Thirty minutes later the father came home and I walked back to my house.

Now, I sit at my computer, thinking back on the afternoon. The kids weren't perfect. Time-outs were given. Band-aids were doled out. Yet, there was much laughter and love filled the home. Days like today remind me how blessed I am to baby-sit.

As I drift off to sleep tonight, I know a few things that will most definitely make the prayer list...prayers of thankfulness for the opportunity to love on kids and families that are not my own, followed shortly thereafter with prayers that one day the Lord will bless me with the opportunities to help my own children with their homework and wash my own families' dishes.

The Next Chapter

2010-07-28T22:08:00.002-05:00

Three years ago, I heard the name Lysa TerKeurst for the first time. I was a recent college graduate, looking for a good Bible study. My boss at the time was friends with Lysa and told me that he thought I’d really like her books. I went that day to the bookstore and bought “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.” The book is still one of my favorites that she has written, and other than the Bible, I know of no other book that has had such an impact.

After I read the book, I realized that Lysa was both a blogger and the President of a well known womens’ ministry, Proverbs 31. In no time at all, I was reading her daily blogs and donating to the ministry. Two years ago, my dream world and real world met when, once again, my boss came through for me. He had mentioned to Lysa’s husband, who by the way is one of the very best Chick-fil-A operators, that I had really taken a liking to Lysa and her ministry. Before I knew it, I had her home phone number in my hand with their instance that she would love to chat with me. I was beyond nervous to call her, but somehow found the courage to dial the number, and am so very glad I did. Before I hung up the phone she had checked her calendar and invited me to come and stay with her…in her home…with her precious family…for a long weekend. I couldn’t believe my ears. The experience was one I’ll never forget.

Each year Proverbs 31 holds a conference for speakers and writers. I’m really not either, but I have a desire to do both, so it’s been on my radar for a few years now. After lots of praying and some encouragement from Lysa and her dear friend, Holly…I’ve decided this is the perfect year to go. Even though things begin this Friday, I still can’t believe that I’m going to actually get to go. Three days of teaching, learning, enjoying spending time with friends new…some that I’ve only known through their blogs.

I’m not exactly sure all of the reasons the Lord has for me going this year or what the next chapter of this story holds, but I know one thing for sure…She Speaks is where I’m supposed to be, and I can hardly wait to get there!

The many languages of love

2010-07-14T07:21:00.004-05:00

I heard the song A Father's Love on the radio the other day and it made me smile.

While the song isn't exactly applicable to my relationship with my father...he tells me all the time how much he's proud of me and loves me....I was reminded of the many ways that we can show others our love.

In his book, The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman talks of the five areas that people show love and want to receive it. I read the book a few years ago and ever since, I've been trying to figure out how others want to receive love. It's almost like a game for me. My love language is words of affirmation, but for the people that have a love language of gifts, the words thing may not mean much. By finding out more about them and focusing on trying to show love the way they want it, they can feel that love even deeper.

The goal is most definitely to express love the way the receiver wants it...but often, since my love language is words, I find myself deflecting to it. I haven't done a study on this...might be something interesting to do...but I've been thinking lately if others do the same. Then, last Thursday, I got a call from my Dad. He said he had noticed the last time I was home that the crack in my windshield was getting larger and that he was going to call someone to get it fixed, so he needed to know my schedule for the next few days. I tried to tell him that I'd be happy to call about it...you know, cut out the middle-man...but he insisted. He said he had the number and was happy to call and get it taken care of. True to his word, this is what I saw when I looked out my window on Monday morning.

I'm not 100% certain, but I'm fairly positive that my Dad's love language is acts of service. He loves it when I teach him new things...serve him...serve my mom...serve others. And, just as he appreciates being served, he often shows me his love through service as well...filling up my gas tank every time he sees me; spending two days in my yard to make it look like someone actually lives in the house; sending me emails with the latest financial news, books to read and Internet deals; and even taking care of my windshield.

I'm so thankful for my Dad...a Dad that shows me love every way that he knows how.

Weddings Galore

2010-07-03T18:07:00.013-05:00

As a girl in my mid-twenties, weddings are a big part of my life...especially during the summer. This summer is no different. I knew four sweet ladies that got married a few Saturdays ago. Though I tried to make it to the festivities of more than one bride, it became clear that would not be possible. I just had to remind myself that just because I could only be at one didn't mean that I couldn't be happy for all.

So, here's to the brides of June 26 and their sweet husbands. I pray that the next chapter of your lives together will be better than you could have ever dreamed it!

Lauren and Josh: I've known Lauren for my entire life. Literally. The early years were filled with church musicals and youth trips, and when she was old enough to drive, she graciously became my taxi. The last few years, we have watched many guys and gals couple off and get married...always knowing that one day the day would come for us. I'm still waiting, but I couldn't be happier for Lauren and Josh!

Anna and Whit: Anna and I didn't officially meet until my freshman year of college, but because our mothers were sorority sisters at Alabama, I had heard about her long before that. Though we both ended up pledging different sororities, the friendship continued. We walked many miles around the campus during those four years...and ate many cups of TCBY! Anna was one of the few friends that visited me my first summer in Atlanta...I won't go into the details, but let me just say that I much appreciated both she and her then boyfriend, now hubby, being there that particular weekend! She and Whit compliment each other so well. Who knows...maybe one day in the future, we'll send our children off to Alabama and they'll become friends just as we did.

Becky and Emory: I met Becky when I was a freshman in college and we were in the same sorority rush group. We ended up pledging different houses, but I still ran into her from time to time. Our paths crossed again two years later when we were both rush counselors, and thanks to our blogs, we have stayed in touch. I've never met Emory, but I've read so much about him that I feel like I know him, so I can say...good pick, Becky!

Leslie and Stephen: Leslie was one of the first people that I met when I moved to Atlanta 3 years ago. I worked with her at Chick-fil-A and was so blessed to get to work with her. Over the course of many lunch dates and afternoon snacks, she poured her wisdom into me in the most non-judgemental way. Leslie is one of the sweetest people I've ever met and she deserves every happiness...I have a feeling that marriage will bring lots of it!

An End to the Silence

2010-07-03T11:47:00.002-05:00

I went to my hometown a few days last week and I found out that apparently people actually read this thing. Who knew? Sweet of them to keep up, but not sweet of them to never comment! :) I tried to explain that I don't know what to write about, but apparently that doesn't matter. So, I'm back....trying to uphold my end of the promise to be more consistent with my posts.

The post before this one was written about two months ago, so I'm definitely not going to even try to back-date and retell all of those comings and goings since, but I will say it was busy. Crazy busy. Travel for work. Travel for vacation. The month of July will be a much more laid back pace...something I'm very thankful for.

To help with my commitment to be a better blogger, I'm making myself a list, and I'll do my best to post about these things in the coming weeks. Maybe by the time I mark all of the things off the list I'll be inspired again. If not, I suppose I'll go back to my non-blogging self. For now, here's the list, in no particular order:

Roommates
She Speaks
Nashville
Weddings of sweet friends
Birthdays and half birthdays
Anniversaries
Working from home
Baby-sitting
Summer reads
Ruth
Ms. Peggy

That's my list. I'll get working on it this week. For now, I'm going to enjoy spending some time with my family.

Teary Saturday

2010-05-12T07:25:00.001-05:00

Saturday, May 8 was a busy day for me. It began with an early morning drive to Tuscaloosa to watch some of my sweet friends graduate and ended with a drive back to Birmingham to see my cousin presented at her sophomore candlelight ball. To say that tears were cried would be a bit of an understatement. Just typing this now has me a bit teary, but the events of the day are some that I don't want to forget...so I will be sharing.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you've heard of Miss Sarah Beth. She has been one of my favorite people since the first time I saw her and even though I knew the graduation ceremony would be 2+ hours, I knew it was something that I couldn't miss. I was impressed with my abilities to hold in the tears as they called out her name and she walked across the stage. Not so impressive was the sob fest that followed soon after when the band began playing the Alma Mater. It gets me every time.

I can't believe that I graduated from college three years ago. Sometimes I feel like it's been longer than that...other times I feel like it was yesterday. I clearly remember those feelings I had when I graduated. I used to think that college was the end all be all. You hear all your life that the most fun you have is in college. I'm not going to say that it wasn't a wonderful four years, but I also think it's important to point out---especially to those that are closing the chapter on the college experience---that the end of college is not the end of life. It is the beginning of something else. Yes, it will be different. There will be times where your bank account doesn't have as much money in it as you'd like. There will be times where you would gladly trade in your office days for a day of class, pool time, homework and an evening with your friends. But there will also be wonderful things too....like when you have the money to buy something you've wanted for so long, or the days when work doesn't seem like work at all. Then there are the fun blessings of marrying off your best friend to the man of her dreams and then later visiting her at the hospital to hold her precious baby. College is wonderful...but life after college isn't too bad either!

After graduation, I got myself back in the car and drove to Birmingham to see my cousin, Allison, before she left for her candlelight ball. She has been planning for this ball for months and when she asked me a few weeks ago if I would come, I was beyond excited. I just love my sweet cousin and her friends and it was extra fun to see them all dressed up. We won't talk about the part of the evening when she was presented and I started tearing up. Nope. We wont talk about that.

Atlanta...better late than never

2010-05-01T20:47:00.007-05:00

The month of April was filled with so many wonderful moments. I've already told you about my weekend in Pensacola...and now, a week and a half after I'm back, I'm ready to fill you in on my time in Atlanta.

Since I lived in Atlanta for two years after college, I love getting the chance to go back whenever I can. When I heard that Beth Moore was going to be speaking at a live event in Atlanta, I knew I wanted in. I purchased my ticket and only became more excited as the event got closer and I realized that so many of my favorite bloggers were going to be attending as well.

The conference was on Saturday, but I made my way over on Friday so that I could get some quality time in with some of my favorite 3 year olds...and their families. :) I was blessed to get to watch Ella and Emma Kate while their parents attended a small group each week. They have grown and changed so much since those first days when they weren't doing much more than sitting up and crawling. After some time at the local jump house, playground and an ice cream treat, I dropped them back off with their parents' and headed a little further north to meet my roommate.

Technically, Christen isn't my roommate anymore, but she was by far my favorite of all my Atlanta roomies and that has earned her the title of being one of my lifetime roommates. I love getting to hang out with her because we both just enjoy being with each other. We are easily entertained and pretty much enjoy the same kinds of things...and she didn't make fun of me for wanting to go to bed early that night either.

I woke up extra early on Saturday morning and got ready to head up north to First Baptist Woodstock. I hate being late, so I actually ended up arriving about 30 minutes before they opened the doors. That turned out being a good thing because there were almost 10,000 people in attendance and the tickets were general seating.

I'm so glad I got there earlier, because it was during that time that I was able to meet those bloggers that I was hoping to see. It was so neat to finally get the chance to see and talk to people that I had been reading about for years. I was happy to see that every single person I met was just as sweet, or sweeter, than I thought they would be. I didn't take a picture with everyone, but I did get some with a few people. I'm guessing most of you will probably already recognize some of these faces, but just in case...

Kelly from Kelly's Korner. I started reading her blog almost two years ago. Her blog became wildly popular after the birth and extended hospitalization of her daughter, Harper, but she has always been one to communicate her willingness to pray for women...especially those that are single or struggling to get pregnant. Seeing that I fit into that single category, I was glad I got the chance to hug her neck and thank her for her encouraging words.

Jenna from These Are The Days. I stumbled across Jenna's blog about a year ago, and have not missed a post since. She is so funny...but so real. Her love for the Lord is something that she incorporates into her daily life so seamlessly. We're about the same age, and she leads some small group bible studies with high school and college girls, so I love seeing what's going on with that...and sometimes borrowing some ideas. :)

Lindsee from Lindsee Lou. Another blog that I stumbled across about a year ago. Lindsee lives in Texas and works as a Girls Minister for a church in her town. If I didn't love what I was doing, I think I would want to do what she does. It's so encouraging to see other people that are my age that feel called to "do life" with younger girls. In addition to loving her girls, she also loves my favorite show...Biggest Loser. She's good times. We actually exchanged a few emails earlier in the week and when she found out that I would be attending the event alone, she invited me to sit with she and her friend, Jen. So fun!

Jen from Jen the Newlywed. I actually hadn't read her blog before, but since getting back have done lots of reading and she is for sure a new favorite. She and Lindsee are best of friends, and like Lindsee, she is quite funny. Yay for new friends...and new blogs to read!

And, now back to the REASON I went to Atlanta in the first place...Beth Moore.

I've read most of her books, and have done quite a few of her studies in the past few years, but attending a conference was a first. I loved it. The worship was incredible, but I mean...when is it not incredible if Travis Cottrell is leading? Beth spoke on the topic of Insecurity...a follow-up to her book So Long Insecurity. I don't know a single woman that hasn't struggled with it at one time or another....but it doesn't have to be that way. She challenged us to work to combat the insecurities in our own lives so that we can teach the next generation with hopes that they won't struggle with it. I took lots of notes and have been reading over them all week...lots of good things to put into practice for sure!

It was a blessing to get to hear and see Beth, and to get to meet people that I had read about for so long. A weekend that I will never forget!

What's Next??

2010-04-19T04:58:00.000-05:00

If you had told me this time last year that I would be able to make it through a year without buying any clothes, I would have laughed. Throughout the past year, people have often commented, "There's no way that I could go an entire year without buying clothes." You may be thinking the same thing. Let me tell you, if someone had told me this time last year that I would be able to make it through a year without buying any clothes, I would have laughed and never believed them. Let's be serious, I LOVED shopping. Still love it! But, I have done it...well, almost...and I'm so proud of myself. On the outside it was clothes, but on the inside I learned to lean into God and other people instead of clothes.

The thing is, the goal was for a year, and the year is almost up. I'm going to get to buy a few new things and I am so excited. I've been making a list and cutting things out and I'm looking forward to a fun afternoon of shopping. And that's what it will be. It will be a fun afternoon. Not retail therapy and not a day that breaks my bank. There are some items that I want to add to my wardrobe, but even more I want to keep away from my old ways.

I've decided that just as I set boundaries for not purchasing, I am going to have to set boundaries FOR purchasing...and those boundaries are about so much more than staying within my clothing budget!! My problem was never that I spent lots of money on clothes...just that I did it much too often. Here's what I've come up with so far to help me make the transition from...

Shop in my closet, and the closets of my friends first. For each time that I'm able to do that, I will reward myself with $5 to spend on something later.
Get one, give one. I used to be really good at this, but I kind of slacked off. From now on, if I love something enough to bring it into my house, I have to find something else to donate.
Shop to fulfill a clothing need and not to fulfill an emotional need. I'm not interested in going the rest of my life without buying clothes. That's unrealistic. But, from now on, I will shop for specific items. No more just breezing through and picking up things on a whim. I'll keep me list of things that I want to buy with me and if it's not on the list, it doesn't get purchased.

Now that I've blogged about it, you're more than welcome to hold me accountable. After all, that is one of the keys to success!

The Decision and The Learnings

2010-04-16T20:51:00.000-05:00

I won't buy any clothes for one year.

Seriously?! Yup. That's what my idea was. The first time I made the statement, I was doubtful if I would really be able to do it, but I decided that I wanted to try. I began May 1 of 2009, so I am almost finished with my 1 year clothes buying hiatus. I found that the beginning was super hard...the middle was surprisingly easy...and that lately things have gotten tough again. There have been so many positives that have come out of this though. For starters, I have saved quite a bit of money...but I've learned even more. And the fun thing is, the stuff I've learned transcends clothes. In fact, I was sharing some of the things I had learned while giving up the shopping this past year with a friend and we were able to draw so many parallels to other life situations that I decided to share some of my biggest take-aways...most are pretty obvious, but sometimes the obvious is what we need most.

Dig beyond the surface of a problem to find the root. When I first looked at my closets, what I saw was a girl with way too many clothes. Over the past year I realized that the clothes were used to replace lots of other things. Yes, I'm a bargain shopper, but more than I realized, I'm an emotional shopper. I shop when I'm happy. I shop when I'm sad. Sadly, one of my first reactions to situations used to be to shop. After a year of no buying, I've been focusing on other first reactions that have been much more beneficial. I've been doing more praying and Bible reading. More journaling and talking it over with friends.
Set standards for yourself, write them down, and look back over them. About two weeks in, I told someone about my plan and they started asking me some questions...lots of questions. I realized there was a lot that I hadn't totally thought through, so I decided right then to set some standards. My overall standard was I wasn't going to buy any clothes for myself. I decided that included shoes...mainly because I didn't want to transfer my clothes buying to shoe buying. I decided that it would be okay to receive clothes as a gift, so I could ask for them for my birthday and Christmas...just like the old days. I also decided that if something were to get messed up that was a "must have," I could replace it. Example...about 4 months into the no clothes buying, my white shirt got stained. I did everything I knew, but it wasn't coming out. It was my last white t-shirt, so I allowed myself to replace it.
Let others in on your decision. At first, I didn't want to tell anybody about this little idea. I figured this whole shopping thing was my problem and no one else needed to know about it. It didn't take me long to realize that while that was a personal issue, I was going to need the strength of my family and friends to get me through it. I didn't go off and tell everyone I met, but I told those that needed to know. When you set standards, you can't rely on yourself alone to hold them. We were not created to live life in a vacuum. I depended on God, my family and friends to keep me on the right path and away from the sales signs.
If you are weak, don't try to be strong. Some days were really easy. Some days were really not. There were times that I walked around in the mall, looked at stuff...even tried things on...but never felt even tempted to buy. There were also times where I could come within 100 feet of a store and want to buy everything in it. If you know you are at a point where you can be easily tempted, or if you know that something can cause you to stumble...don't even go near it. Over the past year I have called friends more than once telling them they are going to have to talk me out of a store. During those times, I wished I had followed my gut and just stayed home.
Don't let pride cause you to stumble. There were a few times where I felt like I really needed something that I didn't have in my closet. Truth be told, I didn't really NEED it, but I really WANTED it. I told myself that I didn't have anything that would work to wear to my friends' wedding. After lots of searching, I found nothing in my closet that I wanted to wear for Easter. There were times when I almost said "forget it...I'll just buy this one thing...it's for a special occasion..." but then my support system came along and reminded me of my goal. After that reminder, they encouraged me to borrow from others. Borrow from others? I had never thought about that. It was a wonderful idea, but it would mean having to ask. I hated asking. I don't know why. I don't mind loaning my clothes to others, but I hated to ask. I didn't want them to think that I wasn't able to buy. It was a pride thing. Well, I finally got over it and ended up asking the friends and guess what...they were delighted to share.
When you mess up, ask for forgiveness and MOVE ON. Truth be told, I don't remember the circumstances exactly. It involved me being in another town and staying longer than I had intended, so I decided to buy a new shirt. After I did it, I was so mad at myself. I told my friend who was with me and she told me to take the shirt back and either wear the same shirt again or wear one of hers. I took the shirt back the next day, and for once, instead of beating myself up about the purchase...I moved on. I learned from it and I never bought anything else.
Instead of complaining, make do with what you have. Now, I'm not saying that I never complained about not having something last year, but each time I did, I would remind myself how much I do have. I mean, I still have a closet brimming with clothes, a dresser stuffed and another season under my bed! Besides, for the most part, I am a creature of habit and wear the same things time and time again. There was really no need to add more options to my already planned out wardrobe. Case in point...a few weeks ago I switched out my closet. Winter clothes under the bed. Summer clothes hanging up neatly. I do this every year and always have a stack of things to donate to others. I didn't think there would be much of that this time. I mean I had only gotten about 15 new things over the course of the entire year. I was almost in shock when it took three bags to pack up my things to donate. Even though I was "lacking" in the new clothes area this year, I was still overflowing with more than I could ever wear!
Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel makes it harder. The first month was hard, but this past month it has been 100 times harder not to buy anything. Just the other day, I was in Wal-Mart...WAL-MART, people. Now don't get me wrong, I love Wally World as much as the next girl, and I have nothing against their clothes...but I was about to go into a fit to buy a dress and top. The enemy kept whispering "May is going to be here in 15 days...what does 15 days really matter anyway...no one that loves shopping gives up clothes buying for a year...you've done this long enough...no one has to know." Now that my shopping itch is beginning to come back, it's getting harder and harder to tame. But it must be tamed. I made a commitment that I wouldn't buy clothes for a year and I'm sticking to it. I'm not going to compromise because I know the reward will be so much better in the end.

I challenge you to think about the closet of your life. Pull it all out. Sit in the middle. Is there anything that you need to pare down? If there is, maybe this list of learnings will help you as you sort through the piles.

An Overflowing Closet

2010-04-15T20:20:00.004-05:00

Almost a year ago to the day, I sat in my bedroom in Atlanta, Georgia. My large bedroom with two huge walk-in closets and an 8 drawer dresser...all were filled to the kilt with clothes. Don't believe me, ask my roommate.

I had just signed a lease to live in a house in Alabama. The house was precious, but it was an older home...complete with charming details and tiny closets. I wondered how in the world I was going to fit all of my clothes into that tiny space. There was simply no way. I would have to donate some. I immediately began filling garbage bags with things I hadn't worn. Four bags later, I felt better...but the closets were still pretty full. My mind began to wonder...how had this happened?

Growing up, we got clothes for our birthday and Christmas, a new dress for Easter, a few things over the summer and before school started. We didn't buy all that often, but I was never in want. That all changed when I entered college. The mall was much closer, so I found myself purchasing more frequently...and then when I started into working world, it became pretty much a weekly event. I shopped when I was happy. I shopped when I was sad. I shopped when I was bored. I loved to look for a good deal, and it was almost like I got a little rush from finding something on sale. The more I bought, the more I wanted to buy.

Something had to be done...I just didn't know what that something would be. A few days later, I got a crazy and drastic idea. The idea was so crazy and drastic that I decided I would try it.

Here's To The Seniors

2010-04-14T05:51:00.006-05:00

I remember August 20, 2006 like it was yesterday. After months of preparation and a week of formal recruitment, I found myself in a room surrounded by 83 freshman girls. Different personalities and different stories, but on that day they had one thing in common---Delta Zeta.

I was a senior that year so I had to do all I could to soak up the one year I had with them. What a blessing that year was. There's just something about being around people that are younger than you that makes you see life in a whole new way...and appreciate it even more than you have before.

From the outside, I was three years older. A senior preparing to graduate. I was the one that was supposed to be teaching and leading, but let me say that group of girls did more for me than I ever thought possible. I had more fun than year than any other year in college. Sure, some of that was because it was my senior year, but a lot of that was because of those girls. They taught me how to relax, laugh and enjoy the moment. They taught me to look for the good in others and in all situations. They taught me that a positive attitude can go a LONG way...and that even "big kids" enjoy getting a gold star every now and then. :)

After I graduated, I did my best to keep up with them over the years. I've enjoyed hearing the updates and the visits. It is clear they have done and will do great things. They have made me so proud.

This week is a special one at the Delta Zeta house...a week set aside each year to honor the graduating seniors. I can't believe those same girls that entered the house in August 2006 are now preparing to leave it. I'm sure this week will be filled with mixed emotions for them, but I hope that the emotion they feel most is not one of sadness or regret, but of happiness, fulfillment and excitement for what comes next.

On August 20, 2006, I heard the question, "Did you get a good pledge class?" more than I can count. I always said "it looks like it, but we'll have to wait and see." Now, almost four later, I wish I could find all of the people that asked me that question. If I could, I would say, "We did. We most certainly did."

To the pledge class of 2006:

Last week I pulled out an old journal. I found the entry from August 2006 where I had written down each of your names. Just as I did then, I began praying for each of you by name. Prayers of thankfulness for what you've meant to me over the years, prayers for knowledge to know what to do next, prayers of blessing for your futures. What a privilege it is been to lift up you up in prayer.

no...I didn't already have these pictures. I've been stalking their facebook accounts for weeks!

The Best Weekend Ever

2010-04-11T20:51:00.005-05:00

April 9-11 is officially my favorite weekend of 2010...and if you decide to read the novel of a recap that I am about to write, then you'll know why.

Even though the weekend didn't officially start until Friday, I got some great news on Thursday that helped to make the weekend even better. On Thursday afternoon, my bestest friend called to tell me that she would be having her little girl on Friday. Oh, the joy. I was in Auburn when I heard the news and so I smiled and cried the whole way home. The day I had waited for for so long was almost here. I was a bit sad because I knew because of a prior commitment that I couldn't get out of I wouldn't be able to be there for the actual birth, but I was thrilled nonetheless.

Previous commitment? I bet you're wondering what in the world would keep me from being at that hospital when my sweet friend gave birth. Well, about a month ago, my mentor--who happens to be one of my favorite people in the world--called to ask if I could help her out. She had signed up to be a driver for some women that would be coming to her town for an Extraordinary Women' conference and realized that she wouldn't be able to do it. She went on to say that the women she had signed up to drive for were Lysa TerKeurst and Holly Good. For those of you that don't recognized their names...you are missing out...but, don't you worry, I'll tell you who they are. You see, Lysa is a writer whose books have literally changed my life, and is the President of one of my favorite ministries for women, Proverbs 31...and Holly is her assistant who does so much more than just assist. I had the opportunity to meet Lysa and Holly for the first time about a year and a half ago and ever since then I have been a groupie. No, but really, I stalk her speaking schedule and make it a point to see her speak whenever I c an. To say I jumped at the opportunity to be able to help them out by driving them around would be an understatement.

It was such a treat to be able to drive them around and help them out. I loved everything from helping with the table set-up to the drug store and coffee runs. It is such a blessing to be able to serve--especially those that have inspired and encouraged you so much.

An added treat was the all access pass that allowed me to get a great seat! That pass also gave me access to places like the green room. Do you know who else had that pass? All of the speakers. This particular conference had five speakers and two worship leaders. You may recognize some of their names...Karen Kingsbury, Chonda Pierce, Sheri Rose Shepherd, Angela Thomas, Jeremy Camp, Mandisa, and of course, Lysa TerKeurst.

Well, on Friday night before the conference began, I followed Lysa and Holly up to the green room to get something to eat for dinner and after we sat down, do you know who walked in? Karen Kingsbury. Yes. I was in the same room as the one who introduced the world to The Baxter Family! To top it all off, after she got her plate, she sat down at my table...and we TALKED to each other! On the inside, I was totally freaking out, but on the outside, I was doing my best to act calm, cool and collected. I was trying so hard to "act like I'd been there" that I forgot to ask her for a picture. But, I promise, friends. I saw her. I ate with her. I talked to her....and she was even more incredible than I imagined!

On to the conference. It was incredible. INCREDIBLE. If they are coming to a town near you, I highly encourage you to make plans to attend. All of you Alabama girls---they are coming to Birmingham in May...and I'm going back! I had never been to a conference like that before, so I don't have anything to compare it to...but what I really loved about this one was how assessable all of the speakers and musicians were. Yes, I had a pass...but even if I hadn't had one, it would have been very easy to carry on conversations with them.

By the end of Saturday, I decided that I should ask for some pictures. Here I am with Angela...and then with Lysa.

I stayed the weekend with my the person who made the weekend possible in the first place. I met Mrs. Teresa almost 15 years ago and have been immensely blessed by her love for the entire time. She and her husband lived close enough for me to be able to stay with them, so that made the weekend even better. I loved hanging out with her precious daughters...four precious girls that are growing up entirely too fast...and catching up on life. We stayed up entirely too late, but it was so worth it. Even as we chatted about the importance of young girls having someone they can look up to, I was reminded of just how thankful I am to have someone like Mrs. Teresa in my life. It's not just teenagers that need a mentor...we all do...and she has blessed me time and time again with her acceptance, advice and unconditional love.

Sunday brought more exciting things. First off, breakfast with Lysa and Holly before I dropped them off at the airport. The weekend provided me lots of opportunities to get to talk with them and get counsel from them on different things, but Sunday was so special. We actually got to the airport a little early, so much of our conversation was done sitting in that car. Those of you that know me well know that my favorite conversations are had in cars...and this one did not disappoint. They challenged me, encouraged me, loved on me and offered some wonderful words of wisdom. God was so sweet to allow our paths to cross at this particular time.

After a goodbye hug and a "see you in Birmingham in May" I was back in the car with one thing in mind---get to the hospital and hold my best friend's baby! As I drove, it was almost ironic how many songs I heard on the radio that talked about little girls and their daddies or children grown up. It made for lots of tears. Tears that continued when I got to the hospital. On Friday morning, Natalie texted me with the news of Baby Carrington's birth, and I had seen a few pictures, but nothing compared to seeing her in person. She was the softest and sweetest bundle of joy. I was amazed at how alert she was and for the most part she was happy and co

ntent...just didn't want to have her diaper changed. :) It was hard to give her back to her mommy, but I willingly did, knowing that I the days and years ahead would provide many more opportunities for holding, loving and playing.

My best friend, the mommy, with her beautiful baby girl

Carrington Bailey

Feels so good to have a baby in my arms again!

So there you have it. The novel recap of the weekend. So many special moments. Thank you, Lord, for your goodness.

Happy Birthday!

2010-04-09T15:26:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the world, Carrington Bailey

7.2 pounds, 20.5 inches

proud parents...Natalie and Scott

proud "aunt"...ME

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted what I asked of Him. -1 Samuel 1:27

Yes, I know this verse is typically used by parents, but believe me...I have prayed for this child!

Tomorrow...

2010-04-08T21:08:00.004-05:00

I got a phone call today that I know I won't soon forget. A phone call that I have waited years to receive...and that I have really begun to anticipate the last few months.

My best friend Natalie called today to tell me that little baby Berry would be making her appearance tomorrow. TOMORROW!! My best friend is going to be a mommy TOMORROW! I can hardly contain my excitement. I'm pretty sure I've told 100 people...and 98 of those people don't even know who Natalie is.

I can't remember the last time I held such a small baby...oh, wait, yes I can...and she just turned a year old! It's been too long!!

Please join me in praying for sweet Natalie and her hubby Scott as they become first-time parents tomorrow. They're going to be great...but I've heard from more than one set of parents that you can never have too many prayers.

Oh, Happy Wednesday

2010-03-24T21:06:00.002-05:00

This day has been filled with so many good things that I have to share. It's just what I needed! Today I am thankful for...in list format because I've got about 10 meetings tomorrow and I've got to get myself to bed...

A quick 30 minute baby-sitting job. Technically, I didn't even see a baby the whole time I was there, but that's not the point. One of the things I love most about my job is that I can pretty much work from anywhere. When a mom sent me an email asking if I could come over for a little bit so she could run something to her church without having to wake her son, I was delighted to be able to help. It makes me happy to be thought of and to be able to help.
Lunch with my bestest friend, Natalie. I still can't believe that she is about to be a mommy! As we visited today, I couldn't help but think in just a few weeks we will have another person joining us on our lunch dates!
WONDERFUL meeting with a new client to talk about fun Bid Day stuff. I LOVE my job...even when I'm so busy that I can't think straight. Today I was reminded how thankful I am that I enjoy what I do.
Impromptu dinner with a special Birmingham family. I met the Andersons about a month after I moved to Alabama and what a blessing they have been from the beginning. I have the privilege of doing a bible study with the 6th grader of the family, Emily, so I get to see them pretty much each week. Mexican dinner with Meg, Emily and Thomas was the perfect way to end a busy day.
Reading this post by my blog friend Lindsee totally made me smile. I agree with her 110%!
ROOMMATE CRISIS IS OVER!!! WOOHOO!! Long story super short, within 15 minutes, I heard from 2 different people about someone that was moving to Birmingham in May and didn't know anybody. I chatted with her tonight and all looks good for her to move in. Thank you, Lord!! I was really dreading having to pack up my stuff, but even more dreading having to move away from these precious families that I get to baby-sit for and do life with.

God is putting together pieces and answering prayers right and left. I pray that I will continue to have my eyes open for ways that He is moving.

It Is Wells

2010-03-24T19:38:00.004-05:00

I just LOVE it when God outdoes Himself. It happens a lot, but this past weekend, He REALLY outdid Himself! Last Saturday, my sweet friend, Amy, became a Wells when she married her man, Clayton, and He provided the perfect weekend to celebrate the marriage of an incredibly special couple. I've been trying to figure out how to explain it in words, but it's just impossible...there are just too many details that I love about their marriage. But, the thing is, even though my words won't do it justice, I have to share a few of my favorite things...

The family dynamics--Never in my life have I seen two families that mesh as well as the Pettigrew and Wells families do. The rehearsal dinner was filed with examples and thank yous for the way each side has welcomed the other. It goes way beyond like...these families truly love each other.
The location--They got married at Rosemary Beach and had the ceremony and reception on the Eastern Green overlooking the beach. Pottery Barn should have been there to take pictures because it looked like something that would be in their magazine. It was hands down the most beautiful and laid back wedding I have ever had the chance to be a part of...and totally messed with my dreams of having a big church wedding!!
The ceremony--Simple and incredibly sweet. I actually sat on the grooms' side and so it made it really easy to see his face when he first saw Amy (pretty much one of my favorite part of weddings) and to see Amy as she said her vows. Top that off with a reading from one of John and Stasi Eldredge's books and you've got yourself a wedding ceremony for the books!
The reception--hands down, the most fun reception I have ever been to. The food was delicious--yummy sushi and oysters were my favorites--and the band that was there to help us dance the night away was phenomenal! Everyone was dancing, and when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. My little group and I danced the entire time...even to the iPod that they played during their break. I seriously think that my friends and I only sat out for the first three songs, and that's only because we were eating!
Mother/Son dance--There wasn't a dry eye in sight! One of the sweetest dances I have ever seen...definitely in my top 5 of all time!

That's enough rambling...on to the pictures so you can see the beautiful bride. :)

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Wells

I met Leslie when I worked at Chick-fil-A. In fact, she was the first Marketing employee that spoke to me on my first day. Loved getting to catch with her over the weekend!

Isn't this one of the prettiest you've ever seen? I LOVED it!

Claudia demonstrating her spiritual gift of make-up applying while Feemster watches in the back, patiently waiting to demonstrate her spiritual gift of dancing. :)

With the beautiful bride

Quick break from dancing for a group shot with the bride

There's something about new friends that just makes me happy. This was my favorite brand new friend of the weekend. She was the best MOHA (maid of honor assistant) I have ever seen...and if she doesn't call me when she comes to Birmingham this summer, she will be in DEEP trouble!

All smiles at the end of the night. What a great way to celebrate SBX!!

Dearest Amy,

I have relived your special weekend over and over again and each time I think about you being married, I smile. It has been so encouraging to watch you and Clayton over the past few years. I'm so thankful that God allowed for our paths to cross in time for me me to watch the relationship grow and develop from the beginning. You are much loved, sweet MARRIED friend...and your hubby is much loved, too!

Congratulations...best wishes...let the forever begin!

Happy Birthday, Harriet!

2010-03-18T20:40:00.002-05:00

If you follow me on twitter, then you know last Thursday was a big day. My Honda Accord..AKA Harriet...turned 100,000 miles. I celebrated with a road trip to the beach. True, the trip was pre-planned to celebrate the wedding of one of my favorite couples, but Harriet didn't mind.

The big celebration will come next week when she gets her 100,000 mile tune-up and a thorough detailing. Pretty sure after it's all said and done it will be the most money I've ever spent on a birthday present!

it's good

2010-03-15T16:21:00.001-05:00

Last Thursday, my sweet friend Whitney, wrote a post about things that made her week good. I loved that idea. I mean, even if you don't have a great week, you can always find a few things to be happy about, right?

I actually had a wonderful week, but it was still a good thing to sit and remember some of my favorites.

Kids. Kids. Kids. They make every week better. I'm so thankful for all of the families that welcome me into their home.
Shower invitations. A few posts ago, I mentioned that I'm helping plan a baby shower for my bestest friend Natalie's baby. The shower invitations came in the mail this past week. As I held that invitation, I was overcome with emotion. Happy emotion. My best friend is about to be a mommy and I can hardly wait!!
Organization. It's no secret that I enjoy organizing closets. It's getting time for spring around here, so I spent the better part of one night switching my winter and summer clothes. Then I took three bags of clothes to donate. LOVE the feeling of a freshly organized closet!
A mid-week trip to Tuscaloosa. There are so many things that I love about my job, but I'm so thankful that it gives me the opportunity to go to one of my favorite places so frequently. This trip was extra special because I got to spend a few hours with some of my favorite girls, Addie and Carley.
Girls day/night. All of my schools are on spring break this week, so last Friday was the beginning of a mini spring break for me. Abby joined me on Saturday for a relaxing day/night before I dropped her off at the airport Sunday morning. We didn't do anything super special, but that's what made it so special.
Breakfast date. I'm a morning person, so breakfast dates work really well for me. One of my oldest friends---by years, not age---and I met for breakfast today. Laurie is a nurse and works the night shift, so we met after she got off. It was perfect. A great way to start off the day...and week!
House-sitting. My Aunt, Uncle and cousins are out of town for a few days enjoying spring break, so I get to enjoy time at their home. It feels like vacation! Lots of movies. Long walks. Great sleep...their guest bed is SO COMFY!

This last week was good...so good...and with a trip to the beach and a wedding on tap for this week, it looks like this week is going to be a good one too.

Blog Dream Come True

2010-03-05T07:01:00.002-06:00

I read my first blog about three years ago and was sucked in almost immediately. Over the years, I have added hundreds of blogs to my google reader, and though I may not always be good at consistently writing, I am always consistent with my reading.

About a year or so into my blog reading, I came across a blog that I loved immediately. I was drawn to the family with 4 children(they now have 5 and are in the process of adopting number 6). I loved her writing style and that she lived in the south. I was delighted when I moved in August because I knew that she, like I, would be in the Birmingham area. I was hopeful that one day I would run into her.

Well, that didn't happen...but something even better did. After getting up the courage to post a comment on her blog offering to baby-sit for her children so she could go on a date with her hubby, I got an almost immediate response...and an invite to come have dinner and meet the family.

Yesterday was the day. I walked in the door and I tell you, I felt like I was in a dream world. These faces that I had grown to love through the blog-world were real.

Ok...timeout. I realize I still haven't mentioned the name of the blog family. Any guesses?

If you guessed The Vitafamiliae, then you are correct!

The kids were beyond well mannered, cute as they could be and absolutely precious. As Sam blessed our meal, tears filled my eyes while listening to the sincerity. No cookie cutter "God is great" for this guy! If you've read her blog for long, you probably know that she says she doesn't cook fancy things, but let me tell you, the meal was delicious--chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans, homemade bread, homemade cookies...and even a muffin to take home for breakfast this morning!

It was a delightful evening filled with dress up, blog talk, laughter, cuddling, kitchen talk, baking and just family activity.

Many thanks to the Vitafam for having me over. Looking forward to doing it again!

What Am I Doing?

2010-03-02T14:35:00.003-06:00

I've been coming across this little thing a lot lately...decided after reading Laura's that I would do it myself.

Seeing // bags that need to be unpacked and organized

Reading // Beth Moore's latest...So Long Insecurity and since it's totally wrecking my world, a little Karen Kingsbury---Shades of Blue

Listening // Kari Jobe...the CD is pretty much on repeat these days

Traveling // is over for a little while. Thank goodness...the past two weeks I could barely keep track!!

Praying // constantly. for people I know well...and people I don't know at all.

Planning // a baby shower for my best friend Natalie :)

Wearing // jeans and a geneologie hoodie

Anticipating // lots of lunch and dinner dates with friends and family this week

Loving // that it is finally March!

Watching // the emails flood in...time for my break to be over!

Stream of Consciousness

2010-02-17T15:06:00.004-06:00

My mind is a jumbled mess of thoughts. I feel like I haven't been able to get things together for about 6 weeks. Maybe it's because I haven't blogged in forty forevers. Probably because things have really picked up at work and I'm finding myself away from my home/office more days than not...but whatever the case may be, this sense of jumble has got to go. So, here's what's going on in my little head...in the bullet format because it's my favorite.

Words with Friends is my addiction. I downloaded the app to my phone a few weeks ago and have been hooked from the beginning.
I went a full week without getting a full night of sleep. I'm thinking this is probably why my life feels 10 times more jumbled now. Yesterday, I decided I had had enough, so I stopped by the store and picked up something to knock me out. It worked. 7 hours of sleep...incredibly weird dreams, but I'll take what I can get.
I love shopping at thrift stores. I have enjoyed it for years, but am loving it even more now that one is so close. My Atlanta roommate came into town a few weekends ago and we found some great treasures to make my house more like a home. Now I just have to get to sanding and sewing!
I'm going to Atlanta in April to see Beth Moore...and Travis Cottrell, or as I like to call him, Travis. I think there are still some tickets left if you want to join! Can I tell you how excited I am?!?! So excited. She's doing a little conference on her latest book So Long Insecurity. Hello. LOVING that book right now. To top it all off, lots of bloggers are going to be going to the conference, so I'm hoping that after months/years of reading, I will finally get a chance to meet some of them in real life.
Children are my heart. I have loved them for as long as I can remember. I'm baby-sitting tons these days and though it means I'm super drained, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I enjoy loving on kids, and treat me like so much more than a baby-sitter. Take this past Sunday. Valentine's Day. Not always the most fun day for the singles out there. This year it was fun though. I was showered with gifts from three of my families. It wasn't the gifts that that mattered, what I was thankful for is their love. Baby-sitting. It's a blessing.
Middle schoolers. I love them too. Well, maybe not all middle-schoolers, but I sure do love the 4 precious 6th grade girls that I have been given the privilege to do a Bible study with each week. If you told me a year ago I would be leading 6th graders, I would have laughed. If you had told me I would be enjoying it, I would have died from that laughing. God totally rocked my world when He brought E, S, A and E into my life. Not to mention, they have the sweetest families too. So nice since it's not very practical to drive to Mom and Dad's for supper anymore.
Mom and Dad may not be close by, but thankfully, now that I'm back in the state of Alabama again, I am surrounded by a lot of my extended family. My aunt and uncle are the queen and king of hospitality. Practically every week I'm over at their house. As soon as I walk in the door, I feel relaxed and loved. Good meals are always abundant. They invite me to do everything with them...sporting events, grocery store runs, shopping, even studying for tests. I don't just feel like a niece or cousin...I feel like a daughter and sister. To top it all off, I am convinced they have the most comfortable guest bed in the world, so even though I'm only about 15 minutes away, I find myself sleeping there whenever I can!
So, I've talked about children, middle schoolers and family...only two groups left. First up, my college girls. Oh my goodness. I love my job. I get to interact with college students---mostly sorority girls---on a daily basis. They bless me beyond measure. I love that the reason we have come to know each other is because I'm the girl that can help them with their t-shirts...not the typical way to form friendships, but pretty much my favorite friendships have happened unconventionally. I enjoy what I do, but it's because of those girls. I get excited when their name appears on my phone or an email comes across from them. It's a blessing to be able to work with such sweet young ladies.
When I was a senior in high school, my Sunday School teachers told me time and time again to make sure to find a church to get involved in as soon as I started college. I have found that to be true no matter where you are. Unlike the months of searching it took me to find a place to worship in Atlanta, I found a place immediately in Birmingham. There are so many things that I love about it...being able to walk there is quite nice. However, I think I am most thankful for the guys and gals that are in my Sunday School class. As much as I enjoyed my church in Atlanta, they didn't have a Sunday School program. In just a few short months I have begun to see how much I missed the Sunday School hour. The teaching is incredible and the fellowship both inside and outside of the church walls is just what I needed.
If I'm not meeting with sorority girls, I'm working from home. This has provided me the opportunity to really get sucked into the Olympics. I mean, I've watched for as long as I can remember, but now I'm really watching. Everything. Not just the figure skating. Curling. Biathlon. Cross Country Skiing. Luge. EVERYTHING.
As of today, the Lenten season has begun. I was born and raised Baptist. Still am, actually. The Lenten season is not something that we traditionally celebrate. However, I like it. My friend, Jennifer, summed it up really well today. So I'm participating. I stopped in and picked up a special devotional book to be read during the Lenten season and am looking forward to the next 40 days.

Okay. I don't know how many bullets that is, but I'm pretty sure it's way too many. Maybe I'll write more tomorrow. Not promising anything though.

Catching Up

2010-01-17T07:38:00.002-06:00

I haven't posted in over a month. I say posted, because in my mind, I have written a lot.

I think in blog throughout the day.

I take trips and think...hmm...I should blog that.

I have a WONDERFUL day at work and think...hmm...I should blog that.

I make a yummy dinner and think...hmm...I should blog that.

I decide on goals for the new year and think...you guessed it, I should blog that. :)

Well, clearly, I haven' t been blogging. I have tons to write about, but I haven't. Don't know.

But, get excited...or remove me from your reader...because I am about to post post post. Lots of back posts so that I can get my blog updated on what has been going on in my life this past month. And...I'm even going to try to post what's currently going on so I won't find myself in the constant process of back-blogging. :)

More California...

2010-01-12T20:27:00.003-06:00

The crowning glory of the trip out west was definitely the National Championship game, but I decided when I booked my ticket that if I was going to make a trip out there...I was going to cross a few other things off my list as well.

My sweet friend April and her hubby Jordan have lived in California for as long as I've known them. I love visiting my friends, so it made perfect sense to make a visit to San Marcos. They were such gracious hosts! Thank you both again for bei

ng so welcoming.

The game was on Thursday, but I didn't fly home until Mon

day. That gave us plenty of time to relax and take in the sights. Kevin and I made our list of things we w

anted to do and just kept driving until it was all accomplish

ed.

First on the list was to see and put my feet in the Pacific Ocean. It was a bit chilly, but I did it. One more thing checked off the bucket list!

About mid-way through last year, I stumbled across Marla's blog. I love her. She's so real and one of my favorite bloggers. Well, last year, she and her f

amily decided to visit 52 zoos in 52 weeks. That's 52 zoos in a year. The stories behind the trips are incredible...and Marla does a great job of sharing how God totally worked to make it happen.

Well, one of the zoos they went to was the World Famo

us San Diego Zoo. I decided right after I read that post that I wanted to go to that zoo one day.

We spent almost 5 hours at the zoo...and could have spent much longer. There was so much to do and see. Thank goodness there was a double decker bus that you could ride! They also had a fun sky ride that gave you a great view...and the animals, oh the animals.

The zoo was HUGE and you could tell they had really worked to keep the animals in something as close to their natural habit at as possible.

All in all, the zoo was great...worth every penny...and so many things I loved, but there is one thing that I had never gotten to do before that I know I will never forget...

Remember the Rose Bowl

2010-01-10T18:36:00.000-06:00

I called my Dad frantically on December 5. Alabama was beating Florida in the SEC Championship and it looked as if we would be headed to the Rose Bowl. I wasn't able to get to a computer, so I needed him to do me a favor and book my plane ticket to the west coast. It took a little convincing. Since it was only the 3rd quarter, he wasn't quite as confident as I was, but by the end of the game, I could proudly proclaim that I would be going to California. It would take a few more days to find out if I got tickets to actually go to the game...thankfully, I did. :)

The trip out there was definitely one for the books. I'm so happy that I was able to cross Rose Bowl off of my bucket list. I've been an Alabama fan my entire life and for the longest time, I was afraid I would never get the chance to see my team play there. Now that the BCS is part of college football, the SEC gets the chance...but only every 4 years. Those aren't great odds, but apparently, they were just good enough.

Once I got to California, I met up with my friend Kevin. It was great to have someone else in charge of getting me places! I just gave the address and he figured it out. Loved it! Our flights came in the day of the game, so we didn't have a ton of time to walk around before, but I was just happy that we were there before the kickoff.

We got a great parking place about 5 minutes from the stadium and began our walk. I don't think I've ever anticipated seeing something as much as I anticipated seeing the Rose Bowl. That's probably why when I turned the corner and saw this sign, I almost started hyperventilating. No, but really.

Cell phone service was real spotty...not good when you're trying to meet up with people. So thankful that my calls were able to be received by sweet Abby. It had been almost a month since I had seen her last, so I was uber excited to find her! Isn't she just the cutest little Alabama fan??

Once we got into the stadium, it was even better than I could have ever imagined. I know it's called the Rose BOWL..but now I know why. It really is like a big bowl. Not near as high up as most of the stadiums that I've been to, but incredibly deep.

There were a few moments when things got pretty intense, but for the most part, I found myself enjoying it all and soaking it all up. I mean, it's not everyday that you get to watch your team win a National Championship...though, I'm hoping that this is something that we will get to do a lot more!

Thanks to my wonderful grandfather, we had excellent seats. I loved being able to sit with my grandparents, uncle and cousin. The reason I love Alabama so much is because of my family. It was only fitting that we cheer our team on sitting together. ROLL TIDE!!

I don't ski...but I love youth

2010-01-03T18:21:00.000-06:00

Who says you have to ski to chaperone a youth ski trip?!?!

Ever since a little episode with me, some skiis and a black diamond mountain a few years ago, I have done my very best to stay far far away from anything to do with skiis. But, when it comes to youth and chaperoning, let's just say I can't get enough of it. I love spending time with them. Finding out what's going on in their minds...well, I don't know if I was able to actually succeed in that.

Over the course of 4 days, we only had two that had to be taken to ski patrol...only one of those went to the emergency room. Considering 3/4 of the group that went had never skied before, I'd say that's pretty good.

When it was all said and done, I was incredibly sleep deprived, but overflowing with love for my Savior and those kids. What a blessing it was to do life with them for a few days!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-28T17:54:00.000-06:00

Christmas Christmas Christmas. It's one of my favorite times of the year. This year, I was able to spend lots of time at home. I almost felt like I was a student again! Just another perk of my job. :)

There are lots of little traditions that we have, but some of my occur on Christmas Eve. My church has a Christmas Eve service...I LOVE candlelight services...and afterwards, my family always invites a group of people over for dinner . There's nothing super fancy about it. Just people, food, laughter--lots of laughter, and if you're lucky a good game or two.

When I found out that I was going to be an aunt, I started making a list of things that I wanted to do with my niece or nephew. One of those things was accomplished this Christmas...making a gingerbread house. Emma Kate and I had a great time putting our little house together. We liked it so much that we made a manger too. Things were going great until she wanted to put Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the manger. Yes, I know, I should have thought about that before, but I hadn't. We had to do a little improvising with the candy we had leftover. Mary and Joseph were a little rough, but I was pretty impressed with our Baby Jesus...that's the most important anyway, right? :)

After Christmas Eve comes Christmas Day. You're just going to have to trust me that we followed with tradition and took a picture sitting on the stairs. They are way too bad to post for the public to see!

Children at Christmas...there's really nothing like it! EK got lots of fun gifts. Her favorite was the baby that does all kinds of things. Way to go, Santa!

I didn't have much to want this year...but since I haven't been buying clothes, I was quite thankful that Mom and Dad came through with lots of them. It was especially nice when I was packing a few days later and had some new things to wear! Then, when I thought all the unwrapping was done, Mom and Dad surprised me with something that I can use to wash and dry all my new clothes!! I had planned on purchasing a washer and dryer, but was so excited to not have to do that. They are both SUPER nice!! Woohoo for clothes..and being able to keep them clean and dry!

The next few days were spent lounging around the house, watching football games, getting work stuff organized and preparing myself to chaperone a youth ski trip to North Carolina. It's a hard life, but someone has to do it. :)

Coffee Shop Thoughts

2009-12-11T17:04:00.003-06:00

I love coffee shops. Just typing that statement makes me giggle inside because if you told me two years ago that I would one day love them, I would have laughed in your face.

Coffee is not something essential to my day. Yes, it is true that I have it a few times a week, but I much prefer tea---of the green variety to be exact.

But the coffee shop. It is so much more than coffee.

It is people. It is comfort. To take a line from Starbucks...it is my third place.

Tonight, I find myself sitting at a coffee shop. Green tea in hand. Bells ringing as customers enter and exit. Some ordering their usual. Some looking at the menu of options for what seems an eternity before deciding on the house coffee.

iTunes is pulled up. Praise and Worship Genius mix is making it's way from the computer to my ears. My journal is open and my pen is moving. Well, not really moving now...now, I'm blogging...but, you get the picture.

Lots of reflecting is going on right about now. This time last year I was finishing up my time at Chick-fil-A. The job that had been my stability from the moment I graduated college was drawing to a close. I had no clue what life beyond July would have in store. When I think about where I am now, I still can't believe the way God has orchestrated the details. Life is 100 times better than I could have ever imagined.

The job. Whoa. It is me in a job description.

The families. Goodness gracious. Love them. They treat me as if I'm their own daughter.

The teenagers. Blessing after blessing. I know I'm supposed to be leading them, but I have yet to leave a meeting that they haven't taught me something.

God is so good. I am so thankful. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am right in the middle of His plan for my life and it feels so good. I am reminded of that as I sit here in this coffee shop. I pray that I will never forget it.

Birthday Blessings

2009-12-01T22:49:00.001-06:00

It’s practically the end of the day. In fact, it’s way past the end of my day. I prefer to be in bed by 9:30…but I just can’t let the day finish without taking the time to wish someone a very happy birthday.

Today is my older sister’s birthday. On this day, 29 years ago, my Mom was 24 years old. My Dad was 28. Up until that day, they had lived lives of singleness and coupleness, but when 9:00AM rolled around, my sister gave them the opportunity to live the life of parents. Obviously, I wasn’t there that day, but I can imagine it was a day of much happiness and celebration.

My sister changed the world for my parents that December day, and she has continued to change the world throughout the past 29 years.

With each passing day, I am more and more thankful for her.

She has weathered a lot in her 29 years. She has gone through things that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Yet, through each and every storm, she has taught me so much. She's shown me what it looks like to walk the narrow road. She's demonstrated the importance of truly forgiving. She's modeled the concepts of God's unconditional love and His overwhelming grace better than any I know.

Confidential to the Birthday Girl: Happy Happy Birthday to you, my dear sister. Sure, I may have complained once or twice about being the middle sister...but I take it all back if it means that I wouldn't have you for an older sister. I'm so thankful for the road that you paved and continue to pave for me. With each passing year, I find people associate me with different people and things, but I am so thankful that one of those associations is one that I have had for my entire life...Cile's younger sister. I don’t know what God has in store for you this next year, but I know that no matter the circumstance one thing will be certain. You will use the year to continue to inspire and encourage those around you. I love you so so much!

A Presidential Dinner

2009-11-19T22:47:00.001-06:00

November 16, 2005 was one of the more significant days of my college career. It was the day I was elected president of my sorority.

The lessons I learned while I was president are far too many to count. Some things were easier than I expected…others were harder..but I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that I was given to lead a group of 200 women.

November 18, 2009 was election day for my sorority and those memories all came flooding back as I drove down to Tuscaloosa to take two very special girls out to dinner.

Sarah Beth has served as president of the sorority for the past year. I knew from the moment she walked in the door her freshman year that she was going to do great things. I had high expectations of her, but she totally exceeded them. I couldn’t be prouder of the way she has lead our chapter.

Sweet Sarah Beth…You’ve given so much of yourself the past year and now it’s time to relax and celebrate all you have accomplished. Looking forward to next semester---a time sure to be filled with spontaneous lunches, shopping trips and surprise visits.

Abby was elected president last night. I’m beyond thrilled for her and our sorority. In the past few months I have gotten to know her on a more personal level. Through early morning conversations, working lunches and car chats this precious girl from Wisconsin has quickly become one of my dearest friends. I have no doubt that the chapter will continue to flourish under her leadership.

Dearest Abby…I have a feeling the next year will be one filled with much growth and happiness and probably a little stress and a few tears…but believe me, sweet friend…you are the best person to lead our house and it will be worth it. My advice… because you know me well enough that I always give it. :) Pray…A LOT. Surround yourself with people that will be honest with you and support you. Follow your heart. Keep things in perspective.

Birthday Week – Part 1

2009-11-19T20:53:00.001-06:00

My freshman year of college, I went out to eat with a group of friends to a little Italian restaurant in Tuscaloosa for my birthday. It wasn’t necessarily planned, but that one night was the start of a new tradition. With the exception of last year, I have gone to DePalmas for a birthday dinner with some of my closest friends.

So incredibly thankful for this group of girls. For supporting me and loving me. For listening and advising. For making me laugh and wiping my tears. My life is so much better because of my friends…thanks for an incredible evening!

With my bestest friend, Natalie…and Baby Berry :) She’s been a constant at the yearly birthday dinner. Thanks so much for making the drive down!! LOVE YOU SOO MUCH!!

Love my roommate, Sara Beth. She was the mastermind behind the dinner. Thanks so much, sweet friend! Hate that it took 24 years for our lives to cross…but I’m looking forward to lots of fabulous times in the future!

It was fun to have my little sister there for the celebration this year…even if she did un-invite me to her birthday celebration. :)

Here’s part of the group. Aren’t my friends precious?!?!

Quarter of a Century

2009-11-16T20:37:00.002-06:00

In less than a week, I will be 25 years old. Come Saturday, November 21, I will have lived a quarter of a century.

I haven't mentioned it before today because I don't really know what I think about it.

In my mind, I feel more like I'm 22.

My days are spent interacting with college students. Nights and weekends with college gals, babies, children and pre teens. This isn't the typical life of a soon to be 25 year old...it's FAR better!

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be 25. I mean, it's only a number. And the fact that the number is increasing is only a reminder of all the wonderful things that have happened in my life.

I did the year by year update last year...and pretty much wore my little brain out with all of that recalling...so I won't be doing that again, but you're more than welcome to scroll through the archives back to November of last year if you want to see Lindsey through the years. :) If I can get my act together, I'll do a recap of 24 sometime this week...it was definitely a year that I don't want to forget.

For those of you that have already passed 25...what are your thoughts on it? Was it a great year...or not such a great one? I'm still working on my 25 year goals...so, is there anything I need to know or make sure that I do?

Doing Life

2009-11-15T21:47:00.004-06:00

When I moved to Atlanta in May of 2007, I was introduced to a term that I quickly added to my vocabulary. The phrase was doing life.

Andy Stanley, the senior pastor of Buckhead Church would often ask "who are you doing life with?" He encouraged the church to actively invest in the lives of others and ever since I have found myself looking to do just that.

I have been blessed with some incredible people to do life with. Family. Friends. Coworkers.

Over the past few weeks, I have been pretty absent from the blog. Not because I don't have things going on in my life...but because I've been so busy doing life with others.

The move to Birmingham a few months ago brought about something I had never really thought about...relationships. Lots and lots of new relationships...relationships in addition to the ones that I formed in Atlanta.

The move brought more families...more friends...college girls...middle schoolers. I am loving the new relationships. It's an absolute blessing to be able to do life with so many...but relationships take time, energy and effort. So, by the time I get a few free moments to blog, I find that I'm exhausted---physically and emotionally. I can't even put two sentences together.

As much as I miss the frequent blogging, I can honestly say that I know my time is being used for something incredibly important. I'm going to try to get better at posting more frequently, but if you don't hear from me, just know that I'm using the time to invest. To dig deep. To cultivate relationships. To do life.

Homecoming Happiness

2009-11-04T13:08:00.013-06:00

Two weeks ago, I went home for a few days. It was glorious. I got to spend some time with my family and was able to see lots of friends. I know I've said it before, but I absolutely love being from a small town.

The town I'm from is all about the schools, so the football program has a big following. I was so excited when I realized that I would be able to make it home for the annual homecoming football game. Here are a few pictures from the few days I was in town...

Quick photo shoot before the parade. She was being a cheerleader this day.

Started taking care Miss Mallori when she was in diapers. So glad she found me at the parade!

I used to baby-sit Caroline as well. Can't believe she's old enough to be the Senior Homecoming Attendan. Isn't she gorgeous?

It was my sister's 10 year reunion this year. Doesn't look like she's old enough to have graduated 10 years ago, does it? Emma Kate stole the show, as usual. It's true, I'm a bit biased, but I do believe that she was the cutest kid there.

My new favorite picture. Love that laugh!