Just A Little Motivational Rap

We all need a little motivational rap in our lives... Enjoy!!

Happy 1st Birthday Cooper!

Despite the severe weather forecast in our area, I had a great time celebrating my nephew's first birthday with my family on Saturday! Here are a few pictures from the party:

Me and my boys (Connor - 4 and Cooper - 1)

Connor and his buddies - Dax and Owen

Cooper and my cousin's little girl Preston

The smash cake - a haystack!

Mmm... cupcakes!

Happy Birthday to you Cooper!

Not too sure about all the icing...

But he got into and made a mess!

The birthday boy on his new Mickey Mouse airplane with his cool shades on!

Sunday Song: In Your Presence

I thought I would share one of my favorite songs with you today. When I hear this song by Jason Upton, I can't help but here my God say "Be still and know that I am God." So many times we get wrapped up in our own to-do lists and what we think makes us feel fulfilled and happy that we forget to listen to God speak to us.

The times I feel closest to him are when I am still, quiet and in his presence. This song reminds me to spend time at his feet each day, and to not live in fear because my God is in control. Are you spending time at his feet each day?

Prayer Request - UPDATED

Just a quick post this morning to ask for your prayers!

A very dear friend of mine went to the doctor for a routine check-up on Thursday, and they found a polyp on his bladder. He was immediately sent to an oncologist who is almost 100% positive it is cancer. He will be going in on Monday to have it removed and tested.

He is 31 years old and we will both celebrate our 32nd birthdays in a few weeks. In talking with him, and praying with him he said, "I am too young to die."

Please pray for him, the doctors/nurses and his family. Thanks friends!

UPDATE:

Please keep those of us who live in the Southeast in your thoughts and prayers today as well. We are under several severe weather warnings and our local forecasters are using terms like "particularly dangerous situation", "life-threatening" and are saying that tornadoes can drop out of the sky at any moment. This is race weekend in our area, and there are LOTS and LOTS of people from out of town camping in and around the track area. This is a HUGE cause for concern with the forecast of severe weather. Please pray for their safety, for the staff at the track to be ready in case assistance is needed, and that the weather stations in our area get out accurate information in a timely manner. I have several friends and parents of students who work at the track, and to say they are concerned is an understatement. They are making comparisons to the tornado that hit Enterprise, AL in 2008.

Here was the radar at 8:40 A.M. CST. We are in for a long afternoon!

T.G.I.F.

Thank goodness it's Friday... Ummm maybe not! Not only has this been crazy week (gotten home every night past 8 o'clock), but I am in for a crazy, fun-filled weekend. Here is the rundown:

Friday:

• 5:00 P.M. - Parents arrive in town and we head to my nephew's t-ball game @ 5:30 P.M. I am sure we will grab dinner afterwards.

Saturday:

• 10:00 A.M. - Pick up balloons for nephew's 1st birthday party and head to my sister's.
• 11:00 - 1:00 P.M. - PARTY with family and friends to celebrate Cooper's 1st birthday!
• 2:30 P.M. - Head home after the party, visiting with family and cleaning up to get myself cleaned up to head to a friend's wedding.
• 4:00 P.M. - Attend just the ceremony part of the wedding so I can head to a photo shoot.
• 5:15 P.M. - Arrive at home of junior student to photograph their prom dinner and complete group and individual couple photos.
• 7:45 P.M. - Head to the prom location for more group photos and lead-out photos for the senior class.
• 8:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M. Photograph prom and chaperone!

Sunday:

• 8:15 A.M. - Attend contemporary church service
• 9:30 A.M. - Teach 4&5 year old Sunday School
• 10:45 A.M. - Volunteer in Children's Worship
• 12:00 P.M. - Lunch with sister and parents before they go home

On top of all that I have going on, this is also Race Weekend at Talladega, which means there will be lots and lots of extra people in our town and more traffic than usual.

It is going to be a great weekend, but I am already planning a looonnnggg nap Sunday afternoon! Have a great weekend and I hope to see you Monday.

So Long Insecurity: Prayer

Well the time has finally come for Atlanta to be invaded by Beth Moore fans! I know that Saturday is going to be a big day for a lot of your bloggers attending Beth Moore - So Long Insecurity. And it will be a big day for those who will be attending the simulcasts across the nation of this event.

I had originally planned to attend, but with my nephew's 1st birthday party falling on the same date, I had to make a choice. And I chose my family! My sister gave me her blessing to go to Atlanta, but I also wanted to be apart of Cooper's first party and be with my family.

I have been praying this week for those attending, the city of Atlanta, the event team and Beth. Here are some of the specific request I have been praying each night:

• Praying for Beth - that she is prepared to share her heart and the Lord's message with all the women attending live and the simulcasts!
• Praying for warm, sunny southern weather..
• Praying for the event team - that they have safe travels and remain healthy..
• Praying for those who are traveling to Atlanta for the event..
• Praying for all those attending - that the Lord will open their hearts and minds and that their relationship will be strengthened!

May all of you enjoy your time together worshipping and praising our Lord together - and I hope that you break free from your insecurities!

Recipe: Chetzels (Chocolate Pretzels)

I came across this great, easy recipe over at Angie's blog Hidden Treasures. It is so easy and very yummy (yes, I tried two but no more since I am on my diet). I took these one of our varsity baseball games last weekend and they were gone in less than 30 minutes. These are now on my list of easy treats to take to parties and baseball games!

Chetzels (Chocolate Pretzels)

Here is what you will need:

One bag of Hershey's Kisses (I used Hugs as well)

One bag of M&M's (I bet these would be good with Reese's Pieces and Peanut M&M's)

One bag of Snyder's Snaps Pretzels

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Spread your pretzels out on a cookie sheet and place a Kiss (or Hug) on each one.

Place in the oven for 3-5 minutes, just long enough for the chocolate to melt and become soft. **Note: The hugs melt faster than the Kisses, so next time I will make them separately. Remove them from the oven and place one M&M in the center of each Kiss and press down to spread the chocolate on the pretzel.

I put mine in the refrigerator so they would firm up quicker. Once set, remove and devour!

Thanks Angie for sharing this recipe on your blog!

Top 2 Tuesdays: Favorite Things Under $15

Top Two Items Under $15

1. Tea Lights - I love these little candles and have them all over my home. They are an inexpensive way to decorate in any room.

2. Nivea Creme - This is a must have in my bathroom! I use this every single night. If you have never tried this, you should.

Go over to The Undomestic Momma to play along. Simply get the HTML code for the button, place it in your blog post with your Top Two items, and then link you post on Tay's blog with MckLinky. It is as simple as that! What are you waiting for? What are your Top Two?

Go check out this fun giveaway from Mayfair Lane at Mommy Has To Work.

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Sara from Sara's Art House! You are the winner of the Wildflower-Lane giveaway.

Don't forget to go to Wildflower-Lane.com and visit Angie. She has some of the cutest personalized jewelry and gifts that would make perfect Mother's Day or Graduation gifts.

Thanks Angie for letting me host a review and giveaway of one of your products!

Go check out The Undomestic Momma for two fun giveaways - a $25 gift card to Kangaroodle and some fun products from Carolina Pad!

Balance

****Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

It ends tonight at 11:59 PM CST.****

Check out this great giveaway from A Little Bit of Everything!

Check out these fun giveaways from Infertile Myrtle - Posh Pretzels, Photography Prints, Ribbon Necklace, and Peggy Sue Polka Dot Purse.

I apologize for the lack of posts last week. I can't believe it has been seven days since the last time I made an entry. To say that this has been a crazy week is an understatement. It has been an emotional roller coaster for me.

Working at a school, this becomes one of the busiest times of the year as we get ready for graduation and begin working on planning for next year. Our church just went through a schedule change, which means my responsibilities have increased because of my involvement in the children's ministry. I have friends getting married, having babies and a family that does enjoy me coming home to visit more than once every three months! My calendar is full through May 28th and I have become a little uneasy about that. I love to be busy, but not when I feel unbalanced. And that has been my struggle this past week.

I have become overwhelmed with all the things I have going on - between church, work, family and friends, I feel that I am being pulled in so many different directions. I have always been very organized and always on top of things, but lately I find myself struggling to keep up and unorganized. My home is a total wreck, I have a to-do list that keeps growing (not getting shorter) and I can't catch up. And I DO NOT like this feeling.

I took somewhat of a break last week to give myself some time to regroup and think about some of the things I have going on that is causing me to feel this way. I have made the decision to back out of some of the events and activities I previously committed to. It was not an easy task to say no, because I am the type of person who likes to make everybody happy, but it was necessary to make me feel happy! I am slowly taking back the balance in my life and hope that this week will be a better week for me.

I am making a lot of changes in my life right now, but I know they are for the best! Even with all the stress of last week, I managed to lose 3.3 lbs. Thanks for all of you who have left encouraging words for me.

Have you ever felt unbalanced? What were some of the things you changed or did to help yourself find your balance again?

It Is My Biggest Source of Insecurity!

It is no secret to those who know me that I have struggled with my weight all my life. Since I was 14 years old, it has been a huge source of my insecurity! I have battled it all my life and vowed that I would never let myself get back to the weight I was when my mom and I started Weight Watchers back in 1993. Fast forward to Friday morning when I have to "step on the scale" at the doctor's office. I literally had tears rolling down my cheeks as I watched the slider on the scale move and the nurse write down my weight on my chart.

I have a precious doctor who I trust completely, and when he came in the room he knew the disappointment I was feeling. We talked about my age, the health risks, my struggles with weight, and just as my dad would do, he took my hands in his and said, "You can do this! It is just going to take a few changes and you being in control!"

As a single young woman, it is easier to pick-up a meal than come home and cook for one person. I love to cook, but don't enjoy cooking for just me. Since I work at a school, and often times have to stay for extracurricular activities, dinner some nights consisted of a Snickers bar from the concession stand and a coke. Not to mention all the yummy goodies that are left in the school lounge on a weekly basis by our parents. I have been buying "easy to fix" things and not watching nutrition labels. And I basically know all the drive-thru workers in the local establishments between work and home. I have let it get out of control!

So today, I am taking that first step towards making changes and taking control. I have added a weight loss tracker at the bottom of my blog page so that I can track my loss. I am also going to make a list of "wishes" and use them to reward myself when I reach a goal. I am also going to:

• Start every morning with breakfast
• Eat fruits and veggies for snacks instead of some goody left in the teachers' lounge
• Drink 8 glasses of water a day
• Reduce my portion size for meals
• Cut out sugar
• Try to exercise 5 times a week

I started today, and have so far done well. I did not snack like I normally would and have gotten in all my water. I also walked the track around the lake in my neighborhood, completing two laps (1.34 miles). I would have kept going but didn't want to overdo it on the first day.

So what tips can you share for weight loss? Was there a snack you enjoyed or a recipe for a healthy meal you love? How did you reward yourself for meeting a goal? How did you hold yourself accountable?

Hope you all have a great week!

Etsy Shop: CD Digitals

My nephew Cooper will be celebrating his 1st birthday in just a few weeks. My sister and I had the perfect invitation picked out and thought all was well with the world and our party planning. The shop we originally ordered from stopped responding to our requests about two weeks ago and would not provide info to us about the status of our order. Thursday morning, we receive word that she would not be able to complete our order. AGHHH!!!! The party is two weeks out and we had no back-up plan. The invites needed to mail on Monday. Talk about panicking!!

Into our panic steps Cindi from the Etsy shop CD Digitals. We found the invitation Thursday morning, I e-mailed and sent a convo message to her via Etsy, and last night we had a proof! Wow! Minus one small typo (that was my fault), we had the invite ready about 8 hours after we contacted her. Now that is customer service!

And here is the cute invitation that we will send to family and friends asking them to share in Cooper's 1st birthday!

Cindi - Thank you for helping us in a pinch!! Please go by and visit her Etsy shop. She has great art photography as well and everything is very reasonably priced.

Friday Follow!

Join the Friday Follow hosted by Hearts Makes Families, Midday Escapadesand One 2 Try. It is a great way to meet new bloggers and find new reads.

Buttons & Blogs is your source for a Blogger or Wordpress make over and is this week's sponsor. Whether you need a button, complete redesign or business logo, this is the place for you. Go by and check it out!

Do you want to join in all the Friday Follow Fun! Here's how you can join in:

• Link up your blog name and URL using the McLinky on one of the hosts sites. You only need to add it on one blog to be seen on all the other blogs.
• Grab the Follow Friday and Sponsor buttons and include on your Friday Follow blog post.
• Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
• Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.
• Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.
• Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

The list is new each week and the links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blog. This list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible during the following week so that you can visit the other blogs when you have time.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends on Sunday, April 11 at 11:59 CST.

A,B,C...

Saw this on a couple of blogs last week and thought it would be fun to do.

The ABC's of Blogging

A. AREA CODE : 3---2
B. BED SIZE : Queen
C. CHORE YOU HATE : Dusting!
D. DOG'S NAME : Last dog we had was named Molly
E. ESSENTIAL "START THE DAY!" ITEM : Toothbrush and toothpaste
F. FAVORITE COLOR : Blue
G. GOLD OR SILVER : Silver
H. HEIGHT : 5'5"
I. INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: Piano and flute
J. JOB : Fundraiser, Marketing
K. KIDS : None of my own
L. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS : Townhouse that I love!
M. MOM'S NAME : Suzan
N. NICKNAME : Issybeth (first name is Elizabeth)
O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY : Kidney infection on Christmas Eve in 1987
P. PET PEEVE : People who interrupt when I am talking, rude people
Q. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE : "Find the joy in your life." - The Bucket List
R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY? : Right
S. SIBLINGS : One sister - Morgan
T. TIME YOU WAKE UP : 5:30 A.M.
U. UNDERWEAR : Yes!
V. VEGGIE YOU DISLIKE : Beets
W. WAYS/REASONS YOU ARE LATE : Checking Facebook, Twitter or my blog
X. XRAYS YOU'VE HAD : Kidneys, foot
Y. YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE : Chicken casserole, Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Z. ZOO ANIMALS YOU LIKE : GIraffe, Elephant, Zebra

Now you know my ABC's, won't you play along with me?

Top 2 Tuesdays: Magazines

Today's Top 2 Tuesday topic is magazines.

I read lots of magazines, but the two I have to read every month are All You and Southern Living.

Visit The Undomestic Momma to grab the button and link up your post with your two favorite magazines!

Don't forget to enter my fun giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment to enter.

Review and Giveaway: Bottle Cap Necklace

Angie over at Wildflower-Lane.com has some of the cutest personalized jewelry and gifts. She recently sent me a few of her Bottle Cap Necklaces to review and giveaway. Are these not the cutest things?

You can order these cute bottle cap necklaces from Wildflower-Lane and customize them with your initials, your favorite colors or your favorite holiday. Customized bottle caps are each individually made and will take five days from order date to ship. They come on a black cord necklace or a bright multi color cord that you will choose when ordering.

Here are the fun bottle caps Angie sent me to review:

Two cute caps on children's chokers (or if you double the choker, you can wear them as bracelets)...

One cap on a black cord necklace and one cap on a zipper pull or backpack clip...

Here is what you can win:

The necklace, both chokers and the backpack pull or zipper pull...

Angie also sent me this keychain with a "Save the Tata's" message on it. I am keeping this one item she sent and passing it along to my aunt who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

So what do you have to do to enter? Simply leave me a comment on this post. I will draw a winner on Sunday, April 18th at 11:59 P.M. Please make sure your e-mail is included in your comment if it is not linked back to your blog.

Thanks.. and Good Luck!

Easter 2010

This was not a typical Easter for us. We are all usually at my parents and spend the afternoon at my grandmother's in the country. But this year, my family celebrated in several places because of church commitments, job situations, cancer, a wedding anniversary and pregnancy. My parents were able to come to visit Friday and Saturday, so we did get to see them and spend some much needed time with them.

I am so blessed to have my sister in the same town and I loved spending my Easter afternoon with my two nephews - Cooper (1) and Connor (4).

Here is my sister and her family...

And here I am with the two loves of my life...

Because He Lives...

Because He Lives

Words and Music by William J. Gaither (1971)

Matthew 28:6

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.

Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter

He Lives

Lyrics and Music ~ Alfred H. Ackley, 1887 - 1960

I serve a risen Saviour; He's in the world today.

I know that He is living, whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him He's always near.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.

I know that He is leading, thro' all the stormy blast;

The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.