oh my,oh my! how fast you went oh nine!

i'm not sure i've ever been so ready for a year to go! this year has been slightly overwhelming and very fast! as i ponder back, i think of things that happened and am like, "that was this year?" or "really, april was just a few months back!" only to realize, that april was 8 months ago, and today is the very last day of 2009. the last "oh" year number wise. i remember when the clock struck 2000,and so many people thought the world was going to end. i remember very well that my brother was so mad to be at some church family's home that night instead of out with his friends. that really doesn't seem that long ago. it's been a decade ago! wow! that's crazy! so, as i like to think back to this year, here's a review. i'm also going to add in a huge THANK YOU KEL! she fixed my computer (or rather my 'rents' computer)! i'm going to try to add some photos of this year too. only deal is, there's like zero of my nephews on my camera! my mom got a much better point-and-shoot than i have, and i guess i use hers every photo op with them! sorry! i'll do better this next year! on to the quick review. .... . .... . (let me insert this is more for me to review and move on than for you, but hope you enjoy nonetheless).....

• jan - started wedding planning for my sis' big day
• feb - found out i was going to be an aunt! had 4 baby showers!
• march - found out it was twins, had revival at church, planned sis' showers and went to the one their church gave the, and a few babies born : )
• april - sis' wedding and all the festivities that brought, Easter and with that my church's conotada. a few weddings and baby shower/births
• may - my birthday month! started the month off with a bang and a "new kind of normal" at the Women of Joy conference in pigeon forge,tn with the ladies from my church. mothers day, baby showers at church and for friends, memorial day, "sunshine" left our salon and in turn we started changes at my salon. all for the better. worked stepped up more and more. this month my friend amy and i started teaching a class for the young lady adults. A Lady in Waiting. wow! at what i learned!
• june - found out the twins were boys, baby shower for my best,misty, work kept picking up, a few bridal teas here too. also, we had a mens banquet at church. very awesome "it's a juingle out there"!
• july - busy busy busy at work! busy busy busy at church! we had 2 a day vacation Bible schools. i taught 5-6 graders. loved it! i worked both sessions, worked inbtween, and at the end of the week house/dog sitted for a cousin who's step-daughter got married at the beach. started planning sisnlaw's shower (not much on my part though). on the 18th i had 3, yes i said 3, weddings in one afternoon! my good guy friend, dg, got married at 4, sung at it. then his reception was at 6, amd i had to serve there. there was a wedding at 5 and another at 6. i'm only one person, and i chose to go to dustin and amber's,and i guess that was a good thing since i had some duties there. there was a bridal shower at church, and misty was getting ready to have levi! a few baby/wedding showers for friends, and we're good!
• aug - misty had levi. sisnlaw had baby shower, had to go on bed rest, and started planning a surprise for the widows of my church for sept. i also found out some terrible news that brought up a lot from my past from some friends at church. ive mentioned it on here before. the night of aug 10, may not be a night i forget for quiet some time. and throw in a few weddings and we're good here!
• sept - was a month of planning,planning,planning! we had the twins a shower at church, getting ready for them, the widows dinner and the start of the secret sisters for them at church. also, the choir started getting ready for fall concert. this may not look like a busy month, but it was! there was also the conclusion of church showers at the end of the month. this is the month that church starts it's "new year". so we were super busy!
• oct - the twins were born! getting ready for fall concert, hair show in b'ham, homecoming at church, founders day in new hope, birthdays galore, and before i knew it, it was over!
• nov - fall concert, my run away weekend to see the Crimson Tide rolllllll over those yucky LSU tigers. the only purple and gold tigers i don't like : ), the start of the holiday rush, thanksgiving, more baby showers (the conclusion of them) and the annual Ladies Christmas Celebration at church. my table was beautiful i thought this year. i love that night with the ladies at my church!
• dec - chirstmas time! church gatherings, work,work,work. things with family and friends. shopping, decorating, having flat tires, and closing out 2009! Thank GOD!

there have been some amazing times, so times i'v faked being happy. there have been some not good times,for various reasons. i'm very glad to see this year go, and am trying to sike myself up for 2010. i don't have time for pictures tonight,maybe tomorrow.

2009 brought 22 baby showers/births and 14 bridal showers or teas/weddings. glad i didn't drink the water those folks did!

i pray that you and your family have had a wonderful year, and that this next year be a year of health,happiness, and laughter!

happy new year!

It's Christmas...

Yes! Its Christmas! Merry,merry,merry Christmas!

Sorry I've not posted much lately. I have posted mentally a LOT! Haha! Oh well,maybe soon! My computer at home has been fixed,all but one small thing,by my fabulous best,kel! So be looking for pictures and such in the future!

I don't have much time to post,I still have a Christmas gift to,ummmmm,wrap and all that!

Happy birthday Jesus! You are the only reason for the season! As the Grinch said,"itsz not about the packages,gifts,ribbons and bows...". Its about my Savior's birthday!

"where are you Christmas, and why can't I find you?"

my title is one the name of one of my favorite Christmas songs ever! i fell in love with that song the night i went to see "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" in theaters with my sister. and, for the last few years, it totally describes how i feel about Christmas! i'm by no means a Scrooge, Grinch, or "happy holidays instead of merry Christmas" kind of gal. it's just that Christmas has changed. life has changed. family has changed. people are trying to change the meaning of this time of year even more so it seems. i hear parents say, "i'm not letting some imaginary man take credit for what i do!" or it's all about the gift and the amount of the gift. i LOVE buying gifts! for birthdays, i have resorted to giving money to my siblings and their spouses. i LOVE LOVE LOVE giving gifts! especially at Christmas! i love the fast pace, crowds, sales, the sunshine on a shopping day, doing it all last minute in one day, and the traffic doesn't even bother me! this is usually because i'm with my best,kel.

yes, you read it right that i wait last minute to shop and do it all in one day! that day is next week! woohoo! here's the deal this time. it really doesn't seem like Christmas. 90% of my Christmas gatherings are not even on Christmas eve or day. i have two this weekend. the first one is a girls night out dirty santa ornament night. sounds like fun! it usually is when we get together! saturday is work, work, work and then the young adults gathering. instead of doing dirty santa there, we are collecting toys for the C.A.R.E. center's store in new hope. i'm excited about that! i love helping those who need it!

so here's to Christmas ... where ever you are .... i need to get back to work .... please Christmas come soon .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSMjgNMdzEI hope you enjoy!

Until later .... B

giving thanks

giving thanks comes as natural to me as breathing. my parents taught me years ago to be thankful and give thanks. Jesus taught us in the "Lord's Supper" to start prayers with thanksgiving. i strive to do that. this year has been a blur! it's been such a busy,happy, sad, trying, lonely, full,exciting,boring,new year. and this year is almost gone. i am literally crying, which i hate doing!, as i type this post. i was just browsing through some other blogs, and one that caught my attention was praying for kensley. this family is friends with my family. ive never met this little girl,and i'll add an apology here that i don't know and don't have the time to link that site. ive prayed for this family. i couldn't imagine going through what theyve went through. she's home, doing great, and they are all so thankful. even thankful for her wiping her nose. how many parents take that for granted i wonder? i think back to this time last year. a childhood friend of mine had her son at 23 1/2 weeks. she requested prayers for her son to poop. every time i get the chance to change one of my nephews diapers i think about her. her then, at his funeral, when i got the news she was expecting again, that it was another boy, and when her on her 1st borns bday. her and her husband had a blood drive and her students and family had a balloon release for him. what a birthday party! she will have son #2 on new years eve.

on facebook a few weeks ago, some of my friends challenged us to say something we were thankful for each day, something new each day, up through thanksgiving. i'm finding it hard to only put one thing.

today, as i reflect back on this year, i'm most thankful for God's faithfulness and His plan.

five years ago, i was a student in beauty school who had completed 1250 of her 1500 hours and could go to work in the real world. starting her career! wow! i was 19 and about to start my career! that was the beginning of some scary,trying times. God has been there drying my tears and answering my prayers. today, i'm at a much happier place. self employed and i finally LOVE my job. i'm so thankful i listened and followed God's plan five years ago this week.

sorry this has been such a rambling post! if i don't post before thursday .......

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!! I hope you and your family have a fabulous day!

"Give thanks to the Lord"

until later ..... B

so,i ran away ...

Yes,I ran away. Not to far,not away because of something terrible or because I was trying to hide from something/one. I simply ran away to get away and take a break. It was lovely!

I went to T-town to visit with my best,kel, and go to the University of AL vs LSU game. I had never been to a S E C or Bama game,and wow! There's nothing quite like it! When I was in high school,I LOVED football!and I still do,I just don't enjoy it as much on tv or when it consumes lives.

Of course,we ate at some great restaurants! Shopped some,went to church,and my personal favorite -people watched while tailgating.

I've never been one much to travel,nor one to love to ride in a car. With that being said,I'll add I've never drove longer than an hour away from home. Well,this was a pleasant experience. I loved riding alone on the way there. I took my time,wasn't rushed,didn't talk on the phone or text, sang and listened and enjoyed the radio. I found a great christian radio station and I'm sure passersby thought I was crazy! Haha! I didn't care. And finally got to kel's after a few miscommunications in directions. The ride home,was much quicker and much lonelier! I've had several friends that have gone to UA and that are there now. Wow! I don't know how you wanted to make the drive by yourself!

I'm not use to being alone. Maybe that's why I found it so boring and lonely. I'm the youngest of three,and my next door neighbor,Liz,was always around too. Well,for that matter,the neighborhood kids were always around. When we went to church,I was always surrounded by kids my age,older or younger. Our house was always filled with company. You get the picture. . . I like to be around people,well when I want to : )

Road trips by myself not one of those times!However, I had an awesome hostess! Her mother sent us half dozen Gigi cupcakes! Oh.my.goodness! The.best.ever.cupcakes! I highly recommend midnight madness! Chocolate cake with cream cheese icing with dark chocolate chips. And my fabulous mother sent homemade teacake cookies! Oh my,what yummy,yummy snacks we had! She gave me her bed,meanwhile her air mattress deflated both nights.

To top off the fast-paced,fun filled,wonderful weekend,when I came home I got to spend some great time with my precious nephews! I had not seen them in over a week! I missed them! I had been sick,and I know its rsv season,so I stayed away. My parents brought us supper at my brothers and when we left,my car messed up. So I ended up driving another 20 miles to my mechanics house. I had to have a wheel barron replaced. Apparently it was in pieces. I'm very thankful that happened after I got home,and it wasn't expensive to fix. So,that's what's kept me busy this last week. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend,and is having a great new week!


Until later, B

reason behind the name

in my last post, pay it forward, i mentioned i was "in charge" of pastor appreciation this year for my church. it was an amazing,fast,busy,blessed month! wow! really, it's November?! i think calendars are lying because it feels like it should just be summer to me! thus, the meaning of this post's title and my site! geez! i really can't believe it's already November! i'm in shock! really?! can you tell?

we had a finger food fellowship church wide the last sunday night of october to honor our pastors and their families. me of little faith, set 72 seats and we ran out! we had over 100 people there! woohoo! the church presented each of them a gift certificate for Ruth's Chris Steak House. nice,huh?

that sunday was also my mom's bday! happy birthday momma! we celebrated her bday at our house watching the TN UA football game and eating pizza! baby d came home the day before and him,his twin brother and parents were able to join us. as well as my sis and her family. this is the first time since the very first of august that my family was altogether. this isn't rare to most families, but it is to mine. i'm so thankful for my family!

i had a very busy week last week, with church and work. for some reason my blackberry wasn't letting me log on to here, and im not happy with that!

here's this past weekend in a wrap to give you a hint:friday - work, dress rehearsal for fall concert,home,supper,bed. saturday - work, grocery store, visit with the nephews(the cutest giraffe and tiger ever!) trunk ot treat at church. sunday - sunday school, church,lunch,home, back at church early, fall concert, dinner, home, bed. sunday i woke up with cold like junk going on. today i have little voice (miracles still happen) and have a cold! ugh! nyquil is calling my name tonight! oh, and i'm super busy at work today and wont get home til about 8. but that's really ok! i'm thankful for my job,my clients, and if i'm there that late that means one thing - i'm working which in turns means i'm making a living! i've got to get to feeling better before the weekend! i'm running away on a little trip : ) ahhhhhhhhh - that's my sighing can you hear it?!

so here's to monday! work, long lunch to get my car serviced, back to work (which i just found out i'll be working with my guy friend dg and possibly his wife ugh) for a long evening without daylight savings time, and home hopefully to chill out and get over this stupid cold!

until later ...B

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