500th Blog

How fitting is it that blog 500 would come on such an important date.... The last date of this decade... Don't you love this date.... There is something magical that happens at midnight today... It is as if some how the things that have happened, both good and bad, in the past year just drift away into the space time continuum and we no longer have to carry them with us.

Why do we do that? Tomorrow, I will still remember all of it won't I? Nonetheless, I am excited about a new year, but there is not a whole lot that I looking to forget about this year. Lots of good things happened this year for me.

Things I liked about 2009

1. My sister and I threw my mom the most amazing surprise 50th birthday back in January!

2. I went on an awesome ski trip to Snowshoe, WV.

3. It snowed big back in March!

4. My 31st Birthday was great.... Ribs and family at home.

5. I did my first Cooper River Run (even though I walked.)

6. I went to the beach for almost 3 weeks this summer and then again in September.

7. I built an awesome new deck on my house and brought the patio furniture all the way back from Oxford, MS because I got an awesome deal on it!!!!

8. I learned a lot of techy stuff this year to help me be a better teacher.

9. I lost 30 lbs. and I am still losing... Allowing me to buy a size 33 pants for the first time since 10th grade!!!

10. All of my family made it through another year safe, happy, and healthy!

When I read over that list I am amazed! What an awesome year the Lord blessed me with!!!

There are a few things I want to do a better job at during 2010. I am gonna type a few goals ( NOT RESOLUTIONS... I always break them.) here that I would like to see happen for me this upcoming year, and next year I will revisit and the list and see how I did...

2010 Goals

1. Be a better blogger... I really fell off the wagon this year when school started back. It is a great outlet for me and I really do not care if I just have 10 readers or 1,000.
Goal: At least 1 blog a week.

2. Write cards to people. Don't you love getting stuff in the mail. I write cards a good bit, but there are several times I will see someone at church, school, or my family that I think my need an encouraging note and I never write it. Really... How long would that take?
Goal: Write a card at least once a month.

3. Continue to lose weight to my goal of 180 and maintain it. NO MORE MR. 200!!!!
Goal: Continue to eat healthy... Red meat once a week, No fast food, water, and Wii Fit at least 3 times a week.

4. Read at least 4 books during the entire year.... I know this goal may seem too easy, especially for some of you big time readers.... but I am the slowest reader on the planet. I have to read and read and reread..... 4 almost seems insurmountable to me.... Although I did read 3 just this past summer.... Wish me luck with this one.... Any ideas for a book?
Goal: 1 book per season.

5. Save money.... HELP ME LORD..... This one is so hard for me... I have a bit of a shopping addiction... I just bought a Buddy the Elf costume online last night at a Christmas Clearance site... It was only 18 dollars and I wanted it!!!! Ya'll focus your prayers on this one.
Goal: Save at least 100 dollars more a month than I am this year!

I cannot wait til this time next year. I pray that I would be diligent in meeting all these goals... I think I may print them and post them somewhere to see everyday. Wish me luck.

I hope all of you have a great, awesome, wonderful, prosperous 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Christmas 2009

The House

The Trees

Me on Christmas Eve before leaving for Granny's.

The family at Granny's

All the grand kids at Granny's.

After the 11:30 pm service at church we headed to Johnnie-Lynn's to wait for Santa... After he got through putting out all the gifts we were starved so we made a 2:30 am run to the Waffle House. This is our pic as we enjoyed our Christmas Feast!!!!!!

Christmas morning Santa out did himself!!!!!!!

Things were a bit different for us this year because Mama had to work Christmas morning. We decided to go to my house Christmas night and swap the family gifts. I cooked a big dinner and we had the best time. Below is the tree before the chaos began.

The Aftermath!!!!!!!!!

Christmas was great... Family, Friends, and Jesus! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas....

Stay tuned... the next blog is gonna be the 5ooth post!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Eve

Over the years my Christmas Eve tradition has changed so much.....

When I was little (like up til I was 12 or so.) Christmas Eve was the biggest head ache for me... I know I know... it was supposed to be a great time for me as a kid, but it seemed my family always scheduled everything on top of everything!!!!!! I had to go to one granny's for a bit, then my dad would come get me or my mom would take me and drop me off at the other grandma's, and I never got to stay very long at either one.... I would just be having fun one place and then I would have to go to another...

Around 13 or so, my dad's family finally wised up and decided to do Christmas Eve in the morning instead of the night... This made life much much better... I could actually enjoy my stay at both places and not have to rush....

My 9th grade year, my granddad died and we continued to have our Christmas Eve tradition without him, but of course it wasn't the same.... My grandma moved and her house just couldn't accommodate all of us....

My mom's side still faithful gets together on Christmas Eve night.... I love it too!!!!!! We eat, play Bingo, I play the piano and we sing.... It is great. There never seems to be enough time though before we rush out to the Christmas Eve Service at church and then it's off to home and waiting on Santa.....

What do you do on this day??? Tell me about it... I love to listen!

What a Difference a Year Makes

Back during the first week of November I received some very disturbing news regarding blood work that I had done at school. My triglycerides were dangerously high and I needed to change my diet immediately. It scared me very badly. I am way too young to be dealing with such an issue.... So, I made up my mind that day that I was going to do everything in my power to do better with my eating and exercise.

All I can say is what a difference a year can make... I was looking through pics from last Christmas today and I came across this one of me last year at the family gathering. WOW is all I could say. I really had no idea I had gained that much weight.... Check out the pics below.

Christmas 2008-225lbs.

Christmas 2009-192lbs.

As of today I have officially lost 30lbs since the first week of November just by watching what I am eating and being strict with it... The lunch ladies at my school and lots of good friends that I work with have cheered me all along the way, and I am so grateful for their help. This blog is in no way meant to be braggy at all...Honestly I am still in shock that all I had to do was eat better and the weight just came off....... some of my friends think I am getting a bit obsessed... but we will see how they act when they are in danger of a stroke.....

So... There is my story lately.... I have been working hard, and I am gonna do everything I can to maintain it.... Pray for me through Christmas.... I love Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes and haven't had a one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT ONE SO SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O Holy Night

This has to be my favorite Christmas song of all time.... When the words say, "chains shall he break," I am reminded of all of the forgiveness He has given me for every sin I have every committed. Listen, reflect, and get ready.... For unto us a Savior is born, unto us.... a Son is given!"

Here are just a few of the recordings I ran across as I searched for it. Merry Christmas!

Hey Daniel

Is anyone still reading? I have been so extremely busy the last few months and I haven't had time to blog. Life, work and church have just taken my time lately.

Last night we had our Christmas concert at church. A former student of mine was there, and he told me that he checked my blog this morning and was sad to see that I had not posted in a while. Apparently he is an avid reader of the blog. I promised him that I would try to do better. Thanks Daniel for getting me back on track. You are a great kid and I can't wait til you grow up and become a second grade teacher!