A WHITE Valentine's Weekend...

The largest, fluffiest snowflakes ever. I never imagined that snow could be so beautiful. And we've seen it several times. We were in awe for a few minutes...we just stared out of our bedroom window, and then I got smart and grabbed my camera. I was like a madwoman, trying to get it all on film. I took about 5 short videos. Who would've ever thought that it would actually snow in South GA?? Just in time for Valentine's Day!!



A little bit later...


I think you could feel the excitment and hear the shrieks of joy in the air spreading through our little town!!

Dear John,

Have you seen the movie? Did you like it? I really liked it, but started crying 15 minutes into it, because I already knew what was going to happen. The actors were great!!!! At first, I was sort of critical about the beginning, not being just like the book, but as a whole, the movie really went right along with the book (although Savannah was supposed to have brown hair). I still think that the book blows the movie out of the water. READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!

By the way, The Last Song previews look fun and light hearted. Just wait, they are tricking you, the movie will be sad. If you don't believe me, read that book too. :)



We were just hanging around the house tonight, waiting to see if it might possibly snow, when I mentioned for the 100th time that I wanted to see Dear John with Matt. So, he said, ok, much to my surprise! We picked up Subway for dinner, ran an errand, then bundled up and went to the early show!!! I have never been to a movie on a weeknight (since I've been a teacher) and it was so refreshing to go! I felt like it was a weekend! It just proves that I need to do more than my usual routine on school nights (work, work some more, go to a meeting, meet a group for dinner, go to church, Bible Study, work out, or watch tv). Being spontaneous was very fun for us tonight. We actually can do things spur of the moment at this stage in our lives...so I think we are going to try to take advantage of that more often. :)

All comfy and ready for movie night!!! Trying to stay warm in the freezing south GA temps!


We are still praying for a snow day tomorrow! Ha..yeah right! If I do have to work, which I will, I know it will be a rainy yucky day. So I'll probably wear my pink uggs. In spirit of Valentine's Day and all :)

Well, make sure you read the book....


Then go see the movie!

Just a bunch of nothing :)

I got home from work yesterday...beat. I set my tote down right by the door. It stayed there for the rest of the night.


I did get some things other than school work accomplished.

I got a little snuggle time in with my family...and read some of Dear John to them. :)



I also made red velvet cake balls and wrapped a gift for a little celebration that we had at school for a fellow teacher on our wing that is going to be a foster parent for a 6 year old boy. She has a 4 yr old daughter of her own, so she had no boy things!






I brought 3 tupperware containers of extra cake balls, so I could refill the plate. They were all gone before I went to lunch.

I did accidentally crush one, so I broke it up between my 5 girls. They devoured it. Then later, they ate all the crumbs that were stuck to the plate. Vultures I tell you, they ate like they had never seen food. And believe me, they eat plenty...they love breads and sweets :) I love my girls so much!


I just went outside to check the mail and found Blakely laying on the garage steps, surrounded by some of her favorite toys. I love my sweet golden!


It is so windy and cold here in SGA today. I almost can't stand it!! Brrr!!! I even wore slipper flats to work today!! They are lined with fur and sort of feel like slippers. Ha!!


I've never made plain old chicken and rice before, but I'm trying a recipe that I found online tonight. I hope it's good! We had chicken thawed and it just seemed like a good cold weather food. I'm also really excited about American Idol tonight! I love Hollywood week!!

I am thankful that I'm having a good week (even though it is tiring). Valentine's week in kindergarten is out of control!!! :)

The LORD is righteous in all His ways and gracious in all His acts. The LORD is near all who call out to Him. Psalm 145:17-18

L-O-V-E

Well, friends, I'm enjoying a furlough day (day without pay that I'm forced to take). I wish it was still a teacher work day and that I was getting paid, but it is what it is, and I'm making the best of it. I'm still in my pajamas and it is nearing 3:00. It is beautiful out today and I have all the windows open. I watched some of my morning shows, then took a nap with the breeze blowing in, and read just a little bit.

I'll proably put on some workout clothes in a bit and start cooking. I'm making hubby a yummy comfort meal, and plan to have it waiting on him when he walks in the door at 5:15ish. Thankfully the house is clean and I'm caught up on laundry.

Anyway, I have some pics to share of Valentine's decor. We don't have much. But what we have, I love!!

Probably my favorite plate. Jennifer and I got these at TJ Maxx. She actually got two.


I love this cupcake for several reasons. The main reason is that one of my students has a cute little tradition with her family and a cupcake jar much like this one. I plan on doing the same thing one day.


Carrie Beth helped me finalize my decision on this plate. I mean, when do I get to put zebra in my house??


Our laundry room.


I love kitchen towels. I have cute cupcake ones, owl ones, and a love one that I don't have room for.


I am always changing this plate out. It already says something else. This was when BB was in full swing.


I kept wondering why this hurricane glass was getting emptier everyday...I finally caught Matt sneaking some candy.


Blakely got a love bug for Valentine's Day!


We are staying in for Valentine's, so I plan to use these somehow.


I have a few more things I need to get pictures of too...

I'm heading outside (gasp) to throw the tennis ball to Blakely and reread Dear John on our front porch! What a glorious Monday!!

I've got some exciting news!

As most of my "readers" (mama and a few friends) know, I've been reading Beth Moore's new book, So Long Insecurity, and LOVE it. Well, after a lot of prayer, thought, and rearranging my schedule, I bought my ticket this morning to see Beth LIVE in Atlanta at the end of April!!!!!!!

My church bought about 50 tickets right up front and they went on sale last week. I didn't think I could go, but turns out, I can!! I was sooo nervous that they would be sold out, but there was one waiting with my name on it!

I saw on Caroline's blog today that a bunch of my favorite bloggers are going too, except they will be in the overflow seating. Maybe I'll bump into one or two of them! EXCITING!

So in keeping with their tradition. I did an excited pose too! Haha!


I kept on telling Matt that I couldn't BELIEVE that I was getting to go! I am thankful that he is just as excited for me! I just wish we could find him a male speaker/writer, that he likes as much as I love Beth!


Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within you is able to do far more than you would ever dare to ask or even dream of. Infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3:20-21

Backtracking a little bit...

Leaving school, Excited about the start of a very fun weekend!


Friday night was our Preview Party! It was a success, I got there early, around 5ish and worked the auction tables at the front door for about 2 hours. Then Matt and I ate our dinner. Dinner was really good, steak and baked potato, and then the doors opened to look at all the stuff. We stayed a little over an hour and socialized, looked around a bit, and then came home. I had to go back up there around 7:15 the next morning so I knew after a full day of teaching that I needed some rest. I didn't think to take any pictures until we got home. Here we are just hanging out upstairs. Blakely and I, that is.


Saturday morning came, I had a huge cup of coffee, and I was off. When I got there, tons of people were already lined up at the doors. We did a quick clean up of beer and wine that people had set on random shelves during the preview party, and then the doors opened.

Right before the doors opened.


We worked the women's section for a few hours. I saw lots of familiar faces, and then someone made a run to Whataburger to get us honey chicken biscuits and large diet cokes. Oh my, it was so good.

Here is a picture of us standing around during the sale. We obviously were not aware that our pic was being taken. Someone also took a really great picture of the morning shift provisionals, but I'm waiting for them to post it on facebook or e-mail it to me.


After our shift was over, four of us went to Grassroots coffee. I drove us all and got the best caramel swirl coffee. Then I dropped them back at the fairgrounds and met Matt to get my car washed. We usually do it our selves but it has been too cold lately.

Here is a picture of us running a few errands downtown, and waiting on my tahoe to get finished.


After that we went home to get ready, and headed to Valdosta. Here I am soooo excited about our plans!


My childhood friend, Katie, had a wedding shower at Stone Creek Country Club. We had appetizers and just caught up. I was excited to see Katie, Nick, and my friends from college, Amy and her husband John, and a few other high school and college friends as well. It was so good to see everyone. I can't wait to see them all more as we get closer to the wedding.






Now, finally Sunday, we watched my sweet Abby get baptized this morning at church. This is a horrible pic taken with Matt's phone. But we will always cherish the memory. Her dad, sister, cousins, grandparents, and aunts and uncles are sittinging in front of us.


We are getting ready to watch the Superbowl with pizza and dip. We don't care which team wins. We were excited because this is the first time that we ordered pizza in our new house, so we turned on the porch lights and got ready for the pizza guy to come up our walkway!! Also, it is the first time that we get to watch the superbowl on our flat screen tv! It's the little things...

Our pastor spoke about this scripture this morning.

Acts 2:44-47
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Love is in the air...

1 day until BB Preview Party. Love has definitely been in the air. I spent hours out at the fairgrounds the past 2 nights and I am officially exhausted.

Here are some of my favorite memories so far.

*I've met some new friends! I love meeting new people!

*The time actually flies by when you're having fun...talking, laughing, and hanging up clothes/moving racks.

*I love how all the kids are riding scooters and bikes around the fairgrounds. It is pure craziness. Some people might get a little stressed about it, but it is funny to me.

*They brought in Homecoming for supper tonight (fried pickles, chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp, cheese grits) and chili last night. ICE COLD diet cokes in our JSL koozies.

*The radio blaring out country music.

*That some of the things that I donated ended up in the "Boutique" section!

*All of the top notch organization and organizers! A bunch of ladies that have OCD tendencies.

*People dropping off tons of stuff, and how everyone pitches in and gets everything moved, unpacked, and hung. I LOVE TEAMWORK!

I'm excited about experiencing the party tomorrow night! I'm also really excited about a 3 day weekend! I really will need an extra day!

On a sidenote: I did enjoy 30 minutes of pampering today. Nothing beats sitting in Jagged Edge in Madison Grove on a cloudy, windy day, surrounded by beauty supplies, listening to David Crowder, and getting a haircut. PERFECT and relaxing! I picked up OPI's Dutch Tulips and Big Apple Red...two shades perfect for Valentine's Day and Bargain Bazaar! EXCITING!

Psalm 145: 18-19
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.