10 Things that make me happy as of today...

1. I get married in 131 days. Almost 4 months from now!!!!
2. Chocolate Oranges...just whack and unwrap.
3. Being done with school till the 2nd of January. This semester needed to end for us and the students.
4. I finshed my first semester of grad school with 2 A's and one B. We all got a B in that class and all agree that the professor is a &^%$#@!.
5. 4 days until I get Mee Maw time and another fun ornament to add to my tree.
6. House hunting!!!
7. Knowing that in 131 days I get to live in that house with Brandon.
8. 2 days until I get to see my mother, Aunt Jettie and Uncle Harold. I miss these people A LOT!
9. Having a lot to do, but being ok with doing NONE of it! Who needs clean clothes to wear anyway.
10. Being a part of Brandon's family this Christmas!

It's coming together

The invitations are picked out and ready to be purchased...

The centerpiece stuff is now in my possession and was completley free...

I purchase my wedding dress tomorrow and take it home to New Hope with me this weekend...

It's becoming fun....

A few...ok 10... random comments

1. I hate to hear people and see people eating. I mean I really hate it. I hate to hear people that eat loud, and I especially hate to see people eating. I think it's disgusting. (I sound like Sara Beth now). My students think it's perfectly ok to sit in class and eat freaking Cheetos at 7 in the morning as loud as they can. It's so disgusting. YUCK!

2. I'm getting much better at writing papers than I use to, but I still don't have much motivation to just sit down and do it. But...I'm only 2 classes away from having my first semester complete and in the books.

3. I love the river. Brandon and I went to his grandparents' river house this weekend. It was so stinking peaceful and just relaxing. It was great to just open the windows and take a nap to the river running. I wish we could live there. We just might start going up there every weekend, it's that great.

4. I've not been in the Christmas spirit in a long time, but for some reason this year, I'm really excited about it. Christmas is just always so busy, and I'm always worn out from it, but this year, I'm really looking forward to it.

5. I love my students but I really think they are going to all end up homeless. Of course I'm wrong. They'll all drop out or barely graduate and go on to have some ridiculous job where they make millions from pimping some one's ride.

6. I actually have bought my mother something that she is going to like for her birthday. It's a thing that goes in her chair and has heat and a massage thingy. If she doesn't like it, at least I will when I go to her house.

7. The fall ends to soon.

8. I'm ready to be married and get this wedding stuff over. It's fun planning it all...but I'm ready to be married.

9. I think I've ran out of random comments to make.

10. Nope...I just remembered one. As much as I'm excited for Christmas, do we really have to play Christmas music continuously from now till Christmas. I don't really like stations that do that.

The end.

More Pictures!

Our Engagement Pictures!

This time of year....

I use to love this time of year. The color of the leaves. The smell in the air. Just the change of the hot, muggy weather. Till this year.....

I didn't really expect it to be like this. I thought the year anniversary would come, I would have a moment or two, and we would move beyond. I never knew that a month out from that date, I would have some of the worst moments I've had since my daddy passed away. People flock to walk through that moment with you when it happens, and then slowly, you're the one left with the moments that come out of no where. You are the one that is left with the pain, that only you can carry. You are the one that sees everyone around you moving on, but you can't, and you don't want to interupt their lives, because of yours.

Halloween night last year was the night my mom got the call that said they were taking him to the hospital from the nursing home. He had injested some stuff in his lungs, had pneumonia, and was losing blood somewhere. It never got better.

My mom sat by his side, and I joined her later, until November 24th, when he finally passed away.

I am forever marked by that moment. The sights, the smells, the sounds. I close my eyes to this day and hear him dying. I can walk into a hospitial and smell death. I can see the images that unfolded and play them out in my head over and over sometimes, just trying to find closure.

I walked out of the room when he died because I couldn't take it. I said I needed a shower, I really just couldn't do it. I went and took a shower, took my time getting ready to head back to the hospitial, hoping and praying that something would happen before I could get back. It did. And I've lived with that regret ever since. A nurse and my aunt had to help my mom through that moment because I was to coward to stay. Some say he waited on me to leave the room. Maybe. But nevertheless, it's something i've carried with me to this day.

Getting engaged has also brought out these emotions. Daddy would have LOVED Brandon. He would have wanted to talk to him for forever and would have asked him a million questions. He would have told him a million stories. He would have told him how him and Kay met, and how much he loved her. He would have loved to brag about Brandon to everyone and would have introduce him to everyone at the nursing home. Brandon would have been so good with him. He would have just sat and listened and met everyone and pretended to remember them the next time.

We'll light a candle at our wedding to mark his spot there at the altar with us, but nothing will erase the fact that he won't be there. Nothing will change the fact that i'll never be able to make up for lost time with him. Nothing will ever change the fact that I had finally began to love him for who he was and what he was never able to be to me growing up. And I was ok with that. He was my daddy...and that was all that mattered.

Things I'm excited about...

1. I'm going home for the first time since July this weekend.
2. My mom quilted me a quilt for my birthday and I get it this weekend.
3. I'm excited that Alabama actually has potential to beat Tenn this year. ROOOOOOOLLLLL TIDE ROLL!
4. I'm excited that my birthday week has been great! I even got a Winnie the Pooh cake!
5. I'm excited that I got my dress finally and it was cheaper than I thought.
6. I'm excited that I get married in almost less than 6 months....
7. Sara Beth is coming to see me next weekend and that makes me SUPER excited!


Something i'm nervous about....

Saturday the 27th I take a HUGE test that decides whether or not I start teaching in January and gets me into the teacher education program at Piedmont. I'm really nervous about it, mainly because it has math. I think I'll do ok on the reading and writing portions. I hope so at least. Say a prayer now if you get a chance and we'll see what happens!

I'm actually doing it...

Back in April I posted on here goals for this year...yeah it was April, but I've always been a day late and dollar short. So I remembered that I had posted that today, and thought I would revisit the list. Some, I have exceeded what I thought I could ever do...others have fallen by the way side, and a few new ones should probably be added.

1. Score a 55 on the MAT - I did!! Actually it was a 374 needed and I got a 378
2. Save enough money to buy a Laptop - did that too..it was used from a friend, but it works for me.
3. Lose 30 more LBS - still trying on this one, but the ring on the finger but that one into motion
4. Save up at least 500.00 for an "emergency" fund...Dave gives us poor people a break by saying we only have to have 500.00 - then a wedding happened.
5. Run a 10k....(until you read my blog, you'll never know that I'm signing up to do this...we'll see how often you actually check this thing friend)...(also note that I have till the end of the year to complete this...don't be signing us up for one next week!!) (and quit talking to God about crazy things you think I need to do...) - yeah so this is the one that could be revamped. The 10k went out the door, but I have been working out since, once again the ring, and I can actually see a physical difference. I'm even lifting weights.
6. Be accepted into Grad school (conditionally or unconditionally, I don't care..just get me in.) - did that....
7. Complete my first semester of grad school with a 4.0 - well on the way, with an A in my first two classes.
8. GET A FREAKING TATTOO...MY FRIENDS NEED TO GET ON THE BALL AND HELP ME WITH THIS ONE...HINT HINT...ROOMIE AND ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER! - yeah right...yeah freaking right...KEITH
9. Keep a POSITIVE attitude that ALL of this is OBTAINABLE AND POSSIBLE. - I've had my moments, but for the most part my outlook these days has been positive.

New Ones!

10 - Learn to trust Brandon with all that I have!
11 - Get through the wedding enjoying it!


There are more (really) personal ones but I'll keep something to myself.

I found my dress....

It's perfect. This whole crazy, stressful thing just got really exciting and really fun in a hurry! Yay!

Life can begin again...

Life can offically begin again...for a little while at least.

This week was rough, but i'm just glad it's over. 2 finals and a root canal later....I finally feel like life can begin again now that the stress is off my shoulder.

I'm doing some wedding planning this week...so hopefully that will be fun.

I finished up one class and hope to get the grade this week and I finish up the other one on Thursday. So glad those are almost over, but it's been a good first experience with graduate school.

Hope all is well in your lives!

Some pictures!

Yeah I said I was going to post....

But I've already written the story here... www.theknot.com/ourwedding/ChristyDavis&BrandonPeevy. So you can go there to read it, and see all the other fun stuff.

I now know that they mean when they say if you survive engagment and wedding planning, you can survive anything. I know way to many people and this is getting way to out of hand. UGH! I just want it to be pretty and people that I know and care about now to be there. Like right now. Like i've either kept up with you since moving on from Judson and or New Hope and would like for you to be apart of my day. Not..hey I met you one time, let me pay 30.00 a person for you to come to my wedding and eat. Not really all about that...not going to lie.

But it'll be fine. At least that's what Brandon keeps telling me. Let's hope for our sakes he's right!

It's true...

I'm engaged to be Mrs. Brandon Peevy!! It happened last night and it was incredible. There's a lot of stuff to tell and pictures to show but I don't have time at here at school. I'm so excited!!

More to come later!!!

I just think they should all be beaten....

That was a comment heard at my table, last night during my reading methods class. She was referring to the students in the EBD class that she had observerd that week for our field experience assignment. EBD stands for Emotional/Behavior Disorder.

So I proceeded to PASSIONATLEY EDUCATE HER about EBD students. I explained to her that many of them do go home and are beaten...to bloody pulps, with bruises and scars for life. Or they go home to someone sexually abusing them, or they go home to the children's shelter where they've been since an early age, or they go home to foster parents who don't give a crap but only want the pay check that comes with them, or they go home to brothers and sisters who have to raise them, or they go home to girlfriends and babies. Did she stop to think that maybe their behavior is a result of a need in their life, and that for every outburst, there is a purpose behind it? Of course not...she just saw a kid that she thought needed to be beat.

Do most of our kids need discipline?? Of course they do! But learning how to discipline and coach them effectively is the key.

We believe as special educators that every kids deserves a chance, or 3 or 10! We believe that you fight for every kid and stand on their side. We believe that we can honestly make a difference in their lives and help mold them into people that will one day benefit society. WE BELIEVE IN THEM!! SHE DOESN'T!

She just made me ill and I needed to vent. Thanks!

What in the name of me is going on?

What in the world have I gotten myself into! I could be taking life so simple right now...but no! I need an education...I need a relationship with a boy...I need friends. I hope it's all worth it. Cause I'm tired. Really tired!

But life is good...and life at the beach in a few weeks will be even better.

By the way...the title of my blog is from the Jesus Videos. You should watch them...you'll laugh. If you don't...then you're probably the reason they created the videos to begin with. Just YOU TUBE them...

It's about time...

So Mandy asked me to do this a while ago...so here it finally is.

1. I'm working on becoming a teacher...something I said I would never do.
2. I LOVE mushrooms!
3. I'm falling in love with a precious man...something else I thought I would never do.
4. I eat OKRA anyway you can cook it.
5. I have a pin and screw in my elbow.
6. I've gotten 3 speeding tickets.
7. I've gotten a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt and I didn't have a bra on.
8. I was raised an only child but have 7 biological siblings...that I know of.
9. I am my own aunt.
10. My tounge won't go out pass my lips.
11. I've had surgery 4 times.
12. My father was really my grandfather.
13. My mother and I have no blood relationship to each other.
14. My middle name is Leigh.
15. I once drove to Jackonsville Fl. from Marion Alabama with warrant out for my arrest.
16. I have a ring my daddy made for my grandmother.
17. I graduated college by one point in math.
18. I work pink shorts to my college's graduation practice just to piss off the dean.
19. I graduated from an all women's college.
20. I'm working on not being a Baptist anymore.
21. I graduated from a Baptist college.
22. I have colored my hair since high school and can't remember the last time it was all one natural color.
23. I was once in a wedding where none of the bridesmaids wore underwear.
24. I have 4 nephews, 2 nieces and a lot of cute kids I claim as nieces and nephews.
25. I'm half way through this list and wondering how i'll ever get to 50.
26. I'm afriad of dying even if I know where i'm going.
27. I'm sanctifed and set free by the blood of the Lam Jesus Christ. (some of you will say amen...some will say (well good), some will laugh your tails off!!)
28. I call my grandmother dead.
29. I have amazing friends from all the places in my life. (New Hope, Georgia and Judson!!)
30. I was once moved to the back of the room in my religion class for smelling too much like smoke.
31. I once climbed the dome at my college.
32. I use to smoke on the roof of my dorm every night. (sorry heather)
33. I once rode in the passenger seat of my car around campus, on the hockey field at my college.
34. When I was little I would lick rocks.
35. I HATE people eating!
36. I HATE people chewing gum!
37. I HATE FISH!!!
38. I HATE clowns.
39. I LOVE ALBAMA FOOTBALL!
40. I know more statistics than most boys about ALABAMA football!
41. I love JEEPS!
42. I Love our special ed kids at the high school I work at!
43. I love the game 2 truths and a lie.
44. I've been out of the country once and gone to 23 states.
45. I played trumpet in the band in high school and still have the t-shirts to prove it.
46. I LOVE GEORGE CLOONEY!
47. I USE to be in love with Vince Gill and would still love to meet him.
48. I'm OCD about my bathroom.
49. I hate PRO sports.
50. I've spent 10 minutes doing this!

So this weekend was exhausting. Thursday night I got to bed around mid-night just to get up at 5:30 and go to work. I didn't make it in the bed before 2:30 on Friday or Saturday night, but it was all well worth it. I was a part of the BIGGEST wedding probably ever. There were 21 bridesmaids and 16 groomsmen. It was crazy but went well. Staci and Kevin are some of the most PHENOMENAL people you will ever meet and it was an honor to be able to stand on their behalf. Their wedding was more than a ceremony, it was a worship service and was so incredbily glorifying the Lord that they both love.

Brandon and I are still doing well. We have now been dating for a month. It's kinda been hard to believe that this has all come about, but I'm really just trying to enjoy it all and take in every minute.

My mom's brother passed away, leaving her with only one brother and 8 sisters. Now I know that might still seem like a lot, but considering there were 15 to start off with, it's kinda sad. I didn't make it home because of already having been there the week before and plans to go for a week at the end of July.

I leave on the 21st headed on a mission trip with some friends from another church to Philly!! It's going to take everything I have within me not to sing the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song as we pull in.

That's about it. The Lord is still continuing to show me what it means to trust. It's a hard lesson, but I'm sure glad he continues the process.

Here's just a few recent pictures.

The first is of Trae, April and I. We stood together in the wedding and were in charge of dancing fun at the reception.

Around the middle is a picture of Brandon and myself. He makes me pretty happy friends!

Then there's me and Courtney and finally the happy couple themselves Staci and Kevin. Their wedding was incredible and was everything they could have ever wanted.

Time flies....

I'm having a hard time believing that it's already July 2nd. That's crazy.

So as for updates...here they are.

1. I finally got an acceptance letter into Piedmont. I'm pretty excited about this and will start classes in the fall.

2. I'm dating someone. His name is Brandon and he's a pretty neat guy. I really like him a lot and just enjoy getting to spend time with him.

I went home this weekend to see my mom and it was an incredible visit. I didn't really have the chance to go see a lot of "friends" but it was ok, but I got the chance to spend a lot of time with family. My family is getting old, and it's pretty sad to think that soon there may not be that many of them around, so I'm just trying to spend a lot of time with them now while I can.

So that's about it. I work everyday this summer from 9:30-6:30 so it leaves little time for other things, but it's ok. It keeps me out of trouble I guess :)

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Today

was by far one of the toughest if not the toughest day since daddy has been gone. But I'm so overwhelmed by God's goodness in my life. I'm sure there will be more days like this, but I'm so thankful that I serve an amazing, comforting, peace giving God.

MAT Score

MAT score needed to get into Piedmont - 374

Christine Leigh Davis' score - 380

Weight off her shoulders - Pricess!

Small Update

I still have no real grounds to do a huge update. There are still a few little things in the works, so we'll see where they all go.

I am back from camp though praise the Lord. It was a great time, probably one of the best ran camps I've ever been to, and the people that I got to be in contact with were amazing, but sleeping on my own mattress (yes you read mattress) feels good!

If any of you are on facebook you can look at my profile and see the group IMPACT 2007 and see some pictures of the week.

The theme this year was Identity in Christ. I had the task of being a team leader in Red 2 which is one of the middle school, schools. I can't imagine how much better off in life I would have been if someone would have taught me the stuff we were pouring into them this week about knowing who they are in Christ. It's my prayer that they walked away on Friday not just knowing that the Lord loves them, and chose them, and forgives them completely and isn't mad at them, but that they believe that as well.

So...It's back to work tomorrow at the day care and the next big event is Staci's wedding on 07-07-07. I'm one of 21 bridesmaids and 18 groomsmen. We've been planning our dance moves for the reception and I must say we should be selling tickets!!!

Until there's something to report...peace out!

Really???

I'm sitting here at 3:46 (EST) acting like I don't have anywhere to go or be in 45 minutes and it takes 30 to get there, and I just got out of the shower. Yeah I'm a loser. My friends do say that I have my own time...Criddy Time that is. I'll get there when I get there.

If this week doesn't produce results or answers I might simply go and blow my self up, or at least pay Jack Bauer to do it for me.

Sunday I leave to go to camp in the middle of the mountains, away from e-mail, mail and phone service, so knowing something this week would be incredible.

Oh well...guess I'm suppose to be learning some kind of lesson. I hope I didn't forget and prayed for patience somewhere along the way.

I'm still on a mission

To be Mrs.Taylor Hicks and Jordan was precious.

What's love got to do with it??

So for most of my 26 years I've been trying to wrap my mind around what the word LOVE means! I mean I attach it all the time to things that I really don't love. I love hot dogs?? Come on. I love Wal-Mart?? And I do..like me some wally-world. I love 4Him, Alabama football (though it is a passion)!! I could come up with a long list of things that I LOVE!

But what does it mean to LOVE...to love unconditionally. To love because it's what Jesus said I should do to my neighbor, and it's in return of what I've been shown by others.

So how do I love others? Well usually...I wear out my welcome at places because I'm needy, or I distance myself from friends that it's to hard to be friends with, or I completely turn my back on long standing, trusted friends...because something new and better has come along, or I never give back to a family that has so sacrifically loved on me since the day that they chose me, or I treat those I can in anger because I know that they will love me back, or....etc. etc. etc.

But this week I've learned a lesson that can only come through a child. I've been around these 1st and 2nd graders for just a week, and already they love me. Now I don't say that as a prideful statement and here's why...I say that because it's amazing to me that they don't know me, yet they love me. They don't know my faults, and even if they did, they're 1st graders...they wouldn't care. They just love me because I'm Miss Christy and that's what they want to do. I'm the one with the band-aid and the silly voice when they fall of the swing set. I'm the female that wraps my arms around them, when they live with grand ma or dad because mom is a dead beat...or worse case...dead. I'm just Miss Christy and that's all that they need...just someone to love and someone to love them back.

So how should I love? With unselfishness...not because I need to buy your friendship, but because I love you enough to do whatever I can to help you in your time of need. With reckless abandon because sometimes we just need someone to go over the top for us. With compasssion because sometimes we need someone to just be there and be a silent witness to what we are going through. With all that I have, no matter what you've done or what I've done, because God can still use all of us no matter what our backgrounds.

Maybe this will only make sense to me...but at least it's out of my head for the night.

Random Thoughts on a Saturday morning...

So since I have no real update on life right now...I just thought I would post some random thoughts.

I get up so early during the week that it's hard for me to sleep in like I use to. I had to FORCE myself to sleep till 9:30 this morning. I use to be able to sleep till 11 or even noon with no problem.

So since I was up I decided to see what was on TV and good ol' USA was playing The Breakfast Club. Now there's nothing I love better than watching a good classic like Breafast Club, but it's even better on cable TV because you can hear the voice overs. Molly Ringwald is not a BRAT in the original...

Other than still being in waiting mode...life is good. I'm really just learning to take time and enjoy the amazing friendships around me. Trying to just have a great time every time we get together.

Hopefully by the end of next week I should have a BIGGER update. Keep your fingers crossed!!

I'm horrible...

at waiting!

* Waiting on MAT scores
* Waiting on acceptance to Piedmont
* Waiting on answers to tough questions that I don't want to be asking in the first place.
* Waiting on what I think the next step in life should be...

I've never been good at waiting, but looks like I have no other choice right now.

Out with the old....

In with a NEW CAR!! Well new to me. IT's a 2005 Honda Civic. He's so pretty. That's right it's a he. I've decided that since he's blue...this car will be a HE. His name is Vince and he's already promised to my friend Courtney's car...Yolanda the Honda.

I did tear up though when Old Red was driven away. I've had that car since 2000, the begining of my second semester at Judson. I've cried in that car, prayed in that car, laughed my butt off in that car...and well...some other things I can't put on here. But she's in a better place now.

The MAT went ok. There were a few that I knew right off the bat, a few that I made a pretty good educated guess on...and a whole bunch that I randomly guessed at.

So now we are just waiting to....

1. Find another job to help pay for Vince
2. Wait to hear from Piedmont. All the application stuff is sent in, so it's in their hands.
3. Wait to hear from the MAT


I've really, really slacked with the running and eating well. My good ol' accountability partner is not at fault either...he's yelled at me quite frequently. But I just lost the want to. Maybe Monday after the family reunion i'll get back on track. But until then...Aunt Jettie is cooking me breakfast tomorrow and the famliy reunion is Sunday. Wahoo!!

Update and a thought...

So here's the update on my goals for this year...

1. I've registered for the MAT on May 1st at 4:30 p.m. I've been studying and i'm going to start taking practice test online this week.

2. All of my after school job opps have fallen through...so saving money is at the least of the priority list right now...but I'm searching for additional jobs now.

3. I've lost a few more pounds but JDAY weekend put me behind on that...still worth it though!

4. See #2 for answer to saving for an emergency fund!

5. I'm up to running my subdivison which is around a mile, and then I'm doing some at the park. Not going as great as I would like it too...but it's getting there slowly.

6. One of the conditions for grad school was that you have a 2.5 GPA from college. I had a 2.518! Once again I have gotten by with the skin of my teeth. All of my application process is done except reference letters being sent in and transcripts and then my score on the MAT. I'm nervous, but think I'll be ok.

7. Can't get a 4.0 without being accepted.

8. Still no TAT...come on friends!

9. Keeping a pretty positive attitude on all of it. It's all still very doable and I'm excited about being able to check off each thing on my list.

Other than that...I'm just waiting. I find myself in a place of expectancy and waiting as to what God has next for me. There are a few things in my life right now that I wish would just fall into place. A few pieces to the puzzle that I wish would start being put together. But I'm learning that my strength arises as I wait upon the Lord, and that His ways and thoughts are much higher than mine. I'm learning to expect and hope for great things, and not be shocked when they happen. To trust in a Good and Faithful Lord.

Judson or BUST

So I'm home right now, trying to motivate myself to go finish packing and finish getting ready. I'm excited about coming to Judson, just still as lazy as I ever was.

I found this article the other day though and thought I would share it. I love the part where he says that he can't worship a Jesus that he could beat up.

Anyway...I'm on the way soon. Can't wait to see you girls!??

Interview with Mark Driscoll:

-What trends in church and worship styles do you see? Are they positive or negative?

-Driscoll: "I'll be happy when we have more than just prom songs to Jesus sung by some effeminate guy on an acoustic guitar offered as mainstream worship music."

-What do you see as the greatest challenge for young Christians in the next 10 years?

-Driscoll: "There is a strong drift toward the hard theological left. Some emergent types want to recast Jesus as a limp-wrist hippie in a dress with a lot of product in His hair, who drank decaf and made pithy Zen statements about life while shopping for the perfect pair of shoes. In Revelation, Jesus is a pride fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is a guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper, halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up. I fear some are becoming more cultural than Christian, and without a big Jesus who has authority and hates sin as revealed in the Bible, we will have less and less Christians, and more and more confused, spiritually self-righteous blogger critics of Christianity."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN!!!

It's all a mistake...

I really think that Judson meant to be Eastern Orthodox instead of Baptist.
See if you can find the similarities....

I went to Pascha the other night, which is the Eastern Orthodox service that brings in Easter if you will.

* It started off at 11 p.m.
* It started off in a dark room
* We lit a candle and went outside
* The priest banged on the door of the church for us to be let in
* Lots of chanting

Ring any bells friends??

It was a great experience though I was totally lost for much of the service and the people in front of me were not helping me out by falling asleep. At 2 in the morning, I get really delirious and giggly.

4 more days friends, 4 more days!!

Wow.....

http://www.brookhills.org/media/pages_videos/page_video_easter0702.htm

Happy Birthday THUMBELINA

OR BETH!! Hope you have a great one!!

New Year's resolutions...

Ok..so it's April 2nd. But in a way, since the end of the last 21 days, I feel the need to make some new "goals" for my life. A check list if you will of things that I want to accomplish this year. Putting them out in the open, keeps me a little more accountable I guess.

1. Score a 55 on the MAT
2. Save enough money to buy a LAPtop
3. Lose 30 more LBS
4. Save up at least 500.00 for an "emergency" fund...Dave gives us poor people a break by saying we only have to have 500.00
5. Run a 10k....(until you read my blog, you'll never know that I'm signing up to do this...we'll see how often you actually check this thing friend)...(also note that I have till the end of the year to complete this...don't be signing us up for one next week!!) (and quit talking to God about crazy things you think I need to do...)
6. Be accepted into Grad school (conditionally or unconditionally, I don't care..just get me in.)
7. Complete my first semester of grad school with a 4.0
8. GET A FREAKING TATTOO...MY FRIENDS NEED TO GET ON THE BALL AND HELP ME WITH THIS ONE...HINT HINT...ROOMIE AND ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER!
9. Keep a POSITIVE attitude that ALL of this is OBTAINABLE AND POSSIBLE.

So there it is...let the ride begin!

It's been awesome...

That's the running joke around my life for the last 21 days. You see I signed up with a few of my friends to eat only vegtables and fruits and whole grains for 21 days. On days when the food was absolutely at it's worst, we tried to convince ourselves that it was awesome. You can only say that so many times and still not believe it. I lost 15 pounds though and gained some much needed wisdom and strength during this time. I've learned about myself, both good and bad. I've trusted people more than ever before...and if they're reading this they need to know how much of a compliment that is to them. I've also come away with more questions than answers...but that's my life it seems. I had never attempted anything like this...so today...on day 22....accomplishment is a great word. We never cheated, never intentionally anyway, and the accountability was in your face for 8 hours a day. (That's what happens when you work with the people).

One thing that I have decided to do, with much counsel from my pastor, friends, and other people at my school, is to begin work on my master's degree in the fall at Piedmont College, in Special Education. Now, if you know me, you know what a horrible student I am, and what a horrible test taker I am. So to say that I am nervous about the whole admissions process, is a HUGE understatement. HUGE. Dr.H and Dr.Tew are both filling out my recommendations. I've asked the VP of a Baptist College and a Preacher to lie and say that I was a good student =). Dr.H's response was..."um hum...I can say a lot of nice things and not have to lie." What true Dr.H form huh?

So that's about it. I think i've experienced every emotion possible during the last 21 days. From major, major breakdown/meltdown/ moments, anger, frustration, peace, extreme sadness and grief, to joy...It's been awesome!!!

Highway 5...take me home...to the place...I belong

Through Alabama...to my mama...take me home...Highway 5.

I hope that as Jennifer and Susan read that today that they almost pee in their pants from recalling the ever famous late night info-mercial e-mail with great songs from our time at Judson. There are a LOT more where that came from!

BUT..instead of Highway 5...it's going to be interstate 20..followed by the most red lights you've ever seen in a row...followed by the longest stretch of highway 431 that you've ever seen...and then one turn past the big tree and the one stop light and i'll finally be back in New Hope for the first time since Christmas.

I will have to say though, that as this week and especially last night, as I was thinking about going home, it hit me that there a hard reality that awaits for me now every time I go home. It's like I've been able to hide from it almost here in Georgia. I mean sure, it's always there, some how just on the tip of my thoughts, but going home is a cold hard reminder of what's happened in my life the past few months and how that is never going to change. I know that there are people that have it so much worse that I do...I mean I look at my friend from college that is truly now an orphan. Sure she's an adult, but even adults need their parents still. It's more of knowing that what never really was, now has no potential to ever be...and even what little bit I had is gone. Some times the dull ache of just being a daughter without a dad hits me, and in weeks like this...where i'm homesick and emotional to begin with, it consumes me.

I grew up thinking that my mom never really liked my dad. I mean she might have loved him somehow, but never really liked him. They would fight, cuss, throw things, yell...but the day that we walked away for the last time from him, she wasn't leaving behind some man that she had exsisted with for the last 30 something years, she was leaving behind her valentine, her soul mate, her husband. She left behind the man that she met, because 30 something years ago she was stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire, and he stopped to fix it and asked what time supper was!!

So I'm going home, to whatever faces me...but to see my mom, see my friends, and just be home for a while!

So when are you going to get a real job and become a teacher...

That's what I've heard almost all of my life, and especially in the past few years of being in ministry. Well...it might be coming true...at least for a little while. Today I'm going to turn in my application at a few Private Christian Schools in the area. I don't want to go through the mess of having to become a "real" teacher, so I'm going to try and go this route for a little while. I'll still be the children's person for Mill Creek, I'll just be making a decent income while I'm at it. So if you read this, say a little prayer today.

Things i'm thankful for...

No particular order...but Number 1...IS MY NUMBER 1.

1. THE PINK SHORTS HAVE BEEN FOUND. CALL OF THE SEARCH...AND THE MEMORIAL SERVICE PLANS...
2. That J-day is in approx 61 days and counting.
3. That my mother says that I am her Valentine.
4. That my hair is finally thinned out.
5. That I have thick hair to thin out.
6. That our church has a new place to meet and that starting tomorrow there's another chapter in the life of Mill Creek beginning.


There's more i'm sure..but i'm tired and ready to get this mud mask thing off my face and go to bed.

In case you haven't heard...

For the Judson Girls...if you haven't heard my story of my run in at a local deli here in Georgia..you should...but you should hear it over the phone or better yet in person. It's way to good for a blog.

In other news, my mother says she's coming to Georgia for a visit. Honestly...this scares the living crap out of me. I mean it was one thing when she would come to Judson to visit...not that that ever happened between moving days, but somehow this is different. What if my life now doesn't meet her approval? What if in Kay Davis fashion she says something that totally comes off as offensive to someone? What..my mother...never! Still, I'm excited that she's coming. I really want her to be ok with me being here, and want her to love it as much as I do.

In much sadder news, I think I might have lost the original pink shorts. I'm sure they're just hidden under a bed somewhere or a drawer or something. Lord Baby Jesus..please send them back to me.

Someone needs to come see me soon. I miss you people like a fat kid misses cake.

If these old walls...

I miss those old walls tonight so much. I want someone with me right now that knows exactly what i'm thinking, exactly what I'm needing, and what to do about it.

I miss running to Jennifer's room to all hang out around the "unsanctioned" children at play table and sitting in lawn chairs. I miss having someone around me that had nothing else to do either...or maybe we had lots we needed to do, but knew that college was about so much more than just an education. I miss the roof and all of the amazing conversations that it led to...no matter what your purpose of going out on the roof was. I miss pennies. I even miss studying around the round table in the lobby! I miss asking everyone and anyone if they had heard that Dave Thomas had died!

I just miss it!

Here's what I've learned since I haven't paid my cell phone bill...

1. You really can live without one. I mean, sure, it's harder for people to keep in touch with you, and to some point it's kind of become a way of life, but you really can survive without it. It's amazing that the huge thing that Zack Morris use to carry around has now become a necessity to life.

2. You won't believe how much rest I've gotten since I haven't had to worry about talking after my phone turns free at 9 p.m.... I needed that rest too since I've been sick as a dog this week. I mean really...how much snot can one person produce.

3. That even though this little vacation from technology has been nice, I'll pay my bill on Wednesday and you should all be able to call me if you chose so. But for now, if you need me, e-mail me and I'll send you my house number.

I'm sick and ready to be over it. There's really only so much Tylenol Sinus you can take before you go insane. Sleep never comes at night either. How come I can take naps and not cough at all, but lay down to go to sleep, and I almost kill myself trying to cough it all up? geez.

I've been praying through a lot of things lately concerning my future. Our church has been through quite a few changes the past few months, and it's really been a test to see who can survive the "church planting process." We were told a lot of what is happening would happen, maybe I was just to naive to believe it, or really didn't believe that I would even still be here at this point. But even with all that's happened, this is where I feel I'm suppose to be. SO...to continue to work at the church for free, I have to find other employment after this school year. I can't continue to work special ed and expect to be sane. It's not a job that you go to and leave. And that's the kind of job that I need. But I'm so grateful for being where I've been. Some of the most amazing relationships I have in Georgia have come from this experience.

God has been teaching me so much lately. I've always had a problem with letting guilt and shame get in my way. It's just always been a foothold that I've let Satan have in my life. But God has been teaching me that "I can approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace..." For so long I've asked others to do this for me, or I've sinned and thought at the end of the day..there's no way that I can talk to God today. But I have to remember that I'm a sinner, that's not really going to change. How often, and which sins I chose to run back to can change...but until I'm made perfect in Him, that's my reality. So I can spend weeks at a time, in shame and guilt, over the smallest or biggest things, OR I can chose to BOLDLY go to the throne and ask for the gifts that He has to give me. Not gifts that I deserve...but gifts that He CHOSE to lavish on me because He LOVED ME. Choosing to accept God's LOVE is probably my number one challenge in life. But I'm getting there...slowly but surely.

So that's the update. I've got a few more things I've learned but there's only so much sense you can make drugged up!!

YAY!

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I'm glad we made a pact...

So here it is...the long awaited real post. A lot has happened since my last "real" post, but I'll let most of the pictures do the talking. It was good to have a break from school. Wish I was still on one in fact. The mee-maw Christmas this year was by far, hands down, number one voted, the best Christmas we have had together. After all, we made a pact to have great times every year didn't we? It was good to see everyone, admire the ornaments, lay in the hot tub (though we didn't really prepare well for that one) and eat more chicken than 7 girls should ever attempt to eat. We stayed up later than we've done in the past few mee-maw get togethers, but not so late that it was gross trying to get up and moving the next morning.

Christmas in New Hope was a bag full of emotions. That's expected though, and I'm just glad we got through it and on to a New Year. Mom (Kay) is doing well, and making it through better than we could have ever hoped for or imagined considering all that's she's been through. Way to go Kay!

New Year's was a heck load of fun. I spent it in Georgia with the friends here. Longhorn's, Sparklers, Sparkling drinks (just sparkling though), fun hats, IPOD mishaps, and RainX made for a fun night. We even took pictures with Dick on the big screen TV at Kevin's house.

And then life got back to normal. I've spent some time thinking over the past few days about the blessings in my life. I have so much to be so thankful for. I couldn't begin to imagine life without all the friends and family that I have that surround me and support me. I'm thankful for a home town that's so small that you truly have amazing relationships with a lot of people. No matter how far you may go from it, it's always home and always there. I'm thankful for a college that gave me a great education, but more importanly gave me a group of girls that will go with me, where ever, no matter what. We may not talk every day, every week, or even more than a few times a year...but when something happens...good or bad, we know in our hearts the love that we share for each other will always be there. There are ties that bind us together in all that we do. I'm thankful for pacts and hats and people that strive to keep them. I'm thankful for a place that God has led me to, that teaches me to grow everyday. A place where unconditional love is shown, and no matter how hard you may try, they never grow past loving you. A place where I've been poured into and taught how to pour into others. A place where I've been given freedom and permission to be who I am, while encouragment to be more than I've ever dared to dream of being.

I'm blessed!

No it's not a real post

But this is a great new things i've found...

www.43things.com

GREAT