Pictures to Come

About 3 months ago I started looking into getting a new camera. It all started with an Internet search that led to me asking questions to a 2nd cousin of mine about which camera she would suggest.

It just so happened that she had bought a camera in October, and it was now needing another home because she happen to have two of the same one.

Well, Santa Claus happened to get wind of this and it showed up under the tree Christmas morning. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to turn it on, but I am slowly learning.

I'm sure you will see several pictures of the dogs as I practice with my new camera since they are the only ones that will let me practice right now.

Here are a few that I worked on today!

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Oh Christmas Tree

Conversation:

"Hey, does the Christmas tree look like it is leaning to you?"

"Yeah, I noticed that too."

"Guess it will be alright?"



Action:

Reaction:

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She's Eleven!

Happy 11th Birthday McKenney!

About 8 years ago this little stinker came into my life! She was about 3 at the time with the vocabulary of a 6 year old. I was given the opportunity to babysit her and her brother one night that turned into several! So many of my college memories involve McKenney and her crazy and loving family. God even opened up the doors for me to spend an entire summer at their house with them. They all played a major impact on who I am today. So, happy birthday and I miss you!


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Where did you get that outfit from?

Well, if pictures could talk the ones below would have lots to say!



Saturday was a fun filled day that involved many different outfits if you will.



My family headed up to Stone Mountain to experience "Snow Mountain" Brooke, Kristy, Jessica, Mom, Dad and I all made the trip.





From going skiing before I know that the snow requires many different outfits and gear. As you can see we had that part covered!

Once we were all dressed we headed up the mountain for some tubing time.

After going down the mountain a few times we decided to go play in the snow for a while.

We had a great time at the park and even more fun was to come.

That same night I ditched the snow gear and grabbed my good ole tacky sweater for Mel's Tacky Christmas Sweater Party.

It was an entire day full of laughter, snow, memories, and many different outfits!

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Stylin

Brace yourself for what is to come.....







I warned you. Last night I retreated back to my childhood and played a little bit of dress up. There are several reasons I have this outfit on.

Well to begin, at school I volunteered to work car riders this morning. In case you have not looked at the temperature lately it was about 30 degrees this morning.

I am also joining in on some family fun this weekend, and we are going to Snow Mountain to go tubing, so I asked Earle to get the ski stuff down from the attic.

It also just so happened that he brought me home a prize last night for my graduation from school. He got me this hat to keep me warm at school.

Well it only took a few minutes before I had everything on and could not stop laughing. I had to show it to someone so I texted it to my boss with the captain "Ready for car riders!"

I decided to leave the goggles at home in fear of scaring 100 elementary students and their parents this morning t 7:15. Decided it might be a good ideas to put on a little warmer shirt this morning and the hat made an appearance as well.

It was freezing this morning, but at least I got to sport my new snow gear!

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Some Creatures showed up around the house!

While browsing through my pictures from the last two weeks, I noticed some very interesting creatures that had made their way into my pictures.

The first made his appearance at our Thanksgiving lunch. I am sorry to inform you that despite his very cute little face he was eaten up. Please meet my friend Tom the Cheese ball Turkey. RIP Tom!


Secondly, one morning last week I happened to look under our TV stand and thought 2 things.

1. I wore a lot of black to school this week and

2. Smokey Joe apparently is related to Where's Waldo.

Can't wait to see what shows up this week.

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Its a Celebration!

Over the past few months I took my camera to many different birthday celebrations. They stayed on my camera for several months after that. My poor computer died and so once again the birthday pictures had to wait to make their debut.

I finally had the time to download them to my new computer and here is what I found.

Kristy, my sister, had a birthday in July. I don't remember if we did anything for her birthday, but here is a cute picture of her anyway.
Dad turned the big 6 to the 0 this year. We did what we do best and snuck around his back to plan a sweet 60th birthday party. It involved dancing the Aunt Teri and Mrs. Mike and cupcake smelling just to name a few events.

Dad turned to so old this year he was allowed to have 2 parties. This was his 2nd party at Jin Express!

Next, Momo (pronounced Mawmaw-see why I can't spell) had quite a little shin dig! We partied like rock stars with her little friends. She is the one trying to hold that sweet little man's hand while his wife looks at her funny :)

Last, but not least, my cousin Danielle came by from college to celebrate another birthday! She was so excited she could hardly keep her eyes open.

Happy Birthday all you summer birthdays, sorry it took so long that it is now winter!

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Stressed but Blessed!

What an incredible, stressful, and purposeful few months.

When I logged on to my blog today I saw that last post was September 7, and I thought it had only been a month since I was on here last, but then realized it was November.

I’m not quite sure where time has gone this last two months, but there have been some big changes that God is leading me through.

Earle had a 31 day KLS episode. The very disease that inspired in some part this blog, kept me away for a while. With careful thought and prayer he has decided not to go back to his job of teaching. We know God will not close a door without opening another one.

I started a new job at school that is an everyday learning curve. Would not trade it for anything…. so far. Since August I have sat in the front of a helicopter, tested out the fall festival slide, and received several hugs from some wonderful students.

Trying to get back into a routine has been difficult these past few months with so much going on at once.

I always love to look back on difficult situations and find how God worked through it. I am not there yet with all this, but I certainly know that it is coming very soon. There have been times in the past few months God has carried me through some day and others when his presents felt far away from us.

I am currently reading a book called “The boy who came back from Heaven.” I can tell that this will be part of the story I will tell in a few months about getting through all we have going on right now. I’m not sure how, but know it will be so. It is an incredible story of a 6 year old boy who survives a horrible car wreck. My favorite quote so far is a description if their situation after the wreck “Stressed but blessed.”

If you are reading this, please stop and say a prayer for my grandmother, Momo. Her health is not where it should be and she could use lots of prayers right now! If you talk to her, don’t tell her she is on here, she would get me :)

I know this post was a continuous ramble, but sometimes that is what our days bring. Hope to be back soon!



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Few thoughts for this week!

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I'm Back

A very wise friend of mine once said."If you juggle too many ball, one will fall every time." This is such a true statement, and I am sorry to say that I have had more then one fall this past month.

You see I started a new job on July 22. Huge learning curve. I moved from teaching into the office. Can I say big learning curve again?

More then one of my old hobbies was dropped for a little while until I got things under control. So with that said, I promised myself that this week was time to get back into the swing of things.

I need to apologize to the
following....
1. My Blog- I know it has been lonely
2. The Gym- I almost forgot where you were
3. The Fruit and Veggie section at the grocery store
4. Smokey and Rusty- I know you need a walk

Tonight turns over a new leaf!
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Earles say the darndest things.

I started work a week ago and so far so good.

I am getting adjusted to seeing the sun rise from the sky again each morning. It has left me little time to blog, but I had to share what my husband said today.

I noticed when I came in from work a white powder on the kitchen floor. I knew he had something to do with it because he is a mess maker. We all have our talents. Here is a little bit from our conversation.

Me- "Hey Earle do you know what that is on the floor?"

Earle- "Nope" (with a sly smile)

Me- "Think real hard."

Earle- "Oh yeah. I put baby powder in my drawers. It must have fell out."

Me- I was speechless.

I Know the Plans

This past two weeks have been an absolute world wind of time and emotions.I write this not to in anyway brag on myself but to once again marvel in the glory of God's promises.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

One of my favorite things about God is how is can see the entire plan for beginning to end for our lives. We on the other hand can only see small bits at a time. Sometimes he allows us to see how some of the steps have worked together and we have an "oh, I know why that happened now" moment.

I recently experienced one of these moments that starts about 9 years ago and has lead to this week.I'm going quick through the memories so hold on...

My friend Melinda and I visited Georgia Southern University to look at colleges. I decided to go and then she talked me into rushing.

Joined Alpha Delta Pi.

Meet another girl in ADPi named Amanda McKinney.

Amanda was killed in a car accident and I was forced to take a good look at my relationship with God.

Started going to Church and meet some really really great friends and my future husband who all happened to be a year younger then me.

Graduated from GSU with and education degree and decided to stay and extra year to get my masters since all my friends were still in school.

Graduated from my master's and moved back home to teach. Interviewed at a few schools and did not get the job.- Jeremiah 29:11

Offered and accepted a job at LCE (meet some of the most wonderful people, but that's a whole new story)
Taught summer school last year and happened to find that a college nearby was offering a specialist in leadership degree.

Decided to go into curriculum instead.

Told my principal and she said go into leadership.- so I did.

Fast forward about 9 months. I have been working on this degree and I graduate in December. Throughout it all there have been some questions on my heart about my decision to go into it. There have also been laws passed in the time I started I degree that left questions about if this was the right choice for me. I have always known that things would work out like they were suppose to so I tried not to worry about it to much.


A few weeks ago our principal sent out an e-mail informing us that our Instructional Specialist, Amy, was being moved to another school. Amy is absolutely wonderful. She does a great job with students, parents, and teachers. I have had the privilege to intern under her for the last 9 months, and I learned a great deal from here in the past school year. I have the utmost respect for her and I know she will do a wonderful job at her new school.


This in when the world wind started. In processing Amy's leaving, I learned that I could apply for the job because I was in the leadership program.


I really can't tell you the next sequence of events because they happened so fast and I went through so many emotions in my heart. Jeremiah 29:11.


Tomorrow I will start my new job as Instructional Specialist. I am excited, nervous, and thankful all in the same breath.

So as I process the steps that got me here I can't help but smile. God knew and always has known how this would unfold- step by step, decision by decision, and moment by moment.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future
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Shopping 101 with Meredith

This is my friend Meredith. There are not many memories that I have from the past 15 years that don't involve her in some way.

She has a way of getting herself into some pretty interesting situations, and her questions never seem to amaze me.

For example....

A few years ago Meredith and I took a trip to Statesboro. Me to see Earle and Mer to see Russell. We decided to meet back on Sunday afternoon to ride back home together.

One of us suggested that we meet downtown in a store called Paper Doll. When it was suggested Meredith made a funny face and said, "We can go, but those people in there are kind of snobby."

I did not pay her comment much attention but kept it in the back of my mind. I have been to the store several times and did not remember them being snobby.

We headed into the store where a big sale was going on. Meredith and I began browsing the store and picking a few things out. Across the room I kept hearing her comments.

"I mean why do they even have these clothes out."

"This are cute, too bad."

"Don't even look at these clothes."

I slowly turned around and gave her a funny look. I walked over the the rack to see what she was talking about.

I finally just asked her what she was going on about. She pointed to several clothes and told me that I could not even try them on because they were not even for sale.

I looked around for a few more clues to what she was talking about. I looked above the clothes and saw a sign that read:

New Spring Collection

Not on Sale

It slowly began to click in my head that the store was having a sale. I then realized what Meredith thought when she saw this sign.

New Spring Collection

Not FOR Sale.

I began to laugh and pointed to the word ON which I repeated several time, "It says NOT, not FOR."

I saw the light bulb click in her head to which she started laughing too.

We quickly headed out with no clothes- for or on sale.

I was reminded of this story because a few weekends ago Mer and I went shopping again. I suppose they knew she was coming because they had a sign posted for her when we walked in the door!

Love You Mer!

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Trip to the Boro

It all started with a quick trip to the gym. I ran (get it) into Brittany B. and we began to plan a small mini vacation to see Meredith in Statesboro. I rode over a day early and got to spend the morning with Meredith. Here are some of my favorites moments of a very fun trip!

Meredith got a job teaching 5th grade next year! So happy for her. We headed over to the teaching tree with a list and Russell's credit card :) She was quick to remind me not to mention that part to him.

A few hours later the rest of the crew made their appearances- Melinda, Leah, and Britt. Brittany thought I would look better as a moose.

Our wonderful host made us chocolate chips goodies and fresh fruit. The cookies were gone in about 10 minutes.

After we spent some time talking we headed out the door to go grab some dinner. I can't go to Statesboro without eating at a little place called El Sombrero, aka Mexican Heaven!

To make the night even better, Kimberly and Jenna came to eat with us.

After dinner Mer and Britt decided to go bush diving in front of El Som. If you you want to know more about that you will have to ask one of them!

The next day we had one exciting event after another planned. We started off with a visit to another wonder place to eat, Heavenly Ham. Melinda was so happy.

On to the next stop, Splash in the Boro. Who says 27 year olds can't have fun at a water park. We went down the slide more then once, floated in the crazy lazy river, and relaxed by the pool.

I snuck away from the pool for a little while to see my favorite niece and nephew, Taylor and Tanner. We played Wii, dress up, and enjoyed a little Popsicle action!

Everyone meet back up at the house for showers, and we headed for Savannah. We had no real plan in mind so the night got interesting. We started off on river street where we had dinner at 2 different restaurants. The first one had awful service so we left and had a wonderful dinner at Tubbys!

While eating dinner we hatched a plan to take a ghost tour! Thanks to Mer's new friend, Droid, we were able to find the perfect tour and we were on our way.

Can't be to careful when it come to ghost gear.

We hated to say goodbye, but we had a wonderful time! We made the long trip back across the state and ready for the next adventure.

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