Girl's Night Out

So, for the last month or so it has been CRAZY around here and I have been running one way or another so myself and a couple of my friends took a night off and went to eat mexican and then went off to see Four Christmas and then to Barnes & Noble for coffee (well they did).. It was a fun night to let our hair down and just laugh and let all the stress from the past month to go away.

Never a dull moment


Kim & Shelia are a delight to be around


I think she is still trying to figure out why she came w/ this group..


Shannan was my date for the night


My friend and co-worker Beth, I am so proud of her for coming out with a bunch of strangers


Trouble on the back make out row


They kept the popcorn going for us, but watch out for them too


We ran into Hannah and Hannah at Barnes and Noble


I love these girls, they are some of the best friends you can have


The late crew

Christmas

My top 8 favorite moments of Christmas 2008

1. Going to my first Christmas Eve service and seeing all the people who come out to celebrate the birth of our Jesus.

2. Watching Tyler savor every single thing from his stocking to the his presents. He did really get alot but he still has not open everything.

3. Seeing Tyler's face as he open up his Gamecube

4. Seeing Ryan's face when he saw that Santa brought him his very own bass and case for it

5. Hearing the beating drums of Stephen playing Guitar Hero cause that means I don't have to get real drums yet.

6. Staying in my pj all day and laying around watching movies and now worrying about the house or the dishes or anything but relaxing and listening and watching my kids.

7. Keeping everything a secret and hide this year from the older 2. Can't snoop if it is in my car..lol

8. Tyler making Jesus a b'day cake and what he said... "I hope Jesus has his eyes close" and when I asked why "Cause I don't want him to see what I am doing until his cake is done..opps," me "what", Tyler "I hope he didn't hear me cause then it would not be surprise" Happy birthday Jesus, we love you!!!!!!

Christmas w/ the Darwins

The past couple of years our good friends Tim and Ginger Darwin have invited us to come and spend Christmas Eve with them. Her dad gets a country ham every year and he cooks that and along with her mom they cook eggs, bacon, grits, flat biscuit, red eye gravy it is all good and we are so happy they invite us. This year Ginger invited another lady from church Deanna and her 2 kids. The kids ate in one room, the men in another and us ladies got to eat in the fancy dining room cause we don't mess like the men and kids lol..... We have a great night of fellowship and we are thankful to have great friends like them...Afterwards we went by and saw the lights my friend Kim Hewitt talked about on her blog and they are great.. The only bad thing about this night is my boys "think" they are to grown up to come and spend the time w/ us so they went over to Billy's house to play Call of Duty and hang out... I miss them being little too and being w/ us but it is ok I have them ALL day Christmas day right now... Ryan and I did go to the Christmas Eve service he was playing so I had to sit along cause Stephen was asleep already and Tyler was not feeling good by now and Eric had to stay home w/ him and start getting ready for Christmas day... Maybe next year we will all get to go together.

Christmas Eve

Well, for the past week I have been working, trying to get all the presents bought and not had the great of luck at times. The night before Christmas Eve me and my friend Kim went to Greenville to see if they had Stephen's shoes at Dicks (yes, I know I could have called but I needed to go and meet my friend Amy anyway). Well, Dick's didn't have them, Target didn't have what I wanted so the night was a waste except spending some time w/ a good friend and we did get a few things but not all. So, Christmas Eve after I got the mac & cheese in the crockpot about 8:30 I took off to finish shopping esp for the lunch time gift giving.. I got the last gift right at 11:45 and we had to be at Eric's mom at 12 so I rush home help get everything out to the car and we went to his mom for the afternoon by the way, I do shop earlier but I was trying to find 1 gift esp and then also a decent enough 80's t-shirt and yes it did take that long. I really need to start shopping earlier next year, like now...

Hollywild

Last Sunday night after the Christmas concert we took off to Hollywild with Susan and her kids. We wait for about 30 to 45 mins to just get in and it was pretty much worth once we got in there and saw all the lights and got to feed some deer and a zebra. I have to say, that some people out there really disappointed me as fast and reckless as they were driving out where the deer were. We would be trying to be still and quit to get the deer to come up to us and then all the sudden here would come up a car and the deer would run away. We were polite enough when we saw somebody in front of us doing that we stayed back but all in all it was good fun and cold night. The hot chocolate was good, kids had a ball and just seeing them and their reactions to the lights and feeding the animals were priceless...

What a Proud Moment

Last Sunday at church our youth choir Day 6 put on their Christmas concert and our youth band Ready to Rise perform a couple of songs. Both of the boys sing and Ryan plays in the band too and I was so proud of him watching him run back and forth between singing and playing and proud of Stephen cause I think I actually heard him sign instead of moving his mouth. The band started out with Carol Of Bells and I have to say they did an awesome job, just as good as Trans Serbian Orchestra. You can tell all the kids in the band and the choir put in a lot of hard work and practice and that they are under great leadership of Sara Beth and Bucky...

Ryan and Jessie w/ Nate behind them playing Carol Of Bells


Day 6


Stephen singing


Mary Beth dancing to Still


Sarah Beth signing and Hannah lead singing Breath of Heaven... It was a moving song esp w/ SB facial expression she brought it to life so much...


Later that night our adult choir put on there Christmas musical and last performance in our church since we will be moving to the new one in a couple of months. Ryan plays in the adult orchestra too and he just loves it. I am so proud of him and the musician he has become...

You can barely see his head but that is him and Chris playing the bass.


Our adult choir


I didn't get early enough to get a good seat to get good pics and nor did I think to get pics afterwards of the boys.... Next time I will need to remember...

Christmas w/ my side

Last Saturday we went to my parents for Christmas and my dad's b'day. I have not spent Christmas with my side of the family in the past 6 yrs so this was a nervous but a thankful day. I got to see my sister's and there family which being around my nieces there is never a dull moment. I got to see my cousin Johnny which I think it was before Tyler was born since I have seen him and my cousin Al and his wonderful family which I hate that our kids did not grow up together cause they have so much in common and got along great, and of course my 2 beautiful aunts that I just love and adore Kathryn and Johnnie Ruth and my crazy uncle Hook and his wife Susan, I just wish his kids where there and my other cousin Rita and her kids. I miss them all but it was great to spend the day with everyone else.. We ate dinner, the grand kids all got together and played a non-friendly game of Catch Phrase and we had alot of talking going on.... I hope to spend more time with all. Here are a few pics of our day...

10 Things Thursday

Close to the end of the week I just want to stop and think of things I am thankful for...

1. I am thankful that I got to sit still last night at church for our One Voice and listen to all the wonderful singing and playing.

2. I am thankful that big stuff is gotten for Christmas.

3. I am thankful, maybe stressed but thankful that I can be stressed about spending Christmas with my family for the first time in 6 yrs this coming Saturday.

4. I am thankful for all my friends that gave me some great ideas on what to take.

5. I am thankful for what this season is all about... The birth of our Jesus

6. I am thankful that we FINALLY got our tree up and decorated and the stocking hungs

7. I am thankful for all my friends and the way each one has added so much to my life from laughter, advice, talks, to trips, encouragment for just being great friends.

8. I am thankful for the excitement that Tyler has about this Christmas and him being able to tell you what the real meaning of it is.

9. I am thankful that Eric has work while other people in the same line as him don't have anything else coming in right now.

10. I am thankful that things are a little calmer in my life and that last weeks list really help me out.

Dec 17th

COME TO ME with your gaping emptiness, knowing that in Me you are complete. As you rest quietly in My Presence, My Light within you grows brighter and brighter. Facing the emptiness inside you is simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness. Therefore, rejoice on those days when you drag yourself out of bed, feeling sluggish and inadequate. Tell yourself that this is a perfect day to depend on Me in childlike trust. If you preserve in this dependence as you go through the day, you will discover at bedtime that Joy and Peace have become your companions. You may not realize at what point they joined you on your journey, but you will feel the beneficial effects of their presence. The perfect end to such a day is a doxology of gratitude. I am He from whom all blessings flow!

2 Corinthians 4:6; Matthew 5:3,6; Colossians 2: 9-10; Psalm 150:6

Need Help-Gift Ideas

I am having a hard time thinking of what to get a couple of people. I don't think anyone in my family reads this but if you are member of my family quit reading now or heck even you can give me an idea..lol

Last year was the first year that I spent Christmas with my sister's in 5 yrs and this coming Saturday will be the first time in 6 years that I will spend it with my parents. We always say no gifts but of course you know how that works, you don't they do.. So this year I have gotten all my niece's something from my Thirtyone party and now I need to take something to my sisters and their husbands and my parents... So this is where you come in to help out... What do I take???? I thought about a cute serving platter and fill it up with goodies but do I really have time to bake goodies when I don't even have time to decorate my tree and clean my house??? If you like that idea and know of stuff that is easy let me know.. I NEED HELP!!!!!!!

Breakfast w/ Santa, Girville & SS Party all in 1 day

This Saturday I had a busy but fun day. It started first thing at 8am to Tyler's school for Breakfast with Santa. We went in and had muffins, donuts, fruit and bagels donated by BI-LO, after the kids ate they had all kind of crafts they could make. One thing that I thought was really sweet was that all the kids could make a card to someone special in a nursing home. While I was helping Tyler write his he wanted to make sure that I wrote on there Merry Christmas to someone specail. It was really sweet how he kept on and on about that. After crafts Santa came and the kids got to go and visit him. I didn't think my child was going to leave him. He was sitting there the whole time giving him a list cause he is always Xbox or Gamecube and all the boy stuff. He just wanted to talk to Santa and seeing him with that his excitement all over his face I hated to tell him that he had to come on cause there were other kids that wanted to see him too... Here are the pics (to me the slide thing is some much easier on my computer)..

After Breakfast I took off and went with 14 other ladies from church to Brookwood Community church in Simpsonville (my old stomping ground)for there Christmas in Girlville. It was a craft show with TONS of jewerely for sale the best part of that was that my sister came for that with her best friend that while I was growing up was another sister to me and we ran into several people that were friends of theirs (you have to remember I was 9 yrs younger and my mom work retail and my dad travel so I was with them all the time so I remember their friends and they remember me so it was great seeing alot of them. After the craft show we moved into what I was told was their sanctuary for lunch and to hear Kim Bolton speak and sing. She was a wondeful singer and I hate that I didn't get a CD, she was also very funny but she talked about the real reason of Christmas which is the birth of Jesus and she reminded us also that people will remember us by our relationship with Jesus and also our relationship with others so if you are wearing your pin or shirt "Jesus is the reason" then you better be acting it so don't be like a mad bull when you are in Wal-Mart having to wait in line when there are only 3 register open and the 10 items or less there is somebody in front of you with 50 and the cashier has to change her tape and get change. We need to as Christ like in all situations cause you never know who is watching us. I will have to say also that the ladies at Brookwood decorated very pretty and 2 of our ladies won the pretty centerpieces off the table and Cathy Lancaster won a beautiful braclet and I won a hand painted candle glass holder which was pretty funny cause I was thinking of buying it......

The last thing of today was our Sunday school Christmas party. I never go to Sunday school anymore cause I teach the youth girls so it is always good to together and see everybody. We had is at the CLC in the canteen and we wanted it to be more festived so we set the tables up with table clothes and candles, took a tree out of the lobby (don't tell lol) played Christmas music while people were coming in and then while we were eating we ahd Its A Wonderful Life playing for anybody that was not socializing. We just all brought appetizers and desserts and it was great tasting all the different foods. After we ate we played a couple of friendly round of Catch Phrase ladies vs men. Ladies won 3x's and the men won 1, there was alot of laughter and it is really a great game to play in a big group and the hints are just as funny as the answers... It was a great day and night all around...

Thankful Thursday

So, I am just going to lay it out on the line for all to see my humanist (is that really a word)... I saw my friend Stacy do on her blog 10 things she was thankful for and I thought that was a great idea so I wanted to start doing it once on a week, sounded easy enough... Well, there are times when I let the devil get in my head and take over my thoughts and I think of more negative stuff and I have a HARD time finding things to be thankful for. Between Nov and Jan I have a hard time and it has been like this for the past 5 yrs and it is just thoughts of not feeling worthy and one thought leads to another and well then I feel like the whole world is out against me and is falling apart. I have always tired to stay busy so it doesn't get the best of me but some reason this year it is hitting harder. Each day when I think of something else that is not right in my life or people that are not in it I remember this verse..Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in ALL circumstance for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus 2 Thessalonians 5:16-18... I try to be joyful always but sometimes that is hard to do and tiring, pray continually boy if I prayed for all the stuff I don't see right, right now I would be praying 24/7 but instead I just pray for strength each day, give thanks in ALL circumstance NOW that is where the hard part comes in at... But I know that my God is going to lead me out of this and he is going to show me each day things to be thankful for. So, this week I am going to share some of my favorite verses and remind myself who our God is ... Give Thanks in ALL circumstance....

1. I am thankful that God will lead each day for me. I like what Psalm 143:8-10 says and is something to really pray for each day..Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do our will for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground..

2. I am thankful that his thoughts and ways are so much greater and higher than mine. Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways my ways" declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts...

3. I am thankful that my God will rescue me. Jeremiah 1:19 They will fight against your BUT will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you...

4.I am thankful that my God will take my troubles on for me.. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

5.I am thankful for the peace that my God gives me... John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the word gives. Do not let your hearts be trouble and do not be afraid..

6. I am thankful my God has overcome troubles... John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. BUT take heart I have overcome the world!!!!

7.I am thankful that one this world is just temporary.. 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal... I have to add also 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

8. I am thankful FORGIVENESS... boy, do I need forgiveness and I am sooooo thankful that my God has taught me how to forgive... Colossi ans 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU... Ok this is not in bold for you, that is something that I am having to pound in my head right now.. it goes back to that that 5 yr thing...

9. I am thankful that my God is always there.. James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves,then to God Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.. That is another one I need to pound in.. Turn that praise music up, sing to the top of your lungs, cry out to daddy to come rescue you, open your Bible and read it, pray, call on another Christan friend, just simply said Jesus do whatever you need to come closer God and away from the devil...

10.I am thankful that my God cares for me.. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

11. I am thankful that my God loves me.. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

12. I am thankful I never have to walk in darkness... John 8:12 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life..

13. I am thankful that He is trusting...Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

14. I am thankful that He comforts us... 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

15. I am thankful for who all God is.... loving, forgiving,healer, comfort, forever faithful, Abba, Lord our Savior, teacher, trusting,He is Everything that we need Him to be...


I know there are millions of other verses that I could have put on here but those about and these right here are some that I enjoy Psalms the whole book; Zep 3:17, Matthew 6:33-34, and on and on and on....

I am thankful that I did this cause it really just up lifted my spirits... our God is Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STS Leaders Christmas Party

This past Friday night we had our STS leaders Christmas party at Jim and Mary Simons new beautiful house. It was a great night of fellowship and I am privilege to work along side of some awesome people. We had a wonderful dinner, got a tour of the house (I have threaten to move in) and then played a friendly game of catch phrase. Which my team "the guys" won, yes the guys we were off one boy so I had to be one I guess it was worth it. I want to thank Bucky and Stephen for bringing us all together to do this and for everything they do for our preteen and youth, I want to thank Julie and Laura for all that they do and all that they give up so there hubby can be there for our kids, I want to thank the Jim and Mary Simon for sharing their home w/ us... Here are some pics of our night....

Bunco Babes

I am in a Bunco group with 11 other ladies from church. We meet once a month at each other house and have dinner, play around of bunco, eat dessert and then play another round and then get gifts while the whole time we are laughing and having great fellowship. We have a saying what happens at bunco stays at bunco... This is a great group of ladies and I am thankful of each of them...

This month was my month to host and my house is not bunco babe friendly with all the kids and just being small so Kay Bagwell lets me have it at our her house which is great cause she is all decorated up for Christmas... I made baked spaghetti, salad, bread, brownie truffle and no bake strawberry cheesecake. I also have to get gifts for our 1st, 2nd, 3rd (for the people who win the most games) and then the boddie prize (the one who wins the least)... I have spent the last week trying to fine something and my good friend Johanna called up on Monday and said she found some cute stuff at Kohls (it was to crowded on Friday to look) so I ran up there and got prettiest Santa bowl, platter and dip bowl w/ spreader and a cute little coffee mug (which was so right for Sande to win).. Also for Christmas we have Chinese ornament exchange which can get kinda of deadly w/ these women..lol... I got a cute little drummer boy ornament. Here are some pics from our night (thanks Julie for telling me how to do this) all are members of the group except for my friend Kim and she happily agree to come and play with us and I was happy to have her there...