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. :)