It's Over!!

I am so glad it's over! After an hour and a half of unnerving testimony and questioning it is finally over. I guess you could say I won. I didn't get my whole deposit back, but I am getting part of it, and I don't have to pay any additional damages!! YEAH! God is so good!! I am very thankful to get even part of it back, but more thankful that I'm not having to pay any money for the damages that I didn't do! Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts while I was in court today.

I'm NERVOUS!

Ok, it's almost time for me to go to court...I'm leaving work at 9:30 and supposed to be there at 10. I'm getting very nervous at this point. Please say a quick prayer for me, that God will work this out according to his plan! Thanks!

Frustrated Friday

Well, I went to the dentist yesterday...never a fun trip, but with a broken tooth it was a necessity. I was hopeful that I was only going to need a crown (as the part that broke was a filling I already had) and that it wouldn't cost me too much. So much for that! :( After my cleaning and several x-rays, the dentist determined that I need a root canal for that tooth, and then he will crown it, oh but wait, there is more...before he can crown it he will have to build up something to attach the crown to. Essentially because there will be so little tooth left he will put posts in and attach the crown to that. I have dental insurance, but I found out this morning just how bad it is...since I have only been with my company for a year (and you don't qualify for benefits for the first 6 months) I only have 10% major dental coverage, and they consider the crown and root canal to be major. What that basically means is I'm going to spend $1700 having my mouth fixed. Yeah for me!

I'm trying to be thankful that I have teeth in my mouth, and a job to pay these bills, but it's still disheartening when I've been trying so hard to get out of debt. I can be thankful that I will have enough money to pay for the root canal when I go next Thursday. After that my emergency fund, and both checking accounts will probably be wiped out, but thankfully I have a job that will produce income to replenish those, no matter how long it takes.

I also have other damage, but that is for a different day, and hopefully my insurance will cover more than 10%. Who knows, and if not I will handle that when the time comes.

I have two prayer requests, the first is that everything goes well on Thursday for my root canal (I wish the dentist would tell me I don't need it, he told my mom that when she was referred to him!), and the second is for my court date on Monday.

Some of you already know the whole situation with my former landlord, and I will spare the rest of you the details because it's a long story. Suffice it to say that when I moved out they did not return my security deposit, and I believe they owe it to me, so after lots of correspondence with them and reaching no resolution I filed a complaint with the magistrates court. My court date is Monday, and a judgement in my favor would certainly help pay for my dental bills!

I hope you all have a great weekend, and remember how blessed we all are. Even in times like these when it seems like nothing is going right, we still have so much more than so many others, and that is something to be thankful for! I am thankful for all of the blessings God has given me and my family, and I'm thankful that I have teeth, even though they aren't perfect!

Still no pictures :(

Sorry everyone...I know I said I would have some pictures to post, but my laptop at home is just not cooperating. It has power cord issues, so even though I have them downloaded onto the computer I can't get the computer to stay on long enough to get them posted. I've tried a couple of times, but the truth is when I get home after working all day and then going to school I just don't have the energy to fight with that thing!

I'll try again tonight...maybe we will get lucky!

In the meantime, here is one of our weekend pictures. Jodi sent this one to me, so it will have to do for now.

Little Travellers

Leigh-Ann of Freckled Nest has started offering Little Travellers for sale on her blog. She explains in this post that she has been looking for a charity to support, and now she has found it. You can check out their website at http://www.littletravellers.net/ , it tells all about the efforts of these women are making to raise money for HIV/AIDS.

As some of you know I used to work in the Infectious Disease clinic at Spartanburg Regional, so this is a topic near to my heart. I hope to be able to work in this area again at some point in my life. There are so many misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, and too many times people are dying because of the lack of awareness. According to the Little Travellers site the number of infected individuals grows by about 500,000 each year.

For those of us in the US this can be hard to imagine because it is not something we face daily. There are so many people in Africa who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS it is a way of life. Children are born with it, and then orphaned because their parents usually die. There is also a popular misconception in Africa among infected men that if they have sex with a virgin it will cure them. As a result so many young women and girls are raped and in turn infected only for the men to find out that they have not been cured.

It is truly a tragedy! We have made great steps to fighting this disease, the drugs have come such a long way in only the past couple of years, but we have not won the battle yet. One of the things we need to do to help fight this is be more aware of HIV/AIDS and not think of it as something that exists in another world. Knowledge is such a great weapon!

Another way you can help is by going to either the Little Traveller's site or to Leigh-Ann's site and adopting a Little Traveller of your own. Leigh-Ann currently has 29 (if others haven't already been adopted) for sale. They are $6 a piece. $5 of which goes to the women who make them and the Hillcrest AIDS centre in South Africa. The other dollar is for shipping it to you. She has already named all of the Little Travellers in this group, but if you have a special request just email her. Here is my Little Traveller


This is such a great way to support a worthy cause. They have sold over 20,000 Little Travellers and raised more than $100,000 to benefit the people in South Africa infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and to help support the Hillcrest AIDS centre. I encourage everyone to adopt a Little Traveller. We have been so blessed, and $5 is such a small thing to most of us, and yet it can mean so much to someone else!

What a Weekend!

We had a great weekend...I have some pictures to post, and I will hopefully get to do that tonight. I hope everyone had a great weekend. It's Monday, so back to work...I'm so thankful to have a job to come to every Monday! The Lord has blessed us tremendously! Have a great week!

I LOVE these!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7463096

It's all about perspective...

So, as I told you earlier, Lindsey has just opened her blog up to the public, and I have enjoyed reading some of her posts today. This is my favorite! It's a post from Feb '06 and among other things she is talking about finding out that I was pregnant and being parents. It's so funny to think about how much my life has changed, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so in love with Alexa it's not funny, she is such a blessing and I thank God for her daily. It's nice to go back and read things like that and remember how I felt back then, and realize just how much I have changed. For the better, at least I think. I'm not very good at the whole blogger thing, as far as online journaling goes, but I enjoy everyone being able to see pictures of Alexa and getting to know what is going on in our lives.

We are so truly blessed to live in the country we do, and I am so thankful that I have wonderful friends and family that God has blessed me with. Life is just wonderful! I hope you all have a great weekend.

Lou Lou, thank you for including us in your story, I hope when you get home we will get to be bigger entries in the journal we all call life!

Lindsey's Blog

Some of you know my best friend Lindsey Mullen, and some of you may not, but I was so excited when I got to work this morning and had an email from her opening up her blog to the public. So, I wanted to let you all know about it so you could check it out. Lindsey is currently in Hawaii, and her husband just got home from his second tour in Iraq. They are both so precious to us, and we can't wait for them to come home. They are Alexa's godparents! I know they are having a great time just being back together, and we are so happy for them. Check out Lindsey's blog, she has some great pictures of the view from their apartment!

Lindsey, we love you and Sevy so much and can't wait for you to come home...so hurry up! :) Alexa is going to be graduating if you take too much longer!

13 Things I want to do before I turn 25

1. Teach Alexa her ABC's
2. Take Alexa to NY to meet the rest of Anthony's family
3. Get out of debt
4. Have a girl's weekend at the beach!!
5. Sew something that Alexa can (and will) wear...I'm sure my first attempt will be a disaster! LOL
6. Transfer to Upstate so I'm one step closer to graduating
7. Watch Alexa grow and form more of her sweet personality
8. Go skiing this winter (it feels like a million years since the last time!)
9. Have a beautiful almost 2 year old who has a growing love for Christ and her family
10. Watch Walker and Alexa become even better friends
11. Start saving for a house (I want to build one...but I'm thinking I will probably buy the first one)
12. POTTY TRAIN ALEXA!! :)
13. Spend as much time with Alexa as I possibly can!!

Happy Thursday...the weekend is almost here! :)

I have decided...

Every year we come to this season and everyone starts asking what you want for Christmas. I almost always have the same answer..."I don't know!" Well, this year I have been thinking and I know what I really want for Christmas.

The first thing is somewhat pricey, but as it is something I would keep FOREVER I don't think it's too bad. I want a Clemson print framed. I've been trying to decide on one specific one I want, and I can't find one that is just perfect yet, but I'm sure I will. I won't have a CU degree to hang on my wall, but my blood runs orange just the same!

The only other thing I want is stuff to support my newest hobby of scrapbooking! I have a gift card where I returned some stuff to Michael's...I've had it for over a year now! Until now I have had no idea what I would find in there, but now that I'm scrapping I can't wait to use it. So, anything that will go along with this hobby would be appreciated. I think a new cricut cartridge would also be nice!

I am also looking for ideas for other members in my family...so if you have any suggestions please let me know. Jodi and I already have a plan for mama...but that only takes care of one.

More Furniture!

Well, it's Tuesday, and I haven't felt inspired to blog about anything else so I'm going to post some other furniture I like.

I have to say I'm not crazy about the coffee table and end tables, but the sofa and loveseat I am totally loving!

I think this is just the cutest bedroom for Alexa! :) I know she still has to grow some before she can have a regular bed, but I think this is just super cute.

Well, that's enough for now...

I got my GOODIES!!

I just got my package from Meredith, and I am so excited!! I am currently planning an outfit for tomorrow that will showcase my newest accessory. Here are some pics of my new goods. Thanks Mere!

My super cute journal that I can't wait to use!

This picture certainly doesn't do this necklace justice, but I couldn't get a better one. I can't wait to wear it tomorrow!! What are the chances of me talkng Meredith into making my necklace into a set? Once October is over I might be able to budget that for November! :) She also sent me some great scrapbooking extras...which I'm super excited about because I have made the commitment not to spend any extra money in October in an effort to jump start my get out of debt plan.

This is a totally random picture of Alexa showing off her newest trick! She has learned to climb into her rocking chair. Tonight she actually sat down the right way.

13 Scrapbook layouts I'm looking forward to...

1. Alexa and Walker's birthday spreads
2. Alexa at the park
3. Alexa and Walker at the pumpkin patch
4. Carving Alexa's first pumpkin
5. Alexa and Walker on Halloween
6. Alexa and Walker at Thanksgiving
7. Alexa playing in the leaves
8. Alexa playing in the snow (if we see any this winter!)
9. Alexa opening presents at Christmas
10. Alexa and Walker together at Christmas
11. Alexa with Santa at Christmas
12. Pieces of Alexa
13. Alexa sleeping peacefully

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Almost forgot...

Here is the new scrapbook page I worked on last night at One Scrappy Chick great use of the cricut. I don't know how much you can tell from the picture, but I was super pleased with it. I started working on the birthday spread, but I didn't get it finished. It should be really cute...only time will tell. Maybe I will get to work on it some next weekend. Let me know what you think about this one! :)

I call it food fun...I cut out the letters and shapes with the cricut. Obviously you can't tell from the picture, but the letters are on cardboard so they stand out a bit...multicut is a wonderful cricut function, and it really does work! I also did some embossing on the tag where I did my journaling. I was very pleased with my first cricut effort! :) Can't wait to play with it again soon!

Random Weekend

Nothing spectacular going on this weekend...spent most of today in the kitchen making stuffed cabbage for lunch tomorrow and crab, spinach, artichoke dip to take to my cousin's house for Luke and Davis' birthdays. We had a great time tonight...Alexa played on the slide in their backyard, and then decided to try some mulch because she hadn't eaten enough of the dip already. Here are some pics from today...she is such a ham! :)

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I love about Alexa!

1. Her sweet little giggle!
2. Her curly hair (even though I hate mine!)
3. The way she says "uh oh" sometimes for no reason :)
4. Her feet
5. The way she greets me at the door when I come home from school
6. How she kicks her feet when I pick her up after nap time because she is excited to see me
7. Her silly expressions
8. That her mouth is open in most of her pictures
9. Her shoe fetish...she comes by it honestly
10. Her slobbery kisses
11. Her super sweet hugs
12. The way she claps for herself when she does something good! :)
13. Everything about her...I love it all!

Happy Thursday everyone...I hope you have a great weekend!

Fantasy Furniture for my Future Home

In an effort to curb my decorating appetite for the moment I have decided to start browsing furniture stores and taking note of the things I like. This should help appease me for now. For whatever reason I have recently been bitten by the decorating bug...it's probably Meredith's fault because she has posted such cute pictures of her fall decorating, and since I don't have a house to decorate YET, I'm going to add fantasy pictures to my blog. This will give me ideas for my future house, and it should help me come up with a reasonable budget for when I decide to go furniture shopping. Now, please don't take this post the wrong way...I am in no way saying that I am planning to move out anytime soon, or that I am unhappy living with my parents. I love them very much, and I am extremely grateful that they have allowed me to move back in with them. It is giving me a chance at a fresh start, and I plan on taking full advantage of it! I am however, saying this is not a long term solution to my living situation, and therefore I am looking to the future when I will be able to buy a house! :)

Now mama, I know what you are thinking...and yes I will help you decorate your house, but it's just not the same! So, with that said...here are the first two items in my fantasy house. :)

For whatever reason I am a huge fan or dark furniture...and I really like wood. Probably something to do with the fact that I love the smell of the wood in a new house when daddy is building it. Anyway...I also love the furniture at place in Landrum mama and daddy got their table, corner cabinet, buffet, glider, and high chair. I will probably look there as well, but that will probably be out of my price range! :)

I am also a fan of higher tables...this table is at counter top height, so I love it, and it comes with 6 chairs and has internal leaf storage...also a plus!

Look for new additions as I have time to look for my fantasy furniture! :) Sometimes window shopping is the best thing you can do for yourself!