If I were texting this post it would say SA, TG, BF, NC

SA - Salvation Army. On Wednesday my in-laws kept the kids for me and I did a little pre-Thanksgiving Christmas shopping. I then decided to treat myself to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. I went to lunch with me, myself, and I. I had a glass of Sangria, salsa, and a taco. Yummy. A lot of people think is it weird to eat by yourself -not Jon or I. I had a really good time with me, myself, and I. I then headed over to Belk to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Jon then showed up with Alec, and he and I rang the bell for a little bit. My in-laws then dropped off my girls and they helped me ring until it was time to go home. Thankfully the weather was beautiful. Jon wasn't there with the camera when the girls were with me, but I do have pictures of me and Alec.

TG- Thanksgiving Day. Jon and the girls made all of us homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast while I got ready for us to head over to my Grandmama's and Papa's. This was Jon's year to choose where we would spend Thanksgiving. His mom wasn't cooking this Thanksgiving so I automatically assumed we would just go to my Grandmama's. I was later convicted and I felt very selfish. I suggested to Jon we just stay home and I would cook. I was very excited about cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner. I had already planned on getting out our good china (that we never, ever eat on), and fix the table nice and pretty. He then said we could go to Grandmama's. After going back and forth, we decided to go. YAY!

Before we headed out to my Grandmama and Papa's

Our silly Thanksgiving Day picture

There are so many special details of Thanksgiving but I will try and just blog on the highlights.

Before saying the Blessing my Papa said he had something he wanted to say. He praised the LORD for getting him this far with his cancer. He said he knew he had been difficult to deal with this year and he thanked "the family," as he said, but everyone knew he was talking about my Grandmama, both of my aunts, and my Dad. I was tearing up and I looked over at my Dad. My Dad turned his head and put it down (I am pretty sure he was tearing up too). Thankfully Papa stopped when he did or I would have been sobbing at his sweet, sweet words.

Jon and Alec

Me, Papa, Daddy

There has always been a "kid" table in my Grandparents' sunroom, where all of the grandkids (that being me, my sister, and my cousin) still sit. The great grandkids put out TV trays in the living room and eat on them. My cousin and his wife, me, Jon, and Alec all went out to the "kids table" and laughed and stuffed ourselves silly.

Afterwards, I headed over to the dessert table to feast on my Grandmama's homemade coconut cake. This is my very favorite dessert, and I am not a cake girl. I can't turn this one down though. I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the dining room where all the women were. Me, my aunts, my Grandmama, and my cousin's wife all sat around and chatted. It was so much fun. We looked at a scrapbook I made my Dad for his birthday and I told everyone some of our funny stories from when Daddy and I visited my sister for her birthday.

Talk around the table

I had to show this picture - notice my hands. For some strange reason my mouth will not move unless my hands do. I always talk with my hands!

Sweet Hanna and Sweet, Sweet Grandmama - Isn't my Grandmama beautiful? I remember one time seeing my Grandparents at the Mall and I actually ran into my Papa first. He was supposed to meet my Grandmama by a light post. We saw her waiting for him, and he pointed her out. He said to me, "Isn't she as pretty as a picture?" He meant it too!

Halle (my cousin's little girl), Ash, and Hanna - These girls had a blast with one another!

Everyone sitting around enjoying one another

When Alec was hugging Grandmama goodbye I noticed that he was now as tall as she is. I just had to snap a picture.

BF- Black Friday. I am one of those crazy shoppers who get out at O-dark thirty to get lost in the madness of Black Friday. This is something my mom and I started doing years ago, and it is something I look forward to every year. I love my mom, and she is always such a trooper. She pretty much goes and does what I want to do. I give her strict orders on where she is to be and what she is to get! It is such a fun day. My mom really goes overboard on my kids at Christmas. I really have to restrain her. She really buys more for them than we do. I know most people would be grateful for this, but I just don't want to bombard my kids with "things." I try really hard to teach them that "things" do not make us happy. Always before we check out we go back through our buggies and put back some things. If I have said it once, I will say it again, my Mom is a great Nanna! She really finds so much joy in buying for the children.

It was 3:10 AM when I left my house. I wasn't even supposed to get up until 3:00 to meet my mom. I woke up at 2:00 AM and I was so excited I couldn't go back to sleep. My mom told me to call her at 3:30. At 3:30 I called her and she answered, "Rise and shine." I told her, "she had better be up and at 'em." She said she had been awake and already had one cup of coffee (which it takes her 30 minutes to drink one cup). She also woke up at 2:00 AM and was unable to go back to sleep because of her excitement.

I love many, many things about my car. But, my most favorite thing is my seat warmers! Sometimes I will even turn on the AC just so I can "burn my buns." I turn them on immediately when I crank the car up.

Here's Mom in line

Here we are in line at Lifeway. We finally got to eat breakfast about 6:30 AM (see Mom's Chick Fil-A cup?)

We finished up around Noon. I was totally exhausted. Guess what though? - ALL of my Christmas shopping is done! YAY! I got everything I went for and saved LOTS. I will say, though, even if I did not buy a thing I would still get out in the madness. I just LOVE it!

Exhausted - Can you tell how "fake" my smile is? I was really so sleepy by this point it took everything in me to muster up a smile. For anyone out there who may be wondering if I wore high heels or not? YES!!!! You must be stylish AT ALL TIMES especially on Black Friday. You see so many people you know! Plus, I am convinced you burn more calories when you walk in high heels. I was able to burn off some of my Thanksgiving Day food since I didn't get a run in on Black Friday.

Every year I always buy my family a Christmas movie on Black Friday. This year I decided to buy everyone some Christmas PJ's too. Jon went and picked up the girls from my in-laws and I laid everyone's new PJ's out in our family room along with the new Christmas movie. They all were so excited when they walked in! Jon brought home pizza, we played Bible Gestures (a game he bought that day), and then snuggled up in our Christmas PJ's and watched "Fred Claus."

Snuggled up in our Christmas jammies ready to watch Fred Claus. Jon's head didn't get in the picture and he didn't want to take another one. At least we know he is there, just not his head.

NC- The Nutcraker. Today I took my girls to see The Nutcracker. The one held in our town is my favorite, even over the Atlanta Ballet. Jon and I went several years ago to Atlanta to The Fox to see "The Nutcracker." The one in our town is just so special to me, I guess because so many children I know and love participate in it. We went with our friend, Cookie.

Hanna, Me, Ash

Ashley collects snow globes and has had her eye on a Nutcracker snow globe at the dance studio for weeks. She has worked so hard and saved her money. She has resisted the temptation to buy other things with her money. Today it was all worth it. She got her snow globe, and it is beautiful. I bought Hanna a little snow globe to remember this special day by.

Cookie and my girls

I loved watching Hanna's little face as she watched the ballet, especially when she would see her ballet teacher, Ms. Jena, dance. Ms. Jena was beautiful. I have decided I want to be Ms. Jena when I grow up.

Hanna and Ms. Jena

My favorite part about the whole ballet was seeing this very special girl named Emilee dance. I have known Emilee since she was about 5 years old. We all went to church together. We formed a bond instantly. Her mom, dad, and Mimi would tell me over the years how much she loved me. I can remember times when they would say they had been out shopping and Emilee would say things like, "Ms. Michele would wear this," or "Ms. Michele says this." Emilee would make me very special things over the years, all of which I still have. I can remember she would make me jewelry and I would wear it to church. I love this child deeply. It is amazing the bond you can form with a child who isn't any of your flesh and blood. Her family left our church several years ago and I have missed her oh so badly.

She is beautiful. She has grown from a little girl into a beautiful young woman. Watching her dance I was so teary eyed. I really tried to control it because I didn't want my mascara to run. I can just remember when she was so little. We were sitting on the 2nd row, and when she would dance near our end of the stage I could have sworn she was smiling right at me. I would smile back, beaming with pride over her. I didn't think she knew it was me though because I didn't think she could see me due to the stage lights. After the performance was over she ran to the edge of the stage waving her hands at me rapidly. She did know it was me out there!!! I hugged her so tightly and told her over and over again how proud I was of her and what a wonderful job she did. I am still just beaming with pride over this special, special girl! She has grown up so much; she and I could literally wear one another's clothes now. I was so tempted to call her Emilou, which was one of her nicknames as a little girl, but I didn't want to embarrass her.

Ash and her friend, Claire

Me and Emilee (I hate this picture of me b/c I think my face looks fat, but I don't care I had to post it b/c it is the only one I have of us together)

Hanna and Emilee - Hanna actually reminds me very much of Emilee as a little girl - blonde, extremely shy, doesn't warm up well to others, loves to dance

Ashley and Emilee

I know this is a long post, but I wanted to get everything into one post. Thanks for persevering through to the end!

Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart

I have so very much to be thankful for. Some of the things I probably don't even realize. Here are the things I am especially thankful for this year.

1. My LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. I don't see how people make it without Him.

2. My Husband - He is truly the better half of me. He is the most easygoing person I know. He makes me laugh all the time. He is loving, encouraging, comforting. He takes this all-too-serious girl and lightens her up, not taking life so seriously! He is a hard worker and sacrifices so much for our family. He teaches me every day to "not sweat the small stuff . . . and it's all small stuff."

3. My children - From my earliest childhood memories I can always remembering wanting to be a mom. Even in my wildest dreams I never imagined it would be this great! Alec is my serious, hard worker, who loves making his Dad and I happy. He is very funny when he is not trying to be. He has a good, tender heart and is probably the most sensitive of all of my children. I always say he is the smartest person in our family. Ashley, well no one loves me quite like Ashley. I believe I am truly the apple of this little girl's eyes. She has a laugh that is truly contagious. She is the most giving person I know. Hanna, much like her Daddy, is very easygoing, very silly, and doesn't take anything too serious. Maybe it's because we don't really take her very serious. Hanna is my cuddle bug.

4. My mom - My mom loves me and my children like no other. She takes off work to come and take care of me when I am sick. She surprises me with little "unexpected things." She is SO MUCH FUN! She rearranges her plans when I need her to. To sum her up, she is just AMAZING!!!

5. My sisters. Melissa has been through so much this year. She has faced a battle this year and has been truly victorious. I am so proud of her. She has inspired me more than she will ever know. Other than Jon, she is my very best friend. She is always loyal, encouraging, and will come to her big sister's rescue and defense in 2.2. She is the one and only person in this world who has been side-by-side with me through EVERYTHING in my life. She is apart of me just like my hands and feet are apart of me. Kristen, my baby sister. She is peppy, spunky, and truly has a servant's heart. She shares my love of running and I am so very thankful for her.

6. My messy house. I am thankful for the mess because I haven't had the chance to clean it up. We've been too busy enjoying our friends, enjoying one another, and enjoying life. Although sometimes it really grades on my nerves, I would rather have a messy house and be out enjoying life, than a clean one and be so focused on having a "Southern Living Home."

7. My job. Although my job requires me to get up at 4:00 a.m. every morning, I am very thankful for it. It provides us with income so that my family can have the "extras" in life. It also prevents me from having "idle" time. I am thankful that God has given me the health, endurance, and discipline to get up every morning at 4:00.

8. My friends. I have some truly amazing Godly friends. They inspire, encourage, and pray for me. I am so very blessed. I enjoy sharing my life with them. Each of them, in very special and unique ways, make life so much fun!

9. My church. All you have to read is my previous post to know how special my church is to me.

10. My Papa. Last year at this time he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I remember after hearing the diagnosis I got in my car, drove around, and sobbed my eyes out. I called Melissa and sobbed hysterically on the phone with her. It has certainly been a battle for this wonderful man in my life, but he has been victorious. He is doing wonderful, giving all the praise and glory to God!

11. My father-in-law, Jim. He is going through a lot right now. My heart is broken into bits and pieces for him right now. He is the greatest man I have ever know. He is an amazing person and has strengthened and encouraged my walk with the LORD more than he could ever know. He gives unselfishly, never expecting anything in return. He gives sacrificially. He doesn't care about having things, but he sure wants to make sure his family has both the things we need and things we want. He is a man of great character - you know, that kind of character that is bone deep. I am truly honored to be apart of his family.

He has always known my desire to finish college one day. I quit school after only having 8 months left before finishing my bachelors degree in education. I quit because Alec was little and I didn't want to miss out on anything. I knew I could always go back to school, but this time was a precious time in the life of my little boy and I could never get it back. Several years ago Jim approached me and told me if I wanted to finish school he would pay for it and help me with the children. This is just a tiny example of his love for others. A truly remarkable person! Just ask anyone around here, and they can attest to how wonderful he is. In fact, the very first Citizen of the Year award was given to him.

I hope each and every one of you out there has a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Let the Feast Begin!!

Every year my church provides Thanksgiving dinner for the church family. My church family is truly my second family. In fact, since my parents and grandparents live an hour away, the people there see me, Jon, and my children more than my actual real family does. The amazing thing about this church family is they truly care and they love you. Don't get me wrong - we have certainly had our shares of ups and downs and everyone that sets foot in the church building is far from perfect, but there is always such a warmness and love in the air that is unexplainable. Let's see, we have a Nanny, a Granny, a Cookie, a Mimi, and Pa-paw, a KiKi, a Papa, a Shay-Shay, a Lane-Lane. That's just to name a few. Some of these people I don't even know their real names. In fact the first year Shay-Shay won the chili cook off and they announced her real name, I looked around in bewilderment wondering "Who is the world is this visitor who won our chili cook off?" That was the day I learned Shay-Shay's real name.

I remember almost 8 years ago when we first visited our church. We had gone to a pretty big church and some things happened there that really left a sour taste in our mouths. My husband had wanted to leave this church for quite awhile and since my closest friends were there I begged him to let's please stay. One Sunday morning on the way to church he told me, "I hate waking up on Sunday morning hating to have to go to church there." It was like the LORD hit me on the head with a baseball bat and said to me, "Michele, how in the world is Jon EVER going to be the spiritual leader (something I had prayed over him for years to be) if he hates going to church, and you won't let him lead?" I looked at him and said, "Let me resign from my volunteer positions, and let's leave." I was totally convicted about trying to be the leader.

A friend of a friend invited us to this church that met in a school building. I admit I was a total snob and told my husband, "I do NOT want to go a church in a school building." He suggested we try it out. We went and have never left! I loved it instantly. The praise and worship was wonderful. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The people were so warm and you know when they said they were glad you were there, they really were glad you were there. More importantly, Jon loved it too! We both have grown so much spiritually over the last 8 years. I LOVE my church family.

I always tell the ladies who do the cooking on Wednesday nights that it is the best meal my family eats all week. I am not just trying to be nice either. They are some wonderful cooks!!! Here are some pictures with me and some of my very favorite people I go to church with.

Tiffani, Candis, Me, Cookie, Julie

Me and my favorite guy in the whole world

Ashley and her best friend Beth

Me and Tiff (you don't have to read this blog long to know how special she is to me)

Tiff and Steph

Julie and Steph

Me and Steph (see this necklace and earrings I am wearing? Stephanie is the fashion QUEEN and gave me this last year for my birthday. If I ever need to know what is in style I just need to look at what Stephanie is wearing)

My church family is certainly at the top of my list of the things I am thankful for this year. I hope and pray all of you out there belong to a group of believers who love the LORD and love one another like this bunch does.

After the Thanksgiving feast Jon and Tim (Julie's husband) decided they wanted to play PlayStation football. They asked Barry (Stephanie's husband) if he wanted to play and he told them that he had promised Steph they would go home and clean the house together. Steph let him off the hook and got the Best Wife of the Year award!! We all headed over to Julie and Tim's and we all did what we all do best - the guys played video games and the girls gabbed!! What a fun night we had!

Thanksgiving Fun!

This past Wednesday Alec and Ashley took part in "Homeschool School's" Thanksgiving Re-enactment. The school really does a great job putting this on. They dispel a lot of myths about Thanksgiving and you really do learn a lot. This is their 2nd year of being in this play. Last year Alec was Squanto and Ashley was just a Pilgrim child. This year Alec was William Brewster and Ashley was and Indian named Squicone. It was very, very cold and both of the kids had on clothes under their costumes. It was so worth being cold though. They both had a wonderful time!

You stand in line and your tour guide takes you on a tour of "Thanksgiving."

Here we are with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. You learn here that the Pilgrims were not Puritans but were Separatists. They came to the United States because they wanted to separate themselves from the English church and wanted to base their own church on a Biblical model. Notice my William Brewster in the middle.

Here we are at Plymouth Rock. We learned here that Plymouth Rock was not where they landed first. The actually landed somewhere in New York (they told us, I just forgot where), but it was inhabited by Native Americans, and the Pilgrims were afraid of them attacking them.

Here is our Indian village where we learned about Squanto and his role in helping the Pilgrims. We also learned that the Patuxet tribe was a peaceful tribe. Notice my little Squicone in the middle.

Here we are introduced to the only 4 Pilgrim ladies at the first Thanksgiving. Did you know that by the time they celebrated Thanksgiving only 4 women survived and they had to take care of 50 men and children!!! We also learned that Thanksgiving was not a religious holiday. It was a time of feasting, games, and celebration. If it were a religious holiday the Pilgrims would have spent the day in prayer and fasting.

Here we learned that the Pilgrims did not dress only in black and white like pictured in story books. The actually wore solid colors! Also we learned that they did not eat with forks, only spoons and knives. On Thanksgiving day there were 52 Pilgrims and 90 Indians.

Here is some of the food that was present at the original Thanksgiving. Some of it actually was not quite bad. The stewed pumpkin that is pictured here was pretty gross though. Jon tried some succotash and found a spot where he could spit his back into his cup without anyone seeing him:)

Squicone the Indian. They had a snack room where the children involved in the reenactment would be given breaks to go get a snack and drink. Just about every time I saw Squicone she was either running to the snack room or from the snack room. She then told me on the way home that the mom who sat in the snack room to supervise everything said to her, "Thanks Ashley for your company. I would have been very bored today if you would not have been in there with me." That's my Ashley!!!!

My Williams Brewster (see his GA Bulldog sweatshirt under his Pilgrim costume?) It was really, cold!

Jon and Hanna taking in all the festivities

As Alec and Ash were getting their costumes on that morning, I felt bad for Hanna Boo. She didn't have anyone to dress up like! So, I had to be creative. Who better to dress up like than the one her Daddy says she wants to be like? Her Mom! I was able to put together some matching outfits for the 2 of us! So Hanna got to go as "Little Mama in High Heels" I even sacrificed pulling my hair back for her, which I HATE the way my hair looks pulled back.

For The Children Who Cross Our Paths

Normally I would not blog this late at night, but my heart is so heavy I have to get this out on "paper," if you will. Tonight at church I have 2 little girls in my class, sisters, that might have well been my sister, Melissa, and I 20 years ago. Very close in age these girls are, a little rough around the edges definitely. For the sake of their privacy I will call them "Michele" and "Melissa".

Tonight we did a thankful chain and one of "Michele's" chains was she was thankful for her birth mom. She and her sister are adopted. I later asked her if she ever saw her birth mom and she said, "No, that she was in jail." Another child (different kid in the class who is also adopted) spoke up and said his mom was in jail too, and he remembers the police coming to his house.

Unfortunately, I could really relate to these children. I spoke up very quickly and told them that as a little girl I once visited my Daddy in jail and I described to them what the situation was like. I didn't want them to feel ashamed for where they came from. You see, as a child, my close friends all had what I perceived to be "perfect families" - both of their mom and dad were together. Mine were not. Their families all went to church together. We either went with my grandparents or my neighbor. My dad was an alcoholic and drug user. I knew way, way too much as child. My sister and I experienced more heartache and grief than any child should.

I then asked these 3 children if they ever prayed for their birth mothers? All 3 quickly responded "No." I then encouraged them that they have to pray for their birth mothers. I told them their birth mothers act the way they do because they don't know Jesus, and if they knew Jesus then their hearts would change. I also told them they must pray for their birth mom's because no one else may be doing it. To my surprise the little girl that sometimes gives us the most trouble, "Michele", was very tenderhearted about this issue and shook her head yes. Her sister, "Melissa", responded with a "No, I'm not praying for her."

We get home and my Ashley tells me that "Michele" told her that her mom's boyfriend one day hit her mom and then took her baby brother and banged him up against a mirror. I am totally heartbroken for these precious children!!! I have just cried my eyes out. Ashley then said, "I always just thought "Michele" was mean," I told Ashley, "Now we know why. That poor child has seen and heard more than any child should."

I'm telling you God has blessed me with a real-life Cinderella story!! He has certainly done far more with my life than I could ever think or imagine (Eph 3:20). First of all He saved me!!! I was a sinner, dying and going to hell, and he pursued me and saved me. Then He kept me safe from so many, many things that could have harmed me. He has blessed me with an amazing husband who is my real-life, "Prince Charming," 3 beautiful children who love their mom so very much. I have a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood. I have a nice car. We have food on our table. I have a wonderful church. I am blessed with AMAZING friends! I have an awesome mom who is one of my very best friends. I have 2 sisters that I truly delight in and think the world of. The list could go on and on. Many, many times I have asked the LORD, "Why have you blessed me in such amazing ways? I certainly do not deserve any of this." I know BEYOND a shadow of a doubt it is because He LOVES me!!! Because I am telling you NOTHING I have ever done in my life is good enough for me to have the life that I have! It is all for His glory!!! I give Him ALL the praise and ALL the glory for this life He has given me!

I know for certain people prayed for me as a child. I know my Grandmama and Papa and my Faye covered Melissa and I in prayer. I am pretty sure there were others out there praying; in fact, I am convinced of it. I can't wait to one day meet these people in heaven and thank them, truly thank them from the very bottom of my heart. I just really believe in the power of prayer! So please, please, please I urge you to pray for those children that cross your path. Pray for your children. Pray for your children's friends. Pray for your children's enemies. Pray for their classmates. Pray for your friends' children. Pray for your nieces and nephews. Pray for those children you teach at church. Pray for those children that come up and give you a hug on Sunday mornings. It makes a difference. I am a living, breathing example of the power of prayer.

As I prayed for these 3 precious children tonight I pleaded with God to please bless their lives even more than He had already blessed mine. I prayed that they would live their lives glorifying Him!

P.S. On a side note, my Mom is a Christian now and loves the LORD and the majority of the things I experienced were the times when I was with my Dad. As far as my Dad's salvation, it is one of those things I am really unsure about - however, I will NEVER, EVER, NEVER stop praying for him - even during the times it hurts.

Lunch with Lisa

Today, my dear friend, Lisa, and I had lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. When we moved here almost 10 years ago, Lisa was one of my very first friends. We met at church, and then soon discovered we lived right down the road from one another. In the early days, when Alec was a year old, Lisa would come over to my place and we would Tae Bo together. We would get so tickled, because there was not very much space, and I literally would kick my long legs over her head:) We have been through so much together, the births of both of my girls, the birth of all 3 of her kids, change of jobs, change of homes, change of churches, my miscarriage, family aggravation, the ups and downs of motherhood, etc. For such a long time we would never get to see one another and would refer to each other as "phone friends." As we both lead busy lives, it is just so hard sometimes to get together.

Her sweet husband, Tim, even took a break from work today to come home and keep their kids just so she and I could have lunch. We had such a BLAST today! I've really missed our long talks! Lisa is such a great friend to me, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She knows so much about me and still loves me anyway. Thanks for such a great day Lisa! You brightened up my day!

My Jeans are Too Tight

My mom has been having withdrawals from my kids. I'm telling you my mom is the best Nanna ever!! I hope I am just as good of a grandmother as she is one day. The kids haven't spent the night with her in about a month or longer so she was anxious to get them. I dropped them off Friday and, as from my "Bargain Betty" post, I took off and went shopping. Jon and I met back up at the house and just hung out here Friday night. We watched episodes of "What Not to Wear" and then he headed to the bedroom to watch Atlanta Hawks play basketball.


Saturday morning we woke up and it was cold and rainy. We were supposed to run in a race, but I don't do cold and I certainly don't do rainy. I always tell my kids that I can't get wet because I am so sweet and sugar melts in the rain:) In an effort to be a "fun wife" we went and I did so with a smile on my face. It was so cold out there I was visibly shaking. The race was a trail run which we've never done before. My time was not as good as I like for it to be. However, I did place 3rd overall female and 1st in my age group. I won this cute hat and a medal. After the race I gave the hat to Jon. Jon placed 2nd in his age group and won a medal. He finished like 3 minutes faster than me. Normally it is only like a minute and a half, but I'm telling you this race was HARD! In fact during the run this man was passing me and I shouted out to him, "I'm ready for this race to be over with!" As always my very favorite part of the race is when I am nearing the finish line and hearing Jon cheer me on. I teased him and told him that is why I always let him win so I can hear him cheering me on *wink*,*wink*.


We then went to his mom and dad's house and watched part of the GA/AU game. We had to leave early because we needed to get ready for a fun night out with some friends of ours.


We picked up Tim and Julie for a double date and headed to Longhorn - YUMMY!!! We intentionally left pretty early thinking we would avoid a long wait - NOT SO! We had to wait almost an hour. That was okay though because we were having fun, although our tummies were so incredibly hungry. We had a great night. We got back to their house and the guys played some football game on PlayStation 2 and Julie and I got to have some girl talk! Thanks for such a fun night Julie and Tim! I can't wait until next time.

Jon and I after the "Turkey Trot" race. I'm telling you I probably looked like a turkey out there running.


Julie and Tim

Me and Julie - Isn't Julie SOO pretty? She has some of the prettiest skin of anyone I have ever known!

Me and Jon

Sunday I went to my mom's house for lunch and I hung out there for most of the day. Jon debated going, but the Falcons were playing, so he decided to stay home. I love going home! We had grilled chicken, baked beans, roasted potatoes, garlic bread, and Amish friendship bread. Oh man! My mom can cook!!! Unfortunately I did not pick up these skills from her:( After lunch Hanna Boo wanted to have a tea party. My dad went and got a table and put it in the yard for her because that is where she wanted to have the tea party. The tea pot and cookies were on the porch. I told Hanna that she needed to be a good hostess and go get the tea pot and cookies and serve her "tea party" guests. She informed me that this was a "tea party buffet" and we were to go and get our own!! Typical Hanna Boo.

After stuffing myself with my mama's good cooking and filling myself to the brim at Longhorn Saturday night I have to tell ya, my jeans are way too tight!!! But so totally worth it to be with great friends and great family! Now . . . I'm off to workout so hopefully I can fit into my jeans comfortably today:)

Bargain Betty

I have never been one that does not like to spend money. In fact, in our family, I am the spender and Jon is the saver. However, I do LOVE a bargain. I often refer to myself as Bargain Betty. I am really ashamed when I look at the amount of clothes I have in my closet, but I NEVER, EVER, NEVER pay full price for anything and I try to buy lots of things on clearance. I just really like clothes, a WHOLE lot!!! A good bargain is really tough for me to turn down.

Well, Friday after I dropped off the kids with my mom I headed over to one of my favorite stores, Bealls Outlet. It is kind of like Ross, only better. Because if you go there on Friday you get an additional 15% off. Also when you fill up your frequent shopper card you get an additional 20% off. It is not often I go shopping all by myself so I was going to take this time to go and shop.

I am so proud of my bargains I wanted to share them with you all.

First I got this cute white shirt and I bought this red necklace and funky hoop red earrings. As you will be able to tell, the clothing I buy is pretty simple. I just love to dress it up with FUNKY accessories.


I got this cute green shirt and necklace. I also bought a pair of earrings (I just couldn't get them in the picture)

Again, just another plain shirt. I have some accessories I will dress this shirt up with. I just loved the color!!

I have these really awesome jeans that I do not wear very much because you just have to have the right kind of fitting shirt. I found this green shirt which is very fitted (perfect to wear with these jeans). I then found this funky necklace and bracelet to match.

I love the color of this shirt and I have the perfect necklace to wear with it that a friend of mine at church gave me. The shirt actually has silver sparkles in it. I thought I could wear this to church with my black or white pants or put it with some jeans and a pair of funky shoes - high heels, of course.

Now, here comes the best part! Want to know what I spent on all of these shirts PLUS the accessories? $43.66. Now . . . if I would have paid department store prices, I would have spent $143, that includes my accessories also (that doesn't include tax either like what I actually spent did) WOW!!! I saved $100.

See, although I do feel guilty about having too many clothes, I guess I make myself feel better by rationalizing how much money I saved *smile*

It's not just with clothes that I am a Bargain Betty. It is with EVERYTHING!!! I love to get the most for my money!