May 2011

The month in review. :)

So proud of my best friend!! Tiffany graduated from UNC with her Masters!! :)  I’m so excited for her.

After the graduation ceremony, her husband threw her a great dinner.  This is after dinner, and I love them. :) They love each other SO.MUCH. And I love seeing them together.  They make me happy. :)

The kids in TinyTown at church sand some songs for us one Sunday morning.  Ava, my youngest niece, is the on on the right in the blue dress with a bow in her hair.  She was so funny, as always.  Love seeing kids sing to God! :)

We did landscaping around the front of the house.  This is the picture the day we did the planting.  Since then, we’ve added a dogwood tree to the right front, just beside the sidewalk, and spread more mulch to the left.  It only took us 3 years to add some “curb” appeal. :)

For my brother’s birthday, he decided that he wanted to race 4-wheelers, again.  Two weeks later, he raced again.  We went to see him, and rode with his wife and kids.  Ava passed out on the way.

This is Brock with some of the other guys who raced that night looking over the track.  Brock’s on the 4-wheeler.

And this is Brock during the practice.  I love watching him race.  He’s such a natural, and so good!  He won first place that night!! :)

We spent Memorial Day at the beach with friends.  It’s always a great, relaxing time.  The guys went fishing on Saturday, and came back with a lot of dolphin (mahi).  This is the biggest one they caught, >30 lbs.  It was GREAT fried up Sunday on the beach!! :)

And this is one with all of their fish.

The girls with the fish, and the big fisherman of the day! :)

Everyone game Marc a hard time because his shirt looks like the dolphin.  If you count him, he’s the biggest catch of the day! :)

Sunday of Memorial Weekend:

Sand bar at low tide…the guys pushed us off

Wild horses on Carrot Island.  Seriously, one of the most beautiful sights there is…

And that’s pretty much it for May.  Great month.

Now, I’m looking forward to the rest of June. :) Two of my nieces have birthdays, helping to host a baby shower for one of our life group couples, DEF LEPPARD concert (I.cannot.WAIT!!) with all the friends, my 28th birthday, which then leads to July and another weekend at the beach. :)

Hope you’re having a great month! :)

Life Gets Busy

Do you ever feel like that?  Feel like you’re too busy to just sit back and take a deep breath to enjoy life?  I’ve kind of been feeling that way for the past few months.  In a way, I’m glad to be busy.  And in a way, it makes me sad.  It makes me feel like life is passing too quickly.

So what’s been going on in my life for the past few months?  Not much of anything that’s life changing, but a few things that are going to make my life a little more enjoyable. :)

Towards the end of 2010, I had grown to pretty much hate my job.  I disliked my boss and the way she treated me…it was frustrating, and there wasn’t anything that I could really do about it.  I didn’t have any other job prospects, so I just had to stick it out.  But I was really unhappy.

In the past month, that’s all changed. I have a new boss coming in next week.  As in April 4th, and I couldn’t be more excited.  Our office is moving, which is a bit of an annoyance, because it will mean a longer commute, but the move means a better chance of a profit for the business, so I’m ready to see how all of the changes are going to change my work environment. :)

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On a really happy note, Marc & I celebrated 5 years of marriage on Friday, March 25th! :) Happy Anniversary to us!! :)

We spent the weekend before in the mountains of North Carolina, and had a great time relaxing and sightseeing with our friends, Chad and Katie. :) These are just some snapshots of our weekend near Boone.  The weather was perfect, and it was such a nice mini-vacation! :) I’m so glad we took the time to get away.

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Last week, I went to my first Carolina Hurricanes hockey game.  It was so much fun! :) I look forward to going back soon!! Cutest thing – during the first break between periods, they let the little hockey players come out…so cute! :)

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And yesterday, we celebrated the birthday of a couple’s little boy, Lukas.  And I’m really selfish, but my favorite part of this was getting to spend time with my nephew, Brayden! :) He’s so cute and chunky!!  And I absolutely love how Marc is with all of our nieces and nephew.  He’s so good with kids! :) Isn’t this picture just precious?? He’s going to make a great dad…I can’t wait for that time in our lives! :)

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Other things I’ve done in the past two months?  I’ve been to Anaheim, California for a convention for work.  While there, I was lucky enough to visit San Diego for a Supercross race (dirt bike motorcycles), Disneyland, which was so much fun, lots of time with friends, lots of time at work.  Nothing out of this world exciting, but just life as I know it. :)

I hope each of you have been doing well! :) I’ve missed you all!! :)

Finally, a break!

July was such a busy month!

Remember all this from my last post?

• Beaufort for July 4th weekend
• Softball games
• Chaperone for Youth at their Summer Camp
• Eclipse with my girls (and the husband)
• Weekend at the lake
• Softball games
• Weekend at the lake
• Softball games
• Sewing on a very important birthday gift =.)

Well, softball is finally finished!  I had so much fun playing this year!  I think it might have helped that we won a few more games than in years past? I don’t know. But I had a great time getting together with friends every week! =.)

August should be much more relaxed, but our days, weeks, weekends always seem to fill up fast. I have a ton of birthdays to celebrate this month!  I can’t wait to celebrate with Tiffany and Kelli for their birthdays! =.)

Our circle of friends is growing, and I love that! =.)

Here are a few more pictures of the past month…I love my life! =.)

KarleighAva, Allie & Elixir (Lixir), Mama’s new puppy AceLixir with her big sister, Roxy Paisley, Lixir, & Ace

It’s crazy how fast that little puppy is growing!  My Mama hasn’t even had her a whole month, but she’s getting taller and gaining some weight.  And she just loves on Ace!  I love watching them all play together! =.)

This weekend will consist of LOTS of cleaning!  My house has taken the brunt of my busy schedule.  I keep putting off a true cleaning!

Unless, that is, Marc guilts me into going to the lake tomorrow. =.) Hah! =.)

Alright…an hour of work left…I can do it! =.)

Have a great weekend, y’all! =.)

Slightly disappointed?

I had such high hopes for tonight!  The hubs is going fishing in Beaufort this weekend, so I was planning a weekend by and for myself.  And I was excited.  Like super-excited to be resting this weekend after about 3 weekends stuffed with plans.

And my previously planned weekend was perfect!  Tonight, I was going home to change directly into my pjs, watch Nights in Rodanthe (no, I still haven’t seen it), and veg out.  Heaven!  Tomorrow, I was going to sleep in, because I am in desperate need of sleep, and then take down our Christmas decorations (don’t judge – we were out of town last weekend =.).

Then, Marc calls earlier this morning to tell me that his dad and step-mom are coming up for the night, so I’ll have guests.

Crap.

There goes my blissful evening.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind that they’re coming up, or that Marc won’t be here so it’ll just be them and me.  I like them. =.)  They’re great in-laws.

But they weren’t in my plans.

And I don’t really do well when my plans change.  Not always, really, just when I have my mind set on something. It drives Marc nuts. =.)

So, tonight, instead of relaxing, I’ll be entertaining.  After I race home after work to vacuum and pick up a bit, as we didn’t find out they were coming until I was already at work this morning.

And I still have Christmas stuff up! =.( I so need to get all that stuff down, and would have, if I had known we’d be having guests.

Oh, well. They’ll be leaving tomorrow, so I can still do everything I had planned for Saturday, except maybe sleep in.  Such is life. =.)

Hope you have a great weekend, everyone! =.)  Stay warm!!

Peace

Do you have a place where you are just filled with peace?  A place where this wave of calm just washes over you, and you feel at peace?  With your life, your circumstances?  Where you just know that everything is going to be alright?

I have a few places that give me this feeling.

1. There’s a bench at the end of the pier at Fort Caswell.  It’s an old fort that has been converted into a Baptist camp, and it’s on the coast of North Carolina.  I think this is the place I first felt that peace.  It might have something to do with the fact that that is where I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

There is just something about sitting out there with the ocean lapping against the pilings, watching ships pass, and catching a glimpse of the occasional dolphin.  God fills my soul with peace there.

2. Sunrise on the beach.  Any beach will do, I suppose.  But being out on the sand, while watching the sky fade from gray to red to orange and yellow.  It’s just filled with such vibrant colors.  Since it’s early in the morning, there aren’t a lot of people out there, and God fills my soul with peace.

3.  Overlooking mountains.  When I’m looking out on God’s creation…land that He formed years and years ago, knowing that I would be looking at it now, seeing what His hands have molded.  Seeing the vastness of His land from atop a mountain, He fills my soul with peace.

Sometimes, I’ll get little moments in every day life where I feel this same peace.  But I can count on feeling that peace when I’m in those places.

Just being able to take a deep breath, and get rid of all the junk in my life as I let out that breath.  The peace settles in.

Knowing that God is taking care of me in every step of my life.

Knowing that God is beside me through everything I do.

Knowing that I am never, EVER alone.

Knowing that God has placed my family and friends in my life to support me.

Knowing God has designed my life in the best way so that I may do the work He has planned.

Knowing that my entire being has been designed to glorify Him in all that I do.

Knowing He loves me, no.matter.what.

I hope that you will be filled with God’s peace this Thanksgiving.  That you may know you are loved. =.)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

I'm getting old!

Not really, though, but I am closer to 30 than I was last year. I'm no longer in my early 20s. But, God has blessed me, and I'm here, so I'll be thankful for every year I spend on earth!

So, now the fun part...My presents! =.)

The hubby went above and beyond, and he got me an I-Touch! My I-pod died in February, so that was all I've been asking for since. I had to go on a work trip to Orlando (tons of kids and annoyances on the plane, both ways, with no escape), so I've been bugging Marc to get me one! I was honestly just expecting a Nano, but I got a Touch! Super stoked about this! I've been playing with it all weekend!

So, from Tiffany and Kelli, I got I-Tunes gift cards and a case for the Touch so I don't mess it up! Thank you, girls! I love y'all! =.)

From my brother and his fam, I got the first 2 books of the Twilight series (no, I haven't read them, yet...I'm way behind, I know) and another I-Tunes gift card.. So, as soon as I finish my current book, I'll be starting with what I hear will be an obsession. Can't wait! =.)

And from my parents, I received some new tennis shoes (I had a pair of Air Maxxs, but they blew out about 2 months after I had them, but I've still been wearing them for 2 years, and Mama has been wanting to get me a new pair of shoes). They're charcoal and pick - too cute! And my biggest surprise - she bought me some Woozies! Theire Koozies for your wine glass! They perfect, and I can't wait to try them out this weekend at the beach! =.) Yay!

There were no pictures taken, because I'm always the one that take the pictures, so...sorry...nothing fun to post for pics!

Ooohh! And I got a hair cut on Friday! I love it! =.) Happy Monday!


"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

Soundtrack of my life...

Every time I hear She's Country by Jason Aldean, I immediately start thinking of all the other songs that I love! Whether they're country and about the South, or songs that I remember specifically from college days, or high school days, or riding in the car with my Mama when I was younger. Whatever the song or the year it came out, I just think about how that one particular song had a part in the Soundtrack of my Life. And some of these songs are going to be the same for my friends (like Tiffany and Kelli), because they were right there beside me singing in the car and along for the ride! That's the absolute best thing about a song. I can hear a certain song, and think about that particular time in my life.


Some of those songs that are sticking out in my mind right now:


Redneck Yacht Club by Craig Morgan - Reminds me of summers Hyco Lake with all my friends whose necks tend to be on the red side

Summer Girls by LFO - Reminds me of high school, and Abercrombie and Fitch

Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard - reminds me of Katie's bachelorette shower and all of my girls night out friends (and other trashy songs, including, but not limited to: Paradise City, Jack and Jill, etc.)

My Everything by Keith Urban - Makes me think of Marc, and our first dance as Husband and Wife

She's Country by Jason Aldean - I just really like this one right now! =.)

Cheap Seats by Alabama - Reminds me of summers filled with watching my Daddy play softball

Po' Boys by Nappy Roots - I know! Reminds me of concerts we attended at Appalachian State

I Go Back by Kenny Chesney - Reminds me of Mega Ticket Concerts at Walnut Creek


Just so You Know by Jesse McCartney - Beach trip with Tiff and Kelli

SuperWoman by Fabulous - Marc while I was in college...hard to explain that one, it just reminds me of Marc

These are my People by Rodney Adkins - Playing softball in the summer followed by Wing Nite at The Wooden Nickel

Where I'm From by Jason Michael Carroll - So the ultimate song of my life! ("I'm from the front row of a wooden church...)

Amazing Grace - Makes me think of my great grandma, Mama Hall

Christmas Songs by Elvis - Makes me think of decorating the house for Christmas with Mama

Are there certain songs that you hear on the radio, and it justs makes you smile with the memory? Or singing a hymn in church, and it takes you back to a special time? I hope you've enjoyed this, and maybe even made you smile as you thought back to a time in your life when one of these songs played in the background. =.)



And, on a really random side note: GO HEELS!


"My salvation and my honor depend on my God; he is my might rock, my refuge." Psalm 62:7