Beth Moore, Bromeliads, and Blazers!

I think that just about sums up our busy/lazy weekend here in town. High school football started this weekend, Carrie Beth and I attended Beth Moore's 2009 Live Simulcast at my church...which was life changing, The BLAZERS had their first home game, and I got some bromeliads!! One for my classroom and one for our house! I'm busy getting ready for a super busy week...and looking forward to a 3 day weekend...it can't get here soon enough :)


GO JACKETS!


GO BLAZERS


I didn't get any pictures at the Beth Moore/Travis Cottrell event, but his sums it up. Amazing women gathered together...receiving a fresh word. LOVED IT!


These are the bromeliads that I got. I ran into my school counselor at Publix and she helped me decide on one for my classroom. Carrie and Matt helped me pick one for our house!

Trying so hard...

I'm trying so hard, to stop trying so hard
just let you be who you are
Lord who You are in me

Jesus I'm trying so hard
to stop trying so hard
Just let you be who you are
Lord who You are in me, Oh Lord



I get to be a part of this on Friday and Saturday!

An Important Message from Beth Moore from LWEvents on Vimeo.

I can't wait to hear her this weekend. I feel like it will be just what I've been needing...God's timing has been perfect all week. I got an e-mail today from one of my student's parents (she's a middle school teacher). Her e-mail may have changed my outlook on education and helped me focus on what I'm called to do and why! I think I'll share it soon!

Introducing....

Bryson Carty Ross! My friend, Emily, had her baby boy on Aug. 10.

And....Harper Merritt Ball! My friend, Stacy, had her baby boy on Aug. 21.

They actually went to the same high school, in Perry GA, same college, and then somehow ended up pregnant at the same time in Tville :) Both teaching for the same system.

The first pic is of Emily and Bryson.


This picture is of Stacy, Harper, and our friend Meredith that teaches with me!!


I love all these new baby boys!

Completely Random :)

I am full after a nice Sunday lunch grilled by my hubby and I'm going to settle down on the couch with a Lifetime Movie :) I still have schoolwork to do...but that will come after my relaxation time! The house is clean though and laundry is done :)

Ok...I am very excited because the house that we want has olive green walls in the master..woo hoo! I will not have to re-paint! Our black and cream decor go so well with it! Who would've thought? Here is a blanket that we have to show how well they look together!


And I had to share a picture of my graduation present to myself from the Limelight.


Matty wanted me to take a picture of his dinner from last night. Hamburgers and strawberries with splenda. He thought it was blogworthy!



I don't know about y'all but I am getting very excited about FALL! Every day when I teach calendar, we go over what season we are in. I'm tired of saying Summer (maybe b/c it is not summer for me anymore...just sweltering at recess and bus duty)! My kids are excited about fall too...Halloween and Thanksgiving!

We read the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom since we are still learning about letter sounds right now. BTW I LOVE sounds (could I please be a speech teacher one day?)! These are the cute coconut trees that my 22 babies made with my support teacher, Mrs. Sharon.


Random..I told you :)

Kari Jobe is my favorite...do you know who she is??

This live version of Revelation Song makes my heart so happy! It gets me excited and pumped up for church tomorrow!! I wish she was leading worship! But seriously, a friend of ours is singing tomorrow and sounds a lot like her..so yay! You know how much I love a great worship song or any song for that matter!

We're under contract!

Kathy called last night to tell us. I hope that everything works out. I always have a fear of something happening with the inspection (which is next week) or something before closing which will not be until the end of September! It has been a long search and after lots of looking, crying, disappointments, saving, and praying (right inside the houses and in yards too) we think we've found the one to start a family in! Here is a peek! There is actually a funny story about this house which I'll share later. So, hopefully it will be our new home in September! Yay! We're just thrilled y'all!

"You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:7

We have been clinging to this verse for awhile now.

Kindness counts!

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12

It sounds like something that I teach my kids...but really my Dad is being the ultimate servant right now. I mentioned that we skyped for awhile tonight in my last post and thought maybe I should explain.

He is living down in Florida for the month...taking care of my Nanny Jane (his mother in law) because she needs someone to be with her 24/7 even though she is in rehab. She fell twice lately because the nurses there left her in her chair or just weren't paying attention..in just the two times since this happened in July that someone wasn't with her, she fell both times. My mom has 3 sisters and only 1 lives there. Everyone has gone back to their jobs now and Poppy Bill has hired a nurse to spend the nights with my Nanny but usually stays with her from 6am-11pm. He was getting so tired and couldn't get the everyday things done like bills and upkeep of the house, that Daddy volunteered and then was asked by Poppy Bill to come help (and Poppy NEVER asks for help)!

I am so proud of my Daddy. He is very selfless to sit, feed, and spend time with Nanny Jane each day. And thankfully now, Poppy Bill can rest a little bit and have some company. They usually split the time. I know my mama is lonely in Dublin without him, but she wouldn't want it any other way. As soon as Swine Flu clears out of our county I am going to go down for a weekend and take over. I just couldn't ask for a better example of humility and kindess. I am overwhelmed with thankfulness and adoration for my Dad. And of course I am in tears right now..so I need to go and watch my Friday night TLC!


This is a picture of my sweet parents a few weeks before Nanny Jane tripped and hit her head, resulting in 2 brain surgery's, and now mini-stokes.

Looks like it's going to be a rainy weekend...

and I'm so glad! It has been so HOT and HUMID all week long. Recess has been miserable.
I am just thrilled that it is Friday night and I'm blogging.

Let me set the scene...
I got home from school, feeling Swiney and slept until 7 (it was storming mind you) then I got up and Skyped with my Dad. Matt and I ate supper (he is coughing something terrible and will most likely be called into work in the morning) then we Skyped with my Dad. Now I'm bundled up in bed in pj pants and one of my many cute colored school shirts reserved for Friday's...I have a blanket, my laptop, Blakely, and a Vanilla Coke Zero. I am listening to some GAC and couldn't be happier!

I am looking forward to resting this weekend and getting caught up on some things around the house and for school. I'm also hoping to snuggle up to my hubby for a movie or two. We might as well enjoy this drippy weather :)

Voice of a Savior!

These sweet 11 year olds go to my church and sang this song last Spring. I've loved the song ever since I heard them sing it. I was searching for Mandisa's version tonight and came across Trinity, Laura, and Caroline singing it. My very favorite part that gives me chills every single time is at the end, when Trinity sings her solo. AMAZING! You have to get past the shaky camera though...lol! Listen to the lyrics :)

Make It or Break It....I heart this show!

I've been watching for a while. I am a huge fan of ABC Family...however cheesy or "high school" that may be. But tonight sealed the deal. It's got to be one of my new favorites! I love the parts with the "girls", the "moms", and the "gymnastics"!

You may not know this about me...but I started gymnastics at a young age and actually did the beam, bars, etc. So of course gymnastics and the olympics have always been a passion of mine. I have a book autographed by the 1996 USA Olympic Gold Medal team from Atlanta.

I CANNOT wait until next weeks season finale!

Monday...already??

The weekends seem to fly by! I was in denial all day about it being Monday...but am now enjoying my rainy Monday evening with my hubby and golden. We are getting tons of rain b/c of the tropical storm out there!

Let's recap the weeekend.

Friday: Fun, fun! Bridgett, Carrie, Jennifer, and I went to Tallahassee Friday night! We made a quick stop to Kirkland's and then enjoyed dinner and drinks at Olive Garden. Somehow we made it back home....I have a hard time reading Matt's GPS screen and it was telling me my speed...after a long day of work..haha! We took all sorts of crazy fun pics, then on the way home went through stages of falling asleep to the most intense conversations you will bascially ever have! Then we got some energy back when we made it back to my house. Matt became our photographer and Blakely became our "cheerleader"! Haha! I must have been a lot more tired than I thought because I fell asleep twice when Matt was telling me a story.



These pics range from our family portrait before dinner, a picture of our "serious" drive home, and a crazy pic when we arrived back at my house! Love the four seasons!! :)

Saturday: We spent it house hunting. Fun but tiring.

Sunday: I felt sick Sunday, I'm still crossing my fingers that I don't come down with Swine Flu. But I was able to hold down a small thin mint blizzard for dessert! Yummy!

Monday: I always play catch up on Monday...but thanks to all of the support in my classroom during nap time...I caught up..for now anyway. I had energy again today...but am fading fast now. I think it is time for a bubble bath, pj's, and The Secret Life followed by Make it or Break it in bed. Then Matt will watch Cake Boss while I sleep :) If I feel really awake, I will attepmt to work on baseline test scores on commercials :) Happy Monday!

Thankful Thursday

Carrie, Me, and Bridgett after a reunion dinner! Jennifer hightailed it out of there and missed our photo shoot on the streets of Quitman:)

Whenever I have drive time, I get in a reflective mood...hence Thankful Thursday...here it goes....

I got to eat dinner with the 4 seasons (aka Bridgett, Carrie Beth, and Jennifer)!

I have energy...although I feel a little bit under the weather.

There is country music blasting on the radio...which means that we have a clean house!

I am thankful for Nanny Jane and Poppy Bill. I'm thankful that they just found a good nurse that will take care of her at night. I am grateful that she is alive.

I'm thankful for my sweet parents that gave me the world and are always there for me.

Blakely, my baby right now, who is my shadow and a person :)

For my school family. I love that I am surrounded by older, wiser, beautiful, smart, women at my school. I love learning from them, teaching with them, chatting with them, and laughing with them :)

For a wonderful CVS...my favorite store to go to.

That the Lord blessed me with the sweetest, most Godly man/hubby in the world! I get to have fun with my best friend every day! Every minute that we get to spend together makes me happier than anything.

Lastly, that the Lord always pushes me when I just want to sit still. I learn so much from these times and am completely blessed by His faithfulness and guidance.

Well rested Wednesday!

Hump day is just about over! I was excited about this day from the start. I let myself sleep until 6 today...instead of 4:45! Yeah! And I knew that tonight was going to be mine and Matty's night to cook dinner, watch tv, and play scrabble! And to my advantage it rained...I love the cozy feeling our house gets in a thunderstorm!

Let me tell you what we had...chicken and corn bread casserole. Comfort food at its finest. Yum! I'll have to share the recipie in another post...b/c it's a funny story how I've been getting new ideas lately!


Now, don't get me wrong, I love staying busy...like our Junior League meeting last night and dinner with the grad girls on Thurs....but there is just something about a simple night in with my sweet little family.

I also, finally have energy again! After a week and a half of school! Today when I got home, I was able to cook, scrub the kitchen, dust, and work on just a little bit of school stuff. My feet don't hurt and I am not crawling to the bed. I was starting to get worried :) Hopefully next week I'll be able to start hitting the Y after school again.

One more thing:
I am PRAYING that I don't get sick...guess who has sick babies in her classroom? Guess what they have? That's right...you guessed it. The SWINE FLU! It's going around our school like CrAzY!!!!
A little photo shoot that we had after my JSL meeting last night. Do you see Blakely in the back seat? :) I was extremely tired last night and I think I was delirious while we were taking pics! I was in a silly mood!

Gloriana and Productivity!

Love, love, love this Gloriana cd and especially the lyrics to this song! You know I clean to country so I gotta start immediately!

Matt is out golfing with his buddies...dinner is in the croc pot. Now, I've got approximately 2 hours of cleaning and 2 hours to work on school stuff. Ready, set, GO!

Do you think you know a lot about me?

Favorite Color: Why is this so hard for me? In clothes I LOVE white, black, gray, mustard yellow, and turquoise right now. In houses I love warm colors: browns, reds, yellows, and some greens. However, I am a sucker for anything in pink and green.

Favorite Car: mine -- tahoe. I think it will be the next car I get too...of course I could want a change by then.

Favorite Movie: My favorite movies change like the wind. I always go back to a few of my classic favs. Right now I LOVED The Proposal. I loves Sandra Bullock's character....how reserved and driven she was.

Favorite Hobby: Reading

Favorite Song/Singer: Casting Crowns, Hillsong, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Gretchen Wilson....of course there are lots, lots more.

Favorite Book/Author: Karen Kingsbury and Mary Kay Andrews
Favorite School Subject: Anatomy and Physiology in high school or any Education class in college.

Favorite Vacay Destination: I love the mountains and the beach.

Favorite Food: Roast and vegetables....I get mama to make it every time I go home.

Favorite Restaurant: Bone Fish Grill or PF Changs.
Favorite Animal: Golden Retrievers. I love most dogs in general.

Favorite Store: So hard to choose! Clothes: Gap, Old Navy, Ann Taylor, J. Crew, and Talbots. (the 1st 2 are more in my price range right now...since I'm on a budget) House: Hobby Lobby, Limelight, and Fireballs. Everyday: Target, CVS, Loli's, Loli and the Bean. I also love Victoria's Secret and Dillards.

Favorite Celebrity: Tori Spelling or Reese Witherspoon

Favorite Childhood Friend: Laren! I will never look at a pool without thinking about her.

Favorite Childhood Memory: Riding our bikes down trails back in the creek. And the rope swing in the creek behind our house. Me, Lindsey, and Kristy. Also forming clubs from the books that we would read. Oh yeah, spending the days at the CC with the Kinards and learning everything that I could from all the tennis instructors and lifegaurds :) And Cheerleading camps!

Favorite Baby Name: We have several names picked out. We really love classic names. But also like a few trendy names. Whichever way we go...they will match.

Favorite Person in my Life: I love everyone in my life. I really cherish my family and close friends.

Favorite Possession: I really like my laptop. Internet, work, iTunes, and pictures. My wedding band is another one of my favorite possessions. I love that Matty picked it out and what it symbolizes.

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: Chick-fil-a! Diet Dr. Pepper!

Favorite Comedian: Chelsea Handler

Favorite Holiday: Probably Christmas...I love that time of year. But I also LOVE all holidays in general. I love a reason to celebrate and decorate.

Favorite Number: 4
Favorite Hard Candy: I don't really have one. Maybe something cinnamon.

Favorite Month: I've always loved October and February and June, not sure why.

Favorite Flower: Hydrangeas, Roses, and Tulips.

Favorite Ice Cream: Brides Cake and Anniversary Cake...BlueBell

Favorite Smell: Dillards..I love the mixture of expensive perfume, make-up, and leather. I also am obsessed with Yankee's Pumpkin Pie candles...I burn them all year long.

Favorite Drink: Diet Coke, Sonic Vanilla Diet Coke, or Root Beer in a bottle.

Favorite Cartoon Character: I don't have one.

Favorite Kind of Pants: Dressy crop pants.

Have Any Pets? BLAKELY

Have Any Children? Just a golden and 22 kindergarten babies.

Smoke? No.

Drink? I'll have a coctail with friends every now and then.

Exercise? I walk all the time at Cherokee Lake. But I'm going to start going back to the Y consistently now that I won't spend most of my afternoons driving to Valdosta.

Like to Cook? Only if I have time. I like to cook with Matty and with Blakely laying on the kitchen floor loving that we're cooking as a family :)

Play An Instrument? I used to play the piano. Somehow, I forgot everything I learned.

Dance? Danced until I was 16. I quit to play more sports. Dance at Fancy Dancer was my life and I have the best memories from it and I loved my dance teacher...but I was there 3 nights a week until late at night and it got to be too much with school, sports, and homework. I still miss it, and tear up when I watch my old dance videos, but it was the right thing to do. Tennis and swimming became my loves.

Write? I love to blog. And I model writing everyday when I teach Writer's Workshop.

Ski? Never. It's Matty's dream to take me.

Do You Wish You Lived Somewhere Else? Sometimes I get sick of living in such a small town where everyone knows everything about you. But I usually love it and couldn't see us anywhere else...definitely not in a big city.

Enjoy spending time with your mother? It is just about one of my favorite things to do :)

Sleep with a fan on? Nope, the fan in our bedroom doesn't work.

Want to get married? Been married 3 years and counting.

Have you laughed until you cried? Yes. All the time!

Met someone who changed you? I think growing up has changed me in so many ways. I'm sure people have influenced certain changes...that's for sure.

What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping.

Name something you CANNOT wait for? Our very own house so we can expand our family. And Fall Break!

What are you listening to right now? Gloriana

Last time you saw your father? Last week when I graduated with my Master's!!! He love it! Today is actually his birthday!

Most visited webpage? Facebook or my school e-mail account

Do people think you're weird? I don't think..but who knows and who cares :)

Are any of your friends mad at you? I hope not.

What's one new thing you'd like to try? Sewing and Scrapbooking...I just have to find a little extra time.

Are you a bully? No.

Do you type fast? Super fast.

Do you get mad easily? No, but I don't have patience.

Who's your best friend? I have lots of best friends.

What's the longest relationship you've been in? 7 years...with my hubby!

Maybe I should...go to Publix.

I love...older women. I realize this sounds weird..but I just click with women in their 30's.

Do you like getting hyper? What? I guess it can be fun :)

I don't understand...a lot of things.

I've lost respect for..._____________________________.

I get annoyed when...I don't meet my own expectations.
Are you neat or sloppy? Neat. Unless I'm really stressed, then everything around me begins to look like a tornado hit it.

Do you have medical problems? No. Not that I know of.

Have you dated someone older than you? Yes.

How much older? 1 year.

First surgery: I've never had surgery.

First piercing: My ears when i was 5....after watching E.T. and a few false attempts.

First best friend: Laren Herman in Boca.

First sport you joined: Gymnastics

First pet: Ginger Helen Jane...our family dog.

First vacation: Maybe Marco Island or the Keys.

First concert: Gavin DeGraw and Ashlee Simpson!

First crush: I don't remember.

First car: 1996 Honda Accord: My dream car at the time :)

If your house was on fire, the first thing you'd grab...Blakely, pictures and videos.

First thing you notice when you look in the mirror: My hair that needs cut oh so badly.

Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla

Big Mac or Whopper? A plain cheeseburger.

Coke or Pepsi: Coke.

Beer or Wine: Wine.

Coffee or Tea: Coffee.

Summer or Winter: Both.

cats or dogs: Dogs.

Boxers or Briefs: Boxers.

rain or shine: Rain..well maybe both.

Morning or Night: Both...it depends.

Silver or Gold: Silver

Sunset or Sunrise: Both. I like seeing the sunrise when I'm in my classroom. But I love the time of night that happens at sunset.

Oldest, middle, youngest or only child: I'm the oldest.

Indoor or Outdoors: Depends on the weather.

Got a Speeding Ticket: Twice.

Failed A Class: No.

Screened Your Phone Calls: I don't like to talk on the phone. Half of the time I can't find my phone and my voicemail is always all the way full.

Cried During A Movie: Most movies :)

Had Your Heart Broken?: Yes.

Had a good feeling about something: Always!

Pulled an all-nighter: College!

Guess who flies into Atlanta today????

My brother William Joseph is coming home!!! He's been in Missouri all summer teaching golf at Kanakuk! I'm ready for him to be back in Valdosta...my parents and his girlfriend, Miranda, are picking him up this evening. It's been a trying summer for my family and having him away just added to it all...so I decided to do a little tribute to my little brother :)
There are some pictures of me and him, but mostly ones of him and Miranda!

Monograms and Bows

Picture this! Monograms and bows everywhere....our colors were champagne and pink with hints of green tied in. And it was a pefect summer night in Georgia. June 24, 2006 to be exact! The night I became Mrs. Matthew Michael Whelan!

I LOVED our wedding reception. Maybe because I was finally over all of my "happy" and "so thankful this day is finally here" tears, or maybe just because I loved seeing all of our family friends and my good friends. We had a smaller wedding with a sit down meal at our country club. I had a blast. The only thing I would change now...over 3 years later...is I would have had koozies with our monogram on them for guests to take (I guess there will always be new trends). :)


Arriving at the Country Club...after our ceremony at my church.


Our Centerpieces!


Bride's cake


Golf Balls that were in and around Matt's doughnut cake groom's cake.




My bridesmaids


Taking a swing!


Driving our golf balls with our names and wedding date on them onto the course!

There was a little bit of dancing...









Our two oldest friends watching our first dance. This picture is priceless to me. It shows true friendship :)

We ending the night with a sparklers and a golf cart ride! My cousins decorated my brothers golf cart :)





I can't believe I carried around my make-up bag like I did...but I guess it was my best friend that day...haha!

There are so many more pics I could put up...but there you go a peek into our wedding reception.

We spent the night of our wedding in downtown Savannah, Georgia. Then drove to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where we boarded a ferry and honeymooned on a private island...PERFECT seclusion!


We just arrived!

A few pictures of where we stayed...the Melrose. I spent some late afternoon reading on the yellow porch in a rocking chair while Matt hit golf balls into the ocean.





Waiting on my new husband to get ready :)


Loving coctail hour on the island!


We even played croquet!


You can only get around the island by bike, boat, or golf cart. So we drove the golf cart to a local restuarant called Marshside Mama's. You had to go on this little path through the woods and marsh. Scary and Exciting....this picture describes it because we were literally flying though the dark with just the South Carolina Moonlight guiding us.


Can't you just feel the moonshine??

Wow! This has to be my longest post ever. I want to join in on all Kelly's tours from now on. What a nice trip down memory lane :)