I'm alive! Barely....

I know it's been forever since I posted, so I wanted to update and let everyone know I'm alive...like I said in the title...barely. I have been pretty sick for the past week, and missed 3 days of work. That is totally not like me! Anyway, poor Rocky has been super sick, as well. He somehow contracted kennel cough and has been coughing almost non-stop for about a week now. We have both been absolutely miserable with upper respiratory infections, and I am totally worried about him. Poor little 6 pounder just can't take being sick very well! I just hope Max doesn't get it, too. They say it is extremely contagious, and I actually think I got sick from Rocky. :-(

Anyway, it's Christmas at my house! I managed to get decorated in the midst of all of this, so I wanted to share a few pics of what I've done. I also realize that I haven't posted any good pictures of the finished house, so these should give a little glimpse of what it looks like. I've still got a few things to do, but I'm pretty happy with the way it has turned out. I'm really enjoying it for the most part. Still can't decide if I want a roommate...it's nice to have the place to myself, but sometimes I think it would be fun to have someone to hang out with. I stay extremely busy, so it hasn't really been an issue, though!

My tree

Christmas card display...stole this little idea from a picture in a magazine

I made this wreath, and there is one just like it on my front door.

Yesterday I hosted a shower for Kelly Kirk at my house. Not a great idea to do this when you feel like you are deathly ill, but it turned out great thanks to the other hostesses who were able to pull it off with me! It was a holiday shower, and she got some really cute Christmas stuff so that she and Phil can decorate their apartment next year. Her aunt even went all patriotic and got her red, white and blue lights since Kelly & Phil live in DC! The pic below is of the other two hostesses, Susanna & Heather, me & Kelly. I miss these girls! We (well, they) are scattered all over the U.S. right now. Suzy is in Austin, Kelly in DC, and Heather just moved from Dallas and is about to go to Seminary in New Orleans. At least this means I've got great places to go visit!

I'll try to be better at updating, but I'm not making any promises.... :-)

New House Pics

I do plan on writing an actual post soon, but for now here are a few new pics of the house. Still a little boring, but at least there is now something to show on the inside. They are supposed to be installing lighting today. We're still on schedule to close on October 8th, and I can't wait!!! My interior paint colors actually turnd out to be a good bit lighter than I had wanted, so I'll probably be spending some time at good ol' Home Depot picking out new colors, but I guess lighter is better than darker. And, who knows? Maybe once the flooring and everything else is in I'll like it...

Front of the house (notice the SOLD sign!)

Front Porch

Back Patio

Den

Another view of the den

Kitchen

More kitchen

One of the guest bedrooms

Guest Bathroom

Master bedroom

Another view of master with my 2 walk-in closets...can't wait to fill them up!

Master bath

My tub...where I'll relax after an 11 hour work day like yesterday! :)

Another Door Opens!!!

Well, after one door closes, usually another one opens. That is what has happened for me over the past couple of weeks. I found out last night that the builder of the house that I wanted accepted my offer! I'm totally thrilled and freaked out at the same time! I'm now in the process of picking everything out...from paint colors, to hardware, tile, light fixtures, etc. I love to do that kind of thing, so that is the exciting part! The freak out part is just how broke I'm going to be after I gain this house note! Not exciting, but I think I can deal with it to be able to live somewhere that I feel safe and comfortable. The builder says it should be ready sometime around the second week of October. We'll see...

I'm going to try to keep this updated with pictures of the progress. Here is one (horribly angled) picture of the front of the house about two weeks ago. Not much to show of the inside, so I'll refrain from posting boring pictures of blank, unpainted walls with no cabinetry or trim. I hope to have a housewarming party sometime after I'm settled in, so y'all will have to come out to see me!

One Door Closes

I know it's been a while! I've stayed very busy lately with work, moving, etc! I don't have any really exciting news to share, but just wanted to update to let everyone know I'm still here. For anyone who doesn't know, everything was final last Thursday, so I am now a single girl. It's pretty strange, but I'm just ready to move on with my life and see what's in store for the future!

I've been looking at houses and also apartments. I'm having a hard time deciding whether to rent or buy. I know the market is great right now to buy, so I'm leaning more towards that, but I also might rent for about 6 months just to get everything in order. We'll see!! I'll keep everyone updated! I'm actually going to look at a pretty great house tonight after work. I don't have my hopes up though, because the last two that I did that with were pretty big disappointments. This one seems to have potential. It's pretty large and has 4 bedrooms, but it is a little older. I'm definitely considering getting a roommate or two, so if anyone knows of someone looking for a place to live let me know! (They have to like dogs!! I'll have my two little ones with me!!)

Anyway, other than that I'm just super excited that it's football season! I went to Starkville this past weekend for the big "W" against Southeastern Louisiana, and I'm going back this weekend for Bulldog Bash. Hope to see a bunch of you there! Also, I hope I remember my camera this time, so I may have some pictures to post! Have a great week!!

Happy Birthday Heather...almost!

I'm planning to post about my recent trip to the Neshoba County Fair, but I'm waiting to get pictures from Heather. My camera was dead, so I don't have any of my own.

So, in the meantime, I'm posting pictures from this weekend. One of my best friends, Heather, who is the one selling her house in the post below, is celebrating a birthday this Wednesday! So, this weekend was dedicated to celebrating with her. Beside that, there is no other point to this post. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Heatherly!

Me & Clare

The girls...Kate, Susanna, Clare, me & Heather

Kassi, me & Heather

Heather & Colbert

Edward & Clare

Movin' and Shavin'

One of my best friends and current landlord ;), Heather, is moving on up in the world! She has decided to leave her hometown and see what the Lord has in store for her elsewhere. All that is certain right now is that she is temporarily moving in with her sister and her husband in Dallas until she figures it all out. Please say a prayer for her as she heads off on this journey! I don't worry at all that she will not find the perfect opportunity. She is such a smart, fun and great girl, and she has a voice like no one else. I can see her going off to sing on Beth Moore's praise team or something exciting like that!

Anyway, what this means for now is that her cute house in Madison has just gone up for sale. It would be a great opportunity for a young single person, newlyweds or someone older who might be looking to downsize. I'm posting a few pictures below if you or anyone you know might be interested. The house is in Post Oak/North Place subdivision (it is on the edge of both) in Madison and she is asking $137,500. Comment, email or call me if you want more info!




Also, last Friday I took one of my babies, Max, to get his annual shots. His coat has gotten VERY matted up recently, so I asked if they could groom him while he was there. Groom him they did! They said he fought it so much that they had to gas him up and shave his entire little body, even his tail! Poor baby...his hair is just so fine that it has to be this way. They put a little bow in his hair even though he's a boy. I think he looks so cute! I don't know if it was the gas, or just the fact that I "saved" him from the vet that afternoon, but he was loving and kissing all over me on the ride home! What a sweet baby!

Help Please!

I need a cute blog header. Who wants to make me one?!? I don't know how. Or, if you just want to tell me how I'd love to know! Thanks!

My New Niece (Sort Of) and A Special Delivery

That, my friends, is my new niece (sort of). Introducing Maggie Cannada, my sister and her husband's new puppy. She is a Boykin Spaniel and this picture makes me want to hop in my car and drive straight to Birmingham to kidnap the precious thing!!! Don't you want to go with me? She is the daughter of "Homeless the Dog" who has appeared on numerous TV shows and is known as the "laziest man in America's best friend". He can fetch just about anything that his owner asks for. Beer, coats, firewood...you name it, he can probably run and grab it for you. Cathy and Baker got to witness Homeless fetch a drink for the owner when they went to get Maggie this weekend. Jealous.

This is what I found at my front door last night when I got home. I absolutely LOVE getting mail, so you can imagine my joy when I received not just mail, but a PACKAGE!!! I was ripping into that thing like a kid at Christmas! My sweet, sweet friend Libby sent me all kinds of great stuff!! I got a Max Lucado book, Traveling Light, a devotional book, Russell Stover chocolates, awesome smelling and relaxing lotion and candle, a cute OPI nail polish and some note cards. She knew just what all I needed to cheer me up! Thank you so much, Libs! You're the best! It really made my day, and probably my week! I wish I was the kind of friend that was thoughtful enough to do this kind of thing. Not that I don't love my friends, but this is above and beyond. I'm going to try to be more like this!
Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and that everyone receivies something that brings them joy!

Fun Weekend on the Coast

This past weekend I went to Gulfport to visit my good friends Megan and Paul. We had so much fun eating at great restaurants and going out on the boat. If you get down to the coast make sure to visit Pappa Roni's Italian restaurant in Vancleave. You would not believe how great the food is. It is all made from scratch daily. I had the lasagna, and she even makes the noodles for each order. Unbelievable! Megan had the Crab Alfredo and it was excellent, too! It's also BYOB, so it makes for a really inexpensive dinner. You have to make reservations, though, beacause I would assume it only seats about 20-25 people. Well worth the drive! There is even a live musician out on the courtyard playing the saxaphone. Great local experience. You do have to go next door to the barber shop to use the restroom, though!

On Saturday we took the boat out with another couple to Ship Island. Poor Paul got stung by a jellyfish, so we didn't stay where most of the people were, but we went on around to a more secluded part of the island where it was actually nicer water and no jellyfish. To say my back is sunburned is doing an injustice to what the sun can actually do. I will probably have skin cancer just from that one day out on the boat. Nice. Here comes the peeling!

Hope everyone has a great week! My car is still for sale.....

I'm Moving On

Life is full of changes! Even though I am going through one of the toughest points of my life at this moment, I am thrilled at the aspect of beginning again. The Lord has brought a great peace into my heart, and I know that everything is on course as He has planned for me. It's as if I have been given this great gift of a fresh start. I have felt every emotion possible in the past couple of months. I know that I have a long road ahead, but that road has so many names...exciting, exhausting, stressful, scary, happy and blessed all at the same time.

I am so fortunate to have the best friends and family by my side. I want to thank everyone for all of the love and support I have felt recently. I know that the Lord has placed each of you in my life for a reason, and you have certainly fulfulled it! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You all continue to be my rocks, and I am not sure where I would be without each and every one of you. Every email, phone call and visit has not gone unnoticed...I cherish each little thing that you do for me, and I hope that I have been and will be that kind of friend to you as well.

I think that there is probably a song out there that could fit almost every moment or situation in life. Right now, the song that fits my life best is Rascal Flatts "I'm Moving On". No, not every lyric means exactly what they probably meant it to mean to me, but if I think about it long enough each line carries some significance as to my current situation. My favorite line is the one in bold "At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me." For a little insight into my life right now, read the lyrics below!

I'm Movin' On by Rascal Flatts:

I've dealt with my ghosts and I've faced all my demons
Finally content with a past I regret
I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness
For once I'm at peace with myself
I've been burdened with blame, trapped in the past for too long
I'm movin' on

I've lived in this place and I know all the faces
Each one is different but they're always the same
They mean me no harm but it's time that I face it
They'll never allow me to change
But I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong
I'm movin' on

I'm movin' on
At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me
And I know there's no guarantees, but I'm not alone
There comes a time in everyone's life
When all you can see are the years passing by
And I have made up my mind that those days are gone

I sold what I could and packed what I couldn't
Stopped to fill up on my way out of town
I've loved like I should but lived like I shouldn't
I had to lose everything to find out
Maybe forgiveness will find me somewhere down this road
I'm movin' on