I Can't Believe It's Been Four Years!

Trent, or T$ as we like to call him, will be turning 4 Saturday... the time has flown. He's my little man now instead of my little baby.

Day 10 - Something I'm Afraid Of

There aren't too terribly many things that really scare me, but I can list a few:

I am terrified of heights, but I LOVE roller coasters... weird, huh? I did face this fear one time by bungee jumping. I had to literally be pushed to jump and then I blacked out on the way down. So, I'm not sure if it really counts, but I gave myself an A for effort.

I'm scared of disappointing people - whether it's family members, coworkers, bosses, friends - whomever (or should it be whoever... I don't know). I don't like making people mad or frustrated, but I can get over it. It's when I actually hear the word "disappointed" or see the look in their eyes, it kills me. I remember when I was in 2nd grade and my dad bought me a pair of cowgirl boots for Christmas, I opened them and was a complete brat about them not being the kind that I had wanted.... I could tell he was disappointed in my reaction. That still haunts me... I'm pretty sure he's forgotten about it, though. So, we're cool.

Finally, I'm scared of mirrors in dark rooms... I blame watching too many scary movies. I also don't let my feet hang out of the covers at night because of a story I was told when I was little about a monster under my bed who will pinch my toes off. Go figure...

Spreading Christmas Cheer with Shutterfly

I'm about to admit to something that most of my friends think is sinful: I've never sent out Christmas cards.

I know, I know - it's an obligation when you have a beautiful family to share them so that friends and family can hang them on mantles, refrigerators, trees or just oooh and ahhh and throw them in the trash. Who knows, some people may hang them and throw darts at them. I guess it depends on the audience.

Anyway, between birthdays and Christmas and 8,000,256 gifts to buy and 3,734 family members and friends to visit during the Holidays, it just gets to be a little bit of a hassle and an expense to do the whole Christmas card thing. BUT... (drum roll)... Shutterfly has saved the day with their 2010 Holiday Card Blog giveaway! So, now I can afford both the money (none!) and the tiny bit of time it takes to make and order cards on Shutterfly.

So, I think that you should both check out the promotion (just take a look at these adorable cards), and also look at their great gift ideas like calendars!

If you've already ordered your Christmas cards (those of you who actually think ahead!), go ahead and browse the site anyway for things like birthday invitations.

I had such a hard time choosing the cards that I liked best, but I think these three are my favorites (there were so many great ones, but I was trying to choose the ones I thought would look good with the pictures that we were able to take):



I'm leaning most toward the middle card. I think it's just so pretty! These are the pictures (out of about 100 million that we took) that I was able to salvage from our little home portrait session:

This one was actually one of my favorites... until I looked and realized that Trent was "throwing the deuces". My little gangsta.

Again, I loved this one, and then there was Trent who was constantly asking if it was over yet..

Trent was acting right this time, but Ronnie looks less than enthused.

Yay! It's Christmas time!!

Day 9 - Mis Amigos

So for Day 9 of the blogging challenge, I'm supposed to post a picture of my friends... Well, that's a tough one. Not that I'm Miss Popular or anything like that, but it's just that I've had so many friends that mean so much to me. So, while I have a ton of people that I would love to list and include their pictures, there are a handful that have stood by me through some great times and some not so great times, who know enough about me to hate but still like me anyways, or who have really just withstood the test of of time.

First, there's Anisa. We met in 1st or 2nd grade (I don't remember which). If you want to know what all she means to me, refer to this post. She definitely wins the award for the most resilient friend of mine. There was never a time that we spent together that didn't result in a great story. Seriously, though, as different as we are, I know that she was put into my life to teach me so much and to make me a better person. I don't get to see her very often, but she stays near to my heart. She's a truly beautiful person - it's obvious on the outside, but her spirit shines even more.

Next, is Anisa's husband Albert (Bert to everyone else in this world). There was a time when I lost many of my good friends due to divided loyalties, but Albert had my back. He was my clown when I needed to laugh, my friend when I needed to cry, and my big brother when I needed protecting (mostly from myself). From his forcing me to watch baseball and other stuff I didn't like to our just hanging out listening to music or going to the Refuge, he was a Godsend at that point in my life.

It stinks to have to admit that when these two friends came together - while I should have been happy that my oldest and dearest friend and my current best friend had both found love - selfishly, I felt like I had lost both of them. Thank goodness, I grew up a little and was able to realize that the friendships that I had with them weren't only God's gift to me but were His way of bringing these two together (isn't it cool when you can look back and see how He started working from the beginning?). They are both very special, and I really can't think of two people who deserve each other more! (But I'm really hoping that they never compared notes on me... There is such a thing as one person just knowing too much about another).

 The next friend I have to mention is Michelle. We met in college and were basically inseparable until we graduated and she had to move off for her job. She's an amazing person with more strength than anyone else I know. She now has a beautiful family of her own, and, even though I only get to see her maybe once a year, we seamlessly pick up right where we left off.

Finally, there's my boys. I won't post a picture because I don't have one that hasn't been posted on here already numerous times. They are my life now, and, honestly, the best friends I have. I can't wait to get home every night to see them and just hang out.

I thank God for these blessings - my friends :)

Day 8 - A Place I've Traveled To...

I'm not exactly a jetsetter, and most of my trips haven't been to places very exotic. I've made the obligatory Destin beach trip, Gulf Shores beach trip, Disney World trip and multiple trips to Memphis, New Orleans, etc... Basically all the same places that most everyone in the South travel to that are convenient and not too tough on the wallet (well, with the exception of Disney World).

However, I did get to go to Whitefish, Montana, one summer for a mission trip when I was in high school. Whitefish is a beautiful town in and of itself, but while we were there, we got to go to Glacier National Park. That has to be the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. Since I didn't own a digital camera and all of my photo albums from that time are stored away in boxes that I don't want to go through, I just borrowed a picture that is similar to one that I took.

You couldn't take a picture in Glacier that didn't look like it belonged on a postcard!

So, on another note, I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Mine started Wednesday and ended Saturday, but it was good to see all the family. My mom and stepdad came Wednesday night; we went to Ronnie's family's Thanksgiving Thursday, I visited with my dad and stepmom Friday, and then we all went to their house Saturday.

Thanksgiving with the Jones' side

 Anyway, so now it's back to work for three weeks before another two-week break :). I'm pretty sure I can make it!

Day 7 - My Favorite Movies

On a drizzly cold day like today, it would have been a prime opportunity for couch time with my favorite movies. Unfortunately, I had too much to do at work to be "sick". I actually like A LOT of movies, and I had a hard time determining which were my favorites, but I narrowed it down to the ones that I know almost every word to or can actually sing the entire soundtrack. So, here's the short list.

Random... I know. I actually had a really hard time with today's challenge. I'm sure as soon as I post this, I will change my mind.

Just in case you need a laugh today...

I was watching Dancing with the Stars last night, and I noticed Trent getting a little dancy. So, I got my camera ready. Boy, am I glad I did! Make sure you have your volume turned up so you can hear the music. (And, yes, that is a batting glove on his hand. No, I have no idea why it's on there.)

Something That Makes Me Happy

Ok.. after a short break (last week got really busy), I'm back with Day 6 of the Blogging Challenge: A picture of something that makes me happy.

This makes me happy:

There's nothing quite so beautiful as God's artwork, is there? This is actually the view through the windows in front of our kitchen table. The sunset makes me happy, but, even better, it makes me think of my home, which makes me the happiest of all. As much beauty as lies outside my windows, the love in our home is as beautiful as it gets (Cheesy, I know, but I'm so serious).

Speaking of love - I L-O-V-E J.J. Heller's new album When I'm With You. I absolutely fell in love with her last one Painted Red, but this new one is awesome! Here's one of my favorites (that always brings tears to my eyes).


For those of you with little ones, she has a lot of songs that she's singing to her little one(s). Here are my two faves!

When I'm With You


Keep You Safe


Hope you enjoyed! Check out the rest of her songs, too. (All I Need, Your Hands, Kingdom Come, and Painted Red are SUPER great, too...)

Happy Monday!

Day 5: My sibling

I only have sibling - an older sister (she's 4 years older, but you could probably never tell because she's tiny). Her name is Brandi, and she is basically the antithesis of me. We're both short (though she has me beat at about 4'10"-4'11". She may claim 5', but don't for a second believe it), and we sound a lot alike on the phone. Other than that, though, we're just not that much alike.

The smile on Brandi's face makes me think she might be responsible for the frown on mine.

Growing up, Brandi was always the more outgoing, creative, and pretty one. I was the well-behaved, "smart" one. In actuality, Brandi is probably twice as smart as I am, she just found a few different outlets for her smarts - such as not getting caught in her mischief. She also told me that because I started out making good grades, I ruined it for myself. See, she had it all figured out that if you consistently make bad grades, no one expects too much, and you won't disappoint. She proved it to be true when she barely passed Trig (not for lack of smarts - she just didn't like it) and got an awesome graduation party because my parents were so happy that she graduated! See how smart she really is?!

I think someone should have clued me in that her chair was not built for the likes of my chubby little self. To this day, I hate being in the same picture as Brandi because the comparison ALWAYS made me look bigger than I really was.

Like all of us, Brandi's had her ups and downs, but she always came out of them with more determination and confidence than I've ever seen. We've had times we've been super close and times where we would go months without talking to each other. She's currently in Texas with her handsome family, working at a church, and looking to go back to school in Spring.

Brandi, her husband Byran, and her son Josh

This is my sister, and despite all the quarrels, "borrowed" clothes, and competitions that we kept going throughout our lives, I will forever love her and do anything in the world for her because she is the one who God gave me to share my life from the moment I was born until my life ends. We share the same parents, the same genetics (even the crazy ones), many of the same life experiences, and the same love for family. Plus, she's one of the only people in the world who can make me feel tall.

3 things...

Roll Call!


Just because I'm curious - If you're reading this now, leave me a comment and let me know. Other than those who leave me comments regularly (thanks, Anisa!), I really have no idea who reads this. So, if you have time and don't mind, holla at a sista!

Blog Challenge Day #4: My Parents

Get ready because I have half a dozen - No, I mean it!

First, meet my Dad &my Stepmom, Charlie and Robin, aka Granddaddy & G:

They are complete opposites, but that seems to work so well for them! They just celebrated their 20-year-anniversary! So, yeah, Robin has been a part of the family just a little over 66% of my life. That makes her a pretty big influence. So, from them, I've learned responsibility, independence, how to fall asleep in the middle of everyone and convince them all that you were "just resting your eyes", and the importance of that occasional guilty pleasure TV show :)

Next, meet my mom & step-dad, Susan and Mike, aka MeMaw & PawPaw:

These two are so much alike, it's not funny, but that's what works for them. They are currently working on their 7th year of marriage. Mike's relatively new to the family, but he fits in just right! From these two I've learned beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing is impossible with God on your side!

Finally, meet my Father-in-law & Mother-in-law, Glynn and Jean, aka Pop & Gran Gran:

These two took me into their family and have made me feel welcome ever since I stepped foot in their door the first time! They know what it takes to make a family work, and they know what it takes to make a family fun. They never offer me unsolicited advice (even though I'm sure there have been plenty of times when they probably really wanted to because I needed it), but they usually give pretty sound words of wisdom when I come asking! (That's right - I have in-laws I like! How cool is that?!)

So, there ya have it, I'm pretty lucky to have all these people in my life, aren't I?

My Guys

Finally, I got the camera out this weekend, and just look at how stinkin' great my guys look!

Happy Monday, y'all!