I should be studying or reading

Instead I made this winter Wordle. Have a great week and pray for me....TONS of work to get done and I am getting easily distracted:) Also, I don't think these will ever get old for me...I LOVE them:)

Royal Wedding

This short post has only one purpose. That is to praise Prince William and his lady Kate for selecting their wedding date. They have picked the totally fabulous weekend of April 29th! Since the birthday of yours truly is April 28th, and I think that April is the best month EVER......well let's just say I give them lots of credit:)

To acknowledge the great event going on over the pond, I might need to get a birthday tiara
 (like the one above). Kate hopefully won't be the only one getting princess treatment that weekend:)

I am in a silly mood.....but really I am excited to share my birthday weekend with royals;)

Explained....Black Friday

It makes me laugh to see the different opinions and reactions to Black Friday shopping.

Joy, wonder, shock, confusion, and the list goes on and on.

Let me try to explain to those who have never been, or hate crowds, what the Black Friday experience is like for me, and the other brave early risers. Note: I am not an extremist...I have never camped out for a deal...those folks have their own story;)

See, it starts a few days before Thanksgiving when I begin to think of the gifts I need to get for friends, family and myself. The list can get hectic quickly.

This is quickly followed by the thought that I just cannot afford to get the gifts I want for others (and myself) if they are at full price.

BAM! The motivation and energy for my Black Friday shopping is born:)

On Thanksgiving day I pour over the sales ads to formulate my plan of attack (Tricky stuff, this step!). You will not see me still in a store after 11 am on Black Friday. I get up, I get going, I come home! (That is the key for me.)

With my lists ready and coupons clipped, I pack my purse and lay out my clothes the night before. Then I try to get to bed early b/c 3,4, or 5 am gets here real quick.

I am a semi-pro at this and so I know how to judge the crowds etc. Also, I can be patient when it comes to saving $$$. For me the feeling of getting an item on SALE is bliss. I treasure the fact that I was not the typical, full price paying consumer (I know it's a little weird).

Usually I chat with others in line and the workers because I am so happy with my purchases.

To conclude....I am not a Black Friday online shopper. The instant gratification part helps get me to the stores. Also, I have never purchased huge electronic devices (again that is another group's story).

However, Sabrina's Black Friday 2010 was very successful:) Happy Shopping!

My days

Since this blessed vacation has started my days have morphed from the typical Athens, grad. school thing....which I adore:)



My days right now are fond memories as I drive down shaded Florida roads.



They are instant smiles, sarcasm and belly laughs with my girls.



My days are volunteering with precious children and former colleagues. ( 1 morning with Julie's babies, 1 day with my Roberts family!!!!)



My days have been getting over a bad stomach flu thing.



They are recipes, and menus and eating, and quick naps!



My days are road trips with my sister.



My days are constant moments that have me thinking about how good God is.



My days are sweeping by and leaving me wondering....how is it that 2010 is almost over???

Reason, Season, Lifetime

It is FRIDAY and this little lady is EXCITED for SOOO many reasons:)



Yesterday in discussion with friends we started talking about the idea that Friendships fall into 3 categories...



Reason Friends (good)



Season Friends  (better)



Lifetime Friends  (best)



I had sort of heard of this idea before, in my head I had changed Season friends to Situational friends.



However, in our small group of 3, I was able to admit that one of my growing edges is season and reason friends. In the moment they are great but how do you admit when the time is up? And why am I always cutting friends off in order to protect myself? Deep stuff.



You see the whole conversation started with us complaining how in the technology age, the three of us felt kind of out of the loop. We feel this way because we all crave communication of the talking kind. Texts, emails, blogs and such are nice but you just cannot get at a persons emotions when you cannot hear them..or so we feel anyway.



Spurred by this conversation I did some Facebook pruning this morning (seasonal friends mainly). On the other hand I know that I am going to get to be with some of my lifetime friends very soon. Thank You Cherika for traveling for our reunion!!!



I guess...I know the balance of friendships is tough for me. I think I want too much. I know that I have had friends drop/replace/get too busy for me.....and so now I overreact.



However in the end, when I look at my lifetime list and see all that we have been through and will I pray continue to go through, I am humbled and grateful. I definitely don't have it all right, I know I mess it up even more times than I realize, but God has given me great friends of all types anyway...so that I can grow and hopefully become a better friend in the long run.

Cake Inspirations

One of the blogs that I enjoy is The Hungry Housewife. I LOVE her humor and over the top, delicious recipes!!! After a love affair with cake earlier this year I had kind of cooled off. Life just got too hectic for cake...gasp!

Anyway kudos to this site for waking up the baker in me again. I now have 2 cake ideas to try. They both look super delicious and fun.

First I have this Ruffle Cake. I am in awe!!! Can I recreate this look??

Then there is this Rainbow cake. WOW! I am thinking birthday for this bad boy:)

Sorrow

In the last week or two I have been reminded of the true, gut-wrenching sorrow of my past.

Life is sooo good right now...and that just speaks to God's great mercy and plan:)

This morning at the track it was a cloudy, wet day but after a few laps rays of sunlight burst through the clouds. It was so pretty and reminded me that the sun and the Son look brighter after dark days.

God has bought us (my family) through SO much. Losing one aunt to breast cancer. Losing a cousin in the war in Iraq. Having a sister get a kidney transplant. Losing another aunt to cancer. Having my dad have prostate surgery. Good grief it was such a painful, low time in my life.

Those things broke me.....but God was faithful to rebuild and to construct something strong and beautiful instead.

Sometimes I do look around and wonder why am I so happy? I think the answer is just that I appreciate joy and life more after the darkness of sickness and death. I know that I am more aware of the possibilities of each day. Heavy thoughts for a Monday morning....but that's just life....heavy mixed with light. Humor mixed with grief. Pain mixed with triumph.

Thanksgiving

The most delicious holiday around is almost here. And let me tell you, Food Network is rolling out the big guns to inspire every cook in America. Each time I turn to my fav. channel they are cooking up something new and yummy. Need a recipe idea for your Thanksgiving menu....well just click here....and you can thank me later:)

In the spirit of the season I wanted to make an Acrostic poem like I used to do with my 3rd graders.

This THANKSGIVING I am thankful for/that

Time to see my family and friends who I LOVE so much

Holiday time where I can escape from grad. school for a while

A road trip with my sister ( praying safe travels for all the turkey days commuters)

No plans to go Black Friday shopping (biggie for me!)

Kurling up in my bed in my childhood bedroom (spelling error permitted for the sake of creativity;)

Smiles and laughs with those who I love the most (I'm planning on seeing all of my best friends during this trip)

God's compassion and grace

I have an amazing family to lean on (both those bonded by blood and those bonded by faith)

Victory for my Noles (now this is just a wishful prediction)

I can coast out to Fernandina Beach and get these feet in the sand and waves

No regulations on my sugar intake for a few days (well maybe.....)

Going back to Roberts Elementary (best job of my life so far, on so many levels)

Walking in a Reading Wonderland Part 3

With a new month comes a new book in my Reading Wonderland series..haha that sounds so professional:)  Here is Part 1 and Part 2 if you missed out.

Today's book was suggested and purchased for me by my fabulous daddy. It's called Up the Down Staircase and I am guessing you can't guess the topic from the title.

This book is about a teacher's first real teaching job out of college. I LOVED IT! First of all the humor is so spot on for anyone who has ever been a teacher. Also, the format of notes and memos was unique. This book deals with the fact that the students are often times not the worst part of the school day...and some days they are...but in a humorous way. It's just a great read!!!!

Lessons in Leaves

So picture a beautiful Fall tree...kind of like this one..

Lately I have noticed people trying to cling to something that is dying. I do not mean physical death either.

I mean trying to revive terribly broken and harmful relationships.

Or just traveling the same path that caused heartache in the past.

Doing that is like being a tree and trying to keep all of the Fall leaves. In reality the beautiful leaves above are dead. Think about that...something can seem beautiful and it can be dead. Life and the world says that what I am saying is impossible, but I know it to be true.

Imagine if we did what the smart Fall tree does. If we let the dead leaves, and dead things in our life fall to the ground,  like they need to, like they were meant to. Imagine if we actually freed up ourselves to growth and the budding of new fresh, vibrant green leaves like this...

If you have been holding on to a Fall leaf....go ahead and let it go..it will soon crumble in your hands anyway...you will be fine....actually you will be GREAT because the growing season that brings Spring leaves is a marvelous thing:) Happy Monday!

God's will be done

I am not sure what mental picture or ideas this blog title brings up for you.


Maybe you think about the Lord's prayer...(Matthew 6:9-13)

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.



10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.





11Give us this day our daily bread.





12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.





13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

or maybe you think about Romans chapter 12

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Or you might go somewhere completely different. Here is where I want to go today.

I want to be a follower of Christ who is close to God's will. I want to be open, and following him daily so that his will in my life is just a natural byproduct of our relationship. Tall order Ms. Stewart, but the benefits...oh the benefits of this type of life are numerous and calm.


If I want to live this way it should be heard in my prayers. Often I lay out my requests and then add the tag.."and God's will be done." How much more powerful to pray for my friends and family and say " God may your will be done for (insert name)." Of course God wants to hear me and I am sure he gets a real kick out my plan for the lives of my friends....but I do need to go to him more in trust. In the life changing faith that there is such a thing as God's will and that it is massive, and comforting, and confusing, and good all at the same time!

Compassion

Each Friday my day is blessed by my one on one Bible study with my friend Lauren. We are reading through the book of Luke together and though he had both read it before, it is hitting home as we really delve into it each week. Questions are welcomed, we always share experiences and life stories that are relevant to our study, and we have both found out the great power of a Bible Concordance.


Two week ago we were reading about one of the miracles of Jesus and the Bible describes his compassion. My eyes honed in on that word. What is compassion? According to Merriam-Webster it is sympathetic consciousness of others distress together with a desire to alleviate it. WOW! After that Bible study I prayed to have more compassion. I felt like I was/am lacking.

God answers prayers, and sometimes it is just by opening my stubborn eyes. Two times during my walks at the UGA track something has happened that really touched me. That made me slow down my pace and pray right there. First, I met a man who was a cancer survivor but had lost two siblings to cancer. He started a conversation and blessed my day all at once. What strength! I didn't know how to help materially, so I prayed for him and his family and their needs. I might never meet him again but he touched my heart.


Then today as I walked I saw a young man, maybe 18 or 19 with a prosthetic leg. The amazing thing to me was that he was running for the UGA track team. Watching him not only live, but trive bought the tears to my selfish eyes and they are still there now. What a story he told me without even one word! Young people are not supposed to get sick. But, I know that it happens and it changes lives. Again I prayed for him and his family and support system and his future.


Ask and you shall receive... God means that and how we cheapen that idea when we only apply it to stuff! Shame on me for doing that too often. However, my compassion is growing and it makes me a better woman and I love that:)

Travels=Joy

( def. not MY suitcase...I wish I was so neat!)

For sure there is one thing I can claim at the ripe "old" age of 25.....I LOVE TO TRAVEL!!

Traveling Alone...yes!

Traveling with family...great!

Traveling by train or bus....it won't kill you!

Traveling with friends....awesome!

I like to travel here, there and everywhere. Before 2010 rolls out, here is where my suitcase will be touching down:) (PS- I am SOOO excited I find myself just grinning randomly!)

* Tallahassee (the weekend before Thanksgiving)
* Jacksonville (the rest of Thanksgiving week)
* Kansas and Missouri ( 5 December days in the Midwest)
* Orlando ( DISNEY FAMILY CHRISTMAS!!!)

Like the title says Travel=Joy!!!

Sisters!

A wonderful weekend with my little sister had me thinking about the sibling bond, especially between sisters.

I love my sister and she is a blessing in my life for sure. She tells me things that only a sister could.... and I listen. She has this totally different, yet eerily similiar personality to me which can be cause for smiles and sometimes verbal jousting. I am pretty sarcastic and so I usually win!

I found this article about the health benefits of having a sister:)