And the list keeps growing

I have so much to do before I leave to head to my parent's house for Christmas. And I've yet to start. Actually, I've managed to get one load of clothes into the washer. I just can't seem to bring myself to get off the couch, even though as I sit here the list of things to do and get done keeps swirling through my head. Here are all the things I have to get done before I go to bed tonight:
finish all laundry, which equals about 5 loads
take out the trash
clean out the fridge
run dishwasher
finish wrapping Christmas presents
clean out my car
pack my clothes for my trip
pack Paisley's things for the trip
run vacuum in living room
clean bathroom
run vacuum in bedroom
change sheets on my bed
fold towels and put away
pack presents and bags in car
put away Ashlyn's Pack-N-Play

And I feel like I'm still forgetting things. And if I am, oh well. Hopefully they aren't too important! Now, let's see if I can get all this accomplished and over with at a decent hour. One, two, three.... GO!

Check it Out!

My friend, Kristyn, is a bridal consultant here in Knoxville. I've added the link to her blog, so if you or someone you know is in need of someone to help plan their perfect day, get in touch with Kristyn at Panache Productions! She's doing a giveaway this month, and you have until December 31st to enter! So check out her blog, enter the giveaway and tell your friends!

When it rains....

it pours, and pours, and pours.

This week has definitely NOT been my week. Everything that could seem to go wrong, more than likely has. I know deep down though, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope that end is somewhere close. It feels like this downhill slope is never ending. Monday night was spent at work until somewhere around 2am. NOT FUN. We spent the entire time cleaning the back kitchen. Tuesday morning I woke up in pain. Severe pain. My back was throbbing from all the bending and what not done the previous night before. Needless to say, I spent the day in the bed and taking large amounts of Tylenol. I had to work Tuesday night, so I toughed it out and made it through. Our Christmas dinner at school was on Wednesday, and I was making loaded mashed potatoes. I realized when I got off work, after 11pm mind you, that I had no cheese. And I needed cheese to make the potatoes. So I had to trek back to the store after work. Again, NOT FUN. Wednesday was actually an ok day. I was still sore but I got all the goodies made that I needed to. And there were none left, so I suppose that's a good thing :-) Thursday I was just not feeling good. A few people noticed but I tried to brush it off. I got through school and clients ok so I was thankful for that. I went into work at 4 to chaos. People were calling out of their shifts and those on the schedule were moving to other parts of the restaurant . It was crazy. I was supposed to train a new girl, and she was late and I didn't know I was supposed to train her. It was nice to say the least :-) I still wasn't feeling myself when I got off work. And now, I know why. I woke up this morning not feeling too hot. NOT FUN. So here I am, laying in bed for the 2nd time this week and missing another day of school. And it stinks.

I just have faith that things will get better. Tonight we are all going out for Sam's birthday, so I'm resting up for that. I can't miss my sister's birthday! I'm just holding on for next week when I get to go to my parent's and grandparent's houses for Christmas. I can't wait and I'm so looking forward to it. I miss them all so much!

I miss you most at Christmas time

If you've read any of my blogs before, you're probably going to know where this is going. But, since I'm sad today and battling depression I'm just going to get it out here. Because that's what I do here :-)

I miss my Aunt Zelma today. There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss her, but the holidays seem to get me worse than anytime of the year. I think it's because this is the time when I spent the last few days of her life with her. And they were the best days of my life. There will be nothing in my life, besides the day of my salvation, that will compare to those days. The memories of those days are still crystal clear in my mind, as are most of the times I was with my Aunt Zelma.

Tonight I can't stop missing her. I miss her hugs, how no matter how big I was, I could always curl up in the bed with her and she would play with my hair. Even in her weakest days she played with my hair. I miss her love. I miss everything about her. I miss sharing mexican pizzas from Taco Bell with her, or splitting something from Captain D's with her. I miss it all. I miss her.

No matter how much I miss her though, I know she's here with me. She's close in my heart everywhere I go. Always watching, always protecting. Always here :) Her love will never be forgotten.

A life changed

You may remember from a previous post that I had mentioned that one of the girls in my Grapple group at S.T.O.R.A.G.E. went on a mission trip to Nicaragua with her mom and a team of others. They arrived back in Knoxville safe and sound this past Sunday, after spending 10 days loving on children in the Hogar Agape orphanage. Last night during S.T.O.R.A.G.E. Emma shared about her experience with her friends. I was listening to this little girl tell about children who had no mommy or daddy to love them. The purpose of this trip was to share about Jesus and to bring Christmas to the orphanage. Emma shared that she realized on this trip that she had a room full of junk and these kids had nothing. Her little heart was burdened that she had so much when these children just like her had so little. It was amazing. As she was telling stories about her trip, a few boys were laughing and cutting up. Emma, with the most stern look on her face, told them that none of this was funny; it was sad and she was disappointed they thought it was funny. At that moment, I saw the love and desire in her heart for these children in Nicaragua. When I asked her about her trip, the first thing out of her mouth was "I'm going to live in Nicaragua." And I have no doubts that this little child will be used greatly in the coming years, for her life has been changed, for good.

Thank you to those that prayed for Emma's trip.

Things...

I'm doing this week:
School
Work at Chili's
Cleaning my bedroom
Finishing laundry
Wrapping Christmas presents
Having a Christmas party for our S.T.O.R.A.G.E. class at church on Wednesday
Spending time with my dear friend, Michelle, and her two awesome kids
Visiting with Mom and Dad this weekend

I'm reading right now:
Multiple Blessings- Kate Gosselin
Secondhand Heart- Joyce Livingston

I'm praying for right now:
Safe travels for family during this time of year
My quiet time life
That my finances continue to remain stable and bills are paid on time
My kids at S.T.O.R.A.G.E
My DOK sisters
Richelle's surgery

A little Christmas cheer

This weekend has been a whirlwind of activity for me. Christmas is fast approaching and I'm almost finished with my shopping! After church yesterday, Samantha and I decided to go and do a little shopping. I finished mom's and Caiti's and now just have dad's to get. He's so hard to buy for though. I never know what to get him. We found some great deals at just about every store we went to, so of course we were excited about that!

As we were going through the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season yesterday, I couldn't help but think about the real reason for Christmas. Jesus' birth. One of the songs we sang at church yesterday was Away in a Manger. Such a sweet, simple song. Probably one of my favorites. During church I sat and thought about all the people in the world who don't know or don't celebrate Jesus' birth this time of year. And I feel sad for them. Sad because they probably don't know where they are going when they die, they don't know the love that Jesus has for them, they are trying to buy happiness this time of year through presents and material things...yet get discouraged when that happiness only lasts for a morning or two. And so I prayed. I prayed that more people this year would "get it" and stop and realize and answer God's call to come to Him. After all, Jesus is the Reason for the Season :-)

Christmas

A time to remember Jesus' birth,
God's gift to man
A time to reflect on the year,
and look forward to the next one
A time to give unselfishly,
and stay that way throughout the upoming year
A time to CELEBRATE our Saviour's birth,
the best gift man could receive.

Oh the things to do....

*Updated: Before church I managed to accomplish all but take out the trash :) And I even managed to do a load of laundry and pick up my bathroom as well. Now, on to tackle my bedroom!

Before church I need to...

• vacuum the living room
• sweep the front door area
• pick up Ashlyn's bed from where she spent the night 3 nights ago
• pick up random things from living room
• take out trash
• pick up kitchen and wipe down counters
• put away the things on the kitchen table

I need to leave by 5:15 to make it to church on time. That means that I have roughly an hour and a half to get the above down and change clothes for church. I think I can do it! And hopefully I will have just enough time to squeeze in another post before I leave ;-)

Leaving the comfort of what we know

Our message at church this morning was about Jonah and his journey to Ninevah. Most of you all know the story. God called Jonah to witness to the people of Ninevah, Jonah was on his way, decided he didn't want to go, and was then swallowed by a whale. Jonah didn't want to leave the comfort of what he knew. Most of us are like that in our lives today. We're comfortable where we are, who we're with and what we're doing. Some are called to serve elsewhere, and many answer the call right away. Some wait a little bit longer until God really pulls at them. In our service today we were blessed to have the Masters family join us. They are missionaries serving in Asia. They had a remarkable story and I'm so glad I got to hear all about their journey so far. They have been living in our Mission House for the past few months and at the end of December they will travel back to their village in Southeast Asia. Please pray for their safe travels.

Tonight as I sit here close to family and friends, there is a little girl and her mom serving Nicaragua. The left out Friday and arrived safely. Mom Michelle and daughter Emma are serving at an orphanage for the next ten days. The most amazing thing about this story? Emma is only 11 years old. I have the privilege of being Emma's Grapple Team leader in our S.T.O.R.A.G.E class at church. This remarkable little girl has such a heart for Jesus. Each week she comes to me with a different prayer request and has such awesome examples of how we should live our lives for God. Emma's family had been going to Nicaragua and serving over the last few years, but because it is so expensive Emma never got to go. About a month ago, Emma asked the church to pray that they be able to have enough money so that she could go on the next trip. Her family pulled together, sold some things, and raised enough money so that Emma could go on her first mission trip. She was ecstatic. I'm telling you, this little girl has such a burden for people. If everyone had a heart like hers, our world would be a much, much better place. We received word from her dad that Emma is doing great. She and her mom are helping and serving at an orphanage. Emma is the youngest person there with the group she is with. The most exciting part so far? She's been asked to lead the devotional on Wednesday! I'm so excited for her. And it makes me be super proud to be her teacher :-)

This week, as your going through the hustle and bustle of your daily, ordinary life, pray for those that have given up the comfort of what they knew to serve our God. Pray that Emma and Michelle stay safe and have a good trip. Pray that Emma's eyes be opened to all the things God can do and will do if we serve Him. Pray for that Masters family, and other missionaries around the world. And pray for the children at the orphanage. Pray that they understand that even if they are without the love of earthly parents, they have a heavenly parent that loves them far more than anything they can imagine.

Thankfulness

I know this post is well overdue, however I haven't had internet at my apartment for almost two weeks. It's fixed now, so I'm back to the blogging world....and I'm so happy. I've missed my blog :-)

Thanksgiving was different for me this year. I didn't get to go back to Greenbrier because of work. I missed my family so much and I know they missed me. I did however, get to spend Thanksgiving with my very best friend and sister, Samantha. We had a blast and I'm thankful for such a great best friend.

This year has been filled with many, many things that I have to be thankful for. I made this list out a few weeks ago, with an intent to post a few days before Thanksgiving, but since my internet went out, I wasn't able to. Better late than never though, right?

Things I'm thankful for...2008

• Friends. I have some of the most amazing friends and they all are such an important part of my life. I have been through so much this year and the past few months and my friends have been my greatest pick me up.
  
• Family. Even though they are three hours away, my family is amazing. I miss them all so much, and wish I lived closer sometimes. Even still, they support me and encourage me each day.
• My church. Here and back home. Northstar has been such a blessing to me the past few months. I have made some awesome friends and have grown so much since starting to attend Northstar. I'm active in the Children's Ministry and love my kids so much. They are amazing and I love the time I get to spend with them on Wednesday nights. Back home, my church is equally amazing and I love hearing and seeing them grow. Calvary will always be my "home" and I have so many great memories of that church. The people there are still just as amazing as ever and the fire of God is burning rapidly through them. God truly blessed me with two amazing churches to be a part of.
• Work. My job is great. Although I spend most of my days tired, I'm truly thankful for the job that I have Chili's. The people I work with are great and they really work with my schedule. I don't dread going to work, and I'm so thankful for that!
• My relationship with God. I have strayed some in the past, but I'm back on the straight and narrow now. I'm still trying to find my place in life and figure out where God wants me to go, however I'm learning more and more each day to just be patient and he'll show me what to do.

When you pray....

Please lift up the following....

• Nykia, waiting on heart transplant in Nashville. I haven't talked to Gary to know any more about her condition, but please continue to pray for her and her family.
• A sweet friend from church, Diana. Her father passed away early this morning and I know she is hurting. Pray God sweep peace over her and her family during this sad time.
• A girl I work with whose son is having breathing problems and a few other health problems. He's not yet a year old, so I know it's hard watching her son hurt.
  
• Adrienne and her husband were waiting to adopt a little girl. Recently, the birth mother has decided to parent her baby. I know exactly what this family is going through. From loving and becoming attached to a sweet baby to not bringing it home as thought. Pray for peace and pray for the birth mother as well. That she love and care for the baby like Adrienne and her husband would have.
  

Wild, Wild Week

This week has flown by! I can't believe it's already Friday. I'm ready for the weekend. I find myself looking forward to Sunday more and more each week. I can't get enough of DOK and church. I love Northstar and feel like I have truly found a home with the people there. They are amazing and I have made such wonderful friends there.
This week has been great. Like I said, it's gone by super fast. Monday I worked and went out with some friends that night. We ended up at Wild Wings Cafe for some good food and fun! Tuesday Margaret and I threw Tricia an engagement party/girls night. It was super fun and filled with good times. Wednesday was school and church. The kids in my class are amazing and I love teaching them and hearing about their week and what's bothering them in life at the moment. They have the sweetest hearts and they love Jesus so much. Thursday I had school and worked all night. And here we are at today, Friday. I had a test this morning at school and think I did pretty well on it. Tonight I have to work and tomorrow is school and more work. I'm working a lot the next few weeks, but I'm thankful because I need the money badly.

At the moment, a few things I'm doing/love are:
*The song, Feels Like Redemption by Michael English
*Hot Carmamel Apple Cider from Starbucks
*Being cuddled on the couch with Paisley
*Going through all my cute, colorful summer clothes and putting them away to bring out the big, soft, winter clothes
*Trying to make out my Christmas list, plus figure out what to get others
*Falling more and more in love with God each day
*Praying for sweet friends
*Reading some of my favorite blogs about adoption. My favorite, Dreaming Big Dreams. And praying that their Haiti adoption speeds up!

What are you some of your favorite things right now?

Sweet Baby Braxton

While I was home for Davy's birthday, I got the chance to love and cuddle the newest member of the family...sweet little Braxton. I got to see Braxton shortly after he was born, but never did get the chance to cuddle him like I did a few weeks ago! He's such a good baby and a super good snuggler! I'm in love, and can't wait to see him again in a few weeks! There's something about a new baby...the way they feel, the way they smell, the way they cuddle up when they get tired. I love all the sweet babies in our family, the big ones and the little ones! :-)

Davy's Birthday Pictures

Better late than never....

This year, Davy's birthday theme was a Day on the Farm. His cake was adorable and of course, Farmer Davy was precious! Each of his little guests got to take home their very own stuffed farm animal, their choice of a fuzzy duck or spotted cow! I know the pictures are a little late, but you can enjoy them anyways! My favorite is probably the one of all of us with our Granny!

P.S. Don't you just love how much taller my LITTLE sister is than the rest of us!

Prayer

If you've been reading my blog lately, then you know about my awesome friend, Gary. He recently went through a heart transplant on September 11. He is doing wonderful so far!

From his surgery, he has met others waiting on the transplant list. Last week he met a girl who I believe he said is 18. She is waiting on a heart and will remain in the ICU at St. Thomas hospital in Nashville until a heart is found for her. Only about 2% of her heart is working. This is a very scary time for her and her family. Gary was able to visit her last week and witness and encourage her.

Please pray for this young girl. Pray that God watch over her, keep her out of pain, and find her a heart soon. I know how the power pf prayer works, because it's through prayer and God's grace alone that I still have my friend here with me today.

Not Me Monday

Today...
I did not skip a shower because it would be faster and I would be able to get home sooner.
I did not speed while driving home from Greenbrier. I NEVER do that!
I did not just throw whatever I could find in the washer because it would cut down on my laundry time. I always separate colors from jeans from panties and such, so of course I did not mix it all together today.
I did not buy anything from the store unless I had a coupon for it. That would have been cheap, and would have meant that I missed out on some stuff I actually wanted.

This week...
I did not buy Paisley two outfits. She's a dog, and a simple sweater will do. But Target always has cute dog clothes on sale....
I did not buy something cute from the store, only to take it back a few hours later because I realized I didn't really have the money to spend on something I didn't really need.
I did not ignore calls one day this week because I simply wanted to be left alone.

There are a few things I did not do this week. What did you not do? If you want to play along, click on over to MckMama's blog and read all about Not Me Monday!

Greenbrier Weekend

Saturday I drove to my sweet little town and spent a couple of days. It's always nice to go back to your roots, even if it is only for a short time. I love going home and spending time with all my friends and family.
Saturday night we had Davy's 2nd birthday party! Pictures to be posted later :-) We had a really good turnout of family and friends. I know Davy enjoyed having Ella-Kate, Kaitlin and Colton there to help him celebrate and open his toys! And I enjoyed catching up with Amber, Kerri, and Kristen and the rest of my family. And of course, cuddling sweet Braxton!
After his party I got a chance to have dinner with my best friend from high school, Rheanne. I've missed her tremendously and with everything that has gone on in my life lately, I've missed her even more. We had such a good time catching up and going through old memories. I'm super blessed to still have my best friend, even though I moved so far away.
Sunday was filled with church and family time. Nan cooked lunch so we all spent the afternoon there eating and laughing and playing. It brought me back to the old days when Nan cooked almost every Sunday. I miss those days...
This morning I met my sweet cousin, Emily, and had breakfast and then started the trip back home. I'm now safely back at home and cleaning here and there around the house. I did do a little CVS shopping when I got back, and earned me a few CVS bucks while I was there! That's always a plus for me!

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Today is this sweet boy's birthday. Two years ago today our family was blessed with a precious little boy. We were in love the moment we laid eyes on him and he continues to fill our hearts and lives with so much love and joy. I am amazed at how perfect he is, the things he does, and how much I love him. God hand picked this baby for our family and I'm so glad he chose our family to place him with. I'm super excited about being able to go home tomorrow to help him celebrate his second birthday. Time is flying by and I'm finally coming to grips with the fact that he's not the same snuggly baby he was in the picture above. I'm thankful though, that he's still my little cuddle bear when he wants to be....

{Clever title to be inserted late}

So I'm feeling not so creative today. I can't think of a title for this post, mainly because I don't have anything of too great importance to write about today. Mainly just recaps on what I've done this week. Because sometimes, I like going back and reading what I did.

This week has been busy. My daddy came to Knoxville on Monday and just left today. He's been doing work for the Army in Knoxville this week. He's been busy because he's come to my apartment exhausted each night. Not to mention that the time difference here is an hour ahead of what he's used to. I'm grateful for the extra time I got to spend with him. I only had to work Tuesday night while he was here, so we got to have dinner together Monday and Wednesday nights. Monday we had Chili's and Wednesday we went to Louie's Italian, and it was AMAZING.

Work has been decent this week. I got some extra sleep over the weekend so I'm not near as tired at this point in the week as I usually am.

School has been good. We got our hours today, and so far I have 294.something. That's exciting. Only 1206 to go. There are times that I wish I could go until 4:30 or 5:30 everyday, instead of having to leave at 2:30. I know that would never work though, because I have to work as well. I'm just grateful that I have the means and opportunity to go to school and make one of my dreams come true, even if it is a struggle sometimes.

I work tonight and tomorrow night. Lucky for me, I'm the early out both nights! Tomorrow is our sweet baby's birthday! I can't believe he's going to be 2! Saturday I'm going home for a couple of days to spend time with the family and to also celebrate Davy's birthday! I can't wait.

At the top of the "To-Do" list for tonight:
*laundry: jeans, colors, whites {in that order}
*unload dishwasher
*vacuum living room
Will those things get done? Probably not. But it never hurts to try!

What have you done this week? Plans for this weekend?

End of an Era

It was announced yesterday that UT's head coach Phil Fulmer will not be returning as head coach next season. I'm still shocked. This season has not been the greatest, but I don't think it can all be blamed on one person alone. Yes, as head coach he has the most influence on what goes on on the field, however he can't be blamed for player mistakes or missed/horrible calls made or not made by refs. Tennessee football is in my blood. I love it. Saturdays spent at Neyland Stadium are the best Saturdays ever. Fulmer has a remarkable record reflecting on his years at UT. He's coached for 17 years at Tennessee, and has a 150-51 record here. He's the second most winningest coach in Volunteer history. While I'm ready for more winning seasons, it will be sad not to see Fulmer on the side lines. He had a fire about him that was exciting to watch. I hope whoever replaces him has the same fire for Tennessee football as he does.

1 Day=4 Years

In one day, the people of our country will choose the next two people to run our country. No matter which party wins, both will make history. The Democratic being the first black president. The Republican, the first female vice president. I'm not sure where this post is going to go, and before it gets to the end, I'm sorry in advance for any offense that I may cause.

I for one don't know which will be the better president. It's a hard job, and not just anyone can fulfill it. I have mixed feelings on all candidates in the running, and I don't really feel led to discuss those feelings. I do feel led, however, to ask you to sincerely pray before you vote. And if you have already voted, I hope you prayed before hand. No matter what, God is in control. God knows ahead of time who will be elected. He knows what will happen to our country.

If you haven't voted, please, please, please, VOTE. It matters. Yes, you are just one, but one vote could change our nation for the good or bad.

Simply Saturday

Saturdays and I have a love/hate relationship these days. I love Saturday because normally I just go to school all day and come home and relax from the week. Here lately though, I've been working on Saturday nights, and closing nonetheless. Samantha and I both close tonight, so we'll be nice and sleepy at church in the morning for sure :-)

I have stayed busy at school this week, and today especially. I had two haircuts and a pedicure today and then ran the front desk the rest of the day. It was a pretty simple day.

So far, since being home from school, I have loaded and run the dishwasher, put a load of towels in the wash, picked up the kitchen and bathroom, and picked up around the living room. The list for when I get home from work, is much longer than what I've done so far. I still need to put away all the clean laundry, pick up my bedroom, do two more loads of laundry (and then I will have no dirty clothes in my house, except for what I'll be wearing), take out the trash, mop the floors, vacuum the carpet areas, and bring down and put away winter clothing. Hopefully I'll be in the mood to clean when I get home from work. Otherwise, I'm going to be a cleaning machine tomorrow. My goal is to not have to lift a finger after church though. At least at my house.

I have pictures to pick up from Walgreens, and then I must go to work for the night. I'm glad Sam is working tonight, otherwise, I might be one unhappy little girl. I love working with my Sam!

Nothing

The past few weeks I have been battling an inner struggle. A struggle of what exactly I did wrong, what could I have done differently, what could I have done to notice things sooner, what can I do to keep it from happening again.

The answer.... Nothing.

There is absolutely nothing that I could have done to prevent the things that happened. I did everything right and was me the entire time. He changed. He messed up. He cheated. Not me.

A friend said today "There's nothing you could have done, or can do in the future. You can't stop them. If they're going to cheat, they're going to cheat. No matter how good they have it." And I think she's right. I did everything right. I was a good girlfriend. I treated Josh with love and respect, and in the end, I was the one that was mistreated. I loved and lost, and gained far more than words can describe.

What exactly did I gain?

I gained a new found respect for myself. I learned that no matter how comfortable you may be in life, it can change in an instant, but there's something good that will come out of it. I have a better relationship with my sister, Sam. I made new friends that I never would have made had I still been with Josh. I enjoy life more. I have grown closer to God and am being shown where I need to be moving with my life. I'm happy. I've gained a happiness that I didn't have before. All because of nothing I did.

I was dealt a hand of life I didn't want to be dealt again. But I came out a winner in the end. And for that, I'm thankful.

Is it really...

Wednesday already?!? I suppose it is, but it sure doesn't seem like it should be Wednesday already. The last three days have flown by. I have been working non-stop the last few days and it has really caught up with me here lately. I closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Monday I ended up working straight through, meaning I worked from 11am until close, at 11pm. Needless to say, yesterday I was feeling it. I ended up not going to school yesterday and staying home and doing things I needed to do around the house.

Almost November? It seems like since I started school, the months have really gone by fast. I can't believe that November is fast upon us. I love the fall weather and the leaves changing on the trees. I can't wait for Thanksgiving and some much needed family time.

less than TWO months until Christmas?! Yes, it really is. And I for one, am super excited! I can't wait to put out my Christmas decorations. I love decorating for Christmas and I'm super excited about it again this year. I can't wait! I was upstairs this weekend going through boxes and moved all the Christmas ones to the front! It seems like ever store I go into here lately has more and more Christmas stuff out too. It makes me want to put my stuff out even worse when I see it out in stores. Just a few more weeks and it's coming out! I usually wait until after Thanksgiving, but since I'm more than likely going to be stuck in Knoxville this year for Thanksgiving, I may put it out that day! I guess it all depends on how bored I get!

A Busy, Busy Week

I can't believe it's already Thursday night. I have been so busy this week, it has really flown by fast. I've worked every day except Wednesday, and even then I had school and church so I had no time to do anything around the house. Lucky for me, I have been here so little I haven't had time to dirty it up! My laundry, on the other hand, is over flowing and I have no idea when I'm going to be able to catch up! I have school and work both on Friday and Saturday and church on Sunday. I'm so swamped. Hopefully I'll have time on Sunday to really catch up, because I work Monday and Tuesday too! Life is crazy right now, but I'm super thankful for the hours because I really need the money right now.

Some friends of mine from Greenbrier are coming in on Saturday and staying the night. I'm so excited to see Cassie. I've missed her so much, and it's probably been close to a year since I've actually seen her! I can't wait!

Paisley is doing wonderful. She's laying here next to me chewing on her bone. Such a doll!

Life is great for me. I'm enjoying school and my wonderful friends.

God has blessed me greatly the last few weeks. I have been in awe at myself and how I have handled different situations that have crossed my path. I have finally let go of my past relationship and am moving on. I know that God has someone in mind for me, all in his timing. While I loved Josh dearly, I have finally realized that he may not be the one that God has set aside for me, and I'm ok with that now. I have some good memories of the times we shared together, and some not so good memories, but they are all what have made me who I am today. I've grown a lot, learned a lot, and I'm happy. Happy. I never realized it before, but I was not "happy." I was comfortable. I was comfortable in my surroundings, my relationship, and life. But I wasn't truly happy. I can honestly say now, at this point in my life, I'm happy. Thank you Lord, for giving me peace and understanding during this time. Thank you for showing me that You are all I need. I'm humbled at Your unending Grace and Love. Thank you for being the One and True friend, always there, never wavering, carrying me when I need carrying, holding when I need holding.

My favorite boy!

I'm in love with this picture. When I was home a few weeks ago, I picked Davy up early from the babysitter. Boy was he excited when his Mimi came to get him. We played for a little while, and then took some pictures. I'm so thankful that I get to be his Mimi. I can't imagine life without him, and just love him so much!

Little love in my heart...

At the moment, I'm absolutely in love with....

• Fall weather. It's a chilly, breezy, sunny day here in Knoxville. You know the kind of day I'm talking about. It's cool but the sun feels so warm on your skin. I love it!
• the leaves on the trees. Here in east Tennessee they are beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and red. Just enough are falling to make that crunchy sound under your feet. It reminds me of being little and making huge piles in the backyard and jumping in them.
  
• Tennessee football. Even though it hasn't been the best season, I'm still in love with my Vols. And I love them even more since pulling out a win Saturday! Go Big Orange!
• Paisley. She is the sweetest little thing ever. I love coming home to her. As I type this, she is laying next to me on the couch with her little head on my lap. So sweet!
• my wonderful friends! I had a great weekend with some great friends. I'm so thankful for such awesome friends.
• my God. Life has been a little on the rocks lately. With death clouding my family, the ending of some relationships, and some financial worries, my God is still in control. I'm so thankful for His saving grace and mercy. I have no doubts that if I were without His hand on me I would be in a totally different place in life.
  

What are you in love with today?

Wedding Pictures

Just a sampling of the pictures! We should get the professional ones back in about six weeks! I can't wait to see them!

What a way to spend Friday night....

Tonight is definitly a lazy night for me. I was supposed to work, but got sent home due to losing my lunch. I'll spare the nasty, lovely details. Needless to say, here I am, laid up on the couch with a fever. I don't feel bad, just hot and then cold, hot and then cold. I'm really hoping this passes overnight though, I have got to go to school tomorrow! I missed last Saturday, and really don't want to miss out on another Saturday! However, if I'm still sick, there is no way I will be able to stand and do hair all day. So we'll see what happens in the morning. For now though, Paisley and I are hanging out on the couch! Speaking of Paisley, here's a cute little picture of my girl...forgive her, this is when I first got her, and before her trip to the groomer!
She is such a sweet little thing. I love coming home to her. She jumps off the couch or the chair and runs straight to the door, waits for me to pick her up and then normally lays her little head on my shoulder. She knows who her mommy is, and I love it! I'm so happy we found each other. She's exactly what I needed at this time in life. Love you little girl!

Win This Quilt

Head over to Pigtails and Snails and check out this beautiful quilt. While you're there, you can even enter to WIN IT! I'm in love with it already and can't wait to see who wins it! You have until Friday to enter!

Two weeks worth of updates

I have been a horrible blogger the past two weeks. I just haven't had it in me. At all. Here are some updates, in bullet form, because today I'm still feeling lazy.

• School is going wonderful. I have worked on more clients and am getting the hang of things and learning something new everyday. I don't get near as nervous when I get a client now, and I have no problem asking my instructor to guide me through a haircut if I'm not sure how to do it. I'm super excited about getting to color and things like that. Speaking of color, I have colored my hair once again. Pictures on that to come later...
• I've been working more at Chili's, and getting home later, which is one of the causes of the lacking blog posts lately.
• Tiffany's wedding was beautiful. And interesting. I'm glad it's over. I'm happy for her, and hope she and Stephen have a long and happy marriage. I'll post pictures later tonight after work or tomorrow when I have more time.
• Life in general is great. I am still loving Knoxville and all my sweet friends here. I got a new puppy, Paisley, last week and she is absolutely wonderful. I have a few pictures here that I'll have to upload of her later as well.
  

Thank you all for the prayers concerning my Uncle Bill. While his death was something I was trying to prepare myself for, it still hit like a ton of bricks. He was such an influential man in my life, and I will miss him dearly. It is never easy losing a loved one. Please continue to pray for my family, as we have experienced another death this week. My great aunt Connie passed away yesterday morning, surrounded by many of her family. She had been sick for a while, and she is in a much better place now. She and my great uncle were married for almost 60 years. I can't imagine what he is going through right now. He was an emotional wreck yesterday, and I know it will get worse before he gets better. I can't begin to imagine what it is like for him now, to have gone to bed with the same woman for 60 years and not have her any longer. Please keep him in your prayers.

I'm off to work....but I'll post more later. I have lots of pictures to share!

Uncle Bill

Yesterday I lost someone very important to me. Uncle Bill. While I am completely devastated, I know he is in a much better place and not in any more pain. He has fought through a lot, and survived a heart-attack, heart surgery, and then fought a battle with cancer. I'm so thankful for the time that I got to spend with Uncle Bill, while growing up and a few weeks ago when I was in Greenbrier. I will never forget the things Uncle Bill taught me.

Please pray for my family, my Aunt Jean, and me during the next few days.

90210

Last nights 90210 episode was another shocker. I totally agree with ya Nicki. I can't believe Brenda deleted Dylan's number! He may be Kelly's baby daddy...but Brenda had him first. What I'm hoping for is that they show Kelly visiting him, and him getting back with Brenda! I'm more engrossed with what the old characters do than the new ones sometimes!

On another note, Naomi's parents have one crazy relationship. I see a divorce, and a very emotional Naomi in the coming episodes.

I'm a little shocked at Kelly agreeing to let Silver stay in her house while she's away to see Dylan. I have a feeling there could be a party or something to get her in trouble that will happen.

I'm really in love with this show. And I'm especially in love with the fact that it comes on Tuesday and Wednesday, that way, in case I miss something on Tuesday, I catch it on Wednesday :-)

My First Client!

Today was such a fun day! I had my first ever client at school! I think I did a pretty good job, aside from being super nervous! Susan had to help me out a little bit, but for the most part I did it by myself. I know I will only get better from here, and I'm so excited!

I enjoyed the tanning bed after school and it was super relaxing. My back has been hurting pretty badly the past couple of days {I swear it's all the cleaning I've been doing} so the heat from the bed really helped!

Tonight I had dinner at Donna's and it was delicious. I'm so glad we went over there. I have missed Griffin and Jack and I love getting to spend some time with them. They are two funny little kids, so there is never a dull moment!

Tomorrow is school again and hopefully another trip to the tanning bed. I don't work again until Thursday, and then I'm off again until next week. Something has got to change...and soon! Luckily though, Thursday I should make some pretty good money.

I still need to tackle the bedroom...so that is top of the list for tomorrow afternoon. I'm determined that it will get done tomorrow! And so far, the rest of the apartment has stayed pretty much spotless since I cleaned yesterday :-) I know what you're thinking, "It should be still spotless, it's only been one day!" Yeah, well, sometimes I don't have a great track record at keeping things clean, but I'm getting better!

Now, 90210 is on...and it's a pretty good episode. Those that watch...what are your thoughts so far on the show? Should we start a 90210 discussion post? I'm so in love with this show! Speaking of which, the commercial break is over, and I'm finally finished with this post.

Have a great night!! {And yes, I AM one of those people that work on a post in between commercials :-) Once I'm dedicated to a show, I'm DEDICATED :-) }

P.U.S.H Monday

Pray Until Something Happens has moved to Monday...and this is the first official Monday post!

This week, please remember the following in prayer:

• Sarah- I have not heard from Sarah in the last couple of days, so I hope that means she got her job and is busy working. Please keep praying for her and Kyle!
• My Uncle Bill is still holding on for something. We're not quite sure what, but he is hanging in there, but getting weaker with each passing day. The time is drawing near, but unknown to all of us besides Him.
  
• Gary, my childhood friend {refer to previous posts to get his story} is doing well. Still under "house arrest" and will be for the next few months. He can't get sick, otherwise, his heart may fail.
• Michelle is getting settled into her house and God has certainly provided for her. Keep her in your prayers!
• I'm not getting many hours at work right now, so pray that that will change or that something else will be thrown my way. I have bills to pay, but know God will provide. I think this is one of those tests for me
• Samantha and Tanner are in the process of searching for a new church home. While I am upset and struggling with the fact that I will no longer be worshiping with my sister, I respect the fact that they are feeling led elsewhere, and I know wherever they end up it will be exactly where the Lord leads them.
• Jamie is back from Haiti. Check out her posts to read and see all about her trip.
  

I think this is it for todays post. If you have something you would like me to add, please post as a comment to this post or email me: emmylou924@comcast.net

Sometimes...

...things don't always go as planned.

My cleaning day didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to. Now don't lose all faith in me yet. I did get the majority of it done.

Today I completed:
*kitchen
*bathroom
*ALL laundry {besides what I'm wearing right now :-) }
*living room

So that means that really all I have to do is the bedroom. However, in my defense, I did admit in the last post that the bedroom hardly ever gets completely finished when I want it to!

All of the above mentioned rooms have been cleaned top to bottom, from dusting to vacuuming and everything in between. I'm happy to say that all the laundry, including bed sheets, is caught up and there is nothing dirty.

I didn't make it to Etowah today because Lacey didn't get a chance to get the Christmas stuff out of the storage unit yesterday. Hopefully I'll be able to make it down another day this week. Maybe Wednesday? Who knows. If not, next week for sure.

Now, I'm sitting here on the couch, relaxing, listening to the tv. I do believe that I'm going to start reading on The Shack. I finished Mistaken Identity last week, and loved it. It is definitely something to read. Be warned, if you are an emotional reader, you may shed some tears, but I do recommend it! Any of you have any new read suggestions?

Cleaning Day!

It's only 10:45 {well, I'm sure it will be a little later by the time I finish this post,but you get the idea} and already I have:
*cleaned out the fridge
*cleaned the kitchen
*somewhat organized the laundry room
*folded towels, and put away said towels
*started a load of laundry {sheets, to be exact :-) }
*took two bags of garbage to the dumpster

And I've only been up and at it since about 9:45! I'm pleased with progress so far, especially since all the nasty {cleaning of fridge, kitchen, and trash} is done! All that is left on my list:
*dust and vacuum living room
*clean bathroom
*dust and vacuum bedroom
*finish, fold, and put away about 5 loads of laundry

I have found that the easiest way for me to clean is to everything that has to do with that one specific room until it is finished, and then move on to the next. I usually start in the kitchen, because it seems to be a gathering place for things whose homes are in the living room, bathroom, or kitchen. Then I usually move on to the bathroom, since there are usually cups that need to make it back to the kitchen. Then I start on the living room, because there are usually things that are supposed to be in the bedroom in there, so I put everything in its place there, and once the living room is spotless, I move on to the bedroom. I'll be completely open and honest. 50% of the time, the bedroom does not always get cleaned like it should. Probably because no one sees that room, and lets face it, by the time I get to it, I'm usually tired and don't feel like finishing it. But I usually try to make it decent looking.

I'm on a race against the clock to be finished with everything and have a spotless house by 2:00. I don't really have anywhere specific to go at 2, it just sounds like a good time to be done. The rest of my To~Do list for today:
*Tanning bed
*Study for DOK
*Re-arrange living room, just a little bit to make room for a new computer desk
*Head to Etowah for some sister time with Lacey!

What are you doing today?? Any quick cleaning tricks you use?

The week behind...the week ahead

I'm finally getting over being sick. I'm still not 100%, but I'm getting there. Last week was super busy for and being sick did not help matters at all. I'm still alive though, so that's all that matters! I worked every night last week and by the time Friday rolled around, I was beat. I ended up being off Friday and Saturday nights so I was super happy about that. Friday was a chill night with dinner at Connor's and a lazy night in. Saturday proved to be a little hectic. I had school all day {8:30-4:30} and then headed straight to Whittani's for her baby shower {which, by the way was absolutely adorable! I can't wait to have a baby, just for all the cute, itty-bitty clothes!} and finally made it back home around 10pm. I made it to Daughters of the King at church but skipped out on regular service so that I could rest a little before work tonight. Tonight I have to be at work at 4, but since I'm first cut tonight, hopefully I'll be home by 9 or at least 10! I would love, love, love to feel good enough when I get home to finish picking up and get a couple loads of laundry done tonight before bed so I don't have that much to do tomorrow. Tonight is the only night I work this week though, so I'll have plenty of time to get caught up this week. My goal is to not let the house get so cluttered since I don't have to be on the run all that much this week.

I'm sure all of you regular readers noticed the pictures at the top of this post. Yes, that is me. Yes, I once had long, curly hair {although you can't really see how long it is in these pictures}. And that sweet little girl that copies all my moves is Raylon. She turns 6 this week. She was 4 in these pictures. My how time flies. I can't believe she is going to be 6. I remember when she was born. I hate thinking about how much I miss out on things with her since I'm so far away, but I always try to make up for it in other ways, which is why she's going to be getting little surprises in the mail each day! And one big surprise delivered to her school on Friday! I'm such a cool big cousin "sister" {She's an only child, and sometimes likes to refer to us as her sisters, which can be confusing for some}

Time is ticking, and I need to get ready for work. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday afternoon/evening! And don't forget, if you have a prayer request for this week, be sure to let me know {either by email: emmylou924@comcast.net or by leaving a comment} so I can get it posted to our P.U.S.H. post that has moved to Mondays, starting tomorrow!

A day late, but here nonetheless: P.U.S.H.

Sorry I'm late, again! I've been terrible at getting our prayer post published on time, and for that I'm so sorry. I worked until midnight last night so by the time I got home, I was ready for bed. In no particular order are requests for this week:

1.) My friend Michelle is basically starting over with her two small children. Please pray that God will provide her with everything she needs to start her life over and give her comfort through the hard times.

2.) Sarah and Kyle are still on the search for jobs, however the job Kyle is aiming for asked for some more paperwork, and Sarah had an interview, so it is looking promising for them. Praise God! Keep praying that these things work out!

3.) My Uncle Bill. He is still about the same, slowly getting worse. I know Aunt Jean is tired, as is the rest of the family. Pray for everyones strength during this time. Also, pray for Uncle Tommy as he flies in from Florida on Saturday to spend time with his dad and mom.

4.) Gary is doing better. Read post below for all the updates on him. Keep praying for him though!

5.) Me. Several things going on in my life that I don't really feel led to talk about here. Maybe one day though...

And those are all I have. Please, if you have anything you want posted, email me- emmylou924@comcast.net

**Also, I will be moving the P.U.S.H. post to Mondays beginning next week. Now that I am working and going to school full time, Monday is a much better day for me to be devoted to getting this post out in a timely fashion. I don't have school on Mondays, so I have much more time in the morning to get all the requests out and to make sure I don't miss anything!**

Changes and Updates

Hello all! Sorry for a brief absence in the blog world. I have been super busy and a little on the sick side this week. I still feel pretty bad today, so keep me in your prayers. I would really appreciate it!

First, I would like to thank you all so much for praying for Gary and his family. The spinal tap showed that the mass on his brain is not an infection at this time, and think that maybe the medicines he is taking for his heart have something to do with it and the seizures. Gary is now on more medicines to keep him from having seizures. He is home now and doing good. Please continue to pray for him and his family. His recovery time from the transplant is at least 6 months. At this point he is unable to leave his house, for fear of infection. So that means sitting at home for the next few weeks, unable to even go to church.

School is going well for me so far. I believe I still have a 100 average, and also made perfect scores on a roller set evaluation and perm evaluation. I'm loving school and can't wait to learn more. I may even start a new blog, strictly for hair and cosmetology :-) That won't be anytime soon though. I can't even keep this one up to date sometimes!

Speaking of keeping this blog up to date...I'm going to be changing the P.U.S.H. prayer post to Mondays, mainly because now that I'm working, I'm never home until close to midnight, and I don't want to keep missing it. I don't have school or work on Mondays, so I can take my time on it, and that's important to me. So, starting next week, P.U.S.H. will be on Mondays. Make a note, tell your friends, ect. And email me- emmylou924@comcast.net - with any requests you want included. Or you can post them as a comment on this post. Either way, I'll get them and post them Monday.

Work is going well. I've been working a lot of shifts this week and have been worn out, but at least I'm getting hours. I need them terribly so I'm thankful for the work. Next week isn't too promising. I work Sunday night and that's it. So money is going to be tight for me for the next few weeks. I have faith that God will provide though.

Sarah made mention about a possible 90210 discussion. That may just have to happen :-) I loved that show when it was on the first time around, and I'm loving it this time around too.

I'm interested in just how many readers I have, and where they are from. If you are a reader and have never introduced yourself, please, feel free to do so. I love hearing from new people!

Sidenote: Jamie, from Dreaming Big Dreams has made it to Haiti. Head over to her blog to read more, and keep her in your prayers!

My Uncle Bill is still doing about the same, but getting worse as days go by. Please keep him and my family in your prayers. I love him so much, and Aunt Jean too. I know it would be great to keep him here with us, but his home in Heaven is far greater, so if he leaves us soon, I know he will be in a much better place. I just really wish I could be there....

Hope everyone is doing well and wonderful. Head over to Sarah's blog and read her good news...

Please, Please Pray

Gary Wayne is back in the hospital. He was having seizures today and they had to admit him back in to the hospital. The CT and MRI scans should a mass on his brain. They will be doing a spinal tap tomorrow to see if it is just caused my his meds or if it is an infection.


Little background: Gary has been battling Muscular Dystrophy his entire life and just last year it was discovered that only 5% of his heart worked properly. Two weeks ago, prayers were answered and he underwent a heart transplant.


Please pray for the doctors to have the knowledge to discover what is causing the seizures. Please pray for Gary, that he gets the rest and strength he needs to keep fighting. Please pray for his parents, brother and sister-in-law, and his girlfriend.
This is such a stressful time, and they need all the love and comfort they can get!

Thank you all so much for your prayers!!

Emmy

Football and Sister Time

Saturday was such a fun day, well spent with my sister Lacey! We woke up early excited about Tennessee Football :-) After some sister time watching cartoons, we got ready and headed to Wal-Mart for some last minute UT stuff! Even though we lost to Florida {BOOOOOO!!} we had such a fun time rooting for our Vols! And we looked darn cute doing too! Before Lacey headed back we stopped off at Marble Slab, and then decided to do it high school and ride in the back of the truck home! I love my sister and so happy that I got to spend some time with her this weekend!

Ready for a lazy Monday

I'm so ready for Monday. This weekend has been filled with a lot of fun, friends, and family time with sister Lacey. But I'm ready to rest, and since I don't have school tomorrow and I don't have to work, I'm sleeping in! My house is clean, minus the dusting and vacuuming(which will be done tomorrow) and laundry is caught up, so I don't have ANYTHING to do! I am going to dinner with Michelle, a new friend from Daughters of the King at church, and I'm super excited about that.
I think the only thing I'm going to be doing tomorrow besides dinner with Michelle is shopping for Whittani's baby shower. I'm super excited about Baby Skylar, and can't wait for her arrival...which is just nine weeks away!

What have you done this weekend? What are your plans for the week?

Manicures with my girls...and one sweet little boy

While I was home I also got the chance to spend some much needed quality time with my most favorite children ever! {I guess Tyler isn't really a child anymore...he's a TEENAGER! and I'm still struggling with that thought!}
I had such a good time with them just playing and laughing and tickling and holding and loving on them. The girls and I had some wonderful one-on-one time where we snuck away to the bathroom and did manicures. Eventually though, everyone ended up in there and it was more like a small party! And my sweet little JT decided that he wanted his nails painted too. After a long explanation as to why boys didn't paint their fingernails, he replied with a whine: "Well, I'm not going to leave you alone until you paint mine!!" So I painted one hand, to which his older TEENAGE brother was not happy. The girls on the other hand thought it was hilarious!
I'm so happy I got to spend time with them before I had to come back to Knoxville. I miss them so much. I was always a huge part of their lives before I moved, and I've tried so hard to remain just a part of their lives away as I was when I was there. Each one of them are so important to me. It's so hard to believe that Tyler is a teenager, and I love it when he comes to me with some of his "teenage" stuff. Sarah and Hannah are growing up way too fast and I'm glad that they both know they can talk to me too. Grace is still my sweet baby, and I think she always will be. And of course, JT is JT. He's not just a gift, he's a whole package deal and I love his wild and crazy nature. I love my babies, and love making memories with them, that hopefully they will always remember. For some reason though, I know at least Sarah will hold on to all the things we do, because she's always asking "Remember when.....{insert fun memory here}?" And I always do remember what she does. {It's those things in life that make me smile.}
Celeste, their mom, and I have become super close and she's been like a big sister to me. I'm so thankful for her influence in my life. She's taught me little things that have helped me survive living by myself, and she's taught me huge things that have helped me stay afloat in the hard times. I'm already looking forward to the next time that I will get to spend time with my sweet babies. And...since I'm talking about babies...Celeste is also expecting baby number 6, due in March, and I'm super, super excited!!!

I know, I've been a slacker

I know it's been awhile since I've posted. I've been slackin' on a lot of things, including but not limited to: laundry, cleaning house, keeping my car cleaned, and blogging. But, I've gotten caught up on most of the aforementioned, so now it's time to catch up here!

I can't remember what I've posted up til this point, so I'll give a quick rundown, in bullet form, because I feel like bullet form tonight :-) {And because this is my blog, and I can do bullets if I want to}

• This is a picture from Tiffany's wedding shower a few weeks ago. That really tall girl on the far left, yeah she's the youngest of the oldest. And the tallest. Tiffany had a really good turn out of our family and friends and received a lot of amazing gifts that she needed. And we all had fun. I can't believe in just a few short weeks, Tiffany will be married! Time is sure flying by!

• I went home weekend before last, and Monday before I came back to Knoxville I surprised Raylon at her school and had lunch with her. I was the coolest person in her world that day and I was so happy that I got to spend those few minutes with her. I stopped by the store and got her some candy and a rootbeer to make the surprise even better and she loved it! I love doing little things for her, and I know she'll always remember the things like this. I know I still remember some of the fun things my older cousins did for me! And to top it off, they had school pizza, so of course I was excited!

• Whittani and I went to Pigeon Forge and went to the Rod Run. We had such a good time. I'm so thankful for such a wonderful friend! Love ya Whit!
  

• I started work at Chili's and like it so far. I'm not going to lie though, I was really used to not working! But I still have a few nights off a week, so that's exciting!
• School is going well. We went on a field trip today to the wig stores here in Knoxville. It was fun to have a break from class for a little bit. I have a straight 100 average for the month of August, and I'm pretty sure I'm looking at keeping it that way for September as well.
  
• Nicki was in town last week and it was fun to hang out with her for a few hours. We went to shopping and to dinner and had a blast. I love just hanging out and talking to her. She has such good insight on things, not to mention that she's filled with a little bit of Greenbrier gossip :-)
  
• This weekend is going to be filled with fun with friends and I can't wait! And my sister Lacey is coming to visit, so I'm excited about that too!
  

And I think that's about it. I do have one more post from when I went home last week, but that's for another day (tomorrow) because I'm about to watch the newest episode of 90210, since I missed it last night! Who else is watching 90210? What do you think of it?

P.U.S.H Wednesday

Sorry I did not post last week. I've been getting behind in a lot lately!

1.) Sarah and her husband are still looking for jobs! Kyle is hoping to hear back from the cable company. Sarah has started selling Mary Kay cosmetics, so hit up her blog for her website and if you don't have a Mary Kay consultant, hit her up! Keep their job hunt in your prayers this week.

2.) My friend Gary is doing well and I believe he has moved into a regular room at the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers. I'm not sure how extensive his recovery will be, but I imagine it won't be easy. A new heart in a different body can't be an easy recovery I wouldn't think. But God is in control, and nothing is too hard for Him.

3.) Whittani and baby Skylar are doing great. She had a doctor appointment on Monday and Skylar weighs 3lbs already! Please pray that the next ten weeks go well for Whittani and that she remains as comfortable as possible, and that when the time comes, she has an easy delivery!

4.)Jamie, at Dreaming Big Dreams is headed to Haiti next week, along with several others. Please pray for a safe journey. They will be taking supplies to the people of Haiti that were struck by the hurricanes. Please pray for the people there that they recover quickly and receive the supplies they need to rebuild their lives. If you would like to help, check out Jamie's blog and she has ways you can contribute.

5.) Unspoken for me. There are some things that I'm dealing with in my personal life. Please just uplift me and ask for God's strength on my behalf.

6.) My Uncle Bill is still very sick. It is not looking promising and my daddy said yesterday that he is much, much worse now from when I saw him two weeks ago. I hate death, and hate to know that Uncle Bill is hurting.

7.) Lacey will be traveling to Knoxville this weekend! I can't wait to see her. Pray that God keep her safe.

8.) Sam and Tanner are at the beach. Pray that they stay safe and have a good trip back on Friday.

9.)Kristen is also going to be traveling to Knoxville this weekend! I can't wait to see her and go to the game! Pray for a safe journey here and back home for her.

If you have any requests, please feel free to email me, emmylou924@comcast.net or post a comment. And spread the word! The power of prayer is an amazing thing!

Update on Gary

Gary Wayne's surgery went wonderful. He got his new heart and was awake and talking last night. This is a huge answer to prayer. As long as the heart works with his body, he should be able to live a much more normal life than he's been living. I can't imagine what he has gone through the past year or so. Not knowing if his heart was going to give out on him in a blink of an eye. I'm so thankful for God's hand in this. If it were not for Him, Gary would not be alive. I know that for awhile I struggled with the fact of WHY. Why was my friend, who was only 19 at the time, only have a 5% chance of life? It was hard to imagine. We grew up together. Went to the same church our entire lives and were the same age. It was crazy. We weren't supposed to have heart failure. But it happened, and it made me put more faith in God.

Thank you all so much for your prayers during this time.

Please Pray Today

A dear, dear childhood friend of mine is going into surgery today. He has been sick for quite some time. He is only 20 years old. He's needed a new heart since last year. This morning, around 1:30 am, his family got the call and there is a heart for him! He is in surgery now, so please pray that everything go ok, that the heart works well in his body, and that he recovers quickly. The new heart is an answer to a lot of people's prayers. God is so good!!

Also, please pray for the family of the donor heart. For Gary to receive another chance at life, another one had to be lost.

I'll update more later....

Finally Friday!

It seems as this week has been forever long. I've been super busy all week and every day it seems like the day has been super long. But this week has been a good week. I'm so very thankful for a "good" week. Especially after one or two "not so good" weeks.
A recap of the week...

Monday~ Mom and Caiti were still in town so we spent the day shopping. After hitting up the mall we had mexican for lunch and then they headed back to Greenbrier. It was time well spent with my sweet mommy and little sister. Whittani and I spent the afternoon and night together and watched the UT vs. UCLA game. Even though we (UT) didn't win, we still had fun cheering them on!

Tuesday~ Back to school. Tuesday was also spent at the bookstore where I picked up some amazing books and I'm so excited to read them all! You check out what I got on a previous post!

Wednesday~ Had my interview at Chili's and got the job! I start next Wednesday for orientation and I'm super excited! After the interview Whittani and I had dinner at Chili's and then went back to her house for a Girl's Night and to study for her finals.

Thursday~ Lazy day for me! School was good. After school I came home and chilled at the house. Did a few things around my apartment, but other than that I was lazy!

And here we are at Friday. School was good and I'm starting to learn how to do braids. I'll just say this...I never knew how hard it was to braid until I started trying to do cornrows and really tight braids. The ones I've always done on my self usually consist of really loose hair and lots of wispies! I'm learning though...even if it is REALLY frustrating at times! Whittani and I are having another Girls Night tonight and watching movies. I'm so thankful for such a great friend that I can just have chill time with.

School is tomorrow and then I'm driving back to Greenbrier for the weekend. One of my greatest friends, Sonny, and I are going to the Titans game on Sunday and I have a playdate with my kids on Monday. I can't wait to see them and spend time with them!

What are you doing this weekend?

Open House

Listening to… the air conditioner running, Still Standing playing on the tv

Thankful for… my great friends and wonderful family. God's unending grace and mercy.

In the kitchen… random things that need to be put away.

Sewing… nothing.

Reading… Mistaken Identity. I was going to start The Shack first, but picked up Mistaken Identity off the couch today and started reading...and now I'm hooked!

In the yard/garden… fresh cut grass

Praying for… a lot of things. Among the many things: the adoption journey of a fellow blogger, a family back home, my dad and his soldiers, a dear friend Sarah...and more.

Thinking about… how I should be picking up my house, how weird things are in my life right now

Looking forward to… my trip home on Saturday, reconnecting with Sonny, the Titans game on Sunday, and a play date with my kids on Monday

Hoping… that the next two days go by quickly and that I have a safe, quick trip home on Saturday!

I found this on another blog that I sometimes read. Play along if you like!

What I picked up yesterday....

Yesterday I took a trip to the Christian Bookstore by my house. I got a lot of new reads and can't wait to start them! Here is what was in my bag when I left:

Presumed Guilty by James Scott Bell
Discovering God's Purpose for Your Life- Beth Moore
Arm Yourself Against the Enemy's Schemes- Beth Moore
Experience a Fresh Explosion of Faith- Beth Moore
The Shack- William P. Young
Tennessee Weddings- Joyce Livingston
Mistaken Identity-Don and Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Colleen, and Whitney Cerak

I'm looking forward to reading all of these, and reading the Beth Moore books with my Bible study. I think I'll start The Shack first. Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? I've heard wonderful things about The Shack, so I'm excited about reading it! I'll let you know what I think once I've finished!

I'm back in full swing!

After a few days of absence, I'm back! I have been in between jobs and have not internet at my house, but all that is settled, and the internet at the house is working again, which means I'm back in full swing. Tomorrow morning will include the P.U.S.H. post for the week, so if you have a prayer request...please let me know! Send to my email, emmylou924@comcast.net or post as a comment on this post! Now....where I've been....in bullet form:

• Life has taken a turn of events. After having my heart broken by a guy that I loved dearly, I am loving life and I'm happy.
  
• I have started going to church at North Star Church again, and I'm more in love with it than I was the last time. I will miss my church family at SPPC, but I'm confident that I am where I need to be right now
• Looking for a job, but knowing God will provide at just the right time! I'm learning to trust Him a little more!
• Loving cosmetology school! Can't believe I have been going for a month this week! It's crazy! Time has totally flown by!
  
• I have made several wonderful new friends. Whittani has become such a lifesaver. Thanks girl for everything!

So those are few updates from my life. Life is good for me and I'm super happy! Boomsday was Sunday night and mom and Caiti came up from Greenbrier, and Lacey came from McMinn Co and we all had a blast hanging out, shopping, and watching the fireworks. Mom and Caiti stayed until mid day Monday and we went shopping, had lunch, and just spent some time together. I'm so glad they came to visit. I love them so much!

Those are a few updates from my life. I'm sure there will be a more in depth post later. I just have a lot to get caught up on right now...not to mention, the new 90210 comes on in thirty minutes!