Heavy Heart

Just like many of you, I woke up to images on the news of what happened in Japan overnight.  Wow.  That's pretty much all I can say.  I can't stop watching the news.  My heart is so heavy for the people that have been effected by the earthquake and the tsunami.  I had some friends leaving tomorrow for Hawaii and they are obviously cancelling their plans.  Stop what you're doing and pray.  It's time to get right with God, folks.  We, as Christians, believe that God will take care of us and that He has a greater plan for us than we could ever imagine.  So we cling to the hope that He will continue to work all things together for the good of those that love Him and know that He is working in ways that we can't see or understand right now.  God, open the eyes of so many.  Heal our land. Most importantly, use these natural disasters to transform our lives so that we continue to be more and more like you!

Fabulous Find...

A few years ago I was in Jackson at my favorite store ever, TARGET!!  I was making my usual rounds... first through purses and jewlery, then clothes, then shoes and then on to the fabulous kitchen/ houseware sections, when this caught my eye!!

I LOVE shoes.  I refer to myself as a shoe lovin', purse buyin', budget bustin' shopper at heart and I was so excited to see these shoes!  I wear them all the time.  They're pretty comfy, too!  But everytime I wear them, someone compliments me on them and says, "where did you get those and how much?!"  The funny thing is, the reason I like them the most is that they were $7.98 on the clearance rack!!  Makes the purchase so much sweeter!

GUESS WHAT??  Tomorrow is FRIDAY and SPRING BREAK for so many of you!  Be careful with all of your travels and have a great time!

Much Love!

 

Good Morning Baltimore!

Yep, that's the tune that I'll be singing for the next two months!  I have spent the last two nights of the week at Meridian Little Theatre trying out for the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray.  I am so, so excited!  From the time I saw the play for the first time, I always said that if Meridian ever got the rights to it, that I'd try out.  After talking myself in and out of audtioning for weeks, I decided on Monday afternoon that I'd give it a shot.  I cannot tell you how much competition I was up against.  Every person could sing, dance and act.  There were tons of people that tried out for all of the roles and I wasn't so sure that I'd even be Tracy. 

But, I got the call this morning with the good news.  So, mark your calendars folks for May 12-18 and get a ticket to this fabulous play! 

ramblings...

Well, I CAVED!  Yep, I did it.  I joined the wonderful world of tweeting and set myself up a twitter account.  If you tweet, twit, twitter, whatever you say to suit your fancy, then follow me @abs_0214.  I'd love to follow you, too! 

It was about 10:30 when I got home last night.  I hadn't had supper and since I'm in my own little apartment and trying to save money-- okay, maybe that's not totally true.  Maybe because most of the drive-thrus were closed, ha!-- I decided that I'd just eat something that I had in my little pantry.  There wasn't a huge selection, believe me.  So I got comfy on my couch, watched "The Women Tell All" episode of The Bachelor and ate a reeses peanut butter egg, or two or three :) 

I'm SO pulling for TEAM EMILY!!  I want her to be the chosen one super bad.  I think she's precious.  I'm STILL not crazy about Chantal and I'm even not lovin' the fact that Ashley, the dentist, might be the next bachelorette.  She's crazy for sure! 

It's done nothing but rain today in my good ole hometown.  We're in for some pretty bad weather for tonight, I think.  So ya'll go home, get in your pj's, eat you some peanut butter eggs, and catch up on some reality tv.  Those nights are the best :) 

P.S.  REBEKAH.... am I doing a GREAT job or what?!?! haha!

sweet goodness...

Last Thursday, I was about to leave for a youth basketball game in Quitman when I got a phone call that told me to come and pick these two things up... 

Yep, two loaves of homemade sourdough bread and a homemade poundcake!  Happy Housewarming to me from a very faithful reader, Betty!  It was absolutely scrumptious!  In fact, I'm on starch overload!  ha :)

As I was pulling up to my new home after picking up those two gifts, I spotted this...

My sweet mama planted me some beautiful geraniums and gave me a watering can with the sweetest note!  Thank you mama!  I think about you everyday when I see my "cheery" front porch.  Also, thanks for texting me and reminding me when I need to bring the plants in-- cause you know I know NOTHING about taking care of plants!

Saturday was such a dreary day around town.  It did nothing but rain.  All day.  So, I spent the day doing some shopping at the new Enterprise Pharmacy and Gifts and shopping for groceries for my youth get together on Sunday night.  When I finished all of that, and changed out of my soakin' wet clothes, I got ready to go and be the emcee at the Clarkdale Middle and High School Beauty Review.  Oh my word.  I've never seen so many fifth grade girls look like they're 30!!  All in all, it was fun and the winners looked beautiful and I can mark "emceeing an event" off of my bucket list!

I hope that you are having a great Monday!  I'm sitting in seminary class as I type this and should probably be paying attention!  I am paying for school after all! 

Premier Fabrics

If you're in need of having ANYTHING monogrammed, go and see Dia at Premier Fabrics in Meridian (by the old Sack & Save grocery).  SHE. IS. AWESOME.  She monogrammed my towels and my shower curtain for my bathroom and charged me a darn good price... like, um, $18.50 for all four pieces!  That's a steal my friends!  Anyway, we need to support the businesses like Premier Fabrics in our area, so go get your initials put on something :)

Ya'll have a great weekend!

Can I Please Just Say...

...that I'm loving my life and I'm certainly loving you today!  I got an email late last night about a 24 year old at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary that passed away after he collapsed while jogging.  You'll have to go here to read the entire story, but it broke my heart.  That's a  year younger than me folks- and he had only been married a year or so.  It's so sad.  Please pray for his young wife and his family.  It's such a reminder to me that at any minute God could take us.  It's so important to let those around us know that we love them!  

In other news, I'm rather disappointed in what I've seen in Idol so far.  I just so happened to flip on Fox this past Tuesday and got lucky that it was even on.  I've only watched one episode so far and it's been killing me to not know what's going on.  But I do have a favorite- yep, Paul McDonald.  Mmmm.  I could listen to him for hours and there's a few other perks too.  He's 26.  That's good.  And, he lives in Huntsville, AL.  That's not too far of a drive from my little town.  I'm kidding, I'm kidding.  But I love him, I do.  

I'm in the midst of changing stuff around on this blog.  I've had this design for a little over a year and since so many things in my life are changing, why not my blog design too?!     

Movin' on Up

So... back in the last post I told you that I was moving out on my own... and I did this weekend!! Can I tell you how much I love the independent life?!?! Why did it take me so long?! ha! Here are some pictures from the apartment. I left the kitchen, the bathroom and the second bedroom off because I haven't taken good pictures yet-- oh, but I will!!

My FAVORITE room... the living roomThe little dining area... isn't that table runner just THE CUTEST?! Pier 1, my friends!

This is your view when you walk in my front door...My bedroom

Since I've been starting out on my own, I had to purchase lots of new goodies for my new abode. Well, I NEVER knew just how indecisive I really was until this past weekend. No, really folks, my sweet mama was having to make all of these decorating decisions for me because I couldn't make up my mind.

However, you guys were taking care of me for sure. My sweet friends have given me gift cards, grocery cards (thanks Ivey's), TJMaxx gift cards (Thanks Sherry), wall decor (Thanks Ms. Sandra) laundry baskets full of the necessities and even DIET COKES AND TOILET PAPER!! (Thanks Joy & Terry and Sharon & Kate). I'm tellin' ya! Ya'll have done super well!

Even though I needed to buy the necessities, my eyes were fixed on the cutesy things like these... I didn't buy them, but a friend of mine was listening ever so closely and she bought them for me as a housewarming gift! LOVE!! And these came along with a Bed Bath & Beyond giftcard and a Winn-Dixie Gift Card...

Oh, and because I refused to grocery shop up until last night, some friends gave me this laudry basket full of goodies. I have to report that the reeses peanut butter eggs are gone and I was forced to eat something else for breakfast this morning!

Thanks so much for all of your well wishes! I'm getting the internet set up this week at the new place and having two little get-togethers this weekend. I should have some fun pictures to blog about next week.

Until then...

The Top Ten... since Thanksgiving...

Sorry for taking myself a little sabbatical, but I've been crazy busy since Thanksgiving.

Here's what you've missed with my busy little life:

1. I WENT TO DISNEY WORLD!! Oh my word- I can't put into words exactly how much fun Sarah, Emily, Jamey and I had, but it was the best trip ever! Grannie and Grandaddy- thank you so much for sending us. We'd love to plan a trip to San Francisco next year, hint hint!!

2. CHRIS TOMLIN!! I got to run over to Jackson for a night back in December and worship with the best of the best- Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockles and Louie Giglio! WOW. That's all I can say!!

3. CHRISTMAS!! What a fabulous day it was to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It even snowed a little and made for a "white Chirtmas." I had a youth christmas party, family christmas stuff, friend get-to-gethers and all that jazz!! It was a jam packed Christmas week for sure!

4. Gatlinburg!! After only being home for seven days, I turned around and took my youth to the Winter Xtreme conference in Gatlinburg. Oh. What. Fun. This three day conference was jam packed with bands like Skillet, Francesca Battistelli, Newsong, Newsboys and Mercy Me and speakers like Matt Pitt, Johnny Hunt and Josh McDowell. This was such a fun trip. However, I came home ringing in the new year with a bunch of nausea. It sounds very pitiful, but I was in bed by 9:30 that night and slept late the next morning! Exhausted is an understatement.

5. MY CAR WINDOW WAS BASHED IN AND MY PURSE WAS STOLEN... in the church parking lot! Yep! I was at praise band practice on night, for an hour, and walked out to open my car door and see that a brick had been thrown through my window and my purse was GONE!! Go ahead and say it, "Why was your purse in the car, abby?!" It was a moment when I thought I could just trust the world I guess and I didn't think any differently! Anyway, he only got away with my favorite purse and hobo wallet, my makup and everything in my purse, but he didn't spend any of my money OR FBC's money because I had all the debit/credit cards cancelled. Just makes me mad! I had to have a new window, two new window motors and a new regulator-- it's been a long month to say the least!

This picture doesn't do it justice. I have the video from the security camera and everytime I watch it, it just makes me FURIOUS! Anyway, blogger won't let me upload it!

6. Harper's Birthday!! My big girl turned 2 this year and is funnier than ever! She had a story-telling birthday party because she loves books and I was busy making invitations and planning her little shindig. We even fit in time for Harper's new favorite hobby: watching basketball!! We've spent a couple of afternoons just eating mexican, watching basketball, having M&M's for dessert and having girl time singing and dancing in the car!!
7. Disciple Now- This past weekend was a ton of fun with all that was going on. I was able to join with other youth ministers in planning a worship experience for a little over 500 people in Meridian. This was a great time of worship, bible study and mission experiences for all involved. Here's my little group! I love them so much!

8. GO PACKERS!!! I don't know how you celebrated superbowl sunday, but look at this nice treat we had at our superbowl party! It was delish!!

9. Did i mention that I am moving?? MOVING OUT, that is!! That's right! I'm excited to announce that I have put down a security deposit and am moving out into my very first apartment! After looking at a house or two and calling about several apartments, I just decided that renting was the best option for me right now. I'll have to show you some pictures when I get my little place all fixed up! I can't wait!!

10. Oh yeah, and I've packed on another semester of school! ha!!

It drives everyone around me crazy that my life is crazy busy, but I might as well try and do it all now before I settle down!! I hope that 2011 is treating you all very well!!

TOMORROW'S FRIDAY!!!!

Who's the worst blogger ever???

IT'S ME, IT'S ME!!

I can't even get into why I haven't blogged in almost TWO WHOLE MONTHS, but I'm not dead if that's what you're wondering!!

Since Thanksgiving, I've been a girl on the move and I have LOTS to share with all of you!!

So... keep wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' for me and all of the little projects going on in my life!

I'll catch you up soon!

and the rest just goes undone...

So, my attempt to blog EVERYDAY certainly didn't work out the way that I wanted it too!!! But, just know that I'm so thankful for so many things in my life!! So thankful for new opportunities. So incredibly thankful for life!! I hope that you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!! The "Sister Girls" are heading out on Thanksgiving night for our annual Christmas shopping weekend in Birmingham! I'll have plenty to post on when I return!

K...

So this couldn't have happened at a better time, but today, I'm so thankful for Kids!! I mean, who doesn't smile when they're around a group of kids?!

Today is Veteran's Day and I was asked to sing at Lamar School with their fourth graders for their program. We sang a song together called "American Tears" and there wasn't a dry eye in the room! Really.

They gave me a Christmas Ornament and they wrote me a book of letters! I thought I'd share a few of my favorite parts of this book with you.

Dear Miss Abby--

" I'm so glad that we get to sing together. You could've went shopping or getting your nails done, but instead, you choosed us!"

"I hope that the audience will be as happy as a dog with a bone when they hear you sing!"

"Your voice is beautiful. Like a cricket in the middle of spring!"

"Wow! You are so much better than I thought you were singing. I just thought you were ok, but you're perfect! Now that we have you singing with us, we are complete!"

"By the way, I love the way you have your hair. I love the bob. It looks good on you!"

haha!! Are these cracking you up?!! I've just laughed and laughed!! They mean well. They really do :)

Happy Veteran's Day. Thank you to those who have served and continue to serve our country. We appreciate you and love you more than you'll ever know!

Happy Thursday!

J...

Today is the day to be thankful for something that begins with a "J..." and I'm loving these four people...

John Mayer Jack Johnson
James MorrisonJason MrazOh, if I could attend any dream concert, it'd be all FOUR of these artists in one night... all together... singing to ME! Such great music!!

I...

This is a stretch, but I'm thankful for good music and artists like Ingrid Michaelson. I'll tell you how thankful I am for 4 other artists tomorrow on "J" day, but Ingrid has definitely become one of my favorite musicians. I first heard her on Good Morning America and "shazammed" her stuff on my iPhone and it told me who she was, her album name and all that jazz.

My mom tells me that I listen to really weird stuff. And if you take a look at my iPod, I have everything from Christian music to rap, to country, to rock... it's just a really random selection. But I like to have plenty of options to fit my daily moods!!