Just in case you wanted to know...

What I've been up to...read along!
1. I've been busy planning the PINK! Young Women's Leadership Conference! I know you haven't heard much about this, and perhaps I should devote an entire post to it...but for now, here's a tidbit. It's a conference hosted by my school, put on by my non-profit targeted towards girls in grades 6-12.

What I envisioned as an audience of 50-100...maybe 200, has quickly grown to 500!!! Humbling to say the least! It's in April by the way, and I'm hoping to catch you up to speed before then!

2. Doing projects for my principal as an intern.

3. Schoolwork...yuck!

4. Cheer practice...when will it end?!

5. Traveling

6. Preparing to present at the AP Conference in Philly next month. About that: I seriously DO NOT belong in a league with the other presenters. So unqualified...pray for me!

7. Answering phone calls from my cousin using the Tango app...she's obssessed, and apparently she thinks I'm cool because she calls almost daily...but it's so cute!

8. Pre-planning for Malitta's bridal shower and bachelorette part in NOLA!

9. Eating tuna and taco soup...LOL!

10. Cutting back on sweet tea.

11. Working on holding my tongue...this is SO hard!

12. Getting excited about the warmer temps! Cut sandals and wedges, skirts and dresses, and a really great tan!

13. Balancing my life a little more. I'm still working hard on this one because I am really SO busy. I know I say that a lot, and I actually thrive off of the busyness, but a little lull would be nice!

So...now you know what I know!!!

The Real Thing

It is no secret my love for iced tea! I could drink it all day, everyday if my kidneys could keep up. The problem is...it's not good for my weight loss plan..but I digress!

Earlier this week, I was out to dinner with my friend Kim, and I decided to treat myself by ordering a glass of iced tea. I was SO excited because I have cut WAAAAY back on my iced tea consumption. I'd like to take a moment to explain to you what iced tea does for me...

It's like my coffee, my soothing drink, my stress reliever. If I am having an especially rough day...iced tea will most likely calm my nerves...it's my happy place! (OK, now that I sound like a COMPLETE psycho...I'll get to the point!)

So, back to Monday night. Our waitress Candace, don't ask me why I remember her name, brought me my drink, and I immediately took a sip. I couldn't wait. However, it wasn't sweet enough. (Disclaimer: I don't like SUPER sweet tea, but I do like for it to be sweet)

Needless to say, I was so disappointed. I quickly told Kim, kind of under my breath that it wasn't sweet enough, but I wasn't going to send it back....I had decided to just deal with it. Well, Candance overheard and offered to bring me another glass. I thought nothing of it.

Now, I've had this happen before, so I didn't think that this new glass would be any sweeter...so you know what I did? I'm still working on my patience, so I took two packets of Splenda, and tried to 'make it work!' It didn't.

It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It had that artificially sweetened taste, and it wasn't what I knew it could be.

However, Candace was true to her word, and brought me another glass, and you know what my exact words to Kim were after taking that sip??? "This was SO worth the wait!" Yep! That's what I said...OK, here comes my point!

In that moment that I spoke those 6 little words to Kim, I heard clear as day God say to me that my season of singleness will be worth the wait...IF I don't settle for an artificial sweetener! WOW right?!

Talk about a punch to the gut. I've never shared this on the 'ole blog, but I went through a season where I settled for a Splenda kind of guy. He wasn't bad (really he was, but I didn't know it at the time), but he wasn't good. He wasn't the real thing...not at all!

Do you know what the definition of artificial is?: made by human skill; produced by humans (opposed to natural)

Do you see that? Can you see what happens when we make our own way? When we try to produce what God so desperately wants to give us for ourselves? I don't know about you, but I'd take natural, God made, and HIS design for my life ANY day than ANYTHING that I can conjure up on my own!

So, I hope this little nugget inspires you to seek the right...and walk in truth!! Don't settle for the artificial when you can have the real thing. It really opened my eyes about how subconsciously I may have been settling and not waiting for everything I am entitled to!

'How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!' Psalm 119:103

**I promise all of my posts won't cover this topic...but I promised Kim I would blog about it!

He has not Forgotten

Today is Valentine's Day, and I have to be honest I was semi dreading it. I hate feeling ungrateful for what I have by coveting what I don't. It's not a characteristic that I like to exhibit...

However, today has turned out to be such a lovely day. My kids were so sweet and couldn't wait to tell me Happy V Day...AND..I'm on a yellow dog with 20 of my favorite Valentines..you can hate me now!!

To be honest...my heart skipped a little beat when I assured myself that one day the Lord would grant me a Valentine that would cause me to forget all of the times when I was my own Valentine...that is what I'm holding on to today folks...that God cares and He hasn't forgotten about me..or you!
Happy Love Day!!!

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And then you have these days...

Sometimes, even when you don't have what you think you want..you can't help but have those moments that take you by surprise, and totally make you grateful for everything you have. I'm having one of those moments right now!!

I.am.so.grateful. I am beyond blessed, and I know it. I hate those days when I lose focus of all I really have!! Life is so short, and I really want to take it all in!!

Just thought I would share that with you guys. I'm grateful..even when I'm whining and throwing a temper tantrum!!


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What if.....

I never get married????? There I said it....I've written it in print for all of the world to see....now you, yes YOU can say that you know the burning question that burdens my thoughts at least a squillion times a day...Don't believe me...really, it's just that many. And, I've found those thoughts to be sneaky suckers too. They pop up into the most random places.

I have to offer this disclaimer....I'm not waiting for a man to come rescue me. My life is not on hold, and yes, I am fully aware that when the timing is right, God will send him to me...I GET THAT! If I were honest, I'd tell you that my life is quite the opposite. I work my fingers to the bone, clocking sometimes 14 hour work days, am juggling a very active social life, and a Master's program, gearing up for my Ed.D program, filling out a charter school app (more on that later), and still focused on creating my non-profit, but well you know the rest. With all of that being said, it doesn't stop my mind from going there. Especially when I'm getting a little older each year, if you catch my drift. Oh, and by the way, I have happened to have read the story of Sarah, and how God blessed her with a baby in her 80s....really people, do you think that makes it better that my singleness is being compared to a biblical miracle....I'm laughing just as I type this! Oh the things people say~!

I guess my purpose of this post is in the last few months, I have encountered many Christian, beautiful, successful, sweet women, from ALL different races who are single, and ready to mingle...sorry, I had to do it! And I want to know why?! Not necessarily from Him, but just why. Why is it that it happens for some, and not for others? I guess the answer to this question is right along side the cure for the common cold.

I'd also be lying to you if I didn't admit that being single at this age makes me ask myself what's wrong with me? I can already hear my good hearted friends yelling at your computers that this is a trick of the enemy, and I am inclined to agree with you, but I am human, and I am/have been guilty of wondering if I am the issue.

You should see the poor look in my mother's eyes when she says, do you have any prospects? Poor thing...she wants grandbabies so badly...and I guess she doesn't get it either...

Oh, and I've heard all of the 'advice', but how about we re-visit for a good laugh:
-you need to get out more (I'm at home to sleep and shower)
-use this time to get closer to God (as if there is a measurement, and everyone knows it but me)
-allow Jesus to be your man (this one puzzles me the most)
-when you're least expecting it, it'll happen (tried that...still single)
-there is so much for you to accomplish as a single... (YES! using this to my advantage)
-you're so pretty...I don't see why you aren't dating (uhh...thanks)
-you're just too picky (maybe, but I'm picky with my fruit too...what can I say?!)
-and my all time favorite from the person who knows me best...J, I really have no clue... (sigh)

I have sincere joy for each person in my life that has found their personal love story...honest to goodness truth here...I'd just like to double date sometimes too! Now before you order my straight jacket...I don't need it...just sharing what's on the heart...no need to panic!

So...here's to a hopeful (or maybe I shouldn't be hopeful for fear of ruining the 'least expecting it' element) 2011. Lots of great stuff going on already, and so much to be thankful for..and truly I am...but again, there are those times...

Happy Friday friends!

November 7, 2016

I am behind on posting....if I were honest with myself, and you, I'd tell you that I have a partially written post dating back to February of this year. It just so happens to be the Junior League ODI post....then there's my trip to New Orleans complete with pictures that still needs to be written, my photo shoot from September, life in general, Junior League Super Saturday, and I really could go on....but I won't, because today, I have another post in mind.

The other day, I had to order a new driver's liscense because my current one will expire soon. It was a very surreal moment for me...

Rewind 9 years ago....November 7, 2001. I had just turned 21, and I celebrated in a very typical way that one celebrates, but I digress. I remember picking up that liscense, and seeing the date, November 7, 2010. My immediate thought is that I would be 30 the next time I'd need a new liscense. (I can really remember where I was at that moment, and everything...so weird)

30 seemed like such a long way from where I was at the time. I imagined what life would be like, (reality lends a very different picture btw), and where I'd live....it was just so weird to think of myself as ever being 30.....but, what a difference 9 years make....NINE YEARS!!!

In about a week and a half, I'll be 30 years old!!!!! THIRTY!!!!! I don't feel 30...if 30 feels like something. Heck, I still feel 21. I live a busy, active life. In fact, I love my life. Sure I have my bad moments, but overall, at the end of the day, I can count my blessings, and see God's hand. I don't think I look 30...I am still carded...which by the way, I'm becoming more and more thankful for! I don't even know if life changes much for me because I am about to be 30.

Sure, I wonder when 'it' will happen, but that's another topic for another day....

I have many hopes for this 30th year of life..and I'm working on a post entitled, "If I knew then what I know now..."

Oh, and for the record...yes, I will be 36 by the time I need a new liscense....we won't even go there...I've learned that it's easier to be ready for everything...you never know what's headed your way!

Have a great hump day folks...2 more days, and I'm with my family in Mississippi....I can't wait!!

Friday Randoms

Have you ever wondered why Sonic is the only fast food establishment that provides peppermints? Classy I tell ya!

Today is Friday, game day Friday! There are exactly three more games this football season, PTL! Every time I attend a game, I mentally thank my parents for coming to every single game without fail....EVERY. SINGLE. ONE!!! They folks, deserve a medal!

My house looks like a tornado hit it.....literally. In fact, when I walk in, I get anxious. This will change. Tonight. Whilst I'm drying my hair and singing to the tunes of my iPod! Speaking of my iPod, a song came on this morning whilst I was doing my make-up that took me back to an Alpha Step Show after party....do y'all remember that party? The one where we wore camo??! It was by far THE best after party to date...anywho...I took a moment to bust out my dance moves...because, it's how I roll in the mornings...really it is...I just may take my show on the road! I'm that good...oh I kid!

Anywho...I just thought I'd pop in here and spread a little I'm so glad it's Friday love...oh, and 9 weeks of school is over, and it's three weeks until my birthday, oh, and 2 weeks before I see my family in Mississippi!!! Have a great weekend!