Pay it Forward

No, i'm not talking about the movie. reason #1 - i've never seen the movie and #2 i'm talking about something much better than what hollywood does!

in a previous post, just when i think ... it all changes, i mentioned i was giving the honor to plan something at my church. well the time has come to announce what little thing it was! Pastor Appreciation! i'm southern baptist, and october is pastor appreciation month! it's been so much fun! i haven't planned anything huge,but i think they've enjoyed it!

first of, we decided to do what we did last year. people signed up to send them (there's 4 pastors) a card every day of the month. we had a calendar filled up in a few days! and then on the last sunday night we would have a finger food fellowship meal for them. we're baptist, we love to eat!

so with those things going on, the deacons always get up and share something about each pastor - senior, assistant, youth and music. what i had the joy of planning was for the Women's Ministry group. after much thinking and praying, we given them supper every wednesday night. my senior pastor has health problems and eats at this one local restaurant, so people signed up to take him out to eat. sweet,huh? our assistant and music ministers live like 40 minutes away, so this has kept them from eating out all month; our youth minister is single and is a workaholic who is never home to cook (and he can cook!). so this has helped them greatly! plus, it's fun for the families to eat and fellowship more one on one with each other. last night was my family's night. my mom made chicken stew and peach cobbler. it was more delicious than delicious! luckily, the peach cobbler was sent home with someone other than us!

why is this simple act a paying it forward measure you may ask? it's simple. i'm a PK! a preacher's kid! my dad has been a baptist minister my whole life, and for over 15 of my 24 years, he's been a pastor. 11 and a half years at one church. i'll never forget how honored my dad was every october. i remember him and mom getting onto me when i was younger because i expected the church,a very small,not wealthy church to do something for us. they did, but i also got a lesson on humbleness!

so thanks, to all the pastors and their families! you have an amazing,rewarding,tiring,trying,fun,sad,busy job!

Until later ....B

so called weekends and sunshine

I'm always wondering what's so special about Saturdays? I'm the south in the fall its ALL about football! Which I nearly resent,let me add. I work on Saturdays,that's just part of my life and that's great with me,actually more like fabulous with me. When I am off on a Saturday I'm usually much busier than I would've been at work,so why not work and have more money? I'm not on a pity party,please don't take it that way,I'm just wondering. Especially after the "weekend" I had this last week! As I last posted I had to be at work early last week,and not just once but twice in a row. Thursday I was at work 8-6 and then to a jewelry party at a friends house,home at 9,bed by 11. Friday at work at 830 a.m. And got off at 8 p.m. I was having more fun than usual the last 3 hours of that day. Topped my night off with mexican and a catch up session with my best month,then back to my house and back at it again Saturday morning! I didn't have a full day at work,just a few younger guys cuts and a bridal do for Em. Left work,went to the store,came home,lunch,got re-ready,went to Ems beautiful and sweet wedding,supper with my sister,her husband and friends,home and in bed at 10. Why so early on a Saturday night for a S-W-F in her early 20s? The Premier show (hair show)! Yes,that's right! I was up WAY before the sun and was at my salon before 630! I got home that night after 9. I was SLEEPY! We had to make a slight detour home,which put our road trip on "back roads" in beautiful small towns all the way home. I was so happy to see my bed!

The hair show was hilarious! It almost scares me to see some of the people who are hair stylists out there! You had girls literally wearing binkis to get spray on tans. And yes,they were prancing around the booth and "showing off". There was one poor girl who shouldn't have chose to be a model! Bless her! And I'm being nice here,not judgmental! I PROMISE! I wanted to rescue her! Also,unless you like badly teased bird's nests as a hair do,I'm not sure I can help you! HA!HA! Oh and the colors! I wanted to say to the platform artists,"Honey we need color trends and techniques for our awesome,normal,and beautiful clients! We don't do runways every day!" Seriously,if one up-do model walked outside during the day,I bet birds would've thought "HOME!". No joke! Its so funny to watch the men artist! They do pelvic thrusts and dance in womens faces and cut their hair while looking at the crowd! Luckily for those ladies,they were using texturizing shears! You know you're in for a crazy day when there's a line at the "adult beverages" booth longer than the lines anywhere else as soon as it started! Really,we had a good time. I'm not sure there's much I could or could not do to make myself or my clients look any worse than what I saw down there. : )

We have fun no matter where we are anyways,and more fun when we're sleepy! On our way there,we stopped and found a breakfast buffet (insert severe dislike for buffets here) and I was told I was so attractive! Only problem was it was a lady,and a lady old enough to be my grandma! She said,"oh gurl! You so attractive to me!" Me,"thanks". Her" oh and you so southern sounding! You look like one of 'em stars off one of 'em family tv shows! You a star on tv? Ooo you so attractive.". Me-"thanks. Have a nice day!" And I went and got in the car! LoL! It wasn't all that flattering,if you get my drift!

I have got some great rest! Maybe too much;I've been told there's a such thing. I'm so excited! My nephew,baby D,should get to come Thursday! He didn't pass his car seat test Saturday,which made him stay 5 more days. Poor little fellow hasn't seen his Aunt Britt as of tomorrow in 2 weeks! I miss him more than I ever thought possible! I miss baby L too! I haven't seen him in a week! I'm off tomorrow so the new parents and boys may want to be on the look out!ha!

I'm so thankful to be an aunt to two healthy boys,and sister to a wonderful older brother and sister and a daughter to my parents! I'm not sure where I'd be without them! I'm also very thankful we all live close! The sun is,and has been,shining bright the past few days and it s been wonderful having it here instead of rain! My hair is even straight today! I love that I can manage it so well in the fall when the rain is gone!

I know this has been a long,and rambling post,but I can't help myself! I'm alone at work and have missed being able to sit down and post like I was. I'm off tomorrow,and tonight eating dinner with Meg! Yay for Tuesdays and Wednesdays! My kind of weekends!

Until later,B

go away!

Ok,so maybe that's not the nicest title! But so true! What is up with all the rain this month? And last month?! At my salon,the older clients and even those around my parents age are acting like its suppose to be this way. I have a really good memory (as previously posted) and I never remember it raining SOOOOO much in the early fall! Now November here is a crazy month! We usually have tornado watches for a few weeks. We also remember a horrible tornado that ripped through surrounding towns and communities in November in 1989. I was 4,but I remember that evening very well!

I had to get to work earlier than usual this morning. Let me say,I respect those of you who have to get up and be at work before 8 A.M.! I'm a hair stylist - we usually work late evenings and come in later in the mornings. I love that about my job! On saturdays I'm usually here before 8,and somehow that never bothers me,but wow! Today has! I made a mistake with my choice of breakfast this morning too,and I'm thinking it didn't help my matter any! I had 2 strawberry pop tarts with my oj. Can we say sugar high? Then sugar crash? Ughhh, I really should've stuck with my regular breakfast choice - 2 red berry waffles with no syrup (I eat in the car. I know bad me!).

I just want to see some sunshine is that so horrible of me? I know I've said this before,but I have not had a vacation this year. This has been an extraordinary busy year! I can't believe there are only 77 days left in this year! I'm really hoping this rain pattern isn't going to stay around! Its not good for my business,or my fathers,and I'm positive we're not the only ones with that worry when it rains. And,with these curls I have,I haven't had to many good hair days! It gets more curly(which I'm always surprised that that's possible) and frizzy! Yuck-o!

I'm thinking this weekend will have me more upbeat. I have a friend,em,wedding. I get to do her hair,and I know she's going to be a beautiful bride. She's getting married in a really old,white church with a center aisle. Every girls dream at one time or other! She's been a very care free and thrifty bride. I'm very proud of her! And excited for her!congrats em and j and little miss H!

Also this weekend,I'll be missing church (which I despise doing!) and going to a hair show! Its a few hours away,so road trip! We went 2 years ago,and we had a great time. I was exhausted when we went due to a kid/house/pet sitting gig I had going on. Also,my guy friend from my previous post, was in tow with us. Sunshine,the lady who use to work with us,was there too. She's a very negative person,thus the reason behind her nickname. One day we said together as she left for the day,"well wasn't she just a freaking ray of sunshine?!" So if you could only imagine how that day went. I'm thinking this year will be much better!much much better! I'm also hoping the artists will show us more,new and better techniques. Last time it was all about the blonde on top and dark underneath and the famous a-line/stacked bob.

I know this has been a long post,but its been very therapeutic. I'm sitting at work,alone in the rain,so this has been a great release! Yay for blackberries! lol! However,the rain hasn't killed my excitement over my precious nephews! Looks like baby D maybe home soon! He's been moved to the progressive unit and is doing awesome! I thank God for growing his little lungs and the stuff he needed to keep them from sticking together! And for baby L! He's perfect! I'm so amazed every day at the love God gives us for His creation!

Have a great day! Even if its raining!

Until later ....B

best friends and memories

i have an odd memory. i remember what i wore, when things happen - dates,time and places. today is a cross roads of mine,and i thank God for two of my best friends - mo and kel! they were there step by step (literally).

it's a single girl's worst nightmare. you walk up, wearing a super cute new outfit and killer new shoes, to the guy you think you love and can't live without. he's more than that. he's also your best friend also. and a friend you've been giving all your time to too. after the texts and phone calls of "where are you?", "i'm standing here;i'm waiting on you!" "i was thinking we could grab a bite to eat afterwards" ... i get to where we were meeting, a small town event outside on a cool fall night. i find him in the big crowd, kel and mo in hand, and go up to him. "hey! i'm finally here! whew!" him -"Britt meet Britt. Britt meet Britt". this girl who has her hands all wrapped up in my best friend's hands says,"OMG! i'm so happy to finally meet you!" Me, "Really?! i haven't a clue who you are. who are you?" stunned looks on everyone's faces.

that's right. my heart was broken. i stayed there,with them, until the event ended. i nearly ran back to my car, kel and mo slightly behind.i think secretly they were glad i wasn't going to be around him much more, but they were hurting for me (like the awesome bests they are!). so what was a broken hearted girl and her two bests going to do? hot fudge sundaes! and a venting session like never before!

this heart break didn't mend real quick. finally, i gave it up and gave it to God. please don't think me self righteous. i didn't know what else to do, and knew that was just what i needed to do all along (as the advice of the bests and my family).

that was two years ago tonight. wow! now, i would go back in time and be like,"oh yay! take him!" i would have gotten to know her more too. she's actually a very sweet girl, and we favored. well, more so after he colored her hair my color lol. she's a little insecure and he helped her with that. apparently a lot of helping her! on thanksgiving this past year, she called and broke up with him. he then called guess who? yep. me. yes, i let him back in my life. he's my best guy friend. we hung out for about two months. every time our outings were over, i wondered to myself what did i ever see in him other than a friend. i killed myself with those questions. and guess who would always answer me with the best answer - that's right my two bests!

they've been there through both of my siblings weddings. and after everything with my sister's, they took me to eat at my most favorite place for dinner at 9 pm!. they were there when my family went through the most devasting,yet wonderful trial. they have been there through deaths. mo came straight to me when my mamaw passed away - we hadn't even left the nursing home,and she was there. they've even let me be just quiet. they've entertained me. they've become so much to me! they were the first people i told i was going to be an aunt, an aunt to twins, an aunt to twin boys, and the first people i told monday. kel was there late for me to scream and cry about baby d being in the nicu, and about my first visit with him.

so this is to mo and kel! thanks for always being there. thanks for always listening. thanks for always tagging along on crazy,fast shopping trips that aren't just for pleasure. thanks for the chocolate. thanks for the texts. thanks for the shoulders for me to cry on. thanks for the ears that listened,and still does, to my endless rambling. thanks for being part of "the stick removal team". thanks for being the supporative team through my weight battle. thanks for your love. thanks for your prayers. thanks for being just who you are - even if now,when we're all living apart (more so than ever). thanks best! all my love to my bests... B

this is kel,me,and mo at my house on my birthday this year.

I'm in LOVE!!!!

Yes, me the SWF in is love with not one, but two boys!!! or maybe i should say baby boys!!! That's right! i'm an AUNT!!!! the twins are here! woohoo! they were born on 10/5. i know, i'm sorry - i'm a week late on this post. forgive me; i've had lots of busy days! and no time to sit down at a computer to post. i'm thinking surely there is a way to post from my BB,right?

DC weighed 6lbs 8 oz and was 19". he's been in the NICU, but he's now breathing on his own, his mommy finally got to hold him, and now he just needs to put it altogether. like breathing when he eats and sleeps! he has a good bit of dark hair. he really looks like my bro's baby pictures. and he is so full of surprises!

LJ weighed 5lbs 10oz and was 18". he's such a precious baby! head FULL of hair!! he's so good,too! i'm hoping he will stay that way for them!

i've never known a love like this. i know that's a line from a song, and every time i think of them i think of that line because it's so true. i've always been told from friends of mine, "just wait until you're an aunt. it's the best job there is." and,they were right!

it's so amazing to see my brother as a daddy,too! i've always been amazed at the kind of husband he is too. sometimes he's all wonderful and helpful and other times, well maybe not so much. my poor SIL was very sick the day she had them. brother was very torn! sick wife, precious new baby needing to be taken care of, and one 2 floors below not breathing on his own and brother didn't really know just what was going on with him. on top of that, they were flooded for 3 days with so much company. brother enjoyed it though,and he has done a fantastic job! he's a wonderful daddy already!

i've got to get back to work, even though all i want to do is sleep! i'll update on other things later ...

Until later ....B

Last one ....

last one for the series of messages my pastor had shared with us. this one is about marriage. i hope you have enjoyed, and hopefully been blessed by these. these messages have really changed my mind set!

Family: An Endangered Species Part 5 - Marriage

"Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" "Haven't you read,"he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become on flesh? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together let man not separate." "Why then", they asked,"did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard, But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, expect for marital unfaithfulness,and marries another woman commits adultery." The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better to not marry."Matthew 19:3-10 NIV

• How can a man get out of marriage? there are no loop holes with God. instead of asking "how to get out of the marriage?" why not ask " what can God do to help us stay together permanently?
• Marriage in the eyes of God is not a contract, but a covenant! God doesn't break HIS promises to us, nor HIS covenants. we will not be blessed if we do so to HIM. contracts have a way out,usually. the only way out with God is a place of no peace and love, but forever torture and fire. my pastor asked this, "don't you want to be as close to HIM as you can be and have HIM in the center of your everything?"
• Only God can separate what HE has put together! i have mentioned in a few posts lately about friends of mine on both sides of adultery. the one who is married is holding on to everything possible to be back with her husband. she knows God, and knows that what her husband is doing is not God's will. she told me a few weeks ago,"I know this isn't God's will but HIS plan for us to be stronger." her faith isn't always this strong. she has her bad days; we all do. but i think of her everyday, and pray that God won't have to separate her and her husband.

i had to quickly summarize this one. i need to get back to work, but feeling the fresh air and cool breeze makes it so hard. i kind of wish i could do hair right here in the quite,fresh,calmness ...

UPDATE on life:

tuesday night, i worked late and ended up seeing crazy! aghhhhh! see post "past to present". everything went fine, or at least once i caught my breathe : )

tonight is family night at my house! i love my family, and tonight our extended family -T and her kids- are coming!

and we may find out today when the twins will be here! : )

also, maybe soon i'll have more info on the possibility of the tv show

until later, B