Griffies Grins and Giggles

Alecia Ohnemus' Maternity Portraits

2009-07-14T14:01:00.002-05:00

Alecia, a dear friend of mine, is expecting little Miss Adalynn in August! I had the honor of joining in on the portrait fun yesterday! I took 454 pictures and these are just 16 of my favorite. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them! Please let me know what you think and give lots of love to the mom of this precious unborn blessing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38056149@N06/sets/72157621320443233/show/

XOXO, Katie

Kaitlyn's 5 year portraits

2009-05-03T17:22:00.002-05:00

So I was totally apprehensive about taking pics of my niece, any child actually, but now I am sooooooo glad I did! It shows me I can broaden my picture taking into children's photography. I took over 600 pics and would not even think about putting them all on here, but I wanted to do a slide show of my favorite 17 that I have already played with in my photo shop. There were so many other precious ones as well and I'll add them as I edit. She is just such a beautiful little girl and I love her so dearly. We took pics for about an hour and a half and she was just such a trooper. Rarely argued with us and just looked so beautiful! Be sure to leave a comment because it will tickle Kaitlyn pink! Hope you enjoy!http://www.flickr.com/photos/38056149@N06/sets/72157617566246651/show/

Spring

2009-04-03T14:41:00.007-05:00

Spring. Something so wonderful about it! I have decided lately that instead of worrying with the things I cannot change, I will shoot pictures instead. I had to find a way to push through all the madness! So now anytime I am feeling down, I grab my camera and head outdoors. When I was discouraged on Tuesday, I headed out my front door. There, I found it, Spring. I'm sure I didn't see it before because I was too consumed with stressors of this world, but I have seen it now. Tuesday, I was reminded how much I love Spring and the beauties it brings with it. I thought I would share a few signs of Spring with you as a reminder that love and beauty is all around us no matter how hard this world may seem.

I hope you enjoy...

I had so many beautiful pics of our dogwood tree that I just narrowed it down to a few.

One of my favorite childhood flowers, and such meaning behind each bloom...

Picture a dirt road covered in beautiful azealas on both sides. So big and beautiful they will reach your car as you drive through. That is the beauty found at my childhood home.
For today, I simply see and am reminded of the azealas back home from the few I have now...
Wisteria, needs nothing else but a little rain drop to be absolutley gorgeous...
I've always been intrigued by birds. Today, I am reminded that our Lord, even as much as he loves the birds and takes care of them, he loves me more and all our sadness will pass. I needed this nest today. I needed it to remind me that I am the little bird, and I will grow from this, and one day fly away...just as the little bird... And even though, Spring will pass, I can now face the world again with a better attitude and new found strength for tomorrow. Tomorrow may be a day without the camera.

Corel Paint Shop Photo Pro 2

2009-03-22T21:57:00.006-05:00

CHECK IT OUT!!!...I added another pic I played with of Kaitlyn...

So to have a little bit of fun in my life, I decided to try and figure out my new photo software. Here is a pic I played with quite a bit, and I hope you enjoy!Kaitlyn, our oldest niece!
Don't you just love the hint of pink cheeks that I added bc they were in the original colored pic?

Yeah, yeah, I know, I still owe you a post about our infamous Monday but to be honest I'm still not emotionally stable to relive such a day as that one..hehe, you'll have to keep waiting! :)

Let's take TWO!

2009-03-14T17:45:00.003-05:00

Follow along as we Take Two on Matthew's elbow surgeries...

So, Matthew's second elbow surgery was on Thursday. We got there at 10:30 a.m. and he finally went back to surgery at 2:00 and was over by 4:00. They had to put one screw in his broken radial head, checked on the first pin and said it was healing perfect, do a bone grapht of his elbow, and remove all the scar tissue from the first surgery so new and improved scar tissue will grow again. They also went on and straightened his elbow out so when he starts Physical Therapy again, on Monday may I add, maybe his arm won't be as stiff as it was after the first surgery. It has been a very long road to get to this point, but Dr. Clancy has assured us Matthew will not have anymore problems nor will there be any other surgeries. Since Dr. C was able to do the screw, Matt will not have to have an artificial radial head put in either. It is so awesome to know that in three months our lives should be back to normal! Matthew will be working out again, working, and get back to his old self!

Thank you all so much for the many prayers and thoughts ya'll have sent our way. They have been felt and very much appreciated! We love each and everyone of you all and are so thankful for you!

Many people have asked about our past Monday which will forever go down in History as one of the worst Mondays in the world, so I guess I need to post about it. I was avoiding it because sometimes I feel like a negative nancy on this thing and don't want you guys to think of me like that. It's just one of those tough times in our lives that we are growing so incredibly much from! So, I'll try to fight the painful memories and post about Monday as soon as I can. Stay tuned...

Freeze, and then we'll Take Two!

2009-03-11T23:21:00.002-05:00

So I won't go into all of it tonight because we are tired and gotta go to bed, but Matt's second elbow surgery is TOMORROW! We have to be in B'ham by 11:00 a.m. Please pray for him as he is going through the surgery and recoop, and for all of us to have a safe trip! Now, FREEZE! til later...

Info on the Infamous Doc which is soon to be OURS!!!

2009-03-07T09:28:00.002-06:00

We are so stinkin' pumped about our appointment Monday! It is such an honor to be able to say our doctor is Dr. Clancy. He has had so many accomplishments and now he is going to heal Matthew!

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

The post below this one is going to explain what in the world I am talking about if you want to read it first, but then, please follow this link to the Andrews' Clinic website and read about our new doc....Dr. Clancy! I haven't met this man yet but I know he is a God send and we love him already!

http://www.andrewscenters.com/getpage.php?name=clancy

Keep up the prayers you prayer warriors! Ya'll are the best!

The sound of speechlessness...

2009-03-06T14:23:00.004-06:00

Have you ever wondered what the sound of speechlessness would sound like?!? Well, let me tell you... I know exactly what it sounds like. Let me replay the situation for you...

Dr. Curtis, "First Xray, Perfect; Second Xray, everything looks great; Third Xray, looks good; Fourth Xray, (SPEECHLESSNESS)!!!"
It's odd for me to have a doctor that is speechless, but we didn't need any words. Let me continue with the story...
We all three stare at the screen, Matt's head hits the wall behind him, and my eyes immediately fill with tears. "Is that another break," I say. "Yes it is." Speechlessness.

To make a really shocking doctor's appointment that was supposed to be another "You're doing great and everything is healing perfectly," story short, Matt has a break on the other side of his radial head. It is much bigger than the previous break and will inevitably lead to another surgery. It is so large that the doctor wonders if a whole piece of his bone is missing. Not sure where that piece of bone is, but yet just another answer to another question that isn't being answered. For example, how did the doctor miss this break during the first surgery? Why didn't he take this particular Xray prior to surgery to go ahead and make sure there weren't any other breaks? And the list continues....

Well, to fast forward from Tuesday until today, Matthew has gotten in with Dr. James Andrews' clinic in Birmingham. Dr. Andrews is a very well known doctor who is sought after and used by many pro athletes throughout the world. Dr. Andrews has looked over his case and decided his colleague, Dr. Clancy, will be best for the job because of the "mystery break" Matt has. Apparently, this part of the radial head is really hard to break and Dr. Clancy is the doctor all other orthos go to when they don't know how to fix the bone that is broken. Leave it to our family to have a break that no one is supposed to have!
We are quite excited to have such a good specialist waiting for us and prepared to take on the apparent "odd" case of my husband's elbow. Our appointment is Monday at 1:00. We know we are in the hands of an awesome surgeon and we are so thankful for that, so please say some prayers of thankfulness and hope that all will be well.

My little valentine blessings...

2009-02-23T19:41:00.009-06:00

What a serious post that last one was...whew, thank goodness it's over! No seriously, thanks a BUNCH for all your prayers. We have felt them and definately needed them. Thank you all soooooo much!

On a lighter and sweeter note for a belated Valentine's post, these are a few pics I took with my new camera. Thanks Boo for my awesome Valentine's present!!! :) We love our MMA and the sweet treats it gets us! The pics are totally raw and unedited and still very deep and tell such a story. I hope you enjoy them and know that our family hopes you all had a day full of hugs, kisses, hearts, chocolates, and of course, love!

Here are my lovies...

Natasha, or as I have nicknamed her, Na-Na

Our youngest, and such a blessed addition that adds such sweetness to our lives. Especially her sister's!

Sasha

Not everyone finds her to be so adorable, but she's still my precious baby. All 57 parts!

Sebastian

What to say about him! Our oldest but definately still momma's little man.

Last but not least, the love of my life being his back to normal, goofy fun loving self who manages to steal my heart all over again every day!

Thank you God for giving him back to me :)

Thoughts, Randomness, More Thankfulness.

2009-01-30T15:55:00.004-06:00

This is the second post of the day, and DEFINATELY not the most important so please read below. I have known that I needed to update you all, but to be honest, I haven't had the words to share. Matt and I have so many things going on right now and we have just felt like we shouldn't burden anyone else with the fears and tears, and then those thoughts of selfishness are reinforced when I think of that sweet baby girl Tuesday. What an emotional wreck I am and in the whole sceam of things, probably have no true reason to be.

Matt got a good report on Tuesday when he went in for his "week after operation" doctor's appointment. His arm is healing well and his therapy has begun...

Matt needs prayers. He is struggling so badly with the possibilities this therapy may create, or take away. He has fears of the future and what may or may not still be an intrical part of his life. He is in such pain. Emotionally and physically. He feels like a failure because he can't work and provide for his family like the man is thought to do. I've never seen him at such a low part in his life and it brings me to tears on a daily basis.

I need prayers. I need to be a strong wife and companion for him now. I am trying so hard, but I feel like I am failing him everytime I cry. I don't do it in front of him, but does he see it anyway? Can he feel it in my heart when he craves to just simply cuddle and that simple task, one of our favorite pasttimes, is so much harder than it has ever been? I know this is so much harder for him than me but yet I feel as though its just too much for me.

More Thankfulness. How do you thank people that are so incredibly special you can't even begin to show them how thankful you are for them? How do you tell them their late night "Spontaneous Pick Matt's Spirits Up Nights" are what you live for now and it's all because of them? How do you tell them their weeky meal nights have been what is keepig you going? How do you tell them that their totally unending friendship is what you have needed for so long to feel complete and whole? How do you just simply say Thank You and KNOW, to the deepest parts of your soul, that they completely know how thankful you are for them? I don't know that I ever will be able to just simply say Thank You and KNOW, but I am sure going to try. Thank your Chris, Tiffany, Kevin, and Alecia. We love ya'll more than words can say and want you to hear Thank You.

I would never want to leave our families out either, so please know we are oh so thankful for them as well. God knew what families we needed in our lives, and man did he bless us beyond belief. Thank Ya'll and we love you more than words can say.

The tears must stop. My wonderful hubby is calling. I am so blessed and I MUST Thank my God now. It's after the school day, and my other life now begins. I must now put back on the strong face and hide my own fears and tears and head home to Matt. Please pray for us. Please pray for him. We love you all, Katie

Prayers, Strength, and Thanksgiving.

2009-01-30T15:34:00.002-06:00

How nine days in someone's life can change everything. How disease can turn someone's perfect world into a struggle. How 3 siblings can hurt so bad and be too young to understand it all. How one little girl can be so strong and change the world one treatment at a time and yet still not be able to live. How a family can still be thankful for their last few moments.

I know this all seems so random, but the words spoken cannot describe the pain I feel in my heart for this family. Please read their site and PRAY! I'm not going to give up yet because GOD is in this and HE will see it through. Not until HE says It is done will I give up for Tuesday.
http://www.half12.blogspot.com/

Uh, anyone missing something?

2009-01-20T18:30:00.000-06:00

Wow, I couldn't even remember my password to get into this thing :0!!! Yikes, it has been extremely too long! I guess it is safe to say that school has official begun and I am beginning to wonder if I am TOO dedicated?!? Do you think it is possible to be TOO dedicated to your job if it is as important as molding the future of America? Anywho, I have so much to tell you and recap that my heart is starting to race with anxiety because I don't even know where to begin! Yak!!! In a nut shell, life has definately been full of grins, giggles, and fewer headaches than normal :) Although school is crazy busy, and I'm literally spending ALL day at school, from 7 to 7 or 8 everynight, I am REALLY loving this year! I have such an awesome group of kids, a great pair teacher, and a new teacher/friend named Kristen. She was originally from North Dakota but had lived in Chicago for the past 6 years so my nickname for her is Chicago. She has had a really tough time dealing with total culture shocks so it has been nice to be able to be there for her since I wasn't raised in this town either.

*** times passes***
1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks
*** I think about finishing it ***
4 weeks, 5 weeks
***UH OH!!!***
***Attention-We interrupt the waiting game for the much anticipated next post of Katie to inform you that Matthew has earned himself a BROKEN ELBOW!!***

Ok, so gonna have to finish that other draft at a later date. Until then, anyone part of our church family knows that Matthew broke his elbow on January 12. He fell of a ladder at about 12 feet and landed on his right elbow. Surprisingly, concrete doesn't move for a 200 lb. man! We were REALLY blessed that he didn't break something more than his elbow, and THAT we will not soon forget! God is SOOOOO GOOD! Today, January 20th, he had surgery. The radial head, which was holding on by about 1/8 of an inch, was put back together with pins. The doctor said the surgery was a little more extensive than what the xrays showed because when he got in there, he found that Matt's cartilage (spell check?) was shattered. Pieces of it everywhere! There was no saving any of it so it was all cleaned out and the doc had to drill holes into all his bones so that they would create scar tissue to act as cartilage. Because of the lack of cartilage, he faces very possible arthritus and new challenges yet to be seen. The doc said he was bummed to see that when he opened him up :( He will begin therapy next week and will HOPEFULLY only be out of work for 6 weeks. He has done well up until about 30 minutes ago. It is starting to really hurt him and I'm afraid he will be having a long night. Please pray for him because he is worried about the pain, boredom, money, etc. Although I remind him all the time how much worse it could be, it's still hard so PLEASE PRAY!!! Sorry, but I gotta go.... my work has begun! I'll check in later.

What a Week...

2008-07-25T07:14:00.001-05:00

So I know I have a ton of things to catch up on, but right now I need you all to forgive my shortcomings when you think of all the posts I have failed to write, and begin praying for us. Matt and I have just finished one of our ABSOLUTE WORST WEEKS EVER!!! Not because we are having any marital problems, but because he has began having VERY SEVERE panic attacks again! Most of you know that during the last school year Matt was very sick and had many medical appointments and tests. All the tests were normal which lead the doctors to believe that he was having anxiety attacks. This was very hard for me to believe since my husband is NEVER anxious about anything and I drive him crazy when I am, but none the less, the doc put him on medicine to help control the attacks. Apparently they were right about the attacks (I guess that's why we pay them the big bucks) and all has been fabulous and we were able to enjoy much of the last few months. Well, about two months ago, Matt decided he didn't need the meds, he has ALWAYS been weird about meds, he HATES to take them!!! So, those of you who know how medicines work, they come out of your system good in about two months and guess what this week is! Wow, these attacks have hit him HARD!!! They started a little on Sunday afternoon but the major kicker that started this whole week off was when we went to the movies Monday night to see the new batman movie and with thirty minutes left in the show, we had to leave! The attack was so bad we didn't get to sleep til about 2 am and that is only because I forced him to take some medicine to knock him out. To make a long story short, the attacks have continued pretty much NONSTOP through out the week and he is unable to take his medicine everytime, so alot of the time he just has to deal with these awful feelings. Needless to say, he is scared, hurting, exhausted, etc. Since he is all of these things, I am naturally also scared, hurting, EXHAUSTED, etc. Not to mention he hasn't been able to work alot this week, which doesn't help our other stressors, and I have one week before school starts and desperately need to be working as well but he won't let me leave him with fear he will have another attack and something bad happen. And then, we aren't getting hardly any sleep because his worst attacks are at night which leads to: he fights his body to not take the medicine, he takes the medicine and knocks himself out, and I continue to lie awake for hours checking on him every five minutes because he has working himself up so bad that I am scared to death, and we begin the next day NEEDING SLEEP!! Anyway, EVERY SINGLE DAY has been like this during this lovely week, so we are asking for some major prayers from the prayer warriors out there!!! Please pray that his maintenance medicines will kick back in soon so the attacks will stop and that he can learn to control these feelings when an attack happens. Also, that I can continue to be strong for him and that both of us can survive this exhaustion we are feeling. We need prayers so badly and we hope you all will say a little prayer everytime you think about us! Thank you all so much for letting me have an outlet that I can share my life, you all are the greatest!!!

*Side note, I owe my mom a Happy Birthday post and I hope to get to that soon! Wow, I have alot to do...

Wind Damage...Going once, going twice, gone...

2008-07-11T22:05:00.005-05:00

...to 1210 Kingston Garden Road!!!

Well everyone, I know I haven't posted in a while, with vaction and school work standing between me and my beloved blogging world, so I promise I will be posting very soon, but I thought I would write a quick post to let you all know a little tid bit of my life as of tonight. As those of you who live in Prattville may know, we had some pretty string storms come through around 6:00 p.m. tonight. Well, by about 6:30, Matt and I had a pine tree from our neighbor's yard fall across our power line into our front yard, and one of our pine trees in the backyard fall across our fence into the neighbor's yard. Then we watched and PRAYED, as another tree, which belongs to the Powell's who own the land behind our house, began swaying towards our dining room. Let me add at this point, I believe that tree we watched swaying and leaning towards our home, is about 60 feet tall and would have been heading straight towards us!!! Thankfully, God told that tree to stay put and it didn't fall! whew!!!! So, to make a long story short, for the meantime, our house looks like a disaster area with trees and limbs laying EVERYWHERE and we will be cutting up trees, fixing fences, HOPEFULLY getting power back, and hauling off debri tomorrow, so please be thinking about us while you enjoy your Saturdays!!!

I will be back with pics, funny stories about our fabulous Alabama Power Company (this was said with pure sarcasum), and the latest info on our newest spur-of-the-moment home improvment! Also look forward to hearing about what has been going on with us since our last post in June... there's ALOT to tell :)

***Oh yeah, for those of you who may be worried about our baby girls who spend their days in our backyard that now has a ginormous pine tree lying across it, they are fine!!! Thankfully, we had put them up in their crates when it first started raining and I know God had his hand in that because Natasha specifically, would not be here right now! The tree landed where she always takes her naps!!! :0

***Oh, and if you need us, call our cells because we are without power, for WHO KNOWS HOW LONG because they cut our power lines, and we are staying at Allen and Lynne's!! Sorry, got lots of rambling thoughts going on. Who can blame me right? hehe

Griffies Gazette

2008-06-20T18:41:00.008-05:00

** Another post was done below this one and it is the "special one," so be sure to check it out too!!!

So, as many of you have noticed and wondered, I haven't been able to be on here quite as much as I used to. That is because, I am smack dab in the middle of AMSTI training for school. It has been ALL of this week, and ALL of next week!!! and WOW am I tired!!! After not doing anything but blogging for 2 weeks ;), it is hard to get back in the swing of things.

Anywho, I'm going to try to go down the list of recent news to catch you all up on our life full of grins and giggles, so here they are....

1. I was in charge of Crafts at VBS and that was June 8-11. Had fun and ALOT of help!! Thanks to all my friends who were helpers!!!

2. My boo's job has changed, can I say, AGAIN!!!! He is now back at the commisary until 3:00 everyday (which he hates ALOT) and then goes to Gold's Gym until ? (which he only hates a LITTLE)! So, please continue to pray for him that he will have a professional door open for him soon!

3. AMSTI training, as I've previously stated, is this week and next. It is fun, but ALOT to take in which leaves me many days exhausted and with a headache. Along those same lines, we have to have LCD projectors for each of our classrooms to make these new leassons understandable, so I am calling business after business trying to get one donated, so if you know people, please help me out!!!

4. On Wednesday, I noticed there was a puddle of water under the cabinet where my saltwater aquarium is. After investigating, I found my 12 gallon nano was leaking. My thoughts, FABULOUS (but VERRRRRY sarcastically)!!! So yesterday, after my training, I was going nonstop until 10:30 p.m. getting stuff that I would need to transfer my creatures and fix my tank. Once creatures had been moved, I began looking for the leak so that I could seal it, and wouldn't you know, IT WOULDN'T LEAK!!! I kept putting H2O in their and NOTHING!!! So, after frustration set in, I went to sleep and decided I would just seal the whole thing tomorrow. I left the tank outside to dry because I couldn't seal it if the tank was wet, and wouldn't you know I found the leak today! In fact, it turned out to be a tiny crack at the bottom (which could have been fixed) but in our beautiful sunshine, that tiny crack ran ALL THE WAY UP THE SIDE!!! Needless to say, the tank can now, NOT be fixed!!! So, I'm in the process of getting a new tank before my sea babies die! :( This is a task because saltwater tanks are EXPENSIVE when you have corals, and guess what, I HAVE CORALS!!! Yet another lovely thing the devil is throwing at us while we're down, but it's going to be ok!!!

5. Lastly, and the most fun, I have been playing with my camera and decided I would try some things out on Sebastian in a little photo shoot. That was interesting enough in itself, but just about all of them turned out REALLY good! I love creative stuff and have always been intrigued by photographers, and maybe, after these pics, I'm turning out to be one myself!!! What do you think?

These are a few of my faves...

Remeber to read my other post, dated june 15, and then leave me some comments :)

"I'm sorry baby, I tried..."

2008-06-15T16:46:00.000-05:00

...Those were the words of my father as he walked me down the aisle on May 20, 2006. I had told him for months that he couldn't cry on my wedding day because I knew I would lose it, but there were the words, followed by the tears, so sweet and tender from my daddy.

This is one of the many memories I have with my daddy. Everytime I am with him, I just soak up the moments because they are so precious in my heart. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful father on this earth and I believe God knew exactly who I needed as a father to follow after, learn from, pray with, and most importantly, love unconditionally. My daddy is truly one of my best friends and I am so thankful for him!

As his Father's Day present, I had the honor of taking my daddy to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and watching Scot Bruces' Elvis Tribute; His Early Years. We enjoyed our time together so much!!! We laughed, clapped, sang, and at one point, we even enjoyed a dance with one another!!! It was a spectacular evening together and we decided at the end, we should make this a yearly event. I will be looking forward to next year's special time with my dad and to another memory I will store in my heart, just as I have done with this Father's Day!! I Love You Daddy!!!

* I had hoped to receive the pictures from that night at the ASF so that I could share them with you all, but they still have not been sent to me and I figured I shouldn't wait much longer on them considering this post is already a week late! ;)

A Prayer Answered...

2008-06-11T10:28:00.004-05:00

So, this is the second post for the day, and not the one I was talking about at the end of the first one, so be sure to read down below this one for the first post of the day and still look for the special post that will be coming up soon, probably tomorrow! Hope you're not too confused ;)

Anyway, many of you know the awful stress my husband and I have been going through with his new job, so this morning, I went to begin my day as always for the past few months, what I thought would be another sad, depress filled day, and went to read my emails hoping that I had received some pictures I am waiting for. I hate checking emails so I don't do it often, but I guess God planned it just right so that I would be looking for those pics and happen to read the others sent to me as well. I had seen yesterday that Lynne had sent me this email, again I was checking for those pics, but I was so busy yesterday that I just waited to read it, yet agian, God had his hand in all this knowing that I apparently needed to read it another day! So, as you might have guessed, I read that email from Lynne today. I don't know if it is the stress I'm under that made this email so touching, the struggles I have been having thinking my prayers were not being answered, or the thought that I have let the devil control my life these past few months with such stress and worry, but whatever it was, God, through the hands of my wonderful mother-in-law (I owe her so much right now), has touched my life today and told me to "let go!" He knows my needs, fears, and worries so much better than I and He HAS and IS answering so many prayers for me and I just needed a wake-up call to see them so clearly. It's ironic to me that I have always tried to live by the saying, "It's the little things," but with this, I have missed so many "Little Things" that God was trying so hard to show me. I have missed Him so many times lately, and I don't want to miss Him anymore!!! I'm not going to let the devil hold me back for even one more second of another day because I have wasted sooooooo many the past few months and I know that GOD is so diappointed in me. That breaks my heart to hurt my heavenly father and I'm NOT going to anymore!!! I WILL NOT miss another "little thing" and my new prayer will now be for more "little things!"

Well everyone, I have got to stop crying before I make myself sick, so I am going to copy that special email for you now, and I hope it brings as much to you as it has to me today. Please know that if you are worrying about something just as I have been doing lately, that GOD is here and right in the middle of so many "Little Things," and that all we need to do is now look for them! If you feel comfortable, and need to share a worry you have been carrying, with all the people that love you most, please feel free to leave a prayer request under the comments because we have ALOT of prayer-warriors out there that would love to pray for you, and I ask that you pray for me to continue on this new path I have started today!!! I love you all and I hope you will see HIM alot today! Please enjoy the email...

Resist Discouragement by Rick Warren

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV) *** *** *** ***

If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is NOT a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come – yet – that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer, or that he’s forgotten you, or that he doesn’t care about you.

It simply means “not yet!”

Spiritual maturity is knowing the difference between “No” and “Not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37 NIV). The delay may be a test of your patience.

Anybody can be patient once. And, anybody can be patient twice. And, just about anybody can be patient three times. So God tests you patience over and over and over.

Why? To see how patient you are? No, he does it to show you how patient you are. So you’ll know what’s inside of you, and you’ll be able to know your level of commitment.

God tests you so that you can know he is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed. If you’re discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience.

You may be going through difficult times right now and feel like dropping off the planet. You’re discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair. It may seem unbearable and inside you’re basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I just can’t take it anymore!”

But you can. You can stay with it longer because God is with you. He’ll enable you to press on.

Remember, you are never a failure until you quit.

Don’t quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set before you.

I'm headed to the chapel, and she's going to get married...

2008-06-11T09:07:00.003-05:00

Well, Heather's wedding is this Saturday on June 14 so I will be heading to Dothan on Thursday night to get ready for the festivities. We have the bridesmaids' brunch on Friday @ 9:30 am so that was just way to early for me to drive down on Friday considering it takes about 2 hours. So, please be praying for my safe trip and that Heather's wedding will be all she has dreamed of. Matthew will also be driving down on Friday so pray for my wonderful hubby as well. I wanted to go ahead and post this info so that I can enter one more post of more important stature b4 I leave tomorrow :) Have a great Wednesday all!!!

Memoir and HELP NEEDED!!!

2008-06-07T09:26:00.010-05:00

So, I'm completing my memoir in this post, but I am also asking for your help...PLEASE be sure to read the part in pink because at this point, I think I am in fear of my life and most importantly, MY SANITY!!!

Jenny tagged me to write my 6-word memoir…..She is just too funny and this was too fun...

This idea came from the book by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser called Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. The book is a compilation that is based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his entire life in just six words.

His words? For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

My six words:
Dreams came true with "I Do"

Well, instead of one pic, how about ALL of our wedding pics?!?! Can I get a YOU ROCK?!?

Follow the link, scroll down til you see Matt and Katie, type in the password which is katiewedding, and ENJOY!

http://web.sendtoprint.net/proofbook/galleries.asp?CouponID=kbox@knology.net

Also, if you have a favorite and you think I should purchase it considering I still have NO (aka: None, not one, zero, ziltch, etc.) wedding pictures in my house, then come back here and leave me a comment with the pic numbers you choose. I am having a REALLY TERRIBLE time deciding on pics, my family has been on my back for two years now, I have an appointment NEXT WEEK to finally decide and order the pics, but I am STILL unable to decide and NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF HELP from my blogger friends!!! So a comment for the thoughts in my mind... "My family and husband will be so thankful, and I won't have to stress so much about choosing the wrong pics because I'll have a consensus for the best ones from my friends who want me to have the best pics ever and my OCD won't kick in so bad because they will be helping you choose the pics and you won't ANALYZE EVERY single one anymore!! (whew, that was alot at one time) Hehe, I love this idea!!"

So please, get to looking at pics, comment with your choices of favorite shots, and help me create my fabulous wedding album finally after 2 years!!!

I Tag:
1) Kelli Burbage
2) Lynne Griffies
3) Susan Griffies
4) Kristy Gray
5) Stephanie Sherwood

Have fun ladies and please leave another comment, other than the picture one, so we can go check it out. And, if you were not tagged and want to do it anyway that is great too. Just leave a comment and let us know so we'll check it out!

Have fun everyone and don't forget to pick a plenty of priceless pictures!!!

Heather's Bachelorette Party

2008-06-03T16:13:00.015-05:00

Well, as I've said before, I headed down to Panama City Beach (PCB) on Saturday and returned on Sunday for a bachelorette party for Heather. Her wedding is June 14, so this was her last time to have some good wholesome girl-time fun before the lovely "I Do's." Her maid of honor, Courtney, did an awesome job putting this together and it really turned out to be a blast. So, let me take you through my trip from start to finish...

I left Prattville at 11:30 and completed my trip, in front of the condo, @ 4:00 p.m. At this time you ask yourself, why did it take so long for Katie to get there? Well, your answer is PCB has WAY TOO MANY BEACH ROADS!!! I've never seen such chaos-front beach road, middle beach road, back beach road, etc. It's insanity!!! So, needless to say, I got a little lost and had to depend on one of the girls, Abby, to get me there. Finally, once I arrived, got off my sore marshmellow (that's what my students and I call our bottoms), POTTIED (whew, can I get a RELIEF!), and changed into my swimmin' suit, we layed out on the beautiful beach.

Around 5:30ish, we headed back up to the condo to get ready for supper and our activities! After a couple of hours with hairspray, make-up, and we all had our turn at the infamous straightener, we had our final products...

Meet the bridesmaids and their bride...

Abby, Courtney, Bride: Heather, Katie, Kelly, Me

*4 bridesmaids were unable to join our fun this weekend :(

So after taking some pics and decorating Heather in her blinking crown and sash (seen above), we headed to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville where we recieved some of the funniest quotes of the night, the best one being, "Don't do it, you're too young!" We laughed and cut-up as poor Heather was stared @ for the entire evening. Once we were seated, a man on stilts came and created Abby and Katie some lovely balloon hats, and as he stated, "This is a bachelorette party without any entertainment? I'll be your entertainment," he proceeded to do a little dance which was truly hilarious considering he was 12 feet in the air!

Sorry, I didn't get a pic of the dance, but this shows how high he was...

Abby and her parrot hat...

Katie and her hat of a set of lips with a tongue sticking out...

R.I.P. Katie's hat... although a nice hat, it did not make it through the dinner time due to Katie's abilities to make each little section pop without even meaning too.

After the mile high entertainment, we swallowed our meals whole because it was 9:30 and we were STARVING! I think most of us had the infamous "Cheeseburgers in Paradise." They were ok, but they had some serious spices on them, so if you like that kind of thing, you need to try it out the next time you head to Margaritaville. Once the meal was over, we went out for a little while so that Heather could complete her "Bridal Scavenger Hunt." This was definately an interesting part of the night where we were able to meet the young, the VERY old, the, can I say in a nice way, grose, and unusual people of PCB. But, we are all aware that somethings at a bachelorette party are not to be repeated for Heather's sake, so we will just move on from there...

We then went back to the condo where Heather was presented with a dessert that portryed her future, but yet again, something we have to keep a secrect (I'm zipping my lips)!

This is the face of delight we received with her cake...

After a little bit more time, we headed to bed and the rest of the trip slowly came to an end as I slept, woke up, and headed home around 10:30 a.m. At this time, you recap the trip down and think, "So did she make it back without getting lost?" The answer... YES!!! And the funny thing is, Abby and the girls sent me back using back roads and I did better with that than HWY 231 the entire trip down. I guess that's the country girl in me!! Well, we had an awesome trip and I am so glad I was able to be there for Heather. Now, the stress begins where we wait for June 14, the wedding day, try to fit in our dresses, and... wait a minute, we still don't have our dresses do we? YIKES!!!

(pray they will come in soon because chunky buns here is going to have to have alterations I'm sure)

Anyway, let me breathe a sec...ok, panic attack is gone... Thanks for an awesome time Heather and you are truly a great friend and I look forward to your beautiful wedding!!! I love you girl!!!

Myself and Heather

*FYI for those of you who don't know, Heather was also in my wedding so it's really special to also be in her's!

Home Sweet Home

2008-06-01T21:26:00.003-05:00

You guessed it! I'm back! Quick trip right? Yeah, tell me about it. Left P'ville Saturday @11:30 and returned to P'ville Sunday @ 2:00. It was a long drive there and back (3.5 to 4 hours ONE way, to be exact) but I really enjoyed my time there. Anyway, I'm working on the post with the pics from my few hours in PC, Florida but as you can imagine, I'm exhausted at this point and need SLEEP! LOTS and LOTS of SLEEP! So, stay tuned for some funny pics! Oh, and did I mention Matt will be posting about how excited he was to have me home?!? hehe I LOVE THAT MAN!!!!!

Fun in the Sun but sad at home...

2008-05-31T09:18:00.004-05:00

So, I'm headed to the beach for my friend who is getting married in two weeks, but being the only one already married, I'm having to leave my boo behind. Not only do I have to leave him behind, but all my furry babies and that could end up being interesting! :) So, be thinking about me as I'm having fun in the sun and my poor hubby who has to stay behind. Pictures will follow so be sure to check back on Monday!!!

We're trying to get there...

2008-04-27T10:03:00.000-05:00

Well, for all you bloggers out there, I have been trying to get Matt and me a blog going for about a month now, and I am finally out for the summer and have a little bit more time to work on it more faithfully, but it's a little frustrating because I want to do all the creative stuff myself and that is a little more difficult to do when you just have to "trial and error," so hang on for the ride because it could get interesting!!! :)