I just came in from snapping some pics outside. c.o.l.d. Today is...another SNOW DAY...in less than 2 weeks! What is up??
#1 1.9.11 {4 inches} [ This was actually supposed to be Paul's first day at his new job (more on that later!), but needless to say, they were closed... 4 inches might as well be a blizzard for us here in the South. :) ]
I love how peaceful snow makes everything look.
Our amusement for the day...I bought it on Christmas clearance at Wal-Mart for $1...Even though we spent most of our time chasing the ball (hey, I never claimed to be a Ping Pong champion!), it was so fun!
#2 1.21.11 {2.5 inches} [Paul didn't get so lucky today...he still had to go to work. I, on the other hand, am enjoying the perks of being a teacher! :) ]
SLICK sidewalk...it got down to 19 degrees late night!
I listened to his speech in full for the first time last night, and I am so glad I took the time. Sometime today I hope you will pause to listen, too. .powerful.
Confession: I'm an avid grocery coupon clipper and comparison shopper...aka the person you hate to stand behind in line at the check-out. My apologies, but I {love} it when I can save a few bucks, and I love a good freebie even more! Tell me I'm not alone. :) So here's a freebie for you...
I get theGrocery Shrink e-newsletter each week, and it is filled with great recipes and tips/ideas for being frugal. This week she is offering her Slow and Savory Suppers crock-pot cookbook as a {free download through this weekend only}. Nice, huh?! It includes a whole month's worth--that's 31!-- of yummy, healthy recipes that won't break the bank. And don't you love crock-pot cooking...makes making homemade so much easier. I'm looking forward to trying some of her dishes soon.
And speaking of saving $...If you shop online at all, then you have GOT to start using ShopAtHome.com ! Instead of making your purchases through the retailer's website, you simply link to the website through ShopAtHome.com and you can receive anywhere from 1-30% CASH BACK on your purchase. They keep track of your purchases and once you rack up at least $20 in cash back, they send you a check. They say there's no such thing as free money, but I haven't found any "strings attached" yet! The way I look at it, if you are going to be making the purchase any way (like the multiple textbooks we just had to buy), you might as well earn a few bucks back. We linked up to collegebookrenter.com and earned 6% cash back on our textbook purchases which equaled $14.19! ShopAtHome.com is partnered with thousands of stores, from clothing stores like Gap to photo websites like Snapfish, to Home Depot & Office Depot, and pretty much anywhere else you can think of. Genious, I think. Check it out.
Happy saving and don't forget to check out the Grocery Shrink and her free cookbook! :)
So I'm writing this at 4am…been wide awake since 2:45…good thing I don't have to work tomorrow because I'm *not* one of those people who can go on 4 hours of sleep! So while I was tossing and turning I got to thinking about the "2010 year in review" posts I've read the past few days on other blogs and thought that would be neat to have to look back on in a few years. My Grandmama Loftin is amazing at remembering when things happened…she can tell you the year, and many times the month, that just about anything happened—in her life, her family's life, her friends' lives, and history in general. She always says her Daddy was like that, too, and I think it also may be a result of her habit of journaling…I wish the gene had passed to me! So this post is my attempt to remember like Grandmama does. And one more thing…as I was lying there wide awake thinking about the year, the song "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman kept running through my mind. If you've never heard it, here are the lyrics. I think they are really powerful because they remind me that regardless of what happens in life—our 2010 had both much blessing and loss—God is still good and He is worthy to be praised.
I resigned at the Bowie Center because I was hired full-time by a retail portrait studio.
May
After only two weeks at the portrait studio, I realized there were things about the company and work environment/scheduling that I (we) did not want to live with, especially knowing it would not change and would inevitably get worse, and I decided to quit.
Hosted a "Sip and See" with Shana to honor Robin and her sweet, new, little one Olivia!
Paul's step-brother Brent got married.
I began teaching summer camps (continued in July) with Computer Explorers, which is owned by a sweet girl in our connecting point class. Lego Building, Dinosaur Digging, and Solar Robotics Constructing…fun!
July
I took (and PASSED!) the PRAXIS English Content Knowledge 7-12 Test.
We moved my grandparents (mom's parents) from Starkville to an "assisted living/nursing home" here. Hate they can't live in their own home anymore, but glad they are closer to us now.
September
Travelled to Starkville with Nick & Kelly for the Bulldawg Football season opener against Memphis. Enjoyed Mugshots and a Win!
October
My BFF from elementary school, Stacy, tied the knot on a blustery day at the beautiful Hunt Phelan Home on Beale!
I celebrated my 23rd birthday, and my class just so happened to be "held online" that night, so that was a great perk!
My great Uncle James passed away. Such a kind man, always with a smile. He was married to one of my most favorite people in the entire world, my Aunt Anne (my Granddaddy Loftin's sister).
We travelled to Starkville for Homecoming and stayed with Jim, Anne, Walt, and Eleanor. So fun to get to spend some time with them and enjoy the game!
My cousin Scott passed away. Heartbroken for his wife and two little ones.
I started working part-time (when I'm not subbing) for a guy in our connecting point class who is a financial planner.
Paul was laid off from his job.
November
My sweet college roomie Diana leaves for boot camp after joining the Army National Guard!
Lots of family Thanksgiving celebrations. We are blessed, indeed.
We beat the Black Bears (ha!) and WIN the EGG BOWL 31-23! :)
12/1 My cousin Chad was killed while serving as a Marine in Afghanistan. Heartbroken for his bride (they got married just about month after we did) andhis doting mama.
The 8th marked 6 years that Paul and I have been together. Wow!
With the help of my mom, we hosted a Christmas "open house" for both sides of our family. Everyone made it, except for my brother and sister. So fun to have almost everyone together and hope to make this an annual tradition!
We celebrated Paul's 24th birthday with one of his favorite meals (meatloaf) and his new favorite dessert as of Thanksgiving…pecan pie! For those of you that know Paul, him even trying pecan pie is a milestone!
Lots of family Christmas celebrations. Again, we are blessed, indeed.
My Granddaddy Loftin's cancer returned again, this time in his liver. :( Began three rounds of chemo (1 round=3 consecutive days of treatment and then three weeks off before the next one).
Just a canvas for me to record a smattering of my thoughts/happenings and to savor my one messy, grace-soaked attempt at living this earthly life so as to take hold of that which is truly life. Thanks a bunch for stopping by!
I'm blessed to be Paul's wife, a high school English/Language Arts teacher, and a disciple of Jesus. The (short) list of favorites: Mississippi State Universtiy, tea parties, sports, gardening, (pretending) to be crafty and a photographer, reading, traveling, fruit, constantly learning, antiques, anything homemade, and chapstick. And the one thing I earnestly pray you know: Jesus loves you, and TRUE life is found only in Him. His arms are open for you now--run to Him! (You'll be glad you did.)
