Monday, November 24, 2008

Happy Birthday Charis!!!


So, you're 31?? Is that possible? Sorry if it embarrasses you but I just love seeing peoples' reaction when we reveal to them that you are the mother of 6... I'm continually amazed at your mothering skills. You are so patient!!! I don't know how you can handle the constant, "Mom mom mom mom mom mom." Are you aware that it drives me crazy when you don't answer them the first time? LOL!

Charis, you make me want to actually attempt the great challenge of parenting a child. Can't say that I want to try it with so many, but you make it look easy and fun. I joke about having a kid and giving him or her to you to raise, because I just know that you would do an incredible job. I only hope that I will pick up on your methods and use them when it's my turn. Of course, I hope my kids are smarter and cuter (since we are ultimately in competition :) This is a tall order, because it's just hard to imagine having cuter smarter kids)! Haha...

Anyway, thanks for being a wonderful sister, for being there to listen, and for being a positive influence growing up. You are so good at letting people just be who they are without judgement or unsolicited advice. Aww... I'm actually getting a little choked up just typing this - Thank you, Aunt Flo!

So, do something fun today and celebrate being a year older without aging one bit from last year or the previous 7 for that matter!

I love you...

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

It's Been a While...

Hello all! I know it's been a long time since I've blogged, but so much has been going on... I lost my job, I got a new one, I moved home, Patrick and I met in the middle and our parents met, and my calendar has been pretty packed during "free time".

New Job: I'm working for Liles Companies in Santa Rosa Beach. The work environment is great and I really enjoy working with my boss, Doug. We are doing web development, email campaigns, and a bunch of other stuff that's too complicated to get into. I stay busy, and most of my time here has been spent learning and training. I feel very fortunate to be given the job considering the competition out there right now.

Living back at home: It's nice to have people around again, but I do miss my little house in Seagrove Beach and my routine there. I'll get a groove, but that season is over and it makes me just a little sad, so I try not to think about it. I know that God has some great things lined up for the future.

The visit at Doh Doh's was great! We all got there Friday night, and Patrick and his parents got to hang out with my parents, Doh Doh and Norman. Thanks again Doh Doh for making everything so wonderful for everyone. I really really appreciate it! Saturday was fun... Summer came over for a bit and we had a great breakfast. Later a bunch of us drove out to Stone Mountain (I'd never been there) to hike and see the view, which is great by the way. There was a game of Dominoes - YES, I won! - and more good food. Church on Sunday was a bit of an adventure, when we just followed the GPS which took us to Buckhead Church instead of Northpoint. It worked out great, and we had a time convincing Dad that he was watching a 3D projected video of Andy Stanley, that it wasn't Andy in person. Ha! Technology is such an amazing thing! For lunch we were joined at Cheesecake Factory by Summer, DohDoh, and Samuel. The whole weekend was everything we hoped, and the only part I didn't like was the end when we all had to say "goodbye".

Now I'm ready for Thanksgiving with the Family & Patrick! I know everyone is pitching a bit of a fit that Patrick is by-passing Deep Creek, but I'm pretty sure that spending 4 days with the whole family under one roof will be enough of a Gauntlet to know if he can make it in the fmaily :) Should be interesting!

In other news, we did a Bonfire last weekend at Grayton Beach. It was soooooo cold and windy, but really was a great way to give Andrew the proper send off as he heads to Iraq for his deployment. We all made some new friends and shared some laughs - Nick got stuck in the sand because he thought that his XTerra was enough of a "4 wheel drive" to make it. I hate that we don't have pictures...

Baby showers, birthday parties, family fun, etc. - everything is keeping me busy and making the time fly by. Christmas is just around the corner... Dang - I'd better start shopping! here are a few pictures from the past few weeks...