Hollywood Weekend

Friday night felt like I was in Hollywood at our Bargain Bazaar Preview Party. All League members had on black and boas. I worked 3 shifts. I took up tickets for the meal. Then moved over to the sale room...and actually got to watch the people pour in. It was an experience. Then I was in charge of a table during the silent auction. My favorite part was taking up the bidding papers really fast when the whistle blew...before anyone could write down a final bid. Listening the live auction was entertaining as well. People got some GREAT things.







Saturday morning was cold and rainy, just like Friday night. It was a LONG day, but fun too. We boxed up a lot of childrens clothes to send on a mission trip to Nicaragua with my church...I really enjoyed that. I also got some MORE bargains (I'll post pictures soon). My friend Jennifer always brings us a honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger on the morning of BB. I have been tasting one since last Feb. They are sooo good!




I got home around before 5 and then crashed for about an hour. (I knew my 4 seasons were having a fun weekend and was heart broken that I couldn't join in on the fun). However, they decided to eat dinner in Quitman around 7:30 and called to see if we were free to join them. I knew I would be tired from my week and we were planning on having some family in town, but it ended up working out for us to meet them. I am glad I got to see them, even though it was too short.



I've been catching up on things around the house all day today. And now we're having a low key Superbowl Sunday. We made homemade veggie pizza and are listening to the game. Matt hung a few pictures and crosses (a towel rack will go under the crosses) that have been laying around and I have been in an organizing mood. He was pouring ranch to eat with his pizza (yuck) and looking at me at the same time and ended up with a plate full of ranch. Haha! It has been so nice being home together ALL day...and having time together last night too. Definitely a blessing to be able to slow down for a bit.

Attention:

Learning all about David has taken over my life today.


And I'm LOVING it! It is amazing how "wrapping familiar passages around me like a security blanket and feeling their warmth" can soothe the soul. I was quoting Beth Moore here and it is so true. I've actually done this study before. However, the new updated version in already speaking to me in many ways. Maybe the fact that I'm older now and have had a lot more "life experience" is helping as well. *Before I started it this morning I was already feeling bogged down about being behind. Now that I'm caught up, I'm enjoying soaking up the Lord's truths. I can't wait to dig deeper into this study tomorrow night!
Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.
1 Samuel 14:6

Well, we got our bargains alright!!

I'm so tired right now, but I had a great day! I actually woke up at 5 with lots of energy. Must've been straight from the Lord.

This morning I was reading my Bible and blow drying my hair...I looked down and saw this sweet face. :) I love my cute pup.


I had a parent drop off some donations in the pick-up line today! I could barely lift the box. I also had a teacher friend leave a trash bag of donations by my Tahoe after school. Haha!! I had to capture the moment. I do love that all these donations go to such great causes.


After a long work session tonight, we are FINISHED setting up! Everything is put up and priced in my department and I am so thankful. A few of us got to shop ahead tonight...excluding furniture. We found our bargains! There is a little table for $10 that I would love to have. Maybe Matt can get to it tomorrow.

We ended up getting Matt an Eddie Bauer wool coat for $4 dollars. It is in great condition. Not to mention, he really needed a nice coat.


We also got him a brand new columbia fishing shirt (tags still on it) for $5 I think.


Then, I got some Valentine placemats for my house area at school. Our grand total was about $10.00 and that is with 50% mark up.


Just a few pictures from final set-up tonight.



It is so rainy tonight. I'm very happy to be warm in my bed, listening to the rain. I hope that everyone had a great Thursday!

Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Set up week happenings.

Monday-Work (write units second half of day), bring dinner to Bible Study at 5:15 (we started David Mon. night), head to the fairgrounds to set up until 9ish. I had to laugh because I went from beautifully set up taco soup, salads, cake, and prayer requests to eating pizza out of boxes, salsa out of the can, and sushi out of the container at Bargain Bazaar set-up. It was a hoot! I made two salads for Bible Study...a Savannah salad and my spin on a Fiesta Salad (minus guac...I had a slight disaster). We priced and made so many signs I thought my hands might fall off. :)






Tuesday-Work (meetings galore), Zumba, pick up chicken from Publix for dinner out at the fairgrounds, set up at the fairgrounds until 10ish. TIRED!

Wednesday-Work (write units second half of day), Zumba, FAIRGROUNDS until 9ish.

Other than that, I haven't been doing much else. I am digging into my David study tonight and beginning to breathe. :) In school news, my kids earned a "fruit bar" and sprite party. They come up with the craziest things. And my girls have started wearing scarves to school (they are wrapped pretty close to how I wear mine)!!! :) LOVE it!! I have still been wearing my gray cardigan out...I tried to disguise it with a flower pin one day. :)




I have 3 more super busy days...then there will be rest for the weary!!!! I seriously enjoy all the time spent up at the fairgrounds with all of my JSL girls. We make hard work fun! It will really be worth it on Saturday when we get a total of $ made to donate to charities. It is just a struggle to balance everything and stay energized. However, the Lord is MY EVERYTHING and in Him I have strength!!! Lord, please be with me and my family each step of the way!


Psalm 43:3-4 (NLT)
Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp,O God, my God!

Beautiful weather, antiques, Ezra, and set-up night!

Yesterday was the most beautiful day! The skies were sunny and perfect! We spent lots of time outside, and even went to one of our favorite antique stores downtown. We hit the jackpot there, I might add. We had been looking for some shutters and found the perfect pair for a steal. We ended the day by washing our finds and grilling out. Matt also got a Keurig coffee maker with a gift card that he recieved at his Christmas party last year (it was for 5 years of employment). We haven't been able to make coffee for a month and a half (ever since ours mysteriously turned itself on and started smoking). He is one happy man! I'm excited about having coffee on the way to work tomorrow...I know I'll need it!







This morning, my pastor continued his streak and preached another POWERFUL, GUT WRENCHING, BRILLIANT sermon. He is always great, but the Lord has spoken to him recently and he just brings a fresh word like no other. He preached on Ezra and repentance. Our praise team was also AMAZING this morning. We were all "lifting our hands in the sanctuary." :)



And after 4 hours of intense set-up and upacking, the Fairgrounds are starting to look like a retail establishment. Tonight was our first set-up night of Bargain Bazaar. I am in house wares this year and it is SO full already. I didn't even have to work out today. Dragging racks, boxes of hangers, and sorting and organizing tons of heavy items is enough! :)


This week is going to be one of my busiest ones yet. I am praying for strength, a servant's heart, and a great attitude! :)

Ezra 9:5b (NLT)
I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the Lord my God.

Basketball, Jewelry, and Mexican!

We went back to our alma mater on Thursday for our favorite, Lady Blazer Basketball. Watching the Lady Blazers almost has the same effect on me as retail therapy. :) I LOVE it! If we lived a little bit closer, I would proably go to every game. It was a little weird to think about how young we were...sitting in the same seats, 8 or so years later. It is a sweet thought, but scary at how fast time goes by. I still saw some people that I know...but it was nothing like packing out the bleachers with 20of your closest friends.





I LOVE jewelry. I wear a lot of it most of the time. I guess my kids have picked up on the fact and two different students made me "bangles or cuff bracelets". I actually sort of liked the striped one!



My support teacher got me this cute ring too!


I started off yesterday morning with a flat tire on the way to work. I ended up staying late at work and was really ready for a movie night in the Pickin' shed. However, Matt's coworkers were heading over to Moultrie to eat at a popular new mexican restaurant. Margarita's. The food was good and we had a fun time with everyone. We drove my Honda Accord (had it since I was 16). Usually, Matt will drive it some when he can't take his company car. But the only time we ride in it together is to the beach. So I sort of think of it as our beach car. Driving it made me feel young. :) (I think I may be getting a camera soon and the quality of my pics will be SO much better!)


I have a gray cardigan that I am completely obsessed with. I pretty much wear it every day lately. I was proud of myself tonight because I'd worn it for the past two get-togethers with the same families, but decided to go with all black instead...even though I did have on the gray cardigan with the outfit at first. :) I thought my hubby looked super cute last night...so I snapped his pic after we got home!



We are planning on spending the day outside in the beautiful weather and getting some chores done. Maybe we'll have time for a LONG walk around Cherokee Lake.

Happy Saturday and Weekend Everyone!
For Christ died so that we no longer live for ourselves, but for him who died and was raised again. 2 Cor. 5:15

Fast Week

My days have been full lately. I've been sleeping well. :) Here are some very random thoughts from the last few days.

We had our January lunch on our wing at school on Monday after Snow Day. I was in charge along with my support teacher. It was cold, so we did chili and all the fixings, corn bread, coconut cake, and cake balls.




This cutie in my class wore suede boots to snow day. This was my attempt to save the boots.


Another one of my babies came to school wearing these today. Can you believe that both soles fell off the shoes before lunchtime?


We started Zumba everyday after school from 4:00-5:00. It is a lot of fun. It is even more hilarious to see us all in the gym (it is surrounded by windows) learning all the moves. Several teachers/teachers kids have gotten a huge kick out of watching us. I love it that my principal and assistant principal are in there with us. Nothing like a school family. :)

I've so been living out of my car lately. Here is what my back seat looks like.


On my way home from work I ran into two sweet girls...I followed behind Abby on her bike until I got home. She was on her way to my house for a pit stop (bathroom break)! Gotta love her!! Hard to believe that my first favorite kindergartener will be going into 5th grade next year.


Last night was the "BIG" school board meeting. It started at 7 and I didn't leave until after 11:30. Luckily, the 10 teachers from my school that stuck it out get to where whatever we want to work for awhile. YEAH! It was actually really fun hanging out with everyone for so long. My assistant principal wanted to get a group picture but about the time we were thinking about taking one, we got called back into the board room. We were just all exhausted this morning. I literally had to HOLD my eyes open at times.


I watched Toddlers and Tiara's tonight because I "know" the little girl Alyssa. She is the niece of a couple in our Sunday School class. It was fun to watch!

I'm excited about visiting my downtown this weekend. See what I have to look forward to? LOVE The Limelight!!


Our weekend is looking like it will consist of a basketball game, a movie night in, a day out on the town, lots of time spent with our church family worshipping our God, and the set up of Bargain Bazaar. Lots of fun things planned.

Psalm 21:1-2
How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord! He shouts with joy because you give him victory. For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have withheld nothing he requested.