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.