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Thursday, November 29, 2012

happily married theater junkie. & so much more.


Hi. :) 

I've been seeing this Women Connect thing around blog-land lately, but I didn't really think much of it. Just another link-up, I thought. But then tonight as I was catching up on blog reading, I came across two friends who had participated in this link-up. And I found myself clicking over to Becky's blog to see what it was all about. And y'all. I like this one. It's truly about CONNECTING with other women. Becky instructed everyone to kind of identify who they are in the link-up part. I was browsing, and saw things like - 

"Blessed but hurting newlywed."
"Warrior. Miracle mama. Lucky to be alive."
"SAHM to one. Struggling with infertility." 
"Mama. Wife. Struggling financially."

And I thought... wait a minute. This isn't just another link-up. This is CONNECTING with other women...which is exactly what Becky had in mind. Do you see what I see? Women are struggling, hurting. Some have stories to tell. So that's pretty cool. (Not that they are hurting...that we can reach out! Haha.). I can't wait to go check them all out. To reach out to other women. But first... I'll do my own post for the link-up. :)(Even though i am really, really late on this! HA!)

*  *  *  *  *  * 

I have to tell you. I love blogging. Mainly because of something i DIDN'T expect...the connections I have made with other bloggers. I have gotten close with a few of them. I have a 6+ year friendship with my friend Laura & have met other blogger friends as well. In person. And did we ever connect. More so than with other friends who you meet in real life. I think this is because you already know a lot about each other by the time you meet - you can just get right down to the real stuff. The struggles. The desires. The dreams. The hurt. A few of my blog friends are my BEST friends. That's the truth. And i know - nobody gets that... unless they blog. :)

 me & my blog bestie, Laura.

* * * * * * * * 

Well, now i am officially rambling. Here is the stuff you need to know about me...

{My Marriage}
I waited a long time for the right man. And boy.... did God totally do way above what I dreamed or imagined. We have a very happy fun sweet marriage. I love him. He is my best friend. I am incredibly thankful that I get to spend my life with him!
See? That's how much I love him!

I feel the need to show you a "real" picture now. Haha.
 There we go. 

{Our Pet}
We have one furbaby named Fievel. If you do not know how that is pronounced then you have never seen Disney's An American Tail. It's a cute movie & the mouse in it is who Fievel is named after. 
This is his "can i have what you're having?" face. ALWAYS BEGGING. It's a good thing he's so cute!

{Our Kids}
We have no babies. Human ones, I mean. :) This is the deepest desire of my heart & something we have been hoping for aWHILE now. I am in great spirits about it now, but at other times it has been... really really hard. I am 34. But one day I will be a mom. ONE DAY. 
Don't I look like I should be a mom? I thought so. 
(This is my friend Amanda's ADORABLE baby boy!)

{My Health}
My biggest struggle has always been my weight. ALWAYS. I have done really well, losing 25 pounds...and then have slipped into.... I don't know, depression? ADDICTION? Honestly, am addicted to sweets of any kind. And carbs. By addicted, I mean MODERATION does not work for me! If you give me one chocolate kiss, i want the whole bag... yeah. How is that for honest? 

So, on November 15th, i QUIT. i am now almost 15 days sober ... and by sober, I just mean FREE. I am determined to be FREE from my addiction to food. (I hate saying that - it sounds disgusting - but it's the truth.) Anyway. I feel better & the next step is to get my butt back to the gym! I want to lose weight. There are two reasons I want to do this & neither of this is about how i look. #1 - I have insulin resistance & I want to reverse that. I do not want diabetes. & #2 - I want to be a mom. And right now? My weight is what is standing in the way. 

That is probably the most I have ever said on this blog about this. It definitely is. So if you want to keep up with that journey, you can read about it here

{MY SAVIOR}
My first passion is Jesus Christ. I love him, I am so thankful that I know Him! He loves me. My testimony is basically Psalm 30:11 & 12, "For you turned my wailing into dancing. You removed my sackcloth & covered me with joy. That my heart may sing to you & not be silent. Oh, Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever." He is so good!

{MY CHURCH} 
After flip-flopping around for awhile, we (by accident) found our home church when visiting with my parents for Easter. It's ironic how things turn out... my husband grew up there, my parents have been going there for YEARS, and yet i never thought it was the place for me. And it wasn't, at the time. But on Easter Sunday we went there & never looked back. It is our home. And it is awesome to find the place God has for you to grow in your walk with Him & with other people. We have gotten really close with some people there. And we are so thankful. 

 church friends... mandy & ashley. Love them so much!

We missed last Sunday & It feels like we have missed a month! Crazy because we used to miss church without even thinking twice. But now we HATE to miss it. It's not that it's the best church in the world - it's that it's the church for us. Nothing like being where you belong, you know?

{MY PASSION}
My passion is the theater. I love acting, singing & - something i didn't expect at first - stage managing. I have been involved at Baton Rouge Little Theater for 6 1/2 years now.  It is one of my most favorite places to be. Stage managing is hard work, but it is SO FUN & fulfilling for me to be involved with a show for the entire process, auditions to strike. Also, some of the greatest people I have ever met, I met in the theater. I am about to run sound for A Christmas Carol. It will take up 1/2 of my December, but that's okay. I enjoy every second. Except when i am EXHAUSTED & at work the next morning. But other than that. :)
 That would be me... playing Little Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown, the musical. (Yes, that is the actual name of the play!) MOST FUN SHOW EVER! 
{Etc, etc}
I also feel compelled to add the following. I love my sleep, good movies, & coffee. Sleepless in Seattle is the cutest movie ever. The Proposal is hilarious. I love the shows Parenthood, Grey's Anatomy, the Big Bang Theory & Law and Order: SVU. I am obsessed with Mariska Hargitay. I think she is amazing. I love cute coffee mugs. I am slightly obsessed with pens & paper. I love to read...mostly chic lit, but a mystery sometimes is good too. I have a Canon & am learning to shoot in manual... i love taking pictures. Instagram is my favorite app. I am a MAJOR daydreamer.  I love my family. My in-laws are the greatest. I am artsy but not creative. Or maybe I'm just lazy. I love my iPhone. I want to have lunch with Beth Moore. 
* * * * * * * * *

Okay, so. This post was way too long. But, if you are new here, i hope you enjoyed reading! And if you are not new here, you probably didn't make it through this post, since you probably already know this stuff! Haha. But anyway...  i think i will go check out some of your blogs now! HAPPY almost Friday! :)

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Fall pics!

We had some fall pictures taken. For Christmas cards. And I love them. :) 

I ordered our cards yesterday! So...YAY! I can't wait till they come in! 

Here are some of the pics...

A family shot...

This is a traditional pose....worked better on park benches though! Haha.  Also, Brad's face CRACKS ME UP in this. We were being silly. :)


 
One of my favorites.


I LOVE HIM. 

& I loved Callie, the photographer, too! She did a great job! Thanks, CALLIE! :) 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had actual thanksgiving day at home. On Friday morning, though, we got up, got packed for the weekend, and headed to my parent's house. We road with them to Grenada, Mississippi, the small town where both of my parents are from.

 This tree in my grandmother's yard... It was beautiful!

We had a great time! We stayed at my dad's mom's house in a king-size bed, which was lovely! (We have a queen at home.) Fievel even slept with us which we do NOT allow at home, but the bed was so huge we didn't even notice he was there... HA! 

My Uncle Mike & Aunt Jean (in from Texas...which is weird to say because they just moved there after living in Montana for most of my life) were visiting also, so it was great to see them! They have a Chihuahua named Pepper, and I have to say...that was the friendliest, cutest Chihuahua I have ever met. Fievel met his match! They played & played & played...& wore themselves OUT!

Aunt Jean & Pepper... Fievel's new BFF.

We also went to my Aunt Paula & Uncle Gary's house (my mom's sister). Both my cousins, Ben & Brady, were there. I also met their new cat, Sajja. Isn't he beautiful? I think so! I did a little photography practice on him! 
 Love the white paws.

The best thing ever is that I finally got to meet Ben's family! He & his wife married 2 years ago, but they live in Missouri, so we just haven't been able to meet her yet. She was SO SWEET. I just loved her & am kind of sad that I only got about an hour total to get to visit with her. Hopefully we'll head up to Missouri or they'll head to Louisiana sometime! :) 

ANNNND we also finally got to meet Ben & Marcy's twins, Caleb & Lily. That was definitely the highlight of the trip. Those two are ADORABLE! The first night Caleb just sat in my lap & looked at me. Played with my necklace & my hair & all. Lily wanted nothing to do with me. But when we went back & I reached to pick up Caleb, Lily got jealous! She ended up wanting me the whole time! It was almost their nap time, so they were tired, and Lily ended up falling asleep on me... her mama said nobody's ever been able to rock her to sleep since she was a newborn. I guess I still have "the touch"?! :)

REALLY REALLY loved those babies. So...that's why most of my pics are of them. Aunt Paula snapped photos for me while we loved on these cutie pies. Such adorable sweet kids! And it is SCARY how much Caleb looks like Ben did as a baby.



 me & my mom with caleb & lily. 



Such good-natured babies. I LOVE THEM! I'm just smitten, can you tell?

It was a short but sweet little trip! We are glad to be home, though. Except, i don't wanna go back to work! I did get another day off... today. Brad & I got up this morning & met our friends Billy & Mandy for breakfast. We went to Another Broken Egg - our favorite, but they'd never been. They loved it. We had a great time. I was having withdrawals since we only saw them once last week (& won't see each other again until Sunday! WAHHH!).
 Brad & Billy

Mandy & Melissa

After breakfast, they tagged along with me to Hobby Lobby. Love them! They are awesome. I got me a cute coffee mug & a christmas ornament as reward for my 10 days sober (of sweets). Hey, don't laugh! 10 days without sweets through a holiday & a roadtrip is deserving of some kind of prize! ;)

We attempted a group pic. Which is always hilarious! This one cracks me up! Notice Mandy's head in Brad's armpit. HA! I die every time i look at this.


AND it's back to work tomorrow. But then... Christmas is soon!!! :)

Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving, too.


This weekend, I... {v. 9}

Here's a sneak peek post from the weekend. Details to come as I will recap our little trip to visit family for Thanksgiving! :) 


This weekend, I went to Mississippi to visit family with my parents & my husband. We had a good time. The dogs were so cute in the car on the way up. 
Our dog Fievel & our parent's dog Molly in mom's lap. 

This weekend, I finally got to meet my cousin's wife & their TWIN babies. Oh my gosh, y'all. I am in LOVE! They were so cute, funny & sweet! 
me with Caleb & Lily. 

This weekend, I also met my aunt's new cat, Sajja & practiced a little photography on him.
Such a beautiful cat! 

This weekend, I ... WE ... cracked up laughing watching these two dogs play! Fievel always wants to play with other animals...either squirrels or cats (that run from him) or big dogs (that want to eat him). This is a dog he actually COULD play with. And they had a BLAST. 
Fievel & my aunt's dog Pepper

This weekend, I learned this game. And played it for a few hours. And now i MUST go out & get our own. It was FUN! And funny. Ha! 

This weekend, I was so glad my parents agreed to stop at my favorite place to and from Mississippi. We ate there for lunch on the way up & for breakfast on the way back. It's in Jackson right off the interstate & we love it. I can eat healthy there... so much better than fast food!

This weekend, I completed TEN DAYS OF NO SWEETS! Aka...no pie, no cake, no crackers, no cookies, no candy, no sweet tea, no CHOCOLATE... I honestly am in shock. I didn't think i could do it. But i did. And I am going to keep going.

This weekend, I didn't have all of the above items through a holiday and while on a roadtrip. Two things that are always major problems for me. WOOHOO!! WIN! :) 

So...what'd you do this weekend? Link up with Syndal or Sar!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunday Social: 4 things

How about some Sunday Social? 


{1} Name 4 jobs you've had in your life.
Preschool teacher (3 year old class)
Monogram & gift shop worker
Receptionist
Nanny

{2} Name 4 movies you could watch over & over.
Sleepless in Seattle
The Proposal
Beaches
In Her Shoes 

{3} Name 4 places you have lived.
3 houses
 3 apartments
2 condos
1 mobile home
all in or outside of Baton Rouge

{4} Name 4 of your favorite foods.
I love hamburgers. That does not seem like the cool thing to say, but it's true.
CHOCOLATE. & Buttercream frosting.
gumbo
FAJITAS

{5} Name 4 things you always carry with you. 
iPhone
ponytail holder
chapstick or lip gloss
water

{6} Name 4 places you have been on vacation.
Cayman Islands & Cozumel (honeymoon cruise)
San Antonio, TX (1 year anniversary trip)
Florida (various beach/disney trips)
New York City! 

Happy Sunday, y'all! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful Heart

I love Thanksgiving. Always have.

I try to keep an attitude of thankfulness all year. As I'm going throughout my day & something great happens, or a prayer is answered, I'll thank my Father. Not a quick rushed prayer... I am often in my car when i reflect on the things He's doing in my life & I will take a moment to praise Him & thank Him for what He has given me, or what He is doing in my life.

There are times, though, that i get stuck in the trap of negativity. I start counting my trials instead of my blessings. I start playing that comparison game, which is never a good idea! I forget that, even in the hard times, God is working in my life! Behind the scenes! I may not see it, but it's happening. He is there, He sees it all, and He is taking care of me - in His way, in His time. And I am thankful for that!

I call Psalm 30:11 & 12 my testimony verse. That is because once upon a time I was hurting. I hated who i was, i had no self-esteem, I was depressed & discouraged. But God lifted me up. He turned my sorrow into joy, as that scripture says! And you know... I know He will do that again. :) This year has been hard in some big ways, but in other ways it's been WONDERFUL!

I am so blessed. And i know you are, too. And even if you are going through a really hard time right now, I pray that you are able to sit back today & realize how much God has done for you. And that you will trust that He is going to continue to take care of you. He loves you so much!

* * * * * * 

We had an awesome day today. We went to Brad's Aunt Sylvia & Uncle Jerry's house for some thanksgiving day food with his family. I have to tell you I am VERY proud of myself for using self-control in my eating. I do not know where this ability to resist temptation has come from but i am thankful for that ! :) I had no dessert, no rolls, and no sweet tea (which is big here!). But don't worry... I did not feel deprived!

Here are some cell phone pics! Brought my camera but forgot the memory card! Oops!
 Lynde, Jaimie & Matt

 This is Brad's Uncle Kenny, Aunt Annette, cousin Matt, & Matt's fiance Lynde. Zach & Hayden are Matt's sons & Breelyn is Lynde's daughter. Love having Lynde & Breelyn join the fam! ;)

 SO thankful for my in-laws. LOVE them so much! My MIL (Cheryl), SIL (Jaimie) & FIL (Stan). Sweet, funny, welcoming people.

 Matt & Lynde

 Me & my sweet love!

My dessert...Homegrown Louisiana Satsumas! So glad Brad's cousin brought them!

Tomorrow we travel with my parents to Mississippi to visit my two grandmothers, my great-aunt & my aunt paula and uncle gary. I am super excited to also see my cousin Ben & his wife (who i have never met!). Not to mention their twin babies (I haven't met them either!). YAY!

Hope you had a wonderful day!





Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Becca & Michael's wedding!

I have been friends with Becca for more than 10 years now. Whenever I mention her to someone, I feel compelled to tell them what makes her so wonderful. Things like this: She's the most selfless person you will probably ever meet. She asks how you are doing & REALLY wants to know. She doesn't shy away from the hard questions if it's in an effort to help you or to be there for you. She always puts others before herself. Even with all of this, she is so humble, she recognizes her own faults (even if you don't see that any exist!). She is just a total sweetheart. Beautiful, inside & out. (People reading this that know her are just nodding in agreement, i bet! Everyone loves her.) 

 So when I tell you that she deserves a fairytale? She really does. And I am just so, so happy for her! Michael loves her SO MUCH, y'all. I know he will cherish her forever. 

They had a beautiful wedding & we had SO MUCH FUN! :)

Here are some pics. I will try to refrain from posting 4930304 of them!

We arrived & immediately spotted our good friends Adam & Katie...and baby Natalie! I met Natalie once when she was BRAND NEW! And we haven't had a chance to get together with them since! So I was really excited to get to hold her for a bit! She is SO SWEET! :)

Cute little family... Adam, Katie & Natalie

The ceremony was beautiful. I loved the fall decor. Here, they are praying with Pastor Terry.

The reception was a lot of fun! We grabbed a table with Adam & Katie, plus Amanda & Matt, our friends in town from California! So fun to spend time with all of them!
Amanda, Matt & baby Judah! My second time to meet him, too! So precious!

Judah & Natalie also got to meet... 
There are a lot more funny pics from this little introduction! Haha! 

Judah was SO CUTE in his little cap! 

I got some loving from sweet Judah too!

 LOVE this girl!! Really miss her!

 Me & Katie

Hubby & I had a great time! We took some cute pics in the photo booth, laughed & talked, & even got in a dance or two! Love him!
 

Of course we enjoyed watching the bride & groom, too!

 They are good dancers! ;)



So sweet. So fun! So happy for them!


{ CONGRATS, BECCA & MIKE! }