Thursday, December 31, 2009

Hail and Farewell!

I know I haven't posted about Christmas, and here it is New Year's Eve, but can I just tell you how excited I am that 2009 is coming to a close! It was a rough year for me. I can honestly say that I lost more, cried more, received more, and laughed more than in any other year!

I'm ready to see what 2010 has to offer! Now, if I could just figure out something to wear tongiht! Definitely something to go with these:



This was one of my Christmas gifts...stay tuned to see what I actually make it out of the door in!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!

I'll be in later to post, but I hope you all had a GREAT day! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

It's Christmas Eve, and I'm sitting around with my family. We just finished watching a video where my cousins and I, my Mom, and my Aunt Sheila at my Aunt Jennifer's wedding!!! HI-LARIOUS!!! We can't sing...not well anyway, but boy did we try. Good times, and so special to watch since my Aunt Sheila passed away in August.



I've been having such a great time with my fam in Mississippi. My cousins and I have enjoyed SO many laughs....I miss being around them!

I've been to the mall EVERYDAY this week....and that is NOT an exaggeration. I'm all malled out (GASP-- I NEVER thought I'd say that). So far, I've gotten all the gifts, but I've wrapped nothing. I'll get to it I suppose before our exchange tomorrow.

The only thing I asked for this year were shoes, and I can't wait to see how Santa delivers. I.love.shoes!

We went to church tonight...the Christmas Eve service. A couple of pics from this week are below. Enjoy!!

I've been thinking a lot lately about 2010, and what I would like to accomplish, but honestly, more importantly, what I want God to do in my life. 2009 was a great year, but I really am looking forward to what's in store for 2010. One thing I can say that I will be working on is transparency, transparency, transparency....UGH! That is SO SUPER hard for me....I'd much rather stay vague, ambiguous....SAFE....I'm working on it, but it is not easy for me.

Anywho...I've rambled on and on about a ton of things, but I've got presents to wrap and family to hang out with! Merry Christmas friends!









And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth Luke 1:14 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

Happy Monday friends! It's 2:30 in the morning, and I'm wide awake! I'm getting the last of my packing and laundry finished before I leave for the holidays.

I'm really sleepy, but I figure I can sleep on the plane.

I probably won't be able to blog often while I'm out of town, but if I get a chance, I'll hop on here. Don't worry though, I'll take plenty of pictures and post them when I return. I can't believe that we are less than 10 days until 2010. That is so strange to me. 2010...I'll turn 30 this year, and who knows what the year will bring. I'm very excited about it though!

Here are some pics from this weekend. One of my really good friends Danni moved to DC three months ago, and she's home for a visit. We met up at Lucky Strikes downtown. I was so excited to hang out with her Saturday.

This is a pic from my sorority meeting. I took this picture for my grandmother because the lady I am pictured with, Soror Mattelia Grays, is my sorority's 18th International President, and was also my grandmother's college suitemate at Dillard University. She told me I was a smart woman for not following my grandmother...who's a Delta!


Tav and I


This is all of us!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Out the Door!

Oops! I didn't get a chance to post yesterday! Shame on me! I have a full day today. Sorority meeting, finishing up my Christmas shopping, Cheerleader Christmas Party, and bowling tonight with my favorite friends...well, you're all my favorite!!!

I just wanted to hop in here and say Good Morning! I'll be back later with tons of pictures. Oh, and somewhere between all this fun, I desperately need to PACK! Fun Saturday...make it a great one! ~J

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Almost There!

I have so much to do before I leave to go out of town Monday! I really don't know how I'm going to fit it all in, but somehow, I know it will get done!

Tonight...I'm exhausted. I can't wait for tomorrow to complete itself so that my Christmas break can officially begin. TIME FOR ME!!! I'm still looking for a few books to read over the break, so if you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. I average a book every 2 days or so, so the more suggestions, the merrier!

Yesterday, I mentioned about my teenager from church who needed me. I spoke with her today, and I think I'll take her out for her birthday when I get back in town. I think she'll love it, and I can let her vent..bless her heart!

I wish I had the energy to write more, but I just don't! Have a great night friends!

~J

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Conviction!

1.5 more days, and I'm off work for two long weeks! YAY! I mentioned earlier that I'll be with my family, but I'm also hoping to get some time to myself, to think about what I want to accomplish in 2010...or shall I say, what God would have me to accomplish.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed tonight. One of the youth at church specifically asked for me tonight, and I wasn't there. Knife.in.heart! Is this how you parents feel when you can't be there for your children? I mean, I could cry because she needed me, and I was not available.

Balance is definitely something that will be at the top of that list, and while I know I'll never be 'balanced,' I do need to prioritize more. So, tonight, I'm looking forward to new beginnings, and getting my stuff straight! That may just take me into 2011...LOL! Nite!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Christmas Time is HERE!!!

Is that Charlie Brown song stuck in your head? OMG! I can't believe it's been well over 2 1/2 months since my last post! I promise to do better in 2010. In fact, I'm getting a snazzy new blog layout to go along with my committment to "blog more!"

I LOVE this time of year! Yesterday, I checked my mail, and had 7 Christmas cards!! It was so awesome getting to see my friends' families, and to see the creativity of the cards. Now only if I can get mine in the mail...they're coming people...hang in there!

For the sake of truly getting in the spirit, I'm posting the decorations I've put up around my apartment. I'm so proud of everything that I found. Can you guess where the majority of my decorations came from? Yep! Hobby Lobby! Southern Living is a close second!

So, without further adieu, here's my Christmas 2009 Tour:










Here are some of my favorite ornaments:








Here are a few pics from the Junior League Holiday Market Committee Christmas Party:







What are your Christmas plans for this year? My Mom and I are flying to Mississippi to be with her family. I honestly can't wait. I love my cousins to death, and I'm already planning the activities for us to keep ourselves busy. Not to mention, I haven't seen Karmen since August, and she's talking so much more now! Taboo, talent show, shopping, and just sitting around reminiscing. It's one of my most favorite times of the year.

Let's not forget about the food. I gained 3 pounds over Thanksgiving, have been working my butt off to lose those pounds, and a few more, only to have a reserve for the damage Christmas is sure to bring. When you get my Mom, my grandmother, and my Aunt Mickey under one roof cooking together....oh.my.goodness! Don't worry though...I'm packing my work-out clothes, and Mom and I are already planning to run the neighborhood MANY times!


I'll be back with more pics and stories as the rest of this Holiday season unfolds. Until then...later gators!