Thanksgiving 2012

Hey y'all!  I hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I must admit, it was very difficult for me to get a lot of work done on Monday and Tuesday of last week because I was so anxious to get to my family, but I managed to plow through, and before I knew it, I was headed north on I-45!

This year we did a little something different for Thanksgiving...we had breakfast at my cousin's new house, and then headed to the Dallas Cowboys stadium to see them take on the Washington Redskins!!!!  (We had Thanksgiving dinner on Friday...)

I'll be honest, I was totally going for the Redskins!  Many of you know that RGIII and I grew up together in the very same church, and such!  He is also a Baylor Bear!  So, there was no way I could NOT root for my homie...regardless of where I was...lol.

During the National Anthem...I LOVE that part of games...

This was during the coin toss!

My entire family came to the game, but we pretty much split once we made it into the gate!  LOL!  I sat by my sweet Granny!!!  This is my cousin Eboni!

Before I left to head to the farm, I put up my Christmas tree.  I wanted it to be up so that I wouldn't have to do it when I got home.  I know that most people wait until after Thanksgiving, and I will do that after I have my family...right now, it's all about convenience.  Every year I have the thought/prayer that it is the LAST tree that I put up as a single gal.  Only God knows right?! LOL..  Here she is in the flesh!

I LOVE my tree.  I love the holidays.  I love Christmas music, and how people just tend to be a little nicer during this time of year.  I DO NOT like the food comas I encounter, but the food is so good! I'll be at the gym tomorrow morning...I can feel the dressing, mac and cheese, and sweet potatoes in my thighs...lol

I came back Saturday and was home for about an hour before heading to Marcus and Malitta's gender reveal party.  I am happy to announce that my little bundle of love NEPHEW will be here in April!  I love him so much already...I can't wait to kiss his little cheeks and feet! 

Danni came down for the party, and IT WAS SO GOOD seeing her.  We hadn't seen each other since M&M's wedding in January, and we had a lot of catching up to do.  I love my sweet friends, and I love my little nephew!  I can't tell you how lucky I feel to have amazing friends in my life.  Not everyone can say that, and I am truly blessed.

I'll leave you with a little video I took during the big reveal moment.  It is so precious and captures just how excited we all are!  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

It's the little Things...

If I told you that I've thought about writing a million times, would you believe me?!  I partly blame the permanent residence of one iPad 2 making it into my home.  It makes it WAY too easy to not get on my laptop.  In fact, I can count on one hand how many times I've been on my laptop since August.  It's not that I can't post from my iPad, I just like to hash it all out on a conventional keyboard.

I haven't written in over 6 months.  SO MUCH has happened since then.  I hope you're my friend of Facebook, because memories are captured there.  

So let's see...how can I catch you up?  


September 2011
Pink Defying Gravity, my non profit organization hosted it's second leadership conference for girls.  It was AMAZING!!!  I wish I could put into words what it's like to have a vision from the Lord come to fruition... I can go back as far as I could dream in my journals and see written in the pages that I wanted to work with young women and help them realize their potential...that I knew God called me to a higher standard, and that I knew that He had a special plan for my life if I was just willing to submit and trust His timing.


October 2011
FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, and more FOOTBALL!!!  


November 2011
MORE football, AND we advanced to the playoffs...  I also turned 31...which I.cannot.believe.  I still feel 20..seriously!  I also spent my last Thanksgiving with my grandfather.  


December 2011
The football games continued...BUT, it all paid off in the end because we won STATE!!!  Our team played against Cibolo Steele, at the brand new Cowboy Stadium!  It was such an awesome experience for me and the girls!  They were so excited to be there!
Also spent an amazing Christmas with my family in Mississippi.  Lots of laughs, gained pounds, gifts, and sweet family time!


January 2012
My grandfather passed away...that's how my family brought in the new year.  He was the most AWESOME man that I know.  I can say with much conviction and belief that He is rejoicing with Jesus.  I have no doubt.  


My BFF in the WORLD got married.  She was a BEAUTIFUL bride.  Her ceremony and reception was gorgeous too.  Everything about that day was her.  I remember waking up in the hotel room with her and the other girls, and we were all so excited.  We then went to breakfast in the hotel, and enjoyed a delicious buffet.  It was a perfect day!  Levi and I also caught the garter and bouquet respectively.  Well...at first I swatted the bouquet away, but we won't mention that...let's just say terror struck, and I got a little nervous...LOL!


I also started the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course.  I was so nervous going into this.  I've always taken the laid back approach to saving and paying down debt, but this course makes you look at every penny.  I LOVE IT!  More importantly, it teaches me how to handle money.  So many people buy things on credit, going further into debt, and that is no way to live.  While I am not debt free (car and student loans), I gave up credit cards a while ago.  If I can't purchase it outright, I don't need it.  That's what Dave teaches, but to the infinity power.  


February 2012
Well, here we are...and let's see...what am I up to?  First of all, there is a budding relationship that I am excited about.  All I will say about this is NEVER say that it will take God to get you to do something...because with the sense of humor He has, He just may take you up on it.  This relationship has shown me God's grace, forgiveness, and just that sharing your life with someone just may be the hardest thing in life, yet the most sweetest.  


AND, if you know me at all, you know how stubborn, driven, and independent I am...which has taken some adjustments when you're..you know...dating a man who wants to...LEAD...eek!  Lord help me...AND him!!  We've fasted together, which totally rocks my world...to have a man FAST with me so that we can hear God, and shut out the noise...be still my giddy heart...smile!


My most favorite thing that happened today is a dear, dear friend read a little snippet of a prayer she wrote to God a couple of months ago...it touched my heart to have friends who go to the Father on my behalf...Jesus and His followers rock my world!  I ask myself daily how I got so blessed.  I do not deserve this life, but I will live it with passion and purpose!


Tonight...I started preparing the food for my board meeting tomorrow.  I made the cupcakes tonight...I'll ice them tomorrow, and I am also making homemade pizza rolls and Caesar salad.  I can't wait.  I got the recipe for the pizza rolls off of Pinterest...which by the way...I LOVE...but it's such a time zapper!  


I'll be sure to post pictures and yes, before summer...HA!  I've missed you guys...I've missed how soothing writing is!  
Have a happy Thursday!
J

Family Ties

If you know me at all...(seriously, I wonder how many times that phrase has appeared on my blog), then you know I am a total Daddy's girl! Hands down, he literally hung the moon, and is the best man on the planet!

BUT-- for Mother's Day weekend, my Mom and I are flying to Mississippi together to be with my grandmother and aunts! Y'all, I am so excited! Mainly because my Mom and her sisters are the most hilarious women on the planet. And my cousins....well just 9 of my closest friends!

Back to my Mom and her sisters...there's never a dull moment. We are always guaranteed to eat well, laugh a lot, and shop even more. I promise you, these ladies can make the most out of a shopping day...they wear me out! For example, when I was there for Christmas, we went to the mall 10 out of the 12 days that I was there....and those 2 free days, were holidays! We feel it's our duty to stimulate the economy! HA!

I've been anticipating this weekend since I bought my plane ticket...about a month ago! And, it's almost here. I love my family! They are the coolest people on the planet, and for the most part, we get along rather well.

--I interrupt this regularly scheduled program to let you know that I just received an e-mail from Priscilla Shirer's office....she can't come, BUT there's always a ram in the bush, and I've got some fabulous things planned....don't worry people...I will meet her one day...and it will be great!

So, I just had to hop in here and share my excitement with you....my faithful readers....I'm sure your Friday is now complete...HA! Oh, and for all of my Texas peeps....the beast known as TAKS is OVER! Praise Jesus....it's so hard to be quiet for that long...I like to teach....and actively watching the tops of heads is no bueno! But, until next year!

Have a fabulous Friday, and I just may be back later with pics from our End of TAKS celebration!!! Make today count...God loves you!

The Best of Intentions!

Tonight will be a random post! I baked a homemade cherry pie tonight! The cherries came from the fruits and veggies I got from my last co-op trip. I'm quite proud of it, and it is delish! The crust was a little tricky, and I have to perfect the pinching action, but all in all, it's a great first attempt! Go ME! I'm becoming quite the domestic diva...designer edition of course!!! LOL!



I mentioned the co-op earlier...it's going great! Here's a pic of the last batch of goodies I got...all for $10 mind you! I was so HAPPY and impressed with the variety we got this time around.



OK-- I'm warning you now that I'm about to take a seat on my soap box! I won't be on here long, but consider yourself warned! HA!

So a couple of days ago, I was having a perfectly innocent conversation with my mother, and we of course stumbled upon the topic of me and dating, or the lack thereof. The conversation started when I told her about a friend who joined eHarmony, and how she was in her mid thirties, no man, no kids...you know the rest!

Let me give you a little background...my mother WANTS GRANDCHILDREN...NOW, and since I'm her only chance, all eyes are on ME!!! LOL! Her twin's son, my cousin Jeff has a little boy, and she forever tells me about the pics she gets of little Jackson. You can hear the longing in her voice. But what can I do? I mean, I want a family one day as well, but you know the song...first comes love, then comes marriage, THEN.....

I tell you, between my mother, and my grandmother, I'm catching it from all sides! OH, and did I mention that my dad has also joined forces for Operation GTGM (get this girl married)! OK--maybe I'm overreacting, but trust me people...I'm feeling the pressure. I don't know when, I don't know who, but I do know that I have to wait on God, and that I want Him to be the center of it all. END OF DISCUSSION!!

So, while I'm sure they have the best of intentions, really...what do they want me to do? UGH! So, if you too are on this bandwagon...send up a prayer...don't tell me..I have no control over this!

Goodnight--
J

P.S. I survived the family reunion without too many conversations about the above conversation...my favorite quote of the day was, "I just don't get it...you're beautiful...why aren't you dating?" REALLY PEOPLE?! While I agree, I can't answer that question...HA!

Family Time!

I know, I know...I was doing so well with NaBloPoMo, and then I came to Mississippi. While my grandmother has a computer, it's still on dial-up, so needless to say, I have not been blogging...on dial-up!

I have so enjoyed my time with family and friends, and I can't wait to share my stories and pics with you when I have more time! I hope your Christmases were wonderful, and if you're anything like me...I hope you at all of the pecan pie you could swallow...smile!

I have been having such awesome fellowship with our Father. I can't wait to share more about that with you later too!!! Until I can catch up....~J

P.S. I'm definitely thankful for family, and the wonderful laughs and times I have spent with mine!!!