Ahhhh...relaxation!!!

Have I mentioned that I have some free time on my hands lately? I'm loving slowing down. I mean, BB week will be crazy. But I'm only going to be in one Bible Study (James!!!!) this Spring. And I am able to "sit out" from Methods and Materials for Gifted. I actually already took the class through VSU when I was working on my Masters! So, I won't start class again until mid-March! I am so happy, but sort of miss it already...what is wrong with me? :) After Prom Closet in March, our League year will be nearing an end too. It feels so good to be home two nights a week now!!! I can't even describe how FREE I feel! :)

I actually had a RELAXING Sunday last week! It was amazing. After church and Publix, I just stayed home and did what I wanted. I never get to do that!



We celebrated Matt's success with his job! He met his 6th month goal! I am so proud of him! We went to Macaroni Grill...it was our first time there.


I've been enjoying this!


I was going to make a winter wreath for our door. But instead, used a gift card from my support teacher to buy this marked down Christmas wreath at Hob Lob! I seriously got a little over $100 dollars off of this baby! :) I cut out the berries and apples (but saved them) and am completely happy with this pretty thing!



I've also still been organizing drawers and closets here and there.


And I've been moving things around!






Thank you Lord, for this season of REST! I so needed it!


Psalm 118:5
When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place.

BB PP, RAIN, and Dance Moms!

You will be hearing a lot about Bargain Bazaar Preview Party on here (BB PP) :)! I feel very "settled" and calm after our Junior Service League general meeting tonight. I felt better last night after we had a BB meeting too! I think that the posters and tickets look fabulous!!! I am already praying for a successful event that raises lots of money for children in our community!



I LOVE the rain! There is just something about a rainy night that just puts me in the best mood. I will be wearing my fleece pj's from Matt's Granny tonight! I may have to get another pair from Wal-mart...because they have become my new favorite pair! :)


My cousin got me hooked on a new reality show...imagine that! Do y'all know about or watch Dance Moms?! I guess since I grew up dancing and spent a good 3 nights a week at Fancy Dancer dance studio...as well as countless hours during the summer, I relate to the show a little bit!! I'm pretty sure my mama was a dance mom! :) I just happened to catch an all day marathon on Sunday. So, now I'm all caught up and ready for Season 2 tonight!!!


I just have to add that I am so thankful for the Lord and how He always provides things that I need at just the right time! I am always amazed!

Oh how I LOVE Christy Nockels!!!

Christy and I go way back...haha! Like from 2004. I just didn't know it. I listened to Passion Hynms all the time back then. My favorite songs were Fairest Lord Jesus and Take My Life. I didn't realize it was her pretty voice I was hearing until a few years later.

I don't know where I had been, but I was perusing a bookstore near my college house in early Spring 2006, when I stumbled upon Watermark's new and last album, All Things New. It was my theme album back then. More than you'll ever know was my absolute favorite. I LOVED IT and played it continuously!


So, when I got married later that summer, it was very fitting that Watermark songs were played during our rehearsal dinner out at Yates Camphouse. And then before I walked down the aisle (oh so emotionally....lol) two of our dearest friends sang Take My Life. I cherish those memories.

Then, as a newlywed, I still loved all of my Watermark cd's (I back tracked and bought them all). I even bought some sessions of her and Beth Moore speaking at a college womens conference and I still love listening to that.

In 2009, when Christy released Life Light Up. I excitedly and immediately bought it and fell in love with it and her all over again.

And you probably know from reading this blog, that whenever she sings something new, I usually add the video. I just love her voice and what a wonderful Godly worship leader that she is!

Well, as I was watching her sing during Passion this year all of these memories came flooding back. :)

I just so happened to have a mix of her songs in my cd player and have always listend to Glory Baby. But for some reason, I began wondering exactly what it was about and wanted to know about Christy's life. I love learning about women that I admire. So I've recently read several things about her, her blog, and found a few videos on You Tube.

Maybe you love her too! Enjoy!!
Being a mom part 1

"May the odds be ever in your favor."

I started reading THE HUNGER GAMES in December and all of my family and friends will tell you, I BECAME OBSESSED!! I lent my book out and told everybody that I knew how much I loved the first book. Over the break I finished Catching Fire and Mockingjay...the second and third books in the trilogy. I COULDN'T STOP READING!!! I don't think I've felt this way since I first read Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series and then Twilight. Y'all go read these if you haven't already!!


I am so ready for the movie to come out!!

So far...

It has been a great January so far. However, we had so many little things happen this week I definitely wanted to document them.


Monday. Realize that my license is expired and the tags on both of our cars because they are both in my name. That is what a crazy December will do to you! Believe me, it will never happen again! Of course nothing is open on the Monday after New Years.

Tuesday. I went back to work for a teacher work day and got to catch up with all my HNH friends. I had to drive myself to work (illegally) because I had a leadership luncheon at another school for a few hours...it was fun, saw friends from all the other elementary schools in our county and did some team building activities and thought about a new mission statement/logo for the Thomas County Elementary Experience. I drove sooo slow!!

Thankfully, Matty came and put my 2012 sticker on my tag while I was in the luncheon at Cross Creek. And my AMAZING Principal and Assistant Principal told me to just go and get my license right after the luncheon. It was only a 20 minute wait..praise the Lord! Plus, my salon called and reminded me that I had a 4:15 hair appointment. I make my appointments way in advance so I'm glad I didn't have to choose between license and hair. :)

Wednesday-I worked really hard at school and finished report card grades, comments, attendance, and my weekly newsletter. I felt on top of things. I was ready to leave for church, when I realized that Spence (they do my oil changes) didn't drop off my Tahoe in the parking lot like they were supposed to. I called Matt (who was meeting with a Dr. in Valdosta and still had a patient to fit) and he forgot to let me know that they couldn't get to it until tomorrow. I'm STRANDED at school. It was really probably a blessing in disguise...because I was able to get my lesson plans for the next week complete...and I looked up some fun new ideas to try with my kids...BUT I didn't really feel like staying there until close to 7:30pm. Just me, the dark, and the cleaning crew. Being trapped in my classroom for close to 13 hours can get real old! At least I also got my kids New Years Goals displayed in the hallway!:) When we got home we realized our heater wasn't working right. It was 50 something degrees in our house! Brrrrr!!!!



Thursday-Matt and I actually went out to dinner during the week (I honestly cannot remember when the last time we did that was)! We ate at La Fogata and I was able to pick up a donation for Junior Service League while I was there!!! I love getting things checked off my list. When we got home, I was ready to take a hot bath and watch my shows. Well, I smelled a horrible smell on Blakely. Basically, she rolled in something outside and her fur was all matted up (She NEVER does that, EVER). We spent about 2 hours cutting her hair and then bathing her. If you've ever stayed at my house, then you know my hot water doesn't last that long. So, no hot bath for me. :)


Friday-I was home from work by 4:15...ready to fold some laundry and put out some of our regular decorations that I took down for Christmas. I had my Friday afternoon all planned out. Then, Matty called me saying that he ran out of gas on his way home from Albany. I thought he was kidding...but he wasn't. So, I loaded Blakely and a few gas tanks in the car, stopped by the gas station, and took a ride down Highway 19 looking for my hubby on the side of the road. It was a fun night though. We ended up making vegetable pizza (Publix has the best dough if you've never tried it) and watching I don't know how she does it. I really liked the movie...it made me cry at the end! :)


And I need to add that throughout this whole week I have done some MAJOR planning for a JSL event coming up next month. I mean I've made countless phone calls and sent even more e-mails. I've been calculating numbers, tracking down decorations, creating sign up sheets, and making lists for this. I'm thankful that it is starting to come together and we have a meeting with the committee on Monday night. One of my co-workers is chairing the event with me. She is a speech teacher on the other side of the building. I must have sent her about 20-30 e-mails on Thursday...haha! Today she told me that she felt left out and weird that she hadn't heard from me! I think that is a good thing, because it means that I have this more under control! :)

I have never been more thankful for a weekend!!! Happy SATURDAY y'all!!!

Glued

I've been glued to my computer screen every morning while I'm getting ready for work and every night when I'm in bed. I've been watching Passion sessions. Our whole family is basically there and I'd give anything to go!!
http://live.268generation.com/all-sessions/

Chris Tomlin and my personal favorite, Christy Nockels, have been so much fun to watch. I found this old video from an older Passion of them singing together. Makes me happy on this freezing cold morning!

Ringing in 2012!

Our last morning in front of our pretty tree.



We spent NYE in the small town of Douglas Georgia. One of our best friends just moved into a house, so it was the perfect place to ring in the new year! It was short lived, because my last week has looked like this: Atlanta, Dublin, Merritt Island, Valdosta, Thomasville, Douglas, Thomasville. :) I've been on the road...A LOT! We ate dinner at the Flyin' Cowboy. Yummy! And just chatted and claimed some things for 2012! I met a new friend, and was thrilled that I got to see an old friend while I was there too! :)











At about 11:55 I was already in my pj's! We ended up staying up a lot longer than midnight!





The first day of the new year was spent taking down our Christmas decorations. It was my first full day home, so it was time. We also took the time to straightened up several closets and cabinets that have gotten a little unorganized over the year.



I cooked a traditional new years meal. We had to have our greens and black eyed peas!


I am so thankful to have one more day off to get organized and ready for the second half of the school year!