100 Posts

Oh wow! I didn't even realize when I posted last that it was my 100th post. I can't believe it. When I first started this blog, I wasn't really sure if I would keep it up or not. And here we are :) I have been so blessed by all the wonderful bloggers I have met through this blog. I am blessed by all the prayers lifted up for me, and the opportunity to get to know and pray for so many wonderful women! I thank God for each and everyone one of you and your amazing encouragement!!!

God Bless and Here's to a Very Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas & Prayer Buddy Reveal

I am so blessed beyond belief. We had my parents' family Christmas this afternoon and then continued our family traditions with the Christmas Eve service at our church. Can I just say how this service always humbles me and makes me feel so many different feelings wrapped up in one big package. The anticipation of Jesus' birth, the many blessings I have in my life, the many blessings in others' lives, the beautiful music, all for and given by our awesome God! It is such an overwhelming feeling. I just love it! As many have posted it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and lose sight of the real reason for the season. That one little baby came so that we may all live. I am in awe of it all each year! I hope that you all have a blessed Christmas and are able to share this amazing day with your family and/ or friends!

I had the pleasure of praying this Advent cycle for All You Who Hope. I have prayed hard for you! I lurked on your blog and used it as a way of being more specific in my prayers for you and your family! Your kiddos are so cute! You are a great Mom & Wife! I first came across your blog this past summer during Grace In My Heart's post on adoption. I have loved keeping up and reading your blog. I was honored to pray for you this buddy cycle, and will continue to keep you in my prayers. I hope you were able to feel the prayers I lifted up for you! Have a very Merry Christmas!

I can't stand that feeling...

that feeling of your chest tightening, and throat closing up when someone announces that they are pregnant. I really thought I had moved pasted it. But, I for some reason this holiday season (starting back with the annual Christmas party I went to a few weeks back) it is really hitting me hard. I am kind of ashamed to even admit it.

Last night I had an ornament exchange at my house. There were about 15 people that were able to come. More than half of them either were pregnant or have kids. So, more than most of the convos had to do with children and you guessed it I got that feeling. To those who were there reading, please know it had nothing to do with you. I love all of your little kiddos and the ones you are going to have. :)

Today, it was FB. Either I am reading about people announcing they are pregnant or others talking about the sweet things they do with their kids. I am so JEALOUS! I am sure that watching Marley and Me, and the rain didn't help but, I was a little down in the dumps. So, I tried to fill the void by posting about me & my sweet pup, then started baking. Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow. :) I am looking forward to this coming year, I really feel hopeful that 2012 is our year for either our own baby or one God hand picks for us! I don't even want to think about this time next year if we aren't with child one way or another. It just brings back that feeling again...

Wanted: prayer warriors!!!

Today was the end of the semester WOO HOO!!! Two weeks off. Thank you Lord!!! I am super glad to have some time off, that I need more than ever.

Which brings me to my prayer warriors:

I need as many people as possible, especially my prayer buddy, to pray for one of my sweet students! I can't really say much more than that since my blog is public, but I am devastated. I am not going to pretend that I understand, I am struggling with why God lets things like this happen to little people. So, to make me feel like I have some way to help, I would love for you to add this family onto your prayer list. This time of year is supposed to be such a happy time. I know that the parents of this sweet child are trying so hard to keep things normal and happy, but they need your prayers too. Their world has been turned upside down again. I just can't imagine!!!

Just have to laugh... and document this moment

Today I have done something that I truly thought I would never do. I am not sure if it is from all the stress, or being tired, or just needed a vacay...

BUT, I needed to run to the store to get our Chrismas cards from Costco, and some ingredients to make a strawberry cake ( totally forgot about this order, thank GOD she text me last night about it) and my car wouldn't start. Of course this would happen when my husband has to work on a Sunday. All neighbor hubbys are gone, so Robbie told me to put the battery charger on it. Well, it wasn't making any progress. My neighbor came home and tried to jump it off, still not turning over. But the puzzling part is that all the lights work and radio, you name it works, except the engine. So, the neighbor takes me to the store around the corner I come home get the cake in the oven, and google the symptoms.

As I am reading if this, then do that... I come across a line that reads something like, check the fuel supply to the engine. And it hits me, Friday I was on empty and didn't go anywhere yesterday... OMGEEEE Could I have really run out of gas???

YEP! That was it! How do you forget something like that??? Hubby put gas in it and now we are back in business. I hope this made you laugh, cause I am still laughing about it :)

Hope this next week is less stressful and a good one!

This Time Last Year

With the hustle and bustle of this time of year, Christmas parties, wrapping presents, etc. it is easy to get distracted. Or so I thought. I recently posted about how crazy this week has been. Well, last night started my Christmas Party going. A small group of about 10 of my sorority sisters get together every December to hang, eat, drink, and exchange gifts. It really is the best therapy and all you have to do is bring some food and a gift. LOL Talk about cheap. We also, get an angel each year so we bring all our items for the angel that night too.

So, I left work and headed home to get my mac-n-cheese in the crock pot ( Paula Dean Recipe - TO DIE FOR) and ice my cupcakes. Then I remembered that I forgot to get my dirty santa gift... could it have been the crazy week that helped with that???? So, I was a little rushed. Got everything together and headed to Target... Crazy I know. There was traffic, lots of people, but surprisingly no wait for the check out. Girls Night was only about 15 min. from commencing.

Had the address in map quest and was driving when it hit me. (Like a ton of bricks actually). Last year we were doing our iui the morning after this party. Had it actually been a year since we did iui? Then I remembered that 3 of these lovely ladies have had 4 babies since that last party, and with the week I have had... I got into a kinda bad mood. I finally found the house and got in with all my bags... I literally looked like a bag lady, gift bag, angel gifts bag, cupcake carrier ( with cupcakes turning all different directions), bag with a crock pot in it, and my purse. SERIOUSLY?!?!?

Everyone is eating drinking and being merry. I started to set my stuff out and NO LIE I dropped a whole section of my cupcake holder. 12 cupcakes fall to the floor. GREAT!!! (not the exact word I used)

I THANK GOD for these women. They helped me unwind and have fun. We laughed harder than we have in a while. We stole each other's gifts, I ended up with a cute Christmas frame and tray. We coo'd and cuddled baby Morgan Mae (yep my friend's baby is named Morgan). But as I was leaving I overheard one of the girls talking about two week wait. Not sure if she is in it, or will be at my party in two weeks, or what. But my heart sank.

On the way home, I thought about the fact that one day we will have a little bundle of joy to share with friends. But that it makes me ANGRY that when I hear someone talk about it, my first response in my head is sadness or angst. Not yay! Happy thoughts. I hate that bearing this cross sucks the air out of you and the happiness that you should be able to freely have. I have to keep faith and hope that God's reasoning is perfect and that I don't have to and am not supposed to understand.

Even if we are having our 3rd Christmas childless, I am so glad that I have friends who can make me laugh, distract me, and a God who gives me the strength and hope to know that I will have a child one day.

After all this time of year is about the most important baby of all, Jesus! Not one of my own.

Holy moly this has been a week...

AND ITS ONLY TUESDAY! Thank God tomorrow is hump day!

I haven't really posted too much since Thanksgiving because I have been sick. Apparently this fall is my sickly time of the year.

I can't remember if I already wrote this recently, but I had an ear infection last week... The kind kids have that wakes them up in the middle of the night. I did refrain from screaming bloody murder, since my hubs had to be up at 4:30am. But, my week started getting ready for a workshop that was being held about 1 1/2 hrs from me. So, last Monday I was getting ready for a sub for Tuesday and getting ready for my 2nd evaluation. I was kind of having allergy (or so I thought) issues because he had gotten the Christmas stuff down from the attic over the weekend. So, I just took benadryl. Well over night last Monday we were getting some snow... Lets just say where I live if they mention that 4 letter words around here people and the KIDS, ok maybe the teachers too get a little squirrel-ie. So, In the rain(not snow) I headed to Jackson. When I woke up Wednesday, I kind of felt like there was cotton in my ear, but thought it was just sinus junk. Well at 12:14 that night I woke up to a stabbing feeling in my hear. So, when I made it to the dr. he said wow your good hear looks pretty bad, "Oh Gosh!" was what he said when looking at the one that hurt. So, I missed school 1/2 day Thursday and all day Friday.

In case you have been hiding under a rock, Christmas break is in two weeks. So, Monday I was back and trying to get my class back in gear after me missing 2 and 1/2 days last week. Well they are buck wild because they are excited about Christmas. I really can't blame them, but Lord have mercy, I have my evaluation and can't predict how they are going to act. So, last night I stayed up til about 12:15 getting ready. Woke up really early (for me) and got to work at 7:15. I had 45 mins til a meeting or so I thought. Surprise you have a student teacher meeting at 7:30. So, I went from one meeting to the next, to 8:45 and kiddos coming laughing & talking. Oh and today is my no break day. I talked to the kiddos, prepped them for our visitor, and PRAYED!!! Well, my lesson was a good one, but went a little too long, I had one who sweet friend who completely came unglued, and when my 45 mins was up, She just smiled and said we'll talk...

For those non teacher out there, teacher are under A LOT more pressure these days than in the past. Being a type A personality in most aspects, all I can focus on is what didn't go great... But I am super happy it is over and am moving on... A week and 1/2 and we will be on Christmas break.

Prayers the man who saw our house today wants to buy it... He was here longer than anyone to date, but we will see. I think our house is even cuter with our Christmas tree and mantel all decorated. :) For your viewing pleasure, since you read to the bottom of this long play by play haha.

Love from the Oven

OMG you need to check out this blog if you haven't already! There is always something yummy or neat in every post! In this post there are free Christmas printables and cute ideas about making push-up pop cupcakes.

I am so looking into to doing this for my kiddos on the last day before Christmas Break! So cute! Don't you think? Click on the picture and it will take you to the post about how to make these cute yummy treats! (picture captured from Love from The Oven)

The really cool thing is that she has givaways each day during the 12 Days of Holiday Baking and all you have to do is comment, like a few things on FB or Twitter or both and tell her you did on the blog post and you are entered to win! So I highly recommend checking this out!

Don't worry I won't act like Taylor Swift...

The Liebster Award spotlights up and coming bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word which means "dearest" or "beloved." It is also used to refer to as some one's "favorite" and the idea of the LiebsterBlog Award is to bring attention to blogs which, in addition to having less than 200 followers, are also some of your favorite reads that you think are deserving of more recognition and encouragement. So, this award is to share with those blogs that you love to love... you know... the ones that you can't wait to see a new post from because some how, some way, the blogger seems to always put words to things in a way that touch you deeply...or make you laugh hysterically...or realize that you're not alone in whatever you're going through, be it good, bad or otherwise. There are certain rules that are to be followed:

• Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
• Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
• Copy and paste the award on your blog.
  
• Hope that the people you've sent the award to forward it to their five favorite bloggers and keep it going!

First I would like to thank Kelli for picking me as one of her top 5 blogs!!! That made my day!!! Especially since I have been down for the count with a terrible ear infection. Yep thats right you can get them as an adult, and my Dr. said my ear looked like a child's ear infection.... I digress. Kelli and I go way back. She and I were actually in the same homeroom through out high school! It wasn't until I started blogging that she and I reconnected. And wouldn't you know she totally understood me and my IF stigma. She too had to deal with this, but welcomed her little miracle into the world a little over a year ago. So she has been a source of encouragement and hope for me along this journey! Thank You Thank You Thank You Kelli!!!

Now the hard part to pick my top 5 blogs, well I have realized a few of my top 5 have already gotten this award. So, I am going to list my top who haven't post about the award and then the ones who have. :) That way it can hopefully it keep going. :)

First and foremost, Allie's blog - If it weren't for Allie, I wouldn't have stumbled upon such a wonderful supporting and encouraging group of friends! She encouraged me to read some of the blogs she followed and to start my own. I thought it was a great idea so that I would have a chronicle of our journey. It was so refreshing to see that I wasn't the only one going through this and that there were women out there that understood what I was thinking, feeling, and enduring! Even though we know each other personally I love reading her blog and seeing those sweet little miracles she and her hubby have welcomed into the world this year! Thanks Allie!!!

Next is L(IF)e with a capital IF - Her blog is one of my favorites to read. She and her sweet hubby have endured some trials trying to welcome a sweet miracle into the world. And Guess what?!?!?! She is 25 weeks as we speak! Trying to figure out and agree on baby names :) So happy for them! Thank you for reading my blog and allowing me to read yours :)

There is no place like Memphis for this Mamma - I love reading her blog!!! She always have something interesting to blog about! I enjoy her challenges. I also know her personally, but learn so many new things about her through her blog! She is super trendy, has great taste, and is so fun to read! Thanks LA

All In His Perfect Timing - I had the pleasure of praying for her during the last prayer buddies! She is an amazing woman and will be an amazing Mom! I enjoyed getting to know her and her husband through her blog and am honored to continue prayers for them as they wait to hear about possible adoptions. She is encouraging and hopeful which we all could use a little dose of here and there! She has already been awarded the award, but she is one of my top 5 blogs! :)

Patiently Waiting Kinda - I found her from Life with a Capital IF's blog roll a while back. she had a quote posted that I stole and put to the side of my blog. As I read her story, I was drawn to read her blog more and more. In fact she helped me kick start my more structured prayer time. She was starting a novena this summer and I contacted her to join in. It was a blessing! Life got a little easier. It was wonderful. I was more focused on my prayers and could see the benefits of it! She also is a wealth of knowledge on the adoption process as she is currently, like Perfect timing, in the process of waiting on birth mothers and possible adoptions. She has also previously been awarded the award, but I read her blog often!

Oh and the title comes from the fact that I am tired of Taylor Swift acting so dumb when she wins an award... "OMG I can't believe this blah blah blah..." She gets on my nerves... sorry if that offends lol