Number 8 – Check!

I’m so proud of myself. I’ve finally completed all of the thank-you cards that I’ve been working tirelessly on. I can’t even tell you how many I’ve written. Because I’ve completed all of the thank-you cards for all of the gifts I have received to this date, I’m checking it off of my 101 list.

Don’t let this picture deceive you. This is only the last batch that was left. I’ve literally written hundreds.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going to complain really about writing them because people were very gracious to us throughout the whole marriage process. I think we were truly blessed with all of the thoughtfulness that was shown towards Colby and myself.

We got some amazing gifts, and we also received tons of gift cards to the local gift shops which carried all of my china. In the end, I was able to order 12 place settings each of my flatware, fine china, and everyday china. That’s amazing!

Take a look at these stamps! I found these online at the USPS store since our post office doesn’t always keep the stamps I like. Aren’t these lovely? I find joy in the smallest things. A bonus was that they didn’t cost any more than regular stamps!

I also can’t tell you how excited I am that it’s Friday! I’m so ready for the week to be over. Colby and I have a date tomorrow, which always brings a smile to my face. We’re going to see this movie….

Not surprising, huh?

Well, I hope everyone has a terrific weekend!

Oh so close!

I have blogged before about how the Langham family has a cabin on several acres of land that they own. The cabin is sitting conveniently right  by the pond, and up until this year progress has been slow and sporadic to say the least.

Since the end of last year though, it has been making amazing progress. Some additions have been made to the one room cabin, and it is actually now a three room cabin. New floors. New ceiling. New bedroom. New siding.

Oh, did I mention there’s a toilet. A working toilet at that! Boys just don’t understand why us girls need those handy contraptions, but if you’re a girl you understand.

You get the picture though. New everything.

Colby and I made a trip out there to see the progress that had been made in the past week, and boy were we happy to see what we saw. Near completion!

Now it’s down to the small things. Knobs. Polyurethane. Cabinet doors. Furnishings.

I can’t wait to stay out there. Once it’s cleaned up, Colby and I might stay out there without furnishings. That would be fun!

I’ve made an album below with all of the photos I made. It was near dark, so I apologize for the darkness of some of the photos. I’m still figuring out this camera. Give me time. I’ll get there.

Anyway…enough of my blabbering. May I present to you:

Progress.

View Full Album

Oh, and as we were leaving, I caught this photo. Can I express to you how much I want some imaging software?

Faith in God

Yesterday afternoon, I received some saddening news. My high school principal, Phillip Ellis, passed away after a difficult battle with cancer.

To be quite honest, I have debated on whether to do a blog post on it because I wasn’t sure that I would have the words to portray him as the amazing man he truly was. However, I felt in my heart that I should recognize a man that showed great strength and faith in God.

At our small high school, you get the opportunity to know the administrators, faculty, and staff better than  you would in a larger school. You literally know every single teacher and administrator on much more than a name basis. You get the opportunity to know them personally. After all, it is a small town, and most of the time you know these people outside of school as friends of the family.

Mr. Ellis was a figure in the community that most people knew. He was the agriculture teacher and later became the school’s principal. He was at nearly every event the school had, and his school spirit was clearly known.

A year ago though, he was diagnosed with cancer. However, instead of letting it get him down, he fought courageously against the attacker, and his faith in the Lord shown all around him. His positive attitude was contagious.

He continued to work at the high school even after he had been diagnosed and was going through treatment. Later though, he was transported to Birmingham for more intense treatment and care. After returning home, he was greeted by the community with signs and more love than you can imagine. His determination led him to participate in his final commencement at W.S. Neal High School. I would definitely qualify that as intense love for his school and students.

While we grieve over such a wonderful man, we know in our hearts that he is in a place that we all pray we have the privilege of going one day, to meet our Heavenly Lord.

I pray for this family, as it is always particularly difficult to lose a family member, especially a father and husband. I pray that the Lord will ease their pain. My request to you is to keep this family in your prayers.

My cousin also described Mr. Ellis here.

Number 44- Check!

I was quite the busy bee this weekend! What’s even better is that I checked off one more item on my 101 list! I took the initiative this weekend to can my favorite kind of jelly…plum. You have not lived unless you have had plum jelly. Delicious!

I ended up with {10} 1/2 pint jars full of this delectable spread.

What filled up the rest of my weekend, you ask?

Flowers. Do you remember the ferns that I planted and hung on my front porch?

I loved how they looked on our front porch, but it didn’t take long to realize that I had bought the entirely wrong kind of fern. I bought a Boston fern, which likes shade. That’s the exact opposite of what our front porch has.

After letting them die, I decided to plant something a little more friendly to the sun.

Now, my baskets look something like this….

Much better, don’t you think?

I’m also in the process of checking one more item off of my list. I ordered all of my china today from all of the wedding gifts we received. Now, I’m just waiting on it to come in, so I can put it in its place.

Keep those prayers going for me in the job search. I’m hoping for a call sometime this week since the board of education for the county meets on Thursday. I’m getting a bit antsy. I know God has a plan for me even though I may not see it yet. He has always provided for me, even when I thought things weren’t going to work out, and I’m sure I will see his plan for me soon.

I also have a cabin update coming up! It’s made HUGE progress since it’s been last seen on here. I can’t wait for it to be completely finished, so we can get on with furnishing it.

Number 7- Check!

I am proud to say that I have marked yet another thing off of my list.

I’ve been waiting to post this until I got the last document in the mail, but I have changed my name on all important documents.

Bank statements.

Driver’s license.

Social Security Card.

And those not so important things like…

Magazines.

I decided it would probably not be in my best interest to put a photo up of those things as proof since it has so much personal and private information on them.

That brings my total to 15 items checked off my list! Not bad progress…

The Blueberry Festival

A few weeks ago, my sister and I decided that we would venture to the Annual Blueberry Festival in our hometown of Brewton, Alabama.

To try to beat the heat, we arrived right when it opened at 9 a.m. I have to say that you couldn’t even beat the heat that early, but with Aly in tote we continued on. Can’t you see the excitement in her face?

When you go, this is what you might see….

I fell in love with this pink flowered plant. If I would have had more money and would have known if it could bear the sun, I would have bought two of them to hang on my front porch.

I loved these photo signs. They were just precious.

After we got done shopping, we took a break in the shade to watch a group of twirlers from our surrounding area. We were so hot and tired that we decided we would spend the rest of the day at the pool, which made one little girl very happy.

Even she likes to soak up the sun…

After our big day, these are samples of what we walked away with from the Blueberry Festival.

Wing Sauce and Homemade Ranch Dressing -$5 each

Pillowcase dress- $12 and Bow- $3

Apron- $10 {I think}

I also got a key chain and a really cute wooden magnetic board that sits on my desk.

I will just say this. Some people enjoy the festival, and some don’t. Many don’t like the fact that it was moved from the shaded local college. However, I will say this. I enjoyed going to it even though the heat was bad.

If you have a kid, you can definitely save some money on cute outfits by attending the festival. I’m pretty sure I will be going back next year. Even if it’s just to get my creative juices flowing…

Hope You Had A Great 4th!

I hope everyone had a terrific weekend. I don’t know about you guys, but I was busy doing something the entire weekend. It was fun, but now I’m worn out.

Judd and Abby, my BIL and SIL, came down from Birmingham Thursday night. I had to work all day on Friday, but we made the best of the day that evening by taking the boat out. It was their first time on an air boat, and if you’ve never been on one, it can be quite the experience.

While we were on our way to meet Colby’s cousin and friend, we saw two kids stuck on a four-wheeler. Colby and Judd were nice enough to help them out, while ultimately getting their clothes filthy. It turned out to be our next door neighbor.

On Saturday morning, a shower was being given for my cousin’s future wife, Kelli. She has got to be one of the sweetest people I have ever met. We love her so much, and we’re so glad that she’s going to be part of our family. I brought my new camera along for some photos since I know how important it is to have photos to capture the moments leading up to their special day.

If you know Chuck, you know this is a perfect gift. He’s a big hunter, not to mention that he’s the game warden.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to stay very long. I was glad I was able to get as many photos as I did {around 50}. Hope you had a great shower, Kelli!

After the shower, we immediately went to the river again for a celebration with friends. I didn’t take one photo the entire day, but I can definitely say that I was so worn out I didn’t even stay up for the fireworks that night. I was in bed by 9:00.

On Sunday, I went to the annual Dawkins celebration at my grandmother’s house. Good food, swimming, and great conversation can sum the day up.

Later on in the day, I gave my niece, Aly, a ring pop. You just can’t get more 4th of July than this.

Monday was also a special day. It was Abby’s birthday! To surprise her, I bought some cupcakes and candles. I didn’t bring it out until right at lunch time while she was still getting ready. I hope you had a great birthday, Abby!

That sums up my weekend! I hope you enjoyed yours as much as I enjoyed mine!