Sunday Song: You Are Good

Saturday Hodge Podge - 10.30.2010

• Old Navy is having a huge outerwear sale in their stores today and online. I got two coats today for less than $100. If you are looking for a new coat, go check it out. The red coat with the ruffles was on my Christmas Wish List. Mom said to go ahead and get it and that would be one gift from her and dear 'ol dad. And I love the color green so I couldn't resist buying it as a present to myself!

• I crossed two more Christmas presents off my list this week. I purchased Pandora black leather bracelets for two family members and these two charms.

• Those of you who read my blog know that I am not married and I do not have kids of my own. I sometimes feel inferior posting on my blog because I can't post about my husband or my kids, and I think "who wants to read about my single life anyway." My heart has been so heavy the past few weeks thinking about my own state of being single. And then this week, I received two emails that have allowed me to remove my focus on being single and refocus of the Lord. If you are single, or know someone who is single, please read or share these links... Letting God Fill the "Husband" Void and A Book On Singleness.

• It was Homecoming week at school! We had a great week, but I am glad it's over and we can get back to a normal school day. Our football team won last night and will travel to play in the first-round of the state play-offs.

• I bought and installed iLife '11 on my Mac this week and I am in love with all the upgrades Apple included.

• Chocolate Caramel coffee creamer from International Delight made my Saturday morning great!

• It is race weekend in the great state of Alabama, and living 25 miles from the track we get to see lots of race fans! Talladega Superspeedway is hosting Hallo-Dega this weekend and has a ton of fun planned around the races and Halloween. And yes, I will be pulling for #88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

• I love to read but have read all the books I had on my reading list so I am looking for some recommendations. What good books have you read lately?

• Go check out my recipe blog. I posted two new recipes - Paula Deen's Pimento Cheese and Spiderweb Cupcakes.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Sunday Song: Sailing On A Ship

Go check out this great Willow House giveaway!

Saturday Hodge Podge

Mountains of Cheaha

This post is just going to be a "hodge podge" of things...

• I have been asked by my Mom to make a Christmas list. This is kind of tough for me because I generally just go out and get what I need and don't have to ask for it. I have come up with three things that I am going to add to my list: Old Navy Ruffled Coat in Red, Keurig Brewing System and an Elephant Charm for my Pandora bracelet. What is on your Christmas wish list?
• This is Homecoming week at school and I generally make a fun treat for Friday for our senior class. I came across these Halloween Spider Web Cupcakes while blog hopping this morning and plan to make these this week. Go check out Little Birdie Secrets for more ideas and tutorials.
• I am ready for some SEC football today. ROLL TIDE!
• I posted a yummy recipe for Camp Stew over on my recipe blog. It's easy and yummy for these brisk fall days.
• I won a giveaway a few weeks ago to the online store Abby Maddy Designs. I chose a set of four burp clothes to give to one of our teachers expecting a baby girl. They were a hit at the shower. If you are looking for a baby gift, tutu or fun accessories, please go check out this site!
• I am participating in a bible study at church and we are studying "Bad Girls of the Bible" by Liz Curtis Higgs. It is a study of the "other" women of the bible - Delilah, Rahab, Jezebel to name a few - and the lessons we can learn from them and God's grace. It has been a great study. Have any of you completed this study?
• Canvas People is offering a free 8x10 canvas (a $55 value). I think I may be crossing another Christmas gift off my list today!
• Can I ask you to pray for our band director? He is 37 years old and has been diagnosed with LeioMyoSarcoma. He, his wife and three children have relocated to M.D. Anderson in Houston, TX for the next six months and he begins chemotherapy/radiation. We are claiming John 14 and "The Prayer of Faith" (James 4:13-20) during this time!
• The Not-So-Blog is giving away an adorable set of note cards from SanLori. Go check out the giveaway details here and enter for your chance to win!

If you've made it this far, thanks for sticking around through all the ramblings! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend with your families and the ones you love.

Pumpkins

A woman was asked by a coworker,

"What is it like to be a Christian?"

The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin.

God picks you from the patch, brings you in,

and washes all the dirt off of you.

Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.

Then He carves you a new smiling face and

puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Go check out this great Tupperware giveaway from Room Remix - The Blog.

Sunday Song: All Of Me

Miss Rodeo Alabama

My baby cousin, Sara Grace, is Miss Rodeo Alabama and will be traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada in November to compete for Miss Rodeo America. I am so extremely proud of her and wish her all the best as she prepares to compete. This weekend was a dinner and auction for Sara Grace. Here are some of the pictures from the event...

Miss Rodeo Alabama 2010

Silent Auction Area built out of old wood by my uncle...

One of the many unique items auctioned...

Signing autographs...

Sara Grace and her older sister Casey... These girls are my heart!

Sunday Song: What Love Really Means

Go check out this fun giveaway from Doodle Bugs Paper and the blog Whatever Dee Dee Wants (She's Gonna Get It).

Happy 1st Birthday Trevin!

I mentioned I had a few events that happened this summer that I would blog about to play a little catch up on my blog.

Back in August, my best friend's little boy Trevin turned one! And I was lucky enough to be able to help plan his birthday party. We went with a monkeying around theme and ordered the party supplies from Stylish Creations on Etsy. Love this shop! We had a great day and I loved being such a big part of Trevin's 1st Birthday!

Here is the birthday boy!

Ready for my party... Where is everybody?

Party favors... Barrel of monkeys for the older kids and monkey teethers for the babies...

The smash cake from Honeymoon Bakery in Rome, Georgia...

The yummy cupcakes from Honeymoon Bakery for the guests... They were amazing!

Cupcake toppers... Too cute!

Wasn't too sure of the cake to begin with...

But it didn't take long for him to dig in...

And then, bless his sweetheart, he has the most sensitive skin and he broke out because of the icing on the cake...

So blessed to be a part of this little boy's life! And so blessed to have such great college friends like Brooke and her husband Clint.

Adoption Auction!

What: Auction to benefit adopting familiesWhen: November 4-7, 2010Where: Worthy of the Prize blogWhy: It would be a great way to start your Christmas shopping for loved ones while helping out families that are trying to adopt!
So save-the-date and be there!
If you have an item you would like to donate to the auction, please contact Worthy of the Prize at worthyoftheprize@yahoo.com or find more info here.

"Status"

I am linking this post up over at Amy's blog. Bloggers from all over have shared about their experience "in waiting" for God's timing in various areas of their lives.. If you need some encouragement, please go check it out! There is something for everyone.

My nephew this week asked me when I was going to get married and have a baby for him to play with. Oh, the sweet innocence of a child. I wish I knew that answer buddy, I really do! But, it is all in God's timing and his timing is perfect.

Lately, I have found myself struggling with this timing. I am 32, single and there are no prospects in sight. I don't doubt God and his plan, but lately my feelings have been hurt on more than one occasion by people in my life who make it seem as if I can fix this status in my life. Family members ask "When are you going to settle down?" or "Don't you want to get married?" At the church I attend, there is no place for someone single. There is a college class, a young married couples class and then adult bible study. Hmm... Not sure where I fit there, so I volunteer in the children's department so I can hide behind my insecurity of not having a "status" that places me in the right class. Lately lunches at work are awkward as I am the only single person and most talk about their families, play dates, couples dinners and the list goes on.

I have really been struggling with the "status" society has placed on those of us who are single. I feel left out and lonely.

Then last week at church, one of the ladies I have worked with in VBS stopped me in the hall and said "You have been on my mind and heart this week, and I have been praying for you." Tears came to my eyes as I knew this was my "Wow God... You Rock!" moment. You see, she didn't marry until later in life and although I knew that about her, I have never talked with her about "waiting." God placed her in my path that night at his perfect time so that the door was opened and boy, did it swing wide open! She is an amazing encouragement to me and her words reflected all my feelings. She and I prayed together, and she is praying each day for me specifically that God will supply all my needs and that in his timing, it will come. It doesn't get much better than that...

Here are a few of my favorite passages that I have been praying over lately as I remain "in waiting" -

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you." Isaiah 30:18

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3

If you are in the same point in your life, I hope the verses above will speak to you.

Recipe Exchange

Megan over at Kitschy Suburbia is hosting a Fall recipe exchange. Sounds like a lot of fun and an easy way to get some new recipes to try. Go check out all the details and join in on the fun!

Sunday Song: I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You

With the change in the weather lately it has been nice in the afternoons to take a stroll around the lake in the area where I live. On my strolls this week I have been thinking about my Papaw and Grandfather who passed away when I was a sophomore in college. I miss these two men and can't wait to see them again one day in heaven. Looking forward to the day I can stroll in heaven with them both...

Have a blessed week!

Lisa Leonard and Alabama Bloggers Meet-Up!!

Lisa Leonard is coming to Alabama and she wants to meet up with other Alabama Bloggers!!

Amanda, Rhoda, Rachel and Lisa are planning a gathering at Jennifer Harwell Gallery on Friday, October 15, 2010, from 12 - 2 P.M. and everyone is welcome. Lisa will be in town shooting a segment with ABC's Talk of Alabama.

Will you help get the word out? Well thanks... I know you wouldn't mind. And if you blog, tweet or Facebook about the event be sure to head over to Rachel's blog and leave a comment to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs.

So mark your calendars and bring a friend. Come meet Lisa, mingle, eat cupcakes, check out jewelry and meet some new Alabama blogging friends!

My Favorite Things: Fall

(Sing to the tune of "My Favorite Things")

Pumpkin spice lattes and Friday night football,

Mums, open windows and harvest scented candles,

Candy corn and recipes with pumpkin,

These are a few of my favorite Fall things....