Random...

It's the first of three gorgeous days that we were told to expect here in Meridian and I took full advantage of the weather and met some friends for lunch at Bonita Lakes today. Aren't you jealous of the view?? Beeee-u-ti-ful I tell ya!!This is the first weekend in a while that I don't have any formal plans and I'm just thrilled. I don't have anywhere to be, nothing to get up early for in the morning and the very thought of that is plain glorious. I plan to spend my day tomorrow just hanging out in the back yard with a new book I picked up... I know, I know... a book?? I NEVER read. Something's just gotten me on a kick lately and it probably won't last long.

On another note, my mom is slowly turning our guest room into a study. We have a couch and oversized chair that is covered in a brown fabric... just kind of plain jane. Nothing fancy, too contemporary... just a plan multi-tiny brown stripe. For the past few weekends, we've been to Lowes and she's bought several sample paint colors and we've put them on the wall. We have everything from avacodo green, to mustard seed, to chiminea, to khaki, to appletini... and we couldn't make up our mind. She bought a new rug last weekend while I was gone and I'm not so sure that I like it. So, I took it upon myself while I was in Jackson last Monday to pick out a rug so that we could choose the paint according to it's color scheme. Here's where you come in...

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Rug #1

(and yes, before you ask, I'm the kind of girl that will lay an object out in the floor of a store to snap a quick picture and email it to get someone's opinion...)

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Rug #2

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Rug #3

Which one do you like??

These are just the little 3x5 accent rugs and ours will need to cover most of the floor space.

Here's a sneak peak of what my girls night will consist of tonight...


Reeses peanut butter cookies!!

Just pulled them out of the oven and am heading over to friends house for our girls night... which always consist of comfy clothes, curbside take-a-way from outback and a sweet dessert!! Good time!!

Happy weekend :)

Season of Waiting

I received a text today from a friend and she said, "Um... have you dropped off the face of the earth, blogging babe??" Haha!! I really am still here. Just taking it easy this week. For weeks, and I mean, weeks, I've been going non-stop!! I've enjoyed it, but I am tired.

First of all, I must tell you that I've been trying to write this post for a few days. Just trying to think about what I want to tell you. When I began blogging back in 2008, my blog was used as a way to keep up with my family and friends that didn't "facebook." Then my baby cousin got really sick and went through mulitple heart procedures and I used the blog as a way to update about her progress, post prayer needs, etc. And almost two years later (after the blog started) I have truly found my place for this season of life and I want to share as much about my life as I can. The good, the bad, the ugly, the spiritual, the emotional...all of me. So, this post is just kind of plain... nothing too exciting, but something that I feel like sharing because a few of you faithful readers may find yourself in the same boat, too!

As I mentioned in my last post, I had an incredible weekend with my youth family from my church. We had an amazing time studying God's word, spending time with each other, eating, eating and eating some more. It was CRAZY fun!

While we were in the conference, God revealed some things to me... MANY things actually. However, I think I came home with a totally new outlook for my 24 year old life and the way that I see things. I am in a season of waiting. Yes, I have a career. Yes, I have a fabulous family. Yes, I serve the most high God. Yes, I am blessed beyond measure. But, I continue to wait on the "next step" in my life.

I can honestly say that I've told God "NO" so many times to the things that He's placed in my life, only to find myself right smack dab in the middle of where He wants me and I don't necessarily want to be. And, slowly but surely, I find that I continually need to thank Him for directing my path into unknown territory because those situations have brought me great joy.

I also need to thank Him for all of the things that I've begged for, only to be told "no" by Him in some way or another. I want my life to truly glorify Him. He holds my life and knows what is best for me, but I have to trust Him... His plans... His time. Oh, how I'm such a better follower of Him now because I've had to trust Him and all of his "no's."

So whatever, wherever, however you're struggling today, I pray that you will listen to God and follow His will for your life-- even if it goes against what you want.

Father God, you are good. I don't think I can ever say that enough. There are so many people that are in a season of waiting. Lord, I thank you for all of the times that you've told me "No" and for all of the times that you've pushed me to draw closer to you because of a certain situation. You bring so much joy into my life and you've placed me in a city, a family, a church family, and a circle of friends and believers that constantly build me up. Thank you for not making our lives easy as believers. Thank you for making us work a little harder and most of all, thank you for never leaving our side and for loving us. We are yours!!

Happy Birthday...

to Dr. Seuss!!

Today is March 2nd, which means that kiddos all around the country are having a big ole birthday celebration for one of the greatest people EVER!! If you know me REALLY WELL, you know that I started collecting Dr. Seuss books when I was in my Junior and Senior years of college. I loved to make lesson plans using them as I was student teaching and if I ever gave my students the chance to choose which book they wanted me to read, they would almost always choose a Dr. Seuss book because they loved all the tongue twisters (and probably because a lot of them are really long and it put our Math lesson off just a little while longer). Ha!!

Here are the books I have so far:

Do you collect things?? Leave me a comment if you do-- I'd love to hear!

On a side note, I had an AMAZING weekend with some of my very favorite people in the whole world this weekend. I can't wait to show you pictures and tell you about the things that God revealed to me this weekend! Until then...

Simple Pleasures

A few weeks ago, Kelly from Kelly's Korner Blog had a post titled "Simple Pleasures." This post really triggered some thinking on my part about the little things that make life so enjoyable.

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A big ole glass of McAlister's sweet tea
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Falling asleep or waking up to rain

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Spontaneous lunch dates with a friend

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Having my mother as my best friend

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A job that I ABSOLUTELY love

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Encouraging texts

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A full tank of gas (don't ask me why, just makes me feel good)

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Friday night football

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Finding money in an old wallet or purse

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Sonic ice

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hearing your favorite song on the radio

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worshiping my great big God with a great big church family

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All of these things make life just a little more enjoyable.

Many of you have now seen or heard that I am officially a Blogging Babe of The Meridian Star. There are 5 other women that are participating in this new adventure. So, I challenge you, Blogging Babes, to post about your simple pleasures as a little blog carnival!!

*On a side note, my blog has been in reconstruction mode for a while now. Things are coming together well I think. If you have blog, please grab my button (in the top of the column to your right) by copying and pasting the code into your "add a gadget" options in your dashboard.

IDOL RECAP!!!

So, I'm doing something that I've NEVER done before on my blog. I'm posting my own opinions about one of my very favorite things in life... AMERICAN IDOL! I don't talk about these things because I like to be right and I wouldn't like it one bit if my favorite doesn't win. I plan my week nights around Idol. I mean... I've watched religiously since season 2. I predict what the judges will say before they say it. I critique the singers, the band, yada, yada, yada.

The top 12 girls were up to sing tonight... and here are my favorites for the season.


DiDi Benami...

So cute with such a whimsical voice!

Haeley Vaughn...

LOVED her from the very beginning. Okay, I know... she didn't have a good night, but give the girl a break. She's so fashionable and just plain cute!

Lacey Brown...Oh, how I could just listen to her time after time after time. I'm hearing a young Norah Jones comin'...

Crystal Bowersox...Oh. How. Talented. I mean, I just like the girl because she can play multiple instruments at one time! Ha! Seriously, I want her to do well!

I won't have to blog tomorrow night about my favorite male singer. There's only one:

Andrew Garcia...

I can't even begin to tell you why I like him so much! He's talented. He's CURRENT. He's strange in his own little way and I LOVE it!!

Do you watch Idol?? Who are you favorites so far???

Just Plain Goodness!!

My new favorite... Pimento Cheese Sandwich from NEWKS!!! Mmmm good!!

New Colors!!!

I've been slowly but surely giving my bedroom a new look. I've found a new found love for the blues, greens and browns and have been picking up things that work into my color scheme.

I found these cute things as Ross. What makes them even more cute is that I got both of them for $13... TOGETHER!! I never ever go into Ross but was taking some desperate measures to finish up the shelves in my room. What do you think??

Birthday Happies

As you read in my last post, I had an incredible birthday!! I just wanted to post some pictures of things that made my birthday so special.

Receiving flowers... a white chocolate cheesecake made my Sharon McMullen for the office crew...
This FAB cross that was made in Taylor, Mississippi. My friend bought it at Plant the Earth in Meridian... if you can get it in Meridian, I'm sure you can get it ANYWHERE in Mississippi!
Staff birthday lunch at Sake Sushi. I chose this place for the entertainment alone. At one point during lunch, my boss Dr. Leake, announced that this place was just a "circus!" The rest of us had been to this place many times, but it was a first for him. We all had fun!and a precious little door hanger that says, "The day you were born, the world had to make room for a little more fancy!"I had some little fellas hang out with me at work yesterday. One of them walked in with all of these silly bandz on his wrist. He gave me two of them as a late birthday gift!! He had taken all of them off and was showing me all of the different shapes. Why in the world didn't I think about creating these?? They're definitely a craze around Meridian... what's the deal?!

Snowy Birthday...

I am a valentine baby! I celebrate BIG every year during my special week!! However, my "24th" birthday week was a little extra special because of this... Yep!! Believe it. It's snow!!! The meterologists have been saying that we'd get snow for the past few months, but they hit the nail on the head this time with almost 3'' of snow by 10:00 a.m.
My dogs didn't really like the snow at first, and Lucy, well she pretty much is always camera shy!

Even though the snow was beautiful, I have to admit that I was a little bummed out because some of my friends were giving me a birthday dinner that night. I just thought it was going to be cancelled. Everyone was talking about dangerous driving conditions due to the ice on the ground and I just didn't want to even think about totaling another car after my horrible wreck back in July.

The hostess, my sweet friend Joy, decided that we just needed to go ahead and celebrate and that the snow would make it a little more special!!

and so we did.... with sweet, sweet friends

and FABULOUS cake!!

On Sunday night, my sweet youth family wanted to celebrate with a little MEXICAN!!
The picture below is horrible in quality, but these are some of my favorite people on the planet!! I am so blessed to be surrounded by these people and call it MY JOB!

So, what was my big birthday gift this year you ask?? Well... my family is sending me here!!

To the Ross Bridge Resort and Spa in Birmingham... I am in MAJOR need of a day of pampering!!

i CAN grow plants...

Three of the kiddos at my church gave me a bulb in a cute little silver vase for Christmas. If you know me, you know that I absolutely detest anything with the word "planting" or "growing" but I decided that since this was a gift, and all I had to do was add water, then I might possibly get something out of this...... I think it's pretty safe to say that I CAN GROW stuff...

All You Need is Love

I. Love. Valentine's. Day!!

I love walking into the stores and seeing a sea of red and pink, the cute little valentine cards and candies for all of your friends, and I love all of the music that you hear around the holiday. I love Valentine's Day because it's my birthday, too!!

Tonight, my youth family is kicking off a brand new bible study that focuses on relationships and love. Not just the love that is between a man and a woman, but the love that we all find in our family relationships and our friendships!!

I received a book for Christmas that is full of quotes about love from Mother Teresa. I just wanted to share some of those with you today:

"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to youwithout leaving happier."

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

"If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."

On a different note: If you are raising a teenager or have ANY influence over anyone in their teen years, RUN and go buy these books about dating!!!

Two PERFECT selections for your teen to read and learn about the pressures of dating, what guys and girls look for in relationships, and how to form healthy dating relationships at a young age!

HAPPY READING!!

Geaux Saints!!

The Super bowl is SUNDAY and I'm so excited!! I don't think I've ever been this excited about football. Let's face it. I'm an only child, girlie girl with all girl cousins and was a dancer for almost 13 years. I was NEVER around many sports growing up.

Well, now that I'm a youth minister, most of my nights are surrounded by church league basketball and football so I've had to learn a lot here in the past few months!! Very SLOWLY, might I add!

I guess I'm just excited because I'll be at a Super bowl party, pulling for the Saints, and will have somewhat of a clue what's going on down on the field this year!!

With all that said, I need some recipes. I have assigned several of the youth parents/friends to bring different food items for our youth Super Bowl party, but I'm in charge of a dessert. I'm dealing with TEENAGERS here, so if you have a "sweet" recipe you think I should try, please leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!!

MMM..MMM.. Good!!

I'm kind of embarrased to post this, but my grandmother outdid herself in the kitchen tonight and I had to take a picture!! A few weeks ago we were talking about different things she used to cook that were my absolute favorites. One of those favorites was cubed steaks with rice or mashed potatoes!! Tonight my mom and I were going over there and she had prepared my favorite... cubed steaks, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, and Sister Schubert rolls. It just doesn't get any better than that, ya'll!!

My plate before...

...and my happy plate after...

The Good Stuff!!

Oh. My. Word! This has to be the best stuff ever created. EVER!! Last August, I was doing a little shopping at The Wharf in Orange Beach and happened up on a bottle of this fabulous red currant lotion. Oh, it's heavenly!! My mom surprised me with not one, but TWO bottles of this for Christmas. You can get it here or here!! Go order it! I promise you'll fall in love!