Already 2010

It's weird to think that it is so close to 2010. One day away.. Life really does fly.

I've had a great year in 2009. So much has happened- good and bad. I'm a truly lucky person so I'll share a few highlights of my year with you.

1. We moved into our first home together just the two of us, a very beautiful town home :]

2. I graduated from AUBURN UNIVERSITY: WAR EAGLE!

3. I FINALLY got my picture made with AUBIE!

4. I got to mark something off my "bucket" list- I met this tall guy.

5. We had our FIRST Family Vacation: The Hutchinson's!

6. I made an amazing friend.

7. We had a wonderful time in the Georgia Mountains.. the Gorge was a sight I will NEVER forget!

8. We celebrated our one year anniversary in September in Birmingham. It was a terrific first year of marriage!

9. I had a blast with my girls at the Alabama National Fair!

10. I got to see Kellie Pickler in concert in AU!

11. Canoe trips with my honey.

.. i am grateful for a number of memories of this year! Here's to the next year, I hope its EVEN better!

Fort Payne

I had a nice trip to visit my parents and grandma for Christmas. A lot of times I get anxious about visiting because I seriously dislike my hometown for numerous reasons.. but this time I had a lot of fun there for the day. We are lunch together, shopped a little, drove around so they could show me the new things in town, (it's been like 8 months since I've been up that way) ate dinner with grandma, talked with my uncle, and spent the night at grandma's house. I had fun getting to spend time with Rachel because I rarely see her at all more less get quality one on one time with the gal.
Next morning we had breakfast with Mom and Dad then headed out. Dad gave me a couple of his old Jackson Highway albums which made my day.

Christmas Monday was a Funday :]

Here's a few pictures from the trip--

Mom and Daddy:


The Girl's at Lunch: (WARNING- Sun's a little bright)


My amazing Father and myself:

How i love my kids..

Alright so I don't have real kids but everytime i look at their cute little faces or they curl up next to me on the couch on days like today when i feel so very sick.. they make me happy.
Lola- i think this is a very pretty picture of her.


Here's a picture of Lou under our tree.. little rascal.

a life change.

An eldery woman in Hobby Lobby changed my life today. As we stood in line chatting about the holidays, wal*mart shopping, and family, she looked at me and said, "It's been three years since my husband passed and this has been the hardest. Not sure why, I'm not sick or anything. I just miss him, you know? I lived with him 61 years, we married at 16, and had 5 beautiful children together who now have families of their own. I just miss him."

As i looked into her eyes, i saw a spark as if i looked back into her life and saw her as a young bride, wife, and mother. It broke me down to tears in the parking lot. For minutes i cried and saw that I myself in 60 years could be in that very same place.. shopping alone wishing Jeb were there to hold my hand and pull the car around. I miss him so much when he travels, it hurts. But I am thankful that I have him in my life.. and dread the day I'm without him. He's my everything.