Friday Fragments

Its Friday... Good Friday....

Remembering what Jesus went through today...

always holds sadness....

but HOPE that SUNDAY IS COMING!!!!

_______________________

I can't believe Easter is this weekend!
Easter is probably one of my favorite holidays



The excitement of what the day is about
It doesn't get better then that

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Speaking of Easter - I'm totally 100% not prepared for it.
I have been so busy with pictures & getting everything together for a half marathon
which is the DAY BEFORE Easter
(stupid... stupid planning)

Not to mention, I'm in a skit 2 times at Easter Service
& its a very PHYSICAL skit..
& I'll just be finishing 13.1 miles.

We're going to practice for hours on Saturday - just 3 hours after I cross the finish line
& then I'm pretty sure I'm going to die...



_________________________

Everyone is out of the office today

Good Friday, I think we should be closed - personally...

But I'm the one stuck behind
but that's OK.

A quiet office makes a happy office

I can dance all I want today in my office

________________________


So if some of you didn't see on my Facebook or Instagram page
Mr.Hubs has been bit by a spider & is on antibiotic patrol.



His leg is horrible.  I've never seen anything like it.
His ankle has been swollen so much you can't see the bone, & the red rash is growing & venturing around to the other side of his leg.
It's a mess

& Ricky is just like me... he hates medicine...
so he hasn't been taking his medicine correctly.

The doctor told him if its not any better, he'll need an antibiotic shot right in the middle of it.  I think he'd rather do 10 of those then take pills.
Can't say I blame him.

Stupid spiders

___________________________

I secretly think Ricky just wanted to try & become Spiderman



Just my theory

_____________________________

So my mom may have a little fit when she sees the book I'm reading right now...

It's called 'Dorothy Must Die'

& mercy, its pretty darn good!!!!



It's the story of Dorothy, who didn't enjoy life in Kansas, going back to Oz
& sort of taking over.  Taking advantage of the magic in the land...
& another girl gets swept up in a tornado & she's there to free Oz & all the residents from the harsh treatment of Dorothy.

I can't wait to see how this is going to end!!!

_______________________________

I heard this book is actually in talks of becoming a tv show on The CW Network

I'd watch that

_____________________________

I need more time to read.



I'm catching pages of my book as I walk around my house from room to room.

I used to be able to read a book in like a week.
With my schedule lately, I'm good to do a book in 1 month.

& this book is like 500 pages.
Maybe by the end of the year I'll be done

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If you haven't seen this yet, its adorable... & the best..

I have watched it over & over & laughed till I cry.

They take kids & let them just talk about something, let their imagination run wild, & then the adults act out what they say.

Its AWESOME!



(Just think about Jesus & say a prayer)... my favorite part

I'm going to say that tomorrow in my half marathon over & over
"You just gotta keep going"

........

There are like hundreds of these videos.

Here's another one of my favorites where they actually got Josh Groban to do it!!!
How cool is that!!!?






If you're bored, just go to YouTube & search "Kid Snippets" & just enjoy....

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday
& a Blessed Easter!!!!

#ProjectThankful14

 

"Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality."

~Alfred Painter

 

04.10.14 Check the Girls

 

 

Gotta stay up on the mammograms...

& got mine done for another year.

I felt like a ninja in my gown... it wrapped just like my old Kung Fu Gi

Good thing I didn't come out kicking & punching

 

 

 

04.11.14 Worshipping with thousands

 

 

There's something so amazing when you are in a room with thousands of people & they are all lifting up songs of praise to our Heavenly Father. 

I always like to take a minute to just look around & soak it all in.

It's powerful... an arena full of God loving people.

 

 

04.12.14 FRONT ROW!!!!

 

 

So much fun!  Chris Tomlin concert... in the front row...

This will go down as one of my favorite concerts

... & one of the most fun...

with some of the coolest ladies I know!

 

 

04.13.14 Spring is showing her face

 

 

Yes, we had snow the day after this picture was taken....

BUT Spring is popping up

& its gotta stick sooner or later

... God's beauty in creation is so amazing..

 

 

04.14.14 Disney Night

 

 

Yes, I was thankful for Disney Night on Dancing with the Stars

... I'm sick like that...

It was so cute though - I told Ricky, "LOOK!!! Someone is dressed like Belle"

he looked over at me & so naturally said,

"No, they are dressed like you"

... he knows how to swoon me...

 

 

 

 

04.15.14 Blue Skies on a Winter Spring Day

 

 

I refused to pull out my winter coat.

This Spring day only had a high in the 40's (lows in the 20's)

but the beautiful blue skies reminded me that the cold will soon go away

 

 

 

04.16.14 Whew!

 

 

Got my mammogram results back (that was fast!)

& its always a relief to get an 'all clear' on these sorts of things.

I saw mine was clear & I instantly had to pray for those who do not get that news.

So many who are fighting Breast Cancer

I pray they all get a paper that says this same thing again

 

So what are you thankful for this week?

 

 

 

What to do... what to do...

Here we are... at race week...

I can't believe it.

This Saturday is the Kentucky Derby Marathon/miniMarathon ... & I'm registered.

If anyone remembers last year, you'll remember that I trained, was prepared for the race & then 4 days before the race, my back pain went into OVER DRIVE & I couldn't even move.  I literally laid in my bed throwing a fit arguing with Ricky that I could STILL DO IT... knowing I really couldn't... & ended up not standing at the start line.

If you didn't read it, or remember it (I actually re-read it & forgot some of the things)... check it out right HERE

& here we are a year later... & I'm nervous & not sure how its going to work out.

First of all, I STILL have back pain.  It comes & goes, some days being extreme, some days being bearable, some days no issues at all.... but when I run, its always there as a thorn in my side.

Second, I'm running at the heaviest I've ever been in my life... which is so freaking depressing I could just break down, run into a corner & cry thinking about it.  Actually, I break down & cry about it every morning when I get dressed & have to debate on what to wear with my wardrobe getting slimmer & slimmer in choices.  I've been to doctors that don't understand why my weight has creeped on so fast & my wonderful insurance doesn't pay for a nutritionist, so I just keep on moving & imagine what my weight would be if I DIDN'T work out 6 days a week... where's that corner to cry in again...

This is how I feel when I see people who work out 30 minutes a day for 1 or 2 days
... & eat whatever they want..
& look like Miss America

Third, I haven't been able to train like I usually do the past 2 weeks.  With a wedding & a conference, I've missed my last 2 long runs.  Thankfully, that's my taper & the miles are coming down, & its not like I was home sitting on my butt not doing anything - I was constantly moving (jumping & dancing if you count the concert Saturday) - but when I don't do my training plan, I get nervous.



Fourth, with the back & the weight & the always no-need-to-even-metion knee problems, I'm slower then ever.  I have been doing a walk/run method to keep my back in check.  I still am getting the miles in, but its SLOW... & I think my time for this half marathon will go on record as the 2nd to worst time ever.  At least I hope its not the WORST... that goes for my first year of doing the half marathon where I wasn't prepared at all... & nearly died.  Good times.

Fifth, this race is the day before Easter.... who is the idiot that moved it up a week & did that?  I am in a skit at church for Easter & we're practicing on Saturday - 3 hours AFTER the race & then I'll be doing this skit twice on Sunday.  Its a physical skit too... & I'll be screaming inside for soreness & pain.  More good times.

So yeah, the race is Saturday & I'm nervous & not feeling strong about it, not feeling prepared...

Ricky is trying to talk me into not bothering with it.  Sleep in.  Enjoy the weekend.  After all, I still have about 250 pictures to edit.  Just relax & do that...

But I feel like I have to try... see what I can do....right? 

Life is about challenging yourself & seeing how well you step up to face these things that want to back me down...right?

& I'm not going into this ignorant.  I actually have a game plan with Ricky to meet me at mile 7 - a little over half way... & if my back is in extreme pain or I just feel like death is chasing me down the road, I have no problem stepping out & jumping in the car with him.

I have a DNS (did not start) last year.... why not add a DNF (did not finish)...

It doesn't hurt me like it did last year...

So wish me luck... I'm nervous... not sure what the day will hold... honestly still debating if I'll make it to the start line again...

Whatever happens, I've learned a lot about myself in the training, in the process... that's what its all about anyways.

The weekend that I was in the front row!!!

Whew... what a weekend... it was jam-packed!  Of shopping, of worship, of pictures, of singing... I'm exhausted...  here we go.

Friday

* Yep - as I mentioned, I took off work & worked from home on pictures.  I literally sat at my computer from 8 am - 3 pm ... I did stop though to have lunch outside because it was a perfect Spring day.  The dogs appreciated that because when you're home, they stick next to you & that way they could enjoy the fresh air.

* Headed to Women of Joy - Session 1 ....

I'm #1 !!!!  (There's actually a joke that goes with that)
But here's all our GCC group

* The first speaker of the night was Sherri Rose Shepherd.  I was so excited to hear her because she does the books, "His Princess" ... come on now, you know I'm all about a book that says you're a Princess.

* You are Beautiful... Look at yourself with God's standards - not the worlds. 

* There is just something about worshipping in a mass crowd of thousands of people.  I never get tired of it.. ever...

* Ended up getting home about 9:30 & was able to talk to Ricky & see him for a little bit since I didn't see him at all during the day.  We ended up sitting up talking until midnight.  I needed to get some sleep for the next day!

Saturday

* Back to Women of Joy for the next 2 sessions....

* Dave Ramsey's daughter, Rachel Ramsey Cruze, is just adorable.  I love she's speaking to a new generation about money.  She is all about making your kids WORK for their money.  Knowing what 'earning' it is & then appreciating it because you earned it.  Something the future generations don't understand.  It's about "entitlement" to them.... nope.... not good values.

* Don't be a slave to the lender... chains are heavy to carry around when you're a slave

* The next speaker was Margaret Feinberg... what an amazing inspiration.  She's battling breast cancer but like she says, it doesn't take away her spunk. 

* Margaret wrote a book called "Organic God" & she said the word organic means, "Developing naturally - without being forced or contrived" - isn't that what we want our relationship to be with God?  I love that image!  Makes me appreciate all my organic ways even more :)

* Got to meet Charles Billingsley... & I was actually speechless.  I wanted to tell him how much I love his song, "When I Don't know what to do" & wanted to tell him how much it has touched me since I heard him sing it at Women of Joy about 3 years ago... but when I got up to him, I just was like, "Hi.......(crickets)....." so not like me...

Maybe I felt like I was betraying Steven Curtis Chapman & that's why I was SPEECHLESS!
(Get it?  Get it?  All my SCC peeps will get it)

* Break time... & we got a big chunk of our group to head to the mall together.  Lunch at Red Robin & shopping... it was some good times...

Thanks Toni for taking pictures of lunch :)

* We were smart & headed to Brookstone after a few hours & took the time to sit in the massage chairs.  Ahhh... felt like heaven... until I woke up on Sunday & couldn't even TOUCH my upper back because it was so tender.  It was like a Swedish massage therapist took me to town!

* Starbucks for an Iced Coffee to get me through the evening...

* My car load?  We were SERIOUS about getting at the next session early to get a seat.   The CHRIS TOMLIN CONCERT!!!  We were listening to his CD's in my car at lunch time & were even more pumped up.  So we got to the doors a half hour early, got a prime spot & we were ready for the doors to open.  It helped that we had 2 young girls that had on tennis shoes & ready to BOLT when the doors opened...

We were about 5th in line... excited & counting down to the doors opened!!!

* YES YES YES YES YES!! We got the front row!!!

*  While we waited for the concert to start, Tina & I went around to check out the booths. I got to meet Sherri Rose... & we got to talk about being a Princess :)  She was just PRECIOUS in person.  So real.  & she said I had pretty hair, so I REALLY liked her.  I especially loved her because when people were taking her picture, she was telling them to hold the camera above her to thin out her face. haha!  A girl after my own heart.  By the way, she's GORGEOUS!  I mean stunning!  She is after all a former Miss America!  I can see why... beautiful inside & out!

Appreciate she liked my hair when my hair was THIS much of a mess

* CONCERT TIME!!!!!

* I honestly can't say enough about Chris Tomlin.  Granted - he's no Steven Curtis Chapman... but he's pretty amazing!  We had so much fun worshipping together - did I mention - IN THE FRONT ROW!!!!

* At one point, we got to go up to the stage & yes, I could have touched his shoes... I took off running so fast, I threw my flip flops to get to the stage.  I was afraid I was going to have to walk out barefooted.  But all was well :)

I said this perfectly described how my night was
CRAZYYYYY wonderful!!! :)

* Headed out & got stuck in some of the traffic of Thunder Over Louisville which was getting ready to start.  I despise traffic.

* I was exhausted & PUMPED UP from the night.  How do 2 things exist at the same time?  Its possible.

Sunday

* I ended up not going back to Women of Joy for the last session.  Ricky was nervous that he would have to lead the small group by himself in youth & I was good ending my weekend conference with the Chris Tomlin high, so I just decided to pass on the last session & go to church.

* Beautiful day... we took the kids out for a game of dodge ball.  Nothing that screams the love of Jesus like throwing balls at each other's faces!

* Had to run out & do some errands ... hello Target, my friend.  It was such a beautiful day... even felt like a glimpse of summer.  Temps in the high 80's... What is this thing called "warmth"?  ... I say that because its supposed to drop & we're getting snow flurries again tomorrow.  Seriously.

* Stopped by to see my parents & ended up helping my nieces make a redneck slip N slide with a tarp... you do what you can do for entertainment in the country.

Things are greening up! 
The horses appreciate that

* Pictures, Pictures, Pictures... I edited for 5 hours straight.  Wedding photography ain't no joke people.  No joke at all.

* We ran down to the gas station to pick up something real quick & I talked Ricky into taking Sydney with us.  She needs to get out & enjoy life when she can right now.  Ricky said he was so glad we did it.  She just laid on his lap in the back, with her head towards the window taking in the wind... you can feel the 'happy' coming off of her.

Sydney watching the door for her daddy to come back out

* Once Upon a Time... I just love Hook... I'm so glad they've made him into such a main character.  He's gotta have a happily ever after with Emma - right?

* I think I fell asleep in 0.8 seconds after my head hit the pillow.....

So how was your weekend?  Busy?  Relaxed?  Get to sit in the front row of Chris Tomlin concert?!!!? :)

Happy Friday

Happy Friday everyone!

I've actually taken off one job, to work on another...

I took the day off to stay home & work on wedding pictures...

& also because I'm leaving in the late afternoon to go to Women of Joy!!!

So a busy weekend ahead & don't want to lag behind in my pictures...

So if I'm not around today in blog-world, know I'll be back Monday...

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!!

Hopefully this will be me being productive until I leave :)

#ProjectThankful14

 

 

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. 

Have you used one to say "Thank You?"

- William A. Ward

 

04.03.14 - Cover

We had rehearsal for the wedding I was photographing on Saturday

& it was a monsoon outside.  And with this being an outside wedding, it could have been a disaster, but they had these beautiful tents set up.

& while it was still muddy & squishy inside, at least we weren't drenched.

 

Side Note - leave it to me to find the one tiny pin hole in one of the tents & have water drip right down my shirt in between my boobs...

 

 

04.04.14 - 2 months

 

 

Yep - I talked about this yesterday too

but we're 2 months out since we got the news

... & she's still beautiful...

& she's still fighting

& we're still thankful

 

 

 

04.05.14 Beautiful Wedding

 

 

Obviously I have a ton of pictures from this wedding day but I remembered to take one picture with my phone so I could make note of how thankful I was for the day.

The weather cooperated, the family was wonderful, the Bride & Groom are just amazing people.... I can say nothing bad about this day.

(I never tire of wedding dresses)

 

 

04.06.14 God's NOT Dead!!!

 

 

I needed & wanted to just get home & work on pictures after church, but Chasity told me, "You need a break" so we headed to the movies with her & her husband Ryan.

I'm so glad we did.  I just loved the movie.

Loved spending time with friends.

Loved the break.

 

 

 

04.07.14 Dark Hot Chocolate in my favorite mug

 

 

Starting on pictures & it was a cold evening... so I break out my favorite mug with some Dark Hot Chocolate that I found at Target. I actually found 2 - the Target brand & Starbucks has one as well. 

 

What I love about this mug - the other side says,

"Just like my laundry pile"

.... truth is truth....

 

 

04.08.14 Greetings

 

 

Sydney is always excited when I get home...

but there's nothing better to her then when her Daddy gets home.

I took her out so she could have one on one time greeting him

(Sometimes its hard for her to get to him when the other 3 are vying for attention)

Her little fragile body goes into boost mode & she takes off running to him.

It's quite precious

 

 

04.09.14 Iced Coffee

 

 

HOW DID I NEVER KNOW ABOUT THIS?!?!?!

Since Starbucks put up the calorie count on their drinks, I have been conscious of what I drink.  I saw on their menu the other day a lower calorie option - Iced Coffee.

I thought, Eww.....

but I was DYING of tiredness yesterday on the way home & thought, I have to get something or I'm not going to make it through the night.

So I thought I'd try the iced coffee at McDonalds - even if I took a few sips & had to throw it away.

Little did I know I would be finding my new Go-To-Drink

 

It was AMAZING!!!!

& the calories are decent for a large amount of drink.

Caffeine me UP!