My Little Spider Web

I have this one completely amazing guy in my life. He loves me unconditionally and we couldn't imagine our lives without each other. Meet Gabe!!! There's just something about him that I LOVE!!! He is wearing his Glow-In The Dark Spider Web PJs!!! He looks very proud....even when mom put on the spider from her kindergarten Halloween party!

Halloween: Family Edition

So since I don't have any babies to take to the local pumpkin patch, pose on a beautiful pile of hay, and capture the perfect holiday picture....I decided I should take my own. Okay....so it's no real pumpkin patch, just the local produce mart (with very few pumpkins left)!! I just couldn't resist.Then, on Friday night I joined in on some family pumpkin carving time. I must admit...carving pumpkins brings back such memories and rules we had to establish when I was young.
1. Each child gets a turn to reach in a pull out a pile of "gooey stuff."
2. One picks the eyes design, the other picks the nose design, and then the mouth.
3. Homework had to be done and dinner eaten and cleaned.
Gosh...I thought pumpkin carving day was the greatest. This year did bring back those memories. I went over to Brad and Mary's to help Papa, GiGi, Bradley, and McKenzie with their pumpkin adventures. It was so much fun!!

McKenzie, Giant Pumpkin, Bradley

Papa and McKenzie and Brad and Bradley working on their pumpkin designs.A little sample of what's inside a pumpkin!My Final Product...I think it looks like me...the personality!!! (yes with a bow)!!!
What a Great Night of Pumpkin Carving!!!

The Dream Program

A few years back I started writing grants for The Dream Program, Inc., a unified recreational program for individuals with and without disabilities. I got connected with Troy, the program's director, by one of my former student's parents. I now serve as an Honorary Board Member and seek funding to keep the program running. We have been quite successful and now that I am living in Mobile, I can head over to Ocean Springs, MS more often for some of the events. I also have a good friend Jenny and a cousin Lauren who participate in the program. All kinds of activities are offered including flag football, basketball, softball, bowling, arts and crafts, canoeing, and several others. Water skiing is in the works now. This past week I had a free Wednesday afternoon, so mom and I took a road trip, first stopping by to visit my grandmother and then to the games. This first picture is Jenny and me playing for the Raiders.

ABCs of Me!!

A - Age: 30
B - Bed size: Queen...it's just me!
C - Chore you hate: Unloading the dishwasher
D - Dog's name: Gabe
E - Essential start your day item: Throw pillows on the bed (2 of the 6 on weekdays)
F - Favorite color: Pink and Red
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'7"
I - Instruments you play: Don't
J - Job title: Grant Coordinator
K - Kid(s): Not yet
L - Living arrangements: Me, myself, and I!
M - Mom's name: Mary Anna
N - Nicknames: Stef, Steph, Sister, Beavis Anne
O - Overnight hospital: Knee surgery
P - Pet Peeve(s): Changing the Plans (we make them so we don't have to change them)
Q - Quote from a movie: As Good As it Gets, Melvin Udall, "Don't be pessimistic, it's not your style. Okay, here I go: Clearly, a mistake. I've got this, what - ailment? My doctor, a shrink that I used to go to all the time, he says that in fifty or sixty percent of the cases, a pill really helps. I *hate* pills, very dangerous thing, pills. Hate. I'm using the word "hate" here, about pills. Hate. My compliment is, that night when you came over and told me that you would never... well, you were there, you know what you said. Well, my compliment to you is, the next morning, I started taking the pills."
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 2 Brothers, Stephen and Mitchell
T - Time you wake up: Weekday, 6:00am Weekend, 8:30-9:00am
U - Underwear: Granny panties during the week and red, white, black lace hipsters on the weekends
V - Vegetable you dislike: Almost all...will eat broccoli, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, peas, corn
W - Workout style: Random...hahahaha...walking.
X - X-rays you've had: Knee, ankle, shoulder
Y - Yesterday's best moments: Mexican for lunch with dad and brother
Z - Zoo favorite: Orangutans....one time with my Godson we were eating grapes and the orangutan stuck his gigantic hand out and wanted some...we did throw him some after a while.

Ending One Journey and Awaiting the Next

At this exact moment next Friday, Nov. 6, my best friend Shelley and I will each be defending our dissertations.

I began working on my doctorate degree in special education in August 2006 at Auburn University. I have a BS, MEd, EdS, and will have my PhD on December 18 (disclaimer: the number of degrees you have is in no way related to the amount of money you will ever make). I cannot believe it! This is definitely NOT what I imagined or planned for my life. I'm supposed to be at home raising babies and managing a family schedule....but Someone has other plans for me....and I'm learning that my life is blessed. WOW....I'm going to be a Doctor of Philosophy...who would have ever thought that!!!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Happy Story You Must Read

I ran across this blog, "Lot of Scotts" several weeks ago when I was scanning blog links from other bloggers pages. I could not remember where it was until today. I found it again and I searched for the story I first read in the beginning of this month. I just think it is so touching and happy and unexpected. Just read it and see what you think!

House Divided or Confused

Last night I went to my Dad's house to watch the Auburn vs. LSU game. Dad is LSU alumni and I'm Auburn alumni x 2. All day he had been sending text messages of him with his blow up Mike the Tiger. He was just getting pumped up...for what turned out to be quite the LSU victory. Anyways...when I got there for the game he had his Mike the Tiger, Christi's Big AL, and he bought me an Aubie!!! TOOOOO FUNNY!!! I loved it!!