Off the Cuff

Don't stop to think. Just be.

2011-02-17T11:39:00.000-06:00

As most single people, I am asked the following questions on a regular basis:

"Are you happy?"
"Do you not want to get married?"
"What is wrong with you?"
"How is it that you are single?"

Now, I try to be nice when answering these questions...but I really just want to tell these nosey individuals to kiss my ass and get out of my business. However, my usual reaction is to politely laugh and answer with a generic response.

What defines happiness? It is different for everyone. We don't look alike and we don't act alike, leaving me with the conclusion that our fulfillment for happiness is different.

John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) Once we soak in Christ and realize just how good He is, then we shall feel the peace and happiness that we all seek. Living a life lost in Christ is a good description of being happy. This is not to say bad times will not occur, but when they do, you better prepared.

Sadly enough, people try to look at you instead of themselves. My dad has given great advice through the years. During this season of my life with major decisions needing to be made, I can't help but to think of him telling me...Pray. A lot. Do your part of the leg work. Then follow what gives you peace. You will see then that you are happy.

"Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God." Psalms 38:15

Like Bob Marley says, Don't worry, Be happy! In your marriage, job, singleness, or hobby...find it. And smile. This journey called life can be scary but praise the Lord for His salvation and love.

And always remember, Bruster's Birthday Cake Ice Cream can help out with happiness...Amen!

2011-02-09T08:40:00.002-06:00

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." - 1 John 2:17

Wow. Powerful. Everlasting.

Decisions can be tough to make. Some are big and some are small. There are those that really don't matter. Some decisions bring change. And I'm a firm believer that change is good.

During this season in my life, I am making decisions. All I have decided to do is to follow His will. And that is enough. Be faithful. Be firm. Live forever.

Oh, the things you will do...

2010-12-16T10:02:00.011-06:00

It has been awhile. Lots has happened. Lots hasn't happened. I'll do my best to catch you up.

I was in Denver, Colorado for 3 weeks out of the past 7 weeks. I love it out there. Here are a few snaps from the trips.

Changes are happening in my life daily. I don't mind it one bit. I finally have moved past things and enjoying my life and what all is to come. It doesn't get any better than that. Pictures are good. Here are more....

I filmed my first deer hunt. It was a great experience. However, I'm not the best camerawoman!!
I took this sweet young man hunting. He harvested his first deer. It was a great weekend.

Play. Eat. Laugh. Pray.

Prayer Warriors...

2010-11-08T13:21:00.001-06:00

Prayers needed. She now has 2 spots in her heart that are leaking. Surgery will happen soon.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaimemills

God bless her beautiful heart...

Desire

2010-09-30T14:38:00.002-05:00

I did it. I got an HTC Desire. Too much money for such a small brain (like mine). Surely I'll figure it out...one day. As for now, I will sit and look at it wondering how I'll ever figure it out!

If you need a pick-me-up in the Jackson area...CS's Peanut Butter Pie will work.

God bless us all, one day left in this week!

Big Baby Pete

2010-09-27T12:17:00.007-05:00

15 months old. Over 3 feet tall. Weighing in at pounds.

Yep. That's my nephew. Peter. Or as I like to call him, Big Baby Pete. He still calls me "Cracker". We're working on being politically correct on that...but there is just no changing it at this current time. We won't be going out in public for a little bit!

I'm going out there in a month...and I can't wait. Here are a few updated photos of the big, wild man himself!

This Peter after his great fall. He broke his sweet little leg. But the Bronco orange cast seems to help him feel better!

He is a great help to Leslie when she is baking cupcakes. He makes me laugh!!!!
His big toe is funny!

He knows he is funny!

Coolest Man I Know

2010-09-23T08:55:00.006-05:00

How amazing is our Lord? He's a pretty cool dude. Lately, I have had many hurting friends and family members. As humans, we often cause our own pain. We stumble. We fall. We go down the wrong road. We are lost. Pain can also come to us through things we cannot control. Take my sister, Jaime, for instance. Brain tumors and a weak heart are things she can't control. Sure wish we could.

I don't like hurting. If you like it...let me suggest you go and talk to someone. However, I do like knowing that pain can cause one to draw closer to Christ. That is always a good thing. Pain leads to prayer. Prayer leads to strength. Strength leads to hope. Hope leads to facing the world with your head held high. Facing the world makes you long for Him. It is a beautiful, twisted, confusing, mind blowing situation. AND I LOVE IT!!!

If you are reading this, then you were given one more day. Do good today. Walk it. Talk it. Be it. His plan for us has just begun. The moment you finally fall into His arms and rest in His hands is possibly the best feeling we'll ever feel on this earth.

God is good but life is still hard. Follow. Allow. He can. One day your tears will be wiped away. Do good. See good. Be good.

Going somewhere?

2010-09-20T11:28:00.000-05:00

Knowing Where You’re Going will Keep You From Making Bad Decisions

Donald Miller. Yep. Him again. Reading through this blog...couldn't help but to tune into this one. Couldn't have said it better myself.

What to do with your life? Big decision. Know where you are. Who you are. And where you are headed.

I am weak. But He is strong.

2010-09-13T10:56:00.003-05:00

I have been pondering the issue of strength and weakness lately. I wonder if the moments of our existence that are played out on this stage known as life, if what I am see and experiencing daily, are strengths or weaknesses? For example, if a man falls for the seduction of woman or a bottle of empty promises, then realizes he has sacrificed everything dear to him for a fleeting moment of pleasure, do we consider his weakness that lead to his downfall or do we consider the strength that it takes for him to admit his wrong doings and desire for repentance? What about a child whose actions cause parents to loose faith and trust in them? As time passes and the hard lessons are learned, is that child always going to be considered a wild card, untrustworthy or can their foolish actions be put behind them and forgotten?

I think it is human nature to first act on emotion and play out the hand that is dealt. Hope of a positive outcome is more often than not, just hope, but it is not what guides our actions. It is the stress and hurt and betrayal we experience that tend to dictate how we deal with the valleys in life. Time does heal all things, but it does not erase the memories. And when our backs are up against the wall, we often remember the sting of past events and it weighs in on our decisions.

As Christians, we are called to a higher level of tolerance, acceptance and ultimately forgiveness. The weakness displayed in our lives reiterates the fact that we are human. Though created by our Lord God, in His image, we bear the burden and responsibility of free will. Having failed us in the Garden of Eden in the first days of man's existence, free will, will forever be our downfall IF it is not handled with guidance from God. I am one of "those people" who is guilty of acting out of emotion rather than counseling with my Lord first, admitting that sometimes I KNOW what God would want me to do, but instead I chose to handle it my way for for the sake of instant gratification. This has always been my weakness, and as a daughter of Eve, it is in my genes and it takes far more effort to rebel against it than not. It is easy for me to justify anger with hurt, or the lack of trust with the memory hard life lessons learned. I am not the first, nor will I be the last. I am in good company when it comes to misbehaving children of God. Take King David or Jonah for instance.

But God does not see things the same way I do and thank goodness for that! For if my Lord handled me in the same manner that I have handled life, I don't think I would be here today. I am sure he would have thrown his hands up in the air and said, "I give up, you are hopeless and not worth my time or effort." But His love is immeasurable. It is greater than any emotion we know. It is, I believe, unconceivable. To love all of mankind, regardless of the choices they make or the pain we inflict on each other and the world as a whole, is beyond our comprehension. Yet as a child of Christ, personally I rely on this inconceivable notion that my Lord LOVES me......he loves me.

So back to the question, are our downfalls and/or our acknowledgments of then, demonstrations of strength or weakness? I believe they are both...at the same time. For when we are at our weakest moments, God is at his strongest. Through our failures, He is made great and we can only see His true glory, grace and mercy when we are at the lowest point, on our knees looking up.

The pain we experience and inflict can be more than we can bear, but its not for God. And when our soul feels slightly lighter, when you see a mere glimpse of hope, a flickering light, get ready, because God is getting ready to claim the glory and redeem our failures into a blessing. That's the wonderful thing about our Lord. Any struggle we endure and then give unconditionally to Him, He can restore with hope and trust and love in you and those around you, stronger and deeper than it was before. Don't be afraid of your failures, be afraid of pride that might keep you from recognizing them. Don't dwell on the loss, instead lift your eyes and claim the healing that was made yours by His death on a cross. Your suffering was your choice, so was his. But the difference is He paid the price for the consequences so that you could have a second chance to get it right. Your weaknesses and failures cannot sentenced you to eternal death and condemnation if you're a child of God. He has defeated the enemy and will not allow your pain to claim His glory. Give Him the mistakes of life as well as the praise, for just as the Bible teaches us, God's glory in all situations is far greater than our own.

Have a good week friends!

Walkin'

2010-08-12T09:30:00.004-05:00

Peter can walk. Listen at the end....he says "flash card". He is a big boy! Les is about to have her hands REALLY full!

Music

2010-07-21T10:45:00.002-05:00

I love it. I truly do.

The link below is to a song that will speak to anyone. Been there, done that moment. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnpl_2BKXAE

Rocky Mountain Boy

2010-07-19T09:06:00.003-05:00

I love my nephew. He stole my heart right away. Then he owned my heart when he put down 2 pancakes, 1 banana, 2 slices of cantaloupe, and a glass of milk. Growing boys must eat.

The other day his daycare teacher found rocks in his diaper. I'm sure he'll be ok. Yes. I find this extremely funny.

The moral of this story is...When you have rocks in your stomach, you must go through the pain to get them out. Then you can chomp down on some pancakes. Glorious!

Right from Wrong

2010-07-14T10:11:00.003-05:00

1985 was the year I thought I was going to die. As you can tell, I didn't. I can't remember exactly what I did so wrong. All I can remember is fearing for my life. I saw dad coming towards me with his thick, brown, leather belt. He tells me to turn around and bend over. Now this the point when many kids would scream or cry. Not me.

Just as soon as I bent over, I turned around and grabbed the belt out of his hand and hit him with it. Realizing what I did, I panic and run. Luckily, I had neighbors that loved me. Mr. and Mrs. T were their names. They were old. They gave me Coke in a bottle everytime I went over there. Yep. That is where I ran to.

Mrs. T, knowing I did something wrong, invites me inside and offers me a Coke. I gladly take it, thinking I won this battle. I now know what my father was doing...He knew where I ran to and that more than likely I was enjoying my Coke. Being the man that he is, he waited.

It was 10 minutes later and I hear the knock of death. He found me. Scared again, I hide in the closet and beg the T's to act like I wasn't there. Hidden in the closet, I can hear their conversation. Dad asked if I was there. They tell him no. I hear footsteps coming towards me. He opens the closet door and I burst into tears.

I find it crazy that I have no idea what I did wrong. All I know is I messed up. I had to suffer the consequences. That is life. We get to make decisions. We get to pick which road we go down. We get to choose right from wrong.

Try to make wise decisions. Try to listen to what He tells you. Try. It is hard. But do it.

Happy Wednesday!

Yep. 5K is creeping up on me. August 7 is almost here. Gotta keep running!

Personal Challenge

2010-07-09T11:39:00.003-05:00

I believe in having goals. I believe in sharing dreams with others. I believe in having personal challenges set for yourself. The night of my 28th birthday, in the mist of it all, I sat down and made a personal challenge check-off list.

Here are a few tid bits of my challenges:
1. Run in 4 events (first one is August 7...oh my!)
2. Travel to 2 new places
3. Save more money than I did last year
4. Learn a new hobby
5. Find a church that fits me

These are just a few. And I hope to check these things off by my next birthday. That would be nice. I'll keep you updated on my progress. And hopefully I can still breathe after August 7!

4 Day Challenge

2010-07-09T11:32:00.003-05:00

4 Day Belief Challenge - Dr. Gary Smalley

If you are struggling with things like pride, anger, unforgiveness, selfishness, lust ... Dr. Gary Smalley encourages us all to take the Four Day Belief Challenge! In areas where we shouldn't let our heart and mind wander, taking those thoughts captive and surrendering them to God. It starts by memorizing these four commands of Christ through these 4 verses (Dr. Smalley says to think upon these things 7-14 times a day and see the difference it makes in your life) :

1) Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit. Instead of being boastful and arrogant (pride), be humble.

2) Mark 12:30 - Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

3) Mark 12:31 - Loving your neighbor as yourself. Serving others, instead of using others for our own gain and pleasure.

4) Matthew 5:9,10- Trials are not bad. Thank God for the pain.

I am on day 3. So far, so good. No matter what the trial in your life is and how big it seems to be...you can find comfort in Our King. May we all be humble, loving, and faithful.

Happy Birthday

2010-06-30T14:26:00.002-05:00

I'll be 28 tomorrow. Yippy. The days leading up to my birthday have been less than pleasurable. I love a good birthday but this will is different.

As I learned many things within the past few weeks, I will say that the most important 'life lesson' from these few weeks is this: Trusting people is hard. But do it. People will hurt you. Don't hurt them. When you say I love you. Mean it.

Three little things. Seems easy. It isn't. At the age of 28 I feel like I am starting all over. This is not a bad thing. I'm thankful the bad is gone and I can, once again, be faithful in knowing that good is up ahead.

Bring on 28. I'm ready.

P.S.- Miller lost his buddy. He is lost without him. So far I've lost...my wallet, leg of a chair, and a shoe. Must find him a new friend ASAP!!!!

Mower and Life

2010-06-28T15:20:00.000-05:00

Life brings about changes. For me, change happens often. So I learn to adapt and push through.

A big change happened in my life last week. One that I didn’t see coming. And not a change that I wanted. Though it happened and I could do nothing it still hurt. The change hurt me. But as time passes, so will the hurt.

I love to laugh. Laughing and smiling are two things I’m fairly good at. I’m about to tell you a story that sums up my life. Smile. Cry. Laugh. Learn.

Peter (nephew) was in MS all week. We had a blast together. Unfortunately, the time came for him to fly back to Denver and for me to cut my grass. I have a small 20” push mower. Not new. Not fancy. But cuts the grass.

I tried to cut my grass one night while Peter was in town. I couldn’t get the mower to crank. Me being the problem solver that I am (not with all things), I tried to figure out why I could not get this mower to crank. I figured it out. It needed new oil. I buy the oil and pour it in. The mower still will not crank.

A few days pass and the grass is super tall. I tell my dad about my mower situation and he suggests that I need a new spark plug. I get home and 30 minutes later, I figured out what a spark plug is. I twist off the old one and head straight to Lowe’s. They nicely sell me a new spark plug that I installed. I crank the mower. It cranks, however, I was highly embarrassed because of the large smoke cloud following me. I let it smoke for 3 minutes…cut one row without seeing where I was going…and I turn the mower off. Upset.

Enough of this. I was not about to continue cutting my grass with my mower smoking up the neighborhood. How many have guessed the problem? Yep. The mower needed a spark plug but it also had too much oil. I figured this out and 3.5 hours later my lawn was freshly cut.

Like life, sometimes we need a new spark plug. Something new. A change. Other times in life, we need to just keep things fresh and refueled like the oil. Whichever way you prefer to look at it, life is about working. Working at your job. Working on your relationships. Working on your faith. You get the picture. So change the oil and keep going or get something brand new in your life.

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. And you never know the “if’s” in life when you don’t try. My yard looks good. My mower just needed a little tendin’ to! (I really should pay someone to cut my grass!!!)

Encourage

2010-06-21T12:53:00.001-05:00

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

I wanted to share these verses. They spoke to me this morning on different levels. Hope they encourage you too!

We go through ups and downs. And yet, He will see us through.

4 letter word

2010-06-20T09:51:00.002-05:00

Pathetically enough, I watched the movie Valentine’s Day this weekend. Hollywood really makes things ‘work for the best’. Not a single actor in the movie ended up alone. Magical.

However, there was only one part of that movie I agreed with: Love is a feeling. We all need feelings. And love is the best feeling.

I believe in love. I believe it will and can happen for anyone. I believe one day I will have a strong, long-lasting love with one man. I believe in staying together and working on your relationship every day.

I am single. Never been married. However, I have many friends that are married, divorced, single or widowed. We each have our own story. All stories are worthy of telling.

I have come to a point in my life that some big decisions must be made. I can’t help but to think about the man that showed me how a husband and father should be. My dad. He is a great man. I am his youngest girl and we have a special relationship.

Over the past few days, dad and I have had the opportunity to talk about life, work, relationships and love. How blessed I am to have a father that cares so much. His advice is never selfish or harmful. His love is never fake. And his hug is always comforting. Happy father’s day dad! I love you.

Love.

Another day...

2010-05-10T13:44:00.007-05:00

My job is different. More than likely, it is different than yours. I like my job. I like being outside. I like animals. I like exploring new thing. Here's what I've been up to lately:
Turkey hunting in Kemper County. 10.5" beard and 1" spurs. Great story if you have the time.

Fishing in Jones County at Lake Bogue Homa. Great place to go fishing...lots of fish!!!

I went with the crew to tag alligators at the Reservoir. This gator was almost 13 ft long.

I find these things neat. Not everyone would. That is what makes the world go round. Get outside soon. It is about to 90+ degrees...so hurry up. Hot is no good.

New Orleans Wedding

2010-04-20T20:08:00.005-05:00

My sweet friend, Lauren, got married this past weekend in New Orleans. It was a perfect wedding. Beautiful. Inspirational. Enjoyable. All you could want for your friends wedding!

Tiffany, Lauren, Me and Christy. Friends since 3rd grade.

Congratulations to Lauren and Matt! May God continue to bless you both and your marriage. I'm so proud to have you both in my life!

Finding Beauty

2010-04-13T20:23:00.001-05:00

I spent an hour Sunday watching Jessica Simpson's new show. She is now traveling around the world to find what makes a woman beautiful in other countries. Not that the show was interesting but the countries were. Simp's is still in her own world. Though she means well. She is 5'4" and used to wear a size 6, which now is down to a 4. She took on lots of criticism about being a size 6 but the girl still eats. That is beauty. She also burps A LOT. Nothing wrong with those two things, in my opinion.

So here is the question: What defines beauty? We all strive for it but what are we striving for? I find beauty in the old man that smells like rat poop, though he may not feel very beautiful. I find beauty in laughter. I also find my grandmother that has pasted away, beautiful for her strength she possessed. I find beauty in George Strait because God gave the man a pretty face.

Beauty is found in so many things. May we all find it in places and people. Especially when we're not looking for it.

I've talked about Donald Miller in prior blogs. He is an author/speaker/cool guy. I named my dog after him. So he must be beautiful in some form. Check out his blog. He has challenged me to take the "What If" Challenge. I dare you to take it also. Read about it. Do it. It will bring good to your life and the ones around you.

"People grow when they are in motion."-Donald Miller
That is beauty. Grow!

Catching up...

2010-03-17T13:48:00.003-05:00

Nancy and I went to New Orleans a few weeks ago. It was great fun. Adventure. We went to the George Strait concert one night. I do love George.

I went with the Black Bear Program Coordinator a few weeks ago to check a bear den. This was a really cool day. Unfortunately, she did not have cubs. Research was done and the bear was fine after the event. But I had to snap a picture!

Everyone has posted snow pictures. I figured I should too. This is the only picture I could get with the pups. It was great fun playing in the snow.

2010 is the year for weddings and friends having babies. Though it is flying by fast, it has already been an eventful year. I leave in 3 days for a week in Colorado. I'll have lots to post when I return.

Can't have anything nice these days...

2010-02-10T19:41:00.000-06:00

Miller. This one word will sum up so much in life. He is now 9 months old and full of himself. The following are pictures that will walk you through only one month of his sweet life. However, at the end, if you would like a dog...let me know! Kidding. I wouldn't trade him for anything. Though, I would like for him to STOP CHEWING.

This is my cable cord. Now I'm just waiting for Comcast to come install a new cord.

His first battle wound. He and Moses played too rough. This was 2 weeks ago. He still has no hair on that spot. Goodness.

That cord is supposed to be attached to my mower. Note to self: NEVER leave the mower in the backyard with Miller.

He loves my rug. Bought it a month ago. Already has 3 holes.

He loves his toy duck!!!

Though he may be rowdy and tear up everything, I wouldn't trade anything for moments like this. He can be sweet. He may have to be sleepy to be this sweet but he means well!

Get a dog! They are entertaining, stressful, rowdy, precious, and end up being all you didn't know you needed.

Grammy Review

2010-02-01T16:06:00.004-06:00

I watched the Grammy's last night. Not on my favorite things to do list. By any means. But I did. Bon Jovi, you are still around. Congrats. Beyonce, you are still great to all. Keep up the good work. Michael, obviously you are greatly missed when we still talk about you nearly 8 months after your death. You lived a good one.

Then there is Taylor. Taylor Swift. I never liked the girl. Never liked her songs. Never liked her look. Never liked her- anything. She completely ruined Stevie Nicks last night. Not that I even care or like Stevie Nicks but the lady didn't deserve that. Taylor, get off stage. You are terrible.

Christ and football

2010-01-26T10:47:00.003-06:00

I hear it all the time: Tebow is a joke. I don't like Tebow. Blah blah blah...

Read this. And watch the video.

May we all bless someone today.

http://www.brittonchurch.com/2009/12/14/you-cant-be-hatin-on-this/

Sunroof

2010-01-24T14:58:00.002-06:00

The other day was nice. Warmer. Cool breeze. And NO rain. I grabbed the dogs and head to the park. Windows down. Sunroof open. Miller thought the sunroof was amazing. This is how he rode the entire time.

Perspective

2010-01-24T14:42:00.001-06:00

12 years old. What were you like? I was probably in the driveway playing basketball or getting into something outside. You are 12. All you do is enjoy sunny days, hang out with friends, and eat dinner when Momma calls you in.

Yesterday, a man from work called. He asked me if I would go to Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital. There is a little girl with cancer that loves watching Mississippi Outdoors and she wants to meet me. My goodness. I was very honored by this opportunity.

I take her a few Mississippi Outdoors items, a Realtree hat, and a Hot Heads hat. I walk into the room to see a precious 12 year old girl laying in a hospital bed. My heart sinks. I introduce myself and hand her the stuff I brought. She loved it all. She immediately put the Hot Heads hat on. She really loved it.

I sit on her bed. We chat. She tells me she loves hunting and fishing. She loves her friends. She plays basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball. She is a cheerleader. And she wants her school to start a kickball team. Hearing her talk, I couldn't help but to think-she and I had so much in common, minus the cheerleading and kickball.

I am very glad I got to meet such a special little girl. It really made my day.

Her name is Karrie. Karrie has a strong cancer. Karrie has a stronger God. Please pray for sweet Karrie and her family. They were all so worn out yet hopeful.

If life doesn't find you in the hospital today, then be thankful. Perspective. It's all how you look at it.

Confusion

2010-01-19T15:17:00.004-06:00

Finding peace to our madness. Comfort to our sadness. This is our God.

Humbly, I pray for my friends that hurt today. We aren't made to understand everything. Trust and faith must be your key players. Doubt is second string on the JV team. Don't play it.

1 Corinthians 14:33

Hello 2010

2010-01-17T21:31:00.000-06:00

Starting a new year can be a tricky thing. As the gyms are full and the organic isle is empty, one can't help but to think. I know I could shed a few pounds and eat better myself. Have I started that? No. Not even close. Although I did get the stomach bug and lost a few. In time, it pasted, and I found those pounds again.

I've never made a New Year's resolution. Probably never will. I know myself too well to do that. Instead I just try to do good (whatever the good is). Although, I will skydive this year.

July 2010 I will turn 28. Yippy. Not quite as I thought things would be at this age. But that is good. Because there is so much good. I have a healthy family. I have a chunky, adorable nephew. My car is still going. I have a funny dog. And I have a roof over my head.

I have no clue what stumbles and bumps will come this year but I know one thing. Things that matter and things that don't. There is nothing that time won't erase and money won't replace.

As I spend time reflecting on life, my future, and if I should find a new job...I can't help but smile. I'm blessed. I'll find a better job. My life is good. And whatever comes up in life, I can face it.

I hope this new year brings a good and positive attitude to us all. A patient heart. And a loving spirit. Thank God for dogs, friends, and music. Amen.

This is Moses, me, and Miller watching the ducks on the Rez. I do love these dogs!

Yet, there is beauty

2009-11-16T12:44:00.005-06:00

A little bruised. A little humbled. A little smarter. The past. There is beauty in everything. Even the past.

I truly believe we should make each day great. Smile. Laugh. Work hard. And do great things. How beautiful to wake up to a new day. One day to make it better than the last and give it all you have.

Love the ones you love, with all you have. Pass out smiles and hugs. Sit back and laugh.

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.

Humor

2009-11-11T19:11:00.002-06:00

Mark Twain was a great author. Remember him? He wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Adventures of Tom Sawyer. My father is a fan of Twain. As a small child, I remember reading these books with my dad. I loved it!

Twain had a sense of humor. I appreciate that. There are many wonderful quotes from him but by far, my favorite is- Humor is a great thing, the saving thing. The minute is crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place.

How very true. Laughter is favorite thing. I can say that it is a huge part of my life. Thank goodness. Without it, I can't imagine life. When the stress of life, work and relationships get to be 'too' much, a good laugh is what I need. I had that tonight. I had dinner with a group of old friends. People I worked with 5 years ago. It was great. It was full of laughter.

How much do you laugh? Does a bad day at work take away your laughter? Does a rough relationship take away your laughter? Laugh. It heals. Laugh until it hurts. I just love that!

I moved to the Reservoir area. I love my new house. In the past week, I have preasure washed the house, painted the: bathroom, bedrooms, living room, front door, cut the grass and hedges, put out pine straw, and scrubbed the tile. I have been a busy bee and it has been good. Hard work is always a good thing.

I fell off the blog-osphere. Hope I'm back! After 10" of rain in Jackson, maybe we can enjoy a month of sunshine and cooler temps!

Be strong!

2009-09-24T19:11:00.003-05:00

Sidewalk Prophets sing this song: The Words I Would Say
This song really spoke to me today. Confusion and fear can get such a tight grasp on us. And we must be strong. No matter the problem-we can find peace.

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the LORD and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why your here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the LORD and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why your here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the LORD and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why your here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say

Once upon a time...

2009-09-21T21:49:00.004-05:00

I could not sleep due to a cricket. Yes. A cricket. Not plural. Singular. Annoying. At first, I thought this cricket lived inside a bag beside my bed. Then, I thought he moved underneath the carpet. Much to my dismay, this cricket lived outside my wall.

Life happened and now I miss that cricket. Gone are the days when the cricket kept me from sleeping. Hopefully soon, I will reunite with Mr. Cricket and have only him to worry me.

Just enough light...

2009-09-20T11:06:00.002-05:00

How many times a year do I learn the same exact lesson over and over? Trust my Lord and Savior. Yep. This is something that I struggle with. We all do. But how amazing-the moment when you actually put that sentence in action-and trust Him.

Timing is everything. Ever said this? Sure you have. Ever changed that to read, His timing is everything? That moment. The moment when you are content that no matter what is going on and where you are in your life-you know that God will not leave you there forever. He is walking right beside you.

With age comes a few physical alterations. Need an example? I cannot hear. At all. I lost my sense of walking in the dark. Once, my eyes adjusted and I could 'see' in the dark. Nope. Gone. This is the same in life. God gives me just enough light that I need at the time. I try to embrace it and trust that the amount of light is enough.

Much of what God wants to work in us will come about as we grow in our relationships with the people God puts in our lives. Walk step by step with God through each crisis. You will see Him do a miraculous work of transforming, restoring, and healing. God is good.

Miller is getting close to 5 months. What a handful. Never tired. He and Moses have been hanging out a lot. What a pair-those two. I fell off the blog-osphere. Hopefully, back on!

Sprinkler

2009-08-13T06:59:00.001-05:00

Growing up, I never was a big fan of the game, hide and go seek. Shocking. I know. But true. The concept of someone hiding from me and I had to find them? No thanks. Lightening bugs, Barbie and Mammaw's huge magnolia tree were more my style.

Perhaps much of life is hidden and you have to dig to find that pot of gold. Perhaps it is right in front of your face. Is it a matter of taking off your shades or grabbing your shovel and getting to work. Either way- the game of hide and go seek will always be with us. As time goes by the name of the game changes to: life.

Work will always be work. It will always be there. Stress happens. It will always be there. God is good. He will always be there. Much changes. Much remains the same. Is the grass always greener on the other side? Or- Is the grass always greener where you water it?

As I learn more about myself, I am challenged to remain faithful in the fact that during dark times and confusing times- I am taken care of. I've been forgiven and I am loved.

Turn your sprinklers on. Water your job, heart, relationships and faith. It will grow. It will change. It will be fabulous. Find your happiness. Faith.

Me time

2009-07-21T20:16:00.002-05:00

Today. I'm glad I had it and that it moved by quickly. Work was the same expected situations. Busy. I like busy. It has been raining since 3. No small shower. A down pour. I love it. Dinner club met tonight at 5 at Keifer's. One of my favorite joints to be at. Love the atmosphere and the attitude of the waiters. Cool place.

I got home around 6:45. Opened the back door to let Moses in. Remember the rain? It turns holes made of dirt into mud. He was covered. So out in the rain I go with the water hose. Unbelievable. I couldn't help but to laugh. Typical. I expect these things to occur. He is clean now. At least no mud.

After that fun event- I had me time. I still am. A nice, hot bath. A good book. A coffee. And I'm doing a little writing. Those of you who follow and know- I'm very happy to say, I finished writing my first book. Children's books, for the ones that do not know. Pretty cool. Between the father I was blessed with and the imagination I have- I was bound to write a 'pretend' story for little ones to read. I'll let you know as the process continues. Exciting.

I am richly blessed. We all are if we choice to think positively. I haven't really been myself lately. Due to stress and life- I just thought I'd have a sorry attitude and it was okay. I could do that. No. Not the case. I had to step back and realize all I have and see all the good things in my life. Maybe we all have to do that at some point. What makes us smile? What makes your heart skip a beat? Have patience. Its hard. But enjoy! Take your 'me time'.

Why can't MS have CO weather?

2009-07-12T22:24:00.011-05:00

I got back from Denver today. Wednesday through Sunday morning was not enough time! Peter Lawrence is adorable. I'm not just saying that. I promise. He is. Although he makes ugly/weird/odd faces and he sure is loud when he chooses- but what a precious little one he is. Les got to sleep in Friday and rest- leaving me with Pete. I was thrilled! What a blessing a baby is. What a miracle. Just look at that face!

His ManMan LOVES him so much!!!!

In a previous blog I mentioned dad sent the baby a ball when we found out it was a boy. Here it is. How amazing is this? I cried when I saw it. If you cannot read it, it says: I loved you even before you were born. Coach! And I know Coach sure did! Coach is one happy man!

I also came home to a much bigger puppy. Miller is not so small anymore. He grew! Still a cutie though. And still bad as ever. Puppies are tough. But so are babies- I'd rather have the puppy right now!

Moses is still visiting in Mississippi. This is Miller chewing his tail. Poor Moses.

One more year

2009-07-05T21:20:00.002-05:00

Yep. Another year older and little bit wiser. I guess I can say that. Twenty-six was very much a learning year. So much happened in that one year. I know twenty-seven will be the same. I do love the bad and good that comes with life. It keeps you human. It keeps you humble. It keeps you patient. It keeps you faithful. It shows you love. It. Yes, it. IT came in many forms during my reign as a twenty-six year old single woman: The death of a grandfather. The end of some relationships. The birth of a nephew. The beginning of new relationships. The death of my best buddy, Tucker. The trials of a sister's sickness. The promotions of a job. The move from Clinton to Ridgeland. The marriage of a best friend. The engagement of another. The bad moments that made me stronger. The good moments that make me laugh. Whatever IT is, happens. There is no stopping it.

I can honestly say that the age of twenty-six was one crazy year I will never forget. Not all decisions were the best. Not all moments were good. But it made me better. I'll never forget twenty-six. That is a promise. But oh how beautiful, I'm blessed with another year. Another year to make a different and be better. Another year to gather more wrinkles in my brain.

The new puppy is-well he is a puppy. 110% puppy. His name is Miller. He is named after Donald Miller who is a cool author. Check him out. His reads are amazing. Most should enjoy them.

I leave this week heading to Denver to see that little nephew. I know I will have many pictures and stories to share. I am a very proud aunt that cannot wait to hold that sweet baby.

Happy late 4th of July. Smile. Find your happiness. Be sweet. Be careful. Enjoy your life. Pray for those around you. Have faith built on solid ground. And be as normal as you can be! Happy July!!!

No name

2009-06-22T16:34:00.006-05:00

They walk into your life. You didn't know they were on their way, yet they appeared and you accepted. They mean so much to you. They make you better. They make you smile. They comfort, love and laugh with you. These people are great. It isn't often they appear but when you do...you are in awe. What a great feeling.

Life is good. Really good. For many reason. I leave in a few weeks to visit Leslie, Ryan and Peter Lawrence. That will be a fun trip. The job is going okay. I've been given patience and understanding. That is a great thing. I've even been able to bite my tongue. Amazing.

I got a new pup yesterday. He has no name. I need to figure something out! I miss Tucker but I know he would love this little puppy I have now. Tucker was a yellow lab. Before Tucker I had Tuff and he was a chocolate lab. They were two beautiful labs. Now the new one is black. We'll see how it works out. I hope good. He is a biter though. Uh oh!

The picture above is Moses with the new little one. They are so funny together. I'll be sad when Moses goes back to Georgia. He's a wonderful dog! If you can think of a good name for this little black boy I now have, let me know!

Heat index of 108 today. That is ridiculous. I am not a fan of summer. I sweat too much to ever look presentable. If you know me, you know this is true. However, one of my favorite holidays is coming up- JULY 4th! I've always been a fan of this holiday. I'm also a fan of July the First Day.

Stay cool this summer. If you are in MS, move. That is your only hope! Do something nice for a stranger. Smile until your face hurts. Laugh until you cry. And love til the end.

Overcome

2009-06-09T21:32:00.001-05:00

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Amazingly, this story is true. Give time time. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. Your attitude determines the end result. A lesson I teach myself daily.

Build your bridge.

The Rock

2009-06-04T15:48:00.004-05:00

That is what his name stands for. Peter Lawrence Nichols was born yesterday, just after lunch. He stretches 21 inches long and weighs in at 8lbs 8 oz. I think his hair is 3 of the 8 lbs. He has a head full of dark, curly hair.

Leslie and Ryan are very proud parents. I can't wait to see him and hold him. Enjoy the pics of my nephew Pete!!!

Dry it up

2009-05-19T16:34:00.010-05:00

I'll never forget the first time (I was in high school) when my dad told me to stop crying. "Dry it up," where his exact words. I did something wrong. I knew it was wrong and apparently there was no need for tears. Only improvement and apologies. So that I did. Without tears.

Daddy's girl. But dad is a football coach surrounded by women. We knew how to wrap ourselves around his finger. He too, knew us well. He loves mom, as he should. Jaime is his heart. He and Les have a unique relationship. He and I...well I am the baby that is much different from her sisters. Personality, that is.

What makes you become tough? More than likely it will be an occurance in your life. Some are born tough, while others never experience the word. When you do something wrong, how do you react? When wrong is done to you, how do you react? Reacts (actions), as 'they' say, speak louder than words. Very true. I respond well to affirmation. Both words and actions. However, words seem to be fake at times. Actions show.

How do you bounce back from a broken marriage? The death of a dog? Fighting off a disease? A bad relationship? A terrible situation at work? Mean people?

Life is hard. Surround yourself with useful people. There is nothing worse than having someone in your life that makes you feel bad, unworthy, unloved or not special. Get rid of them. Easier said than done. I know. But maybe neccessary? It is okay to have tough skin every once in awhile. You'll find that you can get cut but it heals with time. You ask about scars? Yes, they will be there. I like to call scars 'personality'. Cry when you need. It's okay too. We all handle things differently. That is the beauty of life.

Build people up. Make the ones in your life feel special. Don't hurt the ones you love and care about. The older I get, the more I realize how precious the people that invest in my life truly are. I've had to dry it up lately. Things haven't turned out the way I would have liked. People have let me down. And other situations. So I smile. And keep on going.

A little update. My parents house in Hattiesburg sold yesterday. They are so releaved. I am thrilled that my house will go back to normal! I am not being rude, just honest. My house is lonely without Tucker. He was such a great blessing and I miss him very much. If anyone wants me to have their dog, I'd love that!

Goodbye

2009-05-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there. Proverbs 31:10-31 sums up a woman and what God created her to be. Strong. Special. Safe. Sharp. Spiritual. These verses will encourage every woman to be more. I'm thankful for my mother. She, bless her heart, put up with 3 girls. Thanks for being who you are mom. We appreciate you.

Things never happen like you think they will. Life is crazy. Life is ride. The unexpected happens. That is life. One day, life sucks. Another, life is a joy.

Yesterday, around 1:45pm, Tucker passed away. I wrote yesterday about a typical Tucker day. He was fine. At the drop of a hat, he was very sick. I have cried my eyes out. You that know me know how much he meant to me. It is wild to think about how much an animal can mean to you. He meant the world to me. He knew things, only he and I knew. He was special.

Tucker is greatly missed by many people. Friends came over to hug my neck. Phone calls. Emails. Text. They all came in. Thank you. I am greatly blessed to have wonderful godly individuals in my life. Tears will always be a part of life. Life goes on.

Sweet Tuck had the best eyes, most loving spirit and a very curious mind. I will always remember the laughs we had and memories we shared. He was a big boy. I loved his marble eyes. I loved his nosey nose. He was the best dog. Never dull. Always exciting. I know he is better off now. But he is still missed very much.

I've never been big on goodbyes. I actually hate them. I am not one to ponder on being sad. It is depressing. Saying goodbye to my Sweet Love was tough. At the time, I was given the strength. I reminded him of my love. And how things are better now. The house is quiet. A bit lonely. Time. It will get better. Much love to my amazing family and friends that care for me. I love you all very much.

This picture of Tuck was taken a week ago. We were out on the back porch. He loved his yard.

The nice guy.

2009-05-09T09:42:00.000-05:00

I love the nice guy. I try to be the nice guy(gal).

My Saturday morning started early. 7am. My Aunt Angie spent the night with me last night. We had dinner and a great time together. She and I had our coffee and morning discussions about different things. Family. Life. Things to pray for. Etc. She left at 8am.

It is now 9:30. You would think in one hour and 30 minutes, things would be calm and okay. Not the case. The events I am about to tell you are why I love life. And love my life. Life is a wild ride. I'm just happy to have a seat.

I start cutting the yard when she leaves. I started with the front yard, in fear that the rain would start if I did the back yard first. People see the front. Make it look nice. I get it cut. I'm happy. I start on the side. Mower dies. It will not mow. Problem. I call my dad. He says pour the gas out and put new gas in it. I did. Nothing.

I can not mow. I look around the red machine. It seems complicated. I burn my hand. Not bad. The conclusion: I can not cut my grass today. That is okay. I have plenty of other things to do. I pick weeds. This is NO fun. I take the garbage out.

As the trash guys pull up, I go to the back yard to get a chair that broke. I open the gate. Guess who saw the open door. Tucker. This part is crazy but true. 3 garbage dudes stop what they are doing and chase him. The neighbor across the street (old man) runs after Tucker too. 3 kids chase him, along with me. 4 minutes later, we get him. The men go back to their truck and do their job. I spend 3 minutes saying I'm sorry. I spend 2 minutes thanking the neighborhood. The next 5 minutes are spent yelling at Tucker.

So there are good people out there. The people that help you chase your dog. The people that offer their mower. The nice guys.

May we all be nice guys or gals. It is important and it means so much in the long run.
May we all find enough happiness to be sweet.

Wild times at my house. I expect nothing less. Maybe I should go back to my ways...when I had a yard man. Yard stuff was easier! Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Master Lock

2009-05-03T12:09:00.002-05:00

I loose my keys. This happens every so often. I usually find them. For some reason, these keys hold many earthly treasures that I own, yet I still loose my keys. Unbelievable. I've changed the locks on doors, due to loosing them. I've also had the same set of keys for years. Keys open and lock doors. We also have 'keys' in our lives.

Life. Everyone has a different story. What does your story say about you? My story is crazy but beautiful. Looking back, I see the growth in my life during 'tough' times. I also see the growth during 'amazing' times.

I love people. I love hearing your story. Your adventures. They all amaze me. Sometimes, sitting back and listening can be a great thing. Being open-minded is key.

Doors close. Door open. Jobs. Relationships. Pets. Family. Friends. Housing. They are all subject to change. We've all been there. A time when we think we can't move. We can't go on. Something happened. A change. Then, there comes a silver lining. The sunny part appears. You can jump and run. Maybe you just changed the lock on the door. Beautiful.

Life isn't fair. I learn this everyday. We just have to work with what we have and find the blessings in the storms. We've all had a relationship that ended. We were crushed. Look back. Did you push through it? Obviously so. Things can and will get better. It may not be today. It may not be in 1 month. But it will. Faith.

We must all strive to be and do better. My God is so good. He brings great people in my life to help me do these things. Enjoy the moment. They may be there for a few weeks, years or forever. Love them. Appreciate them. Help them to do good too. They may have your key for the time being. Share. Master Lock makes big locks with a small key. Give God that lock. Follow Him. He'll put that key in the right hands.

So, I've been sick for 4 days. No, I am not better. Not fun. Thankfully, I do not believe it is the swine flu. What a crazy thing. I'm sure you all heard the funny swine flu joke. I laughed! Tucker and I are doing good. Come visit. Enjoy your life! Smile!

Red light-Green light

2009-04-28T13:28:00.003-05:00

What a beautiful weekend I had. I spent the weekend in Georgia. It was a blast. I visited an animal safari. Which I loved. The animals were fabulous. For some reason...the critters with extremely long tongues and slobber came to my side of the truck. That part got a little scary at times. Overall, it was a neat deal. This is a picture of one of the animals at my window. The tongue was on its way out and it was coming straight towards me. He was my favorite though. I do not remember what type of thingy he is but I do remember he is from Europe. He was full of hair. Precious!

I also went hiking at Providence Canyon State Park, while in Georgia. It was gorgeous. We were blessed with great weather. I enjoyed doing this. There really are some amazing places you can visit and have a good time. I love being outdoors. God's creations amaze me. This is a picture of the canyon. I know you cannot tell much about it...but believe me, it was pretty!

Just a little taste of what my weekend was like, for your viewing pleasure. Now, get outside before its 107 degrees in March!

Does your heart ever get heavy? Anything and everything is sitting on top of your heart. You can't stop thinking about it all. Today, I had to go out to my car and sit. It was a beautiful thing. I prayed for everything and everyone that was on my heart. The clarity after doing this is amazing. Sometimes...it is hard to make yourself stop and focus on things other than work, life, and family. Stopping is good. My stop today was for a reason.

When God tells us to stop. Do it. You'll be glad you did. Red means stop. Listen and following His will. Green means go. Not always easy or easily understood. But is a must. Life is scary. That is why we have a Savior. Amen. He has pulled me out of things. He's also rejoiced with me. He is in love with me. And you. Grace.

Enough preaching! Excuse me. April is almost over. Man, that was quick. I'm booked and ready to fly to Denver and see my nephew in July. I am very excited about that. It will be so good to visit with Leslie and Ryan. Sightseeing and exploring the mountains. Many good things will happen on this trip. Not to mention the wittle one I'll get to love on!

Tucker has officially lost his mind. That is all I'm saying about that. He is a wild child. Oh, how I love that yellow knuckle-head though.

Have a great and safe week. Laugh! It does the soul good. Listen! It works. Use your gifts.

Psalm 25: 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Attention Jackson...

2009-04-17T07:16:00.001-05:00

Coming to a pothole near you....asphalt. I believe Jackson is receiving $200 million to fix the roads. This will make for such a smoother commute, so they report. Have you driven down a road in Hinds County? Once you do, I promise, you will get out of your car to see if you lost a muffler or bumper or person. They are bad. However, I cannot report that the driving will be any better. Mississippians cannot drive. The Magnolia State ranks 6th in the nation in the worst driver’s poll. The only state in the south that beat us, Georgia at #5. If it isn't wide open...they panic.

I have been told twice in the past week that I should change my opinion on one of previous blogs. That would be the statement saying: If you are 25+ do not live with your parents. I was told this because my dad is living with me. Well, I refuse to change it. It is not healthy. I am not living with my parents. He is living with me. Difference. I am a good daughter. Yes, he is still around during the week. I'm not sure where my parents stand on the housing situation. Please keep them in your prayers. The quicker the better, for all.

Another request came to me after my last post. It was brought to my attention that I did not mention Tucker's favorite thing...to trail deer. Let me assure you, I had nothing to do with his talent. I have only seen him do this once. I do know that he has found many deer for people that I work with or friends. So, you go Tucker. Keep up the good work. We're proud!

Lauren, Krista, Tiffany, Nancy, Christy, Krista and I are throwing around different places to go for our girl’s trip. Krista is a cruiser. Lauren is NYC. CJ is L.A. all the way. Nancy and Tiffany have not voiced yet. And me, well I said the Grand Canyon. We'd love to hear your suggestions. We're up for anything. Well maybe not the Canyon because I'm pretty sure everyone turned their noses up to that one. I might get stuck doing that one alone. Whatever may happen, I can promise that by fall these 7 amazing ladies will be somewhere other than the south!

Lately, I've found myself overwhelmed with attitudes that others have. Maybe towards me or just life. Turn that frown upside down! I say, let people be who they are. If you don't like something they do or the way they are, then don't hang with them. It is very important that we build people up. Help others become better. Sometimes doing a little more than we want to can put a smile on someone's face. And that is important.

My eyes have been wide open to see those who truly care about me. The ones that are proud of the work I do and the life I live. You guys know who you are. Thank you for being in my life and investing so much. Great friends and an amazing family are just a few blessings God has given me.

We had dinner club this week. Oh boy. The memories and stories that were told. How we laughed. It was a wonderful time. It is scary at how my memory is not near as good as others. These girls remember things I did years ago that I have completely forgotten about. Amazingly we are still here! Stories. I love them!

Some of us are hoping for the rain to push on through this weekend. We've planned a day at Rocky Springs. It will be divine. I'm not the girl that sits inside. I like to be outside. Take it or leave, it matters none to me. I'll be waiting outside for you! Pictures will follow of our trip to the springs that are rocky.

Happy Friday kiddos! Be safe. Laugh. And enjoy!

Amanda's Big Tucker

2009-04-13T10:18:00.008-05:00

How do you sum up three years? Today, I sum it up in one word. TUCKER.

Yes, today I celebrate 3 lovely years of having Tucker in my life. The poor fella woke up this morning to me singing 'Happy Birthday'. It was 5:40 and he wasn't sure what was going on. He quickly realized he did nothing wrong or that I had not lost my mind when he was served his birthday breakfast that consisted of 2 hot dogs, 1 pig ear and a large ham bone. He probably has a tummy ache now.

Tucker has been a best friend. Just like a human best friend...we've had our moments of thinking I was done with him because he is so bad but we've also had our moments of laying beside one another relaxing. Tuck has a keen sense of knowing when I am sad or upset. He also can tell when I am ready to play...he takes full advantage of these times.

It all started in Texas. Everything's bigger in Texas. This is a true statement about Tucker. He is a large 119 lbs (losing weight) and full of energy. A couple from Louisiana decided they needed a dog. They made the trip to Texas and brought a yellow lab home with them. They named him Tater. After a month of having Tater the couple decides to split, leaving Tater homeless. A man in Louisiana asked an old friend of mine if he would like the dog. He knew I wanted a dog. He told the man yes.

I get a call..."I found you a dog. I'll bring him to you today. He is 5 months old." I was pumped. A little pup that was all mine. When Tater was delivered to my house, I thought the age thing was a joke. He weighed 60 lbs. The vet said Tater's papers are correct. "Amanda, you will just have a big dog on your hands." Little did we know...

Tater quickly changed to Tucker. Tucker ate a lot and grew a lot. He has never made a mess in the house, unless he was sick. He has never bitten anyone, unless by accident. He has been a great companion. But I can't say that for everyday we've had together.

I love shoes. If I could buy one thing, it would be a nice pair of stilettos. I found the perfect pair. So did Tucker. I walk in the house to find my new shoes mangled. They didn't even look like shoes. The heel was the only thing left. Tucker got to know that heel pretty well for the next 10 minutes.

Tiffany comes over for a visit the week before her wedding. She is excited. We start talking, only to soon realize her Rainbow flip-flops she just purchased were now Tucker's newest chew toy. The next day I run to the store to buy her a new pair.

Tucker went through a period of throwing up. To cure this I was told to give him an Imodium. Bad, bad, bad. I accidently gave him one too many on a Sunday. We had to rush to the Pet ER in Jackson because Tucker couldn't breathe. Not to mention he had HUGE whelps all over his body. No more Imodium for him. Also, if by some strange reason the elderly couple with their grandchildren who were taking a Sunday stroll that most awful day read this...I apologize for being so rude to you on the interstate. I was in a hurry. You were in the way.

Tucker has disappeared for a day or so. He has been running down the busiest road in Clinton. He has pooped just about everywhere his feet have landed. He has had one report of disturbing the peace on his record. He has eaten one wax machine, one phone cord, and many other items that may be lying around. I got mom a chimanaya for Christmas. Within a few days, Tucker managed to get his head stuck in it. To save himself from carrying it around for the rest of his life, he busted it on the patio. He had a black head for weeks.

Now, reading this you may think Tucker is bad. Bad is not the correct word. Mischievous is. He can't help himself. He is full of life. If he were human, he'd be like me...full of questions. He also, never gets in real trouble unless it is super bad. I just let him be himself. I know many do not think this is the best form of parenting but I can't help it. He is adorable!
Tucker had a girlfriend. They had babies. It was the proudest moment of my life! He loves girlfriends. This is a picture of a few of his children. Note: His girlfriend at the time was chocolate!

The puppy to the right was identical to my sweetie. Tucker wasn't real sure about a mini-him! He was as gentle as a 2 year old, 115 lb, male lab could be. It was entertaining!

Tucker has been with me through so much. He has given me kisses when I cried. He has crawled in my lap when we're both quiet. Overall, we've been great for one another. Tucker loves people and attention. When no one else is around and I think no one cares...Tucker does. He doesn't have to have the best of everything. He is simple. I like simple. I get simple. He makes me smile and laugh. It is never a dull day with him around. So cheers to sweet Tuck! Happy 3rd Birthday! May we enjoy many more!!

Come on over!

2009-04-12T19:01:00.002-05:00

I have a few sweet neighbors. I have a few odd neighbors. I am fine with this. Across the street lives an elderly couple. I'm going out on a limb by saying they have lived in their house for 30 years, give or take. We do not have coffee together, nor do we do the tea thing. We do wave and say hello. However, today was a monumental day. Easter. Yes. Also, the first time they came over to visit.

I love visitors. Come by, if you choose. I will welcome you. So they walk over. Knock. And enter. Upon their entrance, they hand me a paper plate wrapped in foil. My large imagination starts thinking. Yes, they brought me a slice of strawberry cake and a cupcake. Amazing! Two of my favorites. We visit. They leave.

As I'm scoffing down these delicious treats, I stop and smile. How great is our God. How great that people who serve Him, go out of their way for others. How often do you go out of your way for someone? A simple gesture, such as bringing your neighbor a cupcake, could be just what they need. I didn't need it but it is the thought that counts.

The strawberry cake was yummy. Cupcake? Not sure. I stood strong and did not eat it. Now, I can say that I had an Easter yummy treat. I did not go to my parents. I choose to stay at home. I hear I missed out on good fun and food. I'll make up for that somewhere along the line. Church was an amazing time of worship. The thunderstorms held off so the kiddies could hunt for eggs. Did you dye an egg? I did not. Should have.

I have glorious news. Earnest, my chicken, has made the journey back home. I'm not sure where he went for over a week. I am just glad he is back. Earnest made his homecoming announcement in a LOUD way. The silly chicken clucked for an hour. Tucker was not happy. For the first time, he wanted to eat Earnest.

Do something good for someone else. Be nice! Smile! Be happy! I watched a movie this weekend. A writer was told to not use exclamation points because it shows that he laughs at himself. That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Periods are boring. Use an exclamation point! (This could be why i am not a writer.)There is nothing wrong with laughing at yourself! Enjoy your life!!!

Coloradoan

2009-04-09T09:58:00.004-05:00

This is a hoot! Ryan does not have a belly in real life. He has gained weight during this pregnancy, however, not this much. Leslie, on the other hand, is not forcing her belly out! They went to the mountains last weekend with a few friends and took this picture. I am so proud of both mommy and daddy. They will be great parents. This picture expresses their personality. So funny! Wouldn't you love to be on that mountain right now? I would.

This is my favorite picture. It is so sad that I can't rub that sweet belly, but I know her friends out there are taking great care of her. Leslie would die, but many times I have prayed for this baby to be BIG! Big babies just seem like they will not break as easily. Stupid, I know. Jaime, Leslie and I were all big babies. So, obviously being a big baby is not so bad!

Easter is here. What an amazing thing that happened so many years ago. I cannot fathom the magnitude of the events that occurred but I graciously accept His love and selflessness. With a heart full of thanksgiving, reflect this weekend on life. What a gift. On a lighter note, I hope Easter B. will bring you much unwanted but secretly wanted candy!

Best dressed...

2009-04-06T06:46:00.001-05:00

Goes too...Carrie Underwood. I am a fan. Loved the red dress she performed “I Told You So” in last night. I would love to wear it for a day. I'm pretty sure that dress was made for me. Amazing. This picture does not do it justice. The award show was good. Great entertainment. Hilarious jokes. Good fun. Too much Taylor and not enough George. Lots of talent in one room. Great thing.

I had the pleasure of being out of the office last week. I was turkey hunting. I met some pretty cool dudes and caught a big fish. The tragedy of the story? No turkey. Between people telling me to be still or be quiet…I am now left with 3 strands of hair on my head. People getting angry at me because I had to scratch my face or I dropped a cushion are things I cannot handle. Since Kindergarten, I have been a firm believer that the person yelling “Be still” or “SSSSHHHHHH” is MUCH louder than the individual ‘causing the ruckus’. Chill. Life is still good.

I enjoy being outdoors. I gain much needed peace and serenity. While sitting uncomfortably against a tree last week, I had time to think. It was a beautiful thing. Oh, if only we could all take time to just sit outside and think. Great ideas are birthed. My creativity is not at the highest level of potential in a cube. Whose is? Get outside. Think. Like milk, it does the body good.

I did go down the Natchez Trace 4 times this weekend. Windows down. Music loud. Good company. It was fabulous! Also, Tucker is home now. Welcome home! He was greatly missed. You can find Mr. Hyper in the backyard because my new roommate does not want Tucker in MY house. My patience is being tested and I am proud to say that I am doing well with the changes that occur during the week at my house. I humbly accept the fact that my way is not always going to happen. This is OK.

Nothing much else going on. Fine with me. April 6th and we have a freeze warning tonight. Crazy. Bundle up. Bring the dogs in. Build one last fire. I'm pulling for North Carolina tonight. In reality, I could careless. Happy Monday!

Manda's Mower

2009-03-22T19:32:00.002-05:00

I am officially (as if I didn't already realize this fact) in my upper 20's and single. I am not complaining. I promise. But let me tell you, after 5 hours of yard work today, I deserve to complain if I want. My yard looks so lovely though. I learned to use a push mower, weed eater and what poison ivy looks like, all in one day. Poison Ivy-well this knowledge came to me AFTER I already pulled and tugged on it for a good 5 minutes. I haven't broken out yet. Hopefully, I'll bypass that part of yard work.

I enjoyed my hard work today. My end result made me smile. I pat myself on the back. Now it is still early and I am about to get in the bed. A yard can wear you out!

My new roommate arrived today. My dad. He snores but he is like a best friend. I'm glad he is here. Spring is here plus dad is here, this means 1 thing...fishing after work! So this is exciting. I enjoy fishing. He will only be here on and off until they sell the house in Hattie and buy one here. I pray it all works out smoothly.

Last full week of March. Craziness. Enjoy spring!!!

Kiss me. I'm Irish.

2009-03-17T09:49:00.005-05:00

I am of Irish descent. This is on both my maternal and paternal side. I enjoy this fun fact!

Jaime has been in The Hills with dads family for over 2 weeks. Mom and dad went up to get her yesterday. I had to post this picture because it is priceless. The small things that make us smile are the things in life that really matter.

Green Eggs and Ham!

2009-03-17T06:51:00.007-05:00

Work. It has been rough. But I let it get the best of me. That is too bad for me. I let a work issue steal my joy and my happiness. Lesson learned. Shame on me. “Don’t let people steal from you. Stay happy.” This is what I am now telling myself.

Some employees want to walk in and use their thumb to squash all creativity and productivity out of you? Yes, they probably do this. They probably try at 47 different angels to come at you. Do they accomplish? Well they do if you allow them to. There are times when people will run over and this is understandable. Thankfully, there are times when you stand strong for yourself.

In passing, I might have mentioned this work situation to some. Only a few had deep details. After complaining to these few people I am close to about my situation at work, I realized my situation wasn’t getting any better. Until, I talked to my dad. He was quick to remind me that I must always keep my head straight. I must always have a smile on my face. This doesn’t mean I like them AND no matter how much I want to roll my eyes at them, DON’T. (I tend to roll my eyes a great deal of the time. I hate it when I do this and I do not realize it.) A flaw. I am aware. Pops also reminded me that my work is great and I show great passion towards it. The truth will come out. And that is a fact. It will.

It is so good to have encouraging people in your life. I find such comfort in the great people I have in my life that genuinely care for me and invest in my life. It is so easy for some to say ‘find a new job’ or ‘don’t worry about her’. So I really appreciate those whose words went deeper than the surface. Thank you.

My work may not have my name on it. It has someone else’s name tattooed on it. But this will work out. As I continue to smile and be happy because I DO HAVE A JOB…please remember me during this trying time at work. It isn’t perfect. But it shall get better!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Wear green...it is a fun day! Green is a great color! I love the story of St. Patrick. If you have not heard it, google it. Pinch the grumpy/boring people who do not have on green. Peeeench!!

Happy 35th Anniversary to Mom and Dad, today!!! Coral or Jade is the traditional gift for this anniversary. I'm pretty confident that my father will be non-traditional (again), seeing that he hasn't followed a single tradition in his life. Mom, I always wondered if you wore green on your wedding day? I know I would have. Such a great day! Enjoy the day!

Jibba Jabba

2009-03-16T07:17:00.002-05:00

You know what I think? It doesn’t matter but I’m in that kind of mood.

I think that if you have something to say to someone that may hurt them, find a respectful way to say it. If it is on a topic that is none of your business, keep your mouth shut.

I think that riding in the middle of the seat in a truck is so awful. You can sit in the passenger side and be just as in love.

I think that if you truly love someone (friend, family, etc) then you should do things that make them happy. Relationships aren’t always about one person.

I think that if you want to get to know someone completely, you have to invest time. Enough said.

I think that all lazy people should work in the hands-on-labor industry. Try and be useful.

I think if you are 25+, you should not live with your parents. They are created to raise you. You are created to visit them.

I think all work places should offer a time to work out and offer an environment that allows individuality in productivity. Majority of rules are boring and stressful.

I think everyone should spend at least 1 hour a day, during the week, outside.

I think God created laughter as the universal connection between all mankind.

I think everyone knows when it is time to move on. It is just a matter of taking that first step.

I think that if you can’t talk to the head of your company…your company lacks many key essentials to be productive and produce.

I think break-ups are good and bad. Try and focus on how it was good and why it was bad…then smile. It happened. It is done. There was a reason.

I think there is no reason for people to not graduate from high school and college, currently and within the past 10 years. Get an education.

I think flowers are great. There is nothing like a grouping of flowers to brighten your house, office or your day. Yes, I buy myself flowers because they are so wonderful.

I think those of you that do not wash your hands after going to the restroom are SICK.

I think you should always make time for others.

I think regrets are silly. We all have things we wish we could take back but living in the past is ridiculous and so is letting the past consume you.

I think a clean house is important. So is allergy medicine.

I think mentors and role models are important for the human spirit.

I think traditions are both good and bad. Too many traditions leave no room for fun random adventures. I only have one tradition. I like it this way.

I can't see

2009-03-11T10:57:00.002-05:00

Driving to work is a bit of a chore some days. This morning, as I am creeping down I-55 at a record turtle pace I noted I could not see more than 10 yards ahead. Due to what I later came to realize was a wreck and not to mention the pollen that is as thick as fog in Jackson. (Hurry up rain. My allergies are killing me.) I am not usually irritated with traffic. I can only recall a few times when I was overwhelmed with anger because of traffic. For the most part, I sit back and listen to tunes.

My place of employment is really coming down of us to be on time. That means 8:00 am NOT 8:01. This is hard for some. Yes, I may be a part of that 'some' on days. Sorry. Get over it. With each passing minute, this morning, I moved another 9 inches. Luckily, I left home earlier than usual. I would not be late.

Sitting on 55 not moving, I began to think how parallel this is to life. I couldn't see what was ahead of me. I knew something was ahead but I wasn't sure what. Like life, we can not see what is in store for us. We are very careful, for fear of getting hurt or getting in a 'wreck'. As I am sitting and waiting for the traffic to move, I heard the words coming from the speakers in my car 'You know better than I'. Joy Williams beautifully sings this song.

How true this is. How amazing the way my morning played out. He truly does know better than I. He knows all. Who am I to question His ways or to try and get a tight grasp of understanding His ways? I will continue to face hard and confusing times but nothing will ever be greater than Him. I am so richly blessed that by faith I believe and know that God knows what is ahead. The traffic will clear. The fog will clear. He will still remain. Promise.

SO...I am very supportive and faithful to those I love. I love the ones I love and I will be their biggest fan. I mentioned in my last blog that my family will be moving back to Jackson. Check out www.hillcrestchristian.org . Yes, I am the baby girl and I'm always proud!

Also, I am thinking about taking the FRS Healthy Energy Challenge. I'll let you know. I have also challenged myself to be different everyday. If this means going out of my way for someone, not getting easily irritated or not letting soar attitudes affect me...then so be it. Challenge yourself to do something. I'm going to the zoo for lunch next week. I will post pics. It shall be splendid.

Get outside. Spring is almost officially here. Buy yellow tulips to decorate your house! Ahh...flowers are great. Pollen is not.

Snowy Sunday

2009-03-02T05:58:00.002-06:00

I spent this past weekend in North Mississippi. I love that area. I had a blast. I got to spend time with my old friend, Nancy. We make one another laugh. I bet I laughed the entire time. Seriously. It was so good to catch up with her. It was also a fabulous weekend because it snowed like crazy at her house. Her staircase was very icey. Not good. She lives on Pickwick Lake. It is very beautiful, if you've never been. I was in high hopes that the lake would freeze so I could skate on it. However, it didn't get that cold! Wishful thinking.

I tried trout for the first time this weekend at Jon's Pier. It was a doggone pity, I didn't care for it. Luckily, dessert was fabulous! A cool little joint at Pickwick is the Broken Spoke. They serve a variety of foods and cool redneck t-shirts. I enjoyed the little place. Unique restaurants are the spots to hit up. Especially the ones that scratch out a menu item with a pen and change the area code on their sign with a marker. Charming.

Much has gone on since the last time I wrote. With much prayer, my family has decided to move back to the Jackson area. Dad's final day at PCS (Hattiesburg) will be after spring break and he will join the team at Hillcrest Christian, as the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. I am very excited about their move. Jaime is not real happy about moving. Change is not her favorite. Please pray for her in this adjustment. Hopefully, the house in Hattie will sell with ease and they will find exactly what they are wanting in a new house here.

How quickly time has flown by. It is already March 2, 2009. I am so thankful for good friends and a loving family. 2009 has been splendid so far. I hope this for you, too. Laugh today!

Rollback

2009-02-23T07:12:00.002-06:00

Wal-Mart. What a place. I am not a fan of Rollback Prices. However, I found myself there this weekend. 2,346 people pushing huge carts around, ungodly children acting foolish while the driver of the cart is steadily getting upset. And that is what makes Wal-Mart a horrific place to shop.

Checking out, my cashier said these exact words: "I hate Wal-Mart. I just work here." As I look at her and smile...my mind immediately races. If you hate where you work and do not believe in it, then why are you wearing the blue vest with the yellow smiley face? Is she the only individual fighting that battle today? No. Hardly. If we could all choose what we were, where we worked and how many hours we put in a week...would it be the same as your current job? I seriously doubt it.

All this talk about the economy will NOT happen on this blog. At least not today. Well, never. Times are tough. We all see or know that. That clear, my point is...your job will never be fabulous everyday you walk in. Mine surely isn't. But I feel at this moment I am where God has called me to be, and that is glorious. The 8-10 hours you put in a day...is it a job or career? Do you need to pick up your things and get moving?

I am figuring out my strength's and weaknesses. What I truly want to do. What I would like to do with the rest of my life. No, I can't say hosting Mississippi Outdoors is my life long goal. It is fun for the moment but there is so much more God has in store for me. So, for now, my focus is doing the best I can where I am now. I look into other opportunities but the 'right' one hasn't come up yet. Yes, I will continue to pick up the slack because people are lazy. Why? Because I care. I care about the place that deposits money into my account.

I do love the days when I am not in the office. The days I get to spend outside. I am not the office type, nor will I ever be. I have a pretty cool job, for the most part. A Mississippi boy would love it. The people aren't always easy to deal with. But that is everywhere. However, I am excited about where I will be lead to next. Whenever that may be.

If you are like the cashier at Wal-Mart, pick your head up. Move your feet. Find yourself and your little piece of happiness. Unfortunately, we can't always bypass the "cashier" days at work. They just happen.

Happy Monday!

Bump

2009-02-18T07:14:00.004-06:00

Tucker spent Valentine's Day with Jaime and my parents in Hattiesburg. I was out of town but received this picture on my phone Saturday. Let's just say...I'm a bit tenderhearted. I cried! Just look at that face...I can't get enough!

Mom got to visit Leslie and Ryan a few weeks ago. I was jealous. Leslie is starting to get a little baby bump. I've heard of some women that glow during pregnancy. She is one. She looks great and so happy. This makes me very happy. This is Leslie with a little baby bump.

Leslie and Ryan opening the football dad sent them. This was a special football. It was also very special because our favorite football coach had all girls. He is now receiving the blessing of a grandson.
The Saints have lost their minds getting rid of Dulymus. All good things must come to end. So they say. Whoever they are? Who to cheer for now? Maybe he'll come to Jackson and run for Mayor. I'd move in the city limits just to vote for him.

Early Bird

2009-02-17T06:19:00.001-06:00

I wake up early. I am close to being ready for work now. I love mornings. Although it is raining here it is still a good morning. Tucker has been at my parents house for the weekend. I miss him. He is coming home today. Very excited! I woke up thinking about my family. My devotion this morning, just so happened, to be about the people in your life.

My family is great. I love them with all I have. They help me out all the time. I am very grateful. One day, I hope to do for them, as they have done for me, in return. We are a close knit family. Another blessing. When the day is done, I can say, no matter what...my family loves me and will always be here for me. This is comforting news.

We are all very different. Thus, making it an interesting adventure. 3 girls, a nurse and football coach. That is us. We expanded, by adding Ryan (Les's hubby) and her little boy that will be us in June. I love the thought of a nephew. I love him so much already.

Jaime is the oldest. She is the sweet, kind spirited and nurturing one. She lives in Hattiesburg. Then there is Leslie. Leslie always excelled in school. Her work and studies are important to her. She has a great head on her shoulders. She lives in Denver. My mother is awesome. She is a prayer warrior. Need prayer? Tell her. My dad has the humor when needed and the scary, stern look when needed. Although he is a football coach, he can be tenderhearted and loving.

God is the basis of our family. Growing up I remember praying as a family. This is very important and I believe is the cause of our closeness. Though our time here together hasn't always been easy, we made it through together. Be thankful for your family. I am!!!

Who is my follower Albo?

Vanilla with strawberries

2009-02-16T18:43:00.000-06:00

I love ice cream. I wish I were eating it right now. Such a tragedy, I am not. But ice cream makes me happy. This does not mean I need to eat it everyday. I'm pretty sure I could do this though. What is happiness? Is happiness ice cream? Someone special smiling at you? A raise? Yes, all these things should make you happy. Be thankful for the little things that make you happy. But there is so much more to happiness.

Trying something new. Going out on a limb. Walking blindly. These are scary things. But what if we choose to look at these things in a different light? Find happiness in these moments. Would our feelings/thoughts about these things be different? I believe so.

I am scared about different things in my life right now. Whatever the outcome of these things might be, my feelings of being anxious and scared did not assist in the final verdict. As humans it is normal for us to be scared about things. Like ice cream, this is OK (in moderation). If we could find happiness in the scary moments...wouldn't life be a little better? May we all enjoy every moment of our lives.

I got back in town tonight. Jacksonians can NOT drive. True statement. I drove 349 miles today and the worst drivers I experienced are in Jackson. Good thing I have learned to drive the same. This weekend I realized I can not bowl. I knew this fact already. Just did a little confirmation. The shoes are still cool. A good movie to check out is, Taken. I enjoyed.

Hope your weekend was good.

3's

2009-02-12T09:46:00.001-06:00

Do bad things happen in 3's? My dad and I always jokingly say it does. We then add in that this concept is for most people. However, for the two of us...it is 7's! There are those that are born 'snake bit'. I am one of these. I get it honest. Superstitious? Honestly, I will admit, I am a little. One has to be when faced with all the 'drama' that unfolds throughout my day. This drama is opposite of the girl that blah blah blah's about things...this drama is truly bad things. Real drama, if there is such?

After falling flat on my face today on the concrete staircase at work, I have concluded that I need a slow down. I can't say if it was the initial "I am watching myself fall and there is nothing I can do but hit the concrete" or the devastating impact of my knee on the concrete or the legendary 'Amanda falls and always jumps right back up'. One of the events assisted in my realization that: bad things just happen.

I have never understood those that do not fall. Do not have hot water heater problems. Do not drop a bowl and it breaks into 1,000 pieces. These people have it going on. I have it going on, with a little added twist. My life keeps me on my toes at all times. I am completely understanding of this.

So, if you have had a week of pure torture...please know: It could be worse. It really could. I am having to engrave this into my head right now. Yes, my knee hurts. It is not a pretty sight. I will live though. That is the beauty of my fall. Through all the 'bad', good will always remain.

I hope you all have a great weekend. Seems like the weather will be pretty for majority of the states. Happy Hallmark Day! Be sweet to those you love.

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25:10

Boys II Men

2009-02-04T11:56:00.001-06:00

Clinton High School 2001. Year of graduation. Prior to this event, there were 4 crazy girls I started a journey with. The journey continues today. The roads are different but the crazy is still there. Beautiful crazy. Lovely. I had dinner last night with 2 of the 4. Thus, leading to this blog. It all started in 3rd grade. Boys II Men was starting to get hot.

I was very tall and extremely thin. Pole, good description. Long blonde hair. Bangs. Messed up teethies. And always playing outside. Average 3rd grader for the most part. I moved in the middle of my 3rd grade school year to Clinton from Magee. This was exciting but scary. Big school. Alone. But I made it.

Along came Tiffany. We had majority of classes together. We hit it off. There were others but this is where our journey began. She has seen it all. Report cards. Boys. Accidents. Good and bad decisions. Family events. Etc. Little did I know, 18 years later...we're still living our journey.

I do not remember my first meeting with Christy. I wish I did. I'm sure it was one of laughs and weirdness. We helped the special kids during lunch for a year or so. We enjoyed this. Journey continues.

I can not describe the amount of laughter when we are together. There is always (and always will be) something extremely silly going on. None stop action. Many memories. Not all good but we still love to discuss. Tiffany and I came very close to answering the question, "How do we save America's economy?"

Has much changed? You bet. Tee is now married. We love her hubby. CJ is an Occupational Therapist. She is very good at her job. The one thing that has not changed is our connection. You either have it or you don't. We do. How rare. What a blessing we have remained so close.

Lauren(1 of 4), Christy, Tiffany and I...Best Friends since 3rd grade!

Where is January?

2009-02-02T14:22:00.001-06:00

The groundhog saw his shadow yesterday. But we already knew that spring will arrive May 20, no matter what he saw. But the groundhog is still a cute animal.

I hope all 5 of my readers had a splendid January. It flew by. January was a busy month for majority of people. I have a lot on mind lately but nothing I care to go in detail about. I figure, it is just the normal life situations. Things have been fine in '09 for me. Yes, some not so good things too. Overall, all is well.

That person. The one that thinks they know you so well, but they haven't a clue. An hour later, we finally hung up. An old friend. Always pleasant to talk to but the reality of our situation: we must talk more if we truly want to know each other like we used to. People change. Views change. Opinions change. That is life.

I have walls. Don't we all? Maybe to some point? I do know some who are an open book. If this works for them, then okay. That isn't me. I am not too tough to understand but not easily understood either. I have seen my life change, just in the past year. Exciting. Yes, I am still hardheaded. I am a Mills. No, I am not a picky eater anymore. Not a good thing.

What does it take to truly know someone? Energy. Time. 1,000 emotions. Patience. These are just a few examples. I enjoy getting to know people better. Drama stories? Not so much. Keep those to yourself. Getting to know someone is not always easy. But it could be worth it.

Happy February! Make sure you laugh 28 days this month. It is a good thing. And open up to the people that are special to you. It is grand both for all involved.

Pretty day in Jackson. Enjoy!

Flashback

2009-01-27T20:11:00.002-06:00

So, I'm not sure how this happened but I was tagged with this. I am supposed to answer back. Nothing else to blog about...so, here we go!

1 minute ago: I was watching America's Funniest Video's and DYING with laughter. Those that know me understand my obsession. Dangerous!

1 hour ago: I was giving Tucker a bath and cooking dinner. Bath...terrible times. Dinner...yummy!

1 day ago: I was driving home from Georgia. I got to see Steve Nash and Shaq take on the ATL Hawks. It was a fabulous time.

1 week ago: I murdered a duck and wanted to cry. But the Shoney's breakfast buffet made it all better!

1 month ago: I was in Columbus at the farm celebrating Christmas on my mother's side. Jaime went hunting and I received the worst number EVER for Dirty Santa.

1 year ago: I was officially 3 months over my 1 year mark with MDWFP. Tucker got really sick and I had to rush him to the Doggy ER. I lived with my bestie Krista at 311.

3 years ago: I had a sales job. My family moved to Hattiesburg. I had jet black hair for a month. I lived alone in shack off the tracks.

5 years ago: I was praying I could get all those credits taken care of so I could graduate college in 4 years. By the grace of God, I did! Walking 101...it almost cost me my graduation. Seriously.

7 years ago: I was a camp counselor at Camp Garawya. I met one of my closest friends Nancy. I was in my first year of college. I changed from MSU to MC. I had my first wreck (wasn't my fault).

10 years ago: I was a Sophomore at CHS. I had Attache' practice 16 hours every day. I worked out 4 hours a day. I had basketball, track and volleyball practice 6 hours a day. The days were much longer 10 years ago. The motivation was stronger too!

15 years ago: I was eleven, in junior high, and a foot and a half taller than all the boys. I lived in the city but turned it into a farm. I still cherish animals, dearly.

Hook and Ladder

2009-01-20T09:17:00.006-06:00

My dad was the only boy until Leslie got married. I am happy to announce that June 9, 2009 I will be the proud aunt to the 3rd boy in our family! Congrats to my wonderful sister, Leslie and the greatest brother-in-law, Ryan! See you this summer!!!

Girls Just Wanna Have FUN!

2009-01-18T20:44:00.000-06:00

What could be better than a girls weekend with two of your bestest girly friends?...NOTHING! To say the least, we had an absolute blast. We watched chick-flicks, played Mad Gab (Sorry Nat for not being a good partner. If only I wouldn't find it so funny when you would read the card aloud, we might have won), ate until we were sick, danced until our legs hurt, talked for hours, celebrated Nat's bday, laughed hysterically until we almost peed our pants...on multiple occasions, and each carried a different celebrities personality for an entire night (pics will not follow). I am so grateful for amazing friends that get everything about me. This is when I first got to the coast and saw Natalie. We were roommates in college for years and I haven't seen her in a long minute. I attacked her!

I was very excited to have a weekend with these two. I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends to laugh, cry, scream and shout with. Thanks girls, for an unforgetable weekend. The coast will never be the same!

Back row

2009-01-12T22:22:00.010-06:00

My blogs are random. This came to me just a minute ago as I was walking down the hallway. It is short and sweet. To the point.

Complaining. Drama. Blahness. Monotone. Withdrawn. Sour. Stressed.

I do not like any of the above. If I talked to my friend everyday and she was these things during every conversation; I would eventually stop talking to her. The things listed above never allow you to open up your heart and speak.

I have been so richly blessed. No, I am not a millionaire. I am the furthest person to holding that title but I do have riches. I have my faith, health (working on making this better), a few true friends that are my rock and an amazing family. Who could ask for more?

I work with a lady who is all of the above. I have come to the conclusion that she buys the milk carton that is on the front row (the one that will expire soon) just so she can complain. She is never happy. I smile, she nods her head. I cheerfully tell her good morning, she looks at me like I am the worst human alive (I may be to her). I feel sorry for her. I would like to tell her to get the milk in the back because it will stay fresh longer. Stop buying the milk that will soon sour.

I can not change this lady. She will always be this way. Luckily, her office is far from mine. Some people just like to be blah and complain. Be happy. It is okay to be sad and upset every once in a while but not everyday. Surely you can smile about something.

My father always says you can choose to be happy or you can choose to be sad. Which do you choose? Circumstances make you choose the sad but if we stop and reflect, we can see the happy side of life. If you are having a blah day...snap out of it. Always buy the milk in the back. It will last at least 5 days longer than the cartons in the front.

Always smile. Relax and enjoy your life you were given. I try my hardest to do these every single day. Not always accomplished but there was effort.

I wish front row milk buyers could read this. Maybe they would reach further on the shelf. Have a good day!

One in every color

2009-01-09T14:15:00.000-06:00

I will never wake up with perfect hair. It is wild. I will never wear white and keep it that color come sun down. I know these things and accept them. I am me.

What does it take for one to accept themselves? Do mistakes make our fate? Without them what would shape our lives? After all, things change, people come into our lives and they go. How comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. Luckily, maybe only a phone call, plane ride or road trip away. Maybe the best any of us can do is not quit. Play the hand we are dealt and enjoy it.

Growing. God made the grass to grow. So should we. It is a great concept. Like Ms. Claudia, my old neighbor for 2 years. She was fun and 87. She once told me that she learned something new about herself everyday. I hope we all learn something about ourselves daily. It is good to know who you are. It is good to love the skin you are in. It is even better to love the shoes on your feet. Especially, if they are glamorous!

Throw on someone else’s shoes for a day. This will impact your life. I threw on a different pair of shoes one day. She was sick and scared. I'll never know what it is fully like to have those shoes laced tightly onto my feet, but I could imagine. I felt her pain, sorrow then joy. An impact I'll never forget. Different shoes help to form a relationship. You may never know the person or see the person again, but you were comfortable enough in your shoes to slip into theirs and not judge.

Relationships. There are those that are old and familiar, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that open you up to something new, those that bring up tons of questions, those that bring you far from where you started and those that bring you right back. The most exciting and challenging relationship of them all is the one you have with yourself. Leaving the most significant relationship to be the one you have with Christ.

I have a sweet, shoe loving friend. One of her favorite sayings is: It is a fact, sometimes it's hard to walk in a single woman's shoes. That's why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.

Enjoy shoes in 2009!

Changes

2009-01-06T08:52:00.000-06:00

Sitting down with an old friend. You can only imagine the topics of our conversation. Getting ready to leave, the topic of choice was brought up. Choice. We were given the ability to choose. Each friend giving her perspective of the word 'choice' brought up many stories, keeping us at the restaurant longer.

As humans, we tend to think and analysis. Bad? Maybe. Good? Maybe. I find myself at times, thinking too much and looking into things too much. We all do it. I love to figure things out. No instructions. No guide. Just me figuring out a material object. It doesn't always work and I might have to read the manual but I love building it, nonetheless. Figuring people out. It is hard. Why try? Why not just let them be who they are. Except it. Do not coward down but rather spill over into their life and see what becomes.

I do not mind change. I would love to move from Jackson. I would love to get up every morning and run. These things would be a change in my daily life. I have been that person who took a left turn and faced a choice: straighten back up or keep turning left. These things that cause us to turn can be a relationship, work, money, etc. You get the point. Job, Peter and Sarai (just to name a few) were all faced with difficult situations and had to make a choice. God never left them. God simply said he will be with us, always. How refreshing.

Focusing too hard and too long on this New Year, would not be a good thing for me. The best is to let it happen. Things happen. We have the choice of how we handle everything that comes into our lives. If you must cry, cry hard. If you must scream, scream loud. Allow these changes to have a positive effect on you. Then you will have the grace to stand up and be the person you were created to be. Individuality. Good.