See ya later alligator.

Out with the old. In with the new.

Goodbye 2012. Hello 2013.

One last blog for 2012.

Hope 2013 brings happiness for everyone.

Blah

How come around the holidays is when everything seems to go wrong? I refuse to let anything get me down. Even this illness I've got going on. I'm just going to ignore it, relax, and ENJOY my last few days of break.

What seems to be your worry or problem during this holiday season? I hope nothing. But if so, remember life's about learning to dance in the rain. Find the good of the bad and roll with it.

26 Random Acts of Kindness

I love twitter and I'm basically addicted. The newest challenge or hashtag I've noticed is #26acts. What it basically stands for is the 26 victims of Sandy Hook.

Here's how it works:

You do 26 random acts of kindness in honor of each of the victims of Sandy Hook. The acts can be big or small. It's up to you. Leave a message telling about why you're doing this random act for the random stranger and challenge them to join in.

This is so moving to me!! I think it'll help show that we do have good people in this world and we can be a blessing to others.

So I challenge you to join me in #26acts. What's the worst that can happen?? You help brighten someone's day??

Help restore humanity. Help show we are a great nation and good people do still exist.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Yep. It's beautiful. It is perfect. Maybe even magical. Snow in the south is something special. I love it. Don't you??

Merry Christmas baby!!

Merry Christmas baby!!

It's almost here!!

Merry Christmas Eve y'all :)

Christmas Eve Eve

I can't believe Christmas Eve is tomorrow!! I'm so excited and can't wait to see everyone's faces as they open presents.

As I've gotten older, I've learned that it really isn't about getting but giving. It's so much more satisfying to watch others open the presents you buy them. Seeing that joy on a beloved one's face is priceless.

So this holiday season remember that God gave us his son so we could be free and could live with him in heaven forever.

That's what this holiday season is all about, right?

Cray cray fam

We had out family Christmas party last night.

Oh boy, when I say cray cray, that's a simple understatement.

It's so much fun, but to newcomers, I feel sorry for you :)

We had a blast and squeezed over 100 people in my Aunt's house--well worth it.

Do y'all have big families?? This is all I've ever known. So it's normal to me. I can't imagine having a small family.

12/21/12

Read mark 13:32.

It'll explain why in fact the world didn't end Friday.

I'm a wrapper...

And not the singing kind...

All my presents are bought and wrapped.

To some this may seem late, but for me I'm 4 days early :)

So proud of myself!!

Hopeless Romantic

"Nobody in the world makes me laugh the way you do. You're my best friend. I just wanna be with you."-- Tom, Made of Honor

"After all... I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."--Anna Scott, Notting Hill

"Destiny is something we've invented because we can't stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental."--Annie Reed, Sleepless in Seattle

"Margaret, will you marry me? Because I'd like to date you."--Andrew Paxton, The Proposal

Paige: I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.
Leo: I vow to fiercely love you in all your forms, now and forever. I promise to never forget that this is a once in a lifetime love.--The Vow

"The truth is... I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart... and I never really got it back."--Reese Witherspoon, Sweet Home Alabama

"If you love someone... you say it, right then, out loud. Otherwise... the moment just passes you by."--My Best Friend's Wedding

"What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew, was the only someone for you?"--Sleepless in Seattle

"You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to eachother, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself."--Breakfast at Tiffany's (my fave)

Orlando: Helen, if I'm away from you for more than an hour, I can't stop thinking about you. I carry you in my spirit. I pray for you more than I pray for myself. I've got it so bad for you I'd... I'd go to the grocery store and buy your feminine products, I swear I would.
Orlando: And see? And that... that... That smile. Helen, when you smile like that, my world... It's all right.--Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Some of my all time favorite quotes. Enjoy them :)

Yours truly,
The hopeless romantic

I'm really terrible at this "blog everyday" challenge

Well I forgot to blog again yesterday...surprised?? Me neither.

Anyways, I can't believe how close it is to Christmas!! Can y'all?? I'm so excited. However, my procrastination is coming out of course. I still have 3 people to buy for...I'm such a last minute shopper. Probably because I HATE shopping. What about you?? Do you like shopping? Are you finished buying Christmas gifts? And how excited are you about Christmas?!

A year later...

Last year on this exact day I graduated from college. Can you believe it?! Me either!!

It's been such a blessing to know I accomplished something that is so meaningful in life. Something that can be difficult to accomplish--I did it.

I'll never forget that (boring) ceremony. I've never appreciated boredom so much. Well worth it.

It's nice to look back and see what I've completed. But it's also nice to look ahead at my goals. I know I can do it no believe in myself--just like I did 5 years ago :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

My best friend and I love to go looking at Christmas lights during the holiday season. So tonight we drove around our little town and adored all the cute little houses with dancing lights (our fave)!!

Does anyone else enjoy this Christmas tradition?!

Prayer list

Here's a quick prayer list:

--Aaron to get a big tree job (so we can go on a road trip)

--our country, more specifically, the families in CT.

--Officer Lang's family here in Memphis

--Ella-Reid Mason (this a huge one and top priority in my book). This sweet 6 year old girl is fighting a battle no child should ever have to fight. Please pray God works a miracle on this little girl and that she "kicks cancer's butt" (in her words).

--Mrs. Kay, dear friend who is in ICU after having 2 strokes and a heart attack. Also pray for her family during this difficult time.

Caysen's birthday party!!

We had a great weekend of birthdays and parties.

Sweet girl turned 2 Saturday. I can't believe it.

Woooo...

I did it again...I almost forgot to blog today and just thought about it as I was climbing into bed.

So here I am :)

Life has been hectic this week. All we've done is party all week long...that is the life of a teacher around the holidays.

So I'm just going to give you a glimpse of the past week in pictures. Enjoy :)

12-12-12

Ok so I know you've heard it a billion times today, BUT stop and really think about it.

Today is 12-12-12. This will never happen again as long as we live. It's so much fun and something awesome to experience.

So what's something memorable or remarkable that you can look back on one day?

Make 12-12-12 memorable. Make it meaningful.

Of course I forgot a day...

Yesterday I forgot to blog...of course! I make myself a challenge and fail.

This reminds me that we fail God daily. Nevertheless, we wake up every morning with new mercies. He gives us a second and third and fourth chance, when he gives us a challenge and we fail. I'm so thankful for His grace and his mercy on me.

So as we go through this day, let's try our best to let others see Jesus in us. And remember: it's ok if you mess up, he still loves you anyways! :)

Auntie T love

My sweet Caysen Elaine will be 2 on the 15th. It makes me so sad!! She is getting so big.

Her personality is REALLY coming out at this age and I LOVE it. She is sassy and smart :)

I love being her aunt and spoiling her to death. I'm smitten with my Cay Cay :)

Sleep

I. NEED. SLEEP.

We had a craft fair today and I am pooped. But I HAD to blog really quick since I've made this challenge for myself.

So this is just going to be a quick, short blog. Because I'm 23, it's a Saturday night, and I'm going to bed. All I must say is:

Keep calm and sleep.

Secret Santa reveal!

I knew it!! All along I knew who my SS was. Mrs. Lisa Miller was my Secret Santa this week. She did an awesome job. Each day my present was sweet and thoughtful! I loved each gift and especially today's target gift card :) She wasn't even at school today, but had her husband bring it to me. I'm so thankful for how special she made my first SS experience.

The librarian (who I had) said I went over the top with my gifts and that she loved them! I'm so glad she did. And obviously she knows now I do everything over the top :) it makes my heart smile that she loved my gifts so much.

Have you participated in a Secret Santa gift exchange this year or ever? What are your thoughts or opinions on SS?

Girls hunt too!

As I sit here writing this blog, I'm actually waiting on a deer too. As most of y'all know I love to hunt!! I've been going a lot this year, but still haven't harvested a deer. I'm still waiting patiently...ok KINDA patiently. I'm hoping my luck changed tonight, even though I don't believe in luck.

Anyways, my multi-tasking is going to be out to an end as I try to sit and focus on deer hunting. Wish me luck. Here goes nothing...

I'm so glad I work at the U of M...

Working at Campus School is a blessing beyond belief.

Campus School is an optional elementary school located on the University of Memphis's campus. It is such an awesome and motivating place for students to be.

Last week we had a pep rally to kick off our "be drug free" awareness week. The Mighty Sound of the South came to play a few songs for the kids. It was such a thrilling experience. The band played many of the popular songs that they play at ball games. Of course the students sang along to the fight song and their favorite "I'm so glad I go to the U of M" (or campus school, as they sing).

It is so rewarding to know the support and encouragement we receive from the college students. They will never know how much these kids look up to them.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

We've been decorating at school for Christmas and I've been having a blast (and stressing)!! We made a fireplace outside of our classroom with a mantle and all. It is so stinkin' cute!! The students are going to write on these precious stocking templates their wishes for Christmas. I can't wait to have it complete finished.

Shhh...it's a secret!

Today we started Secret Santa at work. I am so excited about doing it since this is my first year to participate. My SS did an AWESOME job!! They REALLY know me :) I walked into the classroom today and on my desk was a box. I opened it up and sweetarts were filled inside with a bottle of OPI nail polish and a little note that said "for your mistle toes." I thought that was so clever!! On the back was written, "my favorite color is tiger blue, too!" I have an idea about who it could possibly be...I can't wait until tomorrow to get my next clue!! I hear my gift was a hit too ;) oh, and I almost forgot the best part. When I was out in the hall, someone walked up and gave me a cold diet coke. She said it was from my secret Santa and they wants it to be cold when I got it. So thoughtful! I'm so pumped about having a great SS.

An update for the past almost year--day 2

Blog 2 for the day:

Since its been almost a year, I want to give a quick update of my life. I looked back at my last blog which was from
December 6, 2011. How embarrassing?! Anyways, it says that in 11 days I will graduate....

Update since then, you got it...I graduated!! I graduated with honors December 17, 2011 from the University of Memphis. It was such a surreal event. Standing in the FedEx Forum, walking across the stage, shaking the dean's hand, being on the jumbotron (which has always been on my bucketlist), and receiving my diploma. Hands down one of the best experiences in my life.

And after I graduated, I earned my Teaching All Learners dual teaching licensure. I was offered an Educational Assistant position at Campus School (this is the school I student taught at). This position although part time and hourly pay was a complete blessing. Campus School is one of the top ranked schools in Tennessee. I was so honored to have a job at such a wonderful school. Since then, they offered me a one-on-one position working with a special needs student. It is full time, still hourly, and not my own classroom, but it is still a blessing! I love my job and the little boy I work with. He definitely knows how to brighten my day. We share many interests like Cardinals baseball and Tigers basketball! Woo!

I'm still single. I'm still waiting. And that's okay. God's timing will be perfect :)

I'm still praying for my dream job...teaching in my own classroom. Once again, God's timing will be perfect.

God's timing is perfect. Let me tell you how. I just recently signed up to be a Premier Designs Jewelry Consultant. It's such an honor to be a jewelry lady and know I am making women all over the world feel and look beautiful! It was so the right time, because I need extra money and I want to have fun doing it. Well hello, Premier does just that!

I'm so thrilled to be blogging again! Thanks for taking time to read my update over the last year. Please join me in prayer for my dream job and future hubby. Thanks :)

We wish you a Merry Blogmas!!

It's been almost a year since I've blogged and that is a TERRIBLY SHAMEFUL thing. It makes my heart sad. Thanks to a friend, Nikki Salley, I'm now challenging myself to blog again and not only blog again, but blog everyday of December. It's called Blogmas!! I love this idea and what a great way for me to start doing what I love again.

Since this is technically the 2nd day of December, I will post two blogs today (because I obviously missed yesterday). So I dare you to take the challenge with me...blog and do it everyday during Blogmas :)