only 13 more days......

the countdown continues.....only 13 more days! I'll be 48, almost a half century.....I don't feel that old though. You know, how when you're a kid and you have this picture in your mind of what a certain age is like? Then you actually get there and you think, 'Man, I don't feel like that....or I don't feel like I'm 30 or 40 or whatever age you are. When I pictured 50, I think of someone who has a nice house, white fence, big yard, van or bigger car, kids in college......yeah, you get the picture. I guess I have some of it......only just a little behind......one 8 yr. old, a house, no fence, and an SUV. Ok, well almost.

When I was a teenager, everyone always thought I was 13 or 14 and it used to make me irritated that no one thought I was 18 or 19. Now, I'm glad someone thinks I'm 35.......I knew it would come in handy someday!

Anyway, I hope everyone has fun over these next couple of weeks shopping and preparing for the holidays. Love to you all!

Can you believe it's almost Christmas????

Only 19 more days till Christmas......and I must admit, I'm sort of ready. I have the trees up and decorated and enough wrapping paper to wrap an RV, and a few gifts. We really don't have many to buy for, which is nice, but it doesn't make for too many gifts around the tree. Plus, I've found as nieces/nephews get older, it's way easier to just give them $$ or gift cards because then they can go get something they really want instead of enduring a gift they look at crosseyed and put it in their closet to someday fall out with the baskets full of other junk they didn't really want.

Plus, online shopping is a great new tool. You pick it out, pay for it and have it shipped to their house all wrapped up and you didn't have to do very much to get it! I'm all for that! While I love shopping, by the time we go - midDecember- its a mad house! Things have been picked over and pushed around and half the time, you can't find what you really wanted anyway.

We went to a Christmas candlelight dinner at our church last night and it was quite enjoyable. A small band from TN came to play the music, while our singers from church sang the songs. Dinner was great - prime rib - and the company was good. It really sort of helped get me in the Christmas spirit. Driving home and seeing lights out and houses decorated.......my favorite part.

But then I must remember the reason we celebrate this special day.....the birth of our LORD. I'm sure it was just an ordinary day for Mary and Joseph. Traveling to where they were to taxed and counted for the census. I'm certain it wasn't a trip that brought comfort. CAN you even imagine, being 9 months pregnant and riding anywhere on a donkey???? Comfortable, I don't think so! But what an awesome gift she received!! Thank you JESUS for coming to us as a baby in that manger and give us all something spectacular to celebrate!!

Have fun shopping!!

only 19 more days.......

ok, only 19 more days till my bday!!! I will enjoy trying to teach JEB about singing Happy Birthday. He gets that for a cake or cupcakes, it's your birthday, but of course, he doesn't understand what that is.

School was good today. Average really. Just trying to get thru these couple of weeks till finals. I think I'm ready to be done and have that 2 week break.

Plus, I've been putting together my baking list and its making me ready to do all of my Christmas baking. AND.....driving thru the neighborhood tonight I enjoyed seeing several trees thru windows and several houses all lit up!!! This is SO my favorite time of year!!!

Only 21 days till my birthday.....

Just had to keep up the count, you know, even if it's to make me feel better.

Had a good day at school today. Monday's are the day where I sort thru teacher lesson plans and see what quizzes/tests my students will have for the upcoming week and see which teachers I need to touch base with about said tests/quizzes. Before I knew it, it was lunch time. The good thing is, it keeps me from snacking too much. I don't have time!

How much Christmas shopping do YOU have done????

back to the grind....

Well, its back to work tomorrow......actually, its not too bad of a thing. Both Jn and I are bored and are looking forward to getting back to our routine. JEB definitely is looking forward to school and seeing his little friends. At least during Christmas break, he'll go to the church's daycare for the second week every day and play, play, play!!! He'll love it!! Plus, it'll get out his energy and give him something to do each day and not drive his mommy and daddy CRAZY!!!

It was a nice few days off.....the best part about being a teacher is the days off each year! But I love what I'm doing, so its not a chore to be there every day!!

Plus, I can now officially start my birthday countdown........22 days till my birthday!!! I'm so excited!! I love my birthday!! My grandma used to make it so special! She'd bake me a cake....whatever I wanted and would cook my favorite meal. As I got older, I used to have my BFF over to spend the night and we'd celebrate Christmas. It was always fun. My brother used to be so excited about me opening my gift from him.....sometimes he couldn't stand it and would help me open it! He was so funny!

Now, I will count down and then on the morning of, sing Happy Birthday to Me. I can't wait until I can teach JEB to sing to his momma!!

So, everyone have a great Monday and don't work too hard!

It's IRON BOWL day.....

Now, to those of you NOT from ALABAMA the Iron Bowl will mean absolutely nothing to you....because to those of us from ALABAMA, we know that the Saturday after Thanksgiving is when Auburn plays ALABAMA. This is the biggest rivalry in the state of Alabama. Jn actually told me this next tidbit when we got married....he said that I would have to declare my intended school when I became legal in AL. He also told me that when a child is born, that as a parent you must declare which school your child would pull for in the Iron Bowl. You laugh, but it is soooooo true. All over the state of AL. today households are preparing for the big fight this afternoon.

Alabama may be #1 in the college football nation and the only undefeated team left in the top 25, but today anything goes. Auburn has won for the past 6 years, people. SIX YEARS!!! It is time for Saban's boys to bring it to the field and show Auburn whose boss and that we belong in the top spot!! ROLL TIDE ROLL is all I have to say!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving......everyone! Before I get started with all of my cooking and baking for the day, I just wanted to take a moment and say that.....and kind of start a list of things I'm thankful for....

I'm THANKFUL for.......
GOD being in control of every little detail of our lives, because that's one thing I
don't have to worry about or lose sleep over

being here in Albany, GA because it's exactly where GOD put us

that all of us are relatively healthy and happy

that we can celebrate our freedom in an amazing country

that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose again the third day, just like the
prophets said he would


Keep the list going and tell me what you're thankful for......

Have a wonderful day with all of your families.