We're Still Here...

Man Oh Man! It has been a crazy busy last few weeks! I can't believe the end of the semester is almost here! I have been working so hard to finish up assignments, take tests, etc! I have 2 more finals coming up and I am done until July. I decided to take 1 summer class to lighten my load this fall (just a little)! I will be so happy when I am done Monday, and I am looking forward to starting a few projects around my house to stay busy!

Cardinal baseball has started so you know exactly what Payton does most every night! He is so funny and cute (sorry for using that word honey) before a game...He will get out a few cards, favorite baseballs, and he always chooses what jersey to wear during the game. Talk about a true die hard Cardinal fan! He is always yelling or hollering at the TV during the game, I always get confused and think he is saying something to me. I guess I better get adjusted, because baseball will be going on for awhile!

There are some exciting events coming up in the next few weeks... I am looking forward to writing about them, but until then...Take care!

Life, Love and Family

We just went through one of my favorite holidays of the year (my other is Christmas). There is nothing more special to me than getting together with family, catching up on the time inbetween the last visit, and enjoying the precious children God has so graciously blessed our family with. Each of them are so different in many ways, so special, and completely innocent to this world and its ways. We went down to my hometown Friday night after Payton got in from work. Mom had made this fabulous dip and we munched and munched on it. My Dad worked late that night so we spent the evening talking with Mom and my sister about the day, and the days ahead. I couldn't stay up any later to wait on my Dad to get home, but prayed he would return home safely after working a 17+ hour day. Saturday Mom and I went to Little Rock, I had to tour the Clinton Library for one of my classes, and then we went to our photographers home to pick up our wedding albums and a gallery wrap I had ordered. The day was completely perfect, Mom and I shared some very special time talking and dreaming about the future. Something that I cherish every moment I get to spend with her. That night Dad cooked hamburgers on his green egg. They were very good for three reasons: 1. Payton and I patted them out 2. I seasoned them 3. Dad cooked them. I love dinner with my family, there is always something so funny that happens, or something funny that is said. After dinner was all done, I suggested some home videos. I wanted to do something different for Easter Sunday.

Every year we eat, clean up, hide eggs, and visit. This year I wanted to share home videos with the other family members. So the night before Easter we watched a few of them and got some great laughs from them. Then...we found the one we were looking for! In 1986, I had my first Christmas. That Christmas of home video brought lots of good memories for several different people. Me and my sister for one, we got to see how our great grandfather was, we dont have any memory of him at all except for these videos, our great grandmother who passed in 07 and who we miss greatly, and our beloved "Queen" Great Aunts, one who we took care of in the nursing home every day after school. For other family members like my grandparents, my parents, and my dad's siblings, they got to see their parents, grandfather and grandmothers who they spent so much time with. Just an extremely special time! And for Payton he was able to put a face with the stories he's heard many many times. The other great moment of this particular video is a funny act that my Uncle did and had forgot about, so a good reminder was indeed necessary!

Easter Sunday was extra special this year, for one we are excited that there is soon to be a new baby in the family, we were thrilled that the weather cooperated and for once in a long long time the Easter egg hunt was outside. That morning Bro. Monty gave the benediction at church, he brought everything back to reality. "The sun that is shining today, is the same exact sun that was shining when they rolled the stone away" How amazing is that. I'm in love with every member of my family, I LOVE the Lord who gave them to me. They are all very special and I hold them in a special place in my heart. I pray for them daily, for their safety, for strength in the troubles that I may not know about. I not only pray for my blood relatives, but now for my extended family through Payton.

My family helps get me through the rough times, they are strong and loving, and supportive. Their faith in God shines through and helps make me a better person, although many times like everyone I fail. I love each of you!

Here's a few pictures from Easter weekend!

Trying to stay 'in check"...

Seems like so much is changing lately. I often feel like my mind is going 50 million directions. So much to do with school, and getting ready to start the program. There's also so much going on these last few weeks with making plans and getting things situated before we leave for Spring Break. Sometimes I just want to push the stop button or turn things over to someone else to handle. In reality it probably isn't that much to handle, but for me it seems like soo much!
I took the Reading part to the Praxis today. The whole time I struggled just to concentrate on the task at hand. There was a girl sitting close by me that was just typing away. Do you know how those old Dell computer keyboards sound? Or maybe they aren't old but you can hear every single button pushed? I have a Gateway laptop and I can hear the buttons pushed but its not that loud pecking sound. Anyways, back to the point... That is the sound I heard 80% of the time I was taking the exam. On top of the number of people clicking the mouse just like I was having to do. I've always struggled with concentration and also with Reading comprehension. It's not easy sometimes. Well...unfortunately, I didn't pass that part of the test. It doesn't make sense to me. Math I struggle with constantly, the writing part of the test I didn't even study for because I got things all confused, the Reading part, I studied for the most out of everything. I know there's a reason for everything. I also know God was with me when I was taking the test, but I just couldn't handle the situation.
I came into a similar thing Sunday at church. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE seeing children in church. I know that some children do better in church than others, but this Sunday we just happened to sit in front of some who don't do well in church. Bro. John had a very good message on "evil" and I just wish I could've caught the whole thing. :(

I'm also ready for the month of April. Ready for my birthday, ready for a new month. This one seems to be dragging by so slowly. We have been going to small group at church. Payton and I just love it, we had a great time last night it was just us, another couple and our leaders. We had a great time chatting with them and watching the Zooma video. The video was on want and need. Why do we always want stuff? It's always so awesome how the video somehow relates to Bro. John's message. He was talking about instant gratifications yesterday. People who win the lottery, millions of dollars, and they don't have a clue what to do with it. They go nuts, spending, make the wrong friends, etc...

I'm going to wrap this up with a couple of pictures.
Hope everyone has a great week!


"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to purpose." Romans 8:28


Charlie and his Uncle Payton


One of my favorites of me and Payton

Busy Busy

Payton and I have both been really busy. We went home one weekend for my friends engagement party and it was also my grandmothers birthday the next day. We've been keeping up with school and trying to eat healthier. When you get married you are already comfortable with each other, so you eat whatever, then you notice the pounds!!! Payton is doing the P90X. I think he is enjoying it so far, because I'm sure hearing a lot about it!!!

A couple of weeks ago I took the Math part to the Praxis. I do have to tell you I was quite nervous!!! I struggled all the way through the test. Had 5 minutes left and looked at my progress and I had marked 12 questions I still had to go back and pick an answer for! I was on pins and needles the whole time! After you take the test part, it wants to give you a survey to ask about your experience in the testing center. I made sure to give them a good rating because in the back of your mind you don't want to tell them that it was loud, they had us sitting too close, and the lady in the front might not of been the friendliest person....ALL BECAUSE...you want to hurry up and see your SCORE! SO....I get done with the survey and all of a sudden this box pops up and says Your Score: 171

Ok ...at that point I about passed out. I most certainly needed a 171 to pass the thing, and was estactic! I walked out of that testing room and I said to the lady "Please tell me if I passed!" She said "Are you ok? What did you make?" I replied quickly "A 171" She says, "What part?" Me-"Math" " Yes honey you passed, are you ok?" Me- "I think I'm going to pass out!!!" I couldn't help my excitement and did I mention RELIEF?!?!?!?

So this past weekend I could of sworn that I had the Reading part to the Praxis Monday. UM NO!. I checked my email Monday morning and just about panicked! It plainly said...Writing Monday March 1st!!!!!!! So understand me when I say this ...I had been preparing for a week to take the Reading part only to discover I was completely mistaken and was totally taking the Writing. Another part I was completely worried about and wanted to be certain I had PLENTY OF TIME TO PREPARE FOR!!! Well, there was no possible way there was any more time to prepare for it! I also had a math test for my regular classes that morning. So I needed to prepare for it! Well anyways, I went in there and gave it my best shot. MONDAY WAS NOT A GOOD DAY!

However, Monday did turn into being a good day! My brother in law and sister in law finally told the world that they are expecting a new bundle of joy on October 3, 2010! I am so excited and I hope they get a girl this time, even though a boy would be just fine with me! I'll end this entry with a picture of the little teddy bear! I pray for God's blessings upon them for a healthy pregnancy, delivery and life.

Random Questions

Thought this might be fun!

1. How old will you be in five years? 28! That's crazy to think about!

2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today? Jessie and Lynlee! Some great friends of mine!

3. How tall are you? 5'6

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks? In 6 weeks lots of different things will happen. I will have taken my Praxis, continue with field observation, and be getting ready to turn 24 and getting excited about my nephews
2nd birthday!

5. What’s the last movie you saw? I honestly can't remember. I guess on TV the lifetime movie The Long Lost Son I think it is.

6. Who was the last person you called? my sister in law

7. Who was the last person to call you? my mother

8. What was the last text message you received? From Payton, telling me I could go out to eat tonight and not have to cook myself something.

9. Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail? Hmmm...Have no idea!

10. Do you prefer to call or text? Text if I am busy. Call if I am driving.

11. What were you doing at 12am last night? Definitely sleeping!

12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced? Just celebrated 28 years!

13. When is the last time you saw your mom? This past weekend

14. What color are your eyes? Blue

15. What time did you wake up today? 6:00 am

16. What are you wearing right now? Pajama pants and one of Payton's long sleeved shirts!

17. What is your favorite Christmas song? Any of the church hymns.

18. Where is your favorite place to be? Love to be at my house.

19. Where is your least favorite place to be? School

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? Back to Washington DC and New York

21. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years? Happily married and hopefully with a couple of munckins!

22. Do you tan or burn? BURN! And sometimes turn purple!

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? I'm not sure! Probably just afraid of someone breaking in.

24. What was the last thing that really made you laugh? I laugh with my husband, my friends and family!

25. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3

26. How big is your bed? Fit for a queen!

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer? a laptop!

29. What color are your sheets? Well I have 3 pairs. One is a paisley, brown, and cream/tan

30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 2

31. What is your favorite season? Winter!

32. What do you like about Autumn? temperature, colors

33. What do you like about winter? I love the cold weather and the chances of snow!

Tired of the white!

We seriously have had and still have so much snow. I don't ever remember snow like this growing up, although I did live in a completely different town. These kids up here have had at least 5 snow days in the last 2 weeks. We got maybe 3 the whole time I was in school K4-12! Not kidding! Not much has been going on. Last week Payton and I had a young couples supper at the church. Our preacher and his wife hosted it. This was to get all the young couples acquainted so that we can start small groups, which is beneficial to young married couples, and well all couples for that matter. I am looking forward to it. We are both a little nervous, we don't really know that many couples in the church at all. At the supper though, Payton did realize there are quite a few people from his hometown, so that helped ease his nerves.

This weekend we will be traveling to my parents house for the weekend. My high school classmate is getting married later on this fall, and his parents are hosting an engagement party for he and his fiance. I'm really looking forward to this. A few of my high school classmates will be there, and some I haven't seen since we graduated!
Then Sunday, is my Meme's birthday (Valentine's baby). Anyways, we decided that we are going to cook lunch for her. I'm going to make a cheesecake for dessert. I LOVE making desserts! I will definitely post pictures from the weekend.

School is going great, no complaints. I started my Field 1 experience today. I am definitely going to love this. It took me quite a while to figure out what I was going to do with my life. Chose Cosmetology first, worked in that field for a little while, then going back to my gut feeling of teaching- I decided to go ahead and go for it. It most certainly makes things easier when you have friends to go through the process with you.

Here are some pictures of the snow.

New month!

I can't believe it is already FEBRUARY! Its crazy! We have several things planned for this month, which makes me very excited! My good friend from high school is getting married and they've got an engagement party coming up, we have birthdays to celebrate, and church things to go to. We still have a ton of the white stuff on the ground which turns into the SLICK stuff! I had classes today, and I don't care what they say, they DID NOT clear the sidewalks or parking lots off good enough at all! What a mess!