2011 finale

What a year 2011 has been! Overall, it has been a good year. God has blessed me in so many ways that I did not deserve. The last couple of months have been tough since the passing of my grandmother in middle November. I am excited about 2012 and hoping for new things to come my way. Thanksgiving and Christmas was different in many ways this year. My grandmother was dearly missed on both occasions and will be missed at all of those to come. The past several days has been so amazing & unimaginable. I am looking forward to see what else comes my way and praying for God's guidance. I hope you have a Happy & safe 2012!

Family

I am sure most of you have heard about my grandmother, Mattie Stovall. She had to have emergency surgery on Sept. 25 to have a hole that had ruptured in her colon patched. She was recovering good. She went to a nursing home in Hartwell for Rehab and Physical therapy. My mom & grandpa was not satisfied with the care she was receiving and she started running a high fever. On Oct. 19, she was moved to a new facility in Anderson. Oct. 20, she had a rough night. They did a chest x-ray and found pneumonia setting up in one of her lungs. She went to the hospital on Friday, October 21 to get treated for pneumonia, while hospitalized she developed a urine infection and then staff infection. October 31 she received a feeding tube. She has not been eating or drinking and her strength is extremely weak. Nov. 5, she was transported to hospice house. The doctor had told us that he had done everything he could do. Nov. 9, she pulled the feeding tube. She must had known we were having a hard time deciding whether to leave it in or not. She has not ate or drank in 7 weeks. She is now in God's hands. Mother nature is just taking its run as to how long she is with us. She seems to be resting peacefully. She is showing several signs on what they indicate during the last one to two weeks during a person's life. We all need your prayers! Prayer is all that can be done at this point. We appreciate all the phone calls and visits thus far.

Summer is about to end

I have been meaning to blog before now but things had just been crazy over the summer. I am glad to say that I am officially back in school with 14 months remaining until I have my Associates of Art in Health care Administration! I am no longer working three jobs - I had to give up the baby-sitting a set of twins due to starting back to school it just was much to juggle. I was privileged to attend Alabama camp-meeting and visit for a couple of days afterwards. It was nice to get away from reality and just relax and share laughter with good friends. It is hard to believe that the first day of Fall is Friday, September 23!

Summer

Happy Friday!! It has been a long week, but a good week. The summer is slowly coming to an end and what a HOT one it has been. Today, as of right now, it is quite pleasant 80 degrees and overcast and calling for some thunderstorms. Several campmeetings and youth camps have been going on over the past several weeks and I was glad I could attend some of them and hated that I missed some. Last week-end, August 5-6, me and my parents took a week-end trip to Blowing Rock & Grandfather Mountain near Boone, NC and came home on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was really nice to get away from society and regain my sanity. I enjoyed the coolness and mountain breeze and wanted to bring some back with it, but it wouldn't come. :(
I just got some brownies out of the oven. We are having some tree work done and the 3 men have worked so hard all week. They each have full-time jobs then come here in the evenings and work til dark. I am sad to see the big oak tree cut down in the back yard because it was the biggest part of our shade tree.

sunset 6-2011

july 4th 2011











Blowing Rock



Grandfather Mountain entrance



split rock

very top of Grandfather Mtn.



Life

I want to start out by saying Happy Monday! I am enjoying my day off from all 3 jobs. Life has been so busy and I apologize for not blogging before now. I enjoyed my week-end vacation a few weeks ago with my mom to NC Camp meeting. It was great getting to see people that I had not seen in a long time. Toccoa Camp meeting was good as well and looking forward to the Toccoa Youth Camp beginning next Thursday, July 28. It is hard to believe that I have already been working at Dollar General for over 2 months now.
I am enjoying my summer, however; am not enjoying the blasting hot days we have been having. I have definitely enjoyed the past few days that have been much cooler.

vacation

I cannot believe that I have not blogged in a few weeks, folks I apologize! I have been quite busy working and baby-sitting til I do good to get in a few hours of sleep each night. Today, I landed another part-time job working at the daycare where my mother works. I will be doing lunch breaks and possibly more soon. I enjoy going up there. I have been helping mom out a few days a week with her class and I love her kids. Me & my mother are taking a week-end vacation to North Carolina for a camp-meeting and to see friends & family. I am excited to be getting away from society for a few days. We finally got rain the other night, it was so nice and hope we get more soon. Well, this is all I can write for now. I must be running along got things to finish up before heading out.

American Idol Finale

So I realize that is little late but I still wanted to blog it. As most of America know that Scotty McCreery from Garner, NC won American Idol and Lauren Alaina from Rossville, Georgia was the runner-up. When it came down to them two being the top 2 I had a really hard time deciding who I wanted to win, because I like them both and they represent me (Carolina & Georgia). So two weeks ago, they each performed a few times and I then got my conformation that I wanted Scotty to win since he represents Carolina and I am a Carolina girl and always will be regardless of where I reside. This is a preview of what sold me to go with Scotty....http://youtu.be/d1Mts--lv_o


Lauren was great, but I just fell in love with Scotty and his voice! I am enclosing several performances of them together and solo!

Lauren.... http://youtu.be/sO1e8VImSJo
http://youtu.be/sO1e8VImSJo
http://youtu.be/fb2YGGlPK7M - this is to my mother and all the ladies in my life!
http://youtu.be/jMK1rS5-mJI

Scotty.....http://youtu.be/fb2YGGlPK7M
http://youtu.be/DSnUJ7la8Xg
http://youtu.be/E87tF0UthxA
http://youtu.be/bDlzGJfEWos

Lauren & Scotty....
http://youtu.be/1LmJPkB0yeY
http://youtu.be/ZpnvUl8sps8

Week One

It has already been one week since starting work at the DG and I am enjoying it and my co-workers.
I am grateful for the store manager working with my baby-sitting schedule.
On my second day, a co-worker told me that she was giving me a week to see if I stay and I have made it. (laughing) Several people had quit within the past 3 weeks before I started which its shocking with the unemployment percentage high. Its fun and hard work which is nothing new because I always work hard not bragging or anything. I have learned that har work pays off in the long run.

New Job

I went in Tuesday morning, May 10, 2011 for orientation and also did some training.

first clock in ticket

I worked my first night last night Thursday, May 12, 2011. It was fun and an interesting night. Let me just say an older lady made a mountain out of a mole hill. She was paying with check and cash. She gave me cash and wrote a check for an even amount, well dollar general's policy is a check cannot be wrote OVER the amount. So, it took over 10 minutes for the shift supervisor to get her to write another check for the exact amount. That is just half of the story!

name tag



I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to work with Dollar General. It took me a while to finally get the job. God knew just what was awaiting me!

MY MOTHER IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD

My beloved Mother is the GREATEST person in the world.

She has been by my side through good and bad times.

I would not want any other person to call mom than the one God blessed me with.

Thank God for Mother's Love – Anonymous

A mother's patience of a saint could only be by the hand of God.

There is no love, like a mother's love,
no stronger bond on earth...
like the precious bond that comes from God,
to a mother, when she gives birth.

A mother's love is forever strong,
never changing for all time...
and when her children need her most,
a mother's love will shine.

God bless these special mothers,
God bless them every one...
for all the tears and heartache,
and for the special work they've done.

When her days on earth are over,
a mother's love lives on...
through many generations,
with God's blessings on each one.

Be thankful for our mothers,
for they love with a higher love...
from the power God has given,
and the strength from up above.



HAPPY Day

This morning at 9:36am, I received a call that I have been waiting on for several weeks now. I had a second interview with Dollar General in my residing town. Today, the store manager called and asked if I was still interested in employment and I replied, DEFINITELY! I was instructed to come in to discuss the position. So I went in, we discussed the position; although it is part-time I still accepted it. I was given instructions to complete paperwork (tax information, direct deposit, etc). So now I am just waiting on him to get the OK to put me on the schedule soon, once my background check comes back.
I am thanking God for this. I has been a long wait!

Overdue

Good Saturday Afternoon.....I apologize for not blogging in quite some time. Things have been hectic around here with job hunt and doing some afternoon baby-sitting. I have had two recent interviews and a second interview with one company this morning. I am hoping things workout soon and I can get back to the work force. It is hard to believe that Easter is tomorrow and April is coming to an end quickly. Over the past several weeks I have learned how to have more faith, patience, and believe. I have grown to love a verse in Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 1, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." God has increased my faith that things will work out accordingly to his will and in his own time. I firmly believe that he lets us go through hard times to just see how much faith and patience and willingness to let him work out things. I know that with God things aren't always easy, but POSSIBLE!

Faith

I found this poem about Faith and I liked what it said....
faith is believing.
faith is being strong.
faith is being believable.
faith is believing in what you can become.
faith is believing god and what he can do for you.




As some of you know, I was trying to get a job with a local hospital in the ER doing Administration, which is what my major is. I have an interview on Feb. 4, the following Friday I was contacted by the HR Dept to come in to fill out paper work and take a drug test-which I did this on Monday, February 14. I hated to thought of leaving the kids, but I thought this was going to be a new chapter of me life. Anxiously and nervously I wanted and was under the assumption that the job was mine. Patiently waiting to hear from the HR Dept once my background check was completed. Sadly, I received a letter the first part of this week and I was informed with regrets that I did not get the job. How sad I was to here this, but for whatever reason, if was not meant for me to get it. I am believing that God will open the right door for me. I am trying to have faith, but it is hard. I need to have faith the size of a mustard seed which is oh so small. God help me have that much faith and thy will be done. It has been some time since I have been on the job hunt. Help me pray and believe that God's will be done! It has been nice having some time off, but I am now ready to go back to work after 2 weeks. Happy Friday!!

New Recipes

Today is another cold, windy, and rainy day in Georgia and South Carolina. I am doing somethings around the house and avoiding the outside as much as possible. I am trying out 2 new recipes. One is in the crock-pot; Cheesy Potato Casserole and the other is Grilled Lemon Herb Pork Chops; I wanted to try something new on chops so hopefully this will be good. We have a few projects going on; however, some are completed and some still in progress and in hopes of being completed before the house-warming in a week and a half. sheet rock is being put up in our garage out back and bless the poor guy's heart that is doing it. He has been diligently working on it into the late night hours for the past week or longer.

A March Rainy Day

Today (March 5) has been a nasty, rainy day here in North-east Georgia. However, I am thankful for this rain because we are in great need of it. I am still waiting to hear from the hospital about my start date. This wait is wearing my patience low. I am trying to have faith and wait patiently but it is very hard. Like a verse in Hebrews states, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I am enjoying my few weeks of no school, I am officially finished with my first year; it really flew by fast and hoping this next year will too. We have been doing work around the house getting things ready for the housewarming/open house party in a few weeks. I am thinking about re-doing my room. I have had John Deere theme for some time now and getting tired of it. I am thinking about matching my bath-room. I have found a comforter set that matches it. I really like the colors: brick red, onyx black, gray, and marshmellow white.
Only 8 more days until I am another year older, but I still say I am 21 (laughing)! It is hard to believe that I am going to be the BIG 26! Things have really changed over the past 5, 10, and even 15 years. In the past 5+ years, I have began to appreciate life more and not just take the small things for granted. My motto is to live each day to its fullest, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

lovely weather

This weather over the past few days has been such a tease, but it has certainly gave me spring fever. I have thoroughly enjoyed riding with the windows down and being outside with the kids watching them play and have fun in the sun. Yesterday, Sunday, February 20 turned out to be a beautiful day for my dad's 47th birthday! Me, my mom, family and friends went out to dinner for his birthday on Saturday to a local BBQ place, Bar H. Through all that he has been through I am thankful that he has lived to see 47 and I hope he lives to see 47 more years. what an exciting but stressful week this is going to be. It is FINALLY my last week of my first year! Thank God, I have survived this long! I am sooo ready for spring, it is my most favorite time of the year. The weather is not to cold or hot, just perfect! The countdown has begun *loooong siiigh* I must enjoy my last few days of 25, because in less than 3 weeks I will be 26. It is hard to believe, I am becoming old (laughing). However, I am enjoying my life with the most wonderful family and friends that one could ask for.

Saturday

It is a beautiful day! The weather and temperature is perfect. I have been quite busy with school work and working on projects and a final. I went for a job interview on Friday, February 4 at Ty Cobb Hospital in Royston, Ga. The position is Health care Administration in the Emergency Room, it is part-time but could eventually become full-time. I went anxiously awaiting for yesterday Friday, February 11 to see if I received a second call about the job. At 8:37am, Friday morning 2/11, I received a call to call the HR Dept back regarding my interview on 2-4. I returned the call and the lady told me she wanted me to come in to fill out paper work and take a drug test. It looks like a new door is opening and I am getting into my career with the hospital sooner that I thought.

Busy days

The past few weeks since my last post have been super busy so I apologize for my slackness. My semester is winding to an end only 3 weeks including this week. It was a cold day today, rainy yesterday, and calling for light snow accumulation late tomorrow night into early Thursday am. I am so ready for spring. I am thoroughly enjoying the beautiful sunny days but not so much the cold, windy days. This past Sunday night had an unplanned happening, my father had to be taken to the ER per EMS due to passing out caused by high blood pressure and was experiencing major chest pains going across to his left arm and down it. He was kept overnight to have a stress test done Monday morning. It did not go so good. The doctor was not pleased with the outcome; he was not able to get a clear view of his heart. Monday afternoon a heart cath was performed and a collapsed artery was discovered and fixed by putting another stent in. He is recovering slowly and in much pain because many blood vessels were cut for the incision.

Time flying by

It is unbelievable that this is the last full week of January. It seems that just yesterday it was Christmas 2010; time is flying by and getting faster daily. I can hardly believe that I am almost finished with my first year of college. I am finishing up my last mid-term today, it is due tonight 11:59pm MST and I like being 2 hours ahead because it gives me some extra time if needed.The weather is predicting some snow on Tuesday and Wednesday beginning with rain, so I am hoping it stays rain. I am ready for warmer weather! Happy Sunday!!

5 years

I wish I had a photo but sadly I don't. 5 years ago today, I arrived at Greenville Memorial at 8am to have my first surgery to removed cysts that had been found on my ovaries. Aware of the possibilities I prayed that the bare minimum could be done. As I anxiously waited, the doctor was running behind schedule so I was taken back an hour later than expected. After over two and a half hours in surgery, I was taken to recovery for a couple of hours. Briefly remember awaking and having a doctor; who assisted in my procedure, approach me asking me how I felt and proceeded to tell me what had taken place. Once they got inside of my abdominal area and saw what things looked like more than the minimum had to be done. Thankfully, it was not extreme but bad enough. As I rested and remained in the hospital for the remainder of the week, my oncologist spoke with me about what had taken place and what my next step would be once he received the results from the pathologist. Let me say the wait was the longest two weeks of my life! Because of the condition I was in, it took a bit longest to receive the results because the pathologist did thorough examination. On Monday, January 16, 2006, my life was changed and my outlook on life. I became appreciative for being able to wake up each morning and being granted another chance to live and do what my mission is to do in this lifetime, help others and inspire others to FIGHT and nip cancer in the bud. Although, it creeps into our lives slowly, we have the power to run it out. The main thing to fighting a battle is stay strong and positive and never give up!
I am ever so grateful and appreciative to the ones who visited, called, and prayed and the other behind the scene things that went on, it did not go unnoticed. I want to thank everyone for everything they did regardless of how small or big it was sincerely appreciated.

Southern Blizzard

It has been completely insane this week with getting snow Sunday night into early Monday morning; which snowed everyone in for a few days. Schools were out all week due to the weather and ice glazing the snow on Monday evening. The snow and ice wore its welcome out BIG time! It was pretty on Monday and maybe Tuesday morning, but by Wednesday it needed to go. I was able to finally go back to work on Thursday, had to go in at 6:45 am; which I was a bit skeptical about having to drive before the sun came up, and thankfully the roads were not that bad except the road I live on but I made it safely. It warmed up enough yesterday, Friday 1-14 to begin melting. *yippee*  I am hoping that come Monday everything is back to normal. I have an incredibly busy weekend much on the to-do list so I best get started.

Dixieland Delight 2011

For the past week the weather meteorologists have been predicting snow for Sunday night, January 9, 2011 throughout Monday, Monday night, and Tuesday morning. I was a bit skeptical because it never snows this early in the South. The weather meteorologists were saying we could get anywhere from 2-4 inches, then becoming sleet; therefore turning into freezing rain on Monday night. Over the week-end the accumulation increased to 5-8+ inches with a tenth of inch of ice topping it on Monday night. On Sunday, the temperature dropped throughout the day especially after it become dark. Around 11:40pm Sunday night, it started snowing within 20-30 minutes the ground had a good dusting to maybe 1/2 inches.

beginning to snow 11:40 pm

within 20-30 minutes

heavy snow Sunday night (front yard and driveway)

side yard

awaiting my awakening on Monday am on 1-10

front deck

side and back yard

driveway

my car

dad's new truck, 2004 Dodge Ram 1500

front deck

part of the front yard

another driveway shot

back yard and dog lot

BBQ pit

back yard



As of 10:30am Monday morning, Hartwell's accumulation was 7 inches and still piling up. As the afternoon nears the snow fades off into sleet and then into freezing rain as the night gets closer.

Welcome 2011

Happy New Year 2011

It is the beginning of a new year and decade. I am still scratching my head wondering where that past ten years and last year went-it just up and got out of here in a hurry! whew wee, I barely had time to blink. :)
I am thanking God daily for allowing me to live to see 2011 and praying to see many more years to come. I am  ever so thankful that 2010 was a surgery free year and planning on 2011 to be as well. I appreciate what God has done for me over the past several years especially since 2006. We are never guaranteed tomorrow.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Happy New Year and I wish a you a year of health, happiness, and heart-warming love.