Moving Forward

I still don't feel like I am actually moving, but I think as more things are set in stone, I will start to feel like everything is coming together and it really is official. There are still some things that need to be done, like talk to my boss, send in the rest of my info for fin. aid, and schedule my orientation, but, for the most part, things are looking good.

On a slightly different note, I have begun my Christmas shopping!!!! I finished 3 people today, and by "finish" I mean I bought over and above what I intended to, not to mention that as time goes by, I will wish I had not already bought for them, so that I could instead buy whatever it is that I think would be PERFECT for them. Again, that is ok. There is always next year, or birthdays, or just because!!

Lastly, while I was out Christmas shopping, I, of course, bought something for myself!!!! I had a little birthday money left over, so I bought myself a nice bamboo cutting board, a matching paper towel holder, and a really pretty pink glass vase. Very excited!!! And yet, there is still so much more that I will need!!!! Oh well, all in good time...............

The Big Secret Revealed

I have talked earlier about some changes taking place in my life, but I never actually told you what they were. Well, I have decided it is time. About a month ago, I made the decision to leave Atlanta so that I could pursue my degree in communications at Augusta State University. I will be moving in late December/early January, and starting school shortly thereafter. This new change is one that I am both nervous and excited about. I have always wanted to finish my degree but I never, for some crazy reason, found the motivation to get out there and do it. Then, one day, it hit me; JUST DO IT!! Stop sitting around waiting for a billboard to tell me what my next move should be; just make a decision and go with it. So I did. I applied to ASU, had my transcripts sent, and was accepted right away. They are still waiting on a few things from me for financial aid, but I will be getting those in the mail, and everything should be squared away for me to schedule my orientation and get this show on the road! Please pray for me as I take this next step. I have no idea where it will lead, or how it will get me to where I think I am going, but I do hope that God will open my eyes that I might see His will as He reveals it to me.

So, here are some prayer requests for me:

That the money would all fall into place
That I would get a nice/decent roommate in University housing
That the transition from Atlanta to Augusta would be smooth
That the transition from my job here to my job there be smooth and that I come to like my workplace there as much as I do here
That God would continue to guide me in the direction He would have me go, and continue to allow everything to fall into place

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

So, October is almost over, which means my birthday month is almost over, BUT that's ok because so begins the Christmas season. My FAVORITE!! This is by far my favorite time of year. Here are just some of the things I love about this time of year:

Changing colors of the leaves
Hoodies
Smell of football in the air
Cool weather
PRESENTS!! (both giving and receiving!)
Christmas songs, lights, trees
Enormous meals that make you feel like you won't eat for days
Family

Going Crazy

I have recently discovered the beauty of ordering prints online from Walgreens.com. It. Is. Fabulous! I started out because there were a few from my day at the zoo and the corn maze with my family that I wanted to frame for my room, and it went downhill from there. I then decided that I wanted to print some of the pics from my Disney trip to put in my fancy shmancy Disney photo album, AND THEN I decided that I wanted to print some of these photos to frame and give to people for Christmas presents. A little crazy? I'm thinking yes. Luckily, this little venture is very cheap, and I can do all of this for less than $5. No lie. Of course, I still have to buy the $10 frames to put these $0.20 pictures in, but that's ok! Here are some of the ones I wanted to frame for myself:

Good Times!!!

Today was a good day! My family came up from South Carolina to see my cousins, Sam and Jack, play t-ball. As usual, that made for a pretty good show. Between Jack demonstrating "excessive celebration" after getting out (he was tagged just as he reached home plate but he touched home plate anyway immediately followed by fist-pumping into the air) and Sam flipping off the crowd (he was trying to say we were number 1, but that's not the msg that comes across when one uses one's middle finger to say "number 1"), we all had a pretty good time. Oh yeah, and they won! After, we all went to have lunch, and parted ways so that the boys could take a nap, my Aunt could go do a photo shoot, and my family and me could go outlet mall shopping. I got a little of my Christmas shopping out of the way; my brother picked out some clothes for himself, and I bought myself a late birthday/early Christmas present. It is beautiful, and now I think I know what I am getting my mom for Christmas. Ahhh, Christmas, my favorite holiday! I like receiving, no doubt, but I also really like the giving, and even more...the shopping!!! So, again, today was a very good day!!

Being A Christian

Have you ever pondered the beauty of not having to have a conscience? Of, aside from standard state and federal laws, you had no one to be held accountable to but yourself? Getting drunk isn't wrong unless you drive; you can have sex with whomever, whenever you please, married or otherwise; smoke a little pot, get a little high; say whatever words come into your brain and go with it; whatever works for you. Basically, if it doesn't land you in jail (and even then), it's ok. That's an interesting life, and for some, that's the good life, but not for me. I choose to live by a standard that holds me more accountable not only for my actions, but also my words and my thoughts. I choose to live and model my life after Christ, in hopes that the people I meet and He reaches through me will come to know and live for Him.

Some of the people I am praying for right now are:

Jose- realize who he is, isn't who he has to be
Bradley- go to school, find a good job

Costume Jewelry

I have decided to expand my jewelry collection by purchasing some costume jewelry. Today at Kohl's, I bought a couple of bracelets, necklaces, and a pair of earrings. I bought them in sets, necklace and bracelet to match; All super cute, and all picked out to go with specific outfits. I don't mean I want the cheap, or kiddie stuff; I want nice, colorful yet simple jewelry that enhances my outfits and looks cute. I just want to "accessorize" a bit more than I do right now. This is something I have always wanted to do and I have decided to go with it!!

I Made It

I finally got all of my stuff packed for Disney. There are way too many articles of clothing, only 3 pairs of shoes, and enough panties to last me a month, but that's how I roll. All I have left to do now is pack up my laptop, figure out which book I want to take, and maybe pick out a movie or two to watch on my laptop, should I feel the need to stay up later and watch one. We will be leaving in the morning, that's less than 24 hours from now!!!! and soon I will be at the one and only WALT DISNEY WORLD!!! ........................Jealous.

The Life Of One

Many of us are very fortunate. We may not drive shiny new cars, or live in big, fancy houses, but we do have a lot of things others don't. Most of us have a roof over our heads, food in our pantry, a pillow to lay our heads on at night, etc. What about the people who don't have those things? Or the people who struggle day and night to have only those things? Or what about the people who have all of that, but suffer another misfortune? Sick child, abusive spouse. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself when I say that I am a very spoiled, and thus naive, little girl. I grew up in a nice home with nice things and people who love me. I've never had to wonder when my next meal would be, or whether or not there would be somewhere for me to sleep, or worry about having to hide in my closet until the scary part was over. What's sad is that that is the reality to many Americans today. My question to myself is: what can I do to help? Please understand, I'm not out to bring on world peace. I just want to know what I can do, to maybe make the life of one other person just a little bit better.

I've always had this thought that one day, I would like to have enough money to help those who are less fortunate than myself. I have a mental checklist of people whose lives I would like to make better one day. People I know. People who are kind, and good, and deserve a break from the hand that has been dealt them. I don't know that I will ever be at a place where I can totally change someone's life with a check and a lot of zeros, but what I can do, what I will always be able to do, is show love and kindness. Show them Jesus.

One More Thing......

I forgot to tell you, it's

MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Disclaimer: I will be accepting gifts all month.

Can you tell I don't want to be doing what I should be doing?

I am leaving for Disney is less than 48 hours, and I still haven't packed. Why? Because I would rather sit on Facebook and pick my fave 5 on everything. My favorite 5 movie quotes, five people I would want to be stuck in an elevator with, five random things that start with the first letter of my name, etc. I. Don't. Want. To. Pack. In my own defense, I did sit down and type up a packing list. I think that should get me some points in the productivity department. When I was younger, and I was about to go on a youth trip or something like that, I couldn't wait to pack. I wanted to get all my clothes out, and pack everything I owned, things I couldn't possibly need where I was going but "just in case," and have it ready DAYS in advance. I'm not sure when I became such a procrasinator. I mean, I've always been one, but I don't remember it always being this bad. Even as I sit here, I know that the longer I prolong this, the more I will hate myself for waiting so long. Sigh. Ok, I'm going to do it. Maybe.