Happy Thanksgiving!

Ahhh, I love Thanksgiving. SO much to be thankful for. I did most of my thanking in my last Friday Five, so I won't do it again. But I am truly thankful for everything in my life. My wonderful family and friends. 

Here's what I did and did not do yesterday...

I DID:

cook two pumpkin pies

make a gagillion deviled eggs

stuffed.my.face.

enjoyed time with my family

loved all the baby presents we got my cousin

enjoyed dinner with Chris's family

LOVE watching the Saints win

I DID NOT:

take a single picture. Oops.

eat any meat. HA! Not intentionally, I just love all the other stuff too much!!

take a nap- a little bummed about that. 

rub it in Chris's face when the Cowboys lost ;)

Today I throughly enjoyed left overs from Chris's house. I also enjoyed an SVU marathon while waiting on Chris to get done duck hunting. I cleaned up the house a bit to prepare for the Christmas wonderland that will take over soon!! I  did NOT get out in the madness at whatever o'clock this morning. But I did go to Bed Bath and Beyond this afternoon. I have been craving apple cider and I just HAD to have some. I have a Keurig, and just knew there had to be apple cider for the Keurig. I was right and off to BB&B I went. Grabbed my cider, also spot some pillows for $9.99, decided  I need them too and then I was out of there. 

Now back home to finish the Alabama v. Auburn game and then it's Christmas music and decorations time!!!

P.S. The Keurig apple cider is AWESOME!!!! So yummy and the perfect serving size. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!! I mean MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Painting with a Twist!

I guess about a year or so ago Shreveport brought a new business to town Panting with a Twist. It is such a fun concept! It has taken this area by storm! There are sell out classes all the time and it is all over Facebook. People with their paintings, their statuses about parties and girls's nights out. It is tons of fun! Some people get all the girls to go. Some convince their boyfriends to go (I have been unsuccessful). And maybe there are a few others like me, that just go to get away and do something fun by myself. Not that I wouldn't mind company but it is nice to just get away and paint. (Never thought I would hear myself say that!)

So here is the first painting I did a couple of months ago, "Scroll Cross":

It is hanging in my living room. I like it less and less. Ha. I want to paint another one to put there.

So recently I painted "Simple Beauty." We started with a plain white canvas. Painted the whole thing black. Then added these gray X's to "add depth." Whatever. I don't speak art, but I do follow directions.

Next we added the "bones" of our flowers. I liked this painting because you can't really mess it up. I mean who is to say "No, that's not how to draw a flower!" Yes, there is a model and a teacher explaining how it should be drawn, but really...it's up to the "artist."

Then fill in your flowers. Mix a little white with a little black and add some accents. Then just a smidgen of black here and there and TA-DA! So here is the finale product:

It is a "simple beauty." If I do say so myself ;)

Friday Five- Thanksgiving Edition

(Ahhahahaha, how funny are these 5 turkeys!!)

1. I am thankful for my wonderful family. I am so blessed to have amazing parents who support me (still ha!). An awsome brother who is just growing up to be an amazing man like my daddy. I am thankful for my extended family. My loving grandparents who are still setting an example of how to live an honorable life. My awesome aunt Nene and Tony who love on me as much as they can. My crazy uncles and aunts and GREAT uncles and GREAT aunts who I will get to see Thursday! I am thankful for Thanksgiving when we can all come together to just enjoy each other's company (and cooking skills).

2. I am thankful for my second family- my friends! Really they could go in number one because they are my family. I love my girls so much! I know any one of them would be there for me at a moments notice. And I the same for them.

3. I am so thankful that Chris will be home for Thanksgiving! He is working his little booty off on a rig right now and I can't wait for him to be home! He got lucky and will have Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's off!! WAHOOO! I am so thankful that he is a hard worker and wants to provide for his family in the future [ who ever it may be with ;) ]. But I am even more thankful we can spend the holidays together!

4. I am thankful for a great job! Some days are better than others but I could not be happier with where I am at!

5. I am so thankful for Thanksgiving in general. It is my favorite holiday. I always have so much to be thankful for and I love getting together with friends and family to give thanks! I am also thankful that after Thanksgiving comes Christmas!!!!!

Running in the Cold

Tuesday, I took a nice little run after work. I was outside for 29:00 minutes and ran for about 25 of those. I was whoa impressed with myself. I think it was because I was running in the cold. Obviously one would think it is easier to run at 60 degrees versus 90 degrees. But I say 50 degrees is way better than with 60 or 90!

It was refreshing to feel that burn in my lungs. And that weird cold sweat you get. Like your skin is cold and turning red, but you can just barely feel the sweat. And if you stop running for just a second, you feel the heat hit your body. Ahhhh, feels good.

I won't lie I was just a wee-bit (read: a-lot-a-bit) sore on Wednesday. I don't know if sore is the right so much as tight. My hips felt like they were going to pop! But it was so worth it. I ran further without stopping than I have. And I ran a longer amount of time! Without dying! Ha! Can't wait to go for a run after work. Though it is pretty nippy outside today. May have to wear long sleeves this time. So worth it! I WILL be ready for the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans come February! I can do IT!

Nathan Allen George

Nathan Allen George

08.25.88 - 11.06.10

My dear, sweet friend Nathan went to Heaven Saturday. While we are all devastated and sad today, I know he is thrilled to be with his Savior! And that fact alone makes me smile! It will be a tough day today. We have to lay to rest, a once vibrant 22 year old, friend.

We are all so selfish here on Earth. We want Nathan back. We want just a few more hours, minutes, seconds with him. We want to hug his neck once more. We want to encourage him. We want him to encourage us! - He was always good at that. We just want him back. But how selfish is that of us? Terrible! He is with his Heavenly Father. And I know he has had a few talks with the big Man, because after all LSU did BEAT Alabama on Saturday. I know Nathan went straight to work when he got through the gates! Ha!

(He wasn't very modest, can you tell?? But that's what we loved about him. And honestly, if you had a body like that...would you be modest??!)

I hold on to this song so tightly right now. It is one thing that keeps me going. The music with this song is great, but the words are what makes it so amazing. It's called You Hold Me Now by Hillsong:

On that day when I see, All that You have for me
When I see You face to face, There surrounded by Your grace

All my fear is swept away, In the light of your embrace
When Your love is all I need, and forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold, In Your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to you along

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now, You hold me now, You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame
No hiding, You hold me now, You hold me now

In this life I will stand, through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day, there's a hope that never fails

When Your name is lift4ed high and forever praises rise
For the glory of Your name, I'm believing for the day

When the wars and violence cease, all creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now, You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now, you hold me now

For eternity, all my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

Such amazing words to think about when you think about someone you love has left this Earth. Especially in Nathan's case, because he was hurting and in pain and now he is free of that! He is living the good life in Heaven and I know he is watching over us each and everyday. We have all gained one very special (and good looking) guardian angel.

I could go on and on with encouraging scripture. Encouraging words, phrases and songs. On and on with things to try and make us feel better. But really, we will all be ok. Nathan is so happy right now. And he would never want to see any of us hurt or cry or be sad. We will never forget our sweet Nathan, but he would want us to move past this sad and tragic time to better and happier things. I think we should try to do that for him too. Because truly, everyone knows that is what he would want.

Nathan,

I am so thankful for your life! I am so thankful God allowed our paths to cross. You have been a true blessing as a friend. I loved having you at the house while you pretended to study. And I loved that you at least attempted to make us breakfast in the mornings. I loved that even though you were sick you always put others first. You were very concerned with making sure we were informed about your status. You wanted us to not worry. You were more concerned with Amanda being sick than for yourself. You were more concerned with Jess having surgery than your own transfusion coming up! It was a blessing, a testimony and a great witness to watch your faith in God grow. Your illness was awful. Terrible. Horrible. But, I know God had his hand on you because the witness and testimony you gave to your friends and even complete strangers is incredible. Nathan, you will forever and ever be missed, but never forgotten. Keep watch over us Nate. I know you will. Love you.

Who fishes in gym shorts, no shirt and boots? Oh, only Nathan.

Don't Judge Me!

That's right, don't judge me! After you read this list, you may be tempted, but don't do it!

• I think going to the grocery store, or Walmart, should count as a workout for the day. Up and down all those isles and dealing with the crazies of the world- definitely should count as a workout. Skip the gym!
• I think pizza is less fattening when it's cold. Yup. When it's hot you can actually see the grease. When it's cold, you cant. Therefore it must be less fattening.
• I am getting my master's degree. (Some judge me on that fact alone). But one of the reasons I chose this particular degree NO THESIS! Not that I don't love the program I am in, but let's face it- who wants to write a 20 page paper. Not I. So I chose this degree. And it is way easier.
• I feel more productive anytime I am not sitting. So to me, lots of shopping = high productivity!
• I think on-line banking is fabulous. Love not getting those big ole paper statements in the mail. But I can't manage to pay all my bills on-line. Weird, I know. I like getting that bill, writing the check and knowing it is paid. Maybe it's because I have 2 boxes of checks to use...
• I think makin "to-do" lists can change a person's whole day. Feeling overwhelmed? Make a list. You'll feel better.
• No, I don't think you should wear white after labor day. I know some say that is so not the case anymore, but it is. And secretly, everyone is still judging you when you wear white. So don't do it.

Don't judge me!