britt's busy days

just like that ... six months have past

2011-10-27T12:30:00.000-05:00

if you're from alabama, you'll understand this post a little better!

six months ago today the worst tornado event occurred all over this wonderful state! the images are still as heart breaking as when i first saw them. the tornadoes left my area in a power outage for 5 days for me, give or take for others. i have some clients, family and friends who work for our wonderful utility company who worked like no one before! a huge thank you to their families for sharing! my own brother, who works for my county's water dept, worked like a poor ole crazy man!

also, six months ago my precious papa had a MAJOR surgery - yes, at about midnight during the first night of the power outage when there was very limited communication b/c of lines being down and such.

i can't believe it's been six months! so much has happened since then!

and, so much is happening still! i have lots to update soon i promise!

my last post was about my pastor being so sick. he passed away Friday, October 14 on the last word of the last verse of "Amazing Grace" that his wife and 4 children were singing to him as they were standing around his hospital bed. precious precious precious!

heart breaks

2011-10-12T18:05:00.000-05:00

are never easy. i guess that's why they call it "breaks". as i type this my pastor is dying. it's terribly sad. his family is such a close family, he's been pastor of my church for almost 37 year (out of my church's 58 years), and half of his family are hard workers still in our church.

i never knew how to treat or be treated by a pastor that wasn't my own father. bro richard is like a grandfather to me. no, i haven't always liked things he's said, done or wanted done. that's human of us all. he's such an amazing man! a strong fighter, faithful, loving, serving, smiling man.

he's 75, fighting his 2 battle of renal cell carcinoma. he developed a bleeding ulcer and things haven't been the same since late july early august.

they hospital called his family in sunday morning early, the day of our church's homecoming service, and he's not been responsive since.

he's the first real pastor i've had since my dad. my old church had called a pastor after my dad left, but it was so hard for me b/c of everything that had happened with my family and church at one time. i felt he was a miserable replacement of my dad. i really think God moving to NSBC and away from the church where i, literally, grew up in was a blessing for me and WBC.

bro richard has been such a silent, strong, faithful, loving, smiling, praising, teaching, passionate pastor and i'm going to miss him so much. at least i know i won't be alone in the sadness. my whole church family is close, and i know that loosing him is going to affect us in many ways.

please, if you're a believer, pray for my precious pastor, his family, our church family and friends ... this is not easy.

with sadness, yet joy ... knowing where he is going, and just thinking of how wonderful his first day of Heaven is going to be thrills me and makes me somewhat jealous.

joy comes in the morning ....
britt

4 1/2 months later ...

2011-09-12T13:50:00.000-05:00

i'm going to attempt to post again ... i have two already started, but i can tell they're me needing to vent and don't need to be broad casted to anyone else ...

so, wow! time has flown! it's almost mid-september!

lately, i have been feeling like i'm in a stand still. i feel like every one is getting married, buying a home, or having a baby (ies). it's not helping matters that some friends are already on baby #2. i love my job, love selling jewelry (even though i'm not staying super busy with it), love my family - especially my nephews, but i feel like nothing is changing with me.

i don't mean to be selfish, but sometimes i think we should focus on ourselves. who else is??? i also would like for God to let me in on if i'm going to be single the rest of my life or not. i know that's not how HE works, but boy oh boy! it would be nice to know so i could try to "help" HIM plan my life. maybe if i knew that info i wouldn't have the feelings i do now, or maybe it would make it worse. i'm trying to grasp on the idea of what fun would it be if i knew God's total plan for me - it wouldn't be fun b/c i wouldn't get the lessons and blessings daily that HE alone gives.

have you ever felt that way? like nothing you did was good enough because you're not where you thought you were going to be?

more to come ...

where to start ...

2011-04-25T20:53:00.000-05:00

is the big question here! wow! maybe i should just do a list! i'm not even sure i would remember everything.

first off, i am sad to say i did not make my goal of losing 20 pounds by Easter. last i weighed, i was down 8-10 pounds depending on the scale. i'm ok with that. i should have set a goal of 10, but i wanted to more. too much? maybe. could have done it? yep! pretty sure i could have if i had really worked hard at it.

i still find myself making better food choices, so it has become a life style change. as for the group from my church doing this: yeah. they all fell off the weight loss wagon. truth be told, i'm one of the 4/20 that stuck with it. one is excused b/c she found out shes expecting number 4! huge surprise to that sweet family!

am i upset i only lost 8-10 pounds? i was, but then i realized what i was saying and doing to myself. i have done something wonderful for myself! slow and steady wins the race, right? i'm actually proud of myself. i've even thought about buying myself at each 10lb mark i loose.

so, here's the biggest news! i've signed up as a jeweler for a wonderful, Biblical based jewelry company! it's a company i've loved for years, literally. i'm really excited to see where God leads me with this. it's definitely because of Him i'm on this path. i ran from Him about this for about four years. so now, i'm ready to go! ready to still do hair, and enrich people's lives with beautiful jewelry, a fun night in their home, and sharing about what Jesus has done for me and is doing for me.

also, in some not so happy news - my papa has been having some health issues lately. he's 76 and i love him more than my words can express! it's breaking my heart to see him like this.he "talks" himself into cancer every time something is going on with him. i wished he was more positive. currently, he's having to stay over night at the hospital from possible side effects from a procedure he had this morning. so prayers needed here ...

and exciting news!!!! my best is moving back home! yay! congrats on the upcoming college degree, kel! words can never express how proud i am of all of her hard work and dedication! i know she's going to do great in "big girl world"! i can't wait to go see her graduate! : ) plus, everything is better in t-town, can i get a roll tide???!!!! ; )

so long for now!
busy B

half way there

2011-03-27T14:58:00.001-05:00

lately, i've been wanting to get back to my exercising. this big girl, who's mostly, always been out of shape, has missed workingout! my eating has been ok, nothing super duper healthy, but nothing awful either. i miss the exercising, and i'm working on that ... hopefully as of tomorrow.

with the feelings from wanting to get back in the swing of things, i haven't weighed in either.

lately, different, random people of my life have said, "you look like you've lost some weight." i always reply, "not so much, but thanks anyways".

i don't take compliments very well. i'm a lot like my mother in the regard.

so, friday morning, i decided to weigh in. i wasn't looking forward until i did the math. then i stepped off the scales,and back on then subtracted again.

i'm half way to my goal! i have exactly a month to loose the over half. now, i'm back motivated!

i keep thinking, wow - the first ten pounds took 2 months and you only have a month. well, i'm hoping to really jump start the exercising and see what that will do. i'm hoping in all to be down 26 pounds by my 26th birthday this may. the end to meeting these goals is so close!

thank goodness it's springtime! even if it is dogwood winter here in north bama, and slightly freezing.

so, here's to new motivation,and then next ten pounds!

what do you do to help stay motivated to loose weight and stay on your plan?

Busy B

march madnes

2011-03-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

and no, i'm not talking about the basketball stuff that my mother is all upset about (something about a bracket she has made isn't working well for her ... bless her and her passion for all sports).

march has been a crazy, fast, busy month! seriously! have you seen what the date is?????!!!!!! the 24th?! already???? yes! sheesh!

so, what has march brought for this single, self-employed chick?

~ busy,busy days coloring every one's hair or cutting it all off! what can i say?! spring has sprung!

~ i now have another job - i'm a dealer for premier designs. i'm so so so so so so so so excited about this new path!!!! i've loved their jewelry for, well literally, years! now, instead of having parties to get LOTS of free jewelry, i'll be making money for it : )

~ LOTS of "big girl" moves have happened in a weeks time, i kid you not!

~ tough lesson learned: banks no longer look at a person who is 100% debt free and has no credit as a good thing ... so here's to establishing credit ... ugh ... oh well

~ i have a laptop, rather, a net book. it's very little, and simple!! i'm so lost about computers, especially for my age. but i'm loving having my own laptop and wireless internet!

~ dealing with my aunt wanting to "hook me up" with some man. i'm not big on blind dates, and not real sure as much as i love her ( she's been more than an aunt to me and my siblings our whole lives), i trust her opinion on this topic. and this is awful, i don't like his name. that's probably not a nice thing to say, but there's just something about this whole thing i'm just not sure of ... hmmm ...

~ how can i forget - birthdays??!!! my daddy had his bday saturday. i worked all day long and then my mom threw down on some country cooking! all the nephews were here and after supper we all burned a lot of calories by running after the twins, holding nephew C, and playing with my sis' step son. her step daughter was sleeping over at her g'ma's.

next up on the bday list is my papa! that's another thing that's happened - the first of the month he was sick and the doctors weren't so sure if had had a stroke or not. thankfully, it wasn't a stroke, and as of today, his neuro doctor isn't sure what it is, but is thinking it was a one time deal. i like that diagnosis! i love my papa more than i could ever describe! i can't imagine not having him, my granny, my parents or really any of my family in my life. i know it's selfish, but it's the truth. so, today a huge burden was lifted! now, on to celebrate his 76th bday next week!

~ i'm now on the advisory board for a local charity place that serves the area of the county i live in and even where i work. they actually have a much larger need to help the small town i work in. it's not really a charity,but for safety i'll not list their name. they have a food pantry ministry, they do so much with the school, have an awesome thrift store, and i could literally go on and on and on about the wonderful things they do and the why of what they do. their hope and prayer is that one day the cycle of poverty for this area will be broken, parents can provide for their families and have dignity, and the school will have parental support like none other. my heart has been broken over one of their ministries -bags of blessings b.o.b. - they send home 335 bags of food with students every friday so these 335 will not starve over the weekend. seriously. we have 335 kids in one very small school/community going hungry on the weekends. heart break doesn't describe what i'm feeling right now.

so, anyways - how about you??? has march and spring have you in a new found craziness?

spring fever

2011-03-01T13:25:00.000-06:00

has sprung! i'm ready to hear everyone start saying."what a lovely, nice,pleasant,and LONG spring we're having!"

yes! i'm ready for sunshine, yellow box flops, happy days, daylight savings time!, new OPi nail polish colors!, and grills going outside!

my mind is racing with lots of things right now. for one, i'm thankful February is over with! yes, it was a good month. a crazy, fast,busy month! the new plan of healthy living got cut out somewhat.

March is going to be different. Did you hear me? I promise! I have so much coming up that I want to be healthier.

Last week, on my off day, my mom and I took my twin nephews for a few minutes to play outside. I was literally jogging all over our front yard. never once did i get winded. what?! yep! i felt awesome the whole time! before that i was chasing one nephew on way in our house and the other the other way. we were playing hide-go-seek, or at least the 16 almost 17 month old version of that game : )

the whole time i felt great! picking up 50+ pound of nephews (when holding them together), running, bending up and down, crawling, laughing, etc i'm sure burned a lot of calories.

i keep thinking of that day, and of them and my other sweet,precious, HAPPY nephew and it makes me yearn for the big results yesterday!!!!!!!

so, here's to small results today, this week and this month!

here's to doing and planning for me. that seriously made me cringe. this is something i'm not use to ....

Happy March ya'll!

hamster wheel

2011-02-22T13:14:00.000-06:00

Have you ever got home from a long,wonderful,fun,yet exhausting day feeling like you're a hamster on a wheel?

Well,that was my day Saturday. It was a WONDERFUL day! The children at my church participated in Children's Ministry Day:Neighbor to Neighbor. We had 6 kids and 4 adults. 1 of the kids is a 3 year old little boy who worked harder than two 7 year old boys - I kid you not! We helped 3 widows of our church around their homes. 1 inside,2 outside.

It went over an hour longer than I had planned, but the second lady had so much that needed to be done, and she can't, and we just kept working there forgetting about the time. Isn't that the right thing to do though? I can do my laundry, clean at my house, or whatever else people use Saturdays for (I'm usually behind my chair making my clients beautiful on Saturdays); she can't. I was so pleased at the love for others even the youngest child had/has!

I was tired, I won't lie, Saturday night, Sunday and even yesterday from the whole weekend in general. My life has been having this crazy pattern lately - lots on the calendar for a few days in a row, few days of nothing and then here I go again!

So what did this single girl do this weekend that wore her out, you might ask? Probably not, and that's ok; I'm going to tell you anyway :)

Friday:
work
bank
grocery store for CMD on Sat
home for a few minutes
"Tom Sawyer" play - my youngest 1st cousin was Alfred Temple! it was his first big play! and if you're in the north al area you should check out Fantasy Play House's plays at the VBC!
bed

Saturday:
up 30 minutes late
church - get breakfast going and prepare for lunch
prepare the kids for the work/breakfast
work with the kids
go to work and spring clean my station for our upcoming inspection/ and my weekly duties
home to shower and change
liz's bday celebration
home at 1130

Sunday - my most favorite day of the week!:
church
lunch
bridal tea for a cousin
home for a minute
church again
supper with the gang
home

yep! I'm a little tired! Seeing it wrote out maybe doesn't look like a lot, but if only my church had a dollar for every leaf or sweet gum ball I raked up Saturday! And that doesn't count all those blown by the men helpers or the other lady who helped so graciously!

how about you? do you ever feel like you're on a hamster wheel?

running on a wheel,
Busy B

no more excuses

2011-02-17T12:51:00.001-06:00

i know it's been a minute or two since i've been here. i actually can't find a post that i had saved and thought i had posted ... hmmmm ....

so here's an update - yes, i'm fully aware you may not care. this is a selfish update and a kick in the tail for me.

i'm happily on day 5 of no caffeine. monday was AWFUL! until i got home, took some advil and kept the twin nephews : )

weight loss- in all 4 pounds. yes, that's right. only 4. i lost one pound over 2 weeks. seriously?! you bet!

my inspiration is gone, and i have very few people in my "support system" for my efforts of becoming healthier.

i'm finding the want to again after the pitiful 1 pound loss.

i can tell changes in my body. not the scales, and i'm trying to be ok with that. that part is not easy! i know, i know ... muscle weighs more than fat. i'm not muscle-y, yet. i can tell my legs are toning up nicely! they've always caused me issues!

so, maybe this is the norm. it's about a month now since i've started this journey. it's the longest i've done it, and maybe that's why it's so hard right now.

i also had really begun to dig deep into God's Word, and had fallen in love with it! turning off the tv at night, and reading about Him, His creation, and the past. maybe it was because i was scared to death and felt so unworthy to lead a devotion to my SMAC (sisters made alive in Christ) group from my church. i would love to share it, but what i have wrote down in my pretty notebook isn't how it all came out. which is great, because God said it all. now that that's been over, the devil has been on the prowl in my life. it happens. life gets tiring. life gets stressful. life makes us to proud. life gives us excuses.

no more excuses is my new mind set. no more settling. no more mind set of if i don't have support of this one or that one (the ones i love most) i can't do this. no more thinking, "this one little bite won't hurt". no more feelings of regret over one pound. it took a pound a time to get here, one pound down is good, not great, but good. at least i didn't gain a pound,right?!

no more excuses. my life is easy compared to others. i keep thinking of francesca battistelli's song this is the stuff ... "in the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed .... it might not be what I would choose, but this is the stuff YOU use...."

in the middle of my little mess,
Busy B

Looking ...

2011-01-30T14:57:00.000-06:00

as i have mentioned, i feel like my life is changing. yes, i'm making physical changes, and even saw a - 3 1/2 pounds this last week. that's not the change i'm talking about though. not this time,at least.

God has been convicting me, leading me to discover His Word, and opening my eyes.

i just read from christian speaker/Bible teacher, Priscilla Shirer's blog. My eyes have been being opened,even before i read this. please take the few minutes to read it too.

i play peek-a-boo with all my nephews, and i love to hear them laugh and giggle. nephew d will play it ALL day long! he loves to laugh. lately, i've been playing like i'm sleeping. i'll "snore" and close my eyes, yet have them open just enough to ensure they're ok and not about to jump on my head or yank all my hair out of my head! i love when i say,"Boo!" and i "wake up" they just laugh, and seem to want me to do it again and again.
sometimes, i just use my hands in peek-a-boo and look through the cracks of my fingers to watch their precious,amazing,loving,crazy faces.

i had the thought, that's the only time i immediately see happy results from covering my eyes. usually, something scary has my covering up my eyes. much like the trials and path of life. i think of how 6 years ago i was afraid of the future. i'm thankful God made me see with my eyes and held my hands instead of letting me cover my eyes with them. i'm thankful that when i did cover my eyes, God smacked them, shamed me and knocked me in the head to make me watch what HE was doing.

i'm afraid that lately i've become way to content, and instead of covering my eyes i've closed them.

how about you? are your eyes opened, covered or closed?

third time a charm?!

2011-01-24T14:32:00.000-06:00

last winter i bought Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I worked out with it for a few, and stopped. Then in the summer, Liz and I did it for almost 2 months. So here's to tomorrow. . . and I'm thinking I'm not going to do JM's dvd, maybe something new.

I have not lost my want to to live a healthier, better life. In fact, how could I not when this morning I was down 3 whole pounds! WOOHOO! Now, if Wednesday night at church those scales say the same thing, or even just a 1.5 lb loss, I'll be a happy happy gal!

Let me add here, I have not one time deprived myself of something I wanted. Last Monday night at chilis I even had some of my brownie shot dessert my meal came with, Friday night I had fajitas at a Mexican restaurant in my hometown. I only ate 2 chips/salsa, no cheese dip (probably the biggest temptation for me so far), 2 bites of rice and beans, and the rest chicken and veggies. Sunday I went out to Outback with some friends from church who are on this journey with me. Only, let me add here, one of them has always been small, and seems to being a much harder time than me. I love this person which is the only reason I wasn't ugly to them and tell them to shut their skinny mouth! I had a delicious and very satisfying meal for 500 cals. Awesome!

So, this can and will be done, along with my new list. I'm a list maker, or used to be. Now, I'm back at it.

here's a few BIG BIG BIG items on my list to save money and loose weight for!

1) have a professional photo shoot with my 3 nephews this spring as a bday gift to myself

2) beach trip with liz

3) kellie's graduation - and from the looks of some shots of me at christmas, I don't want anyone with a camera close to me until -20 lbs from now!

hi! ho! back to work I go!
Busy B

I can, I am, and I will

2011-01-20T13:01:00.000-06:00

be having some changes in my life.

We all do, I know. I also know this. God knows it all. HE alone knows just how much weight I will loose, and all of the other ponderings on my heart. The best part of HIM, to me, is that HE even knows the changes of my life that I can't even ponder.

I've always been naive, labeled "the goody goody preacher's daughter/christian". Am I perfect? Uh, no! Seriously?! No stinking way! I'm me. Just a simple, southern girl who has always had a weight problem, but has always had a family and group of friends who have looked past my size and into who I really am. I'm so thankful for that! Just the other night I was out to eat with Liz (my next door neighbor of my whole life -almost 26 years! and other "sis") before a movie. I was trying to decide what to eat, and she said, "Why, Britt are you doing this?". I replied, "for me. Because I want to and need to." She then added something that brought tears to my eyes. She said, "don't you know so many people love you for you. the confident,sweet, caring girl who as long as I've known you never think of you for your size."

As sweet as that was, she's never had a weight problem, bless her heart! She's tall, well compared to me, and always beautiful and small - medium size. We worked out for almost 2 whole months this past summer doing Jillian Michael's 30 day ~~death sentence~~ Shred. Why yes, that's right! We got our rears out of bed somewhere between 5:30- 5:45 and worked out outside on her patio in the summer in Bama! Those of you from Bama know this about our summers. It's HOTT! sticky, muggy, and hot. Yes, even that early in the morning. One morning, at 6 a.m., the heat index was 100 - it was during the hottest part of July. Our lives changed, and so did our exercise routine. Mine became non-existent.

So here's to one major new change, or I owe big time! Seriously!

There's a "gang" of us that eat out every Sunday night from my church after our evening service. Different ones have been talking for sometime now about loosing weight. Well, we have been challenged, and I can't resist.

We're weighing in every Wednesday night, I weigh in privately!, and we set a goal for ourselves. OUCH! That's been something I've quit doing for myself six years ago ..... that's def another post in its self!

So, by Easter Sunday this southern, random,curly headed, brown eyed big girl needs to have lost 20 pounds, some how some way - whatever way I choose and can do, or I owe $5 per member of the group as an extra offering to our building fund.

We talked this over somewhat Sunday night, so Monday I started trying to do better. So far so good except Tuesday. Tuesday was a day of good food choices, yet not enough food and supper was a fail. Basically didn't have anything....

So here's to lots of new things, and a BIG BIG BIG thanks to my Heavenly Father who is the ONE who is leading me, helping me, changing me, and hopefully molding me into something new for His honor and glory.

Anyone doing the new Weight Watchers????
Busy B

a time for change(s)

2011-01-06T13:10:00.000-06:00

isn't that was this time of year is all about? i think so. i've been missing blogging so much. it's a great place to express the deeper stuff. why? i don't know. i'm totally ok with not having many followers. this is for me. selfish? hmmmm....

i don't have much time, but i will sum up christmas.

i got ALL my shopping done in two trips! the saturday and wednesday before Christmas, and wrapped them all by the time i went to bed wednesday night!

then i got sick. i thought i had a cold. christmas morning i wake up feeling weird. drunk almost, or what i would think that would feel like. i realized we had been given a white christmas in bama! wow! those words only go together in songs for us bama belles! did i get to enjoy it? ummm, no. that weird feeling was a 102.5 fever which finally broke in time for my sibs and their families to come over for supper. different ones had been sick with this and that, so it was my turn. one twin and their mom was at home sick. i couldn't hold and kiss nephew c b/c i was sickly. nephew l was the star of the show : ) he's great at being the center of attention! i ended up loosing my voice, feeling like i was swallowing razor blades every.single.time. i had to swallow. on monday i decided to not go in at work and go to a urgent care doctor. i told the doc i felt silly for being there b/c i was feeling better. he, not so nicely and very bluntly said, "you're not better. (add in total disgust look too). you have walking pneumonia." he writes my prescriptions out and then the nurse comes in with a paper about what i have and says bye bye.

i was speechless. i almost cried. what on earth?! i never, thankfully, get sick sick!

i'm much better. still sound different, ok croaky like. i'm pretty sure it'll be awhile before i can sing again. it's so heart breaking for me not to be able to sing in the car with my fav christian station, or at church! i love to sing! i want to sing! i want my voice back!

i've decided 2011 is going to be the year where this isn't the case: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

so changes are coming. i feel it

Busy B

Christmas time is comin'!

2010-12-16T13:14:00.000-06:00

and I'm no more ready for it than i was the last time you heard from me! i have a half of two gifts bought! oops! nothing like the rush, crowds and last minute! i only know about what i'm buying 3 of my 13 gifts : /

yeah, i'm behind! i've been a decorating crazy girl though! i'm loving me some ABC family, Lifetime, and Hallmark Christmas movies though! I've only pulled out 2 old favorite Christmas movies - the 2 are actually on VHS! ha! oldies!

i'm wondering was this time of year always so crazy and stressed for my parents when i was a kid, or is it something new for them too.

seriously, i thought i was going to go nuts figuring out when we were going to get together with everyone. whatever happened to traditions? you do lunch here this day no matter, supper there this night no matter? that would be to simple wouldn't it?

so much is changing in my heart. maybe it's the time of year, or maybe it's that i got to the breaking point with God. it's definitely something i'm working on with Him. i'm not sure why yet, or what He has planned. I do know this. He is who He says He is. He can do what He says He can do. He's my salvation, strength, song, suffering Savior, provider, healer, friend, comforter, and the One i forsake most.

i'm looking forward to a full afternoon/night of shopping this weekend! i hope i get it all done! if not, i have no clue when i'll get it done!

i'll be back later with more matters of the heart.

Merry Christmas!
Britt

It's beginning to look

2010-11-30T12:31:00.000-06:00

a lot like a yucky day! tons of rain, delayed school openings because of some flash flooding and the temperature is dropping as we speak/type! i think tomorrow's high is high 40s! this bama gal is loving her sweater today, but has to admit, i almost feel like it's smothering me!

it's also looking a lot like Christmas! "yes, everywhere you go ... there's a tree {at the beauty salon that's absolutely gorgeous!} ....".

yes! Christmas is 25 days away! how, please tell me, how did that happen so soon? i feel like it should just be november! for months now i have felt like time has passed me bye and left me stranded. i think i missed a whole month somehow!

so, ladies' christmas celebration dinner done and over with at church, thanksgiving done and over with, house all decorated, decorated at work, now to the shopping. and no, i didn't save up because i thought a lot was cut off my list. yeah, well being your own boss i think increases faith in the ultimate Provider! here's my christmas shopping list:

dad
mom
nephew L
nephew D
nephew C
sis' step son
sis' step daughter
granny and papa
kellie (who i could possibly be done with her's already, but just not sure about 1 thing)
and in lieu of buying for each other at work, we're hoping to help a needy family in our community
Sunday School kids
Girls in Action class

what do twin 14 month old boys want for christmas? they have so. much. stuff! already! i'm thinking my gift for them, and nephew C should be something for the spring/summer since no one will be buying the big things in the summer since they're all fall babies.

can you help an aunt out?

thankful

2010-11-25T09:02:00.000-06:00

doesn't express it correctly. and not just for me today. every day that word just doesn't do justice for how i really feel.

i could vent about oh. so. freaking. much! right now, but i'm not. it's a new day, there's new mercy and blessings today.

i'm not taking my sis 38 year old sister to have a pet scan to see if her cancer has spread - the mole they thought was just a mole that she's had removed lots of times before,and was a routine. i'm also not the 31 year old sis that has breast cancer and has had surgery as my sis has been going through all of her cancerous stuff too.

i'm not those friends of mine. on a lighter note, i'm in my 20s ; ) sorry - got to heavy hearted there, had to lighten the mood. i'm not those girls, and those girls aren't my sister(s).

my family is healthy. my "bunch" has went from being party of 5 to a party of 6 in 2004. and as of 2009, a party of 11. this year we added nephew buckaroo, so that's a grand total of a party of 12!

how did that happen?! i love it!

i remember once, my sisnlaw telling me that once, just once, she wanted to be able to say at the table on thanksgiving (we always say at least one thing we're thankful for - yes there's too many tears shed at the dinner table!) that she was either prego or had had a baby. well, last year she got to say she was thankful for her two babies : )

my age has starting hitting me with a few realizations, and the need to set some goals for myself. i have had lots on my mind lately, and mostly questions to God. sometimes i wish He would just say, "B, let's go have some mexican food and I'll tell you exactly how this is going to go." that's not how it works, trust me i know!

so today, instead of wondering "when", i'm going to be thankful for the "now"

happy thanksgiving!
Busy B

and to think ....

2010-11-13T09:40:00.000-06:00

right now i was suppose to be in tuscaloosa with my best friend getting excited to go to the best university campus ever (in my opinion) and tonight be at the UA vs MSU game.

and to think of all i would have already missed if i had went.

life happens. crap happens. things come up. life goes on.

i've had SO much going on, but it hasn't been "fun" stuff. all i wanted was a fun weekend. well, this time i'm getting a fun weekend, just not the way i had it planned.

and thankfully so.

if i had left work when i planned on it yesterday, i would have worried myself all weekend. why? glad you asked! sorry if you didn't! my sisnlaw and twin nephews were in a bad car accident on fri. she was turning on the road her parents live on. the same way her family has for 20 plus years, the only way you can. long story short. her van flipped and oh my at the pictures! everyone is perfectly fine! sisnlaw is very sore and couldn't sleep because she kept replaying everything in her mind. i couldn't have imagined.

last night, mom called said they were on their way home from the er (they took the twins one to get them checked out), and i was relived! i also, was cold, lazy yet wanting to clean clean our house for my wonderful mom. then i heard the best noise ever! my brother's big loud diesel truck! i thought this is too good to be true! i'm in the middle of my pity party because i didn't get to get the heck away from here! i go outside, and yes! there's my bro and his safe,healthy, beautiful family! i went and opened up the back seat doors, and my eyes were met by two little 13 month old boys who were hungry and sleepy, yet all the sudden happy to see me!

they ended up coming in so i could help the twins with their supper and give their parents a break to unwind. my brother broke my heart! sisnlaw did too! i can't imagine what she went through! the word "thankful" doesn't cut it for how i feel about what God did for our family yesterday!

last night my house was filled with little boy laughter, zoom zooms and boodin' boodin' truck noises, whining over toys and their aunt britt a few times (oh i love those times!), peep-pie games, and banging of other toys. i'm so thankful this happened to them at this age if it ever had to happen to them.

they will never remember this, and they are to young to know to brace themselves. so when the van flipped, they were basically like baby dolls in their awesome car seats!

as you may could tell, my heart and mind can't let this go! if i was in ttown this weekend, something tells me i would have never had fun until i got home and got slobbery kisses from two of the three boys who have stolen my heart and life and heard them say "hey" - lj with a higher pitched voice and dc with his low voice.

life happens. life happens fast. i am in love with the giver of life, and so thankful for His protection!

so what i have a sick car? so what i have a million and one things to do before next saturday - ladies' christmas celebration dinner i'm co-coordinator of at church? so what i have another abscessed tooth? so what i have a few cold symptoms? so what my best has three million and one things to get done, and probably doesn't need to go to the game either, except for everyone deserves and needs a break, to get it all done?

things could be so much worse. i'm just thankful today. i'm blessed today. i'm happy today. i'm excited today. i'm ready for fun today. i'm ready to go shopping with my mom, come home and clean house, watch the game on tv, and things done and enjoy the fact that i have a 3 day weekend! no work til tues for me!

enjoy life,
Britt

month of birthdays!

2010-10-28T12:46:00.000-05:00

so, at the beginning of the month, i was reflecting on this past year - the first year of being an aunt and the twin nephews turning one - i had this great idea to have a special post for my granny, grandaddy, and mom who all have birthdays this month too. let me add here, there are over 20 people in my family that have october bdays. the month has went WAY to fast! and the twins are the only ones that got the special posts.

so here's to my mom: thank you for your unconditional love, guidance, letting us try things and if we liked them you supported us and if we didn't you supported us with that too, for teaching us about our Savior, loving our father, showing us what a wife, mom, christian lady should be like, act like, dress like, have fun like, and cook like : ) oh the wonderful meals you prepared for us when there was no grocery money! Thank you for always teaching us to be thankful to the One who had provided. You are the most selfless person i know! i wonder how much bday, christmas, mother's day money and other monetary gifts you've been given that you spent on groceries and bills rather than yourself. i'll never forget one night during a revival. you had a pew full of some of the rowdiest kids from that town. all kids respond to you so well, and respect you! amazing! and these kids were no exception. the preacher called for an offering to be took. everyone was caught off guard and started searching for money. you emptied your change purse to all the kids on the pew so they wouldn't be left out. you had no cash in your purse and we were going through a tough money time. i forget the message that was preached that night, but i know you remember it. i'll never forget the look on your face when that preacher handed you the offering plates and the offering was for you. the amazing, forgotten, looked over, loving, caring, teaching, praying, sweet, stern, humble preacher's wife. i can't imagine how much you miss your mom. i can't imagine my life without you, and yet you lost yours at such a young age and survived. thank you for all that you have done. for the times you taught us, "along with privilege comes responsibility"; "always cover public toilet seats and never flush them with your hands"; "i brought you into this world i can take you out"; "apologize when you do something wrong or hurtful. we know you're sorry, now apologize"; and "love your brother and sister. be thankful they're still here."

i know i've been a challenge. thank you for the countless hours of prayers on my behalf, the rides from tap.ballet, tee ball, softball, voice, piano, band, SGA (middle and high school) meetings, church and those activities, all the school meetings/activities, shopping trips, doctor visits, and etc. i don't know how you kept up! yes, i do. you had a 2 year planner in your hands at all times! i'll never forget the "brittany" back to school shopping day. lunch,shopping and an activity of my choice with just you. sweet times. all the amazing christmases - food,decorations, gifts and their assemblies and set ups before we woke up on christmas day. thank you for always helping through the trials my weight has caused me through the years. thank you for your sense of humor and "julia sugarbaker" way of getting things said.

thank you doesn't do it justice, but thank you.
i love you,mom! happy birthday! (even though now this is belated)

Busy B

isn't it ironic

2010-10-24T15:44:00.001-05:00

Don't ya think?

Life that is ....

Well, lately that's been the best way to sum up my life - ironic!

3 years ago,at an annual event in the town I work in,my heart was crushed and broken. This year,at the same event, I laughed,talked,and enjoyed spending time (even sent a text to see if they were coming) with my friend dg and his wife. Yes! That's right! Same person who helped break my heart,I stood there happily talking to not only him,but his wife. Funny how life changes.

Then the following weekend,the three of us at our salon went to a hair show a few hours away. We had a wonderful time. I got to be a model for Deva Curl (the life saving products for my crazy curls) and an hour and half later,I have a new hair cut and lots of new products to try. But before I made it to the deva stage,I heard someone call my name. I thought I had just seen someone I knew,but wasn't sure.

You see,this person has the same name as me,only spells it differently,and is part two of my heart break. The night I met her was terribly awkward,and only something you think happens in movies or tv,not real life. You know the scene where this guy makes an introduction like this: "Britt meet Britt.Britt meet Britt." Stranger Britt says,"hey! I've heard SO much about you!". Me,"really?! Because I've heard nothing about you!" In a breathless,smiling,nervous,devastated way.

Well,the voice that said,"I've heard so much about you" was the same one calling my name at the hair show 2 hours away from where we both live. Apparently she now is a hair stylist too (her place of work makes this more ironic,but I don't think I need to post that info),and recently married.

She was there with a friend from work and this is how she introduced me to her,I kid you not! "This is the other Britt.His (a lil exaggerated here) other Britt." Really?!?!? Seriously?!?! The friend said,"Ooooohhhh. Nice to finally meet you."

Awkward! But really?!?! Seriously?!?! That's how she introduced me??? I thought maybe my mind was playing tricks on me,but bev and SA heard it too. They were laughing,and I was in shock!

So now, dg and his wife seem to be popping up everywhere around me. I even got a last minute invitation to his family birthday dinner this weekend. "My family would love to hang out with you again.us too of course." Yeah.ok. How bout I don't and say I didn't! Then on a fb post of mine he actually asked what I was going to be doing the next night - ummm,yeah you don't get to know that info.

There's another friendship post I'm needing to vent about,and try to work through.For now,I need my life to not be so awkward or ironic. I've always like that song,but never thought my life could reflect it so much.

Isn't it ironic,don't ya think?

Hoping yours isn't ironic,
Britt

who knew

2010-10-20T22:29:00.000-05:00

that your parents were really smart people? who knew that the saying, "time flies", really seems true. who knew what it was going to be like as an adult when you were 18-21? or 25 for that matter.

who knew friendships could be so hard, change so much, matter more than anything, or matter not so much.

i have a good many friends. i have very few best friends. there's a difference!

three years ago this past summer i would have told you i had 8 best friends - sis, kel, 5 other gals (i won't listed names for several reasons) and my guy friend, dg.

i'm amazed at how life changes.

3 years ago my heart was broken,and at a time that it just sucked to be broken! not that i think there is ever a good time for a heart break, but in my mind i could've thought of a different time. there's been an "anniversary" of such heart break, and it's almost ironic this year. this is a true answer to prayer. i had forgotten. I HAD FORGOTTEN! my true, best friends (the 3 of you there really are), well tell you i have a crazy, good memory! i can remember outfits from years ago, and the boring list of non important memories will end there. i could hardly believe i had forgotten! i'm thankful for the forgetfulness. it really is an answer to prayers!

i've said it before, and i'll say it again. when you pray for something, you have to have the faith and believe that God will answer - the way you think it should be or not - He will answer. and, on His time, not yours or mine. that's the part that always gets me!

dg is now happily married for over a year. they have recently moved to the town i work in,and our paths are crossing more. it's funny,odd, yet comfortable.our whole friendship changed because God needed it too. i needed it too. once i was told that girls and boys, of any age, could never really be "just friends". i think "they" were right, in a sense. there's a fine line that has to be drawn. there's so much i still have bottled up about it all. good news is, it's not the heart break of loosing a wonderful friend. it's what i learned from my experience.

i think that's one of the most important life lessons - know who you are, why you are, what you believe in and stand for it, and learn from everything! the good,bad and/or ugly! learn from it! move on! and grow!

over the last few years, my life has changed. my family has changed. God has given me a new church home, place of work, gave me and taken away friendships, and added and taken away from my family.

work is going great! the nephews are all so amazing and words can not describe the joy they bring me daily!!!

but friendships? lately that front has been ridiculous! one day one of them was there,like they had been for the last seven years, then gone! poof! gone! yet, now they're maybe back.

then there's one that has been there for over twenty years (wow! i thought i would be in my 30s before i said that sentence!) who seems to be gone too. i just realized a few weeks ago how long it's been since i've even heard her voice.

there once was an insurance company who's slogan was, "life comes at you fast." their advertising folks were so honest!

life is different. life is good. life is crazy. life is busy. life is fast. life is slow. life is changing everyday.

Reflecting on life and the lessons it gives/tries me with,
Britt

life....

2010-10-14T12:31:00.000-05:00

has been seeming like a broken record lately. is that something that happens when you become an adult?

this pretty much sums up my life - work (mon-tues,thurs-sat), church (wed nights sunday am and pm), and the rest of the time its the added extras of being my own boss, other church work, and family things. the last time i went out was a month ago. i was so exhausted! here's a quick glance at what that one day held for me (not that you really care; i just need to vent) :

woke up, got ready, go to a church(luckily close to my house), started "wedding hair" for a friend/client's wedding at 630 am, did 7 more do's fixed 3 others, and left at noon, drove to the town i work in, cut the twin nephews hair, went home (30 min drive), got ready for the wedding quickly, remembered to grab half a sandwich, went to the wedding, ate a piece of cake as i was leaving (seriously, ate while walking out), home, craft show and dinner with sisnlaw and kel, home again.

that what i did that last time i actually "went out". yep! i think i need a night out! maybe that will fix somethings. i had lots of fun that day, please don't get me wrong! and i slept great that night!

it's just like my life has NO normalcy anymore! i haven't had the want-to for a lot of things. had the "had - to's", so i did those.

i do struggle with saying the word "no", and managing my time. i had really gotten good at it, or so i thought.

good news? i am going to dinner and a movie tomorrow night with liz. that's got me excited! just a night to have fun, laugh, maybe shop for something for me to wear at the hair show im going to sunday ..... oh crap! what to wear?! - sorry for the blurp there - and maybe a venting session if i need one!

and as much as i love my family, i'm kinda hoping there won't be any conversation of them. just what's been going on with us, and have some fun!

Sorry for the rant.

Enjoying the fall colors,
Britt

bitter sweet day

2010-10-13T12:10:00.000-05:00

yesterday was my precious granny's 73rd bday! she's my dad's mom. my mom's mom passed away in 1974. she was very young, and i miss her every day.

yesterday also would've been my mom's dad, my granddaddy's, 84th bday. so, thus the bitter sweetness of the day.

i'm very close to my granny and papa. i often wonder would i be closer to my grandmother and grandaddy had i been given the chance?

but, that's a whole other post in its self!

so here's to my granny!

the sweet, gossiping, praying, cleaning, cooking, practical, helpful, laughing lady who i love beyond words!
the wife who has spoiled my papa the last 55 years. it's so cute to hear you two call each other "baby", "honey", and such. thanks for setting such an example on faith, family, marriage, and life! i hope to never settle; just like you've asked ; )
hope you enjoyed your dinner with the family and the yummy cake : )

thanks for everything you've always done, do, and will do!

i love you, Granny!

Love,
Britt

happy 1st bday LJ!

2010-10-05T07:35:00.000-05:00

Nephew LJ,

you're my oldest nephew! i loved you the minute i heard your dad's voice say: "now, you can't tell anybody, and i do mean you can't tell a soul! but we're pregnant!" i was at a baby shower at church! i wanted to run and tell everyone! i actually went into the sanctuary right quick and prayed for you. and then God laid on my heart that there might be more than just one. and only He could have known that for sure then. He formed you about 4 weeks prior to the call. so, i didn't tell anyone until it was "safe" to tell. and i laugh when i think of that day, because i had just been part of a conversation about babies - seeing as i was at a baby shower and surrounded by other moms-to-be or those wanting to be a mom-to-be, and they were all asking how your parents journey was going. oh! how after the phone call with your dad i wanted to tell them God had blessed and your mom was expecting!

Then, a week or two later, we got a real good picture of your little bean looking self, and the other one!

the months between then and when you debut went by fast! it was so much fun planning for you two to get here!

then you came.

you were short, pink, head full of dark hair, and screaming to the top of your lungs! you were amazing! my heart has never known love like this. seriously. the first time i got to "meet" you, your wonderful mommy was holding you, and she got sick, so grandma got to hold you quickly while i helped your mom. different ones past you around, and then it was my turn. as the words of one of my favs says,"and oh, the joy that floods my soul! something wonderful happened and now I'm whole". grant it, that song is about God's salvation, but something wonderful happened when i held you first,and then the million plus times since then!

No one could ever complete your younger, not little, brother than you! it's amazing to see the bond you two have! i love hearing you two squeal and jabber at each other. its really funny to see you two see the gates are down here at grandma's. you two jabber something at each other and then off you go in two separate ways! i love seeing y'all eat and talk like two little old men : )

there have been so many "firsts" with you and your twin for me as an aunt. i have loved each one of them. even the poopy diapers : )

so here's a glimpse of some firsts of millions : )

if you and i had a dollar for every time i've kissed those sweet chubby cheeks of your's, well, your college would be paid for already! hahaha!

your smile, eyes, cheeks, hands and feet and everything else about you i love.

i loved the first time you reached for me, and for all the times since then. it make my heart skip a beat when you whine and crawl to me so i'll pick you up.

i love hearing you say,"hey".

i love when you bring my face to your slobbering little mouth and you give me "kisses".

i don't really love that you pull my hair, but i love those little hands : )

i think it's funny that no one wears jewelry around you and your brother but me. so a few pieces have been broken. no biggie : ) it usually has been able to be fixed.

i remember the first time i got to hold you and DC together! oh, the sweetness! it was grandma's 51st bday get together - bama beat tennessee in a close game! and bama had the most amazing moment to win it - they block a field goal. it was a precious day!
you were one of the cutest little tigers i've ever seen on halloween!

i'll never forget that your parents trusted me to keep you the first time your mom went back to work. she had decided to tough it out and stay all day until she got the phone call i had made your bottles wrong. i made you two boys a little sickly, but no one was made as sick or hurt and upset as i was!

i love how you melt my big brother's heart.

i love to see you walk and crawl.

and that little face you and your brother do - funniest thing ever!

i love that you love to be loved on and snuggle some too.

i love that you lost all your hair, and that when it grew back it was blond and you have a double crown. which for a long time, your hair stuck up everywhere, more than any one place.

i love that you and your brother love to be read, Oh the wonderful sounds Mr. Brown can do.

i think i know it by heart. it was the first book i ever bought you two, and wow! it's been put to good use!

i love how mischevious you are now. you seem so carefree about life. oh the lessons to be learned by you!

i love and enjoy getting to give you a bath! you're one of the funniest babes i know,LJ!

i loved getting to cut your first hair cut. you were perfect! you didn't cry, but i was holding back tears!

i loved your first bday party! you were ready to party! the mess you made in your cake was precious. if you only knew what a good cake you wasted ; )
i love you!

LJ, you have changed my whole life. thank you. you are a sweet, crazy, wild, fun, wonderful little boy. if you grow up to love me half as much as i love you, i hope you have one really big healthy heart!

Happy first birthday LJ!
Thanks for changing my life!

Love,

Aunt Britt

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY LJ!!!!!!!

happy 1st bday DC!

2010-10-05T07:33:00.001-05:00

the day is finally here. the twin nephews are one! oh! how time flies when you're having fun! i decided to write them both a "letter" to half way express my love for them and wish them a very happy first birthday! so here's DC's

Nephew DC,

you're my second born nephew! i loved you the minute i heard your dad's voice say: "now, you can't tell anybody, and i do mean you can't tell a soul! but we're pregnant!" i was at a baby shower at church! i wanted to run and tell everyone! i actually went into the sanctuary right quick and prayed for you. and then God laid on my heart that there might be more than just one. and only He could have known that for sure then. He formed you about 4 weeks prior to the call. so, i didn't tell anyone until it was "safe" to tell. and i laugh when i think of that day, because i had just been part of a conversation about babies - seeing as i was at a baby shower and surrounded by other moms-to-be or those wanting to be a mom-to-be, and they were all asking how your parents journey was going. oh! how after the phone call with your dad i wanted to tell them God had blessed and your mom was expecting!

Then, a week or two later, we got a real good picture of your little bean looking self, and the other one!

And I knew then, we were in for a treat! a special God given treat!
the months between then and when you debut went by fast! it was so much fun planning for you two to get here!

then you came.

you were bigger than your older brother, not a lot of hair and weren't a happy baby! you were amazing! you were also having problems breathing. the doctors had prepared your parents that you and your brother would probably have to go to the NICU. you did, and LJ didn't. we all had hurting hearts. ask kel if you don't believe that my heart didn't break. we don't like to talk about it, or think about it. we're not ashamed of it,or you - it's just not who you are now. you were there 18 days. that's a very short time compared to most babies in there. you were so much bigger than the preemies in there; it didn't seem fair. but God had a plan! no matter what life may hand you, remember this: God has a plan. and a plan to prosper you not to harm you. it doesn't mean life will always be fair, happy and fun. it means, God is in control and there will be a rainbow at the end of the storm.

the first time i got to see you up close was at the end of the day you were born. it had been a long, exhausting, yet one of the happiest days of my life! your daddy was trying not to cry and wanted me to not. he didn't want to break down either. my heart hurt worse after that. he's the best big brother! you're already a LOT like your daddy! i couldn't really see your face. well, not at all. you had the biggest hands and feet. so sweet and chubby. i couldn't wait to see you the day you came home.

then you came home. precious,precious! you completed my big brother and your mother and brother that day! you were precious, and probably sore from being held so much by your parents and grandparents!

No one could ever complete your older, not bigger, brother than you! it's amazing to see the bond you two have! i love hearing you two squeal and jabber at each other. its really funny to see you two see the gates are down here at grandma's. you two jabber something at each other and then off you go in two separate ways! i love seeing y'all eat and talk like two little old men : )

oh the miles you two have traveled and you can't even walk yet!

there have been so many "firsts" with you and your twin for me as an aunt. i have loved each one of them. even the times you tried to pee on me : )

so here's a glimpse of some firsts of millions : )

if you and i had a dollar for every time i've kissed those sweet chubby cheeks of your's, well, your college would be paid for already! hahaha!

your smile, eyes, eye lashes, cheeks, hands and feet and everything else about you i love.

i loved the first time you reached for me, and for all the times since then. it make my heart skip a beat when you whine and crawl to me so i'll pick you up.

i love hearing you say,"hey".

i love that you already have a deep voice. i wonder if you'll be the next "G" bass singer of the family like your great-gpa (papa), grandpa and your dad?

i love when you bring my face to your slobbering little mouth and you give me "kisses".

i don't really love that you pull my hair, but i love those little hands : ) it actually seems like you are taken by my curls. it's ok. i still am and they're mine

i think it's funny that no one wears jewelry around you and your brother but me. so a few pieces have been broken. no biggie : ) it usually has been able to be fixed. i think between me and you we test premier's fix-it policy : )

i remember the first time i got to hold you and LJ together! oh, the sweetness! it was grandma's 51st bday get together - bama beat tennessee in a close game! and bama

you were one of the cutest little giraffes i've ever seen on halloween!

i'll never forget that your parents trusted me to keep you the first time your mom went back to work. she had decided to tough it out and stay all day until she got the phone call i had made your bottles wrong. i made you two boys a little sickly, but no one was made as sick or hurt and upset as i was! you were more sick than LJ, but i was a mess. i just about cried while typing that because i never want to hurt you.

i love how you melt my big brother's heart.

i love to see you crawl. you crawl kind of slow. you're so much like your daddy : )

i love that you look so much like my daddy's baby pictures. i know grandpa loves that too.

and that little face you and your brother do - funniest thing ever!

i love that you love to be loved on and you already mean it when you love on me.

i love that you got lots of hair. it was so cute long! even if i did give your parents a hard time over it. you weren't a fan of it in your eyes. but who would ever want to hide those beautiful blue eyes and eye lashes?!

i love that you and your brother love to be read, Oh the wonderful sounds Mr. Brown can do. i think its amazing how i can say,"DC, bring me a book and i'll read to you." and you do. and i do. you love to be read to.

i love that you want to figure everything out. you are so observant. i should learn from you. you take it all in, see if you can figure it all out, and then act.

i love how rough and tough you are.

i love how sweet and calm you are.

i love and enjoy getting to give you a bath! it's like the tub gets turned into a wave pool! haha

i loved getting to cut your first hair cut. you were perfect! you didn't cry, but i was holding back tears!

i loved your first bday party! you were sleepy, but got woke up quick! once again, you took it all in and just smiled that gorgeous smile at everyone. you're the sweetest thing! you weren't sure about the cake at first. then your mom put it in your face. much better after that! you had it everywhere! you crack me up!

i love you!

Thanks for the best year of my life!

Love,

Aunt Britt

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY,DC!!!!!!

a year ago

2010-10-03T16:17:00.000-05:00

..today i was trying to be patient, but it wasn't working out for me. my sisnlaw had a doctors appt in less than 24 hours, and we were all pretty sure the twin nephews would arrive shortly there after.

we were right. on tuesday of this week, the twin nephews - DC and LJ - or whatever combo i might have for them this week, will be one year old little boys! not babies!

my life has changed so much since the moment i found out their parents were expecting them! even when we weren't sure if it was just one,two or however many God wanted them to be. i have been blessed immeasurably more through these two little people.

i'm sure i bore my friends and clients with stories of them, but i can't help it!

kel gets lots of picture messages. she doesn't have any siblings, and i've always offered to share mine for various reasons hahaha, and she's a college student who needs a stress relief : )

so this week, is a birthday celebration for them and my granny : )

i'll start with a few pics (seeing as my camera was starting to die about the time they were born, then died and hasn't been replaced - forgive the time lapse please):

thanks for changing for life one year ago boys! i can't wait to see God's plans for you two unfold! i love you no matter what, and with a love i can't even put into words!

thank you God for letting me be an aunt!

Love you twins!
Aunt Britt

a lil bit of everything with a cherry on top

2010-09-25T14:32:00.000-05:00

hey everybody! WOW! i really don't know where to start!

as i hope you read last, i'm an aunt again! nephew JC (i've decided against nephew buckaroo b/c it's to long to type LOL) is precious!

i wondered last year when i found out my sisnlaw was prego with twins, how would i love 2 babies equally. my sibs and i used to "accuse" my rents of loving one of us more or having favorites. i never did understand how they couldn't. now i do.

i wondered in january when i found out about nephew JC, was i going to be able to love this niece/nephew as much as i love nephews L and D. well, that's the amazing part of God's love and how He makes us. yes, there's the same amount of love for all three, and if there's ever anymore to be born, there'll be more love.

so, that's really what has been new with me - nephews,family, work, church, repeat.

meg had her baby too! precious juliana! and my best friend from beauty school (oh how i would have NEVER made it without "my friend Lori") Lori. my family still teases me how i never called her "lori". it was and still is, "my friend lori". well, meg had baby girl j one week before nephew JC and lori had baby girl alizah the day after him. the last time i saw lori, she was pregnant with her oldest daughter who's almost 2. the amazing part is, when i went to visit them in the hospital for this daughter, after not seeing each for over 2 years (i've never met her oldest), it's like nothing had changed. i love friendships like that! it was like it had been 2 days since we last saw each other.

so, babies, yes that's what's new with me! haha!

i've been praying about some things involving me,myself and i. i also feel so guilty when praying for myself, so i usually don't. i always can think about how much more other people need. so that's where my prayers tend lead. i've decided to become a little bit selfish and start putting my needs closer to the top of my list ... we'll see how long this lasts ....

i can't believe i've found time to blog, but i have been reading some regularly. and this morning i saw where Meg had given me this :

so here's the deal with this lil award:

rule 1 is to thank her for the award

thanks Megs! so sweet : ) just like you and baby J!

rule 2 is to copy and paste it.

it's cute,ain't it?!

rule 3 is to list 3 things i love about myself:

my dependability

my devotion to all things in my heart and mind (family,friends,work,church, most of all God)

my smile. it's amazing how a smile can change one's day

rule 4 is to post a picture i love ...

hmmm... just one? well, seeing as i haven't had a working camera in about 9 months, and my mother never loads her's on the computer ... this is one of my top favs

nephew d and nephew L sporting their "my aunt rocks" shirts bought by me : )

rule 5 is to pass this along to 5 other people

Stacy

Kellie

Heather

Honea Bees

Emily

see you later! i'm bout to go watch the Tide roll over arkansas! ROLLLL TIDE ROLL!

aunt alert!

2010-09-15T11:06:00.000-05:00

quick, quick update here!

more to come soon ~hopefully : )

I'M AN AUNT AGAIN! nephew buckaroo was born on labor day. yep! sister and him will never live that one down! i was very honored to be in the room when he made his grand entrance!

he wieghed in at 7 pounds 15 ounces and 20 inches long! he's precious and such a good,sweet baby. he's so spoiled rotten! already! i wouldn't have clue who's to blame there ....

the twin nephews are less than 3 weeks away from being 1! : (

it's been a fast,wild, happy, crazy, stressful, depressing, back to crazy,happy, wild, busy year for the whole G gang!

i'm immeasurably blessed! Thank you God for Your blessings on me,
Busy B

to pull or not to pull

2010-08-20T17:49:00.000-05:00

yes, my friends! that's the question that runs in my mind every time my left jaw throbs another shot of pain.

i have enjoyed being an "adult" for the last few years. right now, not one of those times! i remember back to when i was on my parents WONDERFUL health and dental insurance plans. man, those were the good ole days! and when money came from someone else's pocket! and hard answers to hard questions were answered by my parents, not me!

i struggle with money management. i'm really striving to do better, and have been somewhat. welp! right now, i need a miracle!

i have had this tooth that bothered me exactly 2 years ago this week! random, i know. welp, after this tooth causing no pain or drama for over a year it's decided to become infected. yep, abscessed teeth are no fun!!!!!

and letmetellyou! SO STINKING EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my dentist doesn't do the actual "root canal", but does the crown part - and sheesh! maybe i chose the wrong profession! HA HA HA!

so now, here's the question, do i pull it or spend out the wazoo and a have a root canal?

in the words of meredith grey,"..... we're grown ups now. how did that happen? how can we make it stop?"

seven

2010-08-13T16:23:00.000-05:00

i have been blogging in my mind. does that count? yes, i'll be honest here and admit i think, "i've got to update about this. i should blog about that. i need to vent about this and that and that thing too."

so, this morning, i thought, no matter how the day goes, i'm going to blog. about something.

so here's a little update about me and my busy days

#1 - FAMILY - the nephews are now 10 months old!!!!, dad is the over see-er of our building project at home, mom is keeping the nephews and planning the arrival of the newest nephew. bro would kill me if he knew i blogged, or that he was on here so i'll pass him up : ) and sister, well, she's 8 months preg-o in a heat wave working 40 hours a week,or more, while having her house remodeled some. so can you guess how she's really feeling? yeah, me neither b/c i've never been down the road she's on, but i do know this - she's a beauty preg-o! a beauty always, but i'm loving her big bump! nephew buckaroo (this maybe what i will refer to him as seeing as his mommy doesn't want his name on the WWW) is coming along just great! i think she gets an ultra sound of him next week. can't wait to see his precious face! with the twin nephews, we had LOTS of u/s pictures, but with nephew buckaroo it's been like 3 or 4! and none since she was at 20 weeks! she's a 30something weeks now! sheesh! aunt britt is ready!!!!

#2 - CHURCH

has been B-U-S-Y busy! we've had all sorts of things going on! men's banquet, the family life center building project, getting new play ground equipment up, VBS, disciple now: GPS, deaths, births, and now getting ready for the new church year! all that has taken up more time than you could ever realize! i'm still the girls in action - GA - leader, and i still LOVE it! oh, we had a coronation service for them beginning of june. once this summer the GAs and RAs (the boys - royal ambassadors) went and served at manna house. manna house is an amazing place! they serve homeless, and those who just can't get make it. you can get food to eat then, later, clothes and even baby needs. ms fran, the lady who runs it, is more than amazing! we, or at least i, first heard of it at the children's mission explosion the kids went to back in feb. she told me and mrs e (one of my pastor's daughters, who is over the childrens dept) that she remember us by our smiles. i think it's because we have big,curly hair : ). anyways, we served there and are planning time in our new year for GAs and RAs .

#3 - FRIENDS

meg is having a baby girl in just a few days! i missed her shower b/c of d-now at church : ( but i can't wait to meet that precious baby girl! i also can't wait for her to join her mom and i at our p.f. changs dates : )

liz and i have started a new journey together, and it's actually been lots of fun. more on that later.

kel is living in ttown this summer, she's home right now : ), and this is her last year there. that seems kinda crazy to me. it feels like she just moved there!

there have been some friendships over the last year to fade away. 3 in particular i would've never thought. funny how life happens. the funny part is - looking back, i'm not that surprised, my life is less complicated and minus LOTS of unnecessary drama, and in the end - all answers to a prayer.

life lesson #102 - when praying for things, be expecting answers - even if they aren't the ones you want at first, b/c in the end, they will be.

#4 - WORK

has been busy,busy,busy or slow,slow,slow. lately, busy. this week, pretty slow. thank goodness for chemical services : ) i love my job. it doesn't feel like a job to me. and, 3 years ago, i was miserable at my previous salon. just got the booth where i am now, and had to tell my boss i was leaving. only, i got to leave about 3 weeks ahead of time. i can't believe labor day week i will have been there for 3 years, and starting year 4! time really does fly when you're having fun!

#5 - sister's baby shower
it consumed lots of my time, but only b/c i let it! it was so much to put together,and she had a great turn out! she got lots of stuff! everything she will need but a swing, receiving blankets, bath towel and regular burp cloths. it was a cowboy theme - everything from the invitations to gifts : ) when i can get my hand on her pictures, i'll share. i may do a whole post about it. sad thing is - it was over in one day. lots of days planning and shopping for sweet precious baby stuff for the shower to last 2 hours. i think once nephew buckaroo arrives, that will change ; )

#6 - new journey
i started a journey with liz the end of june, and in the craziness of our lives, we've pretty much stuck with it. what is it? well, glad you asked!
i'm exercising! yes, this girl - the one who has always been the "big" girl. the one who has always had a weight issue. i love my parents, and i know my parents love me. i come from a big,country family. "a little meat on your bones is good for ya" kinda family. well, yes, maybe. liz and i have "shredded" - jillian michael's 30 day shred - a lot! we've done some kind of Pilate's dvd. it's not what i thought it was going to be! it's fast pace, lots of moves and quickly! wow is all i have to say! i do love the shred though. i feel it working, and have just started seeing the results. we do it on liz's patio early in the morning! the last week or so, the heat index has been 90 plus at 630! now, that's when you know you're dedicated! liz went shopping with me the wednesday before sis' shower, and found this cute cute dress. one problem with that dress was that it was in with the millions of "regular" sizes and not on one of the four racks i needed to shop. side note - shopping with people who have never had a weight prob is not good for those of us that do! yes, we have 1/4 of the options you do. yes, most of the stuff looks 30plus years older than me. no, i don't do "names" b/c "names" mean nothing, size does. - needless to say, i was about in tears while shopping with a friend who is like my sister. that all changed when i tried on that dress. yes, it was a little snug, but it fit. it zipped. it was on sale. it was a regular size. i bought it! i wore it to sis' shower.

#7 - last but not least ...

finally, it has sunk in my heart and mind, that yes. i'm changing. my mind set, looks, body, wants and needs are changing.

i've lost 7 pounds : ) to me, that's a big accomplishment!

See you soon,
Busy B

birthday,of sorts

2010-08-04T14:15:00.000-05:00

today is a very special day to me. it's a day that i think of often, but yet sometimes let it pass by. eleven years ago tonight, i gave my heart and life to my Savior,Jesus Christ. my dad was holding a revival at a very small,country church WAY back in the back of paint rock valley.

it's a night i'll never forget. my dad remembers when he was saved - 3rd sunday night in november 1968 - but doesn't know/remember the exact date. yes, i'm aware google could help him out with that part. but point is,one day i might not remember the exact date of mine either.

i pray i won't forget. that i won't ever forget. sometimes, this is a story i don't share. i was in the middle of band camp (not like on american pie...) and was burnt to the crisp from the hot sun and marching on pavement. i was sick from it really. but i was so afraid to tell my friends, especially since i was going to be going to high school the very next week.

why was i so scared?

glad you asked! see, i thought i became a christian when i was 8 years old, followed my salvation up with baptism and all. i sung about the Lord, taught about Him, talk about Him, tried living for Him. for a long time after i realized i wasn't a christian, i felt worthless. i thought, "who would want you, you liar?" among other terrible thoughts that the devil gave me. finally, i surrendered, and surprised my parents, family, friends and my church family.

i remember the following sunday, my youth director said to me, "you look so different today. a good different, something new with your smile and eyes." i remember being told i blushed. the funny part of that was, my youth director didn't know at that time that i had got saved wednesday night, he thought i already was like everyone else. he thought it had to do with a cute,shy,quiet blond guy that had become a very good friend of mine that summer ; )

so, today my heart is thankful that God loved me then, He still does, and that He always will!

Be back later,
Busy B

funny thing

2010-07-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

i only signed on here tonight because i was waiting for some things to print for D-Now this weekend (more to come later). and has found it funny that someone that i was raised with/right up the road with thinks they are so "fabulous" that now you have to be invited to read their stuff, but yet can still read mine, welp! not anymore! can we say,"block"? good! have a great night! hopefully i will be back monday with some amazing updates on me,my life,and upcoming stuffs like sister's baby shower! ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!! it's a week away! now for Disciple Now! GPS 2010!!!!!!

busy days and bloggy firsts

2010-07-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

folks, i promise! one day i'm going to figure out how to quickly post from my ~~crack~~ blackberry. the only thing about that is, i can't do the fun stuff! like linking, and such. or so i don't think i can't.

so now, yes. i'm a busy,busy,busy,busy gal these days. but i'm still reading your posts! i think everyone is riding in the same boat with me, because it seems like everyone is slowing down on posting and apologizing for the lack of posts. i thought that after college my life wouldn't wait til mid-end august before "normal" took over again. but i'm wondering if that's the case? hmmm...

ok, so thanks to the fabulous Meg, i'm now hooked on Etsy. before now, i have avoided like a plague! i knew what it would cost in the long run! HAHAHA!

i've been wanting to add some new things to my bath room and add a new color in my bedroom. i'm thinking this little beauty here will help with that!

so another first, i just joined in my first blog give away! i'm almost tempted to tell you not to, but i love competition. so go on to twopoundsawk aka Meg, and join in the fun!

grieving

2010-07-10T13:52:00.000-05:00

...is not something i do much. grief is something no one wants to ever have to think about, let alone go through.

i've always said when accidents occur, "they're accidents. no one planned this/that." that's my way of saying, it's over now on to fry the bigger fish.

i never knew it would hurt this much.

the sad thing is. well, you might need the back story first, so here goes for the 1,000,000,000 time since late last saturday night. . .

my cousin,TA, was riding a horse along side his 12 year old "step son" and a 15 year old guy last saturday night. they had been at a 4th of july celebration at city park in new hope. they went the longer,yet less popular traffic way, to the barn to put the horses up for the night. a young man, who we all know (small towns ...) wasn't exactly go the speed the road calls for, and was looking at the kids on the lighter colored horses that had gotten off the side of the road. he never saw TA on his older horse, or the fact that his lights had either blinded the mare so she couldn't move, or had her "spooked" or scared that she couldn't move. or possibly a combination of it all. his stepson,TM, said TA tried and tried to get her to move and she wouldn't budge. (yes, the 12 and 15 year olds witnessed every.little.detail!) the truck couldn't stop and hit the horse and TA. TA flew up about 20 feet and landed on his head. he went over the truck, which resulted in broken ribs (on the left side), a skull fracture (which,oddly enough was not a big deal), broken nose, and bruises and scratches. the fact that he landed on his head is the reason of grief for not only my family, but for the driver's family too. loooonnnngggggg story shortened: he had his spleen and gall bladder removed, hernia repaired, and internal bleeding stopped in surgery at 230 sunday morning. the doctor said that had they not got him in that surgery then within 30 minutes he would've been gone. at 730 sunday morning we got the call that he was having to have brain surgery. he had bleeding on the brain and to much swelling. they were hoping he would start to recover and come to sunday or monday. sunday evening, he moved a leg and "gripped" a hand. those were all body reflexes, something the brain did not tell him to do. i've said it before, and i'll say it again, i have a large,loving,caring,forgiving,unconditional loving,christian family. i'm so blessed,we all are. we've all been at the hospital at some point from late,late,late saturday through wednesday afternoon. tuesday, the family was told that a decision had to be made within 2-3 days. wednesday morning, the dr's did a blood flow test. there was no blood flow from his neck up. his injuries were few,as far as broken bones, but the accident killed his brain. his brother, SA (who i work with and go to church with. we're really close friends despite the 20 year age difference) and his parents decided for him to be an organ donor. so, several people got kidneys,a heart,an eye, and so on.

TA's visitation is tonight and funeral tomorrow.it's incredibly sad. i'm not sure what's more sad - loosing him (even though he was the most distant one of us) or seeing his parents and brother grieve.

so please, continue to pray for my family.

Busy B
sorry this was so long, i guess i needed to half way vent ...

prayers

2010-07-05T08:53:00.000-05:00

hello all! i hope you all have enjoyed your Independence day weekend!

i know i haven't been around for a while, but this time will be brief. i will be back soon. today, i'm simply asking for prayers.

i have a large family, and i love them all. we're very close too, which is different these days.

one of my dad's first cousins was riding a horse saturday night and was hit by a vehicle. he has 2 children who are a few years younger then me (and are estranged from him - sad,but true) and a 5 year old daughter.

bottom line - he may not make it. it's not looking good. so please, pray for my family and especially him. God knows who you'll be talking about, so please. take a minute,if you don't mind, and thank God for our free country and whatever else you may need to thank Him for or ask Him for, and then add us in.

Thanks!

With a prayerful, wondering heart,
Busy Britt

calling on curls!

2010-06-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

awhile ago, i mentioned i had thought about a "week of beauty". well, i'm to busy to make it a whole week. i'm not sure i've ever posted 5/7 days in a week on here, so why start now? hahaha

well, last week i shared that my natural curls were absolutely loving the ridiculous humidity here in sweet home alabama (roll tide,roll! - sorry can't help myself!)! i promise to all of you curly headed folks - i'm not lying either!

i'm in love. finally.

well, my curls are in love actually. and the big reveal of the best thing to happen to this used -to- be fro???

it's simply a product called Deva Curl

here's some of the products that have saved my hair, recent photos of me and the curls, and my worries about what my hair is doing during the day/humidity/rain/etc etc etc .....

just a little preview here.

i have found that i love their low poo cleanser over their no poo cleanser. although, sometimes i use the no poo as a deep cleanser.

the one that won my heart and curls over .... one Condition. it's more than amazing. it doesn't weigh down the curls, make them to soft, or make them frizz more like other conditioners have done in the past.

my styling products have decreased to one, oh for all the money i've spent of mine and my mother's for that matter, what i would've done with that if i'd only met this AnGell years ago ...

AnGell

i just got me some of this B'Leave In leave in conditioner. usually, i would run as fast as i could from a leave in conditioner! oh the added weight to the curls! this product is different, or hopefully so. i'll start using it tomorrow (i forgot i had it this morning when i was styling my hair - and it's my day off, so that's always my "testing" day).

and, then there's this product ...Mister Right. and just like everything else i think is "mr right", failed me. ok, i'm really only kidding there, but not about the product. it just doesn't "do" it for me or the curls. so it's safely in the back of the product basket at home. let me add here,though, the owner of the salon got a body wave right before Easter, and she loves this product!

and here's the best part of DevaCurl. yes, they have a way in which they think is the best, but they want you to deva the best way for you! just like me vs bev with the mister right. it doesn't work well for me, but it does her. i have naturally curly hair, she has permed hair.

anyways, those are my curly thoughts and loves. i'm sure this was super duper boring for anyone with straight hair, or maybe just in general, but hey! it's my love and passion!

i do have some makeup tips, and even something for you straight hair folks (and as we say here in bama, "bless you little hearts!")! because, yes these curls go straight and i H-A-T-E hate it after awhile!

happy hump day!

Love,

curly busy B

hello alabama summer!

2010-06-08T21:19:00.000-05:00

hello to all of you beautiful people too! wow! i remember the summer time as a child. man! childhood is kind of wasted,somewhat,on childhood! i would LOVE to have a few weeks off - no worries of how my bills will be paid, how my wonderful clients would feel about my absence, or what i would do. would it be ok to do the things i did back when i was a kid? probably not so much. for one, my sibs and liz are grown up too, and i don't think we could get by with playing on the "dirt road" or hide-and-go-seek in the dark at night.

even though the twins are eight,yes i said eight, months old now, i have got the pleasure of showing them "lightening bugs". oh! i used to love to catch them, put 'em in jars in my room, and then would come morning. some hard lessons there. bugs live outside for a reason!

and when i was a kid there was one thing bama summers always had that this curly headed thing always hated until now ...

humidity! wow! it's seriously has rained at home or work every.single.day.this. month! sheesh! however, the curls are L-O-V-I-N-G it! i'm in shock i think!never eva have i liked,enjoyed, or loved the humidity! i'm thinking it has something to do with the curl,good hair day,life saving products i was introduced to a few months ago!

remember when i said i would have like a week of beauty? well, i did ...click here. well, hopefully next week!not that i think i have enough beauty tips to last a week,but as much as i ~~dont~~ do blog now, i'll be ok there!

hope you're enjoying some summertime fun! i need a pool, a tan, and some down time!

Busy B

just call me ... busy b

2010-06-07T18:07:00.001-05:00

hey there,again! the last few posts i've been signing out as "busy b". well, just as soon as i take the time to figure out a cute little signature, that's how i'll end things. why "busy b"? umm, hello? have we met,yet? yeah - now you caught on! because i'm pretty busy. for the last several weeks, it's been the norm for me to have 1-3 nights at home. and this is why i'm not wasting my money on rent! nothing against renters here, but it just makes total sense in all areas of my life to live at home and get my feet planted on solid ground!

what's got me so busy or had me so busy? well ... let's just bullet these things, and maybe one i'll come back and tell you a little bit about these events ...

my 25th birthday! hello, new age category! wow-zer! and all the little celebrations to go along with that!
work,work and work. somehow,even on slower weeks there, it still takes up most of my time. that's ok, keep it coming!!!!
church - letmetellyou! we're one busy group of baptists! since the new calendar year (not just church year)we've had/done:fed 4 families that had deaths, easter musical, ladies retreat,5 baby showers since the end of Feb-mid may. 1 bridal(may), regular services, started building a family life center, and that's all things as of mid may!
GA class - i teach the girls in action class at my church. i love love love love my girls i get each wednesday night! i love their families too! i keep them busy, and they keep me on my toes! we had a coronation service for them last night,followed by a reception. it was a LOT of planning on my part, and doing, but it was beautiful, wonderful and such a blessing! oh the joy they bring me!
family - sister is having a BOY in like 15 weeks! wow! aunt britt is in full on planning mode! invitations are all planned out and will be ordered hopefully early next week. the baby shower planning is in full swing too! woowee, this is fun! the twin nephews are so much fun! they're big babies too! d is 20 lbs and l is 18 lbs! they have the sweetest personalities too! i've seriously never known a love like this ... they've already taught me so much and haven't even spoke my name :)
friends - liz is back next door to me, and that's been fun. one night, we hung out late on her patio and just vented and griped, laughed and joked, and almost fell asleep! if i was a drinking girl, it would've been a cosmo or wine night like in the movies/tv. kel is back at college, but that's ok. i think we communicate more when there's distance. hopefully, we'll get some time to see each other this summer between her working there and me working/church here. i do miss her not being here on wednesdays ( i got really spoiled to that a few summers ago), but that's not ever going to be reality, and that's ok. she is truly my best friend. also, i've realized that there were once some friends who were my best friends and now i just call them friends. i never see or hear from them. really,folks?! in a world with so many communication areas, you can't pick one?! my thought on this ... people do exactly what they want to do ... you can (and they know this) call,text,email,or even email me on facebook. case and point - birthday came and i got a "happy bday" on my fb wall. really?! well, no offense to any of my fb family/friends, but over 100 other "friends" did the same thing and your's blended in there. just saying/venting ....
trials/blessings - there seems to be SO much going on right now. somethings i can't talk about at all, to anyone but God. some i can. some i don't want to. some i'm not putting out on the WWW. i know with God all things are possible, and it's ALL in HIS time and will. now if HE would hurry up, or at least let me have a hint of how this chapter of my life is going to end .... i know,i know! that's not how it works!
oh, upcoming things at church!!!! --- i'm starting "new" with GA's, which is taking time to plan, this weekend we have a men's banquet. mostly the women of our church have been busy, so this is a fun night to serve the men. VBS is coming up and it's a cowboy theme! which is the theme of something else, right sister? ; ) oh! and sunday night we have a bridal shower! oh joy,joy????
last but not least - i have some bridal and baby showers coming up for some really awesome friends of mine! i can't wait! i am so happy for these girls and their families! : )

so for now, that's my life in a wrap. that's what's new with me (every one's clients - not just mine - have been asking me 'what's new with you?' ummm, well nothing outstanding ....and that question is on my nerves!)! what's new with you?

Busy B

sometimes

2010-05-30T14:24:00.001-05:00

sometimes, i just don't know what to do.

sometimes, i just don't know what to say.

sometimes, i just don't know how to do it.

sometimes, i just don't know why i'm having to even worry about it.

sometimes, i just cry.

sometimes, i feel like i'm in a battle and right in the middle of it all.

sometimes, i wonder if my life will ever be "normal" again.

sometimes, i wonder if i'll ever get to live my life for me.

sometimes, i wonder if it'll ever be my turn - getting my own home, bridal showers/teas, baby shower(s) etc

sometimes, i just want to yell.

sometimes, i want to laugh instead.

sometimes, i just want to take a beach vacation by myself.

sometimes, i wished i lived away from those i love the most.

sometimes, i wondered if those i love, love me even half as much as i love them.

sometimes, i wonder if those that i love the most, ever realize they are 98% of the hurt i feel.

sometimes, i wonder the "sometimes"

but through all the "sometimes", i'm reminded that, though satan gives me those moments, he doesn't get me.
he can try to take away my family, friends, work/clients, money and so much more. but he doesn't get to. God created me. God loves me. God sent His Son to die on the cross for me and my sins so that i can live forever with Him in Heaven. God lets me run to Him when i don't know what to do.

this video is a song that i heard for the first time on this year's Women of Joy conference ...

charles billingsley

~~~ Busy B

history of today

2010-05-27T12:34:00.000-05:00

sorry i've been so absent! i said i was going to do better, but apparently i lied! it's been busy busy around here! i've even celebrated another year. but today is a special day!

33 years ago today my parents got married. very quickly actually. her dad,step mom, sister and her family, as well as the rest of my mom's large family found out she got married an hour later at her high school graduation. *** side note here : my rents would have just about killed me if i'd got married 7 years ago an hour or two before graduating high school! ***

so happy anniversary to my wonderful parents!

they have taught me so many things! i love to sit back and watch them. it hasn't been easy. there have been fights, laughs, sad tears, happy tears, and through it all, and i do mean ALL, they are still together.

how? through everything they've been through, how are they still together? by faith in their Savior!

another side note here: 12 years ago today sister graduated high school, 9 years ago last saturday on my bday my brother graduated high school, and tomorrow will mark my 7th year mark of being a high school graduate! i can NOT believe it's been seven years! sheesh!

Busy B

i admit

2010-05-11T12:38:00.000-05:00

i lied to you all last week, and i do ask for your forgiveness! when i've had a chance to sit down at a computer, my mind has taken me to finding the perfect baby shower invitation for my sister. she deserves the very best, and i hope i can help in giving it to her! my mind has been rolling and planning!

this coming sunday at church, we will have our fifth, yes i said fifth, baby shower since the end of february. now, i don't know how other churches do their showers for moms-to-be and brides-to-be, but letmetellyou .... we spend a whole entire afternoon setting up and decorating! it takes usually 3-4 hours to set up and about 30 minutes to tear it all down.

don't get me wrong, i love showers,babies,and weddings and all the festivities around those times, but i'm tired. we've even had a bridal shower thrown in there too. we won't have another shower until the second sunday night in june, and it's a bridal shower. so going from baby to bridal has been refreshing. now, grant it. we don't rent fancy tablecloths and go out and buy fancy centerpieces. we also don't use those paper/tissue paper ones either. we try to use what we have, and make it special for each person. it's never the same way twice!

i'm trying to decided who's most excited about sis's baby boy - me or her? or rather, who's the most excited about her shower that's not until the first of august? i'm thinking i'm the definite there! and today, i think i might possibly have found the perfect invitation! it's a little pricey, so i might have to keep digging, but dang it's cute!

no, my sister has not picked out a theme or registered yet, i'm just almost bored and i know i have lots to do in june,and this can be done now. i'm trying not to be a procrastinator and use trying to use my time wisely. man it's not easy!

heaven help the day, if that day should come, that God sends me "him" and we get married - because oh,the fun planning there!, and then to be blessed enough to be a parent!

enough boredom about showers ....

i have some ideas floating around in my head about beauty products - hair,skin and makeup - and maybe some answers to some questions. maybe soon, i'll have a week of beauty here ...

Britt

i know,i know ...

2010-05-04T14:24:00.001-05:00

it's been a LONG time since you fabulous folks have heard from me!

i'm alive, i'm healthy, i'm content, and i'm busy. busy. busy. but hey, that's how i chose the name after all,right?! yes, and it fits me perfectly.

i've had so many posts in my head, which may make me seem like a crazy blogger or something, but really it's great therapy for me. and even though i'm not a real therapist, i feel like one at my job. and that's perfectly fine with me. i call those client conversations life lessons. take from them and learn!

lately, i've been asked, "so what's new with you?" well ... i don't want to bore you with details,but nothing really with just me. i have lots of friends having babies, a few having weddings, church is busy, work is steady-super busy. before i knew it april had come and gone, and man oh man! i need a few days of it back!

but here's one super exciting piece of news (i had forgotten i hadn't shared, neither has sister, until heather reminded me today while i was giving her a new "do")

I'M GETTING A NEPHEW!!!!!!

i'm super excited! already had made some baby shower plans, but now i'm ready for more! someone asked me was i upset he's not a girl. really???? first of all, no. every child is a gift from God, no matter the situation. second of all, if i was .... which i was so hoping for a boy anyways and was afraid i was going to hurt sister's feelings by saying so.... what good would it do to be upset? i can't change the baby's gender. sheesh people ....

anyways ... i promise! i'll be back soon! i have some new things i would like to share ....

meanwhile, will you join me in prayer for those in fabulous nashville; albertville,al; and mississippi. i have been through two tornadoes in my life with nothing lost or damaged. i have never lived in a flood - i can't imagine ...

Excited and busy,
Britt

pure joys

2010-04-19T12:52:00.000-05:00

when you are in the midst of a trial or in a few trials, do you ever stop and consider them a pure joy?

don't feel bad, i'm right there with you! after the "shock" of the reason of the trial has blown over, be it an hour,day,week,month,or even five years later, i do start seeing the good things coming out of it all.

God wants us to see trials as pure joy,believe it or not. it says so in James 1:2-4.

i've gotten back to reading, and as you know i'm slightly ~~obsessed~~ in love with Mrs. Karen Kingsbury. i'm currently re-reading Take One , the first book in the Above the Line Series. i have been being remindedd of the verse in James 1 about trials should be considered a pure joy. i had almost forgotten that it's all in that book. and just a little shout out to the fabulous mrs kk - i'm now hooked on reading and wish i didnt' have to put it down to work!

today, my heart is troubled. most of my family probably don't even know i blog. i don't care for them reading it, they just "don't get" this kind of stuff. you know, "putting all your stuff out there on the world wide web" blah blah blah ..

but, as many of you have said before, this place is a great therapy place!

right off the bat this morning, my first clients were my grandparents. im very close to them, and will admit i haven't talked to them in almost a week. they've been busy and so have i. i kept thinking i was going to go see them yesterday, but instead thought that since i haven't been home on a sunday afternoon in over 6 weeks (no joke either! 6 weeks or more), that i would just stay at home and read some more.mainly because the next 10 weekends hold something, and mainly on sundays ....

well, in some ways i'm glad i didn't go. you see, i found out that my granny has been sick off and on since wednesday. and yesterday she was so sick she didn't go to church at all. that means she must've been pretty bad sick! she had her yearly physical this past week, and they have found she maybe having some heart "issues".

my heart is broken right now. my granny is 72, and is in great health minus asthma. she's active, young looking and acting. she says it's no big deal, and that the doctors will see it was just something to do with her asthma.

my papa on the other side, who is a strong, yet negative kind of man, thinks differently. he's definately worried about her!

they've been together about 56 or 57 years. they will be married for 55 years july 27. they still call each other baby,honey,etc etc. very sweet.

my papa has been the one that we've had to travel the bad health road with over the last 8 - 10 years. not her.

i have a busy afternoon at work, but all i want to do is pray and cry and think.

however, this is all a pure joy,right?

i'm sure it will be soon ....

Waiting on Joy,
Britt

a glimpse of Heaven part 2

2010-04-14T12:33:00.001-05:00

as i last posted, over this past weekend i attended phil waldrip's Women of Joy conference. i kinda left you hanging here. so i'll be kind and pick up where i left off - the part that's nearly a miracle because i was speechless.

if you really know me, you know that's amazing! so when i walked into the ballroom of the convention center, no, prince charming was not there to hand me over my glass slipper and dance the night away. this ballroom was for shopping. the way i love and think all ballrooms should be really! well, me and kris walk in and saw another girl from church standing in a long line (only she's half way and jumping literally with joy) and then i looked down to the beginning of the line and there was my most favorite author Karen Kingsbury! i wanted to yell! i've never met anyone famous before! i honestly didn't know what to do. for a moment i almost thought about snapping a picture from where i was, but then i was like,"hello britt! where's your mind?! you can meet her tonight,and that's ok!" so i gave up a concert with michael w. smith, and went and grabbed a book i've been waiting on for a year, got in line with my friend tab, and met some fabulous ladies along with Karen Kingsbury, her mom, daughter, son, and daughter's boyfriend who will be on the cover her book Unlocked coming out this fall. i was on cloud nine!!!!!!!! when i get a copy of my picture (i've posted one on fb and just realized it's terribly fuzzy) i'll share it.

heres a picture of Unlocked

so then i realized while in line waiting, how amazing it is to meet new people and talk to them like they are your church family.

sunday came to soon. we had to all go together and have our stuff loaded up on the bus at 730 a.m. yep! it's an early to late kinda weekend! so we did, and once we got in and found enough seats for everyone, i went to find me some breakfast. on my way, i ran into one of the ladies i had met the night before. and it was like i had known her a million years. then, it hit me ...

one day, and probably not to far off, i will get a million years to get to know her. i looked around, and slowed my walk down and saw ladies of all ages,sizes,and such talking and laughing. smiling at strangers, telling them "there's a faster moving bathroom line over there ...". yes. it hit me, one day i'll be in Heaven with these ladies. we'll be walking on streets of gold then. im not sure about shopping. but then again why would we need to shop when there will be streets of pure gold, gates of pearl and such?

there were over 9,000 ladies there this weekend. women of joy have a "motto" i guess you could say --- 3 days 2 nights 1 purpose. as i was walking down that hallway i thought, "this is a glimpse of eternity isn't it Father?" and i felt Him say,"yes,daughter, look ... here's a glimpse of the only hell you'll ever know and yet a glimpse to your future home with me, the Creator of all things."

i was crying as i reached the counter to order my breakfast. i was crying because i was happy,and yet homesick. i was crying because it hit me how many people i know,yet don't know if they'll be with me there. i was crying because i didn't know what else to do,and was overwhelmed.

on a much lighter note, let me add another glimpse of Heaven that made me laugh.

all, and i mean ALL bathrooms were for women, always clean,and very nice. i thought,"yep,God, there will be no bathroom lines either! Thank you!"

because later, after i enjoy my day that is really a day off with the nephews, i may post about the way home. which may or may not some hilarious stories about a potty break on the way home!

Thinking of Heaven,
Britt

glimpse of Heaven

2010-04-12T12:56:00.000-05:00

as i last posted, i attended the Women of Joy in the wonderful Pigeon Forge,TN this past weeekend. i wasn't sure what i was most happy about - being there or being off for 3 days. let's just say both were wonderful, to say the least ....

there's so much i could share from the weekend, but that would be the world's longest post! i promise! let me set the scene some - 43 women (a few who are teenagers so we had from a 13 yr old - two 70+ age ladies), a huge charter bus (which now i know i need to take a little something to help with motion sickness that apparently i have now) with a very sweet and funny bus driver, a very nice,cozy resort with an indoor water park, shopping outlets, and most of all precious time learnig,laughing,praising and worshipping our Lord, the creator of Heaven and Earth!

it hit me sunday morning as i headed to find some breakfast at the convention center, that we were getting a glimpse of Heaven. let me back up and explain ....

on friday, we headed up there. we settled in our rooms and got ready to find something to eat (you may notice that eating apparently wasn't in the schedule exactly) then headed up to the convention center for a wonderful time of praise and worship with the oh.so.talented Charles Billingsly. then we heard from an amazing lady of the Lord, Lori Salierno. her testimony of the night riped at my heart. it hit very close to home! there's only one way she could have stood up there, and she gave God all the credit for her being able to make it through. we got back in our rooms late late late,and we were all pretty sleepy (we had been up about 19 hours straight with a time change thrown in there). we passed on the group share time. my roomies for the weekend were ready to shower and sleep! i was right with them!

saturday, i woke up oh so early to straighten out my curly hair. got up to the convention center, got breakfast,did some shopping, and enjoyed more time with mr charles b, then we heard a hilarious christian comedian, anita renfroe. then it was time for kay arthor. this 76 year old, beautiful woman of God. i will admit i was exhausted and didn't know how i could hold my eyes open other than with my ink pen. so that 's what i did for a few minutes until i finally moved around enough and got woke up. she's very bold and brave. once i got fully awake, i was thankful to be able to be seated with 9,000 plus ladies who were hearing the message God had sent for us.

Saturday after the conference, this really annoying policeman wouldn't let us turn into our resort. so we had to turn on a little 2 lane road and drive, oh 45 minutes to only turn around and go back to the resort. finally we headed out to find lunch and the outlets. well, we got out of the conference an hour late, so everywhere was nice and filled up with long lines and 1 1/2 hours wait to eat. and that wasn't with all of our group. a good many stayed back for the water park. so, after finding out the waits we went to the outlets! woohoo! i remembered a little grill that was stuck inbetween some stores from last year's conference, thankfully. we had 2 hours at the outlets. really?! imagine - 20 something women and 2 hours at the outlets ... yeah, not a good idea! but we made do! my mom and i headed to the grill, and some followed us. mom and i only shopped for the babies : ) we just can't resist some things : )

saturday evening, i was tired! i took a cat nap and then decided i would indeed go to the concert with steven curtis chapman and michael w. smith. i had toyed with the idea i wouldn't go, but man am i glad i did! i stayed in for steven curtis chapman, but headed with one of my friends and rommies, kris, to go shopping. well, i was speechless when i walked in the ballroom! yes, me - speechless.

why was i speechless? i'll let you wonder for a bit ... lunch break is over ......

Because HE is faithful,
Britt

weekend of joy

2010-04-09T12:44:00.001-05:00

Hello all! Sorry I've seemed somewhat absent lately. I have been reading,but have had zero time for posting! Sorry!

As you know,I'm self-employeed,and April 15 is less than a week a away (insert panic attack her ...). And this year,Meg is making that day great for me! Well not really just for me. She finally finds out what the baby is! I'm so excited! I have been working very hard on my tax stuff and delivered it to my accountant yesterday. Letmejusttellya,I'm SO thankful God did not want me to have an office job!

Right now,I'm on a huge charter bus,in the parking lot of a lodge where I'll be all weekend! A 3 day weekend at that!A group of ladies,of all ages, are attending Phil Waldrip's Women of Joy Conference.

Last year was my first year to attend,and it was amazing! I can hardly wait for what's to come this year! Plus,anytime I'm with my church family its an awesome,fun time. Then add Pigeon Forge and shopping at the outlets on Saturday - what's better?

Hope your weekend is filled with joy!

See you monday! Or possibly sunday night!
Britt

hoppy easter

2010-04-04T14:24:00.001-05:00

"Hoppy" easter everyone! Currently,I'm resting and having my curly hair straightened out (I did it this morning,but not real real good haha).

I hope everyone has remembered the real reason for what today is all about.

The death,burial,and resurrection of our Lord,Savior Jesus Christ!

We had our Easter program this morning,and are waiting to start our next performance at 4. This year,our program is from Mary,the mother of Jesus,'s point of view.

I pray you all are having a blessed day!

Britt

my "off"day

2010-03-31T17:13:00.000-05:00

has been funny! i did something today i have not done in,oh almost 7 years. i went and got my hair done! you see, i'm graying prematurely. that's ok with me. at least i know what's best for my graying clients as well. my cousin SA does my hair, and we're too too busy to "work me in" as we normally do. so today, liz came with me. we ran to the beauty supply (oh the ~~joy~~ life of a self-employeed person on their day off) and then to grab some lunch and head back to the hope for my hair. SA got not only me but bev (the owner) today. he was so busy, liz actually had to rinse the color out of my hair. that was exciting to say the least. it's really not as easy as you may think! and if you've ever had the pleasure of having SA shampoo your hair and have him massage your scalp/neck, you would never ever want anyone else to do it but him! seriously! so why the rush on my hair?

you see, Easter is Sunday. we have a special program at church. i have a solo and this past week found out i was in the lights. not the big big spot light, but definitely have lots of lights on me at the end of the program. SA told me quickly we would "fix" my problem soon. so we did. it's weird being a "client". of course i did some things to help out - washed,dried and folded towels, rinsed bev's perm, washed some color bowls,brushes and bottles ... you get the drift.

so here's a hilarious funny -it may have lost it's hilarious-ness since i left the shop,or since no one would care about the "back story"

this guy,R, who has known bev 99% of his life came in just to "visit" or something today. we couldn't get him to leave, and we weren't exactly open for business. bev was getting her hair rolled up when he was there. he was seriously there for 30 mintues for no reason, other than it was freaking me out! when he was leaving, he told SA to tell bev hi for him. bev was,and had been, sitting right there in front of him the whole entire time! we laughed so hard it wasn't even funny!

we had several clients to stop in (which is weird b/c they never do that ... just stop in to make appointments) and none of them knew us right off! i wonder do we really look that different with color on our hair, perm rods in our hair, and not in our black jacket/vests? or maybe these people are just to crazy and need to leave us alone....

afterall crazy has "struck" again ... more to come later ....

hope you're all having a wonderful hair day! and enjoying the sunshine!
Britt

first day of forever

2010-03-29T08:52:00.000-05:00

this post is actually 2 days late. as i posted last week about mr k, a church member/client of mine found out he was eaten up with cancer last monday. i rejoice,yet mourn, that saturday morning at 3:30 he passed away. i can only imagine what his "first day of forever" was like in Heaven.

mr k was wonderful piano player, and a joker! he used to unlock the church on sunday mornings and would greet our pastor (he's been there like 35 years) who is also a friend of mr k's, and say,"welcome to new salem baptist church! we're so glad you came." sometimes that maybe seemed annoying, now it's precious.

mr k and his love for music, also led him to be a member of our church's choir. several years back our music director,g mc, had us do fall concerts. about 2 years ago i was given a solo part, along with my cousin S(the one i work with too) and the choir backs us up. we love the song. mr k did too. we talked about one time what our "first day of forever" would be like. i know today all he'd hoped for was fun and a piano.

the words to that song have comforted me all weekend since i heard the news, so i thought i would share the lyrics. i'm not 100% sure who wrote it, but mike speck rearranged it. it has an old,but one of my favorites "i'll meet you in the morning" at the end. i do apologize i couldn't find a video of it being sung ....

the day is getting closer
the time is drawing near
i feel it in my spirit, i'll soon be leaving here.
and in my mind, i've gone there a thousand times before,
oh, how i just imagine forever with my Lord!

chorus: the first day of forever
what a day that will be!
the first day of forever,
with the One who died for me.
unending day of gladness,
like i've never known before.
the first day of forever,
i'll rest forever more ......

i know i'll see my loved ones,
yes we'll gather over there.
but there is no reunion that could ever quite compare.
to that wondrous when i stand before His throne,
and hear the voice of Jesus say,"my child welcome home!"

chorus .....

i'll meet you in the morning.
with a how - do - you,
and we'll sit down by the river,
and with rapture,auld aquiantence renew

chorus

on a much lighter note. everyone seems to find humor in the fact that mrs k showed up for her weekly hair appointment. my response - "she still needs her hair styled ..." but yes, with 3 hours of sleep she still showed up right on time,and very at peace. she was even able to laugh.

it's hard to be sad as i think about his funeral,i'm sorry celebration, service this afternoon. but i am. cousin SA also owns a florist. he had placed a white rose with a white bow on "the red songbook"(an ole timey songbook that was mr k's fav) on the piano yesterday. that was kinda sad. i know there will be parts that are today, but im jealous. i'm jealous he is on his "first day of forever"!

With a sad,yet rejoicing heart ...
Britt

quiteness and helplessness

2010-03-25T22:53:00.001-05:00

Tonight I had planned to make a quick run into town (keep in mind going to town is driving like 20 miles),but some storms blew into town and I hate driving in hard rain and storms. I waited out the storms at work,only to not have time to go shopping. I needed to go,still do,but its not a life or death matter. Just some center piece ideas for some things at my church. But at the end tonight,when I got in my car to go home - all I could think about was being quiet.

I talked to one of mr k's daughters today. My heart is breaking yet rejoicing with this family. He's fading very fast. At every moment today when things got a little stressful or I had a mental pity party I reminded myself on how blessed I am. That's not my father,grandfather,uncle,brother,or cousin fast yet slowly passing away. It is a dear church family member. I have two families you see - my biological family and my church family. Loosing one like this hurts the same no matter which family it is.

Tonight when I left work,I was tired,sad,happy and hungry. I thought my mom had cooked dinner so I just headed home only to find out there was a miscommunication between my mom and I about supper. I barely spoke to my parents tonight. I made myself a light supper,checked my facebook,and then asked for the living room tv because that's where the dvr is to watch greys and private practice. I think my parents knew that I needed to just be quiet tonight.

Have you ever felt that way? That you just don't want to talk about "it" - whatever the it is? Have you ever just felt so helpless because you can't think of anything you can do to help the k family. And in the midst of that,another friend of mine lost his uncle to cancer during the night last night. I can't think of anything to help these friends of mine and it hurts.

With a quiet heart,
Britt

simple things

2010-03-24T22:16:00.000-05:00

just doing some thinking tonight ... normally on wednesdays i would do a "not me". welp, not tonight. not that i couldn't think of 1,000,000 "not me's" mind you.

ive been looking.listening,and hearing people and how we all stress over things we shouldn't. we are focusing on the negative side instead of the positive side of most every aspect of our lives. i,too, have been found gulity of this. for far to long i've been adding the negative on top of the positive and have missed many blessings i believe. i've also figured out i'm not managing my time as wisely as i should for the important things. my heart is very full,yet saddened tonight by a "revelation" that came all through an UTI a church member/client of mine got the end of january,first of february.

you see, this 85 year old navy vet, is hilarious!,strong, talented, spunky, and all things inbetween. his family found out a year or so ago he was in the beginning stages of alzheimer's. that is a terrible disease! 3 of his 4 daughters (well, he also has a son) are nurses. when they found out he was having symptoms with his UTI, right to the doctor they went. which led to a hospital visit. this man,i'm very sad to say, is dying. my heart is absolutely broken. i do his wife's hair every saturday at 1030 prompt,and i love her. she's so strong. she took care of her aging mother for 5 years,and mr k was right there helping too. now, thanks to that uti they have found he has cancer. at first, it was just a tumor. now, they found it's pretty much everywhere! bone,liver .... i know he has such a better home ahead of him. he told mrs k saturday after her beauty shop visit that it was his time. he also told her how he wants things done. the one that doesn't surprise me the lease is after the funeral service and burial, he wants us to come back to our church and have a good ole timey gospel singing. it just won't be the same without him there making that piano talk and sing.

he is one of the most talented pianist i've ever known. he actually played for me to sing at a funeral the day after thanksgiving. he jumped at the opportunity. i was a little nervous b/c of his alzheimer's,but he said, "start singing, i'll find you". i did. he did. we made a great team. i love that memory of him.

i'm sorry this has been such a long post, but my heart is oh,so heavy. this is the first time i think i've accepted what's happening and now have started praising God for this man, the time i've got to know him and his family, that i'll see mr k again after he leaves this earth, and grieving because i havent heard his tenor voice in the bass section behind me or heard him "tickle the ivories" in several weeks. i know joy will come in the morning. not just for him, his family and friends, but for everyone for any situation.

this all has me thankful for the simple things ...

sister's elbow healing - her now being able to type with both hands, tie her shoes, buckle and unbuckle her own seat bealt, even her being able to shampoo her own hair again (of course now she doesn't get a scalp massage) and seeing her small baby bump.

having an un-planned supper tuesday night at my brother's

getting to see,kiss, and know my nephews are healthy and happy

seeing my GA girls at church,and the excitement on their faces about learning about Christ and the Great Commission

hearing the choir at my church singing about the true meaning behind and about Easter.

seeing a new screen and projector in the back of the sanctuary at choir (now the choir finally can see from anywhere the words to songs and we aren't staring down the right side of our church anymore)

decorating for a little girl's 1st bday party

planning my papa's 75th bday party and going to it this saturday

buds on trees

and just seeing someone smile and maybe even laugh ....

the simple things.

Britt

fun times

2010-03-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

and some down time. somehow my mondays have become oh.so.busy at night. work is fine and not overwhelming on mondays. mondays are actually perfect at work. i have clients yes, but i'm not super busy,it's all spread out, and i get a chance to breath and prepare for the rest of the week. i'm pretty tired on mondays from working hard and long on saturdays and then church on sunday (here lately ALL day long). don't get me wrong! i love my job and my church. i'm just tired on monday nights. but tonight was a new kind of fun.

i went shopping with a friend of mine from church who sells premier jewelry (which absolutely makes me swoon! i just got to order $275 in free jewelry today!) for her daughter's very first birthday party! how much more precious does it get?! i remember how i helped with her shower at church last year, and how excited we were about baby K, now i get to decorate for her bday party! preciousness!!!

over the last few years, i've been going to, helping with, or hosting showers of some sort for someone. i love it. last year, i would have loved it if my sister would've let me more for her wedding. i enjoyed planning her bridal tea and such. you see, sister, isn't much of a fru fru kind of gal. she wanted nothing to do with shower games or sitting in front of a bunch of ladies while opening up pots,pans, towels,toasters,etc and everyone "ooohhhhing" and "awwwing". so we had a simple tea at our aunt's home. i could've gone all out and done more, but since i didn't, that leaves me with ideas for her baby tea in august (yes, i already have a date all penciled in, a place reserved, and a time set with a few hostess names in my notebook). most of my friends tell me i should be an event/party planner. i'm just about there with them! it's so much fun! oh course, buying for little girls is always fun. one thing i never thought about, is wow you can really spend a LOT on just decorations! i'm pretty thrifty, so i hope that helped MM out some : ) guess we'll see how it all turns out when we decorate later this week : )

Looking forward to Tuesday (mainly because i'm off on Wednesday),
Britt

p.s. did you notice i finally figured out the "link" button. my A-D-D or A-D-O-S (attention def.oooo shiny ....) must have gotten the best of my mind. i've never noticed that little button.

oh the little exciting things!

if i were

2010-03-18T17:52:00.000-05:00

so, i'm going to be a copy cat. my creative juices aren't exactly following ~~this week~~ today, but this seems like fun. now my wonderful friends,emily and heather, didn't go into much detail with their answers. if you know me, you know me and my details ... sorry, it's just a quirk of mine ...

if i were ....

If I were a month, I'd be May

(not to hot,spring has sprung and summer is coming. and my birthday haha)

If I were a day of the week, I'd be Sunday

If I were a time of day, I'd be late afternoon early evening on a summer's day

If I were a planet, I'd be Earth

If I were a sea animal, I'd be a Dolphin

If I were a direction, I'd be in more than just one, like south east ...

If I were a piece of furniture, I'd be a dining room table

(oh, the love,laughs,tears,and good times at tables)

If I were a liquid, I'd be strawberry lemonade

If I were a gemstone, I'd be an emerald

If I were a tree, I'd be an oak

If I were a tool, I'd be a hammer

If I were a flower, I'd be a lily

(blooming on my own,easy maintenance spreading my self around my neighbors to help them ...)

If I were a kind of weather, I'd be about 80 degrees,no humidity,sunshine with a light breeze ...

(oh,spring and summer where are you?!)

If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a piano

If I were a color, I'd be something bright that could be toned down ...

If I were an emotion, I'd be cheerfulness

If I were a fruit, I'd be a strawberry

If I were an element, I'd be wind

If I were a car, I'd be a corolla

(despite the recent recalls - cute,can be sporty, adn always dependable)

If I were a food, I'd be cake

If I were a place, I'd be in the country,close to the city, with views of the mountains and valleys

If I were a material, I'd be cotton

If I were a scent, I'd be the smell of my mom's kitchen

If I were an animal, I'd be a puppy

(they're somewhat independant,but at the end of the day they need the ones they love most)

If I were a facial expression, I'd be a smile

If I were a body part I'd be eyes (oh the beauty that eyes bring)

If I were a song, I’d be something fun,yet intense (just like life)

If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be cute and comfy

What would you be?

Britt

the future

2010-03-14T21:53:00.000-05:00

... has me excited,thankful,planning,thinking, planning but most of all praying.

i've had a wonderful weekend! minus all the crazy errands friday night and the fact that one of my church buddy's mother-in-law's had passed away and i had to make a run by the funeral home. my best,kel, is home for a few days for spring break! i'm so excited i surprised her by taking her out to dinner at one of my fav italian places. we shopped, talked, watched a great funny/sad movie, and laughed. i'm so happy she got to come home! i had a premier jewelry party - im ~~obsessed~~ in love with their jewelry. it's all i wear, well almost. and then today was church day. one of my best days of the week! i got to sunday school late thanks to staying up to late,sleeping to late, and that ~~stupid~~ detour on my way there. i got there, and wow! i love my church. i was so excited because i knew something not everyone knew just yet. service was great, lunch with friends was great, back to church to plan decorations for baby showers that we're having the next two weeks, choir practice, then it was time for a special service. one in which we broke ground for a family life center (that's what i knew in ss that not everyone knew yet)! i'm so excited and thankful! a few years ago, we had the thought of building. the plans we had were too much for us in many ways, and it wasn't God's plan for us.

You see, God led us down a path we didn't want to take at first, but looking back it's been the.best.thing.ever! i'm so thankful for faithful leaders of our church that searched and followed God's plan! now, we're being rewarded with a new FLC that we need, like this week! my dad has been voted to be the over see-er of the project by the church. this is a huge blessing for my family,him, and my church. tuesday, things will really start moving! starting with the ground!

what else is in my future? well this week other than work... saturday is girls night with the girls from church at my fav place ever, friday is my dad's bday, thurs im off and get to spend extra time with the nephews and hopefully rest up from wednesday, wed - is my off day,spending time with kel and the nephews, and then a LOCKIN at my church for k-6th grade (i loved loved loved lockins when i was younger and am so excited! i hope i can stay up with them! haha!) tues - who knows what after work, and monday i'm hoping holds time for me to get some things done! i'm so far behind on cleaning,book work and yucky tax stuff! april 15 will be here before i know it! yuck-o!

Looking forward to "facing tomorrow because HE live",
Britt

10 hours ...

2010-03-09T13:33:00.000-06:00

the amount of sleep i got last night! wow! i haven't slept that long, and not been sick, in i don't know when! i decided that since most people sleep in on the weekends, that i would go to bed extra early last night and play catch up with one of God's greatest gifts - sleep!

so, finally, after nine monday nights of having something, i finally had nothing (or things i could just do later). so, at 7 i went to bed. i watch an old,but favorite, episode of grey's anatomy on lifetime. you know the one where meredith put her hand on the bomb in the man's chest cavity? well, that went off and shortly there after i went to dreamland. perfect night!

this day has been wonderful so far,and even the rain isn't getting me down! and tonight is going to be wonderful i'm sure! i going to italian with Meg! i'm so happy her baby said Italian! ; )

Hope your hair is doing fabulous even in the rain (my curls are extra tight! and i'm loving it!)
Britt

p.s. i just spent a few hours on a color correction - if you can't afford to have your hair colored by a professional please,oh please! don't let someone use their "leftover" color/at home highlighting kit! because in the real world of hair color (it's not dye people either!), there are no, did you hear me?, no! leftovers! and you will end up paying at least twice as much for the color correction ... that's all! have a great day!

where are you weekend?

2010-03-08T14:00:00.000-06:00

yes, weekend, where oh where did you go? what's that? you were here with lots of sunshine and wont be back til five more days?! i missed the weekend? what?! fabulous! just fab-u-oh-lous!

ok, so maybe it wasn't that bad, but i feel like i honestly have not had a weekend!

did you notice i didn't post my last "week of five" post? no? good! you see ... it was suppose to be titled," fabulous flowers for five $$$$$" ... yes, i took the idea from over at fat bridesmaid and bought me some pretty flowers to brighten my mood,day,week and add some color to life. i found some beautiful tulips at walmart for $5! let me insert here, that my cousin,S, that i work with used to own a florist right next door to where our salon is. my aunt still works there. i have been around flowers a lot in my life, but never had bought any just because. mainly because they die. why waste the money? well, $5 didn't sound like a whole lot to waste (i could've bought some nasty greasy fast food for supper for that afterall), so i took the plunge and bought them. i enjoyed them. i killed them before i got a picture to share. i thought i had brought them back to life, but that was only until i abandoned them yesterday. but just imagine - beautiful, pinkish purplish tuplips opening up slowly on a dining room table, adding color and smiles ... ahhhh .... then to come home friday night and they are laying on that table because you didn't give them water. oh well ...

last week seemed to be the week of rush! rush here, there, everywhere. i'll be honest here. i wasn't in a great mood last week. i just wasn't. i don't know, so please don't ask. if i knew i would have worked it out. so here's what i did this weekend. you might want to brace yourself for all the fun (are we sensing sarcasm yet? gee, i hope so!)

friday night - went to church, worked on a bulletin board for my Girls in Action (GAs) missions class. went to my aunt's to hang with some family. due to some sicknesses and what not, not everyone got to be there. i stayed to late. got home, couldn't get to sleep. bummer.

saturday - at work at 8. finally got 5 minutes to sit and cram in a sandwich that a client (the one i go to her house for lunch. the one that i'm currently at her home.) brought me, and i left at 330. i left my money bag there over the weekend, and was to exhausted to turn around and go get it. i literally crashed at home. i felt so very tired! i worked on a skit for my GAs that they needed to do sunday morning,got my Sunday school lesson together, and tried to chill out.

Sunday, my favorite day of the week - i went to walmart and got my GAs doughnuts (note to self: do NOT give girls sugar that early and then need to be quiet) and was at church at 9. they did great on their very little skit! i was so proud! service was wonderful! then i went to lunch with some great friends, back to church, did a bulletin board for the GA classroom, choir practice, then it was time for the evening service. after that was our weekly dinner at a mexican place close by. i had missed the fellowship! it'd been 3 weeks since i had gone! and then i ran and did my walmart shopping. finally, when i got home, i chilled out by watching the oscars! i didn't get to see it all, but what i did. it was amazing! i'm so happy for sandra bullock and the hurt locker!

my dad woke me up at 1 this morning. apparently i had crashed in his recliner. i didn't sleep well, and my neck is now tight! oh well. me and ms jillian micheals are going to meet up again tomorrow. i've had some new motivation. i'm also thinking one reason why it was so easy to put it down, was because i needed something to spice it up with, or some other exercise and not just that. anyways, more on that soon ... maybe this evening i can get a walk in!

it's such a beautiful day here! the sun is oh so lovely and bright! and it's WARM! i love spring! and one of my clients told me today that in the newspaper this morning that the LC Rd detour should come to an end mid - late march! i'm thinking late march! that's right around the corner!

now back to work ... 5 more days til the next weekend! and letmetellyou im super duper excited about it!

Britt

it's been five months ...

2010-03-05T13:12:00.000-06:00

since i became an aunt!!!! today the nephews are 5 months old! i'm wondering where the time has gone?! sheesh!!!! one year ago this week we found out they were definitely having twins. crayz what happens when you're having fun!!!!

this was the first time i got to hold them together .. wow! they were so little!

and this was taken about a month or so ago ... they are to precious and funny!

i've never known a love like this ....

and today is FRIDAY! yay! although i'll be working,as usual, tomorrow, i'm still somehow excited it's friday! one more day to go. this week has flown by! somehow, i've managed to not find time to do things that HAVE to get done! i hate weeks like this! but love them too!

i'm beginning to wonder if this, now 3 day old, sinus headache as a little something to do with that? hmmmm .........

we had some snow again this week,nothing major, but still snow. i'm hoping it's the last of the snow! we did have a blizzard mid-march in 93. i'm so hoping that's not going to be a repeat ... i'm ready for spring!

why? other than the obvious beautiful weather .... you see i can now wear a pair of my favorite pants that i had to put away a year ago. that's pretty dang exciting to me! i'm ready to get back out walking!

but for now, i better get back working ... happy friday! i have one more "5" tomorrow with a glimpse of spring : )

happy weekend!
Britt

morning came

2010-03-04T23:02:00.001-06:00

today is normally a day that i cry to myself. i cry because through God, His love, His mercy, His grace, and His faithfulness my family was restored to something more beautiful than ever before.

the day and date hit me as i was leaving my church this morning. i had to run by there on my way to work for a quick errand. have i mentioned i love being my own boss, and i can do that? go in late because i want/need to? i don't do it often,and i'm 99% of the time there by 10 am (sometimes working til past 6). today, it was such a blessing,even though we were super slow. God knew a long time ago that today, march 4, 2010 that i was going to need time. i was going to be sick with a 2 day sinus pressure headache (hopefully that's all it is), and i would need time to rest. yes, i worked. yes, i laughed today. yes, i've cried today. but only tears of joy that "morning has come". those last 3 words are part of a beautiful song that talk about God's love, trials and the joy of the morning.

today, morning came. with it came smiles and coos and goos and kisses from my wonderful nephews. images of my sis' baby (i got to see it yesterday at her ultrasound). with morning, i realized how amazing my job is, and how amazing my church family and my own family are. and with morning today, came total defeat to the devil.

you see, the devil tried ripping my parents apart through sin and it didn't work. God never let go of us. we let go of Him, and He forgave us because He already knew it was going to happen. He knew then what we are seeing now.

i've been asked my by those close to me who thought we had the "perfect" family, would i go choose to go through it all again.

yes! yes, i would. because, like with any experience, you know how it's all going to happen, how the ending is playing out, and in my case - we lived. we are restored. we aren't perfect, but we never were. God didn't forget us. He chose us.

i'm not where i thought i would be when i was 10, but then again who is? but tonight, i'm about to go to sleep. and i have peace that my Heavenly Father will watch over me while i sleep,since He never does that (have you caught on how that amazes me?! sleep is wonderful!) and He'll be watching over my parents (along with everyone else).

tonight, sleep will be awesome. and not just to get rid of this ridiculous headache either! but it's because, 5 years ago, i thought this day would never be, and it is. and it's more than i ever thought it could be. and no, nothing spectacular happened. which may be why it was so spectacular in the end. . .

Because HE is faithful,
Britt

HE already knew

2010-03-03T17:03:00.001-06:00

keeping with the "week of the fives", this has been something i have been wanting to share for a LONG time. now, i feel this is the right time.

i didn't know that i was on my way to the worst yet best storm of my life five years ago this week. God did. God knew. God already knew then,five years ago. He knew five years ago,on the last sunday of february of 2005, that "the deal" was going to come blowing in on me at the end of that week. He knew. He knew everything that was going to come.

He always "already knows". i always am so shocked,and tell Him all about it. i'm sure He laughs constantly at me. i used to think that He did things day by day but He has shown and taught me i was wrong. i firmly believe that before His Son was sent to die on the cross for my sins and because of Their love for me, that He already knew "the deal" was going to happen in march 05.

wow! i'm always in awe and wonder of His ways!

i love southern gospel music (gasp! i know! someone my age actually loving southern gospel music!) and there's a family that sings that i have loved for years! the hoppers. i would love to meet them and wouldn't mind if i could sing like kim hopper, too! they had a song come out several years ago, and my mom (also a fan of the hoppers) shared her cd with me one day. i never thought about the message of song number six,until BAM! one day God said,"Britt, listen to MY words. yes, you've heard it,now listen."

WOW! to think, God already knows what's instore for tomorrow. that's actually part of the lyrics - "before you face tomorrow's task,God sees it all as in the past ...."

He knows today what's going to happen tomorrow, next week,month,year and in the next second.

today, i'm over whelmed that yes, God already knew ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s_a6MTHuHE

i hope you clicked on the link, that it worked, and you were blessed,
Britt

wasn't me ...

2010-03-03T10:29:00.001-06:00

no way! was it me! that's right! it's time for "not me wednesday"! sorry i been somewhat absent. i actually have been reading, just not posting. my ~~crack~~blackberry and blogger posts sometimes arent BFF. now i could figure out how to get them to be ... anyways, i haven't forgot about "the week of fives". i even have some posts half way done for it, but now it's time for some "not me"!

it was not me who ....

- forgot several items at the grocery store after my sisnlaw called asking if i wanted to keep the twins last night. nope! wasn't me! ; )

- who forgot that she needed to do laundry last night to have jeans and such for today and the rest of the week, and is doing it now. nope! not me!

- has had a list of stuff to go get, and do for 2 weeks but still hasn't. nope, not me! hey, it hasn't messed anything up really.

- who ran out of shampoo and my Redken Ringlet 07 yesterday, only to find we were out of shampoo on the retail shelf at work too. i would never and we would never do that .... (can we tell one of my things on my to-do list is the beauty supply)

- who is hoping that after a very sweet conversation with my friends at said beauty supply today our salon will have a new sales guy. i would never not like a sales guy that much that i would ask for a new one. nope not me!

- who really wants to run away somewhere hot,beautiful,peaceful and it not cost anything ...

- who took the advice from a fellow blogger, fat bridesmaid (sorry i'm not good on the "linking" you), and bought some pink tulips last night and they were only $5.

- who thinks this week of fives isn't as painful as it once was. nope, it wasn't me who just said that and was honest about it in her heart!

- who did not loose that one client that i sent an email too.

- who is not happy over the above.....

- who really needs to finish up laundry and getting ready to go ....

- who is getting to go with my sis to her ultrasound today and see her baby and hear it's little heartbeat ; )

happy humpday! hope the sun is shining and your hair is fab today!
Britt

the week of fives ...

2010-02-28T15:20:00.001-06:00

friends, this week i'm over whelmed by just what all God has done for my family,church, friends and even myself. sometimes i wonder am i ever going to make it through "this" - whatever the "this" is. and you know what? yes, i have and yes i will. it's not because i'm anything special, that's for sure! it's because of my very,best friend! He has been there through it all - from the moment i was me.and i love Him with everything that is in me! who is this man? my dad? well, yes i love my earthly father,and he is one of my greatest friends. one thing i love about my daddy here, is that we share this very,best friend. so if it's not my dad,who is it? glad you asked again! God, my Heavenly Father, my creator,strength,help,redeemer,and Savior.

you see, He has never left or forsaked me. He has never even wanted to leave me. He wants me to depend on Him. i have been blessed with some amazing best friends,friends,and a wonderful family that all don't mind if i vent or need them. but they don't ask me to. my parents have always done their best to protect me, but God is always there, and He never sleeps. so yes, He really is always there! even where we don't want Him to be,He is.

this is a very tough week for me as of five years ago. i have mentioned before i would share "the deal" with you. well, i thought i wasn't going to, but the anniversary if you will, is upon me. so i may brief you later on "the deal".

five years ago right this very minute, i was at a funeral for this older lady i went to church with. my dad,who was her pastor and held her funeral, is prone to mis-say things. he tends to get all wrapped up in things and get it all twisted up. it's kind of funny to us; maybe that's wrong of us. it always gave us great conversations and laughs on the way to lunch,at lunch,and on the way home from lunch on sundays because we also knew there would be some from the evening service to laugh about at supper. poor dad. and while i'm on it, my dad would HATE to know i #1 i blog,#2 that he's talked about on it. if he would only read it, maybe he wouldn't ; ) oh well ... back to my point.... my dad still preaches,he's not pastoring so we don't get those weekly laughs. so what do we do? laugh at the really memorable ones. well, five years ago he had a major slip up, one that should make an email about ways preachers get things all messed up! he said,"it was our pleasure to see ms sister suffer and pass on to her Heavenly home." yes, i firmly believe that dear lady is at home with her Savior, but it wasn't a pleasure to see her suffer and pass on. my dad knows it wasn't either. he simply got all tongue tied and it was funny, and her family finally got a laugh.

so what does this lady's funeral have to do with "the deal"? you see, five years ago today i didn't know that that would be one of the last times that my life was "easy". it's been five years (as of late january) that i graduated from cosmetology school and started my full time career. my life was changing so much five years ago, and i thought wow! this is going to be fun! in part of my mind, i was still a kid. i wasn't a grown up yet. close though, i was just a few months from turning 20. i had always been given responsiblities by my parents; i wasn't someone who never had to do anything. i was spoiled in some ways, but never had life on a silver platter,nor would i want to. i thought my life was easy, and that one day soon, now that "college" was over for me and i was about to be 20 that happily ever after was right around the corner. i was somewhat wrong. five years ago today, i thought i had a good church family,family and friends. i was missing friends from high school and didn't know how to get in touch with some of them. i started feeling alone. i also remember looking down that chapel to the pulpit where my dad was preaching,and realized i had missed so much by being worried what i looked like at church,what song i could belt my lungs out on, and frankly had taken the fact that my dad was a preacher that i didn't need to do my part.yes, i prayed. funny thing about my prayers then. i always thought they would be answered. always expected them to be answered. i expected God to do marvelous things,and He did. i also realized i was usually telling God what i needed to be done,and i never talked to Him. i always asked questions and told Him what i needed Him to do. never gave thanks. praying was a formality really. i realized how undeserving i was of EVERYTHING! then. God had been revealing Himself to me for a few months then,and i kept wondering why? was something terrible about to happen to me? there were so many questions, so i started seeking Him more. i'm not perfect now,no! please don't think me self-righteous! i'm just a sinner saved by grace through faith! that day, five long yet fast years ago, i never knew that that could have possibly been the last time i saw/heard my father preach.

it wasn't,thankfully. and it's ALL because of God's merciful grace and love!

this week, i hope that i have the time,strength,and courage to keep sharing about "the deal" and the amazing way God changed my life starting five years ago.

on a lighter note,
i hope your weekend has been a beautiful one! i worked for 8+ hours straight (loved every moment and especially with the changes my clients wanted! i love spicing it up! come on spring and fresh colors!) and then had a Sunday School Teaching Training for 3 hours yesterday. so basically i left home at 7:20 and got home at like 930.yes, i was tired. so i curled up and watched part of "the proposal". now, after a wonderful service at church this morning i'm feeling a little sickly. yuck-o! i'm hoping my meds will kick in soon and i can make it back for tonight's service! i think im going to rest some now. afterall, God rested.

With an over whelmed and thankful heart,
Britt

sometimes ya gotta let it out!

2010-02-25T13:22:00.001-06:00

sorry pals, but a venting session is a must! normally, things don't get to me. i'm real good about talking things through with myself,then friends/family and above all else - God, my strentgh and help. sometimes i don't call on him when i should. you know, like right when "it" happens. whatever the "it" maybe.

well so here's a quick venting session before going back to work ...

#1 - LC road detour - i'm about to pull an alfafa from "the littel rascals" - dear detour, i hate your stinking guts ..... ok, so maybe i don't hate you, but i sure am disliking you. it's aggrevating. i've pardon your progress since september. i've even taken another route to avoid it. your curvy, dark,long, i'm tired of having to add an extra 10 minutes to get places,and well frankly.. .. .. you were suppose to be part of my past now. you're progress has left you a month late. i'm thinking with all this "progress", maybe a few more? yes, i know ... the weather hasn't been your friend. didnt your "wonderful" pricey contractors figure that in the time too? no? oh well. thanks anyways! on a lighter note, i can't wait to have a straighter,nicer way to work! thanks for working hard!

#2 - as i mentioned yesterday in my "not me wednesday" post, i have this client who im more than willing to loose. she's not letting up i'm afraid. God is working all things out,and i know He has a much better plan. apparently, i do have to "cowgirl up" and call her. yuck-o! oh well! what we grown ups have to do sometimes. my hope is she's already read her email. i'm thinking that's probably not my case. great! just great! (are we sensing sarcasm here? i hope so!)

so enough of that. no, i'm really not a mean person. the drive to work has me irritated lately for whatever reason. probably lack of sunshine (although we have lots today! praise the Lord!) and lack of exercise ....

im dreading this phone call because i don't like being hateful or mean. i really don't! i don't want to come out and bluntly say,"no! i'm not traveling to do your hair for this stupid wedding! go to the friggin court house and stop this! and please, leave me alone. i'm not going to be your "link" to your past life - the one in which you chose to leave! yes, i do love your daughter, but i have ways to get to see her too and not through you!"

this isn't just any client. it's one that was once a friend of sorts. it's personal not business. if it was only business this would be much easier!

i hope everyone's having a wonderful hair day! the weather here is beautiful,cold yes, but beautiful! my curls are loving it! now, to freshen up my make up and head to work.

thanks for listening!
Britt

its wednesday

2010-02-24T11:05:00.000-06:00

and that means a little "not me" time!

it was not me

- who bought 3 boxes of girl scouts cookies, but only brought 2 home and left one at work.
- who ate 95% of the do-si-dos cookies that i left at work
- who probably just lost a client (who is sorta a friend,or at least she thinks she still is) because of personal reasons
- who was unprofessional and sent an email instead of calling or even sending a text
- who cried over the series finale rerun of Frazier on lifetime this morning
- who totally dodged someone at a church thing (at another church and their thing;not mine)
- who has still not started shredding again with ms jillian. i need some inspiration or a good kick in the butt!
- who still has a christmas song for her ringback tone,and knows it yet doesn't fix it like my sister said to
- who cried my eyes out in happiness for a dear friend last night when i heard she got engaged
- who has been crying a lot lately over happiness,tv shows, the figure skater who's mom died of a heart attack yet she skated last night with all her heart. stupid judges placing her in 3rd place. she skated with more heart and passion than anyone else. doesn't that count for anything?
- who realized it's been months since she's bought herself any clothes,and has decided today is a day for finding jeans. yippee, yeah right!
- who is jumping when my ~~crack~~ blackberry dings saying i have an email b/c im not sure i want to see/read the reply back from that person
- who honestly has some crazy weeks coming up starting in march thru july. seriously i could bore you with dates/details ...
- who is looking back and thinking about the droughts we've had and realizing maybe they weren't so bad. we did afterall have lots of hot,sun shine-y days verses this junk.
- who is going to take her precious time and enjoy today,and if things don't get done. oh well
- who really needs to go finish getting ready and go shopping!

happy sun shine-y hump day!

the nephews say happy humpday too!

Britt

whats this i see?

2010-02-19T19:06:00.000-06:00

well, more like, what was that bright thing shining ALL day long? oh yeah! the sun! a local weather man said yesterday (thursday) that we had had sunshine 12 out of 80 days. wow! i so believe him too! letmetellyou! it's been one more cold,dreary,rainy/snow/sleet-y kind of winter here in sweet home alabama, and we're not use to it! not that we have mild winters all the time, but it has not been this cold for this long in fifty years (another "fun" fact from the weather men here). if it would come a decent snow - 3 to 4 inches - one time, then it would be worth it,but sheesh! this junk has everyone feeling horrible! i realized today that in three,yes three weeks my friends, daylight savings time begins!!! woohoo! bring on spring fever,spring time,flowers,allergies,babies,Easter,the Women of Joy conference, and so forth and so on!!!

speaking of time ..... i can not believe how fast february has gone! we're way past half way now, there are only 9 days left! crazy!!!! i hate to wish my life away, but come on march! lots of wonderful things will be going on in march. here's a small glimpse:
-sis will go into her 2nd trimester and get her cast off. (in case you ever wonder if miracles still happen - sister's elbow injury can surely tell you!)
-my dad's bday :)
- mo's bday (the day after dads)
- baby shower for friend at church and her son baby micah
-getting ready for Easter program at church
- my papa turns 75!!!! he just doesn't seem that old to me anymore. i remember ragging him about turning 60,and thought that was old. now i can say that was 15 years ago, and that makes me sound old (the fact that now i remember things 21 years ago and under).
- 2 months closer to me turning 25
- 4 other family bdays
- daylight savings time begins! i don't see this as loosing an hour of sleep like some. i love the sunshine!
- a possible birth to kick off this year's baby boom at my church, baby allie :)
and spring break. no i don't get one, but kel does! which means on that wednesday, we'll probably be shopping and such : )

and those are all things on my a-d-d mind right now without my calendar and regular daily/weekly activities.

i hope you have some sunshine shining in your windows this weekend! tomorrow i'm off work (yay!) because i'm taking 11 kids to the Alabama Baptist "Children's Mission Explosion: a walk with paul". i'm very excited and so are the 9 girls and 2 boys going! as part of our "children's missions day:home team" mission, we are donating birthday party supplies to the Alabama Baptist Children's Home. the ABCH is a wonderful place for local/state children without families. and how awesome that we can give them birthday party supplies?! and letmejustsay, i did not know how expensive it can get with buying favors and such! my town just got a much larger,nicer dollar store and mailed everyone a $5 off coupon for a purchase over $20. well, i went in wanting to spend $30 and came out spending $31 something! go me! i got a lot of awesome stuff too! other people have been so generous,and the donations are still coming in! i wished i could see the boys and girls faces these items are going too, but that's not reality. however, i have a feeling there's going to be bright,bright smiles!

so here's to a bright sunshine-y day and weekend off!
Britt

not me wednesday

2010-02-17T12:03:00.000-06:00

for sometime now kel,my best, has been following blogs and sharing. through her and meg, i too have fallen in love with the blog world. no, sometimes my blog might not make sense to you. it's very random,simple,plain and i don't link you to other blogs or my own past post (mainly b/c i missed that tutorital with kel,or maybe it's that i need one and she's 3 hours away). i've become a follower to several new ones,and am seriously considering deleting my facebook because i enjoy the simple,real life pleasures of blogging. well, in my reading of blogs i found mck mama. i love her posts and photography! she has a "not me mondays" welp friends, i'm about to have a "not me wednesday". if you want to join me, go for it!

let me also add here,once upon a time, "not me" was living at my house. one year for christmas i honestly thought my parents were going to buy "not me" a christmas present. you see,"not me" did a LOT of things - never anything good either! i always expected to find a stocking of coal for "not me". for a house hold with 3 kids within a 5 year span who always put one in the middle of something, "not me" got the blame for a lot! poor mom and dad! we really did, and still do love you more than you'll ever know! i bet "not me" does too!

so here's to Not me Wednesday ...

it was not me:

who is still in my pjs, not showered and ready to go run my errands on my day off.

who has wanted a snow day for years,and when i get the opportunity to have snow all i do is complain.

who has been on the computer for a long time this morning when there are other things to be done.

who has a HUGE pile of clean laundry to be put up

who has a bed that needs to be made,and a room to be cleaned.

who's closet looks like a crazy person went,well, crazy in there and nothing is in it's right spot.

who has not done "the shred" since last wednesday. yes,ms jillian michaels. i see your face on the dvd cover every morning when i get out of bed,and this morning decided to get out of the bed the other way to avoid you starring at me.

worked til almost 10 pm last for a friend and felt exhausted when i finally got home.

who wants to know already what my sis' baby is so i can go shopping.

who wants to know what the baby is so i can figure out baby tea/shower ideas and get it planned before summer.

who already has a full summer on her calendar,after i filled it out yesterday (thank you kel for the most awesome and cute day planner! it's filling up way to fast!)

who really wants to do nothing,yet everything today - everything would include:showering,get ready, wearing my boots(i don't wear them to work b/c i still want to have feet and legs when i'm still behind the chair at 70), going shopping,browsing, and looking for everything for everyone but me. because right now, i refuse to buy clothes for myself. i have lots of clothes in a bin and when i get in those - let the buying begin!

who hasn't really watched what she's been eating. stupid weather. who wants fresh veggies in the snow? hot chocolate,yes!

who stayed up at least 1-2 hours late the 2 nights they were calling for snow because i was hoping for some snow days that never came,thus leaving me tired at work.

who really wants to show and tell some friends to wake up! and take a look around their surroundings and see if that's really where they want to be in the future. b/c i'm beginning to believe, it might not be. just saying ... it sure doesn't look as bright as maybe it once did....

who deleted "friends" off her fb page before this,and is still thinking of so many that i may need to be ...

who really misses some of her closet friends! time,distance,and life has gotten in the way too much lately (and by lately i mean the last year and into this year)

who really isn't sure she's a fan of 2010, but has decided to be positive through it all ....

who is wondering where to meet new people, and yes, maybe a guy. no, i don't want one that goes to a bar,any bar. just a personal prefence there. i don't want to go to other churches in search of that. and i don't necessarily want to date clients ...

who loves her that her nephews are chubby!

who worries about skinny babies ; )

who only wants to hold my nephews today until they have to go home

happy hump day everyone!
Britt

what a "lovely" day

2010-02-14T16:28:00.000-06:00

im bored out of my mind,yet there's so much i could be doing. at this particular moment,sarcasm is my best friend.bare with me here. . . this morning the area i live in woke up to white stuff on the ground! again! yes, that's right! north bama got another dusting of snow, and even though it melted several hours ago, we are expecting - gasp - 3 inches by in the morning! wonderful! well, maybe ;) playing it on the safe side, my church actually cancelled services for tonight. i'm so amazed by this! we never cancel church! ever! seriously! we have AWANA on sunday nights,but not tonight (school is out tomorrow and that's how we plan their schedule),so i guess if it had to happen tonight was a good night for this to happen.

i'm not one that celebrates "hallmark" holidays. no, i'm not going to yell at you. i will even send back, "you too." texts when you wish me a "happy valentine's day". i even baked muffins for my sunday school kids today. which were only two kids instead of our normal "bunch" thanks to the white stuff. i even went to see the movie "valentines day". and let me tell you! it was a wonderful movie! i was really surprised, and why with Garry Marshall directing i was surprised i'll never know, how well the story line was all put together. we laughed so hard - as in everyone in the theatre - and some around me even cried. i'm not much on crying. i won't spoil it in anyway, but i will say this. there was a couple who shocked the youknowwhat out of me closer to the end! thank goodness it's not real life : ) as i walked into sunday school today, i wasn't greeted with "happy valentines day" but rather with "happy single awareness day". it doesn't bother me to be single today. it didn't bother me a week ago, a month or year or day ago and hopefully it won't tomorrow. so it sure as heck doesn't bother me today. i did get some good loving today from a boy - mr nephew logan shared some love with his aunt britt earlier :) now that's almost as awesome as God's love for His children!

so where ever you are, whatever your relationship status and whatever the weather - happy good hair day,keep warm and stay inside on snowy days, and happy day with love from me, and remember that God's love never fails. not even for a blink of an eye

britt

did i move?

2010-02-12T12:41:00.000-06:00

that's the question i keep asking myself. i'm wondering if sweet home alabama has become jealous of the northern states? i'm by no way a racist! the mason dixon line means nothing to me. but bama is actually in the south and we keep getting snow! ugh! for years i've wanted A snow day. not one here,one there,another here ... but guess what?! yep! it's snowing AGAIN in bama! sheesh!

so what's the problem with it snowing yet again? #1 - i'm self employed. yes, i'm a hair stylist. yes, i work for myself. no, i don't own the salon(thankfully! love you bev!) #2 - i'm from bama, and well, we don't drive very well in it. #3 - i live 21 miles from work, and most of that is country side roads which are not "snow much fun" to drive in snowy/icy weather! #4 - our clients tend to go crazy when it snows. some think we're stupid for wanting to get on home, others won't call to let us know that they aren't coming in, and some act like we should bow down to them and still do whatever they want. i just wonder if that's ever go we go to our homes, snuggle up on the couch with some hot chocolate, and think about hair another day. because let's face it # 5 - snow will mess up a perfectly good hair day!

although, a facebook status told me that the weather channel reported that all 50 United States have snow on the ground today. that's pretty awesome! (if it's indeed true).

so, what do you say? we all go home, call it a snow day, curl up on the couch and wait to watch the opening ceramony of the winter Olympics? sounds like a dream to me .. .. .. .. if only dreams come true!

hope you have "snow" much fun this weekend!
Britt

since i'm off today ...

2010-02-10T14:26:00.000-06:00

and i'm bored and ~~have got nothing accomplished really,~~ so i thought i would finally share some pictures from my sister's wedding. yes, it's been almost a year. but that's ok! my computer has been doing well,thank the Lord! and now i can actually upload my pictures! i have a cd with,literally, thousands of pictures from 2008-2009, but my computer still has problems reading it. so for now ... here are pictures that i have thanks to pam!

she was a beautiful bride, wasn't she?

i loved sister's dress! and our's too

yes, sister made me sing. i was so nervous! do you see my words i'm holding with my bouquet? ; )

the yummy,beautiful cake! thanks to Pam!

me, sister, and our mom

this is not easy

2010-02-10T10:52:00.000-06:00

and i'm beginning to think it never will. what am i talking about? glad you asked! "shredding". that's right! i dove right in! i decided that i didn't need to over-do it last week. so i didn't . i did 4 days. day 3, i thought and shared with you all, was going to kill me. but it didn't! day 4 was much better! welp, this week i started back! i finished my 7th day today. it's my day off, and i woke up early to get it in and everything ready for the nephews to get here. ms. jillian m has it out for me i think. well, maybe not. she is much nicer on "the shred" than she is on "the biggest loser"! yesterday and today have burned like the dickens and i had to push, pUsH, PUSH through it all! but that's ok!

i'll admit that last week it wasn't easy for me to do every move. this week, however, i can do 98% of the moves. she wants us to do butt kicks. i personally don't like to jump, and i found it kind of hard to stay in place because im ~~extraodrinarily clumsy~~ not clumsy. when fergie came out with her song a few years ago, leave out the falling in love part, and you get my daily walk of life! HA! anywho - the other moves i find most difficult are due to a broken,ahem, tailbone injury that i received four years ago on a family vacation. be careful! don't laugh! my sis saw it happening and laughed the.entire.time. she has laughed all four years. she fell a week and a half ago, and guess what?! yep! not only did she crush her elbow while prego, but looks like she broke her tail bone too! no i did not laugh at her. i told her so last night, and informed her i would NOT give her any pity about it. also, i REFUSE to hear whining about it. thankyouverymuch! so anyways, these bicycle crunches and another lower ab crunch move kills my, well, they're literally a pain in my behind!

last week i wasn't keeping up, going as fast as they all were, and loving anita (the lower impact girl in the back). i really feel like that's ok. why? glad you asked!
#1 - i finally got off my rear and decided to do something! normally i would wait til spring came (and let's all face it! spring isn't coming anytime soon! it's flurrying again in north bama as i type this) and walk a few times at a track that's in my town. you see it's a ten minute drive one way. i can't, or haven't, woke up early enough to go get in a big,good, productive walk by myself (it's also very close to a major highway and a railroad track). i'm a safe girl. there's safety in numbers, and no one i know, who lives close to me, will go that early there to walk. so not going as fast as ms jill or her girls, but still getting it done just slower, is good with me.

#2 - it's a new journey for me. in countless ways. i'm actually loving it!

#3 - i feel so much better! and better about myself! no, i didn't see a huge drop,or even one drop on the scales this week. but, two people who have always been my biggest fans and who were not very encouraging last week about this new journey, told me sunday night it's working. they could see a difference in my legs (which i refer to as lemley legs-that's my one side of my mom's family and the ladies from the side,well, have larger legs).

#4 - if i can do this for myself, than im gaining so much! more time with my precious nephews and the baby my sis is carrying. i feel a total difference! among other things .....

#5 - thanks to this new journey my eating wants have changed. but yet, im more hungry.

ok, so i feel so in love with "the biggest loser" tv show again last season. usually the couple seasons are not my favorite. this season is a little different. im not paying attention to the game factor, and it doesn't seem as if they players are either. yet. and last night's episode. oh. my. soul! to be continued. really?! how can that be?! oh well, can't wait to see how it all goes down!

i know i have rambled, but i hope you're having a wonderful wednesday! its my off day, and the nephews are here! they went to the doctor yesterday for their 4 month check up and shots. nephew d weighed in at 16 lbs and is 24 3/4 inches long adn nephew L weighed in at 14 lb 9 oz and is 23 2/3 inches long. they got to start on orange? veggies and now get to eat cereal out of bowls! :) they are growing SO fast! im hoping i'll get to see them in their little shirts i got them,and get a picture posted real soon!

enjoying a pony tail kind of day,
Britt

im free!

2010-02-07T21:33:00.000-06:00

from the crazy pin ball machine of last way of life from last week! friday night, i convinced myself i was getting sick or had possibly over done it on "shredding". but im good as new now!i'm really hoping and praying this week isn't a repeat!

my poor, prego, injured ,sis is heading back to work this next week. she's a little nervous about being one armed,but she can do it. she's one of the strongest ladies i know. the pregnancy has her emotional and she warned me today that in the next two weeks that should intensify. poor sis. with her wondering how work is going to go, was also wonderment about what to do on her lunch that's only 30 minutes. again, poor sis. i try my darnest to always get an hour (except on saturdays). so i took her grocery shopping today. the afternoon right before the super bowl. not smart! but we survived. we were oh,so productive too! i took her by my shop, shampooed and styled her hair, went grocery shopping, went back to her house, helped out in the kitchen, made her lunches up through wednesday, went and got gas and went to church all from 2-545ish o'clock. very productive! i got prego some awesome yummy turkey for sandwiches. with the morning sickness, she's not eating ust anything,and is not suppose to have processed meat. so, i added that in for her! i hope she enjoys it, because i enjoyed being with her today!

i got some retail therapy and time with my best,kel, this weekend when i got off work! that'll make any girl feel better,right?!i finally purchased some tennis shoes. not that i play tennis; i'm southern and we typically don't say "sneakers". b/c sneakers would mean converse shoes not nikes like i got. which are white with pink. i'm too clumsy for white.oh well. i also purchased a one-a-day vitamin. i've never taken vitamins, well when i was super little i took flintstones. i got 300 of target brand for the price of a 30 day supply of the leading brand. im a thrifty chick too! let me add here how much i enjoyed my time with kel and her mom,d! just the 3 of us! she was suppose to come home last weekend,but the yucky icy weather kept her south. which was good for me bc i wouldn't have got to see her then. but this weekend, was wonderful! we ate at a new place. ive eaten there before,and it's yum-o! and oh so pleasing on the eating out budget!i loved kel's bday gift from me! well, one thing - a really cute shirt, she picked out. i had my shopping trip cut short wednesday bc of an emergency. she totally understood, and i think rather enjoyed picking out the shirt. but the really awesome gift, was a camera strap for her camera (of course). it's houndstooth. you too can have on, go to sisterbug on my reading list : ) she's an auburn fan, but you couldn't tell it by the awesome job she did :) not many people would know what it was at first glance, but kel so did! i was not surprised!

oh, and i got the nephews some really cute onies/shirts! im hoping to get a picture of them in them REAL soon! and yes, i'll post asap! they'll get them tuesday night, Lord willin' and the creek don't rise! i'm excited,and have kel to thank for the find too! i totally overlooked them. but she's awesome like that!

today has been a great day! church has been wonderful. i feel better! i got my lunches (which are already in the freezer AT work! go me!)and stuff for the week too. i got some hummus. it's a kind kel likes and told me about. we share A LOT of the same taste (we got the same exact thing at cheddars saturday night)!if i don't like it, i'm wondering how am i going to get it to her 3 hours away from me? hmmm .... ; ) i really think i'll like it. i'll try most anything once.

on a sad note here, please join me in prayer for the families of the students,teachers,and staff of discovery middle school. and the policemen/woman and such of madison. i can't imagine what all the families are going through. it breaks my heart for everyone!

so here's to a fabulous new,God given week! with all the rain in the forecast, i hope your hair holds up and isn't too frizzy!

Britt

pin ball machine week

2010-02-05T13:23:00.000-06:00

that's my life this week. a pin ball machine. loud,crazy,busy,not productive,and someone constantly pulling my lever and sending me banging into things again. it's like a free pin ball machine. play as many times as you want. please, i beg of you. stop!

i just don't think i can go back to work today without venting some. so sorry ladies (and men. do men follow blogs???).

this week has been trying to say the least! i mentioned earlier in the week that i feel like i have been living in a pin ball machine. i think i still am! and to top it off on this,"wonderful" dreary,cold,rainy day - state board decided to pop on in for an inspection. much to her dislike, we were ready for her! of course, it didn't help one of our sweet stylist/salon owner neighbors called and gave us a quick heads up. not that we did much to change anything, we just double checked ourselves. i get SO nervous with her there. she peers over my shoulders. today she said, "oh,why are you point cutting like that?" my reply to her in my head,"b/c unlike you, i actually work behind the chair and keep up with the latest techniques. look at my junk and leave me alone." my actual response to her was much sweeter - "oh, i learned this at the hair show in october. it works really well." her: "well, that's great y'all keep up with things like that here in 'the hope'(thats what i call the town i work in)." i wanted to slap her! yes, we try our hardest! just b/c im not working in h'ville in a fancy shop charging who knows what for the same thing we do the same way,if not better, in the hope doesn't mean we don't keep up with the latest styles! i was this close ____ to telling her maybe her stylist should've went to the hair show and updated her style.

on a better note - the shred - i feel like the muscles in my calves are shredding! ouch!!! i completed my fourth day today. i missed wednesday (my off day) for several reasons. i thought when i did it yesterday i would die! i almost cried. i almost quit. i thought, "i could take this dvd back. im never doing this again". then it was over, and i had completed the challenge. my mom has become very encouraging. and even last night for family night, she made me green beans instead of her famous mac and cheese.

this morning my dad brought me a hardees sausage and egg biscuit. sweet,good and greasy. guess he's not quite paying attention to the changes i'm making. although, he did bring me a banana when he went to pick up sis this morning.

i hope you all are having a wonderful hair day! and a wonderful day! i'm already feeling better! i think i will feel much better when i get home and can finally start my Bible study homework!

happy friday!
Britt

all things are possible

2010-02-02T12:47:00.000-06:00

i did it! i woke up yet again, about 30-45 minutes earlier than i had been, and exercised! this is kind of a big deal for me! it would have be oh-so-easy to have stayed in my bed (which totally deserves it's own post on how awesome it is), but i didn't. and i'll say this too. today was easier. maybe it's the fact that i knew what was coming. i was sore ALL over this morning! i didn't think i could roll out of my wonderful bed, and then i thought, "Really,B?! you're going to do this again as sore as you are. why would you want to inflict pain on yourself when you're already in it?" then i remember this verse, which is normally not my favorite per say, "you can do ALL things in Christ who strengthens you." phil 4:13.

so, i got up, brushed my teeth,washed my face (you do NOT want to talk to me before those 2 things are done) and went to see ms. jillian.

i'm pretty sore in new places today verses yesterday. but like i told kel this morning, no pain no gain. and i'm also going with pain means progress. stay tuned .... i'm very thankful for the ones that have inspired and are encouraging me. because letmetellyou ... those who are not being very encouraging have really surprised me by their attitudes about this. they're usually my biggest fans,or so i thought. i'm trying not to let it get to me, but it is somewhat. thank God for awesome friends who are encouraging me!

i will add this, this was a good piece of encouragement. a client of the salon's parents were in today (when it's a shop like steel magnolias on steriods, you kinda know everybody's everybodys!) and they were telling me their daughter bought one of ms jillian's dvd (and i'll insert here: their daughter works out some) and ms jillian apparently wore her down in the warm up and she watched the rest of it out of breath laying on the couch.

i haven't done that. and i don't plan too. this is step one of more "me" time (see my post from saturday).

have a great tuesday everyone! i'm so excited about getting back to work, because i have a dinner/movie date with T for her bday,and well a celebration of something that has finally ended :)

Britt

no pain, no gain

2010-02-01T21:55:00.000-06:00

or at least that's what i keep telling myself! i have taken the plunge into "Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shread".

ive read that several bloggers that i follow have tried,completed,or is going through this now. well, i wasn't going to tell anyone, but i enjoyed it so i thought i would pass my joy along.

you see, i just got back from my "Stepping Up" Bible study,and i've been pretty sore today. tonight's lesson,or one part of it, was on catching joy from other people. that's got me thinking ....

if i can find time to exercise and eat healthier, could i be a "joy" to someone who needs it? ive been very inspired by 2 close friends and, i'll be honest here and add last season's the biggest loser inspired me too. and do i have a joy about my Lord that someone would want to catch?

that's a lot to ponder on my heart and mind on a day like today.

you see today, i have felt like i was a pin ball in one of those loud,crazy machines and everytime someone got a chance they pull the knob and i go flying into one thing and then another!

here's my day in brief: woke up 615, shred 630, Bible study homework (loved it!!!) 7, shower and getting ready 730. needing to leave at 830 to go get my oil changed, left at 840.
let me insert here about my poor prego sis - she fell on her wet steps saturday and is 1 in 1,000! no really, the break/crack in her elbow normally requires surgery, thankfully not for her and baby! and she cracked another bone in her arm right under her elbow. mom met her husband and got her, brought her back to our house, and helped her get ready for her 3 hour long doctors appointment. - ok, so then i got my oil changed, went to work, lunch - which was CRAMMED packed with email this one about this, and that one about that, made a very important phone call, then had to rush an email about something else out. somewhere in there i think i got to actually eat. then it was back to work, run to the bank, go pay health insurance [normally takes a minute. yeah, i was there for 20 minutes!!! got to catch up with some clients though! gotta network ;) ] then back to work, Bible study,and now i'm home. home with a, dare i say it, working computer!!!! yay! thanks for the help T and Kel, Dad and Dean!

i'm going to add sleep into my day's agenda now, and hoping tomorrow my life isn't the "pin ball" kind of day!

hope you all had a fabulous monday!

Britt

good bye ...

2010-01-30T13:38:00.000-06:00

is what january is saying,and will be doing tomorrow! i can't believe it either! the first month a the new year,and decade! wow! so much has happened, but yet been boring. how that can be,i'm still not sure. i was gazing through my wonderful planner kel got me for christmas,and i'm amazed at how much i have in there from feb-sept! sheesh! someone asked me a question the other that threw me for a loop. she asked," if God sent you a wonderful,Godly,man who would like to marry you, would you have time to get married?"

my response,"we would need to get to know each other pretty well, so the engagement could happen this year and the wedding next." so basically,no. so that's something i'm going to work on.

no, not finding a husband. God knows who that is, and needs to be, and if i need one. God's plan for me,may not include a husband, and i know that. have accepted that. am content with that. love and am happy about that. but anyways, i have decided to make more time for me.

yes, i'm single and still live at home with my parents (im only there if it's snowy and icy usually. and refuse to pay rent for work and a home), but i don't take a lot of "me" time. most girls go get their hair done,and that's their "me" time. well, for me, getting my hair done is a quick thing. whoever has the time when i have the time. it's also either after we've worked ALL day long, or before another full day hits. getting my hair done is not relaxing to me. well, the shampoo is :) but then again, countless times have i had color on my hair or if i was just getting a cut, i had to shampoo it myself.so back to me time ... i'm trying to think of somethings to do for me and with just me that doesn't cost a lot of money.

i used to get my nails done. i enjoyed it, but it's not healthy for your nails to keep something fake on top of them for long extended times. also, i had problems with my schedule and my nail lady,ana's, schedule. so that's out for awhile. my real nails need a break.

i was going to go get some retail therapy, but i just realized it's SNOWING where i am. seriously?! seriously. i'm from bama. we don't do snow well ... it sure is pretty, but will ruin my plans.

so,here's to good bye to january! you went way to fast! and so far, i've kept my "newnesses". : )

britt

what a weekend! and babies are everywhere!

2010-01-26T12:55:00.000-06:00

yes, i'm fully aware that today is tuesday, and the weekend ended a few days ago. but letmetellyou! i was kind of glad to get back to monday!

so, are you wondering what was so exciting about my weekend yet? i start it with friday morning,with a picture my sister had made (and i'm not too happy i haven't seen it yet).

I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT AGAIN!!!!! IN SEPTEMBER!!!!

yes, we know it's early on, but we want prayers! sister had a little scare, and ended up getting to have an ultrasound a few weeks early! i can't wait to see the little bean! sister is good, just your typical 1 trimester stuff. i'm thinking if God chooses for me to marry and have kids,only my body is going to be shocked by what's happening! i have had so many friends to have babies and I HAVE 7 OTHER FRIENDS EXPECTING! isn't that kind of crazy?! and .... there's still oct-dec that i don't have "baby so-and-so due" on my calendar! i'm excited to get to be an aunt again. and poor baby, i keep calling it a certain sex, so i guess we'll see how long i can try to keep it a secret what i think baby is.

so what else was so wonderful about my weekend? not much! i'm a positive person 98% of the time, but this weekend claimed that negative 2%. have you ever just had a day or night where nothing, and i mean nothing, made you happy or went right?! well that was saturday night in good terms!

you see, i received some very sad news right before i left to go to work. one of my neighbors is this strong,older,thin,tall lady. mrs c. mrs c is fighting her third battle of cancer, this time it's in her leg. she broke that same leg before christmas. i know of two tractors that have fallen on top of her in my lifetime, and she was never hurt bad then. she's been widowed for almost 15 years. she still takes care of her cows,goats,dogs,and loves the little cove where we live. she's seen it transform like no other. well, mrs c got up about 3 am saturday to use the bathroom, and saw her house was on fire. since she has the broken leg, her only son has been staying with her at night. she woke him up, he grabbed his cell and wallet off the counter, they got out, and the house fell in. total loss. the fire marshall said it could just burn itself out. it was still smoking sunday afternoon after lots of rained saturday night-sunday morning. it's such a sad sight. she came out in a gown,no house coat, coat, socks or shoes. i almost just want to cry out to God and say, "Really?! why her again?!" . not to be selfish here, i'm thankful it wasn't my home, but i hate it so bad for her. she has amazing faith. when spetember 11,2001 happened a co-worker of my mom's asked her was she scared of what had happened and did she think we could make it through this. my mom's reply was simply yes. with God ALL things are possible, and i live close to mrs. c and 2 doors down is mr norm. together, we'll survive. mrs c is the most humble woman i know. she doesn't want to make a fuss over anything, and just fights her way through.

so that was part of saturday. other than working, the other part was kind of fun. i re-decorated my grandparents living room. my dad repainted it and hung a new door and trim last week. so my part got to start. i got the ~~joy~~ of unpacking all of her ~~junk,~~ i'm sorry decorations. i also got a geneology lesson. : )

so then it was sunday: sunday school,church service,mexican for lunch, church meeting,church,walmart and home to see the Saints win to get to go to the super bowl for the first time! i'm usually a farve fan, but i'm very excited for the saints! my mother is proud i'm keeping up with sports. what she doesn't exactly realize is i'm only excited because it means only one more football game til september when the tide starts rolling again! i need a break from football!

oh, here's another update - this whole not eating out for lunch thing is so awesome! not only do i get blogging time,alone time,and a healthier lunch, but i have more money than i thought i would have left over! it's been amazing to see it add up!

i hope you are having a great hair day today! my curls haven't made their mind up today on why they are doing whatever it is they are doing!

happy tuesday! Britt

i need more sleep ...

2010-01-25T13:58:00.000-06:00

that's what my Bible study homework told me taught me this morning! i've become fasinated that God never sleeps.He is a practical God,who is ALWAYS on time. lets face it. i'm always busy it seems, and time is precious and i hate drama,so i love that He is practical and timely, and that i'm important to Him. i love sleep, and really think God deserves some, yet i'm so very thankful He chooses to stay awake and watch over me!

we joke in our house about the way my brother used to say,"the Bible say share". well, yes it does, but not in the way he wanted us to, or at least that's my view on it as the baby of the family : ) but today, i realized that the Bible does in fact say "sleep". and why? because He loves us. that's all in the same verse. don't believe me ... here ya go ...
psalm 127:2
"In vain you get up early and stay up late, eating food earned by hard work; certainly He gives sleep to the one He loves." HCS Bible

"It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. The Lord gives sleep to those He loves." NCV Bible

isn't that wonderful?! HE gives us sleep because HE loves us, and knows that helps us in our lives. yet HE never sleeps, and is ALWAYS there.

and i close with this .....

"And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without HIS notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without HIS aide?" Benjamin Franklin

hoping that your week and hair have a wonderful week! i have some catching up to do from the weekend here at brittsbusydays! i can't wait to share one tiny tid bit!

See ya tomorrow.... Britt

updates on life and newnesses

2010-01-21T13:01:00.000-06:00

Praise the Lord for normal weeks again! no snow, no frozen pipes at work, no working on my off day, no holiday (well at least for me - i didnt get mr. kings bday off). i'm not sure why a normal week excites me so.

although i say normal, it's kind of been a busy week - monday- Bible study. tues - dinner with meg (wonderful new place and company) wed - church thurs - family night. tomorrow - i'm hoping for sleep haha!

i know next week is another full week,and that's great with me! it's rained some here this week,and until today, my curls were loving it! i decided back in the summer to grow my hair out for Locks of Love. well, then my hair stylist decided i was kidding about only wanting the ends nipped,so their "nip" meant 2 1/2 inches. always let your stylist know what your idea of measurements are! any whoo .... my hair is finally getting long! i'm so excited! it's been 2 years since i had 8 inches cut off, and i'm ready for that 8 inches back! growing out my hair was another one of my new year resloutions ... well a possible one at least.

which that brings me to my next point .... how are your new years resolutions working out for you?

so far, i'm doing much better on food choices (except for the snow days). now if i could just find the right starting exercise program ..... and loving on my nephews when i get the chance! they're so big! they just keep growing!their smiles have me captivated!

in the more giving to my church,i've decided to stop eating out for lunch and stopped getting my nails done. so far, i can tell i have more money left over at the end of the week, feel better, eating better, and really enjoying my alone time at lunch. and my blogging time i might add : )

havent found any extras thousands laying around for a new car, but hey! it's just 21 days into the year,right?!

have a wonderful day! hope the rain doesn't have your hair looking shabby ... Britt

mountains

2010-01-18T14:38:00.000-06:00

i have started an amazing new journey through a Bible study by Beth Moore. it's called "Stepping Up". i know i have mentioned it lately, but lettmetellyou! it's wonderful!

on day one, we were given a copy of Psalm 121. that chapter is only 8 verses long, and it's our memory verse(s). here's a glimpse of what God has shown me. kinda how this all started ....

"I raise my eyes up to the mountains. Where will my help come from?" Psalm 121:1

have you ever just had it? who hasn't ever felt that way?! part of my job is hearing about everybody's everything. trust me when i tell you i've heard a LOT of things no one should ever tell! this one little old lady especially has some funny stories about when she got married, but that has nothing to do with this. i apologize. i hear a lot at work,and i don't mind it. we really should be made to get a degree in psychology. i have amazing friends, and we share each other's burdens. it's wonderful to know when something be it good,bad,ugly,confusing,hilarious (as in your boyfriend asking what's the cocoon thing on a hanger at a store; meanwhile it's a shirt - sorry i couldn't help but add that KDF),or just when you think you can't breathe because of the news you've heard and you share it and they say, "breathe. you can get through this. just let it set in. give it time." WOW! those are some of the most powerful words ever spoken!

the last month has been crazy! christmas, new years, work, snow, frozen pipes at work so i had to work on my off day to make up for it. this last week has been especially trying. it seems like anything that could go wrong, well just has went wrong, and then worse. thursday evening at work i let something little and ridiculous eat me up all the way home. well, i told my parents i was going to go do my Bible study homework before my sister and her family came over for supper. i locked myself in my room, turned on my favorite praise and worship cd (thanks Kel! still loving it!) and prayed to see something new. WOW! i've always thought i prayed with the expectation of something wonderful happening. it did, and i was yet again amazed beyond amazement. well, the homework for this study goes much quicker than another one i've done before, and i honestly end each one with this thought: "oh crap! i wanted more!". i sometimes go on to the next day for that reason. well, thursday i didn't. just my sister came for supper and we had a great time with her! its been quiet some time since just the 4 of us have been together.

friday morning on my way to work, i took a different route. it's more country/scenic roads, and much more peaceful to me for some reason. as i turned on the road, i realized something. i was completely surrounded by mountains. i know there are mountains all around where i live and such, but then i realized something else. every part of my life is surrounded by mountains.

mountains are rough to climb. trecherous even sometimes. there are bumps, smooth parts, parts that go back down then up. and that's just like the mountains of life. in my mind i'm seeing mountains and one is representing family, others representing work, friends, church, finances, the future. sometimes we don't like the path God has us on. when that happens, we need to remember where our help comes from ....

"My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and Earth." Psalm 121:2

you see, as God began showing me this, i heard Him say. "Britt, be still. I am here. I have been, always will be. everything is because of Me. I am your help. stop trying to do it yourself."

friends i have chill bumps right now. i nearly floated all day. i've been praying for awhile for a new song to sing. well, friday evening, my last client was one of my favorite cousins who sings in a southern gospel quartet. he came in and ran right to the radio station, changed the station to a southern gospel one, and theres this wonderful song being sung. one i've heard lately, and i mean it's a good one! he says, "Britt, you gotta get this and sing this! i'll help you find it! i thought this was you!". (this radio station allows locals to have their songs played, but no! i'm not that good!) well, me and him always have such wonderful conversations and the same outlook on lots of things. the last thing i said was, "ive come to accept everything in a new light. it's all God's plan, what's my next step on the journey?" . he said, "me too".

a few hours later, the devil hit me with utter defeat. God has stepped in, and is taking that defeat away. God is helping me be still and quiet. this is not a burden i'm sharing. ive only told a few friends that if they run out of things to pray for,God knows what this is, and pray to Him to help this situation.

i'm not a girl who goes hiking out literal mountains, but friends ive climbed many others. we all have. i hope that you will see them in a new light, and allow God to be your help. He is the maker of Heaven and Earth, and that means you too!

have a fabulous day! Britt

Seven

2010-01-14T13:07:00.001-06:00

ahhh, seven. the perfect number? well we shall see!

my very inspiring,preggo friend, meg, tagged me on her wonderful blog - twopoundsawk.com. i'm sorry for being absent again. why? my computer? yes! you very smart friend ; ) after i get it working, i'm thinking of taking up nerve medicine or some computer degree ... well not really .....

whats the tag you ask? 7 random facts about me. this should be easy! im so very random! : )

1. yes, i was raised in a southern baptist preacher's home and have never read the Bible completely through, or been on a mission trip. God has a different plan for everyone. now, the reading His Word through and through is one i'm currently working on.

2. a few days before my 8th birthday i was outside playing with my mom's half sis (who is 2 years older than me.). my mother's last words to me before going outside that friday afternoon was "Don't get on the trampoline, young lady. we don't have time and you'll get hurt." ~~whatever mom. no i wont. ive never been hurt on one before~~. well, i talked pam into it, and we were having fun until i fell. fell right down on my left arm. immediately i was sick. immediately i tried covering what i was doing when my mother heard my yells of pain. needless to say, my poor Grandaddy, who was dying of cancer at the time, was so upset i had got hurt at his house. i blamed a hole in the yard and caught myself on a tree. i know. bad me. sister,mom and i went to the er. i broke it in 2 places. had a bday party the next day (the very first day southern adventures opened their water park. thankfully, we were best friends with the owners,and didn't plan the water park for my party.)when i was about 20 or 21 the truth finally came out about what really happened. it's an on going joke around our family.

3. my eyes do something when i talk. i don't know what they do. never have. never seen it, like on a video or anything. i don't know what causes it. it makes me a little insecure. thats the only part of meeting new people i don't like. i love that at work i have a mirrior in front of me,so i can focus my eyes there for that reason. i would LOVE to know what causes it and how to fix it.

4. i'm great with good byes. i don't try to hold on to people, or things. if you dont want to be around, ok. if you do, great! i'm sure we'll be great friends! i have many friends, but only a few close ones. that's wonderful. if the Lord needs you to go on, please don't stay on my account.

5. i would really love to be an event planner. especially showers/teas/weddings. the bad thing is, i don't think i would ever charge for my time, because i honestly love it that much! "those that don't wed, plan" or my other fav "those that dont have a baby, baby sit".

6. i would love to be a funeral director, or own a funeral home. i dony think that women should actually be a funeral director, but i would love to help families plan out how to honor and celebrate the passing of their loved ones. honestly. seriously. it's the last thing you can do for somebody.

7. i've never moved in my life. ever. this maybe changing in the next few years. but,seriously. ive never moved.

so, here's to these 7 lovely ladies .... i want to know 7 random facts about you! dont forget to tag your friends and me!

Stacy
Becky
Kellie
Heather
Emily
Tara
and pam, she doesn't actually blog, but she should, and she's mentioned in here.

Also, let me add here (even though he hates! blogs,and probably doesnt know brittsbusydays exist) a very happy 27th bday to my brother!

Until later, B

i'm free!

2010-01-09T18:58:00.001-06:00

yes, that's right! i'm a free gal again! yea! cabin fever no more! it's all good now! i don't think i've ever been so excited to work on a saturday in my life! it was such a relief when i called one of my "little old ladies",aka a weekly roller set kinda client, and her husband said,"she's not here. she's gone to get us some breakfast. she's still aplannin' on you doin' her hair i reckon today. she sure looks better when you do it fer her." :) have i mentioned i LOVE my job. how cute is that?! that also came from the man who has been married to his lovely bride for 55 1/2 years! wow! anyways, it was a relief to know that yes, there was a real reason for getting to go to work today! i text messaged one of my colors, moved her appointment, and had a few cancellations. but that's ok. i got some cleaning done. we've been told state board is on the move in our area, so we're doing some "winter" cleaning.

my dad decided that since i've never drove in such weather conditions, i didn't need to drive myself. so he drove me. i cleaned, worked, and ended my day with cutting his hair ... hmmm, funny how that happened.;) i don't mind though. i love him so! when he dropped me off he went and got breakfast, walked around in some stores, came back, got his hair cut, then I treated him to lunch. we went to walmart. i'm not sure i've ever been so excited to go there as i was today. and letmejustsay, i love time with just me and my dad. and walmart's redbox movie rental! when we got home, i cranked up my poor lola, my car, who's not been cranked or drove since wednesday (I'm thinking she thought i had abandoned her! haha!), and drove to my grandparents. they live about 2 miles away. i had a lovely visit with them, and i nice,light,delicious supper as well! a little early compared to my normal supper time though ; )

let me get back to the daddy/daughter time. . .

last night, i had this great idea that my parents and i could watch "Madea's I Can Do Bad All By Myself: the play" together. i love tyler perry, and his movies and plays. that one is one of my all time favorites! well, we couldn't get a dvd player to work in our living room, so we opted for plan b. i didn't plan for a plan b, but we ended up going with it. love it when a plan comes together! my mom said, "well the way i see it, your daddy pays for movies channels, and you're idea didn't work, so why don't we just watch one of the 30 movie channels." wow mom. thanks for the easy route! so that's just what we did. now, keep in mind, we three we getting bad cabin fever and getting on each other's nerves, ~~so this wasn't some cute,sweet conversation per say~~ ; ) so we watched a great family movie! for older kids,that's is. "College Road Trip" with Martin Lawerence and Raven Symone. the daughter is wanting to go off to college and get away from her over- protective, cop, father. she ends up realizing who her father is and vice versa. you should watch it. today reminded me of parts of that movie. but the awesome part of it all is .....

it doesn't take me wanting to move off for my dad and I to have some time together, or to know who each other are. like lunch and a quick grocery run. or my mom and I to have some special time together, or to know who each other are. and no, it's not because i live with them. it's because i want to. they want to. usually when you live with someone, you take them for granted. ever heard the phrase,"absence makes the heart grow fonder"? i'm not sure my heart could ever grow fonder of my parents. cabin fever or no cabin fever.

enjoy the little moments of life, even if you're stuck inside : )
Until later, B

Snow much fun ...

2010-01-07T19:25:00.000-06:00

I love this toboggan! it's circa 1997! my family hated it!

I wore it one entire Thanksgiving trip to Pigeon Forge

glad I kept it .... : )

You can't really see the snow. It was a light dusting,

and at this point in the day, snow had not

fell for a few hours.

here's a view from the top of the hill.

pretty slick walking up a snowy hill when you

don't have boots! just a fun fact for ya!

So yes, the images from those pictures is the cause of my cabin fever! I love my job, and would normally be like, "Oh, extra off day! YaY!" only, i've had several off days lately and i'm all rested up. there's nothing to do,except be on the computer all day (and i now know my neck,eyes,and back dont like extended periods on the computer),eat,sleep or watch tv.

Even if you didn't get snow at your house, i hope at some point you can take a snow day off, with or without snow.

now for the greatest of all events of January ....the national championship game! ROLLLLL TIDE ROLL! rammer jammer we're gonna beat the heck out of you!

Southern Snow day

2010-01-07T11:33:00.001-06:00

Snow is a HUGE thing where i live. we rarely get it, so when we do, we loose our minds. how so, you might ask. glad you asked! we have no clue how to drive safely in it, we close schools down, we think 1 inch i going to have us "snowed in", we stock up on milk,bread,apparently beef (my poor sister found this out last night late in doing her regular grocery shopping),and my dad's favorites (he was the lucky one who got to go get last minute things for us) little debbie brand snacks! he bought,not joking here, like 6 boxes of snacks! unfortunately i caved and taste tested only one kind,and only one of the box., and we stay home! we call in at work, schools close and let everyone know yesterday they were closing. how nice.

i have not been productive today. i feel terrible a little bit of snow kept me home. see, i live 41-42 miles round trip from work. it doesn't seem that long, but it is. a nice little 30 minute drive each way. and on country,back, winding roads now thanks to some,hopefully, wonderful improvements road wise. luckily for me, i'm my own boss. with that being said, i'm my own benefit package. i'm my own paycheck, sick leave, snow leave, and well, you get my point. i didn't plan for this. with it being right after the new year, we aren't as busy as normal at my salon. that's ok. it happens. we plan on it. however, i did not plan on it snowing. my clients for today moved their appointments to other days and we totally ok with it. one said, "I was just thinking, 'Wow! I've waited 3 inches with bad roots and now I don't want to get out of my pj's!'" . that one client made me feel so much better about not working. see, she's from Michigan and has lived all over the world with her army husband. i figured if she didn't want to drive 3 miles for 3 inches of roots, i was off the hook! i'm hoping this is my only snow day this week,unless its a blizzard!

if it's going to snow i want it to be 3-6 inches! something to play in, something you don't feel gulity about taking off work for and being on the computer snuggled up in your leopard print snuggie kind of snow day!

snow was much more fun when i was a kid. we seemed to have had it more then too. with having an older sister and brother and the next door neighbor,liz, we had so much fun. now we're grown. i'm the only one here now,and i'm thinking i'm not going to go play in the snow this time. or maybe i will .... hmmmm

hope everyone enjoys their day,snow or not.

and

ROLLLLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!! I SO CAN'T WAIT FOR THE BIG GAME TONIGHT!

if only i was in Pasadena,Cali right now ......

rammer jammer, yellow hammer, we are going to beat the heck out of you!

if only ...

2010-01-05T13:18:00.000-06:00

if only i could muster up the faith to fully depend on the promises i learned,yet already knew, from just the introduction in the Bible study! "Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth." Psalm 121:1-2

why do i worry so? God never sleeps (that's actually verse 3. please forgive me, my Bible is in the car), He's ALWAYS there!

so many times we say to family and friends,"we're here for you just let us know what we can do for you". Well, in the south we usually add, or start with, "well bless your heart! is there anything we can do for you?"

what if they said "yes! stay awake and watch over me 24/7 for one week." what would we say? i would probably laugh, and think you were seriously joking!

i'm so excited to get to my homework tonight! i had great intentions of starting it this morning, but the extra 30 minutes in my wonderful bed was so nice!

in other news, my computer is confused at home. i was so excited and was thinking of ways to change up my blog, and blog more. it's become a great relief to me,and i'm learning lots about cooking, and even fitness, by reading other people's blogs. i'd rather sign onto blogger than facebook i think now. the new plan is for kel to see if she can get my computer "un-confused" and if not, then the hard drive is gone. nice,huh?

i can't wait to share some more on what i learn as i journey through Beth Moore's "Stepping Up". i'm really ready to "step up" now.

Until later, B

back at it!

2010-01-04T13:28:00.001-06:00

i loved the holidays, but man i'm ready to get back into the swing of things! i'm a planner,as i'm sure you have figured out, and i'm ready to get to a routine! i was thinking how many people were waiting to start their new resolutions today since new years started on the weekend?

i kind of did. i had a healthier breakfast. for a long time now my breakfast was always 2 kellogs red berry waffles with no syrup that i ate in my car (i know bad me.) or 2 strawberry pop tarts, yes with the icing like stuff. well, the waffles have ended because the walmart i shop at has stopped carrying them, and i never think to drive across the road to see if publix has them or not. i've decided to grow up and fix a real like breakfast. this morning! i had a bagel with some cream cheese and 2 scrambled eggs (used a non-fat cooking spray instead of butter) and had my trusty glass of orange juice. that's a healthier start, don't ya think? well, maybe not the cream cheese part.

i'm so excited about tonight! tonight i start a Bible study written by the amazing Beth Moore!

i'm so excited!

i'll join some of the fabulous ladies i go to church with, and take this journey with them and my ever so wonderful mother! my mom loves Beth Moore, and i'll be honest for awhile i resented such. i'm not sure why. maybe it was because i thought my mom had become obsessed about it. then i realized, when i started the "Breaking Free" Bible study by Beth Moore, that through this lady's teachings my mom had received a healing of sorts.i have previously posted that one day i would share with you the thing or deal as i sometimes refer to it. (see FAMILY:part 3 in sept). well, God reminded me that HE broke me free from it fall 2008. how soon we forget! After the "Breaking Free" study, i saw what my mom had been seeing. and tonight, i'm ready to start "Stepping Up"! well, at least i'm thinking i am. i'm not really familiar with this study. i'm not exactly why it's titled like it is, but God has a plan. i'll have five nights of homework, which i haven't had in some time now! even in beauty school i had most everything accomplished at school. it came easy for me, but that could have a lot to do with the fact i was freshly out of high school where i rarely had homework and never had to study. this Bible study is through Psalm 120-134, the song of the ascent.

so here's to the first day,of the first full week, of the first month, of the new year of the new decade!

Until later, B

A new year,decade,and start ... among other new-ness

2010-01-02T14:20:00.000-06:00

i'm not sure if "new-ness" is a real word, but it is in my dictionary. i'm sure blogger hates that i make up my own words, and love to type in lower case. . . anywho ....

i hope everyone had a great end to oh nine and an excellant start to 2010! i ended oh nine at my friend's,mo, house. it was just the two of us, and we were going to eat some spaghetti (which we did-yum!) and have a movie marathon. well, mo got sick. she had to go to bed, i cleaned up the kitchen some, went to sleep right after midnight, and was home early new years day. i felt so bad for mo! later in the day she ended up in the er because she was so dehydrated from the virus that had attacked her.glad that's not the way i brought in the new year! i'm not a "party-ing" kind of gal. i don't like crazy crowds or knowing i'm driving with drunks. my new years eves are pretty quiet. when i got home yesterday, i started getting productive. my bro and his family came over for pizza and spaghetti at lunch, then we napped,watched football, and played with my oh so precious nephews! when they left, i started taking down all my christmas decorations in my bedroom, and that was how my whole night was spent. it's all put away and my other decorations are sitting waiting on me.

i realized late in the evening i was actually off on a saturday! that's kinda a deal for hair stylists! most hairstylist do get the 2 day weekends -work on saturdays off sundays and mondays. i, however, have always been off on wednesdays and sundays. i love being off on those days, but letmetell you! im loving being off today! i stayed in my pjs til nearly noon! i have been productive; some of that productiveness was catching up on the dvr. that's important right?! i need to make room for the new episodes coming up. i really need to go finish up my room because my sister and her family are coming over for dinner in about 3 hours. i can't believe i'm off tomorrow too! i'm going to be so messed up come monday! and i'm hoping this monday wont be a repeat of last monday. here's a brief on last monday - late to work because of a dogsitting gig (i love the pups but wow things just werent going right), forgot a decent lunch at home so opted for hardees, had a blow out on my lunch break, had to walk 1/2 - 1 mile to some family friend's house (i've mentioned them several times before) and took their truck. went back to work, which was somewhat crazy and my burger was never eaten, and found out i had to get 2 new tires and had to leave my car overnight. that was freaking great news! so i got home late, ate some supper, took care of dogs again, home again and went to bed!

so now that i've run off on that path, let me steer back over here for the main reason for this post.

new-ness.

i'm not one to make resolutions, but i'm thinking of doing it this year. here are somethings that are coming in 2010,hopefully.

healthier me. this doesn't mean i'm going on a diet, it just means i'm going to strive to be healthier. whats the reason behind this?

Who else could give me the motivation?! Logan (left) and Dylan (right) of course! Theyve literally changed my life, and my prspective of life.

better time mangement. several times within oh nine, either someone,aka my mom, or even myself found that maybe i had over extended myself. if i put all my enegry into one thing,instead of fifteen other things, then that one thing would go off without a hitch, hopefully. so that's something big to me.
more time and giving to my church. i've mentioned before i LOVE my church! and, we've grown a lot in many ways, and with that we're going to grow in buildings it looks like. we're planning on building a Family Life Center (flc) this year. we've been asked to search our hearts and pray about areas we could use to give more to God, our church and the upcoming building. basically, we don't want to have to borrow a ton of money, and we want to do what's right with God. in all things, if we keep Him in the center of it, it will be blessed,immeasurably more. so with that, i'm searching about giving up my acrillic nails, and my eating-out-for-lunch-because-its-eaiser-than-planning-ahead thinking,doing and spending. i think that last part will help with goal numero uno. i also teach GAs - girls in action - at church. we never had ga's at my home church growing up, and i just recieved the literature and have had the class for a few months now. we've been learning the books of the Bible and things like that. now comes the time for me to really take my time, study, pray, and plan for that class. the group of girls grow it seems every week, so that's great!
a new(er) car. i love my old car. we've had a lot of good memories! its the only car i've ever had. shes special. shes my Lola the corolla. what kind of car am i wanting? a free one! ha! really, something small-medium,good on gas, and that doesn't dry my bank account. i haven't had a car payment in years, and yes i realize now i should have saved a car payment every month since my last pay off. shoulda coulda woulda! i've had some financial issues with work. i'm just now, 5 years later, where i thought i would be in my 2-3 year of my career money wise. God has always made a way and i know He will again. maybe this time it will look something like this ...

or maybe in white ; )

better money mangement. now that i'm getting close to a certain age,thats beginning to scare me some, i'm realizing what i want more than never.

so that's a little new-ness for one day. maybe all along i've been afraid of setting goals for myself, and didn't plan for me? i hate to be selfish, but sometimes you need to be.

here's to a great new decade, and new year! it's already started out relaxing,yet productive. maybe that's a good sign from God!

Until later, B.

p.s. i would LOVE to know how to do a cute signature on here. any tips,ideas, websites,etc etc etc would be greatly appreciated!

oh my,oh my! how fast you went oh nine!

2009-12-31T15:56:00.002-06:00

i'm not sure i've ever been so ready for a year to go! this year has been slightly overwhelming and very fast! as i ponder back, i think of things that happened and am like, "that was this year?" or "really, april was just a few months back!" only to realize, that april was 8 months ago, and today is the very last day of 2009. the last "oh" year number wise. i remember when the clock struck 2000,and so many people thought the world was going to end. i remember very well that my brother was so mad to be at some church family's home that night instead of out with his friends. that really doesn't seem that long ago. it's been a decade ago! wow! that's crazy! so, as i like to think back to this year, here's a review. i'm also going to add in a huge THANK YOU KEL! she fixed my computer (or rather my 'rents' computer)! i'm going to try to add some photos of this year too. only deal is, there's like zero of my nephews on my camera! my mom got a much better point-and-shoot than i have, and i guess i use hers every photo op with them! sorry! i'll do better this next year! on to the quick review. .... . .... . (let me insert this is more for me to review and move on than for you, but hope you enjoy nonetheless).....

jan - started wedding planning for my sis' big day
feb - found out i was going to be an aunt! had 4 baby showers!
march - found out it was twins, had revival at church, planned sis' showers and went to the one their church gave the, and a few babies born : )
april - sis' wedding and all the festivities that brought, Easter and with that my church's conotada. a few weddings and baby shower/births
may - my birthday month! started the month off with a bang and a "new kind of normal" at the Women of Joy conference in pigeon forge,tn with the ladies from my church. mothers day, baby showers at church and for friends, memorial day, "sunshine" left our salon and in turn we started changes at my salon. all for the better. worked stepped up more and more. this month my friend amy and i started teaching a class for the young lady adults. A Lady in Waiting. wow! at what i learned!
june - found out the twins were boys, baby shower for my best,misty, work kept picking up, a few bridal teas here too. also, we had a mens banquet at church. very awesome "it's a juingle out there"!
july - busy busy busy at work! busy busy busy at church! we had 2 a day vacation Bible schools. i taught 5-6 graders. loved it! i worked both sessions, worked inbtween, and at the end of the week house/dog sitted for a cousin who's step-daughter got married at the beach. started planning sisnlaw's shower (not much on my part though). on the 18th i had 3, yes i said 3, weddings in one afternoon! my good guy friend, dg, got married at 4, sung at it. then his reception was at 6, amd i had to serve there. there was a wedding at 5 and another at 6. i'm only one person, and i chose to go to dustin and amber's,and i guess that was a good thing since i had some duties there. there was a bridal shower at church, and misty was getting ready to have levi! a few baby/wedding showers for friends, and we're good!
aug - misty had levi. sisnlaw had baby shower, had to go on bed rest, and started planning a surprise for the widows of my church for sept. i also found out some terrible news that brought up a lot from my past from some friends at church. ive mentioned it on here before. the night of aug 10, may not be a night i forget for quiet some time. and throw in a few weddings and we're good here!
sept - was a month of planning,planning,planning! we had the twins a shower at church, getting ready for them, the widows dinner and the start of the secret sisters for them at church. also, the choir started getting ready for fall concert. this may not look like a busy month, but it was! there was also the conclusion of church showers at the end of the month. this is the month that church starts it's "new year". so we were super busy!
oct - the twins were born! getting ready for fall concert, hair show in b'ham, homecoming at church, founders day in new hope, birthdays galore, and before i knew it, it was over!
nov - fall concert, my run away weekend to see the Crimson Tide rolllllll over those yucky LSU tigers. the only purple and gold tigers i don't like : ), the start of the holiday rush, thanksgiving, more baby showers (the conclusion of them) and the annual Ladies Christmas Celebration at church. my table was beautiful i thought this year. i love that night with the ladies at my church!
dec - chirstmas time! church gatherings, work,work,work. things with family and friends. shopping, decorating, having flat tires, and closing out 2009! Thank GOD!

there have been some amazing times, so times i'v faked being happy. there have been some not good times,for various reasons. i'm very glad to see this year go, and am trying to sike myself up for 2010. i don't have time for pictures tonight,maybe tomorrow.

2009 brought 22 baby showers/births and 14 bridal showers or teas/weddings. glad i didn't drink the water those folks did!

i pray that you and your family have had a wonderful year, and that this next year be a year of health,happiness, and laughter!

happy new year!

It's Christmas...

2009-12-25T09:06:00.000-06:00

Yes! Its Christmas! Merry,merry,merry Christmas!

Sorry I've not posted much lately. I have posted mentally a LOT! Haha! Oh well,maybe soon! My computer at home has been fixed,all but one small thing,by my fabulous best,kel! So be looking for pictures and such in the future!

I don't have much time to post,I still have a Christmas gift to,ummmmm,wrap and all that!

Happy birthday Jesus! You are the only reason for the season! As the Grinch said,"itsz not about the packages,gifts,ribbons and bows...". Its about my Savior's birthday!

"where are you Christmas, and why can't I find you?"

2009-12-10T12:57:00.003-06:00

my title is one the name of one of my favorite Christmas songs ever! i fell in love with that song the night i went to see "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" in theaters with my sister. and, for the last few years, it totally describes how i feel about Christmas! i'm by no means a Scrooge, Grinch, or "happy holidays instead of merry Christmas" kind of gal. it's just that Christmas has changed. life has changed. family has changed. people are trying to change the meaning of this time of year even more so it seems. i hear parents say, "i'm not letting some imaginary man take credit for what i do!" or it's all about the gift and the amount of the gift. i LOVE buying gifts! for birthdays, i have resorted to giving money to my siblings and their spouses. i LOVE LOVE LOVE giving gifts! especially at Christmas! i love the fast pace, crowds, sales, the sunshine on a shopping day, doing it all last minute in one day, and the traffic doesn't even bother me! this is usually because i'm with my best,kel.

yes, you read it right that i wait last minute to shop and do it all in one day! that day is next week! woohoo! here's the deal this time. it really doesn't seem like Christmas. 90% of my Christmas gatherings are not even on Christmas eve or day. i have two this weekend. the first one is a girls night out dirty santa ornament night. sounds like fun! it usually is when we get together! saturday is work, work, work and then the young adults gathering. instead of doing dirty santa there, we are collecting toys for the C.A.R.E. center's store in new hope. i'm excited about that! i love helping those who need it!

so here's to Christmas ... where ever you are .... i need to get back to work .... please Christmas come soon .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSMjgNMdzEI hope you enjoy!

Until later .... B

giving thanks

2009-11-24T12:41:00.002-06:00

giving thanks comes as natural to me as breathing. my parents taught me years ago to be thankful and give thanks. Jesus taught us in the "Lord's Supper" to start prayers with thanksgiving. i strive to do that. this year has been a blur! it's been such a busy,happy, sad, trying, lonely, full,exciting,boring,new year. and this year is almost gone. i am literally crying, which i hate doing!, as i type this post. i was just browsing through some other blogs, and one that caught my attention was praying for kensley. this family is friends with my family. ive never met this little girl,and i'll add an apology here that i don't know and don't have the time to link that site. ive prayed for this family. i couldn't imagine going through what theyve went through. she's home, doing great, and they are all so thankful. even thankful for her wiping her nose. how many parents take that for granted i wonder? i think back to this time last year. a childhood friend of mine had her son at 23 1/2 weeks. she requested prayers for her son to poop. every time i get the chance to change one of my nephews diapers i think about her. her then, at his funeral, when i got the news she was expecting again, that it was another boy, and when her on her 1st borns bday. her and her husband had a blood drive and her students and family had a balloon release for him. what a birthday party! she will have son #2 on new years eve.

on facebook a few weeks ago, some of my friends challenged us to say something we were thankful for each day, something new each day, up through thanksgiving. i'm finding it hard to only put one thing.

today, as i reflect back on this year, i'm most thankful for God's faithfulness and His plan.

five years ago, i was a student in beauty school who had completed 1250 of her 1500 hours and could go to work in the real world. starting her career! wow! i was 19 and about to start my career! that was the beginning of some scary,trying times. God has been there drying my tears and answering my prayers. today, i'm at a much happier place. self employed and i finally LOVE my job. i'm so thankful i listened and followed God's plan five years ago this week.

sorry this has been such a rambling post! if i don't post before thursday .......

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!! I hope you and your family have a fabulous day!

"Give thanks to the Lord"

until later ..... B

so,i ran away ...

2009-11-10T19:36:00.000-06:00

Yes,I ran away. Not to far,not away because of something terrible or because I was trying to hide from something/one. I simply ran away to get away and take a break. It was lovely!

I went to T-town to visit with my best,kel, and go to the University of AL vs LSU game. I had never been to a S E C or Bama game,and wow! There's nothing quite like it! When I was in high school,I LOVED football!and I still do,I just don't enjoy it as much on tv or when it consumes lives.

Of course,we ate at some great restaurants! Shopped some,went to church,and my personal favorite -people watched while tailgating.

I've never been one much to travel,nor one to love to ride in a car. With that being said,I'll add I've never drove longer than an hour away from home. Well,this was a pleasant experience. I loved riding alone on the way there. I took my time,wasn't rushed,didn't talk on the phone or text, sang and listened and enjoyed the radio. I found a great christian radio station and I'm sure passersby thought I was crazy! Haha! I didn't care. And finally got to kel's after a few miscommunications in directions. The ride home,was much quicker and much lonelier! I've had several friends that have gone to UA and that are there now. Wow! I don't know how you wanted to make the drive by yourself!

I'm not use to being alone. Maybe that's why I found it so boring and lonely. I'm the youngest of three,and my next door neighbor,Liz,was always around too. Well,for that matter,the neighborhood kids were always around. When we went to church,I was always surrounded by kids my age,older or younger. Our house was always filled with company. You get the picture. . . I like to be around people,well when I want to : )

Road trips by myself not one of those times!However, I had an awesome hostess! Her mother sent us half dozen Gigi cupcakes! Oh.my.goodness! The.best.ever.cupcakes! I highly recommend midnight madness! Chocolate cake with cream cheese icing with dark chocolate chips. And my fabulous mother sent homemade teacake cookies! Oh my,what yummy,yummy snacks we had! She gave me her bed,meanwhile her air mattress deflated both nights.

To top off the fast-paced,fun filled,wonderful weekend,when I came home I got to spend some great time with my precious nephews! I had not seen them in over a week! I missed them! I had been sick,and I know its rsv season,so I stayed away. My parents brought us supper at my brothers and when we left,my car messed up. So I ended up driving another 20 miles to my mechanics house. I had to have a wheel barron replaced. Apparently it was in pieces. I'm very thankful that happened after I got home,and it wasn't expensive to fix. So,that's what's kept me busy this last week. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend,and is having a great new week!

Until later, B

reason behind the name

2009-11-02T12:07:00.002-06:00

in my last post, pay it forward, i mentioned i was "in charge" of pastor appreciation this year for my church. it was an amazing,fast,busy,blessed month! wow! really, it's November?! i think calendars are lying because it feels like it should just be summer to me! thus, the meaning of this post's title and my site! geez! i really can't believe it's already November! i'm in shock! really?! can you tell?

we had a finger food fellowship church wide the last sunday night of october to honor our pastors and their families. me of little faith, set 72 seats and we ran out! we had over 100 people there! woohoo! the church presented each of them a gift certificate for Ruth's Chris Steak House. nice,huh?

that sunday was also my mom's bday! happy birthday momma! we celebrated her bday at our house watching the TN UA football game and eating pizza! baby d came home the day before and him,his twin brother and parents were able to join us. as well as my sis and her family. this is the first time since the very first of august that my family was altogether. this isn't rare to most families, but it is to mine. i'm so thankful for my family!

i had a very busy week last week, with church and work. for some reason my blackberry wasn't letting me log on to here, and im not happy with that!

here's this past weekend in a wrap to give you a hint:friday - work, dress rehearsal for fall concert,home,supper,bed. saturday - work, grocery store, visit with the nephews(the cutest giraffe and tiger ever!) trunk ot treat at church. sunday - sunday school, church,lunch,home, back at church early, fall concert, dinner, home, bed. sunday i woke up with cold like junk going on. today i have little voice (miracles still happen) and have a cold! ugh! nyquil is calling my name tonight! oh, and i'm super busy at work today and wont get home til about 8. but that's really ok! i'm thankful for my job,my clients, and if i'm there that late that means one thing - i'm working which in turns means i'm making a living! i've got to get to feeling better before the weekend! i'm running away on a little trip : ) ahhhhhhhhh - that's my sighing can you hear it?!

so here's to monday! work, long lunch to get my car serviced, back to work (which i just found out i'll be working with my guy friend dg and possibly his wife ugh) for a long evening without daylight savings time, and home hopefully to chill out and get over this stupid cold!

until later ...B

Pay it Forward

2009-10-22T12:52:00.002-05:00

No, i'm not talking about the movie. reason #1 - i've never seen the movie and #2 i'm talking about something much better than what hollywood does!

in a previous post, just when i think ... it all changes, i mentioned i was giving the honor to plan something at my church. well the time has come to announce what little thing it was! Pastor Appreciation! i'm southern baptist, and october is pastor appreciation month! it's been so much fun! i haven't planned anything huge,but i think they've enjoyed it!

first of, we decided to do what we did last year. people signed up to send them (there's 4 pastors) a card every day of the month. we had a calendar filled up in a few days! and then on the last sunday night we would have a finger food fellowship meal for them. we're baptist, we love to eat!

so with those things going on, the deacons always get up and share something about each pastor - senior, assistant, youth and music. what i had the joy of planning was for the Women's Ministry group. after much thinking and praying, we given them supper every wednesday night. my senior pastor has health problems and eats at this one local restaurant, so people signed up to take him out to eat. sweet,huh? our assistant and music ministers live like 40 minutes away, so this has kept them from eating out all month; our youth minister is single and is a workaholic who is never home to cook (and he can cook!). so this has helped them greatly! plus, it's fun for the families to eat and fellowship more one on one with each other. last night was my family's night. my mom made chicken stew and peach cobbler. it was more delicious than delicious! luckily, the peach cobbler was sent home with someone other than us!

why is this simple act a paying it forward measure you may ask? it's simple. i'm a PK! a preacher's kid! my dad has been a baptist minister my whole life, and for over 15 of my 24 years, he's been a pastor. 11 and a half years at one church. i'll never forget how honored my dad was every october. i remember him and mom getting onto me when i was younger because i expected the church,a very small,not wealthy church to do something for us. they did, but i also got a lesson on humbleness!

so thanks, to all the pastors and their families! you have an amazing,rewarding,tiring,trying,fun,sad,busy job!

Until later ....B

so called weekends and sunshine

2009-10-20T14:45:00.001-05:00

I'm always wondering what's so special about Saturdays? I'm the south in the fall its ALL about football! Which I nearly resent,let me add. I work on Saturdays,that's just part of my life and that's great with me,actually more like fabulous with me. When I am off on a Saturday I'm usually much busier than I would've been at work,so why not work and have more money? I'm not on a pity party,please don't take it that way,I'm just wondering. Especially after the "weekend" I had this last week! As I last posted I had to be at work early last week,and not just once but twice in a row. Thursday I was at work 8-6 and then to a jewelry party at a friends house,home at 9,bed by 11. Friday at work at 830 a.m. And got off at 8 p.m. I was having more fun than usual the last 3 hours of that day. Topped my night off with mexican and a catch up session with my best month,then back to my house and back at it again Saturday morning! I didn't have a full day at work,just a few younger guys cuts and a bridal do for Em. Left work,went to the store,came home,lunch,got re-ready,went to Ems beautiful and sweet wedding,supper with my sister,her husband and friends,home and in bed at 10. Why so early on a Saturday night for a S-W-F in her early 20s? The Premier show (hair show)! Yes,that's right! I was up WAY before the sun and was at my salon before 630! I got home that night after 9. I was SLEEPY! We had to make a slight detour home,which put our road trip on "back roads" in beautiful small towns all the way home. I was so happy to see my bed!

The hair show was hilarious! It almost scares me to see some of the people who are hair stylists out there! You had girls literally wearing binkis to get spray on tans. And yes,they were prancing around the booth and "showing off". There was one poor girl who shouldn't have chose to be a model! Bless her! And I'm being nice here,not judgmental! I PROMISE! I wanted to rescue her! Also,unless you like badly teased bird's nests as a hair do,I'm not sure I can help you! HA!HA! Oh and the colors! I wanted to say to the platform artists,"Honey we need color trends and techniques for our awesome,normal,and beautiful clients! We don't do runways every day!" Seriously,if one up-do model walked outside during the day,I bet birds would've thought "HOME!". No joke! Its so funny to watch the men artist! They do pelvic thrusts and dance in womens faces and cut their hair while looking at the crowd! Luckily for those ladies,they were using texturizing shears! You know you're in for a crazy day when there's a line at the "adult beverages" booth longer than the lines anywhere else as soon as it started! Really,we had a good time. I'm not sure there's much I could or could not do to make myself or my clients look any worse than what I saw down there. : )

We have fun no matter where we are anyways,and more fun when we're sleepy! On our way there,we stopped and found a breakfast buffet (insert severe dislike for buffets here) and I was told I was so attractive! Only problem was it was a lady,and a lady old enough to be my grandma! She said,"oh gurl! You so attractive to me!" Me,"thanks". Her" oh and you so southern sounding! You look like one of 'em stars off one of 'em family tv shows! You a star on tv? Ooo you so attractive.". Me-"thanks. Have a nice day!" And I went and got in the car! LoL! It wasn't all that flattering,if you get my drift!

I have got some great rest! Maybe too much;I've been told there's a such thing. I'm so excited! My nephew,baby D,should get to come Thursday! He didn't pass his car seat test Saturday,which made him stay 5 more days. Poor little fellow hasn't seen his Aunt Britt as of tomorrow in 2 weeks! I miss him more than I ever thought possible! I miss baby L too! I haven't seen him in a week! I'm off tomorrow so the new parents and boys may want to be on the look out!ha!

I'm so thankful to be an aunt to two healthy boys,and sister to a wonderful older brother and sister and a daughter to my parents! I'm not sure where I'd be without them! I'm also very thankful we all live close! The sun is,and has been,shining bright the past few days and it s been wonderful having it here instead of rain! My hair is even straight today! I love that I can manage it so well in the fall when the rain is gone!

I know this has been a long,and rambling post,but I can't help myself! I'm alone at work and have missed being able to sit down and post like I was. I'm off tomorrow,and tonight eating dinner with Meg! Yay for Tuesdays and Wednesdays! My kind of weekends!

Until later,B

go away!

2009-10-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

Ok,so maybe that's not the nicest title! But so true! What is up with all the rain this month? And last month?! At my salon,the older clients and even those around my parents age are acting like its suppose to be this way. I have a really good memory (as previously posted) and I never remember it raining SOOOOO much in the early fall! Now November here is a crazy month! We usually have tornado watches for a few weeks. We also remember a horrible tornado that ripped through surrounding towns and communities in November in 1989. I was 4,but I remember that evening very well!

I had to get to work earlier than usual this morning. Let me say,I respect those of you who have to get up and be at work before 8 A.M.! I'm a hair stylist - we usually work late evenings and come in later in the mornings. I love that about my job! On saturdays I'm usually here before 8,and somehow that never bothers me,but wow! Today has! I made a mistake with my choice of breakfast this morning too,and I'm thinking it didn't help my matter any! I had 2 strawberry pop tarts with my oj. Can we say sugar high? Then sugar crash? Ughhh, I really should've stuck with my regular breakfast choice - 2 red berry waffles with no syrup (I eat in the car. I know bad me!).

I just want to see some sunshine is that so horrible of me? I know I've said this before,but I have not had a vacation this year. This has been an extraordinary busy year! I can't believe there are only 77 days left in this year! I'm really hoping this rain pattern isn't going to stay around! Its not good for my business,or my fathers,and I'm positive we're not the only ones with that worry when it rains. And,with these curls I have,I haven't had to many good hair days! It gets more curly(which I'm always surprised that that's possible) and frizzy! Yuck-o!

I'm thinking this weekend will have me more upbeat. I have a friend,em,wedding. I get to do her hair,and I know she's going to be a beautiful bride. She's getting married in a really old,white church with a center aisle. Every girls dream at one time or other! She's been a very care free and thrifty bride. I'm very proud of her! And excited for her!congrats em and j and little miss H!

Also this weekend,I'll be missing church (which I despise doing!) and going to a hair show! Its a few hours away,so road trip! We went 2 years ago,and we had a great time. I was exhausted when we went due to a kid/house/pet sitting gig I had going on. Also,my guy friend from my previous post, was in tow with us. Sunshine,the lady who use to work with us,was there too. She's a very negative person,thus the reason behind her nickname. One day we said together as she left for the day,"well wasn't she just a freaking ray of sunshine?!" So if you could only imagine how that day went. I'm thinking this year will be much better!much much better! I'm also hoping the artists will show us more,new and better techniques. Last time it was all about the blonde on top and dark underneath and the famous a-line/stacked bob.

I know this has been a long post,but its been very therapeutic. I'm sitting at work,alone in the rain,so this has been a great release! Yay for blackberries! lol! However,the rain hasn't killed my excitement over my precious nephews! Looks like baby D maybe home soon! He's been moved to the progressive unit and is doing awesome! I thank God for growing his little lungs and the stuff he needed to keep them from sticking together! And for baby L! He's perfect! I'm so amazed every day at the love God gives us for His creation!

Have a great day! Even if its raining!

Until later ....B

best friends and memories

2009-10-13T13:11:00.004-05:00

i have an odd memory. i remember what i wore, when things happen - dates,time and places. today is a cross roads of mine,and i thank God for two of my best friends - mo and kel! they were there step by step (literally).

it's a single girl's worst nightmare. you walk up, wearing a super cute new outfit and killer new shoes, to the guy you think you love and can't live without. he's more than that. he's also your best friend also. and a friend you've been giving all your time to too. after the texts and phone calls of "where are you?", "i'm standing here;i'm waiting on you!" "i was thinking we could grab a bite to eat afterwards" ... i get to where we were meeting, a small town event outside on a cool fall night. i find him in the big crowd, kel and mo in hand, and go up to him. "hey! i'm finally here! whew!" him -"Britt meet Britt. Britt meet Britt". this girl who has her hands all wrapped up in my best friend's hands says,"OMG! i'm so happy to finally meet you!" Me, "Really?! i haven't a clue who you are. who are you?" stunned looks on everyone's faces.

that's right. my heart was broken. i stayed there,with them, until the event ended. i nearly ran back to my car, kel and mo slightly behind.i think secretly they were glad i wasn't going to be around him much more, but they were hurting for me (like the awesome bests they are!). so what was a broken hearted girl and her two bests going to do? hot fudge sundaes! and a venting session like never before!

this heart break didn't mend real quick. finally, i gave it up and gave it to God. please don't think me self righteous. i didn't know what else to do, and knew that was just what i needed to do all along (as the advice of the bests and my family).

that was two years ago tonight. wow! now, i would go back in time and be like,"oh yay! take him!" i would have gotten to know her more too. she's actually a very sweet girl, and we favored. well, more so after he colored her hair my color lol. she's a little insecure and he helped her with that. apparently a lot of helping her! on thanksgiving this past year, she called and broke up with him. he then called guess who? yep. me. yes, i let him back in my life. he's my best guy friend. we hung out for about two months. every time our outings were over, i wondered to myself what did i ever see in him other than a friend. i killed myself with those questions. and guess who would always answer me with the best answer - that's right my two bests!

they've been there through both of my siblings weddings. and after everything with my sister's, they took me to eat at my most favorite place for dinner at 9 pm!. they were there when my family went through the most devasting,yet wonderful trial. they have been there through deaths. mo came straight to me when my mamaw passed away - we hadn't even left the nursing home,and she was there. they've even let me be just quiet. they've entertained me. they've become so much to me! they were the first people i told i was going to be an aunt, an aunt to twins, an aunt to twin boys, and the first people i told monday. kel was there late for me to scream and cry about baby d being in the nicu, and about my first visit with him.

so this is to mo and kel! thanks for always being there. thanks for always listening. thanks for always tagging along on crazy,fast shopping trips that aren't just for pleasure. thanks for the chocolate. thanks for the texts. thanks for the shoulders for me to cry on. thanks for the ears that listened,and still does, to my endless rambling. thanks for being part of "the stick removal team". thanks for being the supporative team through my weight battle. thanks for your love. thanks for your prayers. thanks for being just who you are - even if now,when we're all living apart (more so than ever). thanks best! all my love to my bests... B

this is kel,me,and mo at my house on my birthday this year.

I'm in LOVE!!!!

2009-10-12T13:06:00.002-05:00

Yes, me the SWF in is love with not one, but two boys!!! or maybe i should say baby boys!!! That's right! i'm an AUNT!!!! the twins are here! woohoo! they were born on 10/5. i know, i'm sorry - i'm a week late on this post. forgive me; i've had lots of busy days! and no time to sit down at a computer to post. i'm thinking surely there is a way to post from my BB,right?

DC weighed 6lbs 8 oz and was 19". he's been in the NICU, but he's now breathing on his own, his mommy finally got to hold him, and now he just needs to put it altogether. like breathing when he eats and sleeps! he has a good bit of dark hair. he really looks like my bro's baby pictures. and he is so full of surprises!

LJ weighed 5lbs 10oz and was 18". he's such a precious baby! head FULL of hair!! he's so good,too! i'm hoping he will stay that way for them!

i've never known a love like this. i know that's a line from a song, and every time i think of them i think of that line because it's so true. i've always been told from friends of mine, "just wait until you're an aunt. it's the best job there is." and,they were right!

it's so amazing to see my brother as a daddy,too! i've always been amazed at the kind of husband he is too. sometimes he's all wonderful and helpful and other times, well maybe not so much. my poor SIL was very sick the day she had them. brother was very torn! sick wife, precious new baby needing to be taken care of, and one 2 floors below not breathing on his own and brother didn't really know just what was going on with him. on top of that, they were flooded for 3 days with so much company. brother enjoyed it though,and he has done a fantastic job! he's a wonderful daddy already!

i've got to get back to work, even though all i want to do is sleep! i'll update on other things later ...

Until later ....B

Last one ....

2009-10-01T13:49:00.003-05:00

last one for the series of messages my pastor had shared with us. this one is about marriage. i hope you have enjoyed, and hopefully been blessed by these. these messages have really changed my mind set!

Family: An Endangered Species Part 5 - Marriage

"Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" "Haven't you read,"he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become on flesh? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together let man not separate." "Why then", they asked,"did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard, But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, expect for marital unfaithfulness,and marries another woman commits adultery." The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better to not marry."Matthew 19:3-10 NIV

How can a man get out of marriage? there are no loop holes with God. instead of asking "how to get out of the marriage?" why not ask " what can God do to help us stay together permanently?
Marriage in the eyes of God is not a contract, but a covenant! God doesn't break HIS promises to us, nor HIS covenants. we will not be blessed if we do so to HIM. contracts have a way out,usually. the only way out with God is a place of no peace and love, but forever torture and fire. my pastor asked this, "don't you want to be as close to HIM as you can be and have HIM in the center of your everything?"
Only God can separate what HE has put together! i have mentioned in a few posts lately about friends of mine on both sides of adultery. the one who is married is holding on to everything possible to be back with her husband. she knows God, and knows that what her husband is doing is not God's will. she told me a few weeks ago,"I know this isn't God's will but HIS plan for us to be stronger." her faith isn't always this strong. she has her bad days; we all do. but i think of her everyday, and pray that God won't have to separate her and her husband.

i had to quickly summarize this one. i need to get back to work, but feeling the fresh air and cool breeze makes it so hard. i kind of wish i could do hair right here in the quite,fresh,calmness ...

UPDATE on life:

tuesday night, i worked late and ended up seeing crazy! aghhhhh! see post "past to present". everything went fine, or at least once i caught my breathe : )

tonight is family night at my house! i love my family, and tonight our extended family -T and her kids- are coming!

and we may find out today when the twins will be here! : )

also, maybe soon i'll have more info on the possibility of the tv show

until later, B

changes .....

2009-09-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

wow! fall has arrived! i love to see the trees change,and my house! i got home yesterday from work, and my mom had started putting out all her beautiful fall decorations along with some candy corn and the pumpkins!

in my post "ive lost three things" i mentioned there was something coming up i sure wanted to loose more pounds for. well, im not sure if its really ok for me to tell you or not, but im thinking i dont have that many readers sooooo .......

i maybe on a reality tv show.

im not big on reality tv. i LOVE the biggest loser, split ends (my cousin,S, that i work with was on there 2 years ago), and shear genius. sometimes i watch dancing with the stars, but im over that now. i dont watch much tv,especially in the summer, but the fall and winter i add in some time for it.

as i said above, my cousin,S, was on the show Split Ends. he went to petaluma,california and joe hamer,platform artist, came to styles by beverly in new hope,al! im glad i wasnt there for filming then. im an outgoing person, but not as much as most think.

today we are possibly having a client film us working for a little while and take some pictures of us all in the shop doing what we do. S maybe the only one of the show, we dont know for sure yet. we dont even know the name of the show yet, just the entertainment company that called us up.

so, to all of my awesome clients out there, i maybe needing your help! ive been very inspired by meg on the weight loss, and i know prayers are going to need to be sent up! my prayer is that if we are chosen for another show, for God to use it for HIS glory, honor and praise! i dont want anything less. if God is not in it, then i pray it doesnt happen.

"HE said HE can move mountains, move my mountains, move your mountains too" were just words of a song im listening too. the song is "i have to believe" by rita springer. its an amazing song, and its giving me peace on this.

i'll try to keep you updated on the progress of the changes...

until later, B

p.s. the twins maybe here soon! please keep d&l and the babies in your prayers!

i'm slightly overwhelmed ...

2009-09-28T12:29:00.000-05:00

yes, very much so, but not in a bad way. sometimes when i think im overwhelmed, i really mean im stressed out. today is different.

fall seems to be in the air! finally! it's the end of september, but i'm in sweet home alabama so i consider october fall. im currently at our family friends home typing this. and ive raised the window in the study, and wow! the breeze, fresh air,sunshine, blue sky, and the trees slightly turning colors has me in a mood to go dig out my precious, cute sweaters! well, maybe not that extreme yet. but seriously! we have had some serious rain this month. i almost thought we were back in april!

the month of september is a month of new on my calendar. i started in the salon where i currently am in september two years ago. our church year starts now too. also, something i thought i couldnt live without ended two years ago in this month.the ending didnt last long, the second week in october it came to a screeching stop though! lately ive been amazed,intoxicated even over God's plan for me. two years ago, i thought i had it all figured out. i didnt,thankfully.i had given sin the lead on my life. it may not have seemed that way to my family and friends, but that was all part of the devil's plan - deception. lies were told and believed. lies were revealed and relationships could have suffered more. please dont misunderstand me - i sin every day. in some way,somehow we all do. it makes me sick to know that about myself. what has me overwhelmed today about this trial i went through, is that God did prevail! i still am friends with the person who i hurt,and who hurt me. they always say they hurt me worse and more than my one time to them. a part of me knows thats true,but a part still wonders. i see now God had and still has something far greater than what i thought i had then. im overwhelmed today knowing HE loves me that much after i kept driving the nails in HIS cross deeper. (thats from an amazing song ive been hearing a lot).

im overwhelmed today also to know that the baby showers, births, wedding showers and weddings are almost over with! woohoo! i have two more weddings, no more wedding showers, one more baby shower, and am waiting the birth of my TWIN nephews and a few more babies this year. but this year is almost over with! we only have 94 days left this year! wow! that has me overwhelmed also!!! someone asked me last night at church after yet another shower, when the next one was. i nearly fainted,shouted for joy, and seconded guess myself when i said,"Probably March. We don't have anyone getting married before October next year so far, and we have some babies that will be here in April and May." the lady almost didnt believe me, and why would she when i couldnt believe it myself! this whole year has been a blur! im hoping with the change of fall, things will some what slow down. well, slightly,maybe ... i wouldnt want to get bored ... hahahaha!

also, im overwhelmed by a friend who i see hurting. something terrible has happened in their life,yet they arent letting go, which is only leading to more destruction. i just want to shake them, yell at them, and reassure them of the promises they shared with me two years ago. only, my situation wasnt nearly what their's is. in sunday school yesterday ( i helped teach 3-6 graders at my church), we studied the 10 commandments. the kids were so caught off guard that no one sin is worse than another. one girl said,"So if i tell a lie thats as bad as mr n(another teacher) killing miss britt?" yes, sweetie! only, lets not hope for that! haha! what my friend is going through is a road ive been on the other side of. this is a friendship that has been a part of my whole life. seriously. since i was a week and half old. we shared a playpen in sunday school. our parents have always been friends, and so forth and so on. im thinking this is something that is in for a huge change. im ready, or preparing, for it. not sure about them. i refuse to be lied to continuously and deceived.my God is bigger than that, and thats not something i want in my life.

my God is so big,loving,forgiving,and merciful that it simply makes me feel one way. Overwhelmed.

until later, B