Merry Christmas! Okay, a bit late......

What's new

Man, I need to get a new hobby.....oh wait nevermind, I stink at this one. Sorry to all my avid readers out there (all one of you). Okay, what's new?? Justin is the most awesome husband ever sheerly due to the fact that he is letting me get a new Entertainment Center (finally!) AND a new dining table and chair set for Christmas!! I've already ordered the entertainment center, it should be here shortly. But I came across a bit of a problem when it came to picking my new table set. It seems that deep down I am extremely phsyco about certain things and I dream up these weird pictures in my head of what I want, only to find that it does not exist.........anywhere! So because of my weirdness, I am getting my fairytale table made somewhere in Montgomery. Hope it turns out good =).

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We got to spend the day with Charlie and Rachel and shoved ourselves full of every good food imaginable. (I literally mean SHOVED, I almost died!........Long story, I'll tell ya later). Since Justin's mom was going to Jacksonville to hang out with Jo and james on Turkey day, we had thanksgiving dinner with her earlier that week, which just stretched out our stomach real good for the big day. As if that was enough, we then headed to Bama for my family's celebration. Since all but one of the 8 siblings in my family are married, my mom decided to move our thanksgiving celebration to the Saturday after....so everyone could spend the real day with the in-laws and none of us would miss out on seeing each other. I really really love that! My mom's the best!

Let's see, what else? Oh, after Thanksgiving my high school girl's bible study met for the last time of our 12 week session. It was sad, but I truly love those girls with my whole heart. I would do absolutely anything to see to it that they make good decisions in their lives, I want to save them from any pain, or mistakes. But, I know you have to let them be their own person and hope they eventually come back to the truth that you planted in them. Listen to me, I sound like their mother! Well, a mother couldn't love them more than I do! They are the apples of my eye. As a Christmas/end of the study gift I made them all headband thingys. It's this new obsession I have, making these headbands. Here are a few pictures modeling my crafts, and a few more from our first few sessions.

Okay, so not to change the subject but Justin and I are seriously considering buying some land in Stonebrook (you know, while prices are low). Then we figure when the market goes back up, we can sell our house and build on the land. Pray for that decision, we aren't sure what we want to do yet.

On to more important topics. My new love Megan Whitaker has officially opened her interior design store. It's call "Inside the Home" here in Pace. If any of you are ever in the area you should totally stop by, it's the cutest place! You're welcome Megan for the free PR.

Alright, I'm a little everywhere with my thoughts right now so I will leave you with two phrases that made me think this week:
One's from Mom Wow (Jus's mom) - "Sin makes you stupid, you can hide the sin, but the stupidity eventually shows itself."
And the other I just heard randomly on TV - "Nowhere in the bible does it tell us to fight against the sin of this world....no, it tells us to run from it" So in essence, run from sin cause it makes you stupid.........

Halloween and Marriage!

Alrighty, Halloween was a blast. Other than the fact that our pumpkins that we slaved and sweated over crinkled, withered, smushed, and grew hairy mold after 2 days!!! Oh well, it's the thought that counts right?

I'm so glad we live in a cool neighborhood with tons of kids. Toby came over as her hillbilly, bucked teeth, big butted self and we set up our station on my front porch. I bought more candy than an army of crazy little ghosts and goblins could ever want. Purely for the sheer joy of being able to say, "take as much as you want" to the kiddies and seeing their faces light up with sugar high dreams! Oh and they did! I was a knockout for halloween this year, no really a KNOCKOUT......

Scary I know! Well I'm sure most of you enjoyed Prissy's first Halloween costume we modeled in our previous post. But due to the fact that she stands completely still when she is dressed as wonder woman (i think it has something to do with the insane stuffed arms that are not usually present in day to day life), we decided to wear her backup outfit on the actual halloween night. (what, you know your dog has more than one costume..........right?) haha, a girl can't wear just one dress to the party huh? so I now present to you Paris Hilton in all her glory.......

Yeah her glasses are called Doggles, made for dogs, them suckers won't come off if she shakes to the tenth power! Her boyfriend Louie has his studded Leather jacket too, I figured we could call him Colin Farrel, or any of the Hollywood bad boys. Paris needs a date ya know. Anyway, I loved sitting out there for hours talking to all the kids, even if we couldn't understand what they were saying. A lot of the teachers that I work with also live in our subdivision so I got to see them and all their kids. Justin decided he fervently enjoyed his Freddie Kruger mask last year and though we tried to find another scary mask that would be just as fun, we did not succeed. He went with what worked I guess. It was the funniest when Toby and I finally came back inside and just left the huge bucket of candy on the porch, hoping the last little trick or treaters would just grab what was left..........we would hear little voices at the door, then squeals of joy when they realized no one was there to supervise which granted permission to dump the whole thing into their respective baggies. Right at that moment, when they thought they were getting away with all the goodies......justin would open the door (in his business suit and a Freddie Kruger mask) and scare the daylights out of them. hahahhaa

Well, while Halloween was tons of fun, I have other big news to share. Sharry is married!! yay! Yes, this weekend we traveled to Bama and participated in all the wedding festivities. The wedding went off without a hitch. It was beautiful and lots of fun. We got my mom to do the Macarena (sp?), and Josh (the groom) to do the cha cha slide..........Note to self: Josh needs Cha cha lessons after the honeymoon. I'm an idiot and didn't take any pictures with my own camera, so I will have to depend on others and the photographer to give me some........I'll be sure to post them then!

Pictures finally!

So I basically dropped off the face of the blogger planet for a while there. But I am proud to announce that my spaceship has officially landed safely in the backyard of our wonderful love nest. Oh the many things I have deprived my readers of let me count them one by one:

1. Jeff and Laura finally gave the world a beautiful baby boy, whom I am now obessesed with......Lane Micheal. Seriously too cute.

2. We had fall break at the beginning of October. Justin's family rented an out of this world beach house down at Grayton Beach. We had the most amazing room with a balcony that opened right up to the water every morning. And for once Justin and I actually watched the sunrise together (usually we don't even roll over for the first time that early in the morning)

3. then I came home to go to Ashley's bridesmaid's luncheon at Norma's, yum, yum.

4. Then it was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at Hemingways which was tons of fun. I learned that Hambone has the most family of anyone on the planet....including me!

5. And we can't forget about the awesome wedding that followed. So much fun! Ash was gorgeous and I'm glad I got to stay for the whole reception!

6. I went to Bama to throw Sharry (my sis) the most slammin' lingerie shower of all times! She was thoroughly embarrassed by the sexy firegirl outfit Brandy and I got for her.......but I made sure to show that one to Josh so she can't hide it come honeymoon time. I'm evil, I know it. Anyway, this is my 2 year old husband wrestling with my neices and nephews.....they love him.

7. I celebrated my 24th birthday! I had to go to school and teach the kiddies but I had an awesome surprise when a child with a huge arrangement of flowers for a head burst into my 3rd block class. So sweet, yet, I was consumed with the thought that that kid was so friggin cool for not falling as he walked blindly from the front office all the way to the math building. I got roses and lillies, my favorite. Funny, how he knew. I mean, I guess not so funny being that he IS my husband. But we take for granted how much we know about each other. No other man probably really knows what kind of flowers I like........I'm glad.

8. The next day Audge and I hit up Portofino where I fell in love with a woman named Susan, my massage therapist. Wow, how did I go my whole life without visiting this place. The pure relaxation, the elixars (sp?), the pedicures, the massages, the sauna, the cool little robes and slippers you walk around in...........man, if it were a country club, I would join! After our 5 hour excursion I came home and got ready for a night with my love. We started by particiapating in our annual pumpkin carving. I tried to be all ellaborate and carve "Trick or Treat" on my pumpki while Justin took a whopin' 5 minutes to carve your traditional pumpkin face. Then we went to Jackson's. I had never been and was kind of scared because hoity toity places never have food that I like. But man was I wrong?? It was fabulous! Justin introduced me to two very expensive habits this weekend.........he'll regret that!

9. And yes, Megan and I participated in Pet Smarts "Howl-O-Ween" pictures. But I will be glad to say that there are many other obsessive dog owners out there, hundreds of them who are willing to humilate their pups for a laugh and a picture. Even wierd old guys.

So anyway, that is all I can think of for now. I go back and edit this thing tomorrow with all the pictures!

Pictures from our weekend in BAMA!

Here is my sweet little Tatum playing with Prissy. She just kept cracking up laughing/hyperventilating
Sharry and Josh, we had so much fun at their shower. Well, when everyone finally finished listening to the Auburn game on the radio in the back...
This is Cory. He decided he needed to ride the eagle statue outside the Plantaion House resturant. After church Jeff decked the boys out in their camo before we went to lunch... my family doesn't always wear camo.
Me and my baby girl sittin' on mom's couch
Isn't he adorable......you know he makes you wanna smile...
Although I am not smiling when I realize he can't take a serious picture. Really Justin, what is that anyway?
The three amigos. These are Brandy's boys. Ain't they the cutest!
Cory ridin' his Grannie's/my mom's back
My adorable puddin pop! You can't say that isn't the most adorable little girl.
I didn't get to see KC's kids this trip but I'll post some pictures of them next time. And although I got to see Kathleen (Tim's little girl) I don't have any pictures of her, dangit. This weekend was fun. I'll have to write a blog about it when I get a minute.

God and Man

So some of you may have seen this painting before, it is by Michaelangelo and it resides on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Well, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel actually is a huge amazing work of art and this picture is just a small small piece of it. This little piece by itself is called "Creation". If you were to zoom out a bit more you would see that the two hands in the picture belong to God and man. God is the one on the right and man the one on the left. I now have a HUGE version of this in my dining room and I LOVE it. It's an amazing piece of art but it has so much more meaning than that to me. Okay so to most, just thinking about an Almightly God taking the time to create and form man in his exact image, well that's an act of love in itself. But as Justin and I were measuring, hanging, and admiring the beauty of my new piece of art, I really looked at it. Look at the hands here, the one belonging to God is out stretched, in fact in the bigger version of the picture you actually see God leaning as far as he can, if he were to lean anymore it looks as though he might fall right out of heaven, but he's trying his hardest. And man, is sitting comfortably (actually leaning back against a rock). Yes, he does have his hand reaching too, I mean, he does acknowledge that God is there, but he seems as though his effort isn't as great. Kinda like he's waiting for God to reach down and touch him and if he would only reach an inch farther for himself, their hands would meet. That is a visual representation of the christian walk with God. Yes, we acknowledge that God is there, that he exists and we pat ourselves on the back because we have our hand lifted toward him in a half-hearted effort. "Well, that's more than most," we think to ourselves. Meanwhile the almighty creator of the universe is struggling with all his heart to get our attention, urning for us to put just a little bit more effort into it. But this means we would have to give up our position on our comfortable little rock, we might even be put in a position that is "God-forbid" uncomfortable... It's so easy to say to Adam in the picture, reach a little further, come on just do it. Yet so hard for me to look in the mirror at myself and say, get out of your comfort zone, do something daring for Christ, show him you want to reach him as bad as he wants to reach you. Today I had to deal with a loss that I wish on no one. One of my precious lovlies passed away. Kathryn Renella was in my 4th block math class and was killed in a car accident this weekend. She was the ham of the class, couldn't close that mouth of hers for anything. And I loved her. Funny how my love can grow for students I have only had for a little over a month now. But, it's kind of like I am their substitute mother for an hour and a half everyday. You just think of them as your own. I love them all. It's hard to show that to a child when your trying to keep up the "mean" teacher act. I hope they all know deep down how much I love them. And I regret not getting to ever really get to know Kathryn. But in the month I did know her, she made me laugh. Something we don't take enough time to do. She made me. We were all just joking on Friday how loud class was going to be again now that she had gotten her voice back (she had laryngitis for a week). She was only 15. I'll miss her, this is something I don't believe you ever truly get over nor understand but, it brings back to memory a blog a posted a while ago...."Why do bad things happen to good people?" So I think it is appropriate that I post that blog again...

"Why do Bad things happen to good people??"
So, by the title of this blog one would think that I must have recently gone through something bad. No, not at all. But for some reason everything I read about lately seems to be dealing with that issue. And not surprisingly, I opened up to prepare the Sunday school lesson and what was the title?? “If God loves us, why does he allow us to suffer?” So I figured I would just write and see what comes out. It doesn’t seem fair, if you think about it. If I really try to live my life right, do all the things God requires of me, I should be safe from harm, and suffering. But, if that were true then wouldn’t I just be living right and following God to keep myself from bad things?? Instead of actually living this way in order to please God and show him I love him. It is easy for me to be faithful when things are all good, when the sun is shining on face and life is right. But is that true faith? If I compare it to the most important human relationship I know, that with my husband, I can see that it is ludacris for me to live my faith like this. For example, what if my husband only loved me when I cooked well, cleaned spotlessly, and loved flawlessly. That wouldn’t be true love, in fact, it would be non-existent love, because I never do everything perfectly. No, but when he hugs me even when I bring home McDonalds for the umpteenth time, and he smiles at me even though my stuff is scattered all over HIS sink in the bathroom, and he gives me a sweet little “I love you” even when I am over-reacting to something small he has done, THAT is when I truly see his love for me. Unconditional love really is the only kind of love that exists, anything else doesn’t qualify to be called love. Much like the story of Job, it is so inspiring. Job is, to me, the truest example of an unconditional faith. Satan himself saw how dedicated Job was to his God and approached Jesus personally. He proclaimed that Job is only so faithful because he has so much, if God would only let Satan throw him some curve balls, Job would fall in his devotion. We would hope that Jesus would then say, “No you will not mess with him, he’s my baby!” But then Satan would win you see, because he would always have the power to proclaim that we only love God because he gives us good things………. But instead Jesus said, “No, I have faith that Job loves me, he is strong for me, throw whatever you want at him, and he will not falter!” I want him to have that much faith in me, and I want to stand under the challenge like Job. Yeah, it’s easy to love and praise and trust in our God when things are peachy, but again, this is love not tested, praise not battered, and trust not trialed. It is when we are in our valleys, when we have hit rock bottom, that our devotion is truly shown. When I am walking through the wilderness, do I trust him then, to “work all things to the good of those who love him”. When I can’t see the light at the end, do I still count on him to lead me through the tunnel?? That is the only way to show true trust. Is any of this making sense. If God gave us the promise that Christians would be saved from all suffering……..don’t you think that everyone would become Christians purely for this benefit…….yet then the focus is “what can I get”, it becomes a self-serving purpose for getting saved. My Christ would not feel loved by this. We would not be choosing him, but choosing “non-suffering”. But it is when my grandma dies and I can proclaim, “It is all part of your good and perfect plan, your glory is worth our sacrifice!” It is when I lose my job and I can say, “You know the plans you have for me lord, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a future”. It’s when I can feel the bitter cold of loneliness to the depths of my bones and it seems that I am at the bottom of everyone’s list and I can smile and say, “The lord is my joy and my strength, I will base me life not on fading lights, but on an everlasting one.” It is then and only then that he feels my love and devotion to him. By not letting “suffering” differentiate the Christian life from the non-Christian life, Christ is ensuring that we are indeed choosing him only because he is our Lord, not for any benefit we can gain. Isn’t heaven a gift enough, isn’t joy for now a gift enough, yet I have the audacity to ask God why, why can’t I be rich, why can’t I be saved from the perils of life. How can I ask for more than Jesus asked for himself. He certainly wasn’t saved from any perils. Who am I? So, the point I guess is……bad things will happen to good people. But it is Romans 8:18 that sheds some perspective on this for me, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” This is heaven people! We could pile up the hardest most persevering times in our lives, throw cancer on there, throw death on there, through break-ups on there, throw rejection, abuse, disappointment, persecution, every bad thing on that pile and it is not even WORTH comparing to the glory he will reveal to us in that day. That makes my soul jump for joy, literally inside my body, it’s jumping! Haha! And before Paul was finished with this little speech he added verses 24 and 25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have we wait for it patiently.” So our hardships here on earth will give us an even greater hope for heaven. If he were to give us a perfect life here, what would we have to hope for??? But instead we get to wait for it patiently and anticipate the day we will have no suffering, the day when only GOOD things happen to good people!

Picture to Prove it!

Hey hey, I finally was able to get my phone to send these pictures so, they will be a bit blurry and not of the utmost quality but hey, at least they're pictures!

Sensory overload...

Wow, I feel like I haven't posted a REAL blog in FOREVER. And I guess I really haven't. In no way will I be able to recap all that has happened over the last few weeks but gosh darnit, I'll try!

So I became a school teacher, I believe that's where I left off.........
I'm loving the whole teaching thing. Well, I love it when I am actually able to teach someone something, you know, just by giving them that tiny bit of knowledge that day, I've made them a better person, just a little bit more prepared to face life. And when you finally put all those little bits together, you have some pretty smart kids. The only thing I don't like so much about teaching is having to be mean. I hate being mean. But I've learned the hard way that nice teachers get taken advantage of. I end up yelling a lot more when I let them get away with little things..........so I have to start nipping those little things in the bud from now on. Pray for my meaness to come through! =)

Ok other than that, early last month Audge finally returned from CIY for the summer. I was so excited to see her. I really do love that girl! We got to chill at the beach and hang out around my house. It was a much needed roomate reunion. During which we decided that for our birth month (October, our birthdays are much too important to merely celebrate one lousy day) we are going to spend an entire day at the Portofino spa.....and get the WORKS!!! Can you imagine how stinking fun that is gonna be. Justin (financial backer)is in support of this idea so, it looks like it's a go! SWEET!
Not long after Audge got in Jill also drove down for the weekend. Plus my sweet little Ashley! So Jill, Tori and I threw Ash a bridal shower which was so fun. It turned out great and we are seriously the BEST cake decorators of all time. That night we all gathered for a little cookout at Kristi and Ruco's to celebrate Jillian's golden birthday. And then unfortunately Jill and Ash had to leave town the very next morning =(

So then that next Friday was Pace's little kickoff classic game. It was a jamboree type game where all the teams got to play a quarter or two. It made me realize how much I miss and LOVE high school football. The lights, the smells, the cheerleaders, the annoying guy in the stands right behind you with an air-horn.......yeah, all that! Toby, Kurt, Dallas, Megan and Tucker accompanied us and cheered on our Patriots. The game itself wasn't the most interesting (we won) but mine and Megan's adventures around the field were quite a hoot. Note to self: go to the bathroom BEFORE you go to the Pace game........Meg and I decided we needed to go and as we walked through the 100 degree heat outside we soon realized that an enclosed, non air-conditioned bathroom full of 12 or so colorguard girls is 120 degrees! Regardless we took our place in our respective stalls only for me to hear Megan calling for me. I barely heard her over the screams and yells of the hyperactive girls but I quickly realized she need toilet paper. I felt her pain and so I tried my hardest to pull up my pants and get to her. Well, blue jeans don't really just slide on up that easily when you are sweating to the 10th power, so it took me a while, a long while to even leave my own stall. But I did eventually come to the rescue and we made it safely out of there with a covenant never to go in again.

Speaking of Megan, I stinking LOVE her! It's scary how alike we are. We just laugh hysterically all the friggin time. She's a cute little blonde primp with a yorkie (imagine that) name Louie who is now offically Prissy's boyfriend!
Okay so when I'm not arranging playdates with Prissy and Louie, I've started a bible study for high school girls at my house at 7 on Tuesday nights. Wow, it is going fabulously! The girls are loving it, I'm so happy, I knew this was a good video series we were doing, but goodness, these girls are calling me and emailing me off the hook in between lessons to get more information. Plus, more girls have come every Tuesday, it's growing so well. It really makes my heart smile to think that even one of them will make the right decisions in their dating life, and partake in the overflowing blessings God gives with it! (Stop and say a little prayer for this bible study if you don't mind, God is doing amazing things!)

Okay so then somewhere in the midst of all that little Jen Johnson got married (that's audrey's sis). It was a beautiful wedding and me, Tori and Danielle got to spend some time together. It kind of reminded me of freshman year at FSU when I first met those girls. Danielle is so much fun. I forgot that. She makes me laugh, I'll have to keep in touch with her better. So that same night Justin had all the youth guys over for their monthly bashing party, UFC that is. They stay up and fight until the wee hours of the morn and then crash in our living room until we wake them up the next morning and drag them to church, it's a well oiled machine.

Alright, then we had another Pace football game which was 10 times better than the little jamboree thing we had. It was a full-fledged blown out GAME. We won yet again, and I just love seeing my kiddies walking around fully painted in red white and blue, rootin' on the Patriots. I'm prepared for next game with my Pace Football tee that I personally dolled up with rhinestones! Oh yeah, and the pep rally was AWESOME, I miss those too.

And that brings us to this week, yay, I knew we'd get here soon enough. So Monday was labor day, Thank God. Jus and I we're bored so we just jumped in the car and basically drove around looking for fun places to stop, we hit the usual hot spots like Wal-mart and Home Depot, Waffle house, etc. Then we came back home and took a nap. I think the best time we spend together is napping, is that sad. I just love napping with that kid. But the nap didn't last long cause everybody started showing up at our door to watch the Florida State/Miami game (which we, of course, WON!) Kurt, toby, Dallas, Megan, Tucker, Laura and Jeff all packed themselves in to enjoy the festivities. Keep Laura, Jeff and little Lane (their baby to be) in your prayers, she has been experiencing pre-labor pains and contractions. Luckily, they are in the clear after this Saturday, and hopefully little Lane will be here so I can be his God mother, I have yet to inform Laura that I WILL be his god mother and shower him with gifts and affection!

Tonight Megan and I decided we wanted to join the Olive Baptist choir. So we tromped our little paths into the practice, announced our presence and then realized this thing was two hours long rather than one like we thought. We didn't know any of the songs and actually giggled more than we sang. I think we will try it again next week, but things aren't looking to bright for us + the choir. I think they should give us our duet singing "Does he love you" by Reba MacEntire and be done with it!

Love you all and miss those of you whom I don't get to see very often =(

Awesome song

I was sure by now,
God You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again,
I say amen
and it's still raining
but as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn...
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone
how can I carry on
if I can't find You
but as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
and takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn...
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn...
I will praise You in this storm


I don't really feel that I am going through a "storm" right now in my life but this song was sang at church on Sunday and I just love it. I think it's better sometimes if we commit to attitude like this BEFORE we go through the hard times.........cause once you're already in them you are at a place of weakness. Then it is hard to make the right decision. So any of you out there in Blogger land who are struggling with something difficult in life, take heart, he is still king and he is still in control......Prais him through this storm and he promises......"This too shall pass......."

shake-n-bake baby!

Just thought I would post this picture to explain to the world why my husband and dog are perfect for each other. This is Justin repeatedly making "waves" in the comforter because he knows that Prissy will attack each and every one. At the sight of which he laughs histerically...........okay, so I have to admit, I laugh histerically too. Partly due to the fact that it's funny and partly because I love my coo-coo boo!

(Oh yeah, I had to draw shorts on him cause he was in his skibbies!) =)

"Wa wa wa, wa wa wa, wa wa" ~Charlie Brown's Teacher

In case you didn't know, I'm SO a teacher now! What the heck, who'd a thunk it?? Yep, I officially started school this week and I absolutely LOVE it. I love when I try my hardest to explain something to a kid and I actually get to see the look of confusion melt off their little faces. I just cherish that feeling. I love being able to plan my own days, and control my own classroom. I love being able to be a strict, get-down-to-business type teacher one minute and then bustin' out with my ghetto voice the next minute........I like it even better when they all laugh. Every day that I have come home from work I've had a new story to tell....a story about something a kid did, or something new I learned, there really IS something new every day. Like for instance, I'm standing in my first period class, just waiting for the tardy bell to ring and this cute little blonde girl walks in (to talk to another teacher that was in the room). After she stares at me for a while she finally says, "Are you a teacher here?" To which I replied, "Yes". "Well, what's your name?", "Mrs. Tyner". "Well, did it used to be Ms. Shirley??"

You are probably thinking the same thing I was at this moment........How the heck does this kid know my maiden name? After I told her she was right she proceeded to freak out for the next ten minutes as I tried to get this mystery solved. Finally she informed me that when I was a sophomore in college that I came to her church, when she was in 7th grade (now she is a senior) and led a Disciple Now bible studdy weekend with her and her friends! How stinkin' weird??? And you know how she remembered my name all these years?? It just so happens that I made up a song about myself (apparently) and she remembered all the words!! This "song" had my name in it. (leave it to me to make up a stupid song about myself and then burn it into the impressionable minds of young children) Needless to say, it was the highlight of my day.
I know i'm still in the "honeymoon" stage I guess, but for now, I'm enjoying it. Who knows, next week I might just be picking spit balls out of my hair??

In other news, I got my Scoliosis scan done on my back and will get the results soon.........lets pray that a little physical therapy will make me all better and we won't need any of that surgery stuff.......

My Audge comes home this week and I absolutely cannot wait to see her! Love you Audge!

Here are some pictures from our fun trip to Fast Eddies. After a couple rides me and Toby decided to take our rightful place as spectators, our arms hurt from steering so hard. Hey, I never claimed to be SheRa........oh wait except when I was 5 and used to carry my SheRa sword around in my diaper, pulling it out at the slightest sign of danger. But other than then.........

Anyway, I decided boys are just crazy, especially when it comes to go-carts, video games, athletic events, oh yeah and life in general =) Justin, Kurt, Matt V., and Kirk were out for blood. It was quite entertaining to watch. But even with all the viciousness, Jus still managed to give a little sign of affection to the crowd.

Ok so this week has been filled with teacher type stuff, meaning my hand has a permenant cramping from all the paperwork I've had to do.....and yet I still have more! scary! I've spent the last week going to "new teacher" conferences and learning everything I need to know to start off my first school year........so why do I feel like I know absolutely nothing?? haha, well, I guess the only preparation is to get in there and do it, so I will. I'm sure my first few weeks will be full of spit balls and writing lines on the board, but either way, I'm excited! I had to take my Math subject area test on Saturday to complete my certification. This thing was no joke. I'm talking Calculus 2 material and all! I had to dig deep to remember some of those formulas that I thought I had properly disposed of somewhere in my brain, but I think I actually did ok. The guys sitting next to me was a trip. We chit chatted a while while the 90 year old lady in charge walked up to each and every chair 20 times handing out respective materials. I tried to make conversation to make the time go by faster so I asked a simple question, or so I thought, "If we finish before time is up, are we supposed to stay seated or leave the room?" To which he replied, "I'll have you know, I'll still be sitting here when time is up........" All I could do was bust out laughing at the guy. I guess it was pretty cocky to assume I may be finished with time to spare, but it turns out i did! So Nah to you snippy guy! Anyway, I was glad to get that over with. And I needed some relaxation. Luckily Jeff and Laura (she's the pregnant one in the pictures) invited us all over to their house to hang out and play Cranium. I love our new sunday school class. We've gotten to meet so many awesome couples through it. Jeff and Laura have joined our Thursday night bowling group too! Hopefully, we can get everyone going, how fun!

So tomorrow, I start school. Luckily I'll have this next week to prepare and gather knowledge from the other teachers before I actually have to handle the children. Wish me luck!

Where he leads me, I will follow

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - "26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him."

Okay so this teaching thing is scary for me, but for some reason I feel more confindent starting this career, with absolutely no knowledge or experience, than I have been in starting any computer job I've had. Weird I know! So i think I finally figured out why.........God does not call the equipped, he equips the called! Lord knows he definitely didn't call me because of my stellar teaching abilities or great background in the field, but instead, just like the verse above says, he called me (a lowly unqualified newbie) so that when he makes an amazing teacher out of me, we'll all know it was only by HIS power, not anything I could do. This way the world can see that he is making something of me that I couldn't have made of myself. It's the same way he offers us salvation and love. I'm not loved by God because I am valuable, but instead, I'm valuable only because I am loved by God! He wants me just as I am, all my mess ups and mistakes and things I could and should fix in my life. He offers ME love and salvation just like he offers Billy Graham. That's true unconditional love. It's hard to imagine that because there are little to know true examples of it on this earth today, it's human nature to be conditional. It's hard to believe that someone who knows my every deepest thoughts and faults would still think I'm worth it all. But, again my doubt is baseless. Even the disciples themselves had their sinful ways about them. Yep, although I think of them as these "Holier than thou" types, they were actually just as messed up as the rest of us. Peter was loud, obnoxious and often put his foot in his mouth, John and James were repeatedly shown as hot-headed and let their tempers get the best of them, and Paul (who was formerly known as Saul) was the worst persecutor and murderer of Christians before he was converted! If he can transform those guys into the amazing missionaries and pillars of our faith that they turned out to be........I'm anxious to see what he will make out of me. As I go into this new career I'm vowing to give him control. I'm walking into that school the first day as a missionary.............who just happens to teach Algebra.

Speaking of patriotic.....

Well, it finally happened. I got called into Frank Lay's office this morning and he offered me the Algebra Teacher position at Pace High! Yayyy! I'm so a teacher now!

My God is so amazing. He provides everything I need. For instance, let's rewind to the beginning of this whole scenario. As many of you know, I was working at a software company, anxiously wanting to quit. And due to the fact that Justin was given a huge promotion to Outside sales in his company, I was able to. I was able to lay low for a few months while I figured out just exactly it was that I wanted to do. That was nothing but sheer blessing from above, just that time that gave me clarity. Well, I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher and I felt very strongly that I could do it but, at this point I was NOT willing to go back to school. Although, I was sure that I would have to, being that my degree is in Computer Science and not Education. So I kind of put that idea on the back burner. But for some reason (the conviction of the Holy Spirit) the thought kept coming up again, over and over. So finally I checked it out, and it turns out that God provided for me once again. With my degree I had every single class I needed to be a Computer science or Math teacher (since I have a math minor). Woah! I was not expecting that, you mean I wouldn't have to go back to school??? Wow, I'm in! So I started the application process. What some of you don't know is that in the middle of it Justin and I sat down and talked for a while. We discussed the issue of starting a family. Well, not right at the moment, but, in the next couple of years. So, would it be fair to accept a teaching job and then get pregnant and have to quit after the first year or two?? Would that be a tacky thing to do?? We decided that maybe we should put the teaching thing on hold. So I stopped the application process, kind of halfway through. Not even a week later I had a message on my answering machine that Mr. Lay wanted to interview me for a new math position that opened up...........WHAT?? I hadn't even put in my application with the board, in fact, I hadn't done really anything. I remembered that I had mentioned to him at church one Sunday that I was interested in pursuing teaching and asked for his direction on getting started. Never did I imagine it would be that little encounter that got everything going. So I must say that when Jus and I did too much thinking on our own, God stepped in and said, "No ma'am, here is what you are going to do". I love that. I need that. My Jesus knows me better than I know myself. He knows that I second guess every decision I've ever made. So, for him to provide a straight and narrow way for me in this situation is all the gift in the world! Praise the Lord. I know I wouldn't have done this on my own. Okay so here is where it gets funny.......the same day I got the call from Pace High, Justin comes home and tells me that he thinks I should still apply for a teaching position. Yep, he decided that putting that dream on hold would just be plain silly. We should live life for now and worry about babies and what not when they get here. I agree! So now I am in the fingerprinting, drug testing process and basically have to start my teaching duties and workshops in like 3 days or something!! ahhhhhhhhhh! I'm really nervous but oh so excited.

So here are the details. I'm teaching Algebra A the first semester. That means I teach three classes of the same exact material and then have a planning period. This means I only have to prepare one lesson a day, instead of 3 like most people! Wow, how lucky am I. Then, in the second semester I am teaching Algebra A and Algebra B. The A class (which I will have already prepared for the previous semester) is for those poor students who didn't quite make it through my class the first time. And the B kids will be those who did. Okay so now for the bad news, I'm a floater.....meaning I don't have my own classroom yet, YIKES! But being the new kid, I have to pay my dues. Although being a floater does have it's perks, I get a laptop!

Tonight, Justin and I are going out to celebrate! Go PATRIOTS!

Late, as usual

Happy 4th.........oh wait, too late! Sorry bout that =(

So Independence Day was swell I'd say. A bunch of us got together at Kurt and Toby's to cook out on the grill, the girls talked "girl stuff" while the boys threw the football around and played woofle ball with a tennis racket (who knew it went so much farther with a racket?) I giggled at Jeremy and Kristen's two year old who was running through the sprinkler and laughing histerically each time it spun around and hit him....I could watch that all day. Not to mention that he wanted to continually talk about his new favorite movie, Cars. Except the fact that he pronounces his "tr" sounds like "f" instead..........so it was quite hilarious to hear him talk about the "tr"uck in the movie. hahha, I bet Kristen has a good time with that one in the grocery store!

Justin and I bought sparklers to enjoy but everyone assured me that they would be underappreciated if I lit them in broad daylight, "You should save them for tonight at the fireworks show." Okay so I did. Only to find out later that sparklers/all fireworks besides those being shot by the city of Pensacola were banned in Escambia county...CRAP! So I reluctantly left my Sparkers =( We all piled in the Yukon and headed to the fireworks show in downtown Pcola! Yay! Jus and I needed to stop at Walgreens and buy some chairs to sit in and a cooler full of drinks. Justin decided to go the cheap route and buy one of those styrofoam coolers which we still proceeded to fill with massive abouts of drink and ice. (this topic to be revisited)

So we all pull up at the fireworks show three hours early, Kristen informed us this was the way to get good parking and a good seat, so we did it. Gotta listen to those native Pcolians. As we are walking just chatting away, trying to keep up with Kristen's Dad who has taken his position of "Captain of the fireworks". The man can speed walk like no other and has no remorse if you are left behind, hahah. You could tell he was excited. Along the way you hear the horrible sound of breaking stryofoam and gushing ice on the sidewalk...........OH NO, poor Justin, I looked back only to see him standing sadly over our recent purchase. Kinda like a little kid, who didn't know how to put the cooler back together again.....so the Hudson's and the McGeHee's with their powers combined where able to make room for our drinks in their coolers and we were thankful. Finally we made it to our position in the grassy field overlooking the bay. We did what we could to waste the time before the fireworks started. And finally it was time. It was so beautiful that I wanted to take pictures of everyone, but the pictures SO do not look like the actual fireworks did. I've never been the most patriotic person, probably because I take my freedom for granted mostly. I love my country but I definitely take my freedoms for granted. But at that moment when they play all the great "America" songs, and the sky lights up and everyone just takes a minute to love our country........I'm patriotic. And so thankful for the troops overseas who are patriotic even when there aren't any fancy firework shows and great music. Okay okay, enough I know!

Well, the rest of the week and weekend flew by and I can't really remember what happened. Oh except for the fact that Justin is teaching me how to play golf. Yep I got some ladies clubs and all. I can see how the game would be tons of fun if you could actually hit the ball and make it go in somewhat the direction you wanted, which I couldn't. It's much harder to hit that little ball than to hit a softball or shoot a basketball, or do a toe-touch ya know.........but I will say that by the end of our first lesson I was definitely able to make contact with it 90% of the time, not saying it went very far (at all!) but hey, you gotta start somewhere. I hope that one day when we retire and live on a golf course somewhere, we can be the cute old couple that goes out and plays 9 holes together (because 18 would just be too much). And since I'm trying to learn one of Justin's hobbies, I am in the process of getting him to do something girly with me.......SALSA dancing! Oh yeah, I really just want to wear the high heels and flippy dress and look like i know what i am doing. He hasn't completely agreed but Toby has recently gotten Kurt to give in and I think Justin will soon follow suit. How fun!

Anyway, tonight we have Fast Eddies night. Justin's company rented out the whole place for all the employees and their families to go crazy! Go-Carts and basketball games, here i come!

Just wanted to post a picture of my favorite little girl!

Ain't she just the cutest!!!

Parents are fun =)

Well this week has been a good one. We did our usual everyday thing the first few days of the week and then things heated up towards the end. Thursday night was another pedicure party, but this one was even better cause it was at Kristi's new crib...which of course means that Kristi's crazy kin and soon to be kin (Marti) were there. Haha, I think that is the most anyone has ever laughed while doing pedicures. And next week Carol, Tori, Marti and I have a makeover date, my absolute favorites!!!

Then on Friday my mom and dad came to visit! yayyyyy! Daddy had never seen our house before and the last time mom had seen it, it was halfway painted. They loved it and we had so much fun just relaxing. Well, Justin and my dad relaxed while me and my mom SHOPPED........I guess some things never change?? Saturday we woke up and ate a big pancake breakfast and then me and mom headed out for what else..........shopping. We got the beads to make Sharry's bridesmaid jewelry (In case you didn't know, I'm the expert on bridesmaid jewelry, haha). We did some fun crafts which we hid from the boys until they were finished and unveiled them like the special-ed children we are. haha. I love doing crafts with my mom. It seems that we walk through a store, see an item and my mom proclaims, "We should get this and do _____with it." In normal life, she would say this and keep walking but, with our powers combined, I'm the one who gets excited about what she is suggesting and just HAVE to do it! So I actually force her to put her good ideas into action. It's a great team effort.
Saturday night we rented a movie and made mega nachos and all cuddled up on the couch to enjoy. It was great. And then there was this morning.

We taught the 10th graders in Sunday School, next Sunday is our last one with them =( We decided to join the new "young couples" class that started a couple weeks ago. I am beyond excited, we got to go to lunch with a lot of the couples last week and I loved them. Two of them are pregnant. And just today Matt and Elizabeth Arnold joined the class too! I really can't wait. I'll still get to teach my lovlies on Wednesday nights though. It's a new phase and I'm so happy for it.

So that brings us to the present time. I cooked mexican food for Justin and some of his buddies who wanted to have a Poker night, but then some of the guys canceled and now it's just "sit on the couch and be lazy night" with a little bit of "let's wrestle each other until our faces turn red night" too. As you can tell, I'm uber excited!

and the craziness continues.......

Okay so the deal went down. I am now the proud owner of a Yukon. Here are a few pictures I took to share my new bundle with the world.

I'm slowly getting used to it. Granted there are a few times this last week when I just miss riding in my cute little solstice, but, hey, it's just a car right?? Plus I KNOW my passengers will much appreciate the room, comfort, and entertainment of the Yukon more than the Solstice for sure. haha.

On another note, I had my first interview for a math teacher position at Pace high school on Tuesday. I'm really excited and nervous. It would be just perfect for me it seems. The school is seriously 2 minutes from my house, my hours would be 7-2, and I get to teach kiddies all day. Well, not little kiddies, 9th and 10th graders.......but kiddies none the less. I've really and truly but this thing up to God though. If it doesn't work out I will be VERY set back in pursuing my teaching career (because this is the position I would have chosen could i choose) but I really am confident everything will work out for my best, really really!

This week has been busy, especially for Justin. It's the semi-annual inventory at Ferguson. Each time they have inventory they work into the late hours of the night for like 3 weeks straight, and weekends!! So us Ferguson widows (the staff wives) get together and chill while all our husbands are gone. So last night me and AnnMarie went over to Lanni's house for a Sushi dinner and girl talk session. Yes, they took my Sushi virginity.......and I actually like it! Imagine Alabama eatin' sushi?? We had so much fun, I love those chicks, so cute!

Plus this week has been so much fun actually getting to hang with Ash while she has been in town. I miss all the wedding planning stuff. It's so fun and she is as giddy as it gets. Plus is stinkin' love her mom, do moms get any cuter?? I got to steal Tor away from her busy schedule a couple times too so overall, it was a good week.

Okay well I have a Mary Kay party to go to now so I'll talk to you all later!

Your invited........

........to the going away party for THE SOLSTICE, my baby=( Today we will be saying goodbye to my one true friend and sending on her way (to somewhere in freakin' Arizona where someone will make her a happy happy home I'm sure) And in her place will roll the most opposite vehicle out there (with the exceptance of the H2, which my husband thoroughly considered), the YUKON. This thing is stinkin humongous! I am sure that me and my future children will be perfectly safe in it, but as for all you other people on the roads of pensacola.........beware! How can you put me in the smallest car known to man, with 2 cubic feet of sitting room, into an SUV (in which I believe I can ride next to a few high flying birds) with 5000 cubic feet of space?? Oh well, it will take some getting used to I guess. And even though the Yukon wouldn't be my first pick of vehicle (because the Solstice would dangit!) haha, you can't help but feel that Xzibit had some part in designing this one. It's totally pimped! Well not with the glow in the dark paint job, or flashing front grill or anything but it does have the most amazing interior. We got beautiful tan leather interior, full DVD system with drop down monitor, bose sound system with six disk CD changer (which is in the front dash, I'd never seen a six disk in the front dash, but then again, I am from Alabama). Anyway, it's got tons of other stuff that Justin can tell you about but I can't ever remember everything. So needless to say this SUV is worth WAY more than the Solstice so I guess I shouldn't be complaining about anything huh?? Does this SO make me a mom though? The only way driving this HUGE vehicle is going to be worth it is if I have tons of people ride with me allllll the time and watch DVDs and say they love it so much, hahah. anyway, the deal is going down TODAY. It really is a dirty deal we are getting and to pass it up just because I want to hold on to my little baby for a few more months would be kind of ridiculous. Who knows, I may just fall in love with the fact that I can pack more than one soft sided bag when we go on trips, and when I drive someone to the airport they don't have to hold their luggage in their lap in the passenger seat anymore, oh yeah and the sheer fact that I can take more than one friend at a time to lunch, it will definitely be better for traveling and when we start poppin' out the babies!

Okay so, on to other things, I'm starting to feel myself being pulled into a new (yet so very old) addiction, Super Mario. Ok, so Tetris and things of the sort will always have it's addictive powers but, Super Mario had lost it's grasp on me until Saturday night. Kristen and I have no doubt repeatedly sat through many a boxing match and UFC fight and gracefully grinned and bared it. Well, not this time, while the boys were hootin' and hollarin' we snuck away to the "man room" (forbidden territory), pushed aside the PS2 (even more forbidden territory) and dusted off the old nintendo games. We laughed so hard we almost peed as we tried to remember if this was the version that you could pick up turtle shells in, or if they would kill you unmercifully. Yeah, we died! So now all I want to do is save the Princess and get 5000 points by jumping on those stupid flags. ahhhhhhhhh!

So this week Ash is in town and I'm so glad to play with her. We gots tons of stuff to get done for this wedding, I cannot believe it's only 4 months away! It's coming like a speeding train I tell ya. I just love love love her poofy little dress, it's so mod. And she really had her little bridesmaids in mind when picking out our dresses, not only flattering, but it makes you look REALLY tan! I'm happy! haha.

Anyway, that's all for now, I'll post some pictures of me in my new ride later if I remember.

Age is just a number

So, Jus and I just returned from Bama. There are always tons of crazy things going on up there, maybe that is why I turned out as crazy as I am. My 72 year old grandmother got married on Saturday! Yep and the groom cried, plus they wrote their own vows. haha, it was seriously so cute. Her husband (my granddad) died about 7 years ago and her groom lost his wife also. So with their powers combined, they can finally change a light bulb. Still can't hear the TV but, at least they can still walk dangit! My mom was a bridesmaid and my dad was a groomsman. It was a fun experience........my mom has all the pictures on her camera, I'll have to get her to send them to me. Maybe I can post them later.

My little neice Tatum also had her first birthday on Sunday. We had her a luau and it was the most adorable thing I have EVER seen (again, I'll have to get the pictures!)
She's kind of got me scared that my kids are gonna be the ugly cousins........how can they compete with blonde haired, blue eyed, dimple faced kids?? Oh well, we'll see! haha. We had the kiddie pool and two slip and slides out there, we grilled out hot dogs and Tatum had her very own grass skirt and flower headband that she sported the WHOLE time! Justin went up to Lake Martin for a golf tournament with some of the big wigs in his company and my mom and I spent the day galavanting around Prattville. It was fun, but now we are home and back to everyday life.

Okay so I've decided that God has it out for me, haha. Last week our air conditioner died, it was over 90 degrees in our house for two days. Luckily it was under warrantly still and they were able to come in and fix it quickly. Right after that is when we headed to Bama. When we got there, Sharry informed me that her air conditioner had also gone out. And daggum if the next day my mom and dad's air conditioner didn't go out on us too! Oh but it doesn't stop there. As I am sitting at Tatum's birthday party (which was hot as......well, really hot!) My dad informs me that there is smoke coming out of my car, he thought it was the grass underneath it that had caught on fire but soon discovered that instead it was actually my CAR! ahhhh, it turns out a bolt was loose and the air conditioner was leaking causing the car to smoke and once again, the air to go out..........luckily he got that one fixed quickly. So just when you think my body tempurature has been raised to 90 degrees permenantly, we get home and today.............our home air conditioner has gone out AGAIN!! So yes, I'm sitting here boiling as I write. What do you think God's trying to tell me here???

Anyway, all is well and I'm counting my many blessings!

Outdoors with Christi and Justin

Write it down in the record books people I'm posting again........already! Well, I had a minute while Justin is out playing golf so I figured I should seize the moment.

Yesterday was offically one of our "Christi and Justin" days. We have to have one of those every once in a while when we feel like we NEVER see each other. These last couple weeks has been one of those times. With Memphis trips, Huntsville trips, Oregon trips, wedding mania, and me going to bama for a few days.............we needed a day just to enjoy the one we married. So that day was yesterday and we went to the ZOO! haha, I really can't wait until I have kids cause then I will actually have an excuse to do all the things I really want to do.........but for now, I'll just do them!

This is a sweet little goat dude that LOVED to get his head rubbed. But he sure did stink!

Okay so this was my FAVORITE part of the day. When we saw this mommy with her little baby. So cute! The baby just clung to the hair on her back for dear life. Justin and I spent almost an hour trying to get a good picture of the baby but the mama kept hiding her from the camera............I felt kinda like the paparatzi trying to photograph the newest star child.

He's almost as big as that gorilla huh?

This giraffe was really funny, he wrapped his entire tongue around some little kids bag-o-food and tried to steal it.......luckily the dad snatched in back out of his mouth! That tongue was slimy, so Justin didn't want to touch it, what a girl! So he proceeded to make the giraffe stick out his tongue while he dropped each piece of food onto it! Everyone was cracking up!

So that concludes our fun trip to the Zoo! I love the Zoo!