Spring is in the AIR!

Yes, Spring is finally making a grand entrance! Which means beautiful blooms, colorful blossoms and plenty of pollen. Already my eyes feel swollen and my nose is drippy.  But who cares! Beautiful weather is here for the week, crazy highs in the 80's which is WAY over the norm, and snow/sleet/ice is nowhere in sight. Whew.  So thankful. :)

I'm addicted to Cherry Blossoms, did you know that about me?
You can buy this here. 

Yesterday, walking home from my parents house, I wanted to run up and hug the Cherry tree in my sister's backyard.  I planted it there several years ago and it's really grown to become a beautiful tree. It's so full of light pink blossoms, it's just made to dream underneath.

More Cherry Blossom awesomeness.  HERE

I wish I had the guts to do something like this in my bedroom.  Granted my bed backs up to a window, so I'm not sure I could do this directly over/around my bed... but the walls beside it maybe? Hmm... Anyway...

IT'S SPRING!  Ohhh... I'm so happy to have warmer weather - so happy to see sunshine - so happy to see flowers and colors and happiness! EIK!

Ok, so yeah, that was basically all this post was about. :)

Photo Challenge Wednesday - 12

What day is it???  HUMP DAY! ... and Wednesday which is Photo Challenge Day! :) Woop Woop!  It's kinda fun and confusing at the same time to post these in the middle of the week, but since the year started on Wednesday, I've kept the weeks in line with that date. 

Let's get started, shall we?

                 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014:  Heading for H.O.M.E with a peaceful sunset.  Ya'll have seen this church several times, I think it's just a cute country church close to home.

                               

                   

                  

Thursday, March 20, 3014:  Wow, I didn't realize how snap-happy I was on Thursday.   :)   We were preparing for a Saturday election all week, with a steady stream of people coming into the office to vote.  I decided to Spring up the place with flowers. Also, it drew attention to our award - the office was voted Outstanding County of the Year by our state association.  :) YAY FOR US!

It was nice to see some Spring blooming - granted since then we've had another freeze so I probably damaged everything.  Pooh.  That night, Donna and I went to her local high school play, Grease, which was fabulous! Those kids do such a great job.  We always enjoy their plays.

       

Friday, March 21, 2014:  Sweet Niece #2 came by to visit while her mama voted absentee.  Katie was actually the last absentee voter! I can't even explain how much work goes on behind the scenes to hold even the smallest election... but it's alot.

                               

Saturday, March 22, 2014:  Election Day! Left the house at 5:45 a.m. and didn't get back until 10:15 p.m. So... it was just by luck I took this photo to send to my sister-in-law.  It's a very crappy photo of my scrapbook, which I was working on during the slower times of the Election.  :)   While I like the concept of Project Life, I've got to learn how to be more creative with it.

                     

                    

Sunday, March 23, 2014:  BOTH SWEET NIECES ARE HOME! WOOP WOOP! I so enjoy having time with both girls, they are just too sweet.  I sent this pic to AH's great-grandmother, in hopes to cheer her up (she lost her sister this past week. I can't imagine having a sister for 80+ years and losing her). Please say a prayer for her.

                             

Monday, March 24, 2014:  Thankfully, Spring is really beginning to show out! I love it! Blooms are on all the trees, the Yellow Belles are covered in blossoms, the rose bushes are pruned (thanks Mom!) and starting to show new growth - the world is waking up again.

           

Tuesday, March 25, 2014:  I know, you've seen this barn before, too, but I can't help it. I'm fascinated by it. I had to pull over on the side of the road and take a quick pic, the wind whipping my hair in a million directions.  Katie thought I was broken down with car trouble, only to realize I was just crazy to take photos in this cold windy weather.  But I finally got the shot I wanted. :)


So now it's Wednesday again and today's photo will show up next week.  I'm debating ordering some magnets of these more scenic photos from Sticky9.com especially since they have a buy 2 get one free deal.  But do I need 27 magnets of random photos?? Hmm... not too sure about that. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Ok, let me run.  Hope your week is going well - drop me a hello so I know you are out there. :)

--- Beth

My First Kickstarter Gift!

I'm pretty excited, ya'll.  I've given to various places/charities.  I've found teaching things online at the Donors Choose and helped out a school project.  But this is my first Kickstarter Campaign and I'm so excited!  Mainly because it's one I really get behind and believe in.

Ok OK! So what is it?!

She Reads Truth

What is She Reads Truth and why do they have a Kickstarter Campaign? Weeeellllll, I'm glad you asked. :)  I stumbled upon #SheReadsTruth from someone else's blog and checked into it.  Basically, it's a devotional for women, by women, and it's really cool. I first started reading the plans using my Bible App - YouVersion.  Loved it.  They have a writing style that I "get."  I started understanding the Bible through these devotions and things really started opening up for me.  It was exciting.  And the folks commenting on the website were great, too. It would be so encouraging to see someone else read and understood the same thing I did!  This is what put me onto reading my Bible on a daily basis.

They've moved away from them and are running the devotionals solely from their website at this point (or so I think).  It's a little more cumbersome, still the great messages and energy, but just a little more cumbersome.

Needless to say, I'm over the moon about this app.  Because this, my friends, will be awesome.

So I'm sharing the info with you for a few reasons - one: if you have wanted to get closer to God, to learn what He says, what He wants for you, what He is all about - this may be a good place for you to start.  It really helped me.  It's definitely made changes in my life. (Not #SheReadsTruth, but the Lord through this avenue.) two: if you find you like it and would like to help promote God's word to people - specifically women - all over the world, please consider a contribution.

I'm excited. I'm a dork, I know. I've been wanting to find something to endorse on Kickstarter... so happy to have found my avenue to do so! :)

Go check out She Reads Truth!

Photo Challenge Wednesday - 11

All I can think when I type 11 is, "This one goes to 11."  Name the movie if you know it. HAHAHA!  Anyway, Another week in the books, marching along towards April! Maybe Spring will finally arrive in the coming week? It would be great...

Wednesday, March 12:  Happy birthday, Daryl.  Daryl was my best friend's husband, who passed away much too young.  Gone at 37, he would have been 42 this year. My friend and I celebrate with cupcakes at his grave, which is located in a pretty, peaceful, off-the-beaten-path place.  It was a beautiful day.  Afterwards, we went to watch Ellie play some softball.  Swing batta batta batta ...

Thursday, March 13:  I confess this is the FIRST day all year I have missed taking a photo. I couldn't believe it when I realized it.  This is the photo I posted for Throwback Thursday, so enjoy it instead of a new photo. :) My siblings and I, peering through the window of Clay's jeep.

Friday, March 14: Mom (I mean MawMaw) reading to Sweet Niece #2.  So thankful Macy loves books. She is learning, ya'll, she is LEARNING! It's crazy to see how quickly she'll memorize her books. And watching her play pretend is just darling.

Saturday, March 15:  Macy's mom and dad took off for the mountains and Macy stayed with MawMaw and PawPaw.  I really enjoyed spending some quality time with her in the great weather. She wasn't feeling the best, but she was so sweet. (Do you see the hints of Spring!YAY!)

Sunday, March 16:  I couldn't resist Sweet Niece's feet in her ballet slippers/socks. Watching her run around in them was just too cute.  And look! More signs of SPRING! Granted we had freezing weather after this... but still, for a moment we saw hope for a warmer day.  This is right off the front porch, so when I go outside I see this. :)

Monday, March 17:  Top O' the Morning to You! Happy St. Paddy's Day! I thankfully remembers some green bracelets to keep me from being pinched.  I wonder if Sweet Niece #1 wore the green braids my mom picked up for her? Hmm.. I need to check on that.

Tuesday, March 18:  Ya'll, I realized I had taken NO photos again last night.  Since I was totally not getting out of bed, you get a pic of my night stand.  Pens, bobby pens, change, hair ties, ... well, you get the idea.  Yesterday was a hot mess, so this picture is pretty accurate.

I'm excited to start a journey through Jonah with #shereadstruth and I'm inviting you to join in.  It just started yesterday, so it's not like you are behind or anything.  Visit shereadstruth.com to see the devotions.  Good stuff.

God is good. Even when we feel like we are being punished or forgotten, He is there by our side, telling us to have faith in Him, because HE sees the overall tapestry while here we are focused on one little thread.  It's hard. I won't lie.  It seems to go against what we want to do sometimes. We like to think we can take control, march down our own path because in our little circle of knowledge, it seems to make the most sense.  But have faith, pray, talk to God, and ask that He make you BRAVE to go where HE tells you to go.  I'm still learning this! I am definitely taking baby steps! But I'm thankful to have so many of ya'll encouraging me with the example of your own faith.  So thank you.

Ya'll so have a great ending to this week and maybe I'll see you back here for Friday's letters. :)

Photo Challenege Wednesday - 10

We are already into March, ya'll.  And I have to ask you - where did the time go?! Any plans I had for 2014 are a quarter of the way SHOT because we are that far into the year.  Just baffling. 

My week was a good one, although busy.  This week is more of the same! But it's all good, even if I am missing several episodes of The Voice between this and last week. 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014: My journals! One (the bottom) is a journal I write in from time to time for my niece.  It follows from before she was born through her acheivements and funny stories.  One day when she's old, I'll give her the stack of journals.  The top one is my prayer journal.  It's about the third or fourth one.  If I write, it's usually at night before I go to bed.

Thursday, March 6, 2014: Project Life!!! My first pack for Project Life scrapbooking and I'm EXCITED! Yes, this crap is p.r.i.c.e.y. But I do like the concept. I'm sure you'll see more in the coming months. :)  This house is on my drive into work and I just like it. It's so romantic and Southern in my opinion. Thursday included dindin with my friend, Sara!! YAY!

Friday, March 7, 2014: Holy cow the rain on Friday. What a dismal day.  But by quitting time it was drying up and made for a decent drive home.  I'm sick of this weather, that's for sure!

Saturday, March 8, 2014: Saturday morning I had a work event, so my coworker and I left extra early for a visit to Cracker Barrell before the event. YUM! It was a foggy morning and at one point in my drive, the road dips down under the fog. It's just neat. By the time I got home it was a BEAUTIFUL day.  Here, my sister, niece #1, dad and niece #2 are enjoying the weather on the backyard swing at Katie's house.  So good to have Sweet Niece #1 home this weekend.

Sunday, March 9, 2014:  Church, of course.  Then lunch with the family.  Afterwards mom and I hit the Wee Sale to stock Macy up on summer clothes.  Wow she's growing so quickly! At 20 months she's in some 3Ts.  Good grief.  Found something things for AH, too, but she had already left for her mom's house by the time we got home.  As you can see, Macy wasn't working too well with me and the camera.

Monday, March 10, 2014:  This whole Spring forward on the time thing is evil.  But it does get me out of the house in time for some pretty sunrises. :)  Look at that! Isn't it great?! My morning started with four REAL kisses from Macy so I knew it would be a WONDERFUL day. And you know what, it was pretty darn good.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014:  After several long days in a row it was nice to come home to a Sweet Niece visit. Granted she wasn't happy when I wouldn't give her my phone lol!  I also visited with the kitties. Awwww.  A pretty good ending to a long day.

So that's my week!  Today I'm celebrating with my bestie the birthday of her late husband and my good friend. We have to appreciate the time we were given but it still sucks. He was a trip - and dearly loved my friend. He's missed. 

Y'all have a good week and I'll see you back here soon. I've got to get moving!! :) 

Friday's Letters!

Be exuberant! :) 

Does anyone ever click on these random things I post from Etsy?  Just curious. Because Etsy houses some really cool things and I love finding new treasures when I need an image.

Anyway, toady is Friday- whoo hoo! and this week really zoomed by me.  Not that I'm not ready for the weekend, but since I'm working some this weekend, it doesn't have quite the same appeal. But it's all good. Let's dive into Friday's letters, shall we? I think it's time.

DEAR GOD - You are AMAZING and I'm so thankful that you respond to my worries and fears even when I don't tell You about them.  AND when you answered my worry, you also delivered me four shirts with my company logo on them... which was great! So yes, I hear You and I'm sorry! I'll try to do better about talking to You about everything.

Dear Sara - Enjoyed dinner this week and catching up on the funness of your life. And learning what the X sounds like in Spanish.

Dear American Idol & The Voice - Wow.  AI, you are just having a horrible season.  And I blame the judges because they are the ones that put these people through to this level.  But The Voice seems to be doing well so far! Love Shakeria and Usher over Christina and Ceelo (I'm sure I'm misspelling all these names, sorry).  So I'm much more excited about The Voice.

Dear Project Life - Holy cow your stuff is expensive!  (Anyone getting rid of Project Life stuff??) I purchased the starter kit and I'm excited to start my own scrapbook.  To catch up on the past 38 years of life and hopefully stay caught up. Gracious, it's going to be a journey.

Dear Raynore - I don't know what's changed yet (I'm guessing I'll hear in a letter!!) but I'm SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!  Watch out, NC, here she comes!

Dear happiness - thank you for visiting me.  Maybe the lack of sleep is making me giddy but I'll take it. :)  It sure ain't the weather making me happy (the weatherman said if this rain were snow, it would be 30-40".  CRAZY!) So happiness, come back and visit with me any time!

So there.  My letters to begin my weekend.  Ya'll have a good one and I'll see you back here on Wednesday, if nothing else! :)

Smile!

I admit it.  I totally stole this from Renee at Southern Gal Thoughts when I saw it on her blog.  Smiles are infectious, right? So I wanted to join in the fun! :)

I just adore this picture.  She's so happy, the dimple is almost poking through... You can't see it in the picture, but she's barefoot, too, and loving it. Such a sweetie.

So you can join the fun, too... Click the linkie below!

 
Read more at http://www.iheartfaces.com/how-it-works/grab-a-button/#BoG4qyQqLes68pMU.99

Photo Challenge Wednesday: 9

Ya'll, I had one of those moment where God took care of me! I teach training classes at night that don't end until 9 p.m. I've never been nervous teaching the night class but there was scheduled to be only one guy and me. In a building where no one else would be.  So yeah, I was nervous. But then one other guy signed up... and then, a gal that works close to me and her son. I told her, YOU ARE MY ANSWERED PRAYER! :) I was tickled to have the problem solved.  I never asked for a solution, but God knew it was worrying me and took care of it. :) 

So, let's get into my week: 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014:   Let me tell you - this little girl has her PawPaw wrapped around her little finger. They are such a good pair, Macy and her PawPaw.

Thursday, February 27, 2014:   The boss and I hit a trade show in Columbia, the state capitol.  Love the Palmetto Trees! The trade show was EH but the day was beautiful. That night I made a set of shamrocks for the boss to give to her friend's little girl.  I was so honored to be asked!

Friday, February 28, 2014: Dindin with Donna! This bizarre paper box is located in the lobby of the restaurant we ate at - and it always kinda creeps me! But at least it's something unique and entertaining.

Saturday, March 1, 2014:  Sweet Niece #2 picking flowers for her daddy.  I just thought this was too adorable.  Mom and I hit furniture stores that morning and learned a lesson about sales: DO NOT spend 2 hours talking about yourself and your opinions if you expect me to purchase your product.  Oh my gosh.  Mom was much too nice to that man. 

Sunday, March 2, 2014: My brother was baptized! For the second time! We grew up Presbyterian and we sprinkle as infants.  He and my sister-in-law joined a Baptist Church, which doesn't recognize the sprinkle and goes for the dunk! Good service, lots of energy.  Really enjoyed it and am so happy they have found their home church!

Monday, March 3, 2014:  Driving home and I finally got a pic of this barn and trees! It was SO COLD.  We went from in the 70's on Sunday to sleet on Monday. I can't wait for winter to be over and spring to get here. Hopefully one day soon!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014:  Awww... Macy snuggled with MawMaw reading her FAVORITE book, There was a Coyote.  Find it here on Amazon. She A.D.O.R.E.S. this book.  And it's so cute because she has it memorized so she'll start reading it to you. SO CUTE. I have class tonight from 6-9 p.m. so let me go set up. :)

Hope you enjoy!