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

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!

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!

Dragonboat Races!!

I had a blast today! It was the 11th annual Dragonboat Races in The Woodlands! Have you ever been boat racing? Talk about an extreme arm workout! I had a blast though! The day's events entailed more than just boat racing. We participated in Human Fooseball, Volleyball with a solid net while bouncing in a bounce house, Dodgeball, Texas Snowboarding, and Name That Tune.



I had so much fun, but it was extremely HOT today, despite the fact that it's almost October! My team consisted of Junior Leaguers, and we kicked butt despite the fact that we were "just volunteers!" (You had to be there!)

I do have to admit that my behind hurts from sitting in the boat...but lucky for me, I have enough padding to keep it bearable...lol!

Hope your weekend was fun! I still can't believe that I made it through today...I'm SO NOT the outdoorsy type, but I wanted to step outside of my norm....I'm glad I did!

Fall = Changes!

I.love.Fall. I don't know if it's the turtlenecks, cute designer jeans, the boots, or the fact that the humidity is gone in Houston, and my hair doesn't frizz...I just love it!

While it's not completely Fall here, the temperatures are dropping, and I anticipate the change. Anticipation...that's a good word to describe this season that I'm in! I'm totally focused on my 90 day plan, and while the road is not always an easy one, I know the end result will be worth the blood, sweat, and tears.

I know my life is changing, and while I can't verbalize it...I just know it. For the heck of being random, and because it's my blog, I CAN at least tell you of some little changes that I've made so far...

1. I've switched my toe nail polish to a deeper pink that I love to bring in the new season...life changing I know...lol!
2. I started taking a daily vitamin, and it makes me SO HUNGRY...I don't know if that's a good or bad thing yet...I'll keep you posted!
3. I bought some really cute Christmas decorations, and I'm still searching for the perfect Christmas stockings!
4. I've started reading the Twilight series, and I had NO desire to...but I caved!
5. I joined a book club with some ladies from work...super pumped about that!
6. I'm in the process of completing my dream poster, destination 30! YIKES!!! I have about 13 1/2 months to go, so I better get busy!
7. I'm participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure next month...

After focusing on some things during this time...here's what hasn't changed:
1. I still struggle with pride and having humility
2. My tongue is still one of the quickest out there...ugh!
3. I love ministry...excited to see what God does here
4. I'm still very much so impatient!
5. Sometimes I seriously wonder how God puts up with me....thank you Lord!
6. God's mercies are new EVERYDAY, GREAT is His faithfulness...

Changes are everywhere in my life, and I can only pray that they keep coming as part of the Lord's will!

I'll write more later...maybe I'll include a pick of my cute feet...HA!

P.S. My back has been hurting since Wednesday, so please say a prayer for me for God's healing! Just to let you know the seriousness, I took an 800 mg Motrin tonight, and if you know me at all, you know I NEVER TAKE PAIN MEDS!!!

Goodnight...leave me a comment if you'd like!

New Car Blessings!

Ok..so since the last time I posted A LOT has happened! Remember I told you about my 90 Day Focus? Well, that is still going strong!

Have you ever had so much to say, but can't get the words to come out right? Well, that's me today...I can't get my brain and my fingers to get on the same page!

I can tell you this...I got a new car! The details behind this story are just amazing! Two weeks ago, I took my car into the shop because it was trembling. I expected a couple hundred dollars, and Froggy and I would be good to go. Well...that Tuesday, I called to see what the damage was, and got the "bad" news....$5500 motor replacement, or in the words of the technician...."it's time to get a new car honey...!"

I have to admit...I started to panic...I mean, I was planning on purchasing a new car, but I wanted to wait until the new year..to get a "good deal." Needless to say...my attitude about the entire situation was less than ideal.

I'm ashamed to say that for a moment, I forgot who was in control, and who allowed things to happen. I started to calculate gas prices, car notes, insurance on a new car...UGH! BUT GOD! He had a plan all along. To make a long story short, God was in this from the very beginning, and He couldn't have picked a better car for me.

It has EVERYTHING I ever wanted...and more, the price is right, and the interest rate...heavenly. God is so faithful! Here's my new ride:





I still don't know why I waste my time worrying about the details of my life. God has my best interest at heart..I hope I start remembering that!

I'll write more later, but I've got an early morning, and a late day!!!

90 Days!

So yesterday I got the brilliant idea to challenge myself for the next 90 days. I'mparticularly focusing on three areas: spiritual, physical, and my professional life.

I had a couple of people ask me specifically what this meant, and what I would do, so here goes!

Spiritual: I'm focusing on reading a chapter of Proverbs a night, as well as doing a bible study. I have two books that I'm doing over the next 12 weeks; 'Me, Myself, and Lies,' by Jennifer Rothschild, and 'Lady in Waiting,' by Jackie Kendall. I've read the entire book of Proverbs numerous times, but it's so thick with wisdom, that I have to do it again. Lady...is a book that I first read from my WOW days at Baylor.





I wish I had my original copy with all of my notes, but I've since purchased a new copy that I'm filling with my thoughts.

Lately I've been feeling like I need to go beyond....if you know what I mean at all. I'm hoping these next 90 days will allow me to do just that.

Physical: I'm hitting the gym again, cutting down all carb intake to one day a week. It's going to be really hard not drinking sweet tea...help me Lord!

Professional: Bottom line, I've got to get my business in order!

I realize that this post may not give you the depth that you were looking for, but I intend to blog quite frequently about this experience, and guess what...you get to read!!! Lucky you!

Hope you have a great night!