BeBe's Blog

Heavy Hearted Today

2011-02-07T11:48:00.003-06:00

It's Monday and I'm in a very BLAH kind of mood. The weather outside is icky, supposed to be rainy/ snowy all day. My reasons for being heavy hearted are:

Friday I am supposed to go to Memphis for my cousin's wedding reception. I like his girlfriend just fine but I feel the whole hurry up and get married thing is being rushed for no particular reason... They are both young (24), they have both been married before, she has a kid, they are moving in with her parents because they can't afford their own place... all the factors just seem to spell disaster... My cousin lost his dad (my mom's brother) this past September and he just seems to wander with this lost puppy look on his face... I just don't feel in my gut that this is the answer... So it makes my heart hurt...

#2 for heavy heart
Found out last night a really good friend of mine is being deployed again for a year. This time he is being sent to Afghanistan - leaves June 9th. :( He has been home approx 2 1/2 yrs from his last year long deployment to Kosovo. He's still practically a newlywed (married 1 year this past Oct) and he and his wife had just decided to try to start getting pregnant... now meaning she may be doing pregnancy / and/ or newborn baby by herself for a little bit depending on when they get pregnant...

I just have to keep reminding myself that God's timing is perfect and that his plan is not my plan... but it still makes my heart heavy ...

2011

2011-01-03T15:52:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year
A New Year is here - I love the idea of fresh starts and new beginnings :)

This also brings a new school year for me (mine begin in Feb) and it is also
the FINAL school year for me... Countdown to Dec 3, 2011 GRADUATION

This is also a time to set goals and dreams for 2011, so here goes
(in no particular order)

To be a better student
to be a better girlfriend
to be more patient
to be a better sister/ daughter/ cousin (etc)
to be intentional in setting time for relationships
to take more me time
to give more God time
to make better eating choices
to cook more
to set aside more gym time
to give more time to my friends
to send more cards
to blog more
to save more money

ok that's all for now :)
Here's to HIGH hopes for 2011

Funny?

2010-11-23T12:34:00.003-06:00

I'm back. I haven't blogged in awile. I wrapped up my third year of Law School with what looks like solid Bs this year :) so the past few months have been busy busy busy...

A friend of mine who recently became and attorney and handles court appointments

(for people who can't afford an attorney) and she has been blogging about the funny things she has heard - so I decided to steal her idea - I had planned to write funny things I hear in the office or from clients but after visiting my sister & her daughter this past weekends I couldn't resist adding these -

Cow Girl

My niece is 3 and is a prime source for the funny things I hear. Most recent example:

Me: "Ava, those are really cute cowboy boots"

Ava: "Thank you"

Me: "Are you a cowgirl now?"

Ava: "No, I'm a cow Ava"

-- not just "any ol cow girl, eh?

Mary Poppins

Somehow we got on the subject of Mary Poppins and my boyfriend Rich was telling us how he and his brother used to dance & jump around to the song on Mary Poppins - that Burt (Dick Van Dyke) sings - Step in Time & my sister says
"Oh steppy time... yea I remember that one"

and I started laughting and said "what did you just call it"

Kristie: "Steppy time"

Me: "You mean Step IN time?"

Kristie: "No, it's Steppy time, you know they're British - like chappy but it's steppy time"

so naturally we had to google it so I could prove to her it is indeed

STEP.IN. TIME.

whew

2010-06-30T15:51:00.002-05:00

Summer is halfway over. How did that happen? I'm super excited to announce that I am going on a second cruise leaving.....

THIS SAT

we're going for my little brother's high school graduation/ celebration trip.

so I am Jamaica, Grand Caymans, Cozumel bound :)

praying for no hurricanes - see ya soon.

Have a Happy 4th of July!

Slacker

2010-06-15T09:46:00.012-05:00

Yikes! I am not a very good blogger. Tragically school and work are kicking my tail. Since my last post let's update:

April: Easter, Easter egg hunting with Ava & Isabelle, My birthday (27 - that is too close to 30 - where does time go), and finished 3 Law school classes: TN Con Law, First Amendment Law & Domestic Relations

Aren't they the cutest?

May: Nashville was hit with a devastating flood; the Cumberland River downtown rose from 19 ft to an insane 51 ft and washed from 1st Ave all the way up to 5th & 6th Ave - think from Titans Stadium to BridgeStone Arena. My office building was flooded, which meant a week off work. During that week Rich & I helped our church volunteer teams go by donating supplies for families who's homes were flooded & snacks for volunteers. That Sat (after the flood) we went with the church teams to actually work in the homes - Ripping up carpet, tearing out dry wall... One of the saddest things I've ever seen - In the first 2 weeks after the flood my church CrossPoint had over 2000 volunteers & worked on over 300 houses. So proud and honored to be a part of a church who believes that being Christians doesn't just happen on Sundays... You want to reach people - show them Jesus daily. Be HIS hands and feet...

Also in May: My little brother graduated high school (from an academic high school with highest honors - SO proud of him!!!)

THEN....I went on a Cruise to the Bahamas Memorial Day Weekend with my honey:

Alright back to work now....

Happy SUMMER to all of you!!

Intro to my babies

2010-03-08T15:53:00.007-06:00

I don't have my own yet

but I LOVE kids & will tell "my" Kid stories & brag with the best of the mamas
even tho I'm not one:)

"My" Kids include:

Addison age 7, soon to be 8 (3/29) born to my friend Bethany - we've been friends since middle school where we met at church youth group. She stole my heart and gave me the nickname Bebe.

Don't you remember how cool it was to lose teeth? My mom took this last summer.

Ava: my beautiful, blonde blue-eyed smart little neice, who is 2 1/2 going on 15. She loves all things princess and pretty and dresses and skirts. She knows the words to most Disney songs and LOVES to sing. Ava is on the horse. I'm holding Isabelle

Isabelle: my sweet silly, also little blonde beauty, who "loves her Bebe" is almost a "neice" born to my cousin Nicki who I grew up with and we were practically sisters.

Isabelle & Ava are 2 weeks apart (they will be 3 in Aug- or "Awwww -gussss" as Isabelle says) She is Bebe's girl (me) except when she wants to aggravate and then she's "Rich's girl" (my boyfriend). Isabelle is in purple (Ava's in pink) and that horse belongs to Isabelle - in case you couldn't tell.

Brady: My sweet little "all-boy" "nephew" born to my very best friend Jamie, we've been inseparable since age 12-13. He just turned 2 in Feb. & his sweet mama mailed me several photos of her handsome guy!

and...

now my CP Kids

I co-teach 1st graders during the 8:30 service at church and have 7-14

darling little 6-7 year olds to love on :)

If I weren't Me

2010-02-05T14:27:00.004-06:00

I have a great post pending in my head: but until I get time "please enjoy the music while your party is reached"
Stolen from http://thewoodfolks.blogspot.com/

If I were a month, I’d be October.
If I were a day of the week, I’d be Sunday afternoon.
If I were a time of day, I’d be 5:00 pm.
If I were a planet, I’d be Earth.
If I were a sea animal, I’d be a dolphin.
If I were a direction, I’d be South.
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a Lamp.
If I were a liquid, I’d be fresh squeezed orange juice.
If I were a gemstone, I’d be a diamond.
If I were a tree, I’d be a red leaf maple.
If I were a tool, I’d be a hammer.
If I were a flower, I’d be a stargazer lily.
If I were a kind of weather, I’d be somewhere b/w summer & fall.
If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a piano.
If I were a color, I’d be saphire blue.
If I were an emotion, I’d be anticipation.
If I were a fruit, I’d be a pink lady apple.
If I were a sound, I’d be a whispered prayer.
If I were an element, I’d be fire.
If I were a car, I’d be a convertable.
If I were a food, I’d be a chocolate covered strawberry.
If I were a place, I’d be beach at sunset.
If I were a material, I’d be satin.
If I were a taste, I’d be chocolate with a fine red wine.
If I were a scent, I’d be freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
If I were an object, I’d be a notebook.
If I were a body part, I’d be the heart.
If I were a facial expression, I’d be a wink.
If I were a song, I’d be a piano ballad.
If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be flip flops.

A Recap of 2009

2009-12-30T10:10:00.008-06:00

Hard to believe 2009 is coming to a close...

2010 - How weird -

I've decided to either say 2010 or just 10,

0-10 just isn't flying with me... What's your preference?

Anyways here is a Recap of my busy year:

January 1, was rang in in Buffalo, NY with Rich, followed by my first trip to Niagara Falls.

January 23-25 spent the weekend in a cabin in the woods with my mom & friends (so relaxing!)

February 1, Steelers win the Super Bowl.

February 10, I started my 2nd year of Law School.

February 14, was celebrated in Fall Creek Falls - which was not spectacular - the falls usually have MUCH more water than they did this February!

February 18 Brady turned One!

February 27 saw Selah in concert

March 21 My friend Alex's little boy Kale turned One!

March 29 Addison turned 7 years old!

April 12 My 26th birthday fell on Easter this year - had dinner with Jamie and Ken at Ellendale's and went to Cirque de Soleil, and my parents and little brother came up and went to church with me :)

April 21st Rich's 27th birthday - we went to dinner at Hermitage Steakhouse and shopping at Opry Mills

April 24 I moved again, and saw Dave Matthews Band in concert again

May 1, Finished moving, cracked my tailbone moving stuff downstairs in the rain :(

Began teaching 1st grade small group at Cross Point Community Church and I LOVE it - I think I have learned more than the kids have!!

May 15 Dan's annual Cinco de Mayo party

May 16 saw Elton John and Billy Joel in concert (AMAZING again - picture is Billy Joel bowing to Elton John) at this concert Rich and I randomly ended up having seats right beside our friends Casey & Kimmer - We scalped our tickets and had NO idea that they were going to the concert... talk about coincidence!!

May 23-29 Family vacation in Florida w/ Rich

June - took an extra class during the month of June, contemplated suicide... Worked 8-5 Mon - Fri and had class Mon, Tues and Wed 6-10

what was I thinking! But I got an A so all is good in the end :)

July 4 Flew to New York to celebrate the 4th and Rich's little sister's high school graduation - her party was on Lake Erie and it was BEAUTIFUL!

July 18- 23 All Girls Cruise = what a BLAST!

August 1 My best friend Jamie moves to Johnson City when her husband is transferred with his job :(

August 12 Philip Everett Robertson (my boss' kid) makes his grand entrance to the world

August 14 my beautiful niece Ava Grace turns two years old

August 21 my little (ok 6'3 isn't little) brother turned 18 and is a SENIOR this year

August 22 took all the babies to see Elmo and had joint bday party

August 30 Isabelle my other beautiful niece turned two

Football season begins - GO VOLS and TITANS!!

September 12 our friends Amanda & Chris got married - such a fun reception!

Titans go 0-6, football season is suddenly not nearly as fun for me!

October 15-19 ANOTHER ALL girl Cruise 4 days had a blast - til I came home sick :(

Titans Bye week - Fisher and Bud Adams have a heart to heart and Vince Young is made starting QB, and ....

Nov 1 Titans beat Jacksonville and yours truly sat about 8 rows off the field - we're talking close enought that I could SEE Jevon Kearse's earrings

Nov 11 Successfully finished and PASSED my 2nd year of LAW SCHOOL!!!

Nov 14 our friends Casey and Kimmer got married - another really really fun reception

Nov 15 Titans Bills game :) ha ha sorry Bills fans (my boyfriend) GO TITANS

Nov 26 Thanksgiving in Jackson

Nov 29 Titans beat the Cardinals with 4 seconds left in the game, watched it at Dave and Busters the whole place went NUTS

Dec 3 I got all 4 wisdom teeth removed - with basically no problems afterward other than 7 day liquid diet - nice little pre Christmas weight loss plan

Dec 11 Office Christmas Dinner/ Party SO MUCH FUN - I truly love my job and ALL of my co-workers :)

Dec 12 went to Gatlinburg to see my best friend and my best little man for shopping and relaxing - I forget how much I love the Smoky Mountains - they are SO beautiful!!

Dec 19 Casey & Kimmer host an Ugly Christmas Sweater party and Rich won!! Thanks Mom for our sweaters :)

Dec 25 Christmas in Memphis - such a blessing to have all the family together!

and...

Dec 31 we head out to Orlando to ring in the New Year in Florida on the menu is: LIstening to the UT game, attending the Penn St/ LSU game (boy he's lucky I look good in blue ;) right? It's hurts to abandon my SEC loyalties), Disney World, Sea World, drive home... Whew

Happy New Years Everyone - Looking forward to sharing 2010 with you!!

It's almost Turkey Day

2009-11-24T14:16:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited my best friend and her little boy just got into town. We're having dinner at my cousin's tonight - so I'll get to see 3 out of my 4 babies (none are really mine). And truthfully I guess Addison isn't my "baby" any more - she's in 2nd grade.

Ouch that was hard to write - really 2nd grade... Wow! And Brady - my littlest baby will be 2 in February ... How are these kids growing up so fast?

It doesn't make any sense!
Anyways - looking forward to Turkey Day & Black Friday! Hope I find some deals!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-11-18T10:07:00.003-06:00

FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE

(I'm finally done for the year - no more school til February!)

Fire at Longhorn

2009-11-12T16:46:00.007-06:00

Tuesday November 10, 2009 a fire burned Longhorn Steakhouse in Jackson to the ground. And to some people this might "just" be a restaurant, but to me it was my 2nd home in Jackson.

After working for a gym and Buckle in high school, my best friend convinced me to get a job where she worked LONGHORN. Having never worked in a restaurant before, they started me as a hostess, and eventually became a server and a bartender and the staff, well we became a family....

When I moved to Murfreesboro to go to MTSU I transferred to the Nashville downtown Longhorn, and eventually helped open the Brentwood Longhorn. I worked for the company for 4 1/2 yrs. While in college, I could come home and work shifts at the Jackson Longhorn.

The Jackson Longhorn management team and staff were like a family to me. The people there were some of the most awesome, loving, loyal - "give you the shirt off their back" kind of people! Many I'm still friends with 8 years later...

Tuesday morning I got a phone call that it had burned down - gas fire they thought. I was devastated... Thankfully no one had been in the building. The fire started less than an hour after the closing manager and staff had left.

David, (his interview link) the general manager was my first thought - He had been there since day one (in 2001). My heart just ached for him - that store was his baby! Then I immediately thought of all my friends, and the rest of the management team that were now out of a job. Then I got on facebook, and the pictures, and comments, and statuses broke my heart. I immediately began texting and messaging and calling - trying to reach out to as many as I could - to tell them I loved them, that I was there for them, that I was praying for them, and to see if there was anything I could do...

Please keep these people in your prayers - they are having a staff meeting tomorrow morning to discuss options for the staff - my understanding is that they will try to place them with other restaurants around town, or they can draw unemployment... I have faith that God will take care of them...

The Girls

2009-10-28T14:55:00.006-05:00

Ava and Isabelle

Age 2 also = 2 cute!!

so tired

2009-10-26T14:40:00.006-05:00

I know I've slacked on here. But I have been so tired! Finals season is here - I have 2 finals next week and 2 finals the following week and I am starting to freak out.

Our semesters run Feb - Nov and my brain has completely eliminated all things learned Feb - Aug... After all

I had to make room for important things like - Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice (which I have a love/hate relationship with) I mean really - did you have to kill George and fire Izzy - give me a break!

and make time for Ava and Isabelle (I promise pumpkin patch pictures are coming!)

and make time for Rich - my poor sweet boyfriend, who is so kindly putting up with me during finals season :)

But seriously back to school: it's just too much to remember so I feel like I am relearning and studying all at the same time.

Property, and Remedies, and Evidence Oh My!

But I did have a study buddy on Friday night:

I babysat my bosses 9 week old little boy Rett

Isn't he a doll!?

I taught him all kinds of fun law school stuff.

He loved it - can't you tell!?

Happy Friday

2009-10-02T15:24:00.002-05:00

Nothing exciting or new to post!
I'm on an Oct diet with the Holiday food monster in the near future I am trying to prepare with an October starvation plan! 2 days down 29 to go!
Good thing I'm to old to trick or treat!

For the past 2 weeks on Thursday I have been taking a spin/ interval training class at the Y.
Last week it was 30 min on the bike (10 miles) and then 30 minutes on the roof doing painful things like squats and lunges and laps (oh my)

And this week it was 30 min spin followed by 30 minutes of arm torture. This included multiple reps and varieties of push-ups - Umm Hello? I'm a girl - the only push ups I am familiar with are the Flintstone push pops!!

Wednesday we said farewell at my office to 2 employees :( with that farewell came 2 cookie cakes, cupcakes, and red velvet cake. That was in Sept - this is Oct no looking back.... plus I'd rather not see what it did to my backside ;)

Next week I will have photos of Ava and Isabelle at the pumpkin patch we are visiting tomorrow.
Have a good weekend!!

Football weekend leads to Monday Mourning

2009-09-21T10:15:00.008-05:00

My football weekend began Sat morning at Cross Corner Bar in Brentwood to watch the first half of the Penn State game. If you know me, you know I could care less about Penn State but Rich loves them so I must fake some interest. And Cross Corner is a Penn State Bar and probably the only place in Nashville that cares about PENN STATE (sorry Rich). You are in Big Orange country!

Then we went to Nicki's to watch Isabelle and the UT/ Florida game. To which I must say I joined the pessimistic pattys and expected this to be an UGLY game. I was scared. After the UCLA game I was extremely nervous!

But NO - my good ol' boys in Orange held them to only a ten point win (people were predicting 40+ point win for FL) Not too shabby, they put up a good fight and put some fear in ol Tebow who I can now say - I am SO GLAD we don't have to play against him anymore. Good luck in the NFL *cough* Cough*

When Eric Berry caught the interception - Isabelle yelled GO VOLS unprompted! I am so proud - and I have to say I really love her pigtails!! I've gotta get her some orange bows!

On Sunday we had my football day! Yes, sorry I have to admit I love the NFL more. While I was raised a UT fan from birth (and I still AM)- my heart truly belongs to the TITANS. Maybe it's because they are here in Nashville and I can go to as many home games as I want. Either way - I love football! I also love 2 tickets for $20 on the fifty yard line!

and Rich loves for me to take his picture. He actually thinks I am a big dork :)

No One Puts Baby In the Corner

2009-09-15T10:50:00.006-05:00

This has been a rough year for celebrity deaths!

Yesterday, Patrick Swayze lost his 20 month long battle with pancreatic cancer.

I have very vivid memories from childhood of watching and LOVING Patrick Swayze.

I remember watching dirty dancing for the first time in 4th grade at a slumber party and then practicing our dance moves.

Crying when my mom sold our VHS copy of Ghost at a yard sale. (ok maybe I didn't cry but I was not happy!)

And watching RoadHouse with my dad - how cool was he!

Buying the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing at least twice... and come to think of it... I'm not sure where it is... might have to buy it a 3rd time.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Rest in peace Patrick Swayze.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-09-02T21:39:00.003-05:00

DAY AT THE ZOO

BUSY

2009-08-31T09:44:00.007-05:00

Hello Fall Weather - didn't expect to see you so soon! But if you must come - please bring your friend FOOTBALL Season!!!

This has been the weirdest August. It was 58 degrees this morning when I got up!

2 years ago - It rarely got below 100 degrees the whole month of August...

Maybe that's because my sister and cousin were 9 months pregnant & God has a sense of humor :)

But, seriously where did summer go? Wasn't May yesterday... was it really almost 4 months ago... Geez! In August my girls (Ava & Isabelle) turned 2. TWO - that is officially toddler - not baby... :( That means running, hopping, dancing, singing, and sentences... Wow time flies... The kids got to see Elmo live for their birthday. They LOVED it.

Aren't their matching dresses sweet?!!

Isabelle was a little nervous at first, but warmed up quickly. She said "Mommy... Les' Go, Mommy bye bye..." and then realized how cool Sesame Street really is!

Ava was in heaven - waiving and interacting with the characters. Yelling "Hi Sunny" (Elmo's friend the sunflower)

And Brady would have gotten on stage with them if he could have!

And my little brother turned 18 on the 21st... ok talk about time flying... He is NOT supposed to be a senior in high school! Glad this getting older thing is affecting everyone else and not me!! Hope it's not contagious!

Stealing funny thoughts

2009-08-20T10:30:00.003-05:00

Random Thoughts for Smart People Like Me....
I stole this from another blogger... these thoughts are not my own but they are funny!!

I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk..

I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger..

The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

There is a great need for sarcasm font.

Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in. Thank goodness for the new "green" reusable bags - I'm not green but those don't cut circulation off.

I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text or put on mascara.

A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

Was learning cursive really necessary?

Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

My brother's Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us." Classy, bro.

Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot.Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Bad decisions make good stories.

Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?) but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

I think that if, years down the road when I'm trying to have a kid, I find out that I'm sterile, most of my disappointment will stem from the fact that I was not aware of my condition in college.

Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it..

Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Hope these made you smile!
B

8 Things for you

2009-08-04T19:57:00.002-05:00

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Ava/Isabelle and my bro's birthday weekend in Aug
2. Football season
3. Oct Cruise
4. Finishing this school year in Nov
5. the birth of my boss's baby next Wed (I love babies)
6. Fall
7. Amanda & Chris Wedding in Sept
8. Finishing law school

8 things I did yesterday:
1. Worked
2. Went to McD's with Jamie & Amie and their babies
3. Went to Target/ Kroger/ Publix (got gallon of milk at K for $1.69!!)
4. Watched the Movie Code (terrible btw) with Rich
5. Talked to Tiana at Kroger (nice surprise)
6. Read the paper
7. Did Laundry
8. went to bed

8 things I wish I could do:
1. work out more
2. work less
3. hire a maid
4. be done with school already
5. spend more time with Addison (she is growing up so fast)
6. Win the lottery.
7. relocate Johnson City to next to Nashville ( my best friend is moving there)
8. go home and go to bed

8 shows I watch:
1. Law & Order SVU
2. Friends
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. The Office
5. Private Practice
6. Dancing with the Stars
7. The Cosby Show (don't judge me - it's funny!)
8. Days of Our Lives (I haven't watched in yrs though - but I used to)

8 favorite fruits:
1. Pineapple
2. Apples
3. Kiwi
4. Pears
5. Strawberries
6. Watermelon
7. Grapes
8. Peaches

8 places I'd like to travel to:
1. Italy
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Europe
5. Australia
6. Newfoundland
7. St. Lucia
8. an all inclusive spa... ahhhh

8 places I've lived:
1. Asheville, NC (where I was born)
2. McKenzie, TN (tiny town I lived there age 2-9)
3. Jackson, TN (age 9-20)
4. Murfreesboro, TN (age 20-23)
5. Brentwood, TN (apt 1)
6. Brentwood, TN (apt 2)
7. Nashville, (above the tea room)
8. Nashville (off West End... my current abode)

I am supposed to tag people - so if you come and read this consider yourself tagged... and go do it! :)

Not Me Monday

2009-06-29T09:42:00.003-05:00

Brought to you in part by MckMama

To begin with I did not put off finishing my civil litigation assignment to go shopping Sat with my best friend and sweet little Brady
(and certainly did not do this also on Sunday either)

I did not participate in feeding sweet little Brady ice cream for dinner on Sat. It is not my fault he didn't want vegetables or noodles. Nor did I let him have a bite of my ice cream which may or may not have had oreos crushed in it.

Further I did not laugh really hard (too hard) when my church service was polled and we voted 100% believed that drinking (socially) alcohol was ok.

Also I did not turn off the alarm clock this morning to skip going to the gym, no way not me!

So what did you NOT do this weekend?

Life is short

2009-06-26T15:02:00.007-05:00

Too often I am reminded that life is short and precious and we are not promised tomorrow. A few weeks ago a couple that I went to high school with lost their 8 week old baby to SIDS on the mom's 2nd day back to work from her maternity leave.

Sandy, Zach, and baby Grant

I can't imagine the pain they are going through. My heart just aches when I think about it.

Then Tonight show legend Ed McMahan dies this week.

and then the next day Farrah Fawcett lost her battle to cancer.

Charlie's Angel... the legendary hair...

And then a few hours later word spreads around the world in a matter of minutes that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson had died, suddenly at age 50. What a shock.

By no means am I singing Michael's praises - I think his personal life was very strange and questionable and that most likely some of the rumors were true. But, what is true is that NO ONE knows the truth (aside from those involved). And it is not my job to cast judgment.

Side note: The number one song on the radio the day I was born was .... Billy Jean...

Also, what is FACT - is the sheer talent that came out of this performer.

Honestly, I loved his music! I can remember being really little listening to the Jackson 5 - "I'll be there" is probably one of my FAVORITE songs he ever did.

and learning the moves to Thriller... and every 80's kid tried to moonwalk at some point in their life.

And let's be honest some of his music had some powerful truths:

"If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change."

"Heal the world - make it a better place"

The lyrics to "will you be there" ... the Free Willy song...

Either way you feel - please let this serve as a reminder that God doesn't promise us tomorrow - so live today with that in mind.

Powerful Words

2009-06-20T13:31:00.003-05:00

I don't know if any of you follow MckMama's blog - but she had some pretty powerful words today; Please go read her June 20th post. She is such an inspiration and let us all be reminded "to praise YOU in this storm."

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-17T19:55:00.003-05:00

vacation

2009-06-02T21:35:00.006-05:00

A FEW MORE: HOW CUTE IS SHE?

WEARING THE DRESS HER AUNT BRITTANY BOUGHT :)

TRYING TO CATCH THE WAVES IN HER BUCKET

I have the cutest niece ever! She loved the beach. She kept squealing "It's WATER!" It must look like the biggest bathtub ever to a 21 month old.

Vacation

2009-06-01T13:02:00.004-05:00

Last week Rich and I went with my family to Destin, Florida and had a blast!!

I am SUPER behind at work so I don't have much time but here are a few pictures to hold you over:

DON'T I HAVE THE CUTEST NIECE EVER?!?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-05-20T11:27:00.000-05:00

SOMETIMES A LOOK SAYS IT ALL
(ISABELLE 18 MONTHS)

It's a little bit funny... this feeling inside... it's not one of those

2009-05-19T13:40:00.012-05:00

Sat night I went to the Billy Joel - Elton John FACE TO FACE Concert. It was AMAZING! And the second time I have seen them perform together (first time was in 2001).

The pictures are not awesome because they are from my phone.

These 2 (above) are the two pianos facing each other

They started the show together and played together for about 30 min; then Elton John played for an hour and ten minutes; Billy Joel played for an hour and ten minutes; then they played together for an hour and a half - 4 straight hours - no intermission!

Sir Elton John:

They Played: Your Song - Just the way you Are- Don't let the Sun go down - I'm Alright - Saturday Night's alright for fightin - Burn Down the Mission - Tiny Dancer - Yellow Brick Road - Daniel - Rocket Man - Still Standing - Crockadile Rock - Allentown - Zanzibar - Don't ask me why - She's always a woman - Scenes from an italian restaurant - River of Dreams - Good Love (with Felix Cavaliere) We didn't start the fire - Still Rock and Roll to me - Good Die young - I guess that's why they call it the blues - Uptown girl - The Bitch is back - You may be right - Bennie and the Jets - then they did two Beatles songs - Back in the USSR and the Birthday Song and finished with Candle in the Wind and then .....

PIANO MAN (DUH)

Billy Joel bowing to Elton John (left)

Billy Joel playing We Didn't Start the Fire

Billy Joel with Harmonica singing Piano Man

It was awesome!!!!!!!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ELTON JOHN/ BILLY JOEL SONGS?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-05-13T16:51:00.002-05:00

READING THE PAPER WITH AUNT BRITTANY

My weekend

2009-05-11T10:50:00.005-05:00

a GREAT weekend

Friday after work I drove to Jackson, and got to spend the weekend with my family (long overdue!!) Friday night I got to watch my brother's high school hockey team play. They lost. Unfortunately their very best player had to go and get himself expelled from school and thus off the hockey team - so his team has had trouble figuring out what to do with the puck once they get it (this kid was one of the league's leading scorers)

Sat - we took my stepdad's mom to eat at CrackerBarrell who by the has the best Fried Okra!! and I got to spend the day with my mom, Addison (see birthday girl below) and my brother Chris. We went to Memphis and had dinner at my Grandma's house and then took Addison home and successfully got lost - thank you very much GPS for failing to say "hey I don't know that address" instead it picked it's own idea of an address and sent us there. I love nothing better than driving around backroads of TN at 9:00 at night getting GOOD and lost!

Sunday - went to church and I got to see all of Bethany's little girls (who are growing SO fast)

Addison is 7 and will be going to 2nd grade this fall;

Kali will be 5 in September and starts Kindergarden in the fall;

and beautiful little Krisaley will be 4 in December.

After church had lunch with my Mom for Mother's Day... and I got to take her car home. And had to say goodbye to my Grand Am. (sniff...tear) I loved that Grand Am it was the first car I ever got to pick out!! but the Saturn that I returned home with has 65,000 miles not 155,000 as did my sad little Grand Am. I am glad we were able to part ways without me hating it. (a.k.a it dying and being unable to be revived on the side of the road... like my last car)

*side note* more importantly...

To the best mom in the world - hope you enjoy YOUR beach glasses (not Tommy or Chris YOURS); hope you can come up next weekend; hope Rich can scalp us tickets to see ELTON JOHN/ BILLY JOEL and hope you know yesterday, today and always how much you are loved and appreciated!!

and - a little bragging on my baby girl Addison - who is NUMBER 2 in the whole school for top AR points - that would be K - 5th grade! and only ONE fifth grader is beating her. Pretty impressive for a first grader! She takes after her Bebe :)

playing in lipgloss (she is SUCH a girlie girl!)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-06T09:26:00.001-05:00

Please Pray

2009-05-01T10:33:00.002-05:00

* My pastor and others that are with him in India working with Compassion kids.

* My uncle Doug got news Wednesday that he has an abdominal aortic aneurysm (definition: a weakened and bulging area in the aorta - the major blood vessel that feeds blood to your body)

* My Uncle Mike - we think he may be back into drugs again. (an on and off again battle his whole life)

* My friend/co-worker Meredith and her family as they travel to GA for the death of a family member

* My friend/ co-worker Justin and his family - he has a 27 year old cousin with lung cancer at Vandy and the doctors say there isn't anything else they can do

*My friends Tiana and Meggie as they prepare to graduate - May 9th! Yay I am so proud of these ladies!

* My mom - unexplainable back, internal and knee problems :( in addition to the stress added by her brothers and their perspective issues

* My family...

* My best friend's brother who is serving his second tour in Iraq

- and HIS girlfriend's little sister who was in a four wheeler accident yesterday, (she's 10) - head trauma, ruptured splean, tearing to the stomach and intestinal lining

God knows each of these people by name and their problems/needs but please join me in lifting them up to him.

Thanks for reading - your prayers are appreciated!

Birthday and Easter

2009-04-15T09:08:00.006-05:00

I'm cheating, this Wednesday isn't wordless. But the last post picture is too cute not to put up!!

My birthday and Easter were this past Sunday.

on Sat Rich and I went to Cirque de Soleil - very cool!!

Then we had dinner with Jamie and Ken at Ellendales

and finally the Easter Egg hunting pictures

AREN'T THEY CUTE?

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-15T09:05:00.001-05:00

wordless wednesday

2009-04-01T21:02:00.001-05:00

HEY!

Addison's Birthday

2009-03-30T10:33:00.003-05:00

My first baby turned 7 this weekend. Addison is my God-daughter, her mom and I have been friends since the 6th grade. I have 4 babies in my life that don't belong to me and Addison was the 1st, and though she is no longer my baby - she is definitely my special little girl!

Left to Right: Addison's baby sister Krisaley (age 3 1/2) Leila - a friend's kid (age 2 1/2), Abagayle - Addison's cousin and BFF (age 6), Addison the birthday girl (age 7) and Kali - Addison's middle sister (age 4 1/2)

It is SO hard to believe my sweet little girl has grown up so fast.She is reading paperback novels - She loves Judy B. Jones books. She has already lost 2 baby teeth and is making straight A's in the 1st grade. I am so proud of her!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-03-25T08:59:00.002-05:00

Love to Read

2009-03-23T11:18:00.004-05:00

I often find myself in the middle of several reading projects, thanks to school, church and good ol' reading for pleasure.

Currently I am reading:

Text books: Evidence, Remedies, Property, and Civil Procedure

The entire book of Matthew, as part of a church challenge to spend more intentional time with God. I'm on Ch. 8 today.

and my for fun reading:

What are you currently reading or what is the best book you've read lately?

28 Day Challenge

2009-03-17T09:08:00.002-05:00

My Church issued a 28 day challenge - starting yesterday. There are 28 days til Easter, and 28 Chapters in Matthew - read a chapter a day til Easter.

Great for accountability!

Also for those wondering my birthday falls on Easter - so 28 days left to shop, but no shopping til you've read your chapter in Matthew :)

My babies (but not MINE)

2009-02-24T08:52:00.008-06:00

My youngest baby just turned one last Wed - Mr. Brady Dean

(my best friend Jamie's little boy)

He's giving my niece Ava a ride - I told him he is too young to be picking up girls!!

Then my baby girls - both born in August 2007

The blur is Annabelle, my cousin's dog doing a drive by for scraps

aren't the girls cute eating together!??

Isabelle Marie McCaleb - age 18 months (2 weeks younger than Ava)

She is my cousin Nicki's little girl
and sometimes she looks at you like you are crazy (so cute!)

Next is my niece Ava Grace Martin

showing my Mom her "if you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it"

Little things that make my day

2009-02-16T09:37:00.006-06:00

I am easily amused and I think life is more fun when you stop and enjoy or laugh at the little things!

Silly conversations:

Conversation Friday with a co-workers (an attorney and another legal assistant)

Rita: When I was little my mom used to say "You poor persecuted thing."

Max: Oh, how funny, was that when you decided you wanted to work in the legal field when you grew up?

Rita: No! When I was little I wanted to be PAT BENATAR!!

(she said this with such seriousness - I laughed til I cried)

Shout outs in other people's Blogs:

(so I return the favor - Thanks Natalie!!)

I would like to introduce you to one of the MANY talented artists I have met in Nashville:

Natalie Stovall

I met Natalie when I worked at 2 Doors Down, a sports bar that used to be on Demonbreun. Natalie & her band played there almost every weekend. If you have never heard her - please please go to her site now and check her out. SUPER TALENTED!

At her shows she does an awesome mix of her stuff & fun covers (my favorite - her version of CRAZY) and is truly a great entertainer! I have had the privelege of seeing her play MANY nights at the sports bar, the Jack Daniels Saloon at Opry Mills, and even at a Predators Game.

Natalie provided me with a new football good luck charm/recipe - go to her blog to check it out!

I'm going to a Predators Game tonight
and last but not least - things to make my day:

Getting to have lunch with my Mom!

Brittany and Jamie's Day of Fun

2009-02-12T10:15:00.008-06:00

If you are a FRIENDS addict

(then insert Janis voice and remember "Joey & Janis's Day of Fun!")

If this is not funny to you then you should go rent (or borrow from me) all ten seasons of Friends right now!! (Sorry everything can be a FRIENDS quote in my head :) )

Last Sat was GORGEOUS and very "un-February" (temp in 60's)

So, Jamie (my best friend) and I took my favorite little man to the park

Brady (Age 11.5 months)

Highlights:

Seriously cutest little boy ever!!

Allergic Reaction

2009-02-05T10:15:00.005-06:00

It all started with a little stomache ache. For 2 days I thought I had a touch of food poisoning.

Next day itchy splotchy wrists - this only lasted an hour.

Next night itchy splotchy arms - 2 hours later - itchy red eyes - legs - back - from the neck down covered in HIVES :(

Look how purple and swollen my eyelids are!

any my neck was very red and itchy!

After 2 hours 2 benedryls I drove myself to the ER and had the best ER experience imaginable.
(except for the $80 co-pay)
They got me back right away and within 20-30 minutes they had an IV in me pumping me with Super benedryl, pepcid (who know that would help?) and steriods.
30 minutes later I was feeling WAY better and the red was now a faint pink and the welps and hives were fading!

Today feeling brand new!

What's your worst/ or best ER experience?

25 Random Things

2009-01-26T09:24:00.002-06:00

1. I am in my 2nd year of law school.
2. I have a small birthmark in the shape of a thumb print under my right butt cheek.
3. There are 4 very important kids in my life and none of them are mine.
4. I have a pretty good memory.
5. I read very fast. I've read 4 books in January already.
6. I attend Cross Point Church and LOVE it.
7. Kids impress me more than adults.
8. I am an Aries, and fairly stubborn.
9. My middle name is Michelle, after my mom, and my dad use to swear I was cloned.
10. I have an awesome boss!

11. I am training for the Country Music Half Marathon.
12. I love ice cream, usually varieties that include some form of chocolate.
13. I love sushi.
14. My co-workers are my 2nd family, and I am very grateful!
15. Some of the most talented artists I've ever heard haven't made it big yet!
16. I am fiercely loyal.
17. I love to read.
18. I love cruises.
19. I lost my dad 3 months before I turned 17.
20. My mom is one of my best friends.

21. One of the smartest people I've ever known is my uncle, who can't function normally because he suffers from alcoholism and social phobias. It's truly a tragedy.
22. I don't always believe things are coincidences - when things go according to God's plan - they aren't accidental.
23. My favorite colors are all shades of BLUE.
24.My favorite seasons are summer and fall.
25. I love football, especially the Titans.

Good Monday

2009-01-19T10:29:00.003-06:00

Normally I am not a fan of the Mondays... But I had a very lazy weekend, so this one is not so bad. Plus it is a half day for me. Woo hoo!

I love half days at work! Especially when they are before or after a weekend. The attorney I work for thought the office was closed today for MLK day so he took the day off. So he said I could work half a day "if I wanted." If I wanted??? Who wouldn't want half a day!?

And also great news - one of my dear sweet co-workers is loaning me the books I need this semester for law school. Yea again!! That saves me $700 - had I bought them new! What a blessing! :)

And this morning I found a reasonably priced cruise to go on this summer.

Also - my best friend and mother to this cute baby boy - has an interview with my law firm - for a legal assistant position.

Monday - not looking too bad so far!!

You matter

2008-12-16T13:18:00.003-06:00

Growing up I attended a medium to large size church. In this church, I felt like I didn't matter. (to the pastor) Don't get me wrong, I had an awesome Youth Pastor and really great Sunday School teachers. But, the pastor was a different story. I was a member there for 9 years and the pastor never knew my name. I had even introduced myself to him numerous times, still acted like we had never met each time I shook his hand. In '98 my aunt was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment at a hospital in the same city as my church. Numerous times I put her name on the "hospital board" at the church to receive a visit from the pastor - never happened. Numerous times I added her to the prayer request list that was to be published in the weekly bulliten - her name never appeared. Numerous times I introduced my pastor to my grandmother who was in town visiting my aunt at the hospital and each time I would retell the story and the pastor acted like he had never heard of her before. It was beginning to feel like I didn't matter.

I realize he had a large congregation and shook hundreds of hands week to week. But, somehow I just don't believe that hearing the same story 4 Sundays in a row of my aunt who had Leukemia was new news to him... It just didn't matter!

Fast forward one year later. It is now 1999. My dad is diagnosed with cancer. I am 16 years old. Each week I would add his name to the prayer request list and no response (my dad wasn't a member - he lived in Nashville, I lived in Jackson, TN). My dad battled cancer for exactly one year, and then we lost him. 3 Sundays in a row my mom and I talked to the pastor after the service about losing my dad, each time again he acted like he had never seen us before. No letter, no follow up, nothing. He had 2 teenage girls, members of his church who had lost an aunt and their father in back to back years - and the pastor didn't even care enough to commit our conversation from the previous week to memory... I was really hurt by the church. Luckily I kept my anger directed just at this church, not all churches and not God.

Fast forward to present. A year ago I started attending Cross Point at the recommendation of my friend Tiana. Loved this church from day 1. Felt like this church was everything I was looking for in a church. It was almost as if their goals for a church were taken directly from my heart. Plus the pastor seemed to care.... Really care about people. And I would not consider this a small church. It has 4 services on Sundays. It's not huge - but it's not tiny either. Beginning of December I left a comment on the pastors blog (http://www.withoutwax.tv/). Just a simple comment voicing my view on teaching your kids about Santa Claus.

And guess what - the pastor emailed me. Me, personally. I have never personally met him. I have not yet joined his church... It didn't matter... He sometimes gets hundreds of comments A DAY. But, he cared what people had to say and he took the time to respond. And you know what? That matters! It means I matter... and to a person attending a church - you want to feel like you matter... Not necessarily that your opinion posted on his blog is that important... but at least you know that in a time of crisis - this is someone you could ask to pray for/with you and know that YOU MATTER.

He read my comment, took the time to email me, and went and read my blog... Me, one of hundreds...

Thanks Pete - you made my day!

There's never any time

2008-12-05T13:15:00.002-06:00

to post

Obviously, because I haven't in over a month.

I'm done with school. (My first year anyway!)

and don't go back til January. Woo-hoo.

Last night I put up my little Charlie Brown looking Christmas tree.

(the lights help hide the tiny-ness)

I love love love Christmas! But, it comes and goes so fast. I am NO WHERE near done shopping.

Because there is never any time....

End of the Year

2008-10-01T15:10:00.003-05:00

Yikes!

Finals & Papers & Bears - Oh My!!!!
The end of the year has snuck up
on me and now the semester is ending!

I'm so ready for the weekend so I can start studying - Not that I look forward to studying but I have no time between now and then and the anticipation of all that I need to review is almost unbelievable. Time flies. How did Fall get here so fast?

What have I done?

2008-09-23T21:01:00.003-05:00

I don't even know my last name.... (name that song)

Ok, my problem isn't that bad..

I'm going back to waiting tables. :(

Not quitting the law firm just adding another job.

J's is going to let me pick up shifts whenever I want - Let's see how long/ how well that will be!

I also hear that the new manager is NOT so nice - Lovely just what I need to ease back into the server world -- GRRR

You see I am perfectly content just working my happy FULL TIME job at the law firm - But my bank account just feels that is not sufficient so back to 2 jobs.

Not only am I seeking pity, but also accepting financial gifts to cheer me up - Thanks!

Thought for the day

2008-09-09T11:22:00.001-05:00

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you,but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence.... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

What are your thoughts on this?

Case of the Mondays

2008-09-09T09:30:00.003-05:00

Never fear small group's here.......

Prayer & Potluck Series
Bring a dish and matters of the heart
prayer, praises, etc...

Check your baggage at the door!
As Pastor Pete said Sunday - Relationships are what define us - your relationship with others will be your legacy that you leave behind.

Tiana - relationship with mother and new boyfriend
Alex - relationship with mother, Hunter, and relationship with her child
Deidre - relationship with her mother, her aunt & uncle, and her friends
Jessica - relationship with her mother, friends, (Robbie (bad))
Me - relationship with Rich, my sister, and my stepsister

Notice a trend... RELATIONSHIPS...

I LOVE DISNEY

2008-08-28T10:18:00.001-05:00

Coming to Nashville - Who's excited?

Wrapping Up Summer

2008-08-27T12:44:00.011-05:00

My niece Ava's first birthday party had to be postponed a week, as she caught hand, foot and mouth disease a few days before her party. It is highly contagious to other kids, not so much adults. So my sister postponed her party a week.

But, my mom and I, being the loving aunt and grandma that we are decided to go see Ava anyways.

What better time to get toys, than when you are sick and don't feel good?

Me, and my sister and Ava watched the movie Happy Feet (first time for me) Very cute movie and Ava loves the music and LOVES to dance.

Her party was postponed to this past Sat. I just could not believe she is one already this year has flown by! Ava loves Dora the Explorer and got lots of Dora gifts - a Dora doll, couch, a Dora Car.

There was cupcakes and presents and lots of sweet little babies.

Isabelle feeding her Mom, Nicki some cake.

Ava & Isabelle are both walking now "tenatively." Not full speed walkers but can take a few steps unassisted.

Birthday Girl is in stripes

Brady is 6 months and a super speedy crawler.

That's the latest on the babies. Isabelle's first birthday is next Sat!

Nothing exciting going on in law school. A fellow student's husband works for the jail and has invited us to "go through the booking" process. Unless, that equals extra credit you can count me out!

I missed Church last week due to family being in town and we were all in Mount Juliet - which was disappointing because I'll be missing this Sunday too for Baby Girl #2's birthday. Luckily my church is really cool and has cds of the sermon so you can catch up on what ya missed. I am so blessed to have found Cross Point, I truly believe it is "what" I am looking for in a church. It helps that I have friends that go there and that my boyfriend started going when I did and he loves it too. But, trust me that is not WHY I would pick a church. I will always visit my friends' churches but if it is not for me I would not continue to go just because my friends do.

Sweet Summertime

2008-07-31T09:51:00.017-05:00

It's a smile, It's a kiss, It's a sip of wine, It's summer time.....

Kenny Chesney has a way with words

(sometimes!)

Summer is passing too quickly as it always does! Work is crazy busy and I have reached the 1/2 way point of my first year of law school. It's all I thought it would be and more! HARD... Lots of studying, even when you feel you can study NO more, you haven't studyied enough. It is interesting though - Most of the time! There are some topics that put me to sleep. The current snoozer award goes to Constitutional Criminal Procedure. Criminal Law is interesting but Miranda warnings, search and seizure, right to counsel, all the stupid little mistakes that can be made by the police that get a horrible criminal set free. blah blah blah - I definitely believe everyone deserves a FAIR trial but the theories of how can we hide/ suppress evidence that clearly proves your guilty (aka OJ Simpson trial) doesn't seem like such a good idea! I believe the justice system has taken it a little too far. "oops, the police didn't tell you that you have the right to remain silent" ok... Your confession to hacking your wife and kids with a chainsaw doesn't count... I mean seriously!

so yea... that's been my summer - Lots and lots of studying!
My boyfriend Rich left for Alaska yesterday, which is not all snow and ice- year round, contrary to popular belief. The weather is supposed to be 60-70 degrees while he's there. He'll be there a month. I'm so jealous. He gets to work at a resort with his best friend. He assures me that there are NO women in Alaska and if there are, then they are burly. While it's nice to get a break, one month is way too long and I will miss him a LOT! But, it leaves me with more free time to study, so I guess I will survive.

Things to look forward to this month - August 9th - me & a few co-workers are going to a Nashville Sounds game (minor league baseball)

Then August 16th is my niece's first birthday party and Aug. 30th is my cousin's little girl's first b-day. I cannot believe those girls will be one. This time last year their mothers were dying - Temperature in TN stayed over 100 degrees for most of August and Nicki & Kristie were 9 months pregnant... Not happy campers! Isabelle is on the left and Ava is on the right for both pictures.

Knowing more about me

2008-07-03T11:11:00.001-05:00

What is in the back of your car?
a tupperware container of my dad's stuff that I found in my mom's garage last weekend

Some really cool black dishesOk these aren't black - but you can pretend!

What color is your toothbrush?
White and yellow

Are you a morning person or a night person?

Night, and I really wish I was a morning person. But, I truly despise getting up early, I abuse my snooze button, have to set several alarms and I am not usually pleasant if forced to wake up before I want to. Solution: See below this is how I should be woken up.

What is your favorite color(s)?

all shades of blue, particularly teals & turquoises, saphire, etc...

When do you go to sleep?

11pm, but 10 or 10:30 and I would be less cranky in the morning!

What were you doing at 8:00 a.m.?

walking into my office, or sitting at my desk drinking coffee

What were you doing 45 minutes ago?

sending subpoenas via certified mail, then filing them, very exciting morning so far!

What is your favorite candy?

Chocolate - I love Snickers, Twix, Reece's Cups, and Whatchamacallits

Sweet - Sour Patch Fruits, I will settle for Sour Patch kids, but the fruits are way better, I also love skittles

What is the best ice cream flavor?

I have lots of favorites - I really like World Class Chocolate from Baskin Robbins, Rocky Road, just plain good ol' Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip

What is the last thing you had to drink?
Unsweet Tea at Big River

What are you wearing right now?
Gray - Ann Taylor pants, Blue Limited shirt with cream colored laci cami under it

What is the last thing you ate?
Grilled Chicken & Shrimp from Big River

Do you take vitamins daily?
I just started my Mom gave me the One-A-Days with Energy

What are you doing tomorrow?
Sleeping in then going downtown to watch the fireworks

What color is your car?

White

How many states have you lived in?

2 I was born in North Carolina but have lived in TN since I was 2

Are you better at math or art?

Neither, but I would have to pick Art, because I've always made b's & c's in Math and made an A in the one or two art classes that I have taken

Where did you go to pre-school, if you went at all?

Mckenzie - School of Discovery
of which I have very strong memories of our Christmas program & learning the song "I'm gettin nuthin for Christmas, Mommy & Daddy are mad, I'm gettin nuthin for Christmas... Cuz I ain't been nuthin but bad." I thought that was the funniest song ever!

Something you hate more than anything?

inconsiderate people, I don't really HATE anything but have plenty of pet peeves or dislikes!!

For example: mustard, oatmeal, olives - I don't hate them and I could eat them if I HAD to but I really really dislike them!
Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?

contacts during the day and glasses at night

I got glasses in 5th grade and graduated to contacts the summer before my 7th grade year

Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

Absolutely. It's all part of God's plan!

Do you like your job?

YES

LOVE my job.

June

2008-06-18T09:53:00.000-05:00

Where did summer go? I mean April and May came and went in such a blur and now June is halfway over. I know when you are busy times flies and I am busy!! I work Monday through Friday 8-5 at law firm and on Tues I have class from 6:30 - 10 and on Wednesday I have class from 4:45 - 10. Law school is kicking my butt! I am exhausted all the time and it seems like there is never a reprieve... Next week I have a midterm, and a brief due and then the week after another midterm... At least July won't be so crazy! But then August will - I have a final August 5th and then it baby girls birthdays! "Baby girls" collectively refer to the two babies born in my family last August the first babies to be born since 16 years ago in August when my little brother was born- my sister and my cousin Nicki had babies 2 weeks apart. Ava Grace - my niece will be 1 on the 14th and Isabelle my almost niece will be 1 on the 30th... I cannot believe they are already almost one... This whole year has flown by!!

They are the sweetest babies! I am so blessed to have them in my life. Both girls are crawling and have their bottom 2 teeth. Isabelle's top teeth are cutting through - I know this because she bit me Sat. She spent the night with me Sat and her daddy was more worried about her spending the night than her Mom - Nicki totally trust me and it's not that Matt doesn't - he is just a protective daddy - SO CUTE!!

Insight

2008-05-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS SundayMorning Commentary, Sunday, 12/18/05.
Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beatingheart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on thecover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They neverknow who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my lifeif I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?
I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all aboutTom Cruise's wife.
Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am asubversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.
If this is what it means to be no longer young, it's not so bad.
Next confession:I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it doesnot bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against.
That's what they are: Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother her me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me.
I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto.
In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu.
If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is theMenorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.
I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country.
I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?
I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is alittle different:
This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her
"How could God let something like this Happen?" (regardingKatrina)
Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.
She said,"I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.
How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"In light of recent events...terrorists attack , school shootings, etc.
I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school .
The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself
And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage
their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide).
We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.
I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why theworld's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.
Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfirebut when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.
Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyber space, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school andworkplace.
Are you laughing?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many onyour address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

101

2008-05-02T13:48:00.000-05:00

101 Things about Me
1. I love all shades of the color blue.
2. All my life I have been raised as the oldest of 3 kids - but technically I have 3 older 1/2 brothers and now a younger stepsister. I am in the direct middle of 7.
3. I love ice cream and chocolate fudge - not necessarily together - but that's not a bad idea!
4. I was born on April 12, 2 weeks late, in Asheville, NC.
5. When I was little I would convince my sister that my feet smelled like strawberries and when she would sniff and say "no they don't" I would tell her they were like 'scratch & sniff' stickers and to try again - and she would!
6. I always wanted to play with my sister's Ice Capades Barbie and she would never share it.
7. I am moving this weekend into what will be my 15th home in 25 years - and I hate moving!
8. Before I die I want to have seen all 50 states.
9. I have a list of movies that I want to see.
10. I love Gone With the Wind.
11. My mom taught me how to read when I was 4 and I have LOVED reading ever since.
12. I can be a little stubborn. (ok a lot!)
13. I didn't like my best friend, Jamie when I first met her. But we have been friends now since we were 12.
14. I am more like my mom than I care to admit - and I will admit to a good deal - my dad used to swear I was cloned.
15. He also would call me "Little Michelle."
16. My dad died on my Mom's birthday 3 months before I turned 17 - January 4, 2000.
17. I was never just a "daddy's girl" or "mama's girl" I was always both.
18. My dad used to tell me and my sister all the time that he "loved us more than a pig loves slop." -- and you know how much a pig loves slop.
19. My life is not my own - I have given it to God.
20. When I try to "take it back" things don't work out so well, his plan is obviously better than mine.
21. I love lions - because my dad did.
22. On March 29, 2002 - a very special girl entered my life - Addison McKenzie Reece.
23. I love her as if she were my own - (she's not).
24. Addison named me Bebe when she was like 10 months old - It has stuck for the past 5 years.
25. My mom loves Addison as much as I do.
26. I have never had surgery, stitches or broken a bone.
27. Except for my pinky toe - and that REALLY hurt!
28. I have a political science degree with a pre-law emphasis from MTSU.
29. I went to Jackson State for my 1st 2 years of college.
30. My mom remarried a few years ago - to a great man who has the same name as my Dad.
31. That sounds strange but apparently it is fairly common in my family - I have several family members that remarried someone of the same name as their ex.
32. When my uncle remarried a Debbie - to distinguish - the ex aunt became the "bad Debbie."
33. I have another Uncle who is an alchoholic and possibly one of the SMARTEST people I have ever met - so sad...
34. My sister and my cousin had baby girls 2 weeks apart last August - Ava Grace & Isabelle Marie - and they are BEAUTIFUL!!
35. They were the first babies born in 16 years in my family.
36. My best friend had a little boy in February - named Brady - such a handsome lil guy!
37. This year 07-08 I knew 12 pregnant women.
38. I think myspace & facebook are a great way to keep up with friends!
39. My mom's best friend Lisa is my "other-other mother."
40. I have always said other-other because when I was growing up I always thought of my mom's sister as my other mother.
41. My aunt passed away when I was 15.
42. Her daughters (my cousins) and me and my sister all grew up together.
43. Some of my best childhood memories are from their swimming pool, their trampoline, or climbing their tree.
44. I am 1/4 Canadian - my grandma is from Newfoundland.
45. For the record: Newfie jokes aren't as funny as Polock jokes!
46. I love the TV Show Friends.
47. I own all 10 seasons.
48. I still laugh really hard and out loud even if I am alone watching Friends.
49. I like to start Christmas shopping early and I am still never done by Christmas Eve.
50. I have a small caffeine addiction - I NEED my coffee.
51. I'm very independent.
52. My family means the WORLD to me.
53. I love to sing along to songs - I never just listen to music.
54. I have learned that life is short and precious and once each day is gone you can't get it back.
55. I Love to take pictures - fairly obsessively!
56. I love Disney Movies - Little Mermaid, Lion King & Beauty and the Beast are my favorites!
57. Disney Soundtracks have great music!!
58. I cry like a baby when watching sad movies.
59. I love flowers - star- gaizer lilies and yellow and pink tipped roses are my favorite!
60. I believe the elderly are amazing and overlooked - which is such a tragedy.
61. My dad's mother - Mammy was one of the greatest Christian women I have ever met!
62. I love love love to travel! Especially to the beach or on a cruise!
63. I hit the snooze button many times before rolling out of bed.
64. I am not the best budgeter - but I am getting better.
65. My room is typically a little messy!
66. I want to backpack in Europe someday.
67. I love to scrapbook but have no time!!
68. I have no time because I work full time at a law firm, going to law school full time and have lots of babies, family and friends to see. And a still try to make time for my boyfriend :)
69. I love football! NFL - the most I love the Titans & Packers. I also love the TN Vols.
70. I almost cried when Brett Farve retired.
71. I love talking football with "the guys."
72. I love it more when I know more than "the guys."
73. I want to learn how to play golf now and that makes me sad because my dad begged to teach me when I was younger. I could have had lessons and my own clubs :(
74. I am a huge procrastinator - and I hate that!
75. I live for the summer time! If winter disappeared I don't think I would miss it.
76. I believe in the power of prayer!
77. I don't think you should be allowed to vote or to have kids with out passing some sort of certification tests.
78. I'm serious! Kids are the awesomest things and nothing hurts me more to see than parents who don't treat their kids right and treasure them!
79. I LOVE kids. If I could afford it I would have 15. well maybe not that many...
80. I hate getting my pants leg wet or getting my socks wet.
81. Sushi has become one of my favorite foods!
82. I would rather wear tennis shoes or flip flops than heels.
83. My friend Zea says this is because I have never owned expensive heels.
84. I want a puppy - but I want it to stay small and cute and puppy-like and be born house broken and not chew on things. I think I should probably just get another fish.
85. I'm ready to own my own house - but I know I probably won't til I am done with law school - I hate renting.
86. I think it is so cool that Ava & Isabelle (my nieces) are only 2 weeks apart.
87. If I won the lottery and didn't have to work - I would definitely do volunteer work.
88. I have a wide variety of taste in music from casting crowns - elton john - billy joel - to disney soundtracks, aerosmith - to reba mcentire.
89. I love Reba - she is my ALL time favorite!
90. I collect shot glasses.
91. The name Brittany fits me - I have never wanted to change it.
92. My family members are my best friends and my best friends are family.
93. My week is better after Monday nite Bible Study with the girls!
94. Law school is harder than I had imagined. It is so interesting - I actually enjoy most of it. Contract law - NOT so much - even though that is the area of law that I am currently working in.
95. I think kids say the cutest things - I can't wait to have my own kids and keep detailed baby books of all the things they did or said.
96. My family has the best home videos!!
97. We are a FUN dysFUNctional family - it's ok we embrace our disfunction!
98. I love God.
99. I love to be outside.
100. I love good quotes - I collect them.
101. I love my crazy life!

Pressure

2008-04-22T09:48:00.001-05:00

my sweet boyfriend painting my room

I usually work well under pressure. In fact, some of my best papers, assignments, tests, etc... have been handled under pressure. You might call me somewhat of a procrastinator... Ok take away the somewhat part - I am Totally a procrastinator - but I get it honest - if you know my mother then you understand... However, it works for me. I have 13 days including today to organize, pack, move and clean my old apartment. I also have a midterm & a final the 29th & 30th of this month - yup right before I move. YIKES... Talk about stress! Speaking of stress let's talk about more stress in my life:

(a) Next weekend is my last weekend at J. Alexander's. It is a bitter sweet departure! I mean don't get me wrong I DO NOT enjoy working 50-60 hours a week and trying to do law school - BUT - it was necessary... I mean a girl's gotta eat... Well not necessarily but I do need a roof over my head. My sister and I decided this past Sunday that there was no better time to not be able to afford groceries than bathing suit season. Plus I will miss my friends. I have had that job for almost 2 years. That is where I met my boyfriend, my roommate, and my Bible Study girls - a lot of GREAT people!!! - On a serious note - I am stressed about losing $600-$1000/ month. But, I am having faith that God will provide.

(b) Trying to get my uncle into Rehab. Everytime I think about it I hear Amy Winehouse's whiney song "I don't wanna go to rehab" playing in my head. My uncle has SO much potential to really be somebody, do something with his life and I have faith that HE can. Whether or not HE WILL is totally different. He is 40 years old and has been an alcoholic for 1/2 his life. He has NEVER functioned as a normal adult, not dependent on alcohol... So I understand he is scared and probably doesn't even believe in himself - that he can clean up and do something - But I know God is powerful enough to help even him. I just pray that God gives him the desire & the confidence to change.

(c) I'm stressed for my sister and Matt. I know they are under a tremendous amount of stress. I cannot imagine being in their shoes. Financial stress is bad enough when I worry about taking care of me but they have a baby who is solely dependent on them.

(d) My car: April 5th I was in a wreck. I was backing out of my apt and a girl was destracted and plowed right into me. Hit my back right quarter panel - knocked my bumper loose and basically ripped off part of my passenger quarter panel. Well in good ol' Davidson County if a wreck happens anywhere other than a public street - it is considered private property and they file a report over the phone - basically citing no fault and leaving it up to insurance adjusters to wade thru the he said she said and determine blame. Well to me it seemed clear - she hit me - even the estimator for Geiko said he didn't know how I could drive my car sideways and hit her with my side - there is no damage to the trunk or bumper in the sense of dents or smashed up anything - my tail lights are still perfectly intact - clearly she hit me. Well I file a report with Geiko - they take my statement, pictures and estimate and wait to do the same on the girl who hit me... They just now (2 weeks later) got her statement and then they transferred me to a different claims adjuster - which kinda freaks me out - I have been dealing with the same one since the accident and they get her statement and ship us to another person who listens to a recording of our statements and is supposed to make a decision based on that?? Grrr... Then on my birthday someone steals my headlight cover and snaps off the headlight. Ok, Have I mentioned I have no money - So I have to buy a headlight cover (the plastic shield) please explain when I will have the time or money to do that... Stupid Car!

So add on law school and moving on top of all those things - and you get a little peek of all the things bouncing around inside my head!

Thankful

2008-04-03T09:17:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it is really easy to focus on the negative things and let them bring you down... so to help me focus on the positive and not be stressed, short-tempered, irritated, impatient I am going to try to focus on the things I am greatful for! (which is a lot!)
------- God's endless love and grace.
My family - esp Mom & Tommy - they do so much for me!
Rich not getting mad at me when I am cranky (which is pretty frequent these days)
Healthy Babies born in the last 8 months - Ava Grace, Isabelle Marie, Asher Noah, Brady Dean, Ella Skye, and Kale Hudson
My Job, (at the law firm) My raise My co-workers
My bosses - I am very greatful to work for 3 of the greatest attorneys in Nashville!
Having almost all of my family in TN - this is something that I have mostly taken for granted
I am thankful that it is almost Spring and then it will be almost Summer
Law School - it is hard, overwhelming, stressful, long boring classes (sometimes), interesting information (sometimes) but nonetheless I am greatful to be there...
All of my Friends
Tiana - for her wisdom, encouragement, compassion, concern, inspiration and her friendship... her ability to be a "light" in the world - esp. mine - Her love for God & her Friends is such an encouragement!
(also thankful for her opportunity to intern in NY this summer)
Zea - for her dedication, loyalty, neuroticness (sp?) for her ability to be the friend who is sympathetic & empathetic and lets you vent without trying to advise or fix!!
My mother - for being the "fixer" in my life - the giver of advise - not always the most sympathetic or empathetic, will be the first to tell me when I am "in the right" or "in the wrong" though at the time it is not always appreciated- it is always needed!! For her endless support and love, for the being the one I can bitch at when it isn't her that I am bitching about. For being the first one I call in good times and bad - for being a mother and a best friend!
Jamie - for being there for 13 years now. From middle school, high school, margarita study dates with Melinda Latch's id in college to now being grown ups - at least for the most part we try to be! For coming to Nashville - I don't know what I would do if she was still in Jackson! For loving me, putting up with me, listening to me vent, and being there day or night, for sharing some of the best times together, to supporting each other in the worst times, and for bringing Brady - my handsome lil nephew into my life...
Addison Mckenzie Reece - don't get me wrong I love all the new babies in my life - but this little girl stole my heart 6 years ago, she's the creator of "Bebe" age 9-10 months (Jan 2003) and she's MY girl - just ask her...
................................................... and so much more!

On My Mind

2008-04-02T21:13:00.000-05:00

New Apt.

Shoulder Pain

Money

Law School

Rich

Needing to order Bible Study book

Needing to order Law school Study book

Missing Friends

Missing Family

Missing Addison

Missing the babies

wanting to meet Kale & Ella

My birthday in 10 days... turning 25

Looking at my life and feeling good about where I am inspite of the fact I remember years ago picturing 25 differently...

Working out

Time management

Time for friends/family

Needing "me time"

But overall life is good, crazy, hectic, happy, cranky, good & bad hair days, loving and being loved spending every day greatful to God for it all!