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!

A Little Excitement!

Not too much to blog about on this end, but I did want to share a little excitement (No, I'm not pregnant...that seems to be the million dollar question among people at church these days). Jim and I are going on a couple of vacations this summer and I cannot wait! I'm SUPER pumped about the first one - Disney World! We are going on an early anniversary trip for 8 days! My parents are letting us use their timeshare and we are staying at a fantastic resort!! Then, my mom called this afternoon and asked if we would like to go to Savannah, Charleston, and possibly Myrtle Beach over July 4...hello...yes! It's little things like this to look forward to that get you through the days/weeks. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week! God bless!

"I shall not be greatly shaken..."

"He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken."
Psalm 62:2

I was reading the Bible and came across this verse. It touched my heart so much that I almost broke into tears. The past month has not been a fun one for me. Lots of various things have happened and are still happening that are bringing me down to a serious valley. Things that make me wonder about plans for the future and make me doubt. I'll admit, I haven't been in a place where I have even felt worthy of praying or reading, having fear my prayers wouldn't go past the ceiling. When I read the part "I shall not be greatly shaken," I realized that no matter what happens in my life to bring me down, God is sovereign. He loves me because I am his child, and he will not ever desert me. My sweet friend, Jenny, told me today that God is not going to leave me hanging and forget about me. When she told me that, I was reminded of what Philippians 1:6 says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." He still has work to do in me and He's not through with me yet! I pray that I will remember this on a daily basis. His will and His timing are perfect! Praise Him that he knows my plans better than I do!

5 things...

Thanks, Suzanne, for tagging me! This should be fun...

five things on my to-do list today
1. work
2. go the the doctor (the dreaded visit we all LOVE)
3. spend time with Jim
4. go eat at Biaggi's!!
5. relax and think about nothing at all

five snacks i enjoy
1. diet coke - I know it's not a snack, but it's #1 in my book!
2. sundried tomato basil wheat things - I can eat a whole box!
3. chocolate chip cookies
4. Sister Shubert's sausage rolls
5. salt and vinegar chips

five things i would do if i were a billionaire
1. give to my church
2. be debt free (me too, Suzanne!)
3. buy a Land Rover - I've always wanted one
4. travel
5. put a swimming pool in the backyard

five bad habits
1. WORRY, WORRY, WORRY
2. sleeping too late
3. not wanting to wash my husband's clothes when he asks me (i HATE laundry)
4. texting WAY too much
5. being negative about myself

five places i have lived
1. camden, arkansas
2. ruleville, ms
3. brandon, ms (twice)
4. clinton, ms
5. madison, mississippi

five jobs i've had
1. dental assistant
2. administrative assistant to the CEO of McAlisters - awesome job
3. makeup artist at Merle Norman
4. bank teller
5. teacher

five people i want to know more about (a nice way of saying TAG):
1. Emily Tate
2. Kara Killough
3. Jenny Holloway
4. Katie Spence
5. Shelley Crenshaw