Latest Obsession and Sewing

So . . . I have one more TV show obsession to take up even more of my time!



LOVE THIS SHOW. Last week, I was goofing off on Netflix and decided to sign up for the one month free trial. I was looking through TV shows that I have always heard great things about, but have never been able to catch up with when its playing in real time. I jumped all over Army Wives this weekend and have already finished season 1 and I am on episode 5 of season 2. Oh my. Not really sure how this is going to go with all my regular shows, but I will figure it out.

Thank goodness we don't have kids yet!

Also, I have been *attempting* sewing. Between Jason and myself we have alot of clothes that need minor sewing fixes. I was bored over the holidays some and got online and found a few tutorials. I started practicing on some old cloth and then eventually was able to repair some of our clothes. I have been very proud of myself. However, Gracie's toys have proven to be alittle bit of a challenge.



Looks ok, right? I mean not top quality, but she is just going to make a mess of him again.



As you can see, I sewed the beard over the nose. Oh well! At least the stuffing is not coming out everywhere anymore.

I will have to keep practicing. My goal is to be able to make a quilt out of some of Jason's old baseball t-shirts. It would appear I have LOTS of practicing!

Can You Help Me Pray?

This is too awesome of a God story not to record and remember!

Saturday night while we were watching the game over at my brother's house, I got into a deep conversation with a friend of mine and a trip to the Dominican Republic/Haiti that she went on this summer. I was just loving talking to her about it and I could feel God stirring my heart the entire time. Bless her, I think I probably wore her out! Anyway, she was telling me that the leader of the orphanage they visited in Haiti has emailed her constantly since they left in desperate need of supplies. My heart just broke. I wanted to know HOW CAN WE GET THEM SOMETHING . . anything! She said that there is just absolute chaos there since the earthquake. There is noway to really get anything over there without someone physically taking it to the border of the Dominican/Haiti.

My heart just continued to break as she told me that she had not been able to figure out how to get them the very basic things that they needed. As we were leaving, I made her promise me that if any opportunity came up to get the things there, to please let me know and I would love to help in anyway that I could.

That was Saturday. She sent me a message on Tuesday afternoon late that out of the blue a lady in New Mexico had contacted her and was going to be going at the end of this month, if she wanted her to take anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, does God not work everything out?! So, we hustled around and got an awesome load together to send 1st to New Mexico and then to travel from New Mexico to the Dominican and then to Haiti.

Would you pray this suitcase makes it to where it is so desperately needed?






I stuck a note in, so I am hoping that we will hear from them sometime.

I am so grateful to God. He works things out that we NEVER could.

What We Are Watching Right Now

We are in reality TV overload right now! I have always been a reality TV junkie, but I have gotten Jason in on the fun too! We literally have something every night of the week that we can watch.

Monday night starts with a new show on MTV called Caged.



This show is actually pretty good. It follows the lives of several young adults in a small town near Shreveport, LA who cage fight. I know it sounds funny, and looks funny even typing it, but that show has been surprisingly good! I like to see how they train and the actual fight. All the drama in between is funny too.


Tuesday night is Teen Mom 2.



I will admit, this one I watch on my own! Jason hates this show, but I think it is so good! I tell my Aunt (who has 2 teenage boys) every time that I see her that I think all teenagers need to be required to watch this show. It is defiantly not an ideal picture of teen motherhood. If anything, it paints a very real picture of the hardships these girls (and boys) face.

Wednesday night is the most hectic. .Modern Family and Revenge! Modern Family is probably one of the funniest TV shows I have ever seen. I love the way it addresses certain issues and always gives a comedic spin! Revenge is one of Jason's favorites. I liked it to alot at first, but I got worn out with all of the vindictiveness. I still sort of half way watch it, but not like Jase does.

Thursday night is . . I am almost embarrassed to type this, but if I am being real....
Jersey Shore.



I have tried to stop watching this. I have told myself time and time again that this show is not funny . . but it just is!

That pretty much wraps up our TV week . . isn't that enough? A few others we love when they are on are Survivor, Big Brother, American Idol, Jail, Police Women of Memphis (that's just me!!!!), Alaska State Troopers and Kourtney and Kim Take New York.

I am in love with any reality cop/jail show. That includes Cops (esp. the old ones!), Locked Up, etc. .

After looking at this list, I think I need to stop watching so much TV!

Weekend Ramblings

Mondays roll around way to quick these days! We did not have today off. As a matter of fact, I spent 1/2 day at the accountant's office. Talk about a great start to the week!

Saturday night we cooked out steaks at my brother's house and watched the Bronco's play. I really like Tim Tebow. I have his book on my list this year and I am excited to read it. He seems to want to glorify God in everything he says and does- who doesn't find that honorable?

I left about 9 ish because the Miss America pageant was on! It just doesn't seem as glamorous as it did when I was say . . 7. I have tried to find pics online of some of the things I remember, and I get nothing! For example, I remember that portable sound proof booth that was wheeled out for the contestants who were not being questioned to go in until it was their turn. I remember big hair and lots of lipstick! My little tradition was to spend the night with my grandmother on both the Miss South Carolina and Miss America pageant nights. After it was over, I would go pull out all of her night gowns with matching robes ( the closet thing to formal evening gowns I had!), her high heel shoes and jewelry and play like I was a contestant until she absolutely made me go to bed! One year for my birthday or Christmas I got a crown (it was plastic!) complete with a plastic dozen roses. I LOVED that toy. I cannot find anything remotely close online :(

Memories! Of course I called her about 10:45 to talk about the top 10 and critique. Of course she was still up and in bed watching! I love that I have that memory.

Happy Monday!

Reading Through January

I wanted to challenge myself this year alittle with reading. I LOVE to read, but really did not engage as much as I wanted to last year. My idea is to read at least 1Christian themed book per month and 1 of any other genre, if I wanted. My goal is to absolutley read the Christian themed book and, time and energy permitting, the other also.

I told Jason my goal and he kind of laughed at me. He said it wasen't much of a goal because when I get started reading books I really like, I can't put them down! I guess he is right . . I am already done with 3!



Home By Morning is in the "other" category. It was a quick read that I ordered on my Kindle one day last week for light reading. It was really good! I am a sucker for a sappy love story though :) I have never much enjoyed period pieces, but this has been the exception. It is set in the early 1900's in a small town that has had an outbreak of influenza. Mix in some drama and alittle love story and you have yourself a nice, not have to think about it too much read! It was enjoyable.



Who has not heard of One Thousand Gifts yet? I love Ann Voskamp's blog, and I knew that this book would not disappoint. I read this last year, but felt like one read through wasn't near enough! Her thoughts are just so extraordinary and with every page I could just feel the Lord's influence over her. This is a book that will never get old that one can read time and time again and gain something new every time. Love this book!!




Riven is also a book I have read before. The first time, though, I did not finish. This book has a special place in my heart. I just love all of the characters because each is so different, yet all the same. Jerry Jenkins does an amazing job of illustrating God's sovereignty through each of their lives. There is a pastor, an inmate on death row, circumstances wound through family and friends that everyone can relate to.

I have enjoyed all of the January books! There may be more yet considering it's only the 10th! We will see.

Rainy Days and Haircuts

Our weather did not last past Saturday :( It has been rainy and cold Sunday and today. It is hard to stay motivated, but I am determined!

Gracie had a haircut this morning. She was not having much of me when I picked her up. She does not like bath and haircut days.



She looks so much better! The lady cut her tail different this time, and she hates it! She thinks that something is on the end and she keeps trying to get it! Ha!



Dogs are so funny!

What Month is it Again?

It is 67 degrees here today! We are loving this warm weather! I know this is a fluke and we are certain to get back to the coldness of winter, but we will take this weather all day everyday! I have been dreaming of Spring and scenes such as these . .

Oh well, a girl can dream.

Silly Girl

No words needed.

Well. . maybe 1

SPOILED.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had such a great, low key Christmas!

The only bad thing that happened was I have somehow lost my camera battery charger :(
I was only able to get a few pictures on my phone, so they aren't the best quality, but will allow me to remember a few things ;)

We did not have any plans until Christmas Eve. My brother and I had been working on my daddy's gift for DAYS. Finally, we were able to get our hands on the goods to gift to him on Christmas Eve . .


Meet Maggie!

Maggie is a rescue dog that we were able to get from a shelter in another county. I could go on and on about how it came to be that we got her in a neighboring county and not our own. Let's just say that too many times than not, shelters go overboard on qualifying potential adopters. Locally, I was more than disappointed. Another story for a different time! We are just so thankful that we were able to get Maggie. She has been PERFECT and proven to be so smart already. We could see her change almost instantly when we got her home and cared for. It was such a great experience and we love her so much already!

After we played with the new toy alittle while, we loaded up to head to Jason's mom and dad's house for Christmas with them. We had lunch, opened gifts and got ready to go to the Christmas Eve candle light service at their church. We also had communion. It was so great! I LOVE this particular service, because it reflects on the true meaning of Christmas! After the service, we headed to Jason's aunt's house for a late supper. We ended the night at home, with this sweet girl playing with what Santa brought her :)




She immediately found a hiding spot for her favorite!


Christmas Day began early with breakfast (and Santa!) at my parents! We had to be at church by 10:00, so it was an early start for us. This is the only pic I got of Christmas Day. Things were moving so fast and all I had was my phone!


The Aftermath!!

As usual, everything was perfect! On Christmas Day our church baptized 10 people! I must tell you at first I thought twice about the idea of baptizing on Christmas. NOT AT ALL did I think it was a bad idea . . just different. Well, it was so special!! 4 of my Sunday school kids were of the 10 and I was so proud of them!! What a way to spend Christmas morning- watching men and women and children be baptized into the family of Christ!


Christmas Day ended with supper at my Grandma's house. We had baked spaghetti, which is so different than our usual pickups. It was soooooo good! My Aunt makes a MEAN baked spaghetti. I have tried to get her to make it for me again since then with no such luck . . yet!

Last night, Jason and I had a low key night at home. I have been reflecting much over 2011, with a few thoughts that have really stuck out.

1. The things I thought were major- all minor in the abundant blessings God saw fit to give us this past year. Good health, business, family . . in the grand scheme, what else matters?

2. I want to set goals for 2012 that align with Him, and not what I think will make me a better person.

3. It's time to stop merely existing, but living!


Praying God's Richest Blessings for You and Yours in 2012,