I'm Back!

Maybe my new years resolution would be to be a better fellow-blogger...ha! We will see! I always feel good when I take time to blog whatever comes to mind....just never seem to take time to do it! So...I'm back for now! My world has been turned upside down, forwards, backwards and every which way you can imagine. I got engaged to my favoritest person (most days).....and gave two weeks notice at my beloved job :(...packed my bags and headed for Hog town! Oh ...Fayetteville...how I've missed you! I have loved everything about my move....EXCEPT for this crazy winter wonderland we have been living in! I love snow....for about a day! This back and forth of pretty....I want to sit on my porch and drink lemonade weather...back to frigid, may lose a body part to frost bite weather...Not for me!
I have enjoyed these days of being cozied up though..and they could not have come at a better time......Logan had urgent surgery and I have been sick with a bad sinus infection. God knows when you need to rest and in a way being cooped up...has been a blessing. Honestly...it's the only way to keep Logan still...he hates wasting time and not being productive.....so recovery has been a challenge for him!

Thank you for the prayers and good wishes...Logan in much better now!

Back to winter......Today was Ground Hog day and ...I LOVE that he didn't see his shadow....SPRING will be here soon! I am so much more productive in the fall and spring...but during the winter...I might as well be hibernating....I HATE BEING COLD! HATE IT! So how do we survive these next several weeks of living in Antarctica.....here are my 3 favs...hope they help you:

1. Hot Chocolate: I have fallen in love! I never ever drink it...but it's all I've wanted since I've moved here....I bought 4 boxes the other day at Harps!

2. Rose Salve by C.O. Bigalow...LOVE LOVE LOVE this miracle stuff! MY lips have never been the same....go buy some! (well...if you can get to the store and aren't stuck)

3. Eat some yummy food....preferably fattenting....Paula Deen style food....it will make you smile!
...I was supposed to start a healthy eating and workout plan ...two days ago...February 1st......and it came and went....and so far....I don't seem to be heartbroken....seriously though...I've got to get motivated!

Thankful

I did not have a chance to blog for Thanksgiving...but I realized that everyday is "Thanksgiving" for me...( so it's ok to be a little late)! I am thankful for the gift of life , God's grace and my amazing friends! God has blessed me with a loving, supportive boyfriend, who is my whole world! He has given me a family who has always taken care of and provided me with a wonderful life...but this year my girlfriends kept coming to my mind on Thanksgiving day....and the bonds that we have that are unbreakable! These girls have sustained me...been there through thick and thin. Some of the best days of my life have been spent with this group. The truth is sometimes guys just don't like to talk to the extent that girls do, and sometimes you don't want to hear what your famly has to say...but girlfriends....they will talk for hours on end and even re-visit the same topic over and over because they love you! My girlfriends are my soul mates...and I thank the Lord for the blessing that each of them is and the uniqe, individual gifts they offer...it makes our group that much sweeter! I thought of each of these beautiful women...and where they might be spending there Thanksgiving last Thursday, and even though spent far apart..one thing is for certain:

"Seasons change, people come into your life and people go, but it is comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart, and if you are very lucky, a plane ride away."

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to my best girls!

Painted Pumpkins II

A few of my other inspirations! Enjoy..and Happy Fall!

Painted Pumpkins

I love Fall! It is my absolute favorite time of year! I love the weather, the leaves changing, football, the baking, and most of all the DECOR! I know that we are all fans of the "original jack-o-lantern"......and I am too...but here lately I'm obsessed with painted pumpkins! I know this is not a new concept at all...and I have been painting my pumpkins for the past 3 years...but I really got excited about all the different possibilities that you have with this creative idea! (AND ...you don't have to throw your pumpkin away after Halloween..it will last right through Thanksgiving...which saves both time and MONEY!) These are just a few idea's I came across....very simple...and very cute! (I'm thinking of hosting a painted pumpkin party...next fall)

And we meet again.....

Okay....here I am almost a year later from my last post! ha! I sorta got out of my bogging phase...and then realized how I really want to be an official "blogger"! (even if no one reads it ..in a way it is kind of therapeutic). 2010 has been one crazy year! As many of you know I experienced the unimaginable......my home invasion/attempted kidnapping. Yes, my la-ti-da world was turned upside down, but by the grace of God I have started piecing it back together again. There are days...oh there are days! I am still in the middle of a trial (that will more than likely go into the middle of next year), I am battling the daily emotion of fear and the thought of "will I ever be able to go grocery shopping alone again?" Needless to say I am picking up the pieces...and learning that the Lord can take the worst of circumstances and use them for His glory. I know that my life will never be the same....and that statement is bitter sweet.....I miss my innocence....the girl who thought that "nothing like that will ever happen to me"......but I love who God is molding me into....a woman who knows that bad things can happen to good people and that experiences will leave a lasting impression. A woman who knows that I am loved by my Savior and that he is walking me through this journey step by step, day by day.....He never lets go. I have learned "normal" will never be again...however I am creating a "new normal".....and that is ok...in fact it can be a blessing in disguise.

Blogging is going to be part of my "new normal"......I have officially decided....let's hope this goes a little better than my 2009 attempt.

Giving Thanks

Yesterday was Thanksgiving! One of my favorite times of year! I love the idea of families gathering around a table with gorgeous food that took days to make with beautiful centerpieces and telling what they are thankful for. (I guess it's the hostess-love to entertain in me coming out). Here is our thankful list this year:

Jackson: Thankful for a house to live in a his family of course



Haleigh: A meal to have on thanksgiving that my mom spent so much time preparing, my beautiful family...parents who love me and taught me to have the values I have today, a loving and giving boyfriend...who makes everyday better......my girlfriends...who are my life....i have the best friends in the whole world...no one is like our group..the bonds are undescribable....a job in this tough time.....roomates and a place to live that i really like......and God's grace.



Dad: Thankful for a country where we are free. There is no country like America..it is the best place to live...he hopes his children and his grandchildren will always know America like he grew up knowing it....and that certain people leading it wont distroy what this great nation was created to stand for. He is thankful for the woman sitting across from him and her love (my mama)....and his children and the blessing of adoption....he agreed with me on the God's grace.....He loves us inspite of ourselves.



Mama: Is thankful for her Bible study, girlfriends and her life today. God turned some of her choices and circumstances into a beautifl life..the moment she met my dad...and the moment she held her babies. She was grateful for God's provision and how he has a plan in all things.



Buddy and Bentley: TURKEY



It was Buddy's birthday ..so we of course put a candle in his turkey.

I love eating and then taking the biggest nap of the year in front of the fire place.......I know there will come a day where I wont be able to do that...I will have babies running around or be hosting my own thanksgiving and busy cleaning up.......but for now I will enjoy it while i can.....We spent the evening watching Christmas movies on T.V. (Miracle on 34th Street....Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (not Christmas I know)....then around 9:00 I went and grabbed a piece of cold pizza from the fridge and ate a piece of chocolate pecan pie. All I can say is enjoy the yummy-glorious-fattening eating Haleigh...because on Monday.......Oraganic, low fat eating here we come!



Today I am spending it with my mom...helping her accessorize and complete her wardrobe...I love going into people's closets and helping them design outfits they never knew they had! That is my job today...although she may have some purchases in her future to complete a few looks! I will also be going back to my house today to get the Christmas tree up and decorated! YAY! Going to Dinner and New Moon with the girls tonight! I love this time of year....and I am incredibly thankful to Have Rachael home for the next month before she moves to Colorado and starts her new life with Clay! : )

Blessed

So yesterday....I was walking from my car to the building I work in...which is only about 2 blocks. I was waiting in a cross walk....when I noticed the sweet lady who I see almost every other day...who is blind. She and her friend (who helps her )are usually crossing the crosswalk in front of my car when I'm at the light...but today I was early and saw her across the way. I noticed her little friend was not with her and looked like she was having trouble deciding when to cross or not. I was trying so hard to run over to her to see if I could help her cross the street and where she was going....but by the time I reached her she had already made her way across the street and was walking in the opposite direction to her building. I was so frusterated with my self for not getting to her in time and I started to cry. Those of you who know me...know that I am tenderhearted and cry pretty easily..so I'm sure this does not come as a shock!....So there I was crying.....A.) because anytime I see someone with a disabiity...I tear up.....because I usually feel so guilty that they have a hardship...and I have this perfect...easy life...with no handycaps or disabiity hindering my sight or ability to walk or talk. And it just breaks my heart that someone else has to go through that; and B) I feel like God always provides opportunites for me to help someone out....but I never seem to make it in time to help the person.....I try and yet I can't catch them. So I was just frustrated. I'm silly..I know.....but I cried for a moment then pulled myself together and went on to work! I know how truely blessed I am...however, I still find reasons to complain, feel bad for my self or think something is not fair...and then I see someone...who has an obstacle in life...and they smile, don't complain....and give life 100%.....and it humbles me everytime and honestly reminds me of how blessed I am. What a simple impact someone in that situation has on me....it keeps me humble and mindful of what is really important. It holds me accountable to keep my attitude in line. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes: "I was angered because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet."