One Great Birthday! (Another long one, but worth it!)

Yesterday, I entered the "Quarter-century Club" (as one of my friends called it). It was such a wonderful birthday! First, Jim woke me up at 5:30 - yes you heard me right, 5:30 (we're still doing things in school time). He cooked breakfast and brought me my present. I got my "big" present last week. I got to go to O, Susanna (a really great store, but I cannot afford it outside of my birthday :)) to get a makeover and get all new makeup. Great present! And, yesterday, he got me a wallet I've been wanting. But, the best part, to me, was the card he got me. Let me give you a run-down of our story. We met at church and were pretty good friends for a long time. We started dating and in three months were engaged. Then, we were engaged for 5 months and got married. All of that in 8 months! I know it's fast, but hey - when ya know, ya know! I'm going to write what the card said, because it is TRULY our story, very neat. Here we go:

(First page)
Once there was this guy.
A nice guy, really.
And he met this girl.
An incredible girl - truly amazing.
So naturally the guy falls
head over heels in love with her,
and pretty soon they're picking out
china patterns and rings
and there's a wedding
and the starry-eyed couple
rides off into what will surely
be a rosy future.

(Second Page)
Okay, so now some time has passed
and the guy is living in that future.
He's still married to this girl,
but now their life includes a lot of stuff-
appliances and bills and loads of laundry
and home repair projects.
But between all the to-dos and have-tos
there are these moments
when the guy stops for a minute
and looks around him.

(Third Page)
He looks at his wife,
who is still truly amazing.
He looks at their life together,
all the ways and different
directions it's grown.
He looks at all
the responsibilities he's got,
and he thinks to himself,
"So, this is my life."
And then he thinks,
I am one lucky guy."
Happy Birthday, I love you.

(Followed by a sweet note).

I sat there and cried because how perfect is that card for us! From the "pretty soon" part to all of the responsibilities we now have (we just bought a house). I love this card. I will keep it forever. It was my favorite thing from yesterday. He's so thoughtful!

I went to eat lunch at Basil's (so good) with my cousin Melanie and then ran several fun errands because it was my birthday and I deserved to spend some money, right?Then, we went to Julep to eat dinner and watched several episodes of our favorite show, Family Guy. I know it's trashy - it's our guilty pleasure. It was a great day. My family comes tonight for another birthday party! I love birthdays!


This is us before we went to eat. Yes, I know it's off-centered. We were using the self-timer and couldn't ever get it right, so we finally just chose this one.

We're going to Disney tomorrow - so I won't post until we get back. But, I'm taking LOTS of pictures and will have lots of fun stories to tell, I'm sure (we will be there during Gay and Lesbian Pride week - not planned, I promise!). Have a wonderful week!

Side Note..

I was watching "Regis and Kelly" (which I haven't been able to watch in quite some time), and I was thinking about my previous post. I'm afraid I made my house sound like a complete pig sty (spelling?). It wasn't at all, I just wanted to clean extra, extra good. Please don't think we're filthy! Thanks...

Memorial Day Fun (sort-of)

Our Memorial Day was pretty uneventful, but it was fun spending the entire day with Jim. We went absolutely nowhere, which is RARE. But, it was very nice. We cleaned our house all day. I'm talking serious cleaning - the kind where you have to be in a super cleaning, Martha Stewart mood. It took us 5 hours! We dusted everything possible - windowsills, baseboards, everything that could be dusted or Windexed, we did it. We vacummed every inch, swept every inch, threw away a TON of stuff that we should have done when we moved in. It was a great cleaning day! Now, I look at my house and I am actually realizing that my house is such a prize and blessing. Isn't it crazy that it had to be REALLY clean for me to appreciate it like I did yesterday? I think I haven't had time to do that because of the constant coming and going that we do. Spending an entire day in my house making it beautiful makes me love what I live in. Does that make any sense whatsoever? I feel like I'm having one of those moments where I know exactly what I'm talking about, but no one else does right now...

Guess where I'm going in 4 days??????? DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so, so, so excited. It's an early anniversary trip for us, plus it will give us time to get away for a while. We'll be there for 8 whole days! What a great trip! If anyone has any dining tips, we would greatly appreciate them. We're having trouble deciding on places to eat - we don't want to eat at places that we can eat at here. Thanks, Ashley, for giving us some great tips that we are definitely using! However, if anyone has other tips, please let us know. I want this to be an amazing trip!

Sad Endings, New Beginnings, and Early Birthdays (it's a little long...beware!)

The past 9 months have been a learning experience and growing time for me. I have been teaching at a great school but have realized that I need to seek out for not somewhere better, but a better fit for me. To be frank and honest, there have been some miscommunications, confrontations, and other situations that have caused me to take a step back and examine some things. Some could have been as a result of some different personal things going on in my life, but I think most were miscommunications. I apologize to different parties reading this that think otherwise. However, I am grateful for those situations. I have grown as a teacher and as a person. I'm excited about what God has in store for me and what he will do in my life. Praise God for tough times - I haven't been able to say that for quite a while. I have learned that it is a privelege to be tested - that means that he is showing you something and is trying to use you in a way you wouldn't notice unless he uses a trial to get your attention. My friend, Jenny, played a song for me the other day at school called "God of Our Yesterdays" by Matt Redman. That is my theme song for the present time. I STRONGLY encourage you to find it listen to it. It is such a fit for such a bittersweet time. During the past several months, I have made some life long friends and I am so thankful for these people who have made laughed with me, cried with me, prayed for and with me, and were amazing, amazing friends. I love all of you so much and our friendship doesn't end within those four school walls. Below are some pictures of those people (sorry if I didn't get a picture with you - I still love you!). Looking forward to "circle time" again really soon!


Monique, Melody, me, Denise, Jenny


Mandy, Kathy, Katie, Sarah


Sorry, Jenny, I thought it was funny...

I LOVE Y'ALL!

On a lighter note...

My in-laws gave me an early birthday party Friday night because they will be out of town this week (just a hint, my birthday is Thursday if you are interested ;). We went to Amerigo and then back to their house for a small party. I had decorations, gifts, and my favorite - CHEESECAKE! I forgot to take pictures, but I did happen to get one of my and my sweet husband. This is a really bad picture and he doesn't want me to put it on here because he says he looks sleepy. Sorry Jim!

A Little Survey

Tagged

Tagged by my sweet friend Jenny (who called me "Anna the Peacock" when she tagged me. Long live this incredible inside joke!).

Maybe I should - start cooking more. We seriously eat out every night!

I love the smell of - foot lotion (weird, I know. But, it's minty and it makes it smell clean), white out (again, weird), mom's lasagna, Honeysuckle lotion, Bounce dryer sheets, Old Spice Red Zone deodorant (Jim's got it and his fragrance is called Swagger - we only got it because of the name - hilarious)

People would say that I- need to stop worrying so much about things I can't control.

I don’t understand why - I seem to be more pessimistic than optimistic. My glass truly, truly is half-full, not half-empty.

When I wake up in the morning - Ok, here's my morning ritual. At 5 AM, the LSU fight song wakes me up (Jim's alarm). He immediately jumps up to go work out. He asks me if I want to join him (the answer is ALWAYS no). He comes in at 5:30 to wake me up, I say come back in ten minutes (5:40). So, then he comes in and I ask for 5 more minutes (5:45). So, he comes in, and once again, I ask for 5 more minutes (5:50). This time, he comes in telling me I absolutely have to get up to make it to work. That is why my hair is in a ponytail every day. This seriously happens EVERY SINGLE MORNING. Can you tell I'm not a morning person?

I lost my willpower to - give up diet coke. It's so hard! Something about the carbonation I think....tea will NOT cure the caffeine headache.

Life is - full of more blessings than I could ever count. I'm praying each day that God would open my eyes to see those wonderful blessings he pours on me and my family daily.

My past made me - thankful for the present and hopeful for the future.

I get annoyed when I - hear the alarm clock go off and when I get a song in my head that doesn't need to be there. Why does it always have to be one with a dirty word in it - and the part that has the dirty word in it is the part in my head!

Parties are not a good time to - talk about negative things. Enjoy the company that surrounds you!

Dogs are - something I need!!!!!! (Hint, hint Jim - my birthday is May 29 if you have forgotten. This would be an ideal present).

Cats are - near to my heart - both of my childhood cats had to be put to sleep :( But, Jim is allergic, so I guess I won't be able to have one!

Tomorrow is - a new day.

I have low tolerance for - people who backstab you, pride, people who think they are better than you and let you know they are (or think they are)

I’m totally terrified of - spiders (me too, Jenny), bad weather

I wonder why I thought my life would be - this is a tough one. My life has always been wonderful. I have always hoped and prayed it would be. There are tough times, but it is a great, great life.

I always knew I would - marry somebody like my sweet daddy :) And, I did - same morals, thoughts, spiritual life, maturity, etc. Amazing how God works.

Never in my life have I - been able to draw. I want to be creative and draw cute things!

High school was - ok. A learning process.

When I’m nervous- my stomach hurts, I shake, and freak out and act all stupid..

One time at a family gathering - I don't have any particularly funny stories. I love all of our family gatherings because we have some characters all around. They're all great times.

Take my advice - listen to your mama and God

Making my bed- is Jim's job. I've never been a bed-maker.

I'm almost always - singing or humming.

I’m addicted to - Diet Coke!!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord for the person that invented this amazing creation.

I want someone to - apologize for some hurtful things (enough said) :)

Ok I tag, Ashley, Suzanne, Sarah Smitherman, and Emily.

Hats Off To Mom (a little late..)!!

I know it's a little late, but I want to dote on my mother (in honor of her day)! I have the most amazing mother. She is a solid rock of encouragement and faith. She is such a strong, selfless woman. She is always putting others before herself and she always makes sure her family is taken care of! She is a Godly woman, who always seeks his will first. She is so driven and determined - let me elaborate. She has been a nurse for 25 years. However, TODAY, she started school to become a teacher! I am so proud of her that she has the strength and courage to completely start a new career. I know she will be a wonderful teacher and I am so proud of her!

I love you, mom! God blessed me with an incredible mother and I couldn't ask for a better one!