Merry Christmas!

As we celebrate with friends and family, let us not forget Jesus is the reason for the season. Celebrate the birth of our Savior! May each of you be blessed!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Oh, Happy day!

Lately, I have been in a slump. I am sick, tired, worn out and exhausted. These feelings have become a part of my every day life, and I am slowly learning to cope with them.

The past few weeks however, I have let the rude comments and remarks of others get the best of me. My main love language is 'Words of Affirmation' and I take what people say and do to heart. I know I shouldn't, and that I don't need to worry about things like that... and that is something I work on daily.

Last week, I just couldn't take it any longer, I took off work after lunch and made the journey home.  People had been rude, my student worker hadn't done his job, and I was stressed with school, starting to get sick and OH so tired.

Side note: My student worker never does his job, this is not an uncommon occurrence. Unfortunately on top of his usual laziness, last week, he neglected to do a weekly report that he has been doing for the past two years. Nothing out of the ordinary people, no special demands. No extras. So, at 11am as I was working to get everything I needed to do for the rest of the day finished, my boss asked about the report. I frantically finished a seven page report in one hour. It wasn't the fact that I had to work frantically to get it finished, it was the fact that this kid has all week to accomplish this.. and come Friday he hadn't even started. Anyways....

So, after a very stressful morning, Hunter and I began the journey to my hometown. Friday night we celebrated my high school homecoming. ZC beat NB for the first time in 5 years... and we won homecoming! It was definitely different being back there... but it was good to see some old faces.

Saturday we had a lazy morning with my family and traveled to the Troy game and watched my sister work with the band. My dad was loading hay for a man in Texas and I took the opportunity to show Hunter around the property. We watched my dad load hay, and I took him through some of the fields. That city boy was amazed! He had a great time watching the cows and being in the great outdoors. The Troy game was an interesting one. Things are different and it is weird just sitting and trying to watch a game, as opposed to being in the band. We left during the third quarter to watch the Alabama/Florida game and were very happy to celebrate wins for both of my schools! Go TROY and ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Sunday, was an adventure in itself. Hunter came to church with me... mind you, Hunter is a big city, mega-church kind of guy. So it was interesting bringing him to my down home country church! But, I think he enjoyed it. :) We had lunch with the family and then traveled back to Tuscaloosa.

I cleaned up, unpacked and worked on homework until late into the night. Hunter and I got into our first fight of our relationship.. and it was all over a miscommunication! HAHA! He was so sweet... as I was angrily unpacking he walked up behind me turned me around and just hugged me. (JUST like in the movies!) I cried I was so angry, and because I was so happy to have him there, and to know that one little fight wasn't going to ruin us. He is truly a blessing.

So here we are... back to the daily grind. I hope you each have a wonderful week, filled with many blessings!

Father's Day

Father's day weekend was great! I was able to make the trip home Friday night. After a long day of work I was so excited to get out of the car when I finally arrived at Donna's house. 190 miles is no joke. UGH. HAHA!

Friday night was spent hanging out with the fam. Donna and I chilled at her house waiting for Mom and Dad to leave the funeral home. Unfortunately, my dad's half sister died this past week, so our weekend turned from family fun to working around unfortunate circumstances. No matter, we had a great time and celebrated life. So, after the funeral home Donna and I went out to eat with Mom, Dad and some of our Aunts and Uncles. Have you ever had dinner with seven senior citizens? 90% of whom have hearing difficulty??? Oh my gosh... it was hilariously embarrassing. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was yelling across the table at each other. And my dad, who is one of the worst, ended up being translator and repeating everything for everyone! What a night. Donna and I then went to the new yogurt shop, 32 degrees. I have to say it doesn't beat YoMo in Tuscaloosa, but it is a start for Troy. ;)

Saturday I was able to sleep until 7am!!! This, my friends, is a big deal!! I was so excited and my body appreciated the sleep too! Mom and I then lounged around, looked at coupons and got some things ready for Sunday dinner. My Aunt June came to visit and gather some fresh vegetables from our garden. It was so great getting to spend time with her... she means the world to me. I then had lunch with Mom and Dad and left to hang out with the bestie, Stephanie. We had a great time just catching up and chatting. We were up to no good after her boyfriend Bobby returned from ring shopping. We plundered his truck to find the ring... and find it we did! Don't worry! Stephanie didn't look, but she asked me to, so that we could make sure it wasn't just earrings. HAHA! After the relationships we have been through in the past, she needed the affirmation that the ring was real... and that is what I gave her. Boy, it is beautiful. *Side Note* I have decided through my past experience that I do not want to know about ring shopping or the idea of marriage in a young man's mind. I want to be totally and completely surprised. Never in my life would I have ever agreed to go through Bobby's truck.. but, this is Steff, and we have a special bond. It was an afternoon filled with excitement and I am so happy for her to have found that one true love. Those two are perfect for each other!! Saturday night I went out to eat with Mom and Dad and my second family. :) They, of course, had lots of questions about Hunter.. and I can't wait to bring him home for him to meet the family and friends.


Dad and his girls!

Sunday I went to church with my parents and then we were joined by my sisters and a few other family members for a wonderful father's day lunch. We then played with my niece, and opened Dad's presents. As I was packing and the rest of the family was heading to their respective homes, I got the phone call of a lifetime.. after missing the first one (I was DEVASTATED!!) Hunter was able to call again!!! They got a four hour pass on father's day!! After he had called and talked to his family he called me. We talked for a little over an hour.. and it was great!! It was so good to hear his voice, listen to his laugh and get a chance to actually TALK about what he had been up to. We laughed about how we are doing so many things backwards. I met his family without him, and this week my family will most likely meet his, without having even met their son. HAHA! I then made the drive home, unpacked, washed a few dishes and had dinner with Hannah and her family. It was a fun filled fast paced weekend. As are all my weekends spent traveling home... But I had a great time with my family and friends!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2011!! 2010 will definitely be a year that I will not soon forget as I continue my journey into the 'real world' of life after college graduation.

A few blessings from 2010

• I experienced friendship like never before, I learned who my true friends were and spend the time of my life making memories with them my senior year of college
• I was able to have a life changing experience by interning/teaching at Pike County High School... the lessons that I learned and the friend that I have gained.. the trails that we both went through that semester and the struggle that still carries on is something that has truly changed me, forever.
• On the same token, I have loved and lost, and also seen what it was like for someone so young and so dear be diagnosed with cancer, and two months later, lose the battle that would ultimately break a young girl's heart. 
• I experienced the 'real world' of moving to a completely new city, knowing absolutely no one and nothing
• I have found a church, a place to worship and call my home
• I found an amazing job... I honestly never thought my job throughout graduate school would be so AMAZING! 
• Did I mention, I went to graduate school?! Haha, a concept that I had only dreamed of came true in shocking fashion! After setting up interviews with around six school systems I ended my job search to pick up my life and move. Tuscaloosa has become my home, and God has so richly blessed His path for me.
• I ventured out and have now tried out two, very different, hairstyles and love the joys of growing up and becoming my own person.
• I watched a friend lose her true love to cancer, another friend have a dangerous surgery hoping that she might one day be able to live a normal life, a friend lose his job, and another friend struggle to find a job... But, with all this hardship and heartache God is still in control and is continuing to work in the lives of these people.
• I am learning to trust God more and more each day... After all, my life has been turned upside down this year... But God's ways are not our ways, and I firmly believe, when we make plans, God has a good laugh; because in the end, He's got it all taken care of.
• I ALMOST FORGOT!! I ran, yes, ran, a 5K!! Talk about something I never even thought about doing... and loved it!

I, and my coworkers, have been so blessed to have a week off from my job. I was able to come home on the 23rd and I will return to Tuscaloosa tomorrow to go back to work on Monday. Having this time to spend with my family and catch up with a few old friends has been wonderful! I have even slept until 7:30am most days!! (I know, I lead a sad, sad, life! haha) Sleeping in, reading a good book, just spending time at home with my family and visiting my friends has made this Christmas vacation one of the best. The new year has already started with a wonderful Crimson Tide Bowl victory with a school record and a BCS record being set. ROLL TIDE!

I am excited to see what God has in store for 2011, and I am praying that each of you are richly blessed. May God bless you and keep you.. you are a wonderful creation of His! Seek His will diligently and daily, and above all, choose to spend some extra time this year with your Father... after all, He longs to be with you!

Productivity

Productivity makes me so happy! Today I was a busy little bee, going to work, class and then work again. I let some work tasks overwhelm me last week and I left them for the weekend, allowing God to rest my soul, heart, and mind. When I got to work this morning I tackled all my tasks due of me, and a few new ones just added to my 'to-do' jobs, today. I also learned another task at work, entering time for our shop workers. So, I accomplished everything I already knew how to do and have things up to date, took on a new task, and learned something new. MAN! I love days like today.

Gabby and I went out for dinner, she was craving just what I wanted... pizza. :) I love when the week starts on Tuesday; things just seem to run much smoother and faster. I bought my dad his birthday present today. He will be turning 63 this Saturday, September 11. I am excited to make the drive home to see my family and hopefully I will get to stop and see a few friends. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning just isn't enough time to see all the people that I want to see back home.. but hey, I'll take what I can get.

God's timing is perfect... I experienced this through a friend of mines life, and then shortly after my own life this weekend. I love when God speaks.. it calms my soul like no other.

I am finally settling into my schedule and working hard to keep up with full time school and a full time job. I had the opportunity to clean my house, room and bathroom on this three day weekend, as well as work on homework and take the opportunity to rest. I am thankful for all that God has given me and the ability to have fun and work hard too.

But, I must get on to some homework now.... I try to get to sleep early considering the day starts at 5am for me now.

Bittersweet Travels

I come home quite often... I really love it here.. and this time for one reason or another I am really sad to be going back tomorrow. But I am going back for happy reasons! #1 I have an interview with Barnes and Noble on Monday, #2 I have a Regions test on Wednesday, and #3 I have an interview to be the office associate for the Building Maintenance Department of the University of Alabama!

God has showered many blessings on me this weekend as I drove home for my Dr appointment vey disheartened after a long and VERY unsuccessful few days of job hunting. Mind you this was physical drive around and stop at places after months of applying online... So I figured whatever I'll just start applying for minimum wage jobs too. Before I left Tuscaloosa I applied at B&N. I hope dearly not to work there, as my two years at the B&N at Troy were AWFUL.

Things have been looking up and I hate that right as things start going well the devil always tries to knock you down. It is a continuing battle and one we much always be aware of. Sometimes, on various occasions I find it very hard to keep my head up. But this is why I am thankful for some great friends who help me realize all that I have in Christ. And a merciful Savior who always comforts my soul... Praise God.

Home

I love my home. I had the rare experience of reliving a little bit of childhood during my stay at home this past week. I went to church with my mom and dad, made my dad lunch, watched TV with them and just hung around the house. I love living in the country, and one thing that I never loved as a child was moving cows.... haha So today after church I had just finished changing out of my sunday clothes when I noticed dad moving the cows.

I grabbed my sunglasses and flip flops, shoes he would have hated to see years ago, and headed outside to help. The cows moved easily, as my dad has very well fed and well trained cattle, but the calves stayed in the opposite field. This proves to me, cows are stupid. :) Of course the minute we shut the gates the baby calves started crying to their mothers, now in the opposite field. Then, dad asked me to go close the other gate, which wasn't a problem at all, but as I headed over to the gate he asked me to get the bucket as well. Seems pretty harmless right? WRONG! That bucket contained corn that the cows were licking up like crazy! And um, yeah, I am SCARED TO DEATH of cows. So I slowly crept towards the cows, shooing them as best I could to get them away from the bucket. Then, the bull started following me out, so I had to turn around show him the empty bucket, and then turn around on my way.

Needless to say I made it out alive from my cow experience.. haha Then my dad showed me another wonderful enjoyment of living on a farm. I followed my dad into the barn to put up the buckets; mine I called the 'slobber bucket,' because the cows licked it clean and there was slobber all over it! My dad told me he had found some kittens, and I asked what kind. Well, we walked over to the cattle stall in the barn and behind a barrel was a beautiful smokey gray kitten looking up at me. I asked my dad how man there were, and he said he knew of two, but there could be more. Just as those words were spoken, the second kitten revealed itself behind the barrel. I am excited to go home and see those kittens again. They truly were beautiful, and I just love kittens and cats. :)

Dustin and Ali's Birthday

This year on July 12 Dustin turned 14 years old... and his little sister Ali turned 4. Yep... you are seeing correctly. My wonderful sister had both her children on the same day 10 YEARS APART! They are beautiful children, and I just love to spoil them. As I told you previously, I came into town early to go to Dustin's district baseball game. Well, they played two games that night and unfortunately lost.... we didn't leave the ball park until around 11:30pm. It was a very sad ending to a GREAT season. But I had the most fun just spending time watching my niece and nephew, who I really don't get to see enough. Ali is obsessed with cheerleading. She brings her pom poms to each game and stands at the fence yelling, 'Enterprise, Enterprise, we wanna win! We don't like to lose, GOO Enterprise!' I mean, imagine a 3 year old cheering her heart out, throwing pom poms left and right... now, doesn't that make you smile? It does it for me! Ali is also the team's good luck charm. Before each game Dustin calls Ali over and the boys line up to see her. The whole team waits in line to one by one receive a kiss from Ali, and then they are off to play baseball. It was probably one of the most precious things I have ever seen.

Dustin loves Ali so much... and she is his little play-toy and they love each other... It is so cute to see him take care of her, and to see them fuss with each other.

We had dinner at my mother's house to celebrate their birthday's Monday night. After dinner we all went outside to watch Ali and Dustin play with water balloons. Ali just wanted to run around and let Dustin chase her and soak her with balloons, and he didn't resist. We had a blast as Micky and my Dad filled up each balloon and Ali got wetter and wetter. :) Mom had a good time squirting her with water and she loved it as much as we did. When it was time to go we finished off the night with Ali stepping on a balloon to pop it... her little laugh is just captivating. The for the final balloon she sat on one and popped it! Her smile is so big and beautiful... these kids are wonderful.

We didn't get to take any pictures that night and I wish we would have... Ali was soaked from head to toe and smiling ear to ear... and Dustin had a good time too. I can't believe that she'll be going to kindergarten soon, and Dustin will be driving! Look out world! ;)

Home

I am going to make the trip back to the parents house tomorrow. My nephew Dustin and his baseball team is playing in a tournament to qualify for the state tournament. It is double elimination, and as of tonight they haven't lost a game. So I am going home to go support him and watch the game. I haven't been to a single game this season, and for that I feel really bad.

I am also excited to be going home because, right now, I am really bored here. I don't have a job or classes to keep me busy.. and then only thing that kept me busy in Troy was hanging out with friends. Since I have no roommates yet, I am basically alone here. But all that will change when my roommates move in, I get a job and start school. I am just a person that likes to be overly busy.. and this after-college-life freedom is really weird to me. ;) But, as my mom says, I am taking advantage of it, because I will never again have nothing to do. After this little stint in graduate school, the real world hits. Part of me is really ready for that. I would love to have a steady job, a home to call my own.. among other things.

In other random news, I am a planner (in case you didn't already know), and planning things makes me UNBELIEVABLY happy. So with that, I have a definite set of rules when picking a planner for the upcoming year. Last year I had a 'Day Runner' planner, and it has by far been the best planner ever! So this year, I of course bought another 'Day Runner' planner... today I copied down all of my July and August engagements and even penciled in a few other things. I love the beauty of a planner and how organized I feel when my day is laid out before me.

However, I do have somewhat of a superstition. I ALWAYS write in my planner with a pencil. Things change, life throws you a curve... and most of all our plan is not always God's plan. So, it may seem a bit odd, but even though I work hard to plan things out I realize that my God is the one who is truly in control and I want him to have full control of changing something, without the added stress of an ugly scribble on my planner. ;)