2009 year in review (part II)

.:July 2009:.
another great youth camp ended.

the traveling journey of our life began.
Chris started working permanently at JBM.
a young man from our church went for a few weeks as well.
we stayed with Livi & family for a few weeks.
and i sure loved spending a bunch of time with her!
celebrated my 28th birthday in VA.

ONE week I even stayed home ALONE.
it was only the 4th time Chris & I have stayed apart.
of course, I spent the nights at mom's.
(that's a story for a whole separate post)
then we "rented" a camper for a few weeks.
God answered prayer and worked out a hard situation.
1770 SC-VA miles for me / 2360 SC-VA miles for chris

.:August 2009:.
attended a few weekend services at SC Campmeeting.
Kevin came down for a short visit.
Mr. Landon Johnson made his arrival.

Miranda visited a few weeks in VA.
she gave me company and tons of help.
Ashley gifted me tickets to see David Phelps.
I began teaching at DFCS.
Chris and I moved to the school apartment.
made a new best friend! - Beth :)
2655 SC-VA miles for the 3 of us.

.:September 2009:.
Found out we're going to be "aunt" and "uncle" again in May.
Mom and Tricia & family and Deanna
came to visit Labor Day weekend.

went camping with Justin & Beth and Livi & Marcus.
attended several revival services at Martinsville.
witnessed the adoption miracle of lil Sam Johnson. 1180 SC-VA miles for us.

.:October 2009:.
God protected Chris in a small accident at work.
spent a weekend at the beach
with Justin, Beth & Sam, Robin, and Beth's parents.
attended Saturday night of GaitherFest in Myrtle Beach.

SC Friends - Dennis Family came to VA to visit us!

enjoyed annual church picnic.
had tough decision to make.
on the 29th - wrote my first blog post!
loved being home to see cute trick-or-treaters!
885 SC-VA miles for us.

.:November 2009:.
Sporadically attended another Gaither concert!
God helped my Granny through skin cancer surgery.
Played RockBand on Ashley's Wii for the first time.

( i know NO Beatles song - so it was hilarious!)
Enjoyed early Thanksgiving festivties.
Participated in DFCS's annual Thanksgiving program.
Spent Thanksgiving away from home for the first time.
But oh so thankful to have SC family visit!
Chris is now 29 years old.
1475 SC-VA miles for us.

.:December 2009:.
the Lord helped us through a difficult appointment.
sang in the park. enjoyed Christmas parties.
and church Christmas dinner.
went bowling for the 2nd and 3rd time in my life.

prepared for and presented Christmas program at DFCS.
got stuck in VA due to 9 inches of snow.

my cousin got good report - NO cancer!

traveled home. (stopped to for dinner with Atkins!)

due to inventory at JBM, spent 11 consecutive days at home.
the longest stretch since June.
celebrated CHRISTmas.
cherished time with family/friends. (esp. Kevin)
1475 SC-VA miles for us.

(that's 10,620 miles, if anyone's counting)

the many miles make the journey.
and love makes the journey worth while.
every mile has made memories.
and proven that being together is enough.
it's evident this year has been full of fun, uncertainty,
adventure, love, trouble, smiles, and some sadness.
but, all in all ... in all my life.
and especially in this trying year,
the hand of God i see.
and that makes all the difference.

2009 year in review (part I)

.: January 2009:.

my little brother's 25th birthday.

spent time with SC coast family,

while Chris worked at D&A's home.

Ashley, Chris, and I made a crazy, quick trip

to Charleston on the 31st

to see David Phelps rejoined with Gaither Vocal Band!

.:February 2009:.

Chris worked a lot this month.

Our niece, Cheyenne, had her 1st birthday!

.:March 2009:.

busy 1st Saturday all in one day:

long-time friend's first baby shower,

Laurel's 5th birthday party,

and ice skating with church youth.

fun church Youth Spring Fling. (sorry no pics)

visited new friends, Atkins family, for the first time.

.:April 2009:.

Mom, Chris and I sat front row at D&V concert.
Miss Aubrey Meadows was born on the 5th! enjoyed revival services at church.

Miranda, Mom, Chris, and I met Kevin

in Pigeon Forge for a weekend.

this was Thumpy's first trip! Casey C, Chris, and I attended

Martinsville Church of Church Convention.

.:May 2009:.

Chris and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.

Planted our first garden!

Had tons of fun with Kevin home for a few days!

in celebration of 9 years, we (including Thumpy)

vacationed in a mountain cabin and

attended Gaither Family Fest.

on the 30th we went to Dollywood with C&A.

.:June 2009:.

another great visit, week-long, to the Atkins' home.

Chris did a little remodeling in their home.

attended night services at local youth camps.

attended services at

Victory Tabernacle's Fellowship Meeting.

first trip to VA for Chris to work at JBM.

our church's annual youth camp began.

590 SC-VA miles.

to be continued tomorrow...

she calls me "iby"

that's me.

aunt iby

actually, she says "diby."

but you only really hear "iby."
and we'll work on the "aunt" part later. :)

and i'd love her

no matter what she called me.'cause she's my niece.

and an adorable one!
in the above picture,
she is watching a silly video of me and thumpy
that i sent to her mom's phone.
hey, i can't let her forget me while i'm away.

today i asked to babysit her
since i've been unable to spend a lot time with her lately.
and we are having a blast.

m.i.a

yes, lately, i've been missing.
missing in action.
all the Christmas action!

we safely and happily arrived home

2:30 AM Christmas Eve morning.
we crashed for a few hours (just 3 to be exact)

only to hop up and begin the madness.

there were friends and family to be visited,
time with my brother to be enjoyed,
presents to be wrapped,

last minute gifts to be bought,
a meal to be cooked,
lots of eating,
and 4 Christmas gatherings packed in 3 days!

and amidst the action,
i didn't take many pictures.
having too much fun.
and enjoying all the fesitivites.

obviously - by Sunday we were exhausted.
we've recuperated: only a little, though.

as there has been much to do.

no matter how much work there is to do,

we are loving being at home this week.

please pray for us.
we are seeking the Lord's direction in our life.
our desire is to be in SC.
but ultimately,

we want His desires.

i'll be home for Christmas

and not just in my dreams.

on the eve of Christmas eve,
chris and i are heading down the highway.

mile after mile after mile

anticipating this beautiful place of smiling faces.

and i am so excited.

we will be home for the longest stretch in 5 months.

an entire week - maybe more!

let the festivities began.
we are home!
home. i say! h.o.m.e. - home.

now maybe, just maybe

this will help it "feel" like Christmas

wordless wednesday

fun with friends

last week, we went bowling with justin & beth.

it was only my 2nd time bowling.

(no, i will not be sharing my score)

but, it was all for fun any way.

and we did have a great time.

me and Beth before bowlingBeth with Justin - being himself
Chris showing offsee -- he got three strikes in a row.
and yes, Beth entered his name as "Shorty."

somewhere it's snowing

with all the snow this weekend,

i was reminded of this:

I once read in a poem~ when snow covers the earth,

That it hides the world's scars and gives nature new birth.

And they say when a man turns from sin to the Lord,

That forgiveness like snow covers him evermore.

and somewhere it's snowing ....

Years ago, I made cute ornaments with this poem attached.

I used a sponge to make snow on the bottom of the ornament.

They were fun to make.

I just might try to find one and post a picture.

thinking about Jesus

and oh, what a difference this little baby makes.

God being made flesh.

leaving Heaven to be born to the world.

a world - hopelessly lost - in great need of a Savior.

delivered to us in meek and humble conditions.

but with much celebration from angels.
and visitors and guests from afar in search of Him.
the Christ-child born to be our deliverer.

as Christmas is rapidly approaching.
i want to remember this tiny babe.
focusing on His gift.
the greatest gift given to us.

the gift of salvation to all who believe.

i want to know Him in His fullness.

seeking Him and His gift.

a bittersweet snowy weekend

we had planned to go home this weekend.

friday afternoon as we packed snow began to fall.

we hopped in the car homeward bound.

and then we made a u-turn.

the snow was falling so fast.

we weren't sure if we'd make it home.

concerned about being able to return on Sunday.

so with mixed emotions of sadness and excitement,

we stayed the weekend in Virginia.

we missed a family dinner, GHHC play, and Christmas service.

we enjoyed lots and lots of snow.

probably more than we'd ever seen.

it was a lot of fun.

and here are many pictures to prove it:

snow angels

little Sam's first snow.
and his first laugh - at me. :)

Miss F's man ... made special order!

Chris' truck slipping and sliding up the hill.
i do not call this "fun" - it must be a boy thing!

Thumpy does not like snow. Cold on the paws.

Beth sledding

Me and Chris sledding

our snow turtle named Timmy

niece brings smiles and laughs

this niece of mine cracks me up!

she wanted a duck decoy in the Ace store

she's been carrying it around everywhere.

even wants to sleep with it.

and she "rides" on it!

she's a country girl.

southern for sure - to the core.

50 fun facts for friday - finale

the final 50 crazy, random, goofy facts about me:

51. I fainted while having my blood drawn for the first time.

52. My favorite perfume is Ralph Lauren Romance.

53. I try to refrain from sneezing; so when I do it sounds funny.

54. I like yellow roses and daisies and sunflowers.

55. I'm terrified of riding ferris wheels.

56. My favorite childhood books were Bernstein Bear, Boxcar Children, and American Girl.
57. I received my first kiss from a Spanish boy in my 3rd grade class … just on the cheek of course.

58. Summer 2008, I discovered my first grey hair.

59. My favorite dessert is a homemade marble pound cake with chocolate icing.

60. I love gospel music (southern, contemporary, etc)

61. David Phelps is my absolute favorite singer. I'm crazy about him.

62. I received my first “C” grade in 3rd grade in Health! (Thanks, Ms. Pennescott)

63. I can burp loudly (can’t believe I am including this one).

64. I tell people often that I love them. You never know when the last time may be …

65. I’ve never received a speeding ticket.

66. I received the “Citizenship Award” and “Haynes Jones Bible Award” when I was a high school senior.

66. My first official job was delivery of local advertising paper on Tuesdays.

67. I cry at the drop of a hat, especially these days.

68. I am a Tupperware consultant.

69. When I pay the mortgage, sometimes, I miss our first home and its $238 payment.

70. My husband makes me so happy! When we are apart I miss him, even if it’s just a work day.

71. I didn't know what to take in college – only completed one semester.

72. I despise selfishness.

73. I gross out easily ... and gagging is the reflex!

74. I hate Monopoly.

75. I take extremely hot showers.

76. As a child, I was reprimanded for staring in public.

77. Rather than a flower girl throwing petals at my wedding; the little girl blew bubbles.

78. I love to shop – clothes and shoes and purses.

79. I roll the blinds down. … not up – that’s upside down!

80. I’m more techno-savvy; than most are inclined to believe.

81. Uno is my favorite card game.

82. I have 5 pairs of glasses that I match to my outfit.

83. I have a weakness for eating late-night snacks in bed.

84. Our dog, Thumpy, is spoiled rotten.

85. When I was a kid, my mom fussed at me for wiping my nose "up" with my hand. Thankfully, I listened and I do not have a “pug” nose.

86. My least favorite household chore is mopping. I love cleaning the bathroom.

87. I match candle colors and scents to the room. Ridiculous, I know.

88. My favorite food is spaghetti … homemade sauce!

89. I have hairy arms. (at least it’s blonde hair)

90. I don’t tolerate pain well - at all.

91. I love my husband’s muscles.

92. I lived with my in-laws for 7 months.

93. I still miss my dad; He’s missed out on so much of my life.
94. I read the most books of anyone in my class during my 2nd grade year.

95. My middle name, Marie, is for my great-aunt.

96. I love modern decorating … but it doesn’t fit my home’s style.

97. I took piano lessons as a child.

98. I have gall stones.

99. I taught my brother how to write his name in cursive before he went to school.

100. The greatest day of my life, was when I became a Christian on a Sunday night in January 1988.

celebrating Olivia Rose

we share the name Olivia
her middle name is Rose; mine, Marie
born 6 months and 26 days apart
we became fast friends at revival services
we were around 11 years old, (i think).
we exchanged addresses and thus our friendship began.

as teenagers we became "bestest" of friends
often traveling the hour distance between our towns
staying up extremely late; giggling; sharing secrets
comforting one other through the sickness/death of a parent
working at the drug store together, fighting with silly string
wearing matching outfits and hair-dos

years rocked on.
weddings for both of us.
she moved away to be with your hubs.
with even more miles between us; friends we remain.
keeping the phone in business.
not always agreeing -- baby showers (ha!)
but always sharing troubles; encouraging one another.

most recently, we've enjoyed being closer by the mile,
and spending more time together than normal. today, on your, birthday, Livi, may you know ...
you are special and dear to my heart
i'm thankful to know you're my friend.
and i hope you have a wonderful birthday
celebrating YOU!

PS -- I pinky promise that we'll always be bestest of friends
even in the psych ward or the nursing home;
whichever comes first.

wordless wednesday

needed: a warm fuzzy

my 10th grade English teacher,

called a moment when your heart is touched,

and you have that ooey, gooey, sappy feeling:

a warm fuzzy.

and that's just what the doctor ordered

to remedy my blue mood.

::a warm fuzzy::

my arms full.
my heart warmed.

it had been 3 long weeks since i had held these girls.
so Saturday night, they came to mom's for a visit.

(it was good catching up with their mom, my cousin, L)

i miss them all so much.

i heard the words, "I missed you." from a 5-year old

received a sweet drawing that reads "I love you."

lots of hugs and kisses

i needed their unconditional, warm love.

and i got a full dose.

a warm fuzzy.