Playing Catch-up

I have not been on my best blogging behavior lately! I have some catching up to do. To start I realized that I never put up pictures I took over the Christmas break with my besties! I have the best friends ever and some of us got together while we were home over the break. It simply amazes me every time that we get together that no matter how few times we see each other during the year, it seems like we have never been apart when we finally do get to be together. I feel as close to these girls as I ever have. We may each be in different phases of life, but we are still best friends! I love you girls! Then to add more icing to the cake, all of the hubbies get along great and are very close! Two blessings in one! The Lord is so good to us all!

Sessler's, Ingram's, Wilson's, Cherry's

Megan, Ashley, Mandy, Sarah

I also wanted to show off my official letter saying that I passed my exam. I took this as we were leaving to go celebrate! My husband made me feel so special! He made me wear my glasses because he said they are my smart glasses!!!

I'm still going...I was tagged by Megan to go through my picture files! The rules are that you go to your 4th folder and find your 4th pic in that folder. Well I have a lot more folders within folders, so I had to kinda do it a different way. So I opened up my first folder on this compture which was the 2006 folder. Then I clicked on the 4th folder in that folder and found the 4th picture. This is in August of 2006 and is of Sam and his buddies in Utah for Ryan's wedding. I was not there, so I think this was the day before the wedding when they were just hanging out! It was a gorgeous wedding, I sure wish I could have been there!

So now I get to tag 4 other people to play the game.

Directions:
1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer.
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder.3) Explain the picture.4) Tag 4 people to do the same.~No cheating (cropping, editing, etc.) Have fun!!~

You're it!

The Douglass'

The Master's

The Wester's

Melissa Miles

Last, thank you to Melissa for the Fabulous blog award! I'm glad you think my blog is FABULOUS!!!

4th Time is a CHARM!!!

I PASSED!!!

Finally after my fourth attempt I passed my CFP exam! I could not be more relieved and excited!!! (You can go here and here and here to get more details on what I am talking about if you are lost!) I received my letter in the mail yesterday and after re-reading it a million times to make sure they had the right person and that the word CONGRATULATIONS meant that I passed and not congratulations you get to do this all again, I was convinced that I indeed finally passed this darn test. The monkey (or gorilla) is finally off my back!!!! I want to thank you all for the prayers you lifted up for me during my three months of studying and during my test. I have told many people that I was at such peace when I took the test this time around, and that I know is only something that could come from the Lord and from the prayers of others. So Thank You!!!
This has been a long road for me, and I feel now its time to take the next turn! YIPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I got a blog award! Hahaha! It's from my best friend, so I don't think I can add this award to any great list of accomplishments, but its still very fun to receive. At least I know that one person likes to read my blog! Thanks Ashley (you should check out her blog, its really good!)

Along with the award, there is a set of questions to answer. Each question can only have a one-word answer. This could be hard for me; I'm slightly "wordy".

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your hair color? blonde/brown
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? big heart

6. Your favorite thing? Husband

7. Your dream last night? crazy!
8. Your goal? loving
9. The room you are in? office
10. Your hobby? baking
11. Your fear? spiders

12. Where do you want to be in six years? family
13. Where were you last night? bible study
14. What you are not? boy
15. One of your wish list items? shoes
16. Where you grew up? Amarillo
17. The last thing you did? email
18. What you are wearing? sweater (its cold outside!)
19. Your TV? big
20. Your pet? none
21. Your computer? annoying
22. Your mood? content
23. Missing someone? always
24. Your car? new
25. Something you are not wearing? sandals
26. Favorite story? Redeeming Love
27. Your Summer? HOT
28. Love someone? Husband
29. Your favorite color? all
30. When was the last time you laughed? when my husband woke me up
31. Last time you cried? cleansing

I pass this kindness along to:

Melissa

Lindsay

Megan

Amy

Jennifer

T-4 Days!

Well I am down to only 4 days left to study (including today). I can't really figure out if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I guess it is a good thing because I can see the end in sight, and I will finally be able to get back to "normal" life. I am hesitant though because I worry if I have covered everything. I know that I will never be 100% ready to take this test, but still even after 3 months of studying, I still feel like I could use more. It is in the Lord's hands (and I must keep it there!), and I just have to do what I can and know that He is in control. I will be back once I get this test out of my way! Until then, I wouldn't mind your prayers as I do my last preparations for the test. Thanks!

S.T.U.D.Y.I.N.G!!!

What's been going on with us lately...oh yes, that's right - S.T.U.D.Y.I.N.G!!! I feel like we are back in college. We come home every night, eat, go workout if we haven't already that day, and then stay up until midnight (or for Sam later) studying!!! This past weekend I had an all weekend class and now this whole we Sam has "boot camp". Really that is what they call it. Basically think of it as Sam would say as "computer nerd boot camp". I really wish I knew the right terminology, but basically he is trying to get a pretty tough certification for his field. I believe this course is through Microsoft. What I do know is that the boot camp is Monday-Monday 8am-8pm (or later) every day!! During the course of the week he will take 4 tests. With each test that he passes he will get a certification, then at the end if he passes all 4 tests, then he gets the big daddy of certifications (again, not sure of the terminology...Sam help me out here!). The good news is the he is one test down, and only three more to go. The even better news is that he passed the first one, and only has three more to go. The bad news is the he has a cold!!! We are drinking the vitamin C energy drinks like crazy at our house; this is not the time for either of us to get sick!!! That is honestly our life as of now, so if I am not posting anything interesting, it is because I am sparing you the details of our studying. If I went much further I would begin to teach you what I am learning and you probably don't want that - just a hunch!

We did get to have some fun this past weekend. Our good friends Jennifer and Jacob came to town to celebrate Jennifer's birthday and to shop for her new job! We got to hang out at night, so that was quite the release from studying! It was so great to see them, and I was really glad that we got to celebrate Jennifer's birthday together! Sam and Jacob also got to play a round of golf on a BEAUTIFUL fall day (mind you I was holed up in a classroom at a study course ALL DAY!). I did not catch too many pictures, but here are a few!

Absent

I think those NYC posts not only most likely wore out my readers, but the writer too! At least I know that our families read it, so I guess it was worth it! (I wouldn't blame you if you did not read all of the posts!) I wish that was my reason for being a bit absent lately on the blogging. Actually for about fours weeks now I have been once again studying for my CFP exam (Certified Financial Planner). This test is kind of my "thorn in my side", but I am trying it again. Yes, I say again. This will be my fourth time to take this darn test - four time's a charm right! Its very humbling to admit that this is the fourth time since 2005 that I have taken this test, but no need in hiding right. Each time I start about 2-3 months out and study for about 3-5 hours a day! Ouch that hurts! Its really not too bad, because I honestly do enjoy what I am studying. I also try to split up those hours each day by studying in the morning, during lunch, and then again at night. I try to take a break on Saturdays afternoons, but other than that each day pretty much consists of eating, sleeping, working out, and studying. Sounds fun right? Not so much! Anyways, I would ask that if you could remember me in your prayers until the end of November I would appreciate it. I am not real sure why I have been so close to passing in my past tests and haven't, but the Lord has His reasons and I am just trying to learn the lesson (many of which I already have). So I would ask that if it comes to mind please pray for discipline in my studying, that I would be able to retain all the information, and that I would do my best on the test. From there it is in the Lord's hands!
So if I am slow on posting, just know its because I am studying and not just being a bad blogger!

These are a few of my Favorite Things

I have been tagged several times in the past few days from some of my blog friends. That is a very daunting task for me to think about though because it requires so much thinking, and that scares me. Plus to tell personal stuff about myself is just not my style (although this blog thing is really helping me grow and stretch in that, which is exciting!). So I decided to put my own twist on this and tell some of my favorite things. I tried to think of things that really get me excited!!! So from objects, to websites, to hobbies here is a bit about me!!!!


KITCHEN AID MIXER - This pretty much sums up my favorite hobby - baking!!! This is my absolutely favorite thing to use. It excites me to no end knowing that I get to use it to make something that I love and that brings me so much joy. This is definitely a bakers best friend! They come in all different colors, but mine is the classic white so that I can take it into any kitchen and know that it will still match!! This is a must have!!! (Thanks Mom and Dad for getting this for me even when I didn't know I would want and love it so much!)

CHOCOLATE - I LIVE for chocolate. My favorite is dark chocolate, but I'll take anything. From warm molten chocolate cakes, Reese's, dark chocolate chips, brownies, cookies, caramel/chocolate covered apples, to my #1 favorite - chocolate covered strawberries!!!!!

One of my favorite places for a great chocolate cake is Nothing Bundt Cakes. The only one in this area is in Southlake (right across from my work; heavenly!), but I think they are all over the US. I would also highly recommend Sprinkles for a great chocolate cupcake!!!!

FABRIC - Now you are probably thinking...she must sew - NOPE! But even better....my mom DOES! (and I must say that she is amazing and so talented at it). So the reason I put this as one of my favorite things is because I love shopping for fabric. I can go into a fabric store and just light up and go crazy. I have no idea what to do with most of it, but I just think it is so beautiful and inspiring. Plus usually I am shopping for fabric with my mom, so that makes it that much better!!!

FOOD NETWORK - If I am at home and have nothing to do, I am watching Food Network. I could watch this channel for hours! I hardly ever go and cook something that I watch, but I often get inspired or just entertained! I have even caught my husband enjoying what we watch sometimes, rarely, but sometimes. (He enjoys Ace of Cakes!)

SCRAPBOOKING - This is also one of my favorite hobbies. It's just so relaxing to me. The really funny thing is that when I was growing up I was ,BY FAR, the least artistic person. I made G's in handwriting, I never took art until my Senior year and usually just got laughed at, but I found my nitch - Scrapbooking! I think the reason that I am somehow creative at it is because I don't have to draw things, but just cut and paste. I have been asked on occasion to make a scrapbook for pay, but I just don't know if I could do that because I like to be involved and inspired by doing them for people that I love. I have said it before on here, but I don't think there are many things better than memories in photos. Is there a better way to capture their beauty than through scrapbooking...I think not! (This can be a VERY expensive hobby, but my rule is to only by products on sale). I have also gotten into Digital Scrapbooking due to the Miles Families (Sam's cousins). It is so much fun! For those of you that have been asking how I create my blog titles, my secret is - DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING!!!

FROSTED MINI SPOONERS - I don't have as much to say about this, but it's my absolute favorite and I eat it almost every single morning. I get up, take a shower, pour exactly one cup of cereal and enjoy eating them from the most frosted to the least frosted!!! (yes, I really have to measure out my cereal; not b/c I am a complete control freak like you are all thinking, but b/c it keeps me from letting my eyes be bigger than my stomach!) You buy Frosted Mini Spooners in the off brand cereal section and it comes in really big bags that last a long time. It's the off brand of Mini Wheats, but SO much better! A great way to start your day!

SUR La TABLE - This is the best and most fun kitchen store that I have found. I think their prices are fair (all kitchen stuff is expensive) and they have all the speciality stuff that I can't find anywhere else. I could spend HOURS in this place and definitely don't get to do it enough. Check it out if you've never been there...you'll be hooked instantly.

These are just a few of my favorite things, but I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me and maybe even finding one of your soon to be new favorite things! I might extend my list soon, but for now...ENJOY!!!!