Another year has come and gone...

Well hello there!  Christmas has come and gone this year.  Why did it have to go by so fast?  :(  I love christmas time, just not all the decisions that go with it.  haha.  I love spending time with family, I just wish each family did it on separate days instead of all in one day.  :)  Right now it's not really a big deal but when and if we ever have children, it's not gonna be fun.

The Peach family was sad b/c we were told that our youngest sister was NOT coming into town for Christmas.  She wasn't here for Thanksgiving and now we were gonna miss her on Christmas.  Well....we got a surprise on our annual christmas eve morning breakfast!  She was there with her lovely husband.  Walking in to the restaurant I was pretty sure that was their car and it even had Ohio tags on it.  So when we walked to the table and she was there....it was a nice surprise!  :)  I love nice little surprises.

After breakfast, we visited Grandma Peach and Aunt Sissy.  That was the first time they saw Chandler so that was nice.  Chandler is 3 months already!  She's growing fast!  We spent a little time with them and then we did our own thing til dinner time.  Jason and I had originally planned on having dinner with his family but Jason was very kind to offer to go to Cyndi's since Connie was in town.  I feel horrible that we canceled on them but Connie is never here anymore.  I'm glad I got to spend some time with them on Christmas eve and Christmas day.

Christmas day was good.  We woke up and got ready and went to the Frankum's for breakfast.  Oh, we woke up to Snow, which apparently hasn't happened since 1993 here.  So that was awesome!!!  We spent time with the Frankums and watched a movie on their new Blu ray player.  :)  Then is was off to Nana's.  Nana's is always around lunch time on thanksgiving day and christmas day.  It's the entire Gambill side (my mom's sisters and brothers and my cousins).  It's kinda hard to change that since it's been that way since who knows how long.  But I love it.  Nana and Papa decided to let us go shopping in their house this year.  They are trying to get rid of things that they no longer need and so we got to go around the house and collect things we wanted.  WEIRD!!  Yes, I know!  But it was kinda cool.  There were things that I never knew were there.  She has a book collection that I really liked.  Each book is a different artist and it shows their work.  Anyways, christmas at Nana's was a little weird but it was good!

Then we were off to feed the cats and give Sammie a bath.  We wanted to take her with us to my parents house b/c she had been in her kennel all day but she smelled bad so we gave her a bath.  Our neighbor across the street asked us if we'd feed her cats while she was gone for Christmas so we needed to do that as well.  We were home just long enough to do those things and then if was off to my parents house.  It was all very enjoyable.  Christmas was wonderful this year!  Now it's time to take down the decorations but I just don't want to.  haha.  It took me so long to put them up, I just don't feel like taking them down yet.

Well this year my sisters and I decided instead of exchanging gift cards or gifts, we would just spend some time together. So we got pedis and then had lunch and went to a movie on Monday.  The only downfall about that for me was that I had the stomach bug.  It's now Tuesday and I feel a LOT better but still not 100%.  So I went with them to get a pedi and I've been wanting one for soooo long now.  Yay!! Then I tried to eat something but it did not go so well.  I told them to have fun at the movie b/c I couldn't make it.  :(  But I did have fun with the that morning.  They also all got together last night but Jason and I both had the stomach bug and were not up for anything!  It was not FUN!!!  He has gone back to work today and I don't go back to work til Thursday.   I just hope our dog won't get sick from us.  She tends to get sick easily.  So hopefully she won't get sick.  haha.

Well, I've written a chapter in a book now...I guess I'll let you be.  Thanks for reading!  3 more days of 2010 and then on to 2011!!!!!!!!!!

20 Questions

I'm bored and found this post on a friend's blog so I thought I'd join in the fun.

1. How often do you go over the speed limit?  Usually every time I drive.  I try to stay around the SL but if I do speed, it's within 5 to 10 miles over.  Shhhh!

2. Do you dance like crazy when no one is looking?  Haha...wouldn't you like to know!  Yes but not often.  Maybe every once in a while when a good song comes on the radio or something.

3. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, which movie, and which CD would you take with you?  The bible so I could always read God's word. Movie is a hard one...I LOVE movies.  Maybe Blackbeard's Ghost or Big Business b/c they remind me of my sisters.  CD would be a CD full of my husbands voices and music.  

4. What did you get in trouble for when you were a kid?  probably being a meanie...or talking back.

5. What really gives you the creeps?  noises that I don't know where they are coming from...and men who just look creepy.  

6. What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?  I LOVED art/stationery supplies.  I'm serious.  I once made a house out of paper just b/c I could.  haha.  Loved tape and scissors.  But other than that, I loved cabbage patch kids and the wuzzles.

7. You run into a friend while shopping. Where are you?  Walmart probably or Kroger.  haha

8. When you fall asleep, are you usually on your side, your stomach, or your back?  Usually on my side...

9. If fat or calorie intake wasn't an issue, what one food would you eat the most?  Bread or Cheese.

10. If you could hire one of the following, which one would it be? Driver, chef, maid, or stylist?  Man, that's a hard one.  I mean, I would love a chef b/c obviously they are really good and you wouldn't have to cook all the time.  A driver would be nice b/c sometimes I just really don't want to drive.  A maid b/c I HATE cleaning but LOVE a clean house.  A stylist b/c I never have the energy or time to do anything but the same old same old.  Man, I'm gonna have to say.....  a Chef. 

11. What movie have you watched the most?  I watch movies ALL the time.  I'd have to say Hocus Pocus, Blackbeard's Ghost, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, Big Business....the list goes on but these are a few I can think of now. 

12. What kind of perfume do you wear?  Body by Victoria or Romance. Usually Body though.  

13. What was your favorite sitcom growing up?  Full House or Saved by the Bell.  Love them both and can still watch the re-runs all the time.  :)

14. What were you doing the last time you had a really good laugh? Oh, I can't remember.  I know I have sometime recently but can't remember.  That's no good...I need a really good laugh!!!!

15. What was the very first concert you ever attended? Can't remember...probably a Vince Gill concert or some other country singer.  My mom LOVES country and she would take us to concerts when we were younger.  :)  As a teen without my parents, probably No Doubt/Weezer concert.  Although I didn't stay for either of those two bands b/c we had grass seats at Starwood and it was storming really bad.  We ( Cyndi, Matt and myself) were drenched when we got back to the car.

16. Who is the fourth person on your missed call list? My Daddy!

17. How long does it take you to get ready in the mornings? Depends...usually an hour though.  If needed, I can be ready in about 25-30 minutes.  Of course my hair is still wet.

18. When is the last time you went to the mall, and what did you buy? Wow, I can't remember the last time I went to the mall.  I don't go unless I need something that is only offered at the mall.  It was probably clothes the last time I went or a cookie..haha.  Gotta love The Great American Cookie Store.  :-)

19. Ever go to camp? Yup.  It is odd for me to hear of a child who never went or goes to camp.  Of course I was always at church camp and it only lasted a week out of the summer.  I've been since I was 7 years old to my knowledge.  LOVE church camp...I've also been as a counselor and love it too.  :)

20. Do you collect anything? Old Cameras, Cards and letters from friends and family

Well, there you go.  I'm tired now but that's b/c it's late and I should be in bed.  haha.  Hope you enjoy this post!

2 wonderful years!

Well, Jason and I have been married for two years.  It's official!  I can't believe it's been 2 years and I hope that one day I can say, I can't believe it's been 40+ years and so on.  God has been great and he is definitely a big part of our marriage.  God has blessed our lives with SOOO many things that I would be on here forever typing about them.  I mean the simplest things like laughter.  I LOVE to laugh and Jason can make me laugh or giggle.  That's the best!  I love when he tickles my funny bone and all I can do is giggle like a little girl.  It's quite ridiculous sometimes.  haha.  But God is Good and I thank him everyday for our relationship.  Thanks Jason for always being there when I needed you and for always loving me!  I love you!

10 year High School Reunion

Well, it's official!  I have been out of high school 10 years!

I can't believe it's been 10 years...I feel so old.  haha.  The plans for our reunion went as follows: Friday night - Decades downtwon; Saturday afternoon - Arrington Vineyards to socialize/eat lunch; Saturday night - Wildhorse Salon downtown. I kinda wanted to go to the Wildhorse but I just didn't feel like paying $55 for somewhere I've been a hundred times.  Although, I've seen a couple pics of the event and kinda wished I had been there.  A lot of people could not make it to the vineyards but did make it to the Wildhorse.  I would of enjoyed hanging out with those people and catching up.  But it's okay.  There's facebook right?  :)

The reunion went well, I think, and I am glad that it's kinda over.  I would love to get together with some old friends again, that was definitely the highlight of the event.  It was definitely a great day for the vineyard as well.

I don't know if you are familiar with the Arrington Vineyards but one of the owners is Kix Brooks, from Brooks and Dunn( a country band).  I knew this and was telling my husband, Jason, on the way there.  I said that he was part owner and that he might be there.  He said that he would not be there b/c why would someone like that be there on a day like this.  We get there and greet everyone with a simple open hello wave.  We kinda say hi to a few peps and then find a spot to sit to eat our lunch we brought.  As we are eating and as I'm saying hello to the people who show up, I notice this guy in the background kinda talking to some people.  Then I notice that he is taking a lot of pics with different people.  I was curious and looked at him and realized, that's Kix Brooks.  He was there pretty much the whole time we were there, I think.  He left right before we did and was headed back at 5 for the jazz band that was coming later.  I kinda would of enjoyed staying for that.  I looked them up online and they sounded pretty awesome.

The guy in the back, the black top with yellow stripes is Kix Brooks.  I would of gotten a better pic of him where you can actually tell that it's him but I really didn't care much.  I was just looking through my few pics I took and saw this.  I found it quite humorous that Jason said he wouldn't be there.  We talked about it on the way to my aunt and uncles house and he said, well I didn't think about it but it's a pretty day today so the odds are that he would be there.  He's so funny.  I enjoyed it!  He is usually right (a lot of the time but not all the time) so I totally was soaking it all up that I said he might be there and he was.

It was a great day for a reunion.  It was very pretty and I'd love to go visit up there again.  :)  Here are the few pics I took.  I was shy and didn't take many....me shy? I know.  haha

God Is Great!!!

So I am at the beach this week with the Frankum family and I am having the exact issue I had with mine...privacy!  haha.  I just need some space sometimes BUT I am having a blast.  I have never been to this beach before and I love it!  It's pretty...and I love the dunes.  I don't remember seeing so many dunes.  Love it!  I haven't been to the beach everyday but there are so many things to do that I have never done before (or remember doing).  Like Lighthouses, I've never really seen one up close before or maybe even in person.  I can't remember.  Jason, Rob and I walked up the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on Monday...all 257 steps up and down.  It was so pretty up top.  :)  The only other two 'tower' type things I've climbed like that is the duomo in Florence and the leaning tower of Pisa.  Both were hard but I'm pretty sure the duomo was a little more difficult than the lighthouse.  haha.  Don't get me wrong, I definitely had to rest on my way up and down but it was worth it!  :)  I love seeing things from up above and being able to see the land.  It's so wonderful.  :-)  The ocean is HUGE and it always reminds me how God is in Everything!

I just need prayers right now for my future.  I love photographey and I love taking pictures, I just feel like others don't like my work.  I feel like I need to be a step above where I'm at now.  I need more practice and more equipment/tools.  Sometimes I get a little discouraged at how many of my own family and friends don't use me to take their photos.  :(  I do take it personal, especially when it's family.  I know that there are a LOT of others out there that can do just the same, if not better than what I can do.  So I completely understand them using others.  It just hurts sometimes.  I don't have photo software where I can play with the pictures and adjust them to where people would like them more.  But to me, if you have to do that, it defeats the purpose.  Ansel Adams is one of my all time favorites.  He worked his butt off in the dark room for AMAZING prints and it shows.  Did he use techniques to improve his photo, sure.  But back then when you didn't have digital, you HAD to get a great shot the first time b/c trying over and over again was very expensive!!!  Anyways, I'm going off on my soap box.  I just need encouragement I guess.  I feel like I get way too many negatives comments and I guess that means I suck.  So I need to change and get better I guess.  I need the patience and practice and time and money.  Prayers do help and I guess I just need to get better all around.

Summer 2010

So Summer started for me back in May.  The last week in May was my first week to work Summer Camp. Granted, it was the first week so it was kinda rocky.  But after tomorrow, we will have finished 4 weeks of camp.  There are only 10 weeks total all summer.  I can't believe it's mid-June. REally.?!?  Some of the kids at summer camp are a little nerve racking.  I work with the group 1st - 6th grade.  That meaning the ones who just completed those grades.  I usually work with the 1st - 3rd grades and usually love it. I mean there are some that get on my nerves but there are going to be kids in all age brackets like that.  But these older kids, the ones who just completed 5th or 6th grade have an attitude problem.  I couldn't teach that age group.  Although, they are old enough to know what to do.  Anyways, there is this one kid who gave me a bad first impression and ever since, it's hard not to blow up at the kid.  I know I know.  Luckily he's not there every day.  I need to relax and start over with this kid.  He didn't know the rules the first day but there is just something about him.  I'm gonna try my best to forget the past and start over with him.  :-)  That's what I should do, I just hope I do it.  haha.

Well, out of those 10 weeks, I need 2 of them off.  I'm finally going back to Camp this year.  I've missed the last two years and it's killed me.  I loved camp and that first year I didn't go was so hard.  It got easier and I don't like that.  But since I'm not working retail, I can kinda do what I want, when I want.  I love it.  I know I need to respect the school and all but it's just easier than retail.  That's all.  So I'm going to church camp and this year we are choosing to go to a different camp.  Camp Hargis,  a YMCA camp in Alabama. It will be interesting but I'm excited about it.  :)  The next week I'm taking off is the last week of summer camp and it's for a BEACH trip with the Frankum family.  I'm actually excited about it!!  It will be our first trip together EVER.  All 8 of us will be going to Waves, NC in July.  It's gonna be HOT but I don't care.  I'm excited and can't wait.  I've never been to the Outer Banks in North Carolina so I'm super pumped.  Jason and his family used to go when he was younger and Jason is probably the reason we are going back.  Well that and the fact that the Gulf is covered in Oil right now.  I know not all of the gulf is covered but anyways.  Jason is super excited about the trip too.  He doesn't get excited about many things but he's mentioned more than twice how excited he is about the beach.  He's so cute when he gets excited.  hehe.  So that's my summer in a whole.  Not much to it but that's what summer is all about, right?

I'm 28!

In 2 years I will be 30! Crazy!  I've been married for almost 2 years.  Where does the time fly to?

I can't believe that Connie and Bryan's one year is coming up real soon.  Two weeks from today, actually!  WOW!  I'm glad they are happy.  Connie got a job in Ohio!  YAY!!!  She's going to be a 2nd grade teacher again.  That's what she wanted and that's what she's getting.  That's so exciting!  I'm happy for her. :-)

But I'm excited to be in my twenty's and to be married.  Married life is hard sometimes but it's a blessing!  I still can't believe Jason asked me to marry him.  I confirmed bachelor and I turned his thinking around.  I love him with all my heart and I know he loves me too.

At the age of 28, I have 3 nieces, one from Jason's side and two from my side.  One little girl is on her way.  She'll be joining us in September hopefully.  So I'll have 4 nieces.  Lovin' 'em.  My sisters are all married.   On Jason's side his oldest sister is married and the younger one is still in college ( the baby).   So all together I have 5 sisters, 4 brother-in-laws and 3 nieces.  I love each and everyone of them in their own way!  Jason's parents and my parents along with Debbie's parents and my mom's parents are all still alive.  My dad's mom is still alive but we never see her.  She's hanging in there though.  I have a BIG family and I am very blessed to be apart of it all.  I thank God for each and every one of them.  I'm so blessed.  I have friends too that love me and I love them.  Thank you each one of you who are apart of my life.  I love you and will always love you, no matter if we still talk or not.

Beach Trip with Peach Family

Wow, time has flown since I've been on here.  I can't believe it's mid June already.

I can't even remember April and what happened there but May came around.  Cyndi and Matt decided a while ago to take a beach trip.  So they planned it and whomever could join them, could.  Well, I was fortunate to be able to go so we left on May 1.  Yes, May 1st.  I woke up and got ready and packed my car around 6.30 a.m. or a little before and headed to my parents house.  I rode with them since Jason wasn't able to join us.  :(  While packing my car, I was afraid that it was going to POUR on me.  It held off.  I get to my parents house and unload to reload in their car.  It still held off.  Then right around the time we were getting in the car, it started to sprinkle.  We stopped at Sonic on Harding Rd. and got a drink and snack for the road.  It started POURING down on us.  The rain was coming down hard.  I was in the back seat while my parents were talking in the front seat.  I could not hear a thing!  It was hitting our car that strongly.  It was so LOUD.  Well we get on the interstate and head 65 south to good old Florida.  It was ridiculous trying to see where we were going.  I am just thankful that we got through it and that I wasn't driving.  I hate driving in bad conditions but can if need be.  I don't remember exactly when it stopped but I remember that we were a little bit before exit 46 which is where we used to get off to see the Kings.  :-)

Thankfully it wasn't as bad anymore on the road for us but it did rain a little bit but now much.  I had heard that we were suppose to get almost a foot and a half that weekend in Nashville but no idea it would be crazy!  We made it to the beach house and got settled in.  We were all hungry so we all went to eat at Goat Feathers.  Weird name but it was recommended to Matt from someone else.  I personally did not enjoy it, especially for the price it was.  I know it's ridiculous when you go out of town but the food wasn't worth what you paid for.  Oh well.  I think some of the others enjoyed it.  I'm not a huge seafood person so I always get the stuff that isn't the speciality.  So that could of been the problem.  Anyways, we come back to the house and go shopping for the week.  In between dinner and store and whatnot, we are hearing about how bad it's gotten in Nashville and how bad the flood is.  It was on the internet and the news.  It blew us away.  We were all amazed at what we were seeing.  I'm just glad that everyone I knew back home, especially Jason, was okay!  :-)

The beach trip including me, mom, dad, Matt, Cyndi, Dylan and Peyton, Mindy, Richard, Katie and Brian.  Katie and Brian and my dad were all planning on leaving on Tuesday but since the flood was going on back home, they stayed one more night.  The weekend we got there it was cloudy.  It was cloudy 'til monday or tuesday.  So I'm glad they got to see the sun before they left.

My poor Jason and his dad, Rob, were at my parents house cleaning up their basement.  It received 3 inches of water and we were of course out of town.  Jason didn't even ask, he just went ahead and cleaned it up so my parents wouldn't have to worry about it after a weeks worth of vacation.  He is such a good man.  He's got a  heart of gold!

I thoroughly enjoyed the time there but missed Jason sooo much.  I used to always want a pool when I went to the beach, and I still like to have one accessible, but I found myself wanting to just sit and read on the beach.  :- )  I didn't want to burn (I burn easily no matter what I put on, although I've found some new sunscreen I really like that works since then) so I sat under the umbrella and relaxed.  It was wonderful!!!!

The girls loved the pool and the beach.  That was the girls first trip to the beach.  They were adorable.  The first time we walked to the beach, I was with dad and he had Dylan on his shoulders.  When we got to the point where she could see the water, she pointed and said,"What is that?"  As an adult, you just don't think about those things.  Even if you've never traveled to the beach, you have seen pictures.  It was so cute!!!  They loved it.  Peyton was more brave about going in without anyone.  But the first few days (the gloomy/cloudy days) the water was to risky to get in.

It was a great trip.  Wonderful home we stayed in.  I would definitely recommend that area of Florida to stay at.  Although, I didn't see many condo high rises where we stayed, which was the Water Color area.  Anyways, I'm glad to back but ready for the next beach trip.  :-)

FLO

So who else out there is a fan of Flo on the Progressive commercials?  I LOVE THOSE COMMERCIALS!!!  I mean, if you know me, you know I laugh or love to laugh.  I love those commercials b/c I ALWAYS laugh when I see them.  When I see a new one, it makes me SUPER happy.  haha....I know they are just a commercial but I love seeing them.  It's the little things in life that count, right?  Most definitely!  :-D

Life sucks sometimes!

I hate when life gets you down sometimes.  I've started watching Braelyn and it's wonderful.  It's scares me to think of having one of my own.  I'm with Jason on the part where he doesn't want to have to deal with the crappy stuff.  haha.  But children are a blessing and maybe (maybe being the key word) one day we'll have our own.

Jason's been busy with work and has been really stressed out lately.  Well he is always stressed but lately it's been worse.  Please say a prayer for my sweet husband.  He needs all the prayers he can get.  So if you're reading this and have some time on your hands, please say a little prayer for Jason and for us.  With him being stressed all the time it's no fun.  I miss seeing the happy Jason.  :-)  Please just keep us in your prayers!  I would and I know he would really appreciate them. Thank You!!!

A different routine starts soon in my life....

So, this coming Monday I will be starting to watch my sweet niece, Braelyn.  I am honored to be able to do this job.  I have been asked from other family members to watch their kids but the circumstances have been different.  I will be able to continue working at Extended care at Ezell.  That is definitely a plus.  I will be able to keep my job as well as take care of Braelyn while Rachel and Daniel work.  :-D  It will only be for this school year though.  :(  But I am glad to be able to help out.  :-)  Rachel and Daniel, I'm looking forward to Monday!  :-)

Spring Break!

So, today is Tuesday, March 16 and I am so tired right now. haha.  I've got so many things to do but don't know when I'll be able to do them all.  I am looking forward to the weekend.  Friday, I get off at 12.30 and I can't wait!!!  I will be relaxing...haha.  I've gotta clean house, hosting a party on Thursday night, need to work on a painting project b/c I want to and need to get it done and then relax.  Working all week during spring break Sucks!  But it will nice getting more hours in.  :)   I said I might get some time during spring break for painting...well we'll see.  I did do some the other day but I'm at a frustrating stage right now.  I'm very particular about my paintings so it's bother me that I can't get it done.  I'm gonna wait on posting any pics of them until it's done.  I'd like to wait and show Rachel and Daniel the paintings when it's done.

So I'm fixin' to leave for dinner at my sisters house.  I'm excited to see how it goes.  :)

boredom

Hello All!  So I'm sitting at home and I'm bored.  I will probably head to bed soon b/c I've gotta be at work by 6:45 a.m.  BOOO!  But it will be good.  :-)


I can't believe it's already March!!!  I'm am blown away.  I started painting Rachel & Daniel's piece back in January and I'm still not even close to being done.  I just haven't had the time.  There was a week or two where I just couldn't get out of bed.  By the time I did, it was just to much to get everything ready and then clean up before work.  SO needless to say, I've got a lot to do still.  I want to do it...I really do...but I'm running out of time.  :(  I mean, I guess there's no time limit but I'd like to get it to them as soon as I can.  ( I definitely could not paint for a living...although, I wouldn't need time for anything else so it might work.  haha)  I have been subbing a lot lately so that is taking my days away from me.  Then nights are crazy.  I've been cooking lately b/c Jason hasn't been feeling well lately.  I've been trying to go to bed sooner than later b/c lately I haven't been sleeping to well.  Life is busy and what do you do when life is busy??  Live with it and enjoy the time God gave you!  I will get back to my painting SOON.  I'm determined.  Next week I am not as yet scheduled to sub at all so that makes me happy.  I might get some time during spring break week but you never know.  So here's hoping to get some time to myself soon and some time with Jason.  I miss him.  He's working like crazy.  And he's getting major migraine's.  No FUN!!!


Side note....I finally got to see Braelyn and I've gotten to see her a lot!  I took Rachel and Braelyn to the doctor yesterday and everything went well.  She gained 8 oucnes which is awesome!!  Go Braelyn!!  Woo Hoo!!  A teacher at Ezell gave Rachel a sweet little dress which was made for a doll.  Yes, a doll!  It fit for the most part.  It was a little snug around the chest and neck area but it looked adorable on her!  I LOVE taking baby photos.  LOVE IT!!!

SUBBING

Subbing....how to describe it!!?!?  CRAZY!!!  haha...j/k!  It's actually not to bad.  My job, before I started to sub, is working at Ezell Harding Christian School with their after school program.  I have to be here from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm.  That is not a long day at all!  It's fun working with the children but some days are definitely better than others.  Well, back in January, I talked to the secretary and asked if they needed more subs for the elementary.  She said I will put you on my list and the very next day she called me to sub for the following day.  The first time was a 1/2 day so I didn't get to school 'til 11:15am.  I would sub and then go to extended.  It wasn't too bad working both.  Well, I subbed a few times since.  Last week I even subbed for my mother-n-law.  Haha.  The kids still had a Mrs. Frankum for a teacher that day.  :-)  The kids at extended call Mrs. Jamie though.  So instead of confusing all the kiddos with two Mrs. Frankum's, I've been telling them they can call me Mrs. Jamie.


Well, last week when we got some snow and ice, the music teacher fell and broke her ankle and had to have surgery.  This was Tuesday last week (2/16).  On Wednesday the secretary asked me if I wanted to sub Thursday and Friday b/c the music teacher is out.  I said sure.  Working an almost 12 hour day is rough.  I get here around 7:30 am and leave after extended which is 'til 6.  Man, those two days last week were rough!  I was not ready to work that long and I was EXHAUSTED!!!  But I'm kinda getting used to it now.  I've already worked Monday and Tuesday of this week and I'm working today, Wednesday.  I'll be working tomorrow, Thursday, and then next week I'll be working Tuesday through Thursday.  I'm glad I can work it and the extra money will definitely be nice.  Since I lost my full time job back in August, it's been a little hard money wise.  But me subbing helps a little bit.  It's not much b/c I'm at a private school but the more days I work, the more money.  Which, I'm not all about the money but we do have a little debt we need to pay off so the more money now will be good.  I give credit to those people out there that usually work a 12 hour day...whether it be a nurse, doctor and even those who work a 24 hour day.  I'm sure those are rough.  More power to you!!!


Like I said, I've been subbing for the music teacher.  I've known music since 5th grade.  5th - 6th grade I played violin.  It was absolutely awesome except my teacher!  Her son was my age and he was VERY mean to me.  She didn't do anything about it either which made me mad.  But anyways, Jr. high (7th-8th) I played the trumpet.  I continued playing the trumpet through my senior year but once I became a freshman, I joined the Pit of the percussion for marching band.  I also played in our Winter Drumline during the spring semester.  It was amazing and i'm glad I did it.  Having said that, high school was pretty much the last time I paid attention.  Jason and I have a piano and I recently started trying to learn some music.  It's been a LONG time since I read the actual notes.  So subbing for music has brought the joys of music back.  I love music and love listening to it but it's also a great joy to be able to play an instrument.


Now as far as subbing for a class all day...that's a little different.  There is one 1st grade class I subbed for for a 1/2 day and it wore me out!!!  Kids today are NOT disciplined like they should be.  Anyways, those are my two cents about subbing. 

Baby Braelyn Mitchell

My baby niece, Braelyn, is finally home.  I'm so excited for her and for Rachel and Daniel.  :-)  I haven't seen her in person yet but Jason and I are going over tonight for dinner.  I can't wait to see that precious sweet baby!!!  What a great weekend to bring her home too.... The weather has been wonderful yesterday and today...I'm lovin' it.  I love this beautiful weather.  Jason and I are doing our own thing today so I've been out and about in the weather.  I went to lunch with my mom and nana and then washed my car b/c it was filthy.  Went to the store and now I'm home with the blinds open enjoying the sunshine shining through.  I'm probably about to go back out to the store again for dinner tonight.  :)  

So my car wash....

I drove by the cheapest one I knew of (which was $3) and it was crowded.  I wasn't really sure how that one worked so I left.  It was one of those where others clean it....I was skeptical about it.  haha.  So I drove down the road to where I knew there was a $5 car wash.  It was crowded...I mean go figure...everyone's cars have salt all over them from the snow.  So I passed another one and went to that one.  The cheapest selection was $4 and I thought that would work.  Well, it didn't want to take my 1dollar bills and it finally took them.  Then the $4 button/option was getting stuck.  SO what do I do, I put my 10 dollar bill in the machine b/c I thought maybe that option wasn't working.  Well, I should of just used my $10 in the first place.  I guess I thought it wouldn't give me change back.  I don't know why....So I have a credit of $14.  I press the other button and it doesn't work either.....CAN'T YOU TELL IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE USED ONE OF THESE THINGS!!  HAHA.....So I press this random button that says "Price Function".  Who would of thought that that is the button to push to get your change.  It says.."$6 in change" and I'm like what?  SOOOOO...I ended paying $8 for a $4 car wash.  DUDE!!!  Don't tell Jason!!  haha.  I just didn't feel like doing it myself this time....b/c when I wash a car, I get filthy myself from washing the dumb car.  haha.  Oh well....learned my lesson on that machine.  I'll know better next time...if there is a next time!!!

New Niece

We have a new niece!!!  I have been an aunt a little over four years now.  Jason has been an uncle for a little bit of two years...16 months if you want to go the route of how long we've been married. But this is the first on the Frankum side!!  :-)  Jason and I haven't been able to see Braelyn in person yet but we can't wait.  I know I can't wait!!! (if in the NICU, only parents and grandparents are aloud to go in and see her.) 
    I can't wait to see Jason with her.  It will make me cry, I'm sure.  I've been very emotional over baby Braelyn.  I guess when my sister, Cyndi, was pregnant, I was in a totally different stage in my life.  I was still in college and trying to finish college.  I was fixin' to go study abroad and my mind was not on having children.  I wasn't even seeing anybody at the time.    This time, I've been very aware of the feeling of wanting children of my own.  So I've been getting very touchy on the subject.  I mean, I've looked at a picture or read one of their blogs and just cried.  It's so sweet to watch the process of getting pregnant, going through the pregnancy and then seeing the child born and observing the parents as they go through all the emotions as well.  It's been very eye opening to me and a totally new experience I was not expecting.  I love Rachel, Daniel and Braelyn very much and I'm so happy for them.  Words cannot not express how happy I am for them.  It's so exciting.


AND.......
Cyndi is pregnant again!  :-)  Hopefully this time it will only be one and hopefully a boy.  But I'm praying for a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy.  She has felt different this time around so we all think it's a boy.  We'll see.  hehe.


I am very excited for my sisters and wish them the best of luck with everything that goes one with a new baby (or babies)!!  I love you guys!!!

Life right now...

It's officially February in the year 2010. Jason and I have had some pretty interesting conversations lately. I love talking and listening to him. It really does make my heart happy. On wednesday, the 3rd, we will have been married for 16 months. WOW! We have grown as a couple in this past year several different ways. But of course there are things we are still learning to deal with and appreciate more. Marriage is a wonderful thing. God knew what he was doing when he placed man and woman together at the very beginning.

Jason and I have gone through a lot of firsts together and will continue to go through a lot of firsts together as the years go by. That is one thing that I LOVE about us. We've had our first kiss, first date, first love, first everything pretty much. God knew what he was doing when he kept some guys away from me when I thought I was ready for them. I love Jason with all my heart and I am ready for whatever the future holds. :)

This past weekend!!!

I can't believe it's mid January already! My nieces will be turning 4 next week. Time is flying by.

Speaking of my nieces, Jason and I got to watch them on friday night. Cyndi and Matt wanted a date night and so I told her we could watch the girls. Apparently the girls asked if they were spending the night and when Cyndi told them they weren't, Dylan cried. So therefore Cyndi asked if they could spend the night. Of course they can! Jason wasn't crazy about it but he got over it. haha.

Friday night was fun. The girls slept in our guest room which is right down the hall from our room...not far. I did not have a good nights sleep. For some reason I was worried that they would get up and roam during the night, which was silly of me to think. Peyton slept pretty well but Dylan did not. She came in our room a little after five and crawled up on Jason and then over to me. She slept with us for the rest of the night.

Saturday we got up and had some breakfast and then we started painting. A month or so ago, I broke one of my mom's plates. The plate had the girls hand and footprints on them when they were 6 months old. Precious! Well, I feel really bad about that. I had some extra canvas' laying around so I thought I'd make a flower out of the girls hand and footprints. The hand being the flower and the feet being the leafs on the stem. Well, I didn't realize how big the girls feet were but it turned out okay. I gave them to my mom yesterday for her birthday. So it worked out that we got to keep the girls this past weekend! :-)

Saturday night was a much needed night with my hubby and him alone. We went to the grocery store to get food for this week. We got back home and lounged for a little bit. Jason got a ham from work for Christmas so we cooked that for dinner. We had a feast saturday night for just the two of us...hehe. It was a wonderful night that was greatly appreciated. God is great!!!

I forgot to mention that today is the day that Jason proposed to me...two years ago!! My dreams came true on that day!!!

Painting!

Well, I remember why it takes a long time for me to paint something...I've gotta get it perfect! haha.

I love when people look at a painting and say.."that looks easy, i could do that". I want to see those people try! If you have never painted before, it's pretty intense...unless you don't care what it looks like. I am so precise that it takes me a long time, well, depending on what I'm doing. The painting right now that I'm working on is very basic. It's a color fade and you'd think that would be easy. It was easy when I did it with colored pencils. I guess I should of thought about the fact that it took me an hour to make the boxes just right with colored pencils that it would take me a while to get a painting done. Oh well, I'm enjoying it. Last week I got all my utensils out (utensil is a word I've been using a lot lately...haha) to get ready to start painting. I haven't used them in 2 1/2 years. I can't believe it's been almost 3 years since I graduated college.

Tonight I finally opened up those paints and sat down. It's amazing how much you forget in 2 1/2 years. I had forgotten a paper towel to wipe my brush on and forgot the water to use. WOW...simple but yet I forgot. haha. But I put the colors on my palette and started mixing the colors and it brought back so many memories. :) I enjoyed starting on this piece and I can't wait to see the final product. *Rachel, it might be a while before I'm done. I'm sorry.* Painting is fun but time consuming...But I am excited to be able to do something again!!!

On a side note, I was at work today and I was sitting with the 3rd grader boys. They were trying to get me to hold my tongue and say Ask and Fork. I was like NO! I knew what they were up to! haha They also asked me if the word "HO" was a bad word. I explained that 'hoe' is a gardening utensil but if you were to call someone that, then yes, it could be bad. Boys!!! They start out young don't they? shoooooooooot!! Goodness gracious!!

Snow Days!!!

Today was a Snow Day and I enjoyed my day at my sister-n-laws house. :-) It was fun to be around her today. I usually don't work but from 2:30 - 6:00 everyday. So during the morning time I sometimes get bored and lonely. My husband, Jason, has been working like crazy this week. I'm just ready for Jason to have some down time for himself. I'm glad he's working, and I'm not complaining about that, but I just miss being able to spend time with him besides a couple hours a night. I know I'm pathetic about it but I just enjoy being around my husband.

Anyways, tomorrow is another snow day which means I'll be home all day tomorrow. I think I'm going to eat lunch with my sister-n-law and mother-n-law tomorrow so that will be fun. Rachel wants me to paint her something for her guest room. I'm super excited about it b/c that means I'll be doing something I enjoy, painting! I haven't painted anything since college when I had too. The last piece I did for class my last semester in college was fun. It was a picture of a stop sign I took one day. I love it b/c I did it! It was all me! I have other paintings that I did while I was in Italy, but my professor helped me out some b/c I was still learning. I will always be in a 'still learning' phase but I can't wait to do this new painting. It won't be much, pretty basic stuff but I'm excited to be able to paint again. I've been wanting to for a while now but never had a reason to...now I do. Thanks Rachel!!!!

New to this!

Well, hello all you bloggers out there. This is my first ever blog in the blogger world. I've posted things on myspace before but I no longer have the myspace account b/c I never used it. I'm a facebook girl! I have several friends and family who blog and would love to be able to share in their adventures in blogging. :-)

The year is 2010! That to me is CRAZY!! I am closer to 30 than 20 and that is just weird. My ten year reunion (if we have one) will be this year! I remember when I was in high school and thinking about when people said they had been out of high school for ten years or more and thinking they were old and it's gonna be forever 'til I reach that point. Well surprise! It's here and I am thinking back on all the things that have happened in the past ten years.

I've graduated from high school. I started college in the fall of '00. Had an amazing first year at Belmont! :) Had a house fire that started in my room Went to Mexico on a mission trip for the first time and fell in love with a little boy named Louis Brito! He has a sister, Maribel and brother Miguel. It hurt to leave him. I still think about him to this day. I wanted to adopt him and his family. I just pray that he is safe and doing well. Went back to college in fall of '01. Experienced 9/11 with the rest of the world but not like those who 'really' experienced it. Dropped out of the fall semester. Worked three jobs in the spring of '02. Went back to Mexico and had another lovely week with Louis. I tried to send him some things for his b-day but before I did I called to make sure that he was still there at City of Children, and he was no longer there. It broke my heart but I pray he is doing well and still knows God. Went back to school in fall '02 and started over pretty much. B/c of my Mexico experience, I wanted to minor in Spanish. Well, I don't do well with learning other languages it turns out so I dropped it. I was always determined to go abroad for a semester to a spanish speaking country but that died when I dropped the spanish minor. I was an art major and it hit me.....go to Italy with the art program. THE BEST THING I EVER DID!!!! Well, except the mission trips of course! :)

In the year 2006, I started hanging out with Jason Frankum. We hung out and did things with my two friends, Heather and Michelle. We were always hanging out. I then went to Italy for four months and it killed me to be away from my family and friends and especially Jason. It was very fun and I'd do it again (studying abroad) in a heartbeat but the missing family and friends was the hardest part.

The year 2007 was a life changing year for me. I fell in love with Jason. I finally graduated college in May. I stopped being irresponsible with somethings in my life in the summer and was non-stop hanging out with Jason. We finally started dating in October and then in January '08 he proposed to me in a way I had never dreamed of. It was perfect really. My dreams started to come true on that very night and in October of '08 we finally said 'I will!' (We changed the words around where instead of asking the couple 'Do you take ...', we said ( well Kerwin said) "Will you take ..." and therefore we said "I will!" ) It's been a crazy year and few months but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I now have three brother-n-laws instead of just one. Within a year, well eleven months, me and my other two sisters got married. We're all married now and it's still kind of weird. BUT I love it! We can all understand each other a little better now. I also have two more sisters and another brother-n-law. Loving the big family!!! :-)

2010 is upon us and I'm ready for a new attitude. I'm ready to be more positive and I'm ready to be better to myself. I've been slacking on taking care of myself and I need a new way. I ready to start doing my own photo shoots and enjoying time with my family and friends. I enjoy time with family and friends now but I'm just ready for something new. My sister-n-law, Rachel, is have a little baby girl sometime hopefully in February or March. We are all super excited about baby Braelyn. Braelyn will be the new addition to the family and I know I'm super excited about her.

This is a super dooper long first post but I'm excited about what's to come and what's not to come. May the year 2010 brings everyone peace and joy and happiness!!!