Whew...time flies!

The beginning of 2011 has flown by so fast! It has been busy and full of a lot of both fun and sad memories. In January, I got to go to one of my high school best friends' wedding and we went on a family trip to Tennessee. I blogged about both of those already. Here is a run-down of whats been going on since then:

February:

I flew out to Colorado to see my best friend,Ruth. Ruth and I have been friends since 6th grade and also lived together through college. Another friend of ours who lives in Mobile, flew into Colorado at the same time and we had a blast catching up and just spending time together. One of Ruth and I's other college roommates also lives in Colorado and we got to meet up with her one night for dinner and a night out. We drove up to Breckenridge for a night and went snowboarding and snow mobiling. It was sooo much fun! It was hard to come home. Here are a few pics from that trip.


March/April:

My grandmother had not been doing well off and on since the beginning of the year. She had a lengthy hospital stay in March and went home to be with the Lord April 30th. It was a very sad time for our family but what peace we have in knowing she is home with the Lord where she longed to be. I know she is loving heaven and seeing all her friends and familiy there waiting for her.

May:

In May, we celebrated my birthday and mother's day. It is always so special because my birthday is right around mother's day and every few years actually falls on that day. I love my mom and she is my best friend. I love sharing that time with her, especially this year since it was so close to my grandmother passing away. I also went to Mexico with some girl friends. It was a much needed girls get away and we had such a fun time. At the end of May, we had a memorial service for my grandmother. All of our family was able to gather on the Mississippi Coast. We had a great time being together, celebrating the life of my grandmother and sharing memories. The evening of the memorial service a great family friend invited us over to his gorgeous home for a shrimp and crab boil! Yum-Yum! We had a blast stuffing our faces and again, just being together. I can't believe all ten of us grandchildren were able to be together in one place. It doesn't happen often but is so special when it does. I know my grandmother and grandfather were smiling down on us, just knowing we were together. That was always what it was about to them, family and being together. I have such a special family, and I thank God all the time that he blessed me with them. We are crazy but we have a lot of fun together. Here are some pictures from Mexico and Mississippi time with family.




If you're a friend on Facebook, check out more picture there from the recent months.

Until next time,

Kelly's Korner (kellyskornerblog.com) is a blog that I have been following for quite some time. I love it because she is just so completely honest about life, especially her life as a mom. I am not a mom but I love reading her blog and she post some other pretty good stuff that isn't always mom related. I love her "Show us your life" post. Each week she features a different topic like, "Show us what you make", "Show us where your favorite vacation spot is" etc. She often does a show us your life singles. I'm not a fan of online dating, it just kind of weirds me out, but it has been very neat to see how this has worked. She has done this particular show us your life several times and has had several couples come together and I think one couple that met through it has even gotten married or is getting married. Kind of neat.

As I said, "online" dating and meeting someone over the internet still kind of freaks me out. But, who's to say it can't happend. God works in mysterious ways. I am looking forward to her post where she features these couples that have met throught her Show us your life, singles post. Follow her blog, it is so worth reading everyday. I admire her for being completely herself. I do not know her personally, but feel like if I met her, she would be exactly how she comes across in her blog, very genuine.

Look for a post updating what has been going on in the crazy life of mine. It has been so busy the last 6 months that it will take a long post to catch up. So, just warning ya ahead of time!

And just because I love pictures...here is a preview of what is to come on the blog:

Mexico with Friends:

Genta, Rain, & Me


Laying out by the pool


Memorial Day with the family


We're an SEC Family (Danielle, Me, Emily, & Darrin)

I've Stopped Reading My Bible...

...for a little bit anyways. I've been trying to do better about reading my Bible. I can honestly say that I have never been consistant with reading my Bible and it is ashaming (is that a word?). A few months ago, I decided that I was going to read the Bible all the way through. It's something I always said that I would do and again, I've haven't ever done it (*ashamed*...again). I looked up a "Bible Reading Plan" online and choose a chronological reading plan. I started with the "plan" and soon felt like I was back in graduate school, reading assigned chapters in Psychopathology. I found I was reading the "assigned" chapters the plan suggested for each day, and checking them off.

I want a deep hunger for the word. I want to be passionate about it. I want to memorize more scripture. I want to read several chapters each day and hear God. So, I'm going to pray for that. I want God to change the way I approach his word. I love it, but I need a deeper love.

Weekend Re-Cap

This weekend was supposed to look a little like this....



Instead, I received this several hours before the concert was supposed to start:



Bummer...We have been looking forward to this for a while now. Thursday, this past week, we were hit with a little "wintery mix". It started sleeting, then snowing, and in a matter of about an hour or so things began to get icy. I got things finished up at work as soon as I could and was out of there. It was crazy around town and took me over 2 hours to get home!! The first hour was spent just trying to get out of the area I work in. I swear I didn't go a whole 5 miles that first hour. Once I finally got out of the traffic around work, I was able to take some back rounds home. They were a little conjested but not as bad as the highways and main roads in town. After finally getting home, I took a bathroom break, loaded up my car and drove another 4 hours down to Mississippi.

Apparently, Rascal Flatts felt my pain. They had played a concert in Austin, TX Thursday night and were unable to make it to New Orleans for the concert I was supposed to go to on Friday night because of "icy road" conditions. I was bummed but all things happen for a reason so it will be okay. They are supposed to announce a reschedule date and hopefully we'll still be able to go, if not - we can get a refund.

I've been really trying to do well with working out (alot more than normal) and really watching what I've been eating. I've done good so far and have lost a few more pounds but it all when to you know where this weekend. HA! I mean, how can you be in New Orleans & the Coast of Mississippi and think about eating "healthy"...I mean come on. Thanks to these few things: Ralph & Kacoo's, Cafe Du Monde, & Pat O' Briens;

I think I've found those few pounds I lost. HA! But, I'm back home now and it's time to get busy and back into the routine of gym(cardio & weights), Zumba, and 30-day shred and send them back on their way!