Happy New Year! ....Huh?

This is my first post of 2011.  It seems a little belated to talk about the new year and new beginnings and resolutions, but Chinese New Year is only two days away, so it's like a second chance for us procrastinators.  My resolution this year was to not go on anymore diets.  Guess what?  This is the longest I've ever struck to a resolution, and, unfortunately, I've got the number on the scale to prove it.  

I've decided I'd just like to be a professional blog reader.  I'm trying to learn to post links to some really great blogs I've discovered.  They all have skills way beyond mine so their blogs are all fancy while mine looks decidedly "do-it-yourself"-ish.  I've found many great recipes and photo tips and many things that inspire me.  Just check out my sidebar and start clicking away on all those cool buttons!  Tidy Mom and The Krazy Coupon Lady are my two most recent favorites.

Dieting. Blech!

I just joined Weight Watchers.  Again.  For about the 200th time in my life I think.  The last few times I joined all I did was gain weight.  I don't know why I always think it will be different this time.  I just get desperate.  I picked a solid, fairly-easy-to-achieve 20 pounds to lose as my goal.  I'm doing it online and just paid $17.95 for one month instead of boxing myself in to the 3-month plan.  I think the three-month thing kinda freaks me out and I feel trapped and can hardly stand it.  We'll see if taking this one month at a time will help.  I want to get back to looking like this picture.

Sunday Slackin'

Just sitting here watching some country music awards show.  The ACMs or AMAs or some such combination of letters.  I totally slacked today.  I read a Harlequin.  That's really about it.  I just have to say I love Reba; the red hair, the accent, her sense of humor.  She's the definition of lovely.  I've come to realize that blog posts aren't quite as interesting when there's no picture accompanying them, so I'm going to try to include one with every post whether it really  has anything to do with what I'm blabbering about or not.  My first thought was to re-post my picture with Keith Urban since he's up for at least one of the awards on this show I'm watching, but you've seen that one so I'm going to go browse and pick one out now. Oh wait, I almost forgot I have another picture with Keith.  Somehow I have won a meet & greet twice now.  I like the other picture better, though.  Maybe it's crazy, but the reason I like the other one so much has less to do with Keith Urban standing right next to me and so much more to do with the fact that my weight that day was in the 120s.  Oh how badly I miss you 120s.  

If Ever I Loved Thee, My Jesus 'Tis Now

Because of Easter, this is the song in my heart right now:

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I copied this from metrolyrics.com from a version by Amy Grant.  It was written by William R. Featherston.  

Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee, originally uploaded by fourtrans.

This is a picture I took in front of my sister's townhouse in Raleigh. She grew the biggest lavender plants there. Looking at this just makes me happy. It also makes me really want to go buy a new lens for my camera.

5th Grade Field Trip

So, my daughter begs me and begs me with tears in her eyes to come along on her field trip, even though they were not asking for chaperones. While I'm no sucker for crocodile tears (usually), I agreed. I'd never been to Morningside Nature Center and it sounded like fun. After all the begging, the little rascal wouldn't even sit with me on the bus. That's okay. I get it. She still wants me and needs me, just maybe not so much all the time. I'm definitely entering a period where I'm going to be struggling to find the balance between holding on and letting go.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the fact that she is still asking me to come along.

I Think I'll Eat it Now.

Surfing the internet while eating lunch = an empty plate and me wondering whereintheheck did all my food go?

What Amazes Me

Don't you love it when something truly amazes you? The source of pretty much all of the "amazement" in my life seems to be the Lord. Like this morning, when I found myself in the middle of an answered prayer. You see, there are a lot of days when I don't even think to pick up my bible. I always have good intentions, but life gets in the way and sometimes I just absolutely don't even think about it. This is something I've been praying a lot about lately for God to change in me. So, this morning I couldn't get this verse out of my head. It's one Pastor Ken quoted recently, but I could only remember part of it. All I could think of this morning was, "If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most pitied," but I knew that just wasn't quite right. I'm convinced God put that partial verse in my head knowing that it would drive me crazy that I couldn't remember exactly how it went and I would come home and Google it and figure out how the rest goes. Before I knew it, I was into the Word, devouring it, just like I always do once I get to my desk and open it up. Why do I find it so impossible to just go to my desk, grab my bible, and read it and pray every morning? Just like with exercising, the hardest part is just getting started. Once I'm into it I can't stop asking, "Why do I always put this off? It feels so good and I know it is so good for me." Thank you, Lord, for answering my prayer and getting me to read your Word in spite of me. By the way, here's the whole verse. I'm giving it to you in the King James Version just because that's the one my pastor would have quoted. I can also give it to you in NIV, New King James, or New American Standard if you like. And yes, I did look it up in all four versions. That's just my personality. I Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Sweet Baby Boy when he's not sick:

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Sweet Baby Boy

My sweet baby boy is sick. Boo strep throat! Boo antibiotics that make you throw up and give you rashes! (Sorry if that was too much information!)

I solemnly swear never to make another batch of cupcakes unless I'm taking them somewhere to share with others. Just kidding. I never swear.

The cupcakes and I

Yesterday, because it was St. Patrick's Day, I made cupcakes. Today, because of the cupcakes, I did 30 Day Shred with Jillian. It was 20 minutes of heaven. On opposite day.

I did get to try out my new favorite product, the Cup-A-Cake container. Now I can put cupcakes in my kids' lunches and they won't get squished. I got them at cupacake.com.

I've got some catching up to do!

Thanks to Facebook, I had all but given up on my blog. Seriously, with everyone in my family (heck, everyone on the planet) on Facebook, what's the point? Well, I've decided that I want a more personal way to post my photos and the goings-on in my life. Besides, today I'm a little bored.

Look who I got to meet this weekend! I won a meet and greet with Keith Urban in Valdosta at Wild Adventures.

Happy Valentine's Day!

OK, so I'm not such a good blogger. What can I say? I'm a busy woman! My nephew Ayden finally arrived on the 26th of January. He's healthy and beautiful and I can't wait to meet him! I spent part of the afternoon in Ben's 1st grade class helping out with their Valentine's Day party today. It was a lot of fun and I'll post pics soon.

Merry Christmas!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

This may very well be my favorite bible verse. In my opinion, it was the best piece of news ever told. That's why this is such a great holiday. I've been so busy that I never did get any Christmas cards out, and I guess it's pretty much too late at this point. I've got so much to do that the part of my brain that helps me prioritize and get things done has shut down, and that is why I am here updating my blog when I should be working or cleaning. Ben and I did manage to put together a gingerbread house while Thanh and Maura were in Jax watching the Jags get beaten by the Colts on Thursday. Thanh and I had a great time helping Maura make sugar cookies in Mr. Seneca's 4th-grade class after they put on a very nice play for the parents. Oh, and we adopted the class pet-a ball python named Scooby. He had to find a new home because there is now a school rule about no class pets. I don't think I ever saw the thing completely out of its hiding box before I agreed to take it home or it may not have happened. I walked into Maura's room that evening and he was stretched out across the aquarium-all 3 feet of him! It kinda gives me the willies, but as long as I don't have to actually touch the thing it will be alright. Mr. Seneca assures me he can't escape (as long as we remember to lock the lid).

I added a picture of my sister at her baby shower. Did I mention I'm excited about becoming an aunt? Ayden will be here soon and we can't wait!!!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Farewell October!

October has been a crazy busy month. Especially with two kids in sports. Sadly, two families we know lost a loved one this week. Our friend, Scott Garvey, lost his father and my sister's mother-in-law, Diane Jones, lost a sister. Please remember their families in your prayers. My grandparent's celebrated their 55th anniversary yesterday, and on the same day the church we have been attending, Freedom Baptist, celebrated it's 25th anniversary. I'm posting some pictures of what we've been up to. If you haven't done so already, make sure you get out and VOTE this Tuesday, Nov. 4th!

T-Ball Time!

Saturday was Ben's first game. He did great! He made one run and got someone out when he was playing 3rd. He did it with style, too. He actually bent over and touched the base with the ball! Of course, my camera was not ready for that one. He proudly wore his Orioles hat all day after the game. It didn't matter at all that they lost! This Saturday his game is in Middleburg and Maura's team plays their first game in Gainesville. That's gonna be fun deciding who goes to which game. Here's a picture of him scoring his very first run.

Coupons and Cupcakes

OK y'all. I've become completely obsessed with coupons and freebies. Every Sunday I wake up excited because I get to see what new coupons are in the paper, and then I search through all the store ads to see what is on sale that I already have a coupon for. I've built up quite a stash over the past few weeks. I'm working on training Thanh not to buy ANYTHING without checking to see if I have a coupon for it first. Walgreen's has a monthly Super Saver catalog in their stores with some awesome rebates. OK, now I'm cracking up because my husband just called out to me from the living room and asked if I have a coupon for spaghetti sauce. Apparently, Ragu is BOGO free somewhere this week.......

My other new obsession is cupcakes. I have a dream of opening a cupcake bakery and just making pretty little things to eat all day. The only problem is, if I have them anywhere near me I can't stop eating them. I think the bakery thing is better off left as a dream, unless Thanh wants to be married to Big Bertha.

We've been spending a lot of time at the ballpark lately. Maura just started back with softball and Ben is playing tee ball for the first time. I'm looking forward to watching the tee ball games. Those little guys can be quite a hoot! The first game is this Saturday and I'm sure to have pictures to post.