My Boss's Day Gift...

Last Thursday was Boss's Day and I got a gift. They call me the "little boss" around FBC because I'm so young. Anyway...I got a box of Carolyn's Cheesestraws (I highly recommend them if you've never tasted them) and a gift certificate to Southern Gardens to go toward a new North Face Jacket!! My secretaries (one of them being my mom...but she made it clear on day 1 that I was NEVER going to call her my secretary) are wonderful!! Thanks for making my Boss's Day so special Sharon, Sandra & Sherry!!

Canton, Hattiesburg, Sushi, OH MY!!

Thursday, I went to the CANTON FLEA MARKET!! I was introduced to Canton back in May for the first time and I fell in love! I love to shop, but I can't really shop in mass chaos like that. My mom was in Jackson on Thursday too and she was watching the news and she said that over 70,000 people were there!! Daphne (friend from church) went with me and we had so much fun. Since I don't have a house of my own, I can't really buy a lot to decorate with...so I talked her into buying everything that I thought was cute for her house :)

On Saturday, Kristen and I went to Hattiesburg to do MORE SHOPPING!! Here again, I didn't buy too much. I did buy a pair of chacos because they were on the 50% off rack! I bought some ribbon and stuff for christmas to make me a cute wreath and a few little odds and ends at target to give away to my bunko group next Monday!! Kristen, on the other hand, RACKED UP!! It was so much fun! She told Jeremy (her husband) that she could NEVER go shopping with me again because I was such a bad influence and talked her INTO buying everything instead of talking her out of it.

Sunday night after church, I met my friend Brittany, her sister Briana and Brittany's friend (she's my friend too) Rachel at Saki Sushi for dinner. These girls were home from MC on fall break so I was excited that I got to spend time with them on a day other than Monday (because that's when I'm at MC for school) and outside of the cafeteria. We had so much fun!!

Briana, me, Brittany and Rachel

Finally Fall on Grandview Avenue

My favorite time of the year is FALL! I love the weather, I love the decorations, and I love that it's almost time for Christmas!!! One of my very favorite things to do is decorate our home and make wreaths for the holidays. Last weekend, we went and bought hay and pumpkins and got out our scarecrow and made us a cute little display on our porch. I also made a wreath but I wasn't 100% happy with it. For those of you that know me well, you know that I'm not satisfied until something is PERFECT!! I left the wreath up all week and decided that it needed to be taken down and a few new things needed to be added. I went to Hattiesburg this weekend with a friend and found some cute things at Hobby Lobby and Target...oh, how I wish we had both of those stores in Meridian!! Anyway, I am pretty much happy with the way it turned out! Happy Fall!!

A New Business Card

What do you think about my new business card??

Since I came on full-time in June and it's now October, I decided that I needed a "professional" business card. My uncle is an artist and he works for an advertising firm in Birmingham. He was the first person I thought of when I wanted to begin this project. The reason it looks the way it does???? He says that the concept on the card design centers around the image of 4 pieces of construction paper with torn edges randmoly laying on the card in assorted bright colors creating the cross in the negative space. The design speaks to the interactivity and the message of the preschool and children's ministry of FBC Meridian.

Maw Maw Hensley Would Be Proud!!

My great grandmother was named Addie Mae Hensley. She was such a precious woman. I remember spending my summers with her! She would always order my favorite girl scout cookies (Thin Mints), let me sit in her rocking chair where the wood was worn because she rocked constantly, and all credit is given to her because she introduced me to country music television (CMT) and I would sing and perform in her living room for hours. She always ate lunch at 12 o'clock on the dot, not a minute earlier or later and she would eat cucumbers, onions and tomatoes, EVERYDAY!! Maw Maw Hensley died when I was young and I only remember these certain things about her, but apparently she could make a strawberry cake that would put Paula Dean to shame.

A few years ago, my mom ran across Maw Maw Hensley's recipe for her famous cake. She decided that she wanted to try her hand and see if she could even come close to Maw Maw Hensley's. SHE DID!! Her cake is WONDERFUL!! It's a 3-layer strawberry cake with HOMEMADE icing and real strawberries. It's supposed to be served right out of the refrigerator and that makes it even better!! She's thinking about beginning to sell them! Any takers?? She made a cake for me to take to my bible study a few weeks ago and it's been in high demand ever since! I defintely think that my mom made Maw Maw Hensley proud!!

A Rainy Weekend with a Sunshine End!!

Friday night, I sat in the nasty rain at the Lamar Homecoming game to see my beautiful cousin, Jamey. This was her very first year to be in the homecoming court and she won the vote to be the "football maid." Jamey and Me

On Saturday, I spent the morning at a funeral in the pouring down rain... you know, the kind of rain that blows underneath the umbrella so there's NO chance you're going to be dry!! After the funeral, I went shopping and I've diagnosed myself with an addiction. Gosh, ya'll...in the past week, I've bought six, 6, yes, I SAID SIX new shirts! What's wrong with me?? I've got to stop it!

Saturday night, a friend and I took dinner over to Josh & Peggy's house so that we could visit with them and see the newest addition to their family, Miss Madeline Gray Davis, and enjoyed a homecooked meal!! It was scrumptious, even if I did cook half of it! The menu? Poppyseed Chicken, green bean bundles, a pineapple dish, Sister Schubert rolls (my favorite) and a beautfiul chocolate pie. It was SOO good.

The day "Maddie Gray" came into our world!!

After a bath: she finally found her thumb!!

My grandmother cooked Sunday lunch for the family and I am still sick becuase I ate so much. Her kitchen was covered in mounds of fried chicken (she fried it), chicken and dumplings, rice and gravy, cream potatoes, butter beans, peas, cornbread, rolls, and my mom's WONDERFUL 3-layer strawberry cake (homemade icing and everything!)

Needless to say, my drive over to Clinton on Sunday night was absolutely MISERABLE and I just had a sick feeling the rest of the day!!

My Favorite Student

Davious on his 7th birthday!!

I know that when you student teach that you're certainly not supposed to have a "favorite" student. I really did try to like each one of my students and not show any special attention to just one student. But of course, there always has to be just one child that touches your heart in a special way and for me, that student was Davious. He was PRECIOUS (big diamond stud in his left ear and all). I found myself looking forward to school each day because I wanted to see him. I was looking forward to graduation in May, but I knew that my time was ending with Davious and my other "firsties" and that made me really sad. I found myself thinking about him and talking about him all summer. In fact, on the first day of school this past August, I remember saying to my mom, "I hope that Davious has his school uniforms on and that he has his school supplies. I wonder if his mom will take him to school today or if he'll ride the bus." I'm tearing up thinking about him now.

I went to Poplar Springs this past Monday and sadly enough, he was retained, but he is in another first grade room now. I got to see him though!! He was coming back from music and I stood in his room talking to his teacher, anxiously waiting on him to come into the room. I wasn't sure if he would remember me or not. One by one, the students all came in and all of the sudden I heard a voice say, "Hey Misth Ehbby" (with his little lisp and all). MY HEART MELTED!! He did remember me! I enjoyed getting to talk to him and see just how much he had grown in the short three months since I had been his student teacher.

Kids really can change our lives. I get so frustrated and impatient at times, but when I stop to think about my job and that God has chosen me to take care of the preschoolers and school aged kids at FBC, I can't help but be grateful. He has blessed me in so many ways.

Davious & Me the day before I graduated from college. This was at our class party where I was showered with tons of gifts, a "Boo Hoo Bye Miss Abby" book that the kids created and great food!!

Cute Piper!!

Wednesday night I watched the Republican National Convention and enjoyed every minute of Sarah Palin's speech...but I loved watching her daughter even more. Piper Palin is precious!! I loved how when the children of the family were being introduced that the older kids looked like they would have loved to have been anywhere but the RNC, but Piper urged them all to stand up because she wanted to be seen. I loved the very end of the night when Palin's family came out to join her and Piper did the "Miss America Wave" the WHOLE entire time. As my mom said, "Somebody has told her that if her mom and McCain win, that she's moving into the white house." She is definitely full of herself. However, the BEST moment of the night was when Piper was taking care of Trig, the cutest baby that I've ever seen!! Please watch! It's precious!

I ran across this passage this morning during my quiet time and thought that it needed to be posted. We all enter into a new "season" in August. School begins, church activities are back on their "normal" routines and we finally feel like we're back to a normal life. The past few weeks I have found myself anxious about little things. I've been worrying about things that don't really matter. However, this morning, this passage spoke to me and I was reminded that we are all in the hands of God. He is in control of our lives and he knows exactly what we are going through. I have NOTHING to be anxious about because there is a time for everything and it's all on His time!!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Welcome Home Gift

Sunday night I took the kids at FBC bowling and the weather was supposed to be bad (thanks Fay), so I didn't get the chance to drive over to Clinton and stay so that I could be there for my 8:00 class on Monday morning. When I got home on Sunday night, I made sure that everything was ready for the next day because I was going to leave my house at 6:00 a.m. and drive to MC to make it to school on time. I went to bed around 10:30 and at 3:00 a.m. my eyes popped WIDE open and I couldn't go back to sleep. I decided to get up and get ready for school because it was pouring outside and I didn't know exactly how long it would take me to get to MC. I left my house at 5:30 and did make it to school on time, but it was a long, stressful day. School is going to be hard, there's no other way to put it. I just have to keep my chin up! I can do anything for just a little while. In order to make my day a little bit better, I was able to meet up with Brittany and Briana and have a quick 30 minute lunch, but then it was back to class. Anyway, to make a long story short, as I was driving back into Meridian last night, I got the best welcome home gift and it just brought a smile to my face. Our God is good and He provides!!

You'll have to look hard to see the rainbow, but I was by myself, and trying to drive next to an 18-wheeler on a bridge. Yes, I can multi-task!

This is a picture of Briana, me and Brittany taken on July 4th.

BSC! Here She Comes!

This post is for my sweet cousin Sarah. I just signed onto facebook and saw that she had updated her status that said, "Sarah is all packed and ready to go tomorrow" and it hit me. She's moving off to college!! I can't believe that we are all growing up! It seems like yesterday that we were taking beach trips with the rest of the cousins and blowing up the air mattress with the hair dryer because we all wanted to have a slumber party at my grannie's house and watch Grease I and Grease II. Even though Sarah and Emily live in Birmingham, we are still incredibly close and I wouldn't trade our memories for the world! So...here's to you, Sarah! Best of luck in all that you do! I love you!

At Sarah's graduation from Pelham High School. She was one of 14 Valedictorians!

*On a side note, I started my Seminary journey this past Monday! WHEW!! What a day! I love all of the people in my classes...they seem so sweet! For now, I'm driving over to Clinton on Sunday nights after church and spending the night at my good friend Kristen Johnson's home. I've only been there once, but I enjoyed catching up with her very much and getting the chance to meet her beautiful chocolate lab, Daisy Mae!! Thanks Kristen! See you next week!

Wedding Festivities

Rebekah and Steven got married this past Saturday at Highland Baptist Church. The wedding was pretty and the reception was SOOO much fun! I woke up Sunday morning, almost not able to move becuase we danced for 3 hours straight without stopping!!

yes, I caught the bouquet!!

My feet were so tired, so sore, and just pure nasty by the time I got home!

First Day of School!

Today is kind of bittersweet!! Most of the people that I graduated with in May, walked into a classroom full of kids this morning, anxious to see exactly what the "first day" in a classroom really is like. I am sad that I don't have a classroom to decorate and call my own, but I am so happy for my friends. I hope that they have a wonderful "first day" and that this year is everything they hoped it would be and more!! I'm praying for you all!!

(Below: Amber & Me after graduation)

(Shari, Haley, Lindsey & Me before graduation)

Going "Home"

Last Tuesday night, I sang a concert for Highland Baptist Church. It was so much fun getting to go back to my "home" church...even if it was only for a little while. Here are a few pictures!

Britt came to see me:)

Above: One of my very favorite people at Highland...Mrs. Makamson!

*Please excuse the sweat...is was really hot!!*

Below: My dear friend and accompanist, Barry Germany! He's wonderful!