Good Bye 2008

Dear 2008,

It is so hard to believe that it is already time for you to be leaving. It seems like you just moved in. And now at your departure, I'm kind of sad. I wish you would stick around. The Lord has been so good to me while you've been here. Yes, the Lord is always good but for some reason I've felt extra blessed while you've been here. Maybe it's because I met you as a newly engaged gal....or maybe because you were around during the time of my wedding. And now....I'll only see you in pictures and memories.

In a way I wish you could stick around...but then again I'm excepting great things from Mr. 2009.

I will miss you my friend, 2008, but I will never be able to forget you!

With all my love,

Stephanie


*To my other non-year friends, enjoy this smilebox. I must warn you that it's kind of long. It's all the pictures I could find of Michael and me from 2008, minus our engagement pictures. (I'm really sad about that but my copier will not let me scan them because I'm out of yellow ink. Mind you, I'm not wanting to print them, just scan them to my computer...but this is a whole nother post in it's self!) Some of these pictures I stole...I mean borrowed from Jen's blog....they might be a little blurry because they are stolen. Enjoy

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Warning--a boring post!

Michael spent Saturday recovering ( I just happened to sleep/rest with him to make him feel better). Sunday he was able to go to church and even sing his solo in the play Sunday night (He is the bestest singer ever!!!). His parents came up Sunday night to watch the play and hear their boy sing. It was nice to see them and spend a little time with them.

Michael had to work Monday so that knocked our Dolly Wood trip out until Saturday. Saturday happens to be the last day they are open this season. I wonder if the place will be busting at the seams with all the mad-crazed Dolly Wood fans. I'm still excited to spend some time alone with all the other mad-crazed Dolly Wood Fans and my sweetheart.

I didn't feel real good yesterday. After a run to K-ville to have our wedding bands inspected/re-dipped/cleaned, I slept all afternoon. I feel much better today. My appetite is back. I've already ate half the kitchen this morning and am still going strong. (No mom, I'm not pregnant!)

Hmmm, is there such thing as an award for the most boring blog post. Someone should nominate me after this one....Don't fret...my life is more interesting when school is in session.

Scripture Sunday

1--He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2--I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3--Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4--He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalm 91:1-4

Summing Up My Friday

Yesterday I decided to stay around the house. I did a little cleaning and a lot of relaxing! It’s times like these that being a school teacher really pays off. I’m even having a hard time keeping up with what day of the week it is, I’M LOVING IT! Michael called at lunch and told me he’d really like to have Spicy Cheeseburger Soup for supper. As a new wife I was so excited! It was the first time he had ever requested a meal. So I got busy. In the mean time I happened to look in the mirror and had to laugh. I made the decision that I didn’t want to be an old ratty housewife that never fixes up for her husband. So I jumped in the shower, dried my hair straight and even put on makeup and my wedding rings. Now mind you I was still sporting my T-shirt and night pants but it was a huge improvement.

I finally heard Michael pull into the driveway. I met him at the door like I usually try to do. His first words to me were “I feel yucky!” Little did I know how yucky he felt. He laid down for about an hour and a half…and then it started. About every 15 minutes he was throwing up. It was absolutely horrible. A few years ago I had the privilege of staying with Papaw Kring as he was dying with colon cancer. Michael was sicker than I ever saw him. I ran to Kroger’s and bought popsicles and over the counter medication. I started getting worried. After about two hours of throwing up, I went out and met my mom who had some better meds and ran by Kroger’s again (good thing we live so close) to buy some Gatorade. His complexion really scared me when I got home. He looked like a dead man.

I’m not sure if Mom’s meds finally calmed his stomach down or if he ran out of stomach content but he finally fell into a restless sleep at about 2:30 AM.

I ended up eating soup alone. (I have a lot left in the frig, if anyone is interested). Sometime in between all his bad spells Michael noticed the makeup and hair. So it was worth it. After running out so many times I realized it turned out to be a good thing that I fixed up some. I would have hated to see someone I knew looking like I had.

Michael was suppose to work today. (He works every third Saturday and then is off on the following Monday). A friend of mine gave us Dolly Wood tickets, so the plan was to use them on Monday. I’m assuming he’ll have to work now since he’s not going in today. I guess we’ll go next Saturday.

It’s 7 AM now. I slept very little last night in the living room floor. I just gave Michael some medicine to lower his temperature. I want to make sure he keeps it down before I go back to sleep.

Oh, did a mention we are re-performing our Christmas Program at church tomorrow? This is the program that Michael sings a solo in….not sure whats gonna happen there.

Please say a prayer for my sick husband.
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In other news my oldest younger sister text me at 5:15 AM on Christmas Morn to tell me she had got an engagement ring. Not to seem old or anything, but I clearly remember the day she was born. I was so excited to have a baby sister. For those of you who do not know Punky, She’s the life of the party. She definitely has added a lot of spice to our lives. Congrats, Sis!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Whoosh...

the sound of Christmas whizzing by in a blur yesterday….the children unsuccessfully trying to leash on--to be taken away….cameras snapping in haste trying to fully capture the moments…laughter in excitement of a new toy, frame, gadget…tummies rumbling as pleasant scents drift from the kitchen…hugs exchanged after the perfect day…

up the road stands a worn trailer. She’s probably sitting in it. She can’t help the lawn appears like a junk yard. It’s not her fault tin is falling off her home. She’s not to blame for the Disney towels that are hung over the windows as curtains. She is only a child…Did she hear the whoosh yesterday?

last year I made certain some of the laughter fell her way. This year….busy, selfish, procrastinating? Not even a qualifying excuse. If only I could go back a few days…I could make it right…Time can be harsh.

Did you show the love of Christ this season?

Merry Christmas

Matthew 1:21--And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

2 Corinthians 9:15--Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

May Christmas be not just a day-long celebration but rather a daily life-long attitude of Thanksgiving for the gift we have in his son.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

I'm enjoying a quiet Christmas Eve at home. I'm a little sad because Michael has to work but hopefully he'll be home soon. I've been sitting here reminiscing last Christmas. As a newly engaged gal, I spent Christmas overseas with Dad and Bryan. Although I missed Michael, Kosovo, Italy, and Switzerland were awesome. Think I'll make a smilebox to share some pictures.

Last night we went to my moms and exchanged gifts. For those of you who will see mom, check out the big rock on her finger....you'll be jealous!
Tomorrow we are gonna have a full day between going to his parents and mine. I'm excited. Which reminds me, I need to run to Kroger's and Walgreen's to get a few last minute baking ingredients and a gift bag. If I don't see you today or tomorrow.....

Merry Christmas!!!!!

(hope to see you soon Dad!)

Make a Smilebox greeting

Ten Reasons Why I Heart Christmas

I love, love Christmas. I’m almost a fanatic about it. Here is why…..

#1—The Music. There is something about the beat and excitement in it. The day after Thanksgiving I start listening to Christmas music nonstop. …in the house, in my classroom, in the car….everywhere! Last year at a conference in Gatlinburg I won the “name that Christmas tune game”. It was great!

#2—The Food. I like food, and it tastes especially good at Christmas.

#3—Giving gifts. Seriously! I know a lot of ways Christmas is over- commercialized but you can give gifts without going overboard. We set a per person budget, and only bought for close family. We don’t get to do much for the people we love throughout the year so at Christmas its extra special picking out things I think they’ll like.

#4—Getting Gifts. I’d be lying if I tried being all modest and say it’s just about giving. Michael went shopping last night and I’m dying to shake my gifts under the tree. But I made a solemn oath that I wouldn’t so much as touch them (plus I think he has them booby-trapped).

#5—Christmas Break. Two weeks without my 20 lovely students….Need I say more?

#6—Memories. All the Christmas memories I have from growing up at home. From getting up at the crack of dawn to look at my gifts and then going back to bed before anyone else got up to the year we made sugar cookies complete with icing.

#7--Making new memories with my Hubby. Being married is great! I'll not soon forget our first Christmas together. Also it was around last Christmas when he proposed to me.

#8—Making Christmas Ornaments with my friend Carly. This is a new thing we started this year but plan to keep doing. Don’t make fun, we made around $180.

#9—Spending time with my family, (even the flakes).

#10--The lights. Oh my word! I could stare at Christmas lights for hours!!!!

Why do you love Christmas?

Christmas Party

Saturday we had our Sunday School class over for a Christmas Party. It was a hoot! We got to see a side of some that they usually don't show! We are definitely gonna make this an annual tradition!

Here's a group picture:









We played a game where each team was competing to make the best reindeer antlers. It was super funny.

I'm still in shock that Jen had pantyhose on her head. She's a real trooper!

Billy wore the antlers for his group.

Rudolph (aka: Jeremy)

I've already spotted the best buck in this picture...

We also had a $5.00 gift exchange with a few interesting gifts....

I'm tickled with how the party went. The Lord has blessed us with an awesome group of friends. Thanks for coming, guys!

Taking the Plunge

Its official….I have became a blog stalker. It’s crazy, like an addiction. I have a ton of blogs that I check daily, hoping to see a new posting. I’m majorly disappointed when I log on and none of my stalkees have posted anything new since the last time I checked. *sigh* Getting back to the subject at hand….during the past few months as my addiction has grown and my stalkees have disappointed me time and time again, the thought crossed my mind numerous times “if I had a blog, I wouldn’t disappoint my readers”. Then immediately a new thought “if I had a blog, would I have any readers?” I mean really, am I interesting enough that anyone would want to read my blog? After having a battle in my mind for several months I have decided to take the ultimate plunge. I’m going for it. Maybe it will be a flop. Maybe I’ll be disappointing to my readers. Maybe I won’t have any readers….who knows. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. If worse comes to worse I’ll make Michael read all my entries….he’s always a good sport.