Christmas Came Early!

Guess who's moving back to Jackson?!?! I am THRILLED to announce that I've accepted a position at UMC as an HR Generalist and tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. This whole experience has been such a GOD thing so pull up a chair and get comfy...
I've tried for over a year - probably closer to two years - to move back to MS. I mentioned this in my last post, but even applied (a couple of times) to the School of Nursing at UMC in an effort to move home. I applied for I-can't-tell-you-how-many jobs yet nothing was panning out. I kept telling myself there was a reason why I was still here (in Atlanta) and that when it was the right time, everything would work out.
On October 23 of this year, an email from our corporate office went out announcing a General Manager's position in Birmingham. Kate and I were moving that weekend into her house and I had so much going on, I didn't pay much attention to it. The following Monday, my boss who is originally from Hattiesburg asked me if I saw the email and if I would be interested in moving to Birmingham. I thought about, prayed about it, talked to my parents about it and decided to email HR and let them know I was interested. My first interview was with HR (November 2) and was just a standard meeting. The second interview (November 10) was with the VP I would report to. I didn't have a good feeling about the meeting at all. I felt as if he kept asking me questions to insinuate I wasn't ready - or smart enough - for the position. I answered his questions as honestly as I could, but it just wasn't going well. When it was over, I walked out of the building and called my mom - I knew she thought I was smart even if he didn't. And let's face it, sometimes you just need your Momma. While I was on the phone with her - and before I even got out of the parking garage from this horrible interview - my phone beeped and I was getting another call. I asked her to hold on and clicked over. It was UMC calling to schedule an interview for an HR Generalist position I had applied to in September. I almost wrecked my car. It was as if God himself was saying, "See, I told you, I haven't forgotten about you". Immediately, this wave of peace ran over me and I knew in that very moment that everything would work out.
I called my sweet friend, Amy (Fagan), because she had worked at UMC for years and I knew she had several contacts within HR. It turns out that she knew the lady I would be interviewing with and sent her a glowing recommendation about me. Yes, she will be getting a Christmas present! :) Friday, November 13, was my first interview at UMC. I was a nervous wreck. I went early enough to meet Mom for lunch and so she could show me where to go. The meeting couldn't have gone better. The lady I interviewed with was so nice and so easy to talk to - I just immediately felt comfortable. I had a great feeling about it and she said she hoped to finish interviewing before Thanksgiving and make her decision soon after. On Friday, November 20th I got a call about a second interview to be scheduled for December 11th. This time I met with a panel of people which was a slightly scary experience. I still had a great feeling about the opportunity when I left and just continued to pray that if it was the right fit that God would just work it out. And He did. Yesterday, around 1:00, I got the phone call I had been waiting on for so long - a job offer.
I can't even begin to tell you how thankful and excited I am! It's going to be very bittersweet because I'm leaving one of my best friends - and a great group of people that I work with every day - behind, but I know this is the right move for me to make and I can't wait to see what else God has in store. :)

The Best Gift

Can you believe 2009 will be over 2 weeks from today? I was looking at my calendar this morning thinking about this year - what all has changed. In January, I was convinced I was going to nursing school. I think the thing I was absolutely sure of was that I was ready to come home (to MS) - not go back to school for two years. So, plans changed and I didn't go the nursing school route - and I'm still in ATL. I'm slowly learning to grasp the fact that there's a reason why things don't happen according to my plan or my time table. It's about this thing called faith in this person called God. It's almost comical to think that we spend so much time making plans for our life - well, maybe not everyone is as OCD about planning as I am - that we forget to include the One who holds the master plan.

I love the holidays. We usually put up the tree and outside decorations at my parent's houes the day after Thanksgiving. This year was no exception. It's always makes for a good time when you realize that half of a strand of lights are out and you spend 30 minutes trying to figure out what's causing it. In the freezing cold. Awesome. Nothing a quick trip to the dollar store for 4 boxes of replacement lights won't fix. I'm headed to Jackson next Wednesday (23rd) and will be there until January 3rd! SO EXCITED!!!

I was there this past weekend for my friend Saundra's baby shower. Sydney Marie is due to arrive in January, but if her mother has anything to do with it, she'll be here before the new year. It's been a long road for Saundra and her husband, Jason, to get to this point and for sweet Sydney to be here in just a few short weeks. I'm so excited for them and can't wait to meet this new baby girl! I hope she will come before the new year so I can be in town when she's born. (That's another thing I don't like about not being in Jackson - having to miss my best friend's having babies.) Saundra got so much cute stuff; I have no doubts Sydney will be one of the best dressed babies in town! Of course, now that I found my camera cord under the passenger seat of my car to upload these pictures to the blog it's not letting me! Promise to post pictures as soon as I can get it to cooperate...

Best Gift is Pinelake's Christmas music that they perform each year. I had the opportunity to participate in it when I lived in Jackson and although it was a lot of work - it was so fun! Well, Best Gift was also this past weekend and I was excited to have the chance to go - especially because Mom was singing in it this year! They did a great job and since I have an inside connection to the choir again, Mom gave me a CD of the music which I've been listening to in my car for the last month or so. Saundra and our friend Jenna used to make so much fun of me for always listening to choir music! I have a few pictures that Mom emailed me that I'll post with the ones from Saundra's shower.

With Christmas being a week from tomorrow, it's easy to lose sight of the reason we celebrate. Last minute shopping, parties to attend, food to prepare, gifts to wrap - there's so much to be done in so little time. I'm so thankful that Jesus came and that He truly is the best gift we could ever receive! I hope you and your families have a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

Hodge Podge

Update: I cannot figure out how to get the spacing at the bottom of this post to work. I'll have to get my smart, techy friend, Amy, to help me!

So, maybe I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...although some days it seems that way. One of my faithful readers was sweet enough to tell me yesterday that I "suck" at updating my blog. You know who you are...SAUNDRA! I won't lie and say that the thought of blogging hasn't crossed my mind - it has. I've even thought, "oh, I should blog about that" and for the life of me, I have no idea what "that" would be at this point.

I can't believe it's December. Where did 2009 go? You know how you can fast forward through commercials on your DVR, and you can increase/decrease the speed? I feel like the last couple of months have been on the fastest speed. Bad analogy, probably, but the first one that comes to mind. Where to start? We moved at the end of October into Kate's super-cute house. I never dreamed it would transform so much in such a short amount of time. I know I promised to post pictures - and I will - eventually. I'm so excited for her and am looking forward to having a house of my own again one day (sooner than later). My commute to work is shorter and I'm enjoying the 15 (or 30) extra minutes of sleep! I've been going home (to MS) on the weekends every couple of weeks and although in the words of my sweet, pregnant friend - the drive "sucks" - it's SO nice to be home, even if only for a short time!

Thanksgiving was great! Bart had to work, but we had a nice dinner once he got home. Mom, Dad, and I put up the Christmas tree and set out some of the Christmas decorations. I have so much to be thankful for - not just on the holiday, but every day. God has truly blessed me in more ways than I could count or ever deserve.

Saturday, Mom and I watched the Egg Bowl and I'm not sure which one of us was screaming the loudest. No matter how bad our team has proven to be over the years, I've always been (and will always be) a Bulldog at heart. Nothing could have prepared me for how well we played - it was like watching another team. Maybe next year we'll have a winning season - maybe. No bowl games for us this year, but we'll take the win against Ole Miss. GO STATE!

There was a little "song" posted on Facebook this weekend that I thought was cute. I'm only posting it here so I can look back and remember it one day. No offense to my Rebel friends..."Cowbells ring, are you listening...Down the field, Dixon sprintin'...A beautiful sight, Rebels crying all night...Walking with the trophy in our hands."

It's almost time for new babies!!! Lexie is due January 8th, Saundra the 15th, and Lee the 17th - all of which are hoping for December (but not Christmas) babies! I'm almost as excited as the Mommas - and I can promise you, I'm excited to NOT be the one actually giving birth! I will say, though, that there are some definite benefits to almost all of your BFF's having babies before you. I guess some things won't be such a shock when it's my turn one day. Lexie's shower was Sunday and it was so fun and she got so much cute stuff! Baby Wren will be set when he/she makes their grand entrance. I cannot wait to find out what this baby is! Here are a few pics of the cute little Momma:

The Hostesses

Lex and Me

Yummy!

Last, but not least, today is my sweet Mom's birthday!! Happy Birthday to my favorite Momma in the whole wide world! I love you!

Words of Wisdom

I really needed to read this today...

Lately...

I knew it had been a while since I posted, but I didn't realize it's been almost a month! So, what's been going on lately?

...For starters...

And this...

Although we lost to Auburn last week, we're doing better than I thought we would this season: 2-1 so far although I'm a little worried about LSU on Saturday! I'm hoping to be able to go to Starkville for at least one game! HAIL DEAR OLD STATE!!!

...I got to meet her Labor Day Weekend...but was too busy holding her and getting all of her sugar to take pictures!! Maybe next time...

...I read this book last week and it's basically AMAZING!

...I've decided to change my name to "Benjamin Moore" or "Sherwin Williams". OK, not really but I've been helping my BFF, Kate, paint her super-cute new house and it looks SO good! Will post before and after pictures if we ever get to the "after" stage. We will...eventually.

...I am SO excited that all of my favorite fall shows are starting this week!

Oh McDreamy...how I have missed you!!

So, basically, for the next couple of months I'll be one big couch potato...and I can't wait!!!

SHE'S HERE!!!!

I am so excited to announce that Mary Morgan Stewart arrived Sunday, August 23, 2009, at 10:20 PM! She weighed 8.2 lbs and was 21.5 in long. It's no surprise that she is BEAUTIFUL and has immediately melted the hearts of her Mommy and Daddy! This was the picture Morgan sent me from his phone - how precious is that baby??!!

I won't share all of the details of Amy's labor and delivery but I will tell you this...the girl is a TROOPER!!! I knew when I walked in her in-law's house on Sunday and saw her pacing in the dark that she was in pain. She was scheduled to be induced Monday morning, but baby girl had other plans. When it comes time for me to have kids, I'm just going to get Amy to have mine. She did so great - 7 cm's without an epidural - great! More sweet pictures of my BFF's little family...

New Stages of Life

I know there aren't many people who read this, but I wanted to post a prayer request for my Maw-Maw. She was put into the nursing home on Monday (8/10). It was a difficult decision for my mom and her sister and brother. Mom took it the hardest, maybe because she's the baby. Maw-Maw will be 88 in October and although she hasn't been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she has severe dimentia. It's hard to watch someone you love slip away right before your eyes.

Monday was a rough day. I got a phonecall from my cousin, Missy, who had been by the nursing home to see how Maw-Maw's first day was going. When she got there, Maw-Maw was sitting in her chair with her robe on and her clothes in her hand. When she saw Missy she started sobbing. She wanted to know when she was going to be discharged and she couldn't figure out where she was or why she was there. Missy cried with her, prayed with her, and tried to reassure her that everything would be okay.

Yesterday was a much better day - PTL! When Missy got there, Maw-Maw was laughing and joking. She had gotten her nails "done", played bingo, been to an ice cream social, and made some new friends. She even talked about going on a manhunt for available men! She is hilarious!

I know there will be good days and bad days, but please pray that the good days outnumber the bad. I feel so helpless being in Atlanta (she is in Baton Rouge). I wish I was closer so that I could go check on her more often. This is a picture of Maw Maw with my cousin Laina (how cute is she??) at our family Christmas last year.

Sunday was my 28th Birthday! I know that's not "old" but it's amazing to me how fast time has passed. I stayed in Atlanta and some of my sweet friends planned a party for me. I didn't know where we were going until we were on our way, but they had a typed agenda and everything. They even hired a driver! My friend Tasha flew in Friday afternoon from Hattiesburg, MS to help celebrate my big day/weekend. Kate, Kelsey, and Charleston planned a great evening and I felt like such a special birthday girl! I mentioned this in my last post, but I am so blessed with great friends. These girls are part of the blessing! I should also note that we are so "old" we were yawning at 11:15 but told each other we had to stay out until midnight because Kelsey (the baby of the group) would be mad. We were home by 12:15 - ha!!

**I'll add pictures soon - I saved them to my computer at home and once again I'm blogging instead of working. :)

Blessed

It's late so this post will be short and sweet. The week did not start out on a good note. I wasn't (at all) prepared for it but life is life and things change. People change. Situations change. And, in the midst of some of the darkest days I find that God has surrounded me with the best friends I could have ever asked for. In three days, I've reconnected with friends that I haven't talked to in months and it's like no time has passed in our friendship - we just pick right back up. Others I talk to everyday (or almost). I am so blessed with so many good girlfriends. I love each of them dearly and can't imagine "me" without them. :)

It's Over Already?

It seems like July just got here...and it's almost over already! It's been a busy month but I've enjoyed every minute! I'll give you a brief recap:

4th - I was in MS. We were off work on the 3rd since the holiday fell on Saturday, so I left Thursday night after work. I love a 3-day weekend and wish they happened more often. I met Michael and his family at their fair cabin in Philly and we hung out all day and his dad grilled chicken and ribs...yummy! This was my first time meeting them so I was a little nervous, but everyone was so nice. We had a great day!

11th - I stayed here in Atlanta. Michael made dinner reservations at this great buffet-style bed and breakfast and Big Girl did not shy away from the food! They had everything you could think of - it reminded me a lot of Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah (Mother and Sons). Southern-style meat and veggies with lots of desserts...right up my ally! That night we went to see the Hangover which is hilarious!

18th - I went to MS because I helped host a baby shower for my BFF Amy. Saturday was the family shower but I've kind of been adopted into their family, so I got to go too. Oh my gosh at presents for baby girl, Mary Morgan. She is due on or before September 4th and this little one is going to be dressed to the 9's. Seriously, if I have a little girl one day her name might have to start with "M" just so I can use some of her hand-me-downs. Here are a few pictures from the shower on Saturday:

Sunday was the shower I helped host at my parent's house. We forgot to take pictures until the very end...whoops!

25th - Back to MS for the Neshoba County Fair. I haven't been to the fair in years and I've never spent the night there. I met Michael in Tuscaloosa on Friday and then followed him to the cabin (because anyone that knows me and my sense of direction...). The cabin was full of people the whole time, but we had a blast. My parents and Bart came up on Saturday and got to meet Michael for the first time. They were very impressed although somehow I knew they would be. :) I stayed until Monday and came back that afternoon because I had to be back at work for Tuesday. These are a few pictures from the fair...how CUTE is he???

Pray for Kate!

There are a few blogs that I read everyday...ones that I've grown to love over the past year. Sometimes there are prayer requests posted and stories that will just break your heart in pieces. Kelly posted a prayer request for "Kate" a few weeks ago - soon after they discovered that Kate has a brain tumor. She and her parents have been on my heart since then and I check her Caring Bridge site everyday. Please pray for the McRae family as they fight the battle of their lives.

How precious is this little girl???

Conciertos y Bambinos!

No, I am not fluent in Spanish - although it would be helpful at work if I was. I took my 2-years worth in high school and only because it was required. I don't remember learning much in either class. My freshman year teacher was blind (Ms. Cliett) and although she was a real sweet lady, she had NO clue what was going on in the classroom. She had an assistant who spent more time arguing with her than helping. It was my 7th period class and it was a zoo. My sophomore year teacher (Mrs. Smith) was much more interested in flirting with the then 16-year old boys and wearing entirely too short skirts to be concerned with providing us with a formal, Spanish education. I digress.
As anyone from the South can attest, it has been HOT! I went to Jackson for Father's Day and was convinced I would melt before I made it back to Atlanta. I'm going back this weekend for the 4th of July and am excited to report that it's only supposed to get up to 98 and 99 degrees while I'm there. Throw humidity in the mix and you're looking at at least 162! The humidity is just not as bad in Atlanta. We might die of smog inhilation but at least it won't be from a heat stroke. :)

The past few weeks have been busy! Work has been busier in the past month than in the past 2 years that I've worked here. Aside from that I have been concert-ing it up. First, my Mom came to ATL and we went to see Al Green and Etta James. It was so neat to hear "At Last" in person! I love that song and plan on dancing to it at my wedding one day. Al Green is a performer and it was an overall great concert! I didn't get any pictures, but if you could have seen Carla you would have no doubts that she had a great time.

A couple of weeks ago Taylor Swift and Keith Urban were in town. I didn't even know it until the day of - Kate and I had been out running errands when we heard an advertisement for the concert over the radio. We looked at each other with the "you wanna go?" look and agreed it would be fun. I'm not a huge Taylor fan - mainly because I feel 100 knowing that a 19-year old can sing like that. On the other hand, I am a fan of Keith's. Dude is SMOKIN HOT! And the best part? After he sang a few songs, he ran through the crowd and climbed up on a smaller stage that was set up right in front of us!

Last weekend some friends and I went to see Dane Cook. I've never been to a comedy show like that before, but it was hilarious! L-R - Charleston, me, and Kelsey and our futile attempt at a self-portrait.

For those of you who live in and around Jackson - all 2 of you - please be advised that there is something in the water! I'll give you a little hint...it takes 9 months to bake! Oh my goodness at the babies who have just been born and those still "baking"! My friend, Jenna, had a baby boy named Foster on May 28th. My friend, Amy, had sweet little Annelise on June 16th. Another Amy is due with Mary Morgan on September 4th - but we're convinced she's coming early because she's measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule. My friend, Lexie, is due January 8th - and we won't know until D-Day what that baby is (I say GIRL). Lee is due January 17th (which happens to be Big Sister, Ella's 2nd Birthday - how about THAT for timing??). And, Saundra, is due around January 21st! 3 babies in 2 weeks = Auntie being BROKE! But, I am SO very thankful for the precious blessing that each one will be and am praying for healthy babies, healthy mommas, and quick deliveries! I'm so excited!!

May we all remember the sacrifices that have been made as we celebrate our freedom with friends and family this weekend! Happy 4th!!

30 Day Shred

I'm a big fan of Jillian's. Actually, I'm a "Biggest Loser" fan in general, but between her and Bob she is my favorite. I've often wondered what it would be like if she were my trainer. Ladies (because I'm certain there are no Gentlemen who read this), we are about to find out. I'm a sucker for Target. I heart Target. I know the store closest to my house like the back of my hand - which is good and bad. Yesterday afternoon, I made a Target run with my friend Charleston - and I guess I should go ahead and admit that that was my 2nd trip for the day because I went right after church to get "a few things". Charleston and her husband are going camping this weekend so we stopped in the "Sporting Goods" section. I'll admit this is not one of my usual hot spots. I'm generally much more concerned with picking out new shades of OPI finger/toenail polish, browsing the clothes, or sniffing new shampoo options. When your priorities are in order, sporting goods just aren't at the top of the list.

To my surprise, I ran across this DVD in and decided it was fate. I had actually looked for it last week - during another Target run - but looked in the Electronics department next to all of the other DVD's and didn't see it. Silly me. I decided that in order to get great results, I also needed a yoga mat and 5-lb weights. My Momma always said, "if you're going to do something, do it right" - and I'd hate to disappoint Carla.

No worries, I will NOT be posting "before" pictures...but if my stomach is that flat in 30 days, I might start wearing a sports bra to work! :)

White Water Rafting

Michael has decided that he's slowly going to ease me into dangerous, outdoor activities and the first one was this past weekend...white water rafting on the Ocoee. I had heard from several people that it was a lot of fun but this was my first experience. I was a little nervous about signing the waiver that acknowledges in the event of an accident no one would be "at fault", but I figured after we drove (well, he drove) almost 2 hours to get there I couldn't back out. I'm so glad we went - it was so much fun and I would definitely do it again!
We had a fun group on our raft. One couple was from Laurel, MS and the other was from Mobile, AL. I thought that was kind of neat since I'm from MS and Michael is from AL. The guide asked if anyone wanted to "ride the bull" (sit in the front) as we were approaching some big waves. Michael volunteered. You couldn't have pushed me to the front of that boat but he is a dare-devil. It was like slow motion for me: I see the waves; we go up in the air; Michael flies to the sky; all I see is his feet; and then he's nowhere to be found. My heart stopped for a second because he didn't pop up immediately. We were all looking around trying to figure out where he was and finally he was on the left side next to me and two other people. We all just grabbed him and pulled him back in the raft. He was okay - no scrapes or bruises but he got stuck under our raft which is why he didn't pop up immediately. I suddenly remembered why I didn't volunteer...
Here are a few pics from the "bull ride":

Group shot - he's getting ready...










Hang on...









Okay, so maybe he didn't fly all the way to the sky...










Nothing but feet...










WHERE IS HE???










It was a great "first" for me - and I definitely would recommend it! We had so much fun!!

As Promised...

I have lots of pictures to post today, so bear with me as I try to get them spaced correctly. It's hard to get them exactly where you want them on here - or it is for me anyway - and I'm slightly OCD about them being spaced evenly. The past couple of weeks have been busy and I've been out of town both weekends. Both trips were great and I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a busy schedule with summer right around the corner.

The first few pictures are from a Fleetwood Mac (4/28/2009) concert that I went to with my friends, Charleston and Calvin and the "new boy" I mentioned in my last post, Michael. Calvin works for UPS and UPS has a box at Phillips Arena so we had excellent seats!

Group Shot

Our very own - Stevie Nix and Lindsey Buckingham

Michael and Me

Mother's Day - 5/10/2009

Me & my Momma after church - and stuffing ourselves at Fannin Mart...Mmmm!

Mom and Bart

Mom and Dad - I can't remember what was so funny - they are goobers!

This past weekend (5/14-17/2009) I took a trip to the beach with some of my favorite girls - Kate, and "the Amy's". We had the BEST time and got to go see Sugarland Friday night. It was by far one of the best concerts I've ever been too - and I think it's because I knew all the words. They put on a great show and Billy Currington opened for them. I would go see them again in a heartbeat!

Me, Kate, and Amy T at Live Bait before the concert

Me and Amy S - who's carrying Mary Morgan - expected arrival September 4th! Can't wait!!!

Me, Kate, and Amy T in the water - Amy S was our photographer!

It was so fun to get away and be lazy beach bums - we're already planning the next trip! Hope you enjoy the pics and have a great week!

Catching Up

Update: I started this on Sunday, but finished Tuesday, May 5th. Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!

I know, I know - I haven't posted lately. I've got to do better because I really want to keep the blog as up to date as possible so I can read back over it months from now and remember things that happened at this time in my life. So, what has been going on???

Well, I'm not going to drop any names or post pictures yet (although I do have some) but I have been seeing a new boy for the past week and he is SO nice and SO cute! I haven't been this excited about a new boy in a L-O-N-G time! It was a blind setup that I was not expecting and certainly not real excited about. More details to come soon - if he keeps me around for another week or so! :)

Work has been keeping me busier than usual, which is a welcomed change. With the economy being so rough right now and with so many people out of a job, I feel very blessed to have a good job and to work with some wonderful people. I know that not everyone is so lucky. It was a rough day today because I had to sit in on a termination. That is, hands down, the worst part about my job - and being in management in general. It never gets easier and it always makes me feel like an awful person. Thank goodness, tomorrow is a new day!

I'm headed to Jackson this weekend for Mother's Day. I can't wait to see my Mom and let her know how much I love and appreciate her. I've talked about her before, but she really is one of the wisest people I know. I would be fortunate to know her, much less to be able to call her "Mom". Bart and I are so blessed! My heart hurts for those who will be spending Mother's Day without their Mom this year. I truly cannot imagine my life without Carla - part of me would be missing.

Next weekend I'm going to the BEACH! I cannot wait!!! 3 of my friends and I are meeting in Orange Beach and we're going to see Sugarland while we're there. I love Sugarland and know most of their songs word-for-word. Gimme a break, it's a long trip back and forth to Jackson - I might as well jam out to some Sugarland along the way. I haven't been to the beach in a couple of years and it will be such a welcomed change of scenery.

I promise to post some new pics soon! Ya'll have a great week!

Alive!

It's been a few weeks since my last post, so I wanted to let all of my readers (that I talk to everyday) know that I'm still alive. I wish I could say I've been on a 3-week Caribbean vacation and too busy laying in the sun and sipping margaritas to post, but I assure you that's not the case. And, if it were, I would have totally posted just to tell you how jealous you should be!

Here's a quick re-cap of the last three weeks:

Two weekends ago was the half marathon that I had planned to run, but once I got up to 7 miles or so in my training my knee started killing me. I tend to be irrational in certain situations (those of you who agree, please keep your mouths shut) but having endured one ACL Reconstruction, common sense kicked in and I realized it was more important to be able to walk than run a race. Momma didn't raise no fool! And, what sick-o thinks it's fun to go run 13 miles? Oh wait, that was me. Several of my friends ran and they did great! Hopefully, next year my knee will cooperate and I can resume my sick-o status. :)

Last weekend, Kate's parents, God-parents, and brother were in town. Her mom's birthday was the week before so she flew her God-parents in from St. Louis as a surprise...and boy, was she! Here is a group shot minus Mr. Mike (Kate's dad) because he was taking the picture - try not to look too closely at the (dust-covered) gold "chandelier" that hangs over the dining room table. I promise the rest of the house is this dusty.

One of just us girls -

This past weekend was Easter and I headed to Jackson Thursday afternoon after work. I love going home because I get to see my family and friends, but it's just that - it's home. In anticipation of Easter weekend and what it symbolizes, my heart was just heavy all week. I could not get this song out of my head. To say that I fail and fall short every. single. day. would be a HUGE understatement, but I don't have to live in fear of my failures because Jesus bore my sin and shame...in love He came...and gave amazing grace! He's ALIVE...thank you Lord!

Great Weekend

I decided spur-of-the-moment last week that I would go home after I got off work Friday. I didn't have any real reason to go other than just wanting to. I knew the St. Paddy's Day parade was scheduled for Saturday and even though I'm from Jackson and the parade has been in existence for as long as I can remember, I'd never been. I talked to Lexie and she and Josh were planning to go so I asked if I could tag along. This is us waiting on the parade to start...










I couldn't get over how many people were there - and there were a ton of Sweet Potato Queens! It was great weather and we had a lot of fun.

Later that afternoon, I met up with Lee and her family because they were having a family get-together for her mom's 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Carol! Since I've been part of the family for the last 20 years or so, I was invited. Here's a shot of me and Lee and (one of) my baby girl's, Ella. I can't believe she's already 14 months old and running all over the place. I could just eat her up with a spoon!

I got to spend some time with my parents which I love more and more, the older I get. Bart went to Baton Rouge to take senior portraits for one of my cousins, so I only saw him for about 5 minutes. Hopefully, I'll get to see him when I go home Easter weekend.

Hope ya'll had a great weekend too! :)

Update

It's been over a week since I've "blogged", so I have a lot to catch you (3 readers) up on. Ok, "a lot" may be a slight exaggeration...
I went home (to Jackson) after work last Friday. My boss was out of the office so I skipped out a little early myself. The drive was great and I made it home in just over 5 hours. My (maternal) grandmother had been at my parent's house all week since Mom had her surgery and wasn't working. Maw Maw does not look good at all. She was up and dressed when I got there but had to go lay down within about 20 minutes. She is very weak and spends most of her days in bed. It kills me to see her like that. Maw Maw used to be the type that always had her make up on and her hair fixed just perfectly. She would have never wanted you to see her at anything but her finest. I wish there was something I could do to make her feel better but I know there's not. It broke my heart to leave her.

Saturday morning my friend, Lexie, and I did a 10-K in Vicksburg. We did it last year but somehow in those 364 days, I forgot how many hills there were. Oh my gosh! I didn't think it was ever going to be over. We took a couple of pictures - pre-race - so when I get a copy from Lex, I'll post. Saturday afternoon, Lee and I went to a Spring Market they were having in Jackson. I think it was supposed to be similar to Canton Flea Market, but most of the stuff we saw was really over-priced. Lee bought Ella a monogrammed pillow case and I didn't buy anything. That was definitely one of our quicker shopping experiences!

We went to church on Sunday and then I headed back to Atlanta soon after lunch. With daylight savings time, not only did I lose 1 hour, I lost 2 since I was back on EST. Yuck!! At least I didn't have to drive back in the dark. I heart DST, so I'll be glad to give up the one hour of sleep in exchange for more daylight (and eventually warmer temperatures).

I'm running another 10-K this weekend and hoping this one is much flatter. Kate and I are going to the outlet mall to return a few things and then we may be going with some friends to see Elton John and Billy Joel. I'm hoping Billy sings "Uptown Girl" just for me! :)

Have a great weekend!!!

Integrity...For Better or Worse

I realize that if I continue to keep up this blog long-term that I probably won't even remember who these people are, but...I feel that I must step on a soap box for just a few minutes and explain my feelings for the latest "Bachelor", Jason Mesnick. First of all, I have to admit that I have not really kept up with the Bachelor this season. Every time I've watched it from start to finish, I always get mad because they (the Bachelor/Bachelorette) never pick who I would pick if I were them. Coupled with the fact that only one relationship out of how many seasons of the show (??) have stood the test of time. So, here's to you, Trista and Ryan. Thank you for beating the odds and congratulations on your second bun-in-the-oven!

Now, back to the "most shocking season" in Bachelor history. After a 6-week, completely televised relationship with multiple women, you have to give the guy a little credit where credit is due and understand that he may be slightly confused. I wouldn't be able to remember all of their names much less choose one to be my spouse! Maybe there's an IQ test or something you have to pass in order to be on the show, who knows? I panic over the thought of what to eat for dinner - there is no doubt picking a husband would send me completely over the edge. I digress. I knew when Jason nearly threw himself into the Infinity pool after telling Molly that he "couldn't imagine ever saying goodbye to her...but he had to", he had made a mistake. He knew it too. If he was truly in-love with Melissa, he wouldn't have been that highly emotional about saying goodbye to Molly. If you love somebody the way you should love somebody when you ask them to spend the rest of their life with you (ON NATIONAL TELEVISION), you don't cry - or in this case hyperventilate - over spilled milk (i.e., Molly). Fortunately, for him, Melissa didn't watch the show before saying "yes" to his proposal.

"After the Final Rose," which usually shows the happy couple all over each other and discussing wedding plans, took a dramatic turn. We find out that in the six week period that Jason proposed and returned to his normal life, he realizes his mistake in choosing Melissa over Molly. WHAT (gasp!!)??? And, better yet, he's going to break up with Melissa on national television and ask Molly for another chance. The whole time I'm thinking "bless her heart" in regards to Melissa and "surely she's not that stupid" in regards to Molly. After the public break-up has ended, Melissa gathers up what little pride she has left and asks Jason never to call her again - bless her heart. Molly joins the show to learn of Jason's change of heart. She is completely taken aback just like all the other 17 million Americans who have tuned in to watch this sick sherade of love. But, instead of demanding answers and wanting to know why their relationship will turn out any differently than his relationship with Melissa, she really is "that stupid". She starts kissing him and telling him she "never expected this" but is willing to see where things go because her feelings for him haven't changed. Whatever. Why are girls so naive? I include myself in that statement some (most) days. My favorite "Jason" line was where he was talking about his son, Ty, and that he wanted him to know that it's okay to make mistakes as long as you do it with integrity...because getting on national television and breaking a girl's heart is using integrity. Bless Ty's heart too for being raised by someone who is so mis-informed.

I hear that the new Bachelorette will be Jillian who was in the top 3 this season with Jason. Hopefully, she won't make me get on another soap box. :)

10 Years...

I never dreamed the last 10 years would have gone by so quickly. 10 years ago, I was in the middle of my last semester of high school. I was about to leave for Europe on Spring Break with my friends, Lexie and Megan, and all of our moms. I was head over heels in-love with a guy I was convinced I would one day marry. I was beyond excited about graduating high school and going to college and escaping the "same old, same old" routine. How times have changed...

Plans have begun for our 10 year high school reunion and I am ecstatic! Since I live out of state, I can't attend the monthly planning meetings. Fortunately, I'm close to several of the girls who have taken the lead (thanks, guys!) in getting everything lined up and they fill me in. I want to help in any way that I can, but for the most part my "job" has to be done remotely. So, I was asked to work with two other girls from our class to develop a contact list. All I can say is, thank God for Facebook. Over 100 of my friends on Facebook are from my graduating class, so that worked out perfectly. I've gotten a great response so far and have developed a spreadsheet with everyone's name, address, email, and phone number. Unfortunately, our graduating class was roughly 240-something people so there are still a lot of "blanks" to be completed, but we're getting closer.

It's hard to believe that some of the people I saw day-in and day-out for 12 years, I haven't seen in 10. It will be so good to have everyone back together again and catch up! I just hope I can find a date between now and August. :)

My World...In His Hands

When I got up this morning and saw 3 loads of laundry in need of my attention, I thought about skipping church to attend to them. I reminded myself they'd still be here when I got back so I jumped in the shower and got ready. Andy Stanley started a new series today entitled, "He's Still Got the Whole World in His Hands". Sometimes that's easy to forget when our nation is facing one of the worst economic times in its history; when people are losing their jobs everyday. Andy talked about how quickly we give God credit when everything in our world is good but that we don't always remember He's still with us when they're not. One of the scripture references he used was Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him..." and he added that sometimes it just takes a while.

I never thought I'd be 27 (and a half) and still single. I assumed that I'd go to college, graduate, and get married because that was just the next step. Little did I know. Those closest to me know how bad I want a husband - and eventually, a family. If ever I felt like I had a "calling", it was to be a wife and mother. Not a doctor or a lawyer or property manager, for that matter - but a wife and a mom. I've had a fantastic example of what both of those should be. My mom is one of the most amazing people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. She's not just my mom, but she's one of my best friends. She's the first person I call when something great or something terrible happens. She prays for me daily. She and my dad have been married for 36 years and although their marriage isn't without flaw, they are happy and they've overcome many hurdles along the way. For years, my mom played the part of Mom and Dad because my Dad worked nights and we didn't see much of him during the week. After working all day, she still had enough energy to shuttle me back and forth to soccer and softball practice/games; Bart to art lessons; fix supper (even if it was fast food); and read the Bible with us before we went to bed. I can't remember how old I was when we started reading the Bible together but we would read a chapter a night and take turns reading out loud. If the chapters were short, we'd read two. I remember at the time thinking, "ugh, can't we just take one night off" but Mom was faithful to lead by example. We read through the entire Bible twice. She's an incredible woman and I'm so thankful for our relationship and the example she's been to me. Even though I'm not certain of when I'll get married - or who the lucky guy will be (HA!) - I know that "in all things God works...".

Bart (my little brother) is 24 today! I really wish he'd stop getting older so I could too! :) Happy Birthday, Bart!! I'm sorry I can't be there to celebrate your day, but I love you and I hope this next year will be the best yet!

Good News and Bad News

I'll start with the good news: five years ago when I finished grad school, I moved back home to Brandon, MS to start my first job in the "real world". It was then that I also started attending Pinelake Church with the encouragement of my best friend, Amy. We joined a small group together and I had the opportunity to meet some great girls and get plugged in quickly. I almost felt guilty for enjoying my experience at Pinelake so much because my parents were in the middle of making the difficult decision to leave the church where we had been members for 20+ years prior. They began to search for a new church home but didn't have much luck. I invited them to Pinelake but initially they thought it was too big for them. They visited several churches in our area but never felt at home. For the past three years, they've attended Pinelake faithfully each week and I'm so excited that this past weekend they joined! They - as well as my brother - are excited about getting involved and making some new friends. This is a picture of Bart and my parents (Carla and Bruce) at Christmas.









The bad news is that I found out a couple of weeks ago that a sweet friend of mine, Cheryl, has a brain tumor. Cheryl and I work for the same company - she in Orlando and I in Atlanta. I actually met her several years ago when we worked together at a different company (sorry if that's confusing). She had surgery to remove the tumor and the pathology report confirmed that it was cancer. She will start combined chemo and radiation treatments next Tuesday, February 24th. I spoke to Cheryl Friday evening (2/13), and she was such an encouragement to me. She talked about how she was so thankful that God allowed her to have this tumor because for the first time in her life, she was living. I thought about how strong she must be to be thankful for cancer. Would I be thankful for it if I was in her position? Cheryl has a daughter my age and I just kept thinking about how often I take my parents for granted. Please keep Cheryl Gray and her family in your prayers.

My sweet Mom had surgery this morning, but my Dad called a little while ago to tell me she was in recovery and that she did great! I know she'll be glad to go home and get settled later today.

I guess that's all of my news for now. Hope you have a great day!