Positive Thought of the Day

Hope everyone had a great three day weekend!

Papa grilled hamburgers, chicken and ribs

before Mom and Lu left for Gatlinburg

I so enjoyed spending time with the fam!

Mom and Lu traveled to Gatlinburg for the week

with my aunts and cousins for a girls trip!

I wanted to go but since I got this AWESOME job

I couldn't take off!

Well enough chit chat!

Just thought about this quote today

randomly.

I love it!

Be who you are and say what you feel

Because those who mind don’t matter

And those who matter don’t mind

-Dr. Seuss

Put together this beach wedding table today at work!

LOVE the way it turned out!

Happy Tuesday!

 

Life Can Only Be Understood Looking Backward

In my short twenty two years,

I have come to realize that this is true.

“Life can only be understood looking backward.

It must be lived forward.”

-          The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Things don't make sense when you aren't seeing the big picture.

This past week has made me think a lot about life

and the "big picture".

A month has gone by since the tornado hit Tuscaloosa.

Peoples lives have been devastated.

One of my daddy's co-workers lost his 11 year old son.

The tragedy of losing a child is something I pray I never have to go through.

But through all of these terrible things,

God paints us a bigger, more beautiful and meaningful picture.

We may never understand why things happen the way they do,

but we can find peace and acceptance in the fact that

there is a reason for everything

no matter what it may be.

Who would have thought that the tornado

would have forced me to move home,

find an awesome job that I love,

and has given me something that I actually want to pursue

as a career?

It might seem selfish to be thankful for the tornado,

but don't hear what I'm not saying.

For me personally,

the tornado provided a positive outcome.

From what I have seen,

this natural disaster has brought the state of Alabama

and the nation together.

And although for some the destruction was a severely

negative thing,

people may look back five to ten years from now

and be thankful,

because if the tornado had not flattened their home,

they may have never seen their long lost brother

who opened his home for them to stay.

I'm rambling but hopefully you get my point!

In other news...

I put together a Fourth of July theme table at work the other day

and if I say so myself

it is FABULOUS!!

I love it and think it turned out so well!

Gorgeous centerpiece

 (fake flowers but hey gotta work with what ya got)

My table settings!

Beautiful bamboo chairs with a white beaded sash!

Silver charger with glass plate over my Fourth of July celebration menu.

So happy God has placed me where He wants me to be

and I am so amazed at how absolutely perfect everything worked out!

Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of summer!

 

A Fresh Start

Things don't always work out like we had planned.

Sometimes this can be a good thing!

I know I tend to preach about how much God is in control,

but y'all He so is!!!

Read on and you will see what I mean!!!

I have moved back home with my parents.

God has blessed me with such understanding parents

and they welcomed me and Missy with open arms.

I got an amazing job at a Wedding/Event planning and rental store.

I actually look forward to going to work!

This is exactly what I am supposed to be doing

and I am so thankful that God has opened and closed the doors

that have lead me here!

After all of the uncertainity and feeling so lost,

I am more than confidant that God has me where He wants me!

I can honestly tell you that we have a faithful God!

Through all of my hard times I rested in the fact that

God was in control

and He has shown me that my trust is worthy!

Not that God has to prove Himself to me,

but being human I need that kind of reassurance.

For the time being I am planning events and managing the retail store

in Daphne and I absolutely love it!

Maybe sometime in the future I will think about finishing my degree,

I am very close but just do not have the drive or desire

to finish.

So if you know of anyone needing a wedding/event planner,

I would love the chance to build my reputation

and show people what I am capable of!

On the bright side,

my experiences with weddings and events will

make for some very interesting posts

and shed some light on

The Resentful Singlette & The B***H

But for right now I'm just taking things

One Step at a Time!

Love y'all!

 

If One Door Opens To Another Door Closed

Well, I have moved back home for the summer!

Maybe longer but who knows!

I have decided to take things one step at a time...

yea I'm cheesy sorry!

Me and the Parentals went up this past Saturday to gather up my belongings.

It was weird to move all my stuff for the third time in three years...

and to know I might not be coming back!

TEAR!

God has a plan!

We also drove through Tuscaloosa to see the damage firsthand.

It was heartbreaking to see the destruction of the town I have lived in and loved for so long!

The rebuilding efforts could be seen everywhere

and that brings me comfort knowing that people are getting help!

Me and Daddy talked about going back to volunteer soon

after all the hype dies down.

Still praying for T-town!

I have enjoyed being home though!

It has been a long time since I lived with my family

so the dynamics are getting settled again!

I have been blessed with such an awesome support system within my family

and I am so thankful for the love they give me!

Missy loves being around her Aunts!

She sleeps SO well at night cause all they do

is play play play!

Sweet girl hates when her mama leaves!

How cute is this picture?

Happy Monday!

 

The Most Perfect Combination

There are some things that just go together.

Peanut butter and chocolate,

Saturday and Sunday,

hamburgers and hot dogs,

Alabama Crimson Tide and National Championships.

Sometimes it is hard to figure out what fits and what doesn't fit.

This is true in every aspect of life.

Trying to put things together the right way

is difficult.

But don't fret my friends!

God has the ideal puzzle pieces to combine

for the most beautiful and well thought out

picture you could ever imagine.

So put your trust in Him and He will bless your heart.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      And lean not on your own understanding;
  In all your ways acknowledge Him,
      And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Celebrate We Will

Because life is short but sweet for certain.

So I am not a Dave Matthews fan...

yes I know I must be crazy but I just don't get the hype about him.

But I love this quote.

This past week has been a whirlwind of emotions for my family.

From Lu's car accident, a family emergency, the Tuscaloosa tornado

and now Bin Laden has been taken care of!

Life is difficult sometimes.

Things don't always go as planned.

We cannot control what happens,

but we can turn to the One Who does control it all.

I will be the first to tell you that I struggle with life everyday.

One of my biggest fear and issue in life is my future

and accepting the fact that I cannot plan what happens.

The only way to enjoy life

is to please my Heavenly Father!

And although that is not always easy,

it is more fulfilling than any other option!

But I CAN rest assured that God is in control!

Well I have spent a few days back at home

and I am longing to be back in Tuscaloosa to help rebuild/aide the people

who have been devastated by the storms!

I am trying to find something locally I can do to help out

so if you know of anything in the Daphne/Fairhope area please let me know!

Lu is fine, she just hurt her ankle!

And my apartment has power as of today so I may be back soon!

Love y'all!

 

City of Champions

It has taken me almost a week to muster up the courage

I need in order to write this.

This past week has been difficult.

On Wednesday April 27 a massive tornado hit

Tuscaloosa.

Never in my life have I experienced anything like this.

What I saw outside my window.

Severe weather is nothing to play around with in this part of the country.

I had been watching James Spann,

our amazing weatherman in the Birmingham/Tuscaloosa area,

when he began talking about a possible tornado heading towards my city.

With so many tornadoes forming I decided to be on the safe side

and prepare for the worst.

Well thank God I did because an F-4 tornado was about to hit a block away from my apartment.

Sweet little Miss didn't know what was going on,

and had to potty.

So I peeked out the window to see what it looked like

and there right across the parking lot was the biggest funnel cloud I have ever seen!

I grabbed Missy and jumped into my pillow filled bathtub.

Debris hit my window and the pressure in the air changed dramatically.

I prayed out loud that God would protect me

and He definitely had His hand over me!

The public housing that was destroyed a block from my apartment complex.

The tornado created a destructive path two blocks from my apartment complex.

This area was mainly low income families so the devastation was phenominal.

Hundreds of people lost their homes including a large amount of students.

One of my friends lost everything but thankfully is alive.

My friends trucks that were thrown into their house.

With the death toll rising everyday,

my heart breaks even more.

After gathering some of my things I made the trip down to Daphne.

Missy and I are taking refuge here for a while.

God is showing Himself in more ways than one

and the state of Alabama is coming together more and more everyday!

Praise God for His Omnipitant Hand

and please pray for Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama.

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Hope everyone is safe!

Can't wait to be reunited with all my ttown friends!

Love y'all!