Make Me Smile

I think I'm a pretty simple girl.
Not much fluff.
What you see is what you get.

So when people keep asking what I'd like for my birthday it's hard to think stuff up. So I've been making a list!

Here's how you can put a smile on my face ...

A stockpile supply of this stuff.
It's heavenly!

This one can come be in any form.

Gift card, lunch date, food to go.

You name it, I eat it.

I kinda freaked out and thought I wasn't allowed to wear jeans from this store since I turned 30 last year. I've changed my mind since then. They're my favorite jeans and I'm okay with adding more to my wardrobe! 

My mom has one of these and I realized I NEED one.

I do not enjoy cleaning out my microwave.

The only thing that would be better is if I'd been the one to invent a microwave food cover.

That would be pretty sweet!

Key Words here are: Cinnamon Dolce Latte

But if I wanted to be all fancy and make my own coffee,

I'd have to choose this little mini maker.

I've tasted some friends and it seems like it'd probably be worth the cost. I'm still up in the air about it!

So, there's some ideas.

Since my birthday is tomorrow, this list is probably too late for anyones liking ... but seriously, since when have I ever been on time!

Now, it's your turn. What would be on your

"Make Me Smile" List?

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.

This will make me smile too ...

Perfect Weather

For Painting

For Sharing

More Sharing

For Sun Bathing (in January)

For Bike Riding

And For Mean Muggin'

How was your "Perfect Weather" day?



Our First Ever Christmas Alone

This Christmas was a bit different than any in the past.
There used to be hustle and bustle.
Running here, running there.
Packing the vehicle full of luggage and presents.

So a few years ago my husband and I decided we would
break all other tradition, and we would have Christmas
morning at our own home with our children.

Well, since all of our family are a couple hours away,
this was a tough decision.

But when we made that decision, my mom let me
know very quickly that her and my dad would love
to be at our house Christmas morning, if we were okay
with it, so they could see their grandkids open gifts.

It's always worked out beautifully.
UNTIL THIS YEAR.
My dad came down with the flu on
Christmas Eve. There was no way he was
making the trip to Panama City Christmas morning.
He couldn't.
And even if he could, I wasn't so
sure I wanted to take the risk
(we haven't decided on flu shots yet for this year.)

Once reality hit me that this would be the first year in 
30 years (yup, 30 years, folks) that I wouldn't see my 
parents on Christmas Day, I put my big girl panties 
on so that my kids (especially Autumn) would have a 
good day despite the fact that it was just gonna be our
little family of four.  

It turned out to be great.
We had (thankfully) got the kids a few board games
and a couple movies as their gifts.
So, we made breakfast for lunch
and spent the rest of the day just us ...
playing games, watching movies, talking ...
in our Christmas jammies!

My Girls

Outside of my main girl, a few more have stolen my heart.
Here's to my girls!

 First ever beach baptism

 After they threw me in the pool. Gotta love them :)

Boo Bash 2010

Each week someone cooks and bakes.
Dino cookies by Viki & Kattie :)

Their creativity shining through.
And I cannot tell you HOW PROUD I am that I see
all of them taking notes during services.
Awesome, say what?!!

Best SG Girls Ever!

Catalyst Highlights

At the beginning of October, Cory and I headed to Atlanta for Catalyst2010.The outcome of that conference is a whole post in itself soon to come.

But there were a few highlights I must tell you about!

Most of you have seen posts about my friend, Lori Wilhite from L&LI

Well, I got to meet her .... In real life ... Face to face ...
Eat lunch with her ... Laugh with her ... Hug her!

If your a PW or a woman in ministry, believe me,
it will benefit you to make yourself familiar with her and her site.

Some of the other ladies who help Lori out on the blog were there too.

Seriously, how can ladies be so inviting and make you feel so welcome? I know ... cause they love Jesus and and other PW's!

Jessica Cornelius

Brandi Wilson

I also got to visit with my friend, Steph  and her husband Matt.

I met her through L&LI blog last year. Genuinely loving folks right there!
Steph and I do virtual small groups together. She's an encourager and a true friend. Love that woman!

Cory also has a friend, Matt Gross who we sat with and were able to hang out with a little. His girlfriend, Candace was pretty as a picture and their sweet personalities mesh together!

Check out the poor maintenance guys job.
Proves that Pastors are messy too :)

Didn't know she was gonna be there, but Kari Jobe did some worship at the conference. Passion flows out of that girl.

John Mark McMillan sang How He Loves.
Beth Moore spoke on insecurities in ministry.
Francis Chan spoke heart language to everyone.
You know what .... maybe I just need to do a snip-it of my notes and what God spoke to me during the conference.

Cory and I will put our heads together and write that post together, maybe, possibly, hmmmmm .....

Fall Family Time in Pics

Fish House .... cheese grits .... shrimp .... sweet tea .... YUM!

Golfing .... my first time ever off the driving range.

We golfed with these thugs .... I think they're cussing us out in gang-sign-language.

My rocker girl all ready for the Skillet Concert.

 I warned them that I yell and scream .... and they might get embarassesd. And they did :)

 She loved her first concert!

Easton shooting his first bow with daddy.

Can you believe Easton is the one with his shirt on? Wow!

Then all the big kids ran off and left him. Poor baby :(

TO BE CONTINUED ... we headed to Catalyst 2010 and that's a whole other post in itself!

The Big 3.0.

My best friend, lover and father of my children will be... dun dun dun ...  30 years old this month.

The actual day of his birthday (the 15th) will be the first day of our student Fall Retreat. So, he has made me promise not to do anything on that day. He says too much stuff will be going on. And of course he wants the focus on the students and not himself .... that's just my husband :)

So my daughter and I made an executive decision.

Since we can't celebrate on the 15th, we've decided that every day leading up to his birthday (starting today, October 1st) we will let him open a gift. That way he really feels celebrated.

30's a big deal!

I've warned him that some gifts will mean more than others ... some will be store bought .... some will be home made! Some will be small and insignifigant and some will be gifts he will keep forever.

I'm excited for him to be celebrated for a little while.
And man, it was fun shopping for him!  
He deserves it!
I can't wait to grow old with him!