Check out this giveaway...

I went to college with this gal's husband. She is having a giveaway on her blog go check it out!

Click Here!

http://matandwhitney.blogspot.com/2009/09/life-and-times-first-giveaway.html

Happy Friday!

Remembering Poppa...

I am on the verge of tears as I write this blog today. Today marks two years since the passing of my beloved grandfather, who we lovingly referred to as Poppa. My heart is still heavy with grief and filled with sweet memories. My grandfather, was like no other. He loved to give others a hard time and would say whatever he felt at whatever moment with no other thought. I remember the many lunches and dinners spent at his favorite restaurants: The Quickie, El, Maya, Old Times and Waffle House. I look back on the times we spent discussing his life growing up, the stories that brought many laughs and "you really did that". I remember fishing on the lake and him always messing with a tackle box, or taking apart and then putting a fishing pole back together. I even loved that my grandfather was a temperamental man, it all was part of his character. When he was sick I enrolled in nursing school. He used to say, "When you get done you can take me out of here and be my nurse." During my first semester of nursing school I got the phone call in Mobile, saying that he had passed and that was truly the hardest time in my life. I had never lost any one that close to me at that point. Saying goodbye was so difficult, I could not wrap my mind around the fact that I would never see him again. He is one of the reasons I never gave up throughout the difficulties of nursing school. I would remember how he proudly told his nurses I was going to be a nurse and take care of him one day. This year that dream care true when I received my nursing degree and was pinned. I wished he could have been there. Even more so at my wedding, the pain stung like a knife when he was not there to see me marry the love of my life, nor is he in the pictures I have with me today. I am so thankful to have had my Poppa in my life for so long. I miss his dentureless smile, and him saying "I love you too" on the phone. I even miss his complaining. I am so grateful that the Lord blessed me with a wonderful grandfather. I miss him dearly and today I remember him and celebrate his presence in my life! I will always miss him but will see him one day soon in heaven.

It is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, It is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul

It is well, It is well with my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Has been nailed to the cross
So I bear it no more
Praise The Lord, praise The Lord, oh my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and The Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

It feels like Fall...

It truly feels like fall here in North Carolina. I have woken up to mornings this week that it is 48 degrees outside and the highest temperature this week was 76! I absolutely love this weather. The early mornings I am up I find myself bundled up on the back porch enjoying my coffee and the cool weather. Yesterday I spent the whole afternoon on the porch, tackling a crafty project and working on things on my computer. How could I resist beautiful 68 degree weather. I hope that you are enjoying fall as well. To celebrate my favorite season I have a basket of delicious North Carolina apples on my kitchen table, and I made my first wreath. Monday night I went Connecting Point which is a gathering for the women of Southeastern Seminary. The theme was get crafty which inspired my creative venture to make a wreath. So I went to Micheal's and purchased the supplies for less the 10 dollars. I then looked at an online tutorial began my venture. I was really happy with the end result. It was also a lot of fun! Now my fall wreath hangs proudly on our front door.

The yummy apples on our kitchen table...

Beginning the wreath making process...

The finished product...

Long overdue...

This post was promised a while back. I spent the first 2 weeks of September visiting my family in Georgia and took a lot pictures but here are a few from that wonderful visit.

My 97 year old great-grandmother and I

My Nana and I

My bestie came for a visit-Best Friends divided AL-AU. I miss Heather.

Saragrace- hamming it up, this little booger is who is in most of my pictures

My mommy and I

My silly dad
Cuteness- little miss Saragrace playing with the ipod she loved that it played music outloud
Kait and I with my Grandfather
My little sister Kait and I after our haircuts

I simply cant wait to see this sweet one year old agian- she smiles when you pull out the camera

Hope you enjoyed a few pictures from my visit!

Loving Season Premiere Week

I have found that since staying at home all this time with the blood clot I have too many tv shows that I love to watch at night. I can only guess the reason for my new found love of nighttime tv viewing is due to the fact I spent my nights the past 2 years glued to nursing textbooks, clinical paperwork, or exhausted from clinical days. This week has been especially exciting, as it is premiere week for most of the shows I watch. There has been some great premieres this week so far such as: House, NCIS, NCIS:Los Angeles, The Good Wife, Mercy, and Law and Order:SVU. However, tonight is the best night because tonight is Thursday which means Grey's Anatomy, and for my hubby The Office. I love Grey's and this premiere has been long awaited. So I am curious what is your favorite show don't be shy leave me a comment and let me know!

It is My Favorite Season

It is officially my favorite season. Yesterday was the first day of fall. Fall is a beautiful season. I love watching the leaves change from green to brilliant shades of orange, yellow, and red. I am so happy to finally be living in a part of the United States that has seasons. I love the smells of fall, nothing better than a fresh apple pie or pumpkin baking. Currently my home smells like a pumpkin spice candle. I am so excited about cooler weather, we have had a few tastes of it here in NC. I am so ready for it to be here to stay. One of my favorite memories of fall is from when my family lived in North Georgia. We would travel to an apple barn and get fresh bushels of apples and of course a fresh apple tart. Nothing better than an apple farm with fresh apples, apple cider, apple butter and more. Bob and I went to this same place in 2006. We went to the apple orchard got a fresh bushel and a peck of apples. Nothing better than fresh apples! I also love that this is the season to pick out pumpkins. Bob and I also went to Burt's Pumpkin farm, when we were in North Georgia, and hiked at Amicalola falls. I just love fall. So get ready for cooler days, and beautiful changes in God's creation!

These are some pictures from our 2006 trip:

Beautiful Leaves
The view from the top of the falls

Bob and I at the Pumpkin Farm

Some of the sights from our hike to the top of the falls
The view of the North Georgia Mountains

A Great Start To Today

Now normally I am not a big morning person, but I find it refreshing to get up early with my husband. Bob has class at 7:30 am 3 days a week, which means he has to leave the house around 6:20 am. My wonderful husband, is by no means a morning person. The alarm usually goes off about 5 times, and he is still dead to the world. I know you may ask why does he schedule class so early, and it is because of his work schedule. So my husband usually gets up around 5 am in the morning on Tuesday- Thursdays to finish off homework, and review for class. Most mornings I am still in bed and fall back a sleep but there are a few days that I get up with him. I love starting a day off having coffee and breakfast with my husband. It is funny because I left town for two weeks and suddenly my husband who never drank coffee drinks it everyday before class. It is a great start to our day together since he has such a crazy schedule we hardly see each other till 10 pm each night. I also love the mornings I am up after when Bob leaves. Why? I know I am surprised I do not go back to bed but I love to watch Fox and Friends. It is my favorite news show! If your up between 6am-9am check it out. Treasure the small moments with your family today! Also please join me in praying for the ReFRESH conference at Sherwood Baptist Church. This was my home church in Albany. God is truly moving. Pray for a time of renewal and revival for those who attend. Check out http://www.refreshconference.org/ for more information.

Blood Work

Today has been crazy with errands and getting caught up with things since I have been away for two weeks. Yesterday I went for my routine blood work, which tells whether or not my Coumadin is thinning my blood enough. Last time it was a little low at 1.6, it needs to be between 2-3. So my nurse practitioner called today as said my level was still low it was 1.8. So even with strict diet and increased dose I still am not at the level I should be. So she increased my dose of medicine and we have to go back in 10 days. The good news is other than my levels being low I am doing better! So I will just trust in the Lord, He has brought me this far!

HOME SWEET HOME

I am so happy to be back home in North Carolina. I had a great 2 week visit with my family but I am so happy to back home with my husband. I had great flights, although I was a little nervous about it before hand. I will post all about it as soon when I get my photos uploaded. I am so excited about getting back to my normal life. I will be updating the blog again and have lots of posts from my favorite blogs to catch up on. I went to the doctor today for blood work. Before I left I had lower levels again so hopefully with an increase in my medicine and very careful dieting the level went back up. I will let ya'll know what we find out. It feels great to be back. Dorothy said it best "There is no place like home"

I PASSED!!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know I passed my NCLEX-RN. I am officially a registered nurse!!!

Please pray for me today I will be flying home for two weeks. Sadly due to school and work Bob will be here in NC going to class and work. The Lord has been so great! Hopefully when I get home our internet is back up and running I will be able to keep up the blog better! Remember He is always FAITHFUL!!!