I hope that everyone is having a FABULOUS Friday!!  Most of my Fridays are fabulous just because it's the last day in the work week!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I have several things planned....check back for pictures!!

pictures from the weekend

 Me, Hal and Preston.  For some reason I was unable to upload the picture of me and Megan, or the one of me and Colton.  Boo!  Oh well...we had a great time hanging with them on Friday night.

 Jackson and Preston  AKA  T.R.O.U.B.L.E

 

 Game night!

 

 

 

 

Breakfast at Flour Haven!  Yummy!

 

I found this ecard on the Internet this week and thought it was a perfect description of me and my best girls!

Me, Kerri and Kathi.  I do not have one with Megan and Stephanie in it.  I've said it a GAZILLION times before, and I'll say it once again...  I am not sure where I would be without these gals!  They have been my best friends for MANY years, and have always been good to me, but words cannot express what they have meant to me over the past seven months.  Well, one word describes it.  Blessed.

 

 

JP has been sick today with the stomach bug that seems to be going around.  I hate it when he is sick.  I feel so helpless.  I am staying home with him one more time tomorrow to make sure he is fever free for twenty four hours.  He did get a lot of rest today and seems to be better.  Thank God.

 

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

my bucket list, my weekend, and upcoming events

In light of my current circumstances, I have been given the (unfortunate or unique, however you choose to view it) opportunity to reinvent myself.  In doing so, I have compiled a "Bucket List" for myself.  I thought I would share.

1. Begin running again and enter races.  ( I have already been able to cross this one off!)
2. Be in better shape at age 40 than I was at 25.  ( I am on my way...thankfully I have five years left!)
3. Get my devotional book published.
4. Get my children's book published.
5. Finish another degree.  ( I begin this one this summer!)
6. Take photography classes.
7. Go to Hawaii.
8. Spend a week in NYC.
9. Go on a Disney cruise.
10. Take JP back to Guatemala to visit his children's home.

Well, that's all I could come up with for now.  I don't think it is too extravagant.  I'll have to keep you informed on the progress as I go along!

I know it's been a while since I posted.  This past week was pretty busy.  Everyone in our house is back on the mend, thank goodness!!!  Now, if I can just catch up on the housework, we'll be good to go.  Our weekend was pretty laid back and relaxing.  Friday night, we hung out at Megan and Hal's.  Saturday morning, we all met Rose, BJay Holly and Lindi for breakfast in Greer.

 If you live in the Greenville/Taylors/Greer area, I strongly suggest you visit Flour Haven.  It was wonderful.  Everyone knows how much I LOVE breakfast, well let me tell you, I ordered a waffle and sausage links.... YUM. E!  The prices fall in the $8 to $10 range, but the amount of food they delivered to your table is sinful.   And what is even more sinful is when you devour your food and don't leave anything on your plate.  That is what I did!  (Now granted I didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day!)


Saturday night, JP and I went to a friend's house for a "Game Night."  It was TONS of fun!  Sunday, I had the special privilege of singing at a young girl's baptism service.  What an honor. 

I am picking up my tickets this week to attend the Easter service at Newspring Church!!  I am SUPER excited about this!!  It will be awesome.  Look for a campus in your area and swing by Friday, Saturday or Sunday for one of the services... you WILL be glad you did!!  It is always amazing.

This weekend I am joining ten other CRAZY ladies for a night of dinner and a concert at Brookwood Church.  It will be a lot of fun.  I am counting down the days...

Well, that's it for now.  Check back tonight or tomorrow for pictures from our weekend.  Have a great Monday, everyone!

I have a couple of new devotional ideas that I am working on.  It seems to be taking me a long time to get my thoughts in order.  My brain has been scrambled this week.  The only two people (knock on wood) in our home who have not been sick is me and JP.  Couple that with all of our day to day CRAZINESS and it has been a mad house. 

But, if I am being honest, I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.  Well,  a little calmer might be nice!

I did get an email from the Editor of the poetry book that is going to have my poem in it.  They want to do a "Featured Artist" page with my profile and poem.  I thought that was pretty cool.  The book is pretty expensive, so I am not going to buy one.  But, I am very honored.  You can read the poem here.   It is the only poem I have ever written.  I actually do not enjoy writing poetry.  Most of you have probably already read it.  Especially if you have followed my blog since the beginning.  God gave me the words while I was waiting for JP to come home from Guatemala.  My emotions were so raw.  God really used that time in my life to teach me how to worship Him through my wait.  And while it was a very painful period, I grew.  Looking back,  I would not trade that time for anything in the world.

I am very tired tonight.  It has been a pretty long day.  I will ask that you continue to keep JP in your prayers.  He is really struggling to sort through his emotions right now.  He is so fragile.  And so special.  And kind.  I could go on and on...  I love him so much it hurts.  Literally. 

This is a picture of us today after he came home from school.  Look how sleepy he is!  He has gotten in the habit of taking about an hour nap after school.  He is usually so drained.  Thankfully, he is still doing well in school.  That is a blessing, for sure.

Well, I guess that is it for now.  I am going to hit the sack early.  Tomorrow's Thursday!  YAY!!  The weekend is right around the corner.  Stay tuned for pictures from our weekend.

GOOD NIGHT!

hattie

Every neighborhood has a "Hattie."   She is the neighbor who rocks in a rocking chair on her front porch and waves at everyone who passes by.   She is the reason you can leave your door unlocked during the day for a brief period of time because you know that your house will be closely monitored.   She is the person who gets your mail when you are out of town and brings you dinner or dessert from time to time in the evening just because she has extra.  Hattie is aware of the events that take place in the lives of those who surround her and always makes sure that they are taken care of.  She is the neighbor who loves your children and makes sure she ALWAYS has candy in a bowl for them on her dining room table.  Just in case they pop over unannounced.  And when your children do not pop over, she calls and asks if she can see them, if only for a minute.  She is often the first neighbor to move onto the street, and in most cases, the last neighbor to leave. 

Our Hattie passed away this week after an unexpected illness.  And she will be missed.   Especially by my son.  This afternoon I will walk JP over to her house while her family is gathered there so that he can reach into his candy bowl one last time and carry home a fistful of suckers. 

I was really nervous about telling JP that she died.  He has spent a lot of time at her house over the past six years.  I have to say, however, that his response surprised me and made me VERY proud at the same time.  When he woke up from a nap yesterday afternoon, I said, "JP, remember how Hattie has been sick?  Well, she went home to live with Jesus."   His reaction to the news made my heart smile.  Big.  "Oh mommy!  That's great news!  I am so happy for her!"   He was so thrilled that his friend was now living with Jesus.  And you know what?

So am I.

“Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” ~ C.S. Lewis

a first time for everything

I ran in my first 5K race this morning!  I wasn't sure how I would do or how I would like it, honestly.  I enjoy running for exercise purposes, but I have never been interested in running a race.  After much prompting and encouragement from my friend, Stephanie, I decided to give it a try. 

I LOVED IT!!!  It was SO MUCH FUN!  The adrenaline rush you get from being in such a HUGE crowd of people cheering and running along beside you felt amazing.  I was never one to play sports, but I guess that's sort of what it feels like?!  I think it's safe to say that I am HOOKED.  I already have my next race lined up!  The beginning of May, my friend and I will be running alongside Hartwell lake in Seneca.  Can you say, FUN?! 

 Me and my girl, Stephanie after the race.  She ran the 10K and did a great job!  Can you tell I am wearing four shirts and two pair of pants?!  Puffy, much?!  LOL!  It was freezing...

 

 My Jamie ran with me.  And by "with" me, I mean about 2 miles ahead of me and in HALF the time!  Ha!  But he and Kerri and Stephanie were waiting for me at the finish line cheering me on.  And by "cheering me on,"  I mean catching me from falling to the ground.  Seriously.

Pre-race pic.  Waiting in CVS hoping that the sleet and rain subside.  Thankfully, it did.



I hope that everyone has had a great weekend.  JP has decided that he wants me to sign him up to race with me next time.  We'll see how that goes.  I would LOVE it if this were something we could do together as a family!

HAPPY SATURDAY NIGHT, EVERYONE!

he is able

"There's a voice calling me, from an old rugged tree
And He whispers draw closer to me
Leave this world far behind,
There are new heights to climb
And a new place in Me you will find
And whatever it takes, to draw closer to You Lord
That's what I'd be wiling to do
And whatever it takes, to be more like you
That's what I'd be willing to do

That's what I'd be willing to do
Questions seem to haunt us night and day
Like how could God allow my heart to be torn this way
Does He listen when I call?
Oh, is He even there at all?

Yet I know when my eyes fail to see
He is able
And even though it seems impossible to me
He is able
But if He chooses not to move
In the way we prayed he would
We're confident He's working
all together for our good
   (emphasis mine!)

I will stand behind His Word
For He is able
He is able
And as the night gives way
to dawning and evaporates away
I stand to face another day
And I will stand behind His Word
He is able, I know
He is able
He's able"                    ("He Is Able"  Truth)

 

I don't know about you, but I needed to be reminded of this today.  Especially the part I underlined.