Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas...The Power of Prayer...

Merry Christmas!

i hope that everyone is enjoying their Christmas! i just love this time of year, especially all the good food and spending time with our families. this Christmas has become very special for clay and i.

for those of you that know me personally or have read my blog you that my struggle with infertility has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions for me and my husband. for the last 2+ years clay and i have prayed for the chance to become parents. when we were told back in september by our doctor that we only had 3 tries with follistim injections and iui's i must admit we were scared to death. we knew that if we did not get pregnant within those 3 tries our journey with infertility treatments was over. our next option on the list was ivf and we knew that was something we could not afford.

when i started my treatments on november 13th, clay and i made the decision to begin praying together everyday for the first time. please know that during the last 2 years we've prayed as individuals but we've never prayed together. our prayers were always for God's will, not ours and we truly believed that with all of our hearts. i remember the day we had our iui and as we waited for the nurse we prayed in that room for God to be with us and to keep His hands upon us. that was such an emotional day for me.
clay and i have remained faithful in praying together since that day and i am happy to announce... on decemeber 9th i took a test and...






this is truly a MIRACLE from God! everyday clay and i prayed that when i got pregnant God would receive all the glory and He has. words cannot express how excited we are. there have been so many tears shed over the last two weeks. we shared the news with our families today and what a Christmas gift it was for them.

this is somewhat a bittersweet time for me. my heart is breaking in sharing my news because so many of you are still waiting for your turn. i want you to know that clay and i have prayed for each one of you since that day and will continue to pray for you and the MIRACLE that our God will do for you.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind. Proverbs 3:5

i want to thank each and every person that has prayed for clay and i. this journey has been long and we have felt each and every prayer the whole way. i hope to thank each one of you in person one day. you all mean the world to us.

For this child I have prayed, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. 1 Samuel 1:27


Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas Card 2008!

i'm a little late with my card but i wanted to join in on faith's christmas card carousel!

i love sending and receiving christmas cards! it seems that my list gets longer and longer every year. next year i need to try and be more creative and think about making my own.


Sending you
Much Love
this holiday season.


Merry Christmas!
Clay & Jennifer

Friday, December 19, 2008

It's About Time!

well it's about time i post some of my christmas pics. i just realized that christmas is less than a week away and i haven't posted any pics yet. i hope it's not to late:) i didn't go crazy this year with all the decorations, probably because i was so ticked off that my christmas tree (which i've only had for a year) has a short in the wire and 4 of the branches lights blink off and on about every two minutes. oh and i almost forgot...there are 3 branches where the lights don't even come on (needless to say i had to turn the tree around so no one could see the unlit part). soooo disappointing:(

please don't be alarmed...i know my living room is painted blue. (another blog for another day)!!


this is my favorite ornament. i bought it our gift shop at work. it's the last one they had left. i wish i had a few more like him to decorate on the the tree.








It's Your Last Chance... Don't Miss It...


hey there everyone...it's your last chance to get in on lianna's Amazon Kindle Chip-In Giveaway!! the deadline is tomorrow december 20th @ 10:00am eastern time. all the proceeds will help lianna and her husband with their 3rd IVF. so far this giveaway alone has raised over $700:) God is so GOOD!! you better hurry. time is running out!!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Gardendale Christmas 2008


if you are in the birmingham area i would like to invite you to the Gardendale Christmas program. this is one of the many churches in the birmingham area that puts on a wonderful program. i am so blessed to be apart of this church and to have the opportunity to go and see other Christmas programs put on by other area churches. this year i'm hoping to get a chance to see the Highlands Christmas. i hear it's going to be awesome!

i hope everyone is getting in the Christmas spirit and if you're like me you still have some shopping to do:)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Christmas Door Tour

my blogger friend lianna is hosting a Christmas door tour and i thought i would share my pic.


you can't tell, but when i took this picture it was dark outside. i don't know why it looks so bright!! i'm not to wild about my camera. maybe santa will bring me a new one this year:) i had a few more pics that i wanted to post but they didn't turn out that great.

my favorite thing about the porch is my new porch trees. my friend stephanie called me a couple of weeks ago and told me she found these nice, cheap, and already pre-lit trees and they came two in a box. the price...$40.00 (not that bad)!! i went out that same day and purchased them. but i must admit they are SO top heavy and every time the wind blows they come crashing down, oh well, there still cute:)

i hope to post some of my tree within the next couple of days:)

Friday, December 5, 2008

Tires+Victoria's Secret+Fireproof+Sushi = Date Night

for the first time in what seems like forever the hubs and i got a chance yesterday to have a date night. now if you can tell by the title of my post we had a few other things on the list to do before we could have our date and since we live 30 minutes north of b'ham i thought it would be a great idea to run a few errands beforehand.

first things first, we had to go and purchase two new tires for the truck. we've been driving with the spare on for about a month (the hubs ran over a nail in the road:) and finally saved up the money for the purchase. i must say i was quite surprised at the cost. last week when the hubs called around the lowest estimate we could get was $350. so when the guy told us it would only cost us $200 i was ecstatic!! thanks to my awesome father-in-law for finding this gold mine:)


so after the tire purchase we needed to kill some time before the movie started and i thought we could stop by Victoria's Secret (sorry mary) and i could pick out the rest of my sister-in-laws Christmas. that's two more people checked off my list!!


since it was still at the theater (not to mention i've been dying to see it) we decided to see Fireproof. and can i just say that EVERY married couple NEEDS to go and see this movie if you haven't already. i can honestly say that we came away from this movie wanting to be better for one another. the struggles we have gone thru over the last two years has grown us as a couple, but this movie showed me the real meaning of love!! i really hope you get a chance to watch it:)


the last stop on our list was FOOD!! we can never make decisions on were to eat, so we did what every other married couple would do in this situation, we played Paper Rock Scissors. the winner: Surin West. we ordered soup and sushi and it was wonderful and topped off a great date night.

Monday, December 1, 2008

TGIM...

Thank Goodness It's Monday...finally my week is over at work and i get the next seven days off!! praise God for 7 on 7 off!!! now i get to start to putting up Christmas decorations (while listening to Christmas music), start on Christmas cards, and catch up on my DVR. that sure seems like a lot to do in only a week, but i think i can manage. maybe i can get the hubby to help me out:) tomorrow i'm hoping to take a break from all the decorating to go out with some of the girls from work and see Four Christmases. i hear it's really funny. i'll try and post some pics later when i get all the decorations up.

oh i forgot to mention...please go and check out lianna's blog. she is giving away some of her Christmas cards and tags (i have to tell you that are soooo cute) and she's having a Christmas door tour. i hope everyone can join in!!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

happy thanksgiving everybody!! i can't wait to get home today and watch the macy's thanksgiving day parade. it is one of the highlights of the holiday. well since today is a day of thanks i thought i would share a few things that i am thankful for...

1. my husband...God has truly blessed me with an amazing man. he has such a sweet spirit and he brings so much laughter to my life. i could not ask for a better man.

2. my family (this includes the in-laws)...what can i say, i have a wonderful family. they have been a great support system for clay and i over the last two+ years. we have learned so much from them. i really look forward to this time of year and the chance to get together with all of them. it's a great time of fellowship and laughter.

3. my grandmother's dressing and pecan pie...my grandmother makes the BEST dressing and pecan pie. i literally indulge myself when it comes to her cooking. it is another highlight of thanksgiving for me. and i hate that i am going to miss out on it this year.

4. my friends...there are no words to express what a great group of friends i have. they have been my shoulder to cry on for the last year. i could not ask for a better group of girls. each one has blessed my life and i don't know how i could ever repay them. they have been there thru it all and i thank God everyday for their friendship!!

5. my job...during this stressful time with the economy, i am blessed to have a wonderful job. i can't tell you the number of blessings that i have received since being here. i complain ALOT about the hours that i work, but to watch God work so many miracles in these children's lives is worth it all.


i hope everyone has a wonderful and safe thanksgiving!! can't wait to put up the Christmas decorations in a few days:)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Say The Name...

have you ever been at a point in your life when you just had no idea what words to pray? well that's how i have been feeling lately. for the last two years i have prayed so much about my infertility and the desire to be a mother. and the other day i broke down and cried because i just could not find the words to pray anymore. i'm just so emotionally exhausted!! maybe it's due to all the infertility drugs, but who knows...anyway last night on my way to work i remembered the words to this song we've sung at church and it just sums up how i feel at this time in my prayer life. it made me realize that saying the name of Jesus can be just as powerful as any prayer i could pray...

Say the name of Jesus
Say the name of Jesus
Say the name of Jesus
No other name I Know
That can calm your fears, and dry your tears and wipe away your pain
When you don't know what else to pray
When you can't find the words to say
Say the Name

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
He's gonna make a way when you say the name Jesus...

When you don't know what else to pray
When you can't find the words to say
When you can't make it through another day

Say the Name

Sunday, November 23, 2008

He's Baaaaaaaack!!!



at my house we are HUGE Jack Bauer fans!!!

24 is probably one of mine and clays favorite all time shows. the entire family is completely hooked. last night at dinner with the in-laws my father-in-law made the comment that if he ever went missing we were to call Jack Bauer to find him!! i guess you could say we are borderline insane when it comes to this show. LOL!!! it's defiantly a must see. and trust me if you start watching it you'll be hooked for life!! tonight's episode is 2 hours and previews what is to come in season 7 that premiers in january 2009.


well i've gotta go...need to fix supper before clay gets home and i have less than 30minutes plus i need to make sure all the phones are turned off for the next 2 hours!!!

Our Journey - Part Two

little did i know that on october 22, 2007 our lives would become a complete roller coaster ride. never in a million years would i have thought that we would be dealing with infertility. i was nervous, scared, and afraid of the unknown to say the least. that day clay and i met with the infertility nurses and we determined that i would begin my first round of treatments that next month. on november 20 the tuesday before thanksgiving and right before i was to start my treatments i had a miscarriage. i can remember every detail of that day and the many tears that were shed. i remember on thanksgiving right before we made the trip to see our families, clay and i in our bedroom praying for God's comfort, strength, and that even though we did not understand His ways we would continue to bless His name. i praise God and thank Him for putting His arms around clay and i during that time.
for the first seven months (taking a break in february) i was on the dreaded clomid and hcg. i will never forget as long as i live how the clomid made me feel like i was literally going thru menopause. i can remember countless times when i would complain to the girls at work about how hot it was. those seven months were filled with heartaches, tears, and many other difficult emotions that i wondered if i would be able to handle anymore of the treatments. it seemed like everywhere i turned someone was announcing they were pregnant. not to mention the infertility waiting room was right next to the ultrasound office, so i could see every pregnant woman that came in and out. during the summer i became angry with God, asking Him so many questions, and not being able to understand the path that He had laid before us. for a while i stopped attending church and sunday school regularly. it was just too hard to be around so many pregnant women, listening to them complain about morning sickness, swollen ankles, and all the rest, desperately wanting to be in their place. please do not misunderstand me...i was truly happy for each one of these women, many of them my friends, but i just didn't understand why i wasn't one of them. on june 4, 2008 after my laparoscopic procedure to get rid of the endometriosis the doctor informed me and clay that we had until december to try and get pregnant, otherwise we would have to look into other options. by september after more negative pregnancy tests we opted to see a local infertility specialist that would be a little more aggressive with the treatments. we met with him and mapped out a plan for the next 3 months that would include high doses of follistim injections and an IUI (intra-uterine insemination) each month. he told us that if we were not pregnant after the 3 tries our next option would be IVF. clay and i just looked at one another and knew that these next 3 months would be critical. so on november 13 i started my injections and this last thursday i had my first iui. clay and i are trying very hard to stay grounded thru all of this and continuing to pray that God's will be done. i promise to keep you posted on any news and want to thank you for allowing me to share this part of our life.


***consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3***

Friday, November 21, 2008

Kindle Chip-In Giveaway!!



it's that time again...and my blogger friend lianna is having an AWESOME chip-in/giveaway this month. the prize is called a kindle and it would be a great Christmas gift for that person in your family that loves to read. if you are not familiar with the kindle be sure to check out lianna's post for the full details. also there are a few stipulations with this giveaway so make sure to read the entire post. ***remember that by donating you are helping lianna and her husband reach their goal for their 3rd ivf...and please continue to pray for this wonderful couple and their journey to becoming parents.***

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

My Best Run Ever

this week publix had it going on!! they had some awesome savings and BOGO. here's what i came away with...

3pkgs Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
2pkgs Tennessee Pride Sausages
2boxes Frozen Broccoli
4pkgs Kraft Shredded Cheese
2boxes Ritz Crackers BOGO
2boxes Cheez-It BOGO
3 Tombstone Pizzas
2boxes Betty Crocker Brownie Mix BOGO
2boxes Stove Top Stuffing
2 Pillsbury Pie Crusts
2pkgs Sour Cream BOGO
2 Betty Crocker Frostings BOGO
1can Lemon Juice
2cans Eagle Brand Milk
1pkg Velveeta Cheese
4pieces Bourbon Salmon (my most expensive items)
2 McCormick Vanilla Extract BOGO
1 Keebler Pie Crust
2 Ziploc Containers
1 Hefty EZ Pan w/Cover
Milk

used $12.80 in MFC & $48.94 in advertised specials w/total savings of $61.74. my OOP cost: $98.91. this was by far my best run ever. i desperately need a publix closer to my house!!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Our Journey - Part One

***i must admit that this post has taken me several days to write out and i will probably break it up into parts. i apologize in advance for the length so bare with me.***

i have contemplated many times whether or not to talk about this part of my life with the rest of the world. not to say that i am at all ashamed or embarrassed, but that this part of my life is very personal and sometimes difficult to talk about. so with that said i guess i will start from the beginning. my husband (clay) and i were married in june 2006. for those of you that do not know our story, clay and i have known each other since we were 5 years old. we went to the same school, lived less than a mile from one another, but we never dated (just friends). certain circumstances brought us together during my junior year of college. looking back it's funny to realize that someone you saw everyday during your elementary and high school days turned out to be the person God had in store for you and you never even knew it at the time. anyway, back to the story... in october of 2006 clay and i decided that we wanted to start a family. at the time he was 25 and i was 24. i went and had a check up with my ob/gyn. she told me everything looked great and to let her know "when i got a bun in the oven!"...those were her exact words!! when summer came around i started getting a little worried. by this time i was beginning to think something might be wrong. i remembered during my last doctors appointment that my doctor said she likes to give couples our age at least one year to try on our own and then we would look at other options. i will say looking back now i understand why we did not get pregnant during that time. clay had decided to sell his business and go back to school and that was something we had prayed very hard about and really sought out God's will. not to mention it would have been hard to care for a child on just one income. but i won't lie and say that during that time i did not question God or wonder why this was happening to us. we were beginning to see many couples our age getting pregnant, getting the questions at all the family gatherings asking "when are ya'll going to start trying"..."aren't ya'll ready for kids"..."it's your turn now." and it just seemed like we were the only ones not pregnant. so when october of 2007 came along we were back at the doctor listening to all of our options and after much prayer and consideration clay and i decided to start infertility treatments.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Just Melts My Heart!!!

i've been wanting to purchase a bed for our cat friskers and the other day while i was out looking around i came across this cute pet bed from target. i called my husband and asked him what he thought as i described it to him. of course the first question he asked was "how much does it cost?" to which i said "it's on sale!!" i really couldn't pass it up, it's just so darn cute. so on friday night we put it in her usual spot where she sleeps and sat her down in it, but much to my dismay she thought the rubber treadmill would be better for her to sleep on and i must admit i was really disappointed and i might have even called her a bad name. so last night i had not thought much more about it, but as i was turning out the lights i noticed this furry little creature all curled up in her bed.



is that not just the cutest thing you've ever seen? it just melts my heart!!!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Vera Bradley Bonanza Giveaway

please check out Be Thou a Knight for an awesome giveaway! you don't want to miss this!! and your helping Lianna in raising money for IVF.

the giveaway includes all the following items in capri blue:

clip zip id, coin purse, large cosmetic, brush and pencil, eyeglass case, jewelry case, cool keeper, cell phone case, and the villager. might i add that this giveaway is worth over $200!!

struggling with infertility myself i know first hand how expensive, exhausting, and emotional it all can be. it is a very draining process especially when doctors don't have the answers and your just in this percentage of couples that are unexplained. so if you can please donate a few bucks and remember to pray for Lianna and her husband.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I HATE The Flu

11

can i just say that i HATE the flu!! it has to be the worst feeling in the world. and what's crazy is that it just happened all of a sudden. when i woke up yesterday from my afternoon nap (yes i take naps) i was sweating and achy all over. i was up all night tossing and turning, hurting from head to toe. i mean i literally hurt all over my neck, back, arms, legs. it's RIDICULOUS!! i guess i deserve it though since i did not take up the offer at work and get the shot. so today i had already scheduled and appointment with my girly doctor and she was nice enough to prescribe me some tamiflu. MAN that stuffs expensive!!! anyway, sorry to bother you with my sickness. i just hate it when it's my week off and i'm lying on the couch or in the bed not able to do anything bored to death (since i'm all caught up on my tivo). plus i was really excited about going to Christmas Village tomorrow. oh well, maybe by some miracle i can get better by friday or then again there's always next year.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

I Won An Award!!


HOORAY!! i can't believe it. thanks to my wonderful friend and co-worker jillian, i have been honored with this very prestigious award. LOL!!

there are a few rules that go along with winning this award..they are as follows...list 6 things that make me happy and then pass it along to 6 fellow bloggers. due to time and the fact that i AM at work i will just be doing the first part (and all my blogger buddies have already received this award :)

6 things that make me happy:

1.first and foremost my husband. he truly is the rock of our marriage and can always make me laugh at just the right time

2.my kids at work. they have taught me so much and are such a blessing to my life

3.the sunday paper!! coupons, coupons, coupons!!!

4.my co-workers. i could not ask for such a great group of christian girls. they too have taught me alot and have been a blessing to work with.

5.this time of year. the leaves are changing, it's football season, and a reason to eat as much chili as i want.

6.knowing that the Lord knows what is best for my life and that His timing is perfect.

Friday, October 17, 2008

The Proud Wife

the other day i'm sitting on the couch watching food network (which i love by the way) and my husband walks in the door and hands me a letter. i ask him what it is and he tell me to just read it. when i open it up it reads: Congratulations on your academic achievement!... OMGoodness, my husband has just been accepted into the national honor society!! i jumped up off the couch and ran and hugged him and told him how proud i was of him. of course he passed it off as no BIG deal, but the proud wife in me just came out. now i know you must be thinking "jennifer, people get these letters all the time" but what can i say, he has worked so hard this last year after being out of school for 7 years and trust me when i tell you that his decision to go back to school has not been an easy one, especially financially, but God is good and has provided for us during this time. i cannot explain to you how VERY PROUD i am of what he has accomplished and all the hard work he has put in to finishing his degree. so CONGRATS honey! i love you and keep up the good work!!!


Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Another CVS Run

here's how it went...

1pk Tylenol PM
1pk Bic Soleil Refills
1 Herbal Essence Shampoo
1 Herbal Essence Conditioner
4bags Reese Peanut Butter Cups BOGO

Paid: $2.83
Used $8 in MFC and $13.79 in CVS coupons
Saved: $34.58
Earned back $4 in ECB and $5 off $25 purchase and $1 off Children's Tylenol

i think that this was my most successful trip to date!


New Recipe

so i tried out the taco soup recipe from my friend mary on on monday night and thought i would share it with you all. the ingredients are really simple and to be honest you can leave out some of the ingredients and/or add some of your on twists...

1lb Ground Beef
2cans Rotel
1can Pinto Beans
1can Dark Red Kidney Beans
1can Corn
1can Black Beans
1pk Taco Seasoning Mix (i used the whole packet)
3/4pk Ranch Seasoning Mix
3/4can water (my husband does not like his soup too watery)

i just dumped everything in my crock-pot and let it cook over an hour. the end result was awesome. my husband liked it and of course that was a bonus (this will be another recipe that i can add to my rotation) and we just topped ours off with cheese and sour cream. thanks so much mary for the wonderful recipe. we loved it!!


Friday, October 3, 2008

Shout Out!

just wanted to give my girls at work (steph, heather, mary, and frieda) a shout out! so sorry that i could not be there tonight. hope you girls have a great night and don't get into too much trouble.

luv ya!

Shopping Trip

when i left work this morning i stopped by publix and cvs to stock pile for the next two weeks. if i have not mentioned before, my husband is a very picky eater and therefore when i am planning out our meals for the next two weeks i am somewhat limited to what i can fix. here's how it went:

2boxes Keebler TownHouse Crackers BOGO
2boxes White Cheddar Cheez-its
2pkgs Sour Cream
1 Simply Orange Juice
1 Simply Apply Juice
Milk
3pkgs Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
1pkg Pillsbury Cinnamon Twists
2pkgs Hormel Black Label Bacon
2pkgs Cream Cheese
1box Barilla Bowtie Pasta
1 Heluva Good Dip
1 Pork Sausage
1 Pork Tenderloin
1can Bush Pinto Beans
2cans Rotel
2pkgs McCormick Seasoning Mix
1pkg Taco Seasoning Mix
1can Kidney Beans
1can Black Beans
1can Corn
Grated Parmesan Cheese
1can Crisco
1can Dijon Mustard
1 Loaf Publix Bread
1pkg Yukon Gold Potatoes
Green Onions
Lettus
1 Lime
2 Tomatoes
1 Lemon
2 Oranges
1 Berio Olive Oil

Total Savings: $25.16
OOP: $90.79
(this does not include the chicken and ground beef that i purchased from Food-World). overall i think i did okay for 14 days worth of meals.



next stop cvs. and let me confess that after i got home from this trip i spent 15 minutes cleaning out my cabinet in the bathroom to make more room for the stuff i have accumulated. here's how this trip went:

2 Colgate Toothpaste
1pk Irish Spring Soap
1pk Pampers
1pk Cascade Action Pack
1 Febreze Candle
1 Covergirl Foundation
1pk Thermacare Heating Pads
1 Dawn Dish Soap

OOP: $18.35
used $6.10 in MFC and $18.00 in cvs coupons. total savings of $34.58. earned back $7.79 in ECB and $5 off $25 purchase. not too bad!!


Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Amazing Little Boy

my mom sent this to me and i thought i would share it with you. this is an amazing little boy!!


Monday, September 22, 2008

Really Neat



i came across this really neat website a couple of weeks ago while i was sitting at home reading other blogs and thought i would share it with you. it's really simple and fun!! you can really get creative with it. if you get a chance play around with it and let me know what you think!!


Saturday, September 20, 2008

Remembering!!

the last few months have been somewhat difficult for my family. this past may my grandmother passed away from medical complications and then in june we tragically lost my aunt in an accidental drowning. for the past few weeks all the girls in my family have been planning an outing to celebrate my aunt's birthday yesterday. i come from a very large extended family and since the death of my aunt we as a family decided that we would get together more often (not just on the holidays) during the year. so yesterday us girls chose the cheesecake factory to celebrate my aunt's birthday. the food was delicious as usual and it was great getting to see everybody; talking about my uncle's new fainting goats (yes that's right i said fainting goats), all the kids (there are 20 all under the age of 19 and we'll be having another one in decemeber), jobs, husbands, and life in general. for me today was a day of reflection. a time to remember all the wonderful things that my aunt did for our family. how she will truly be missed and how much we all love her. life is short. we are not guaranteed tomorrow. God reminds us of this in James 4:14 "how do you know what will happen tomorrow? for your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone." i have really come to understand this verse over the last few months and i have realized life is too brief to worry about the little things is life and to always remember to tell the ones you love how much you love them. i thought i would post this song "pretty amazing grace" by neil diamond which was one of my aunt's favorite songs. hope you enjoy!!


Sunday, September 14, 2008

Sunday Out With The Fam

not to far from where i grew up there is a restaurant (one of only two in my hometown) called The Restaurant at Campbell's Field. and literally it is a restaurant at the campbell field airport. anyway i digress...on Sunday's after church my family nine times out of ten goes out to eat just like any other family would on Sunday's. this week was my Sunday off and so i got to join in on the fun. i come from a large family (well in my opinion it is large). i have two brothers one older and one younger and an older sister. i also have three nieces and can i tell you how much fun they are!! kelsey is learning how to drive. it is exciting listening to her and remembering those same feelings i had when i was first learning how to drive. she had the awesome pleasure of having pawpaw (my dad) teach her how to drive a stick shift and can i tell you that she learned in the same truck i learned in twelve years ago!!! destiny is the drama queen of the bunch. she always has something funny to add to the conversation. i love it when she talks about what friends she has this month and all the older boys in her sisters class that she thinks is "sooooo hot"!!!! madison (a.k.a maddie) is our red headed wild child. i got to see her new braces and listen to her tell me that she would not be smiling for any pictures and that she was going to have to wear headgear (yuck). i gave her some BIG aunt advice and let her know that i too had braces and also had to wear headgear (it was very embarrassing at the time), but i told her that if she did everything the dentist told her to do (including wearing the headgear) she could have her braces off early like i did. she seemed thrilled and excited and i even got a smile out of her. just another Sunday out with the fam!!


destiny with her mom and my BIG sis


kelsey, pawpaw, and maddie


jen, mom, and kelsey


kelsey in the driver's seat of the golden egg



Friday, September 12, 2008

22 Days To Go!!!

just wanted to share a few pics from my sister-in-laws bridal shower. congratulations jess and charlie... we love you both and wish you all the best!! (p.s. apologies go out to my sister-in-law for having been quarantined to the gift table and not being able to take alot of pics.)

(the bride to be)!!

(the wolford girls...erica, jess, and me)

(angie and erica)

(all the lovely bridesmaids and the bride)

(the future mr. and mrs. charlie travis)!!!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Life Changing For Me


i just finished The Shack and can i tell you that it was one of the most life changing books that i have ever read. i will say that in some parts of the book i found myself reading a sentence or paragraph over and over. it really gets deep!! and to be honest i will probably read it again. but i can honestly say that i have truly been transformed since reading this book. i won't go into any details for those who have not read it but i was amazed at how i could relate to the situations in my life to the character and his situations throughout the book. there have been many times that i have wondered and asked myself "Why did God let this happen?" or "Where is God when I'm hurting so much?" especially in the last year. this book answered those questions for me and for the first time in my life as a BELIEVER i really understand the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. this book was an emotional roller coaster for me and truly opened my eyes and heart. i encourage you if you get the chance to read this book. you will not be disappointed.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

CVS Shopping Trip

so on my way home from work this morning i stopped by CVS to do a little shopping. i was a little disappointed because the store i went to did not have some of the sales that were in the ad, but anywho here's how it went...

1 3ct ThermaCare Pack
2 Secret Deodorants
2 Febreeze Noticeable Kits
1 Covergirl Wetslicks Amazemint

Regular retail price would have been: $39.88
Used $12.55 in MCP and $7.00 in CVS coupons
Paid: $13.23
Earned back: $5.99 in ECB

not to bad i guess. i am still learning the ropes. oh and can i mention that the little old man checking me out at the store this morning was very enthused about my coupons and the "homework" i had put in. LOL!!

Friday, August 29, 2008

I Am AUBURN!!

I am Auburn. I am the 30-year old couple coming back to campus for the first time with both little ones in tow. One wears her first blue and orange cheerleader outfit; the other wears #34 even though he is too young to understand why.

I am the 50-year old man who hoped no one saw tears in his eyes when the eagle circled the field. I was too choked even to say 'War Eagle'. For a moment, I felt foolish and then I didn't care. God, I love this place.

I am the 60 year old woman meeting her freshman granddaughter who is now the 3rd generation of AU students in our family. Despite my age, I'd strap it on Saturday and hit someone if it weren't for my gender and this blasted arthritis.

I am Auburn and I have always believed I was different. You can see it when you look up into the stands. My orange is not the same as Tennessee's and my blue is not that of Florida…But the differences go much deeper than my colors. Read my creed. What other school has one? I genuinely believe in these things. To be a real Auburn man or woman speaks of character, not of geography. All are welcome to walk though my gates, not just the wealthy or the elite.

Georgia and Alabama may have their nations, but we have always been family. Make no mistake, we loathe defeat, but even in defeat, we would rather be an Auburn Tiger than anything else. We are family and you are the sons of Heisman, the sons of Jordan and Dye. You come from a long line of brothers who names include Burkett, Sidle, Owens, Sullivan, Beasley, Jackson and Rocker. It is a great heritage.

So this Saturday, when the warm ups are over and the prayers and amen spoken, when you hear my thunder growing in the stands above you, when you stand in the tunnel and the smoke begins to form, listen for my voice when you run onto my field. Behind the frenzy of the shakers and deafening roar, I will tell you something in a whisper you may miss. I will be telling you that you are my sons and I am proud of you for the way you wear the burnt orange and navy blue. I am telling you that you are my sons and I love you.

Auburn is so much more than a city or a school or a team or a degree. It is something that, once you have experienced it, will live inside of you forever and become a part of what makes up who you are....

It is driving into town on a game day. You may have come from hundreds of miles away and as you get closer and closer to the city limits, you feel it rising inside of you. Other cars on the highway proudly display their Orange and Blue flags or magnets or car tags, and you honk and wave at them, because, for that one day, you are all on the same team.

It is the smell in the air and the ritualistic act of tailgating...catching up with old friends, making new ones, and invitations from perfect strangers to try their ribs or watch their satellite TV showing all of the day's important match-ups...of course, all being secondary to the one that will occur in the great cathedral of Jordan-Hare later that day.

It is the Tiger Walk...where you might just see 300 pound men overcome with emotion and weeping with pride, because you have come there to cheer them on. As they walk by, you might exchange a glance with one or two of them and you can see it in their eyes...it is going to be their day.

It is the students...dressed in their best, because going to an Auburn game is like going to church for Auburn people....you show the same respect as you would if you were in God's house. Those students remind you of the days when you were walking in their shoes and Auburn was your home...but then you realize, in many ways, it is still and always will be HOME.

It is that lump that rises in your throat when the band plays the alma mater as the eagle is soaring over your head during pre-game.

It is walking around on a "foreign" and sometimes hostile campus. You are easily identified (Auburn people always are) and the enemy jeers and shouts things at you to mask their feelings of intimidation. But just then, you happen upon a friend you have never met before. You know they are your friend by the colors they wear or the shaker in their hand. You exchange a "War Eagle" and a confident grin, because he/she knows what you know.

It is when your heart leaps with every touchdown, field goal, sack, and interception...because those are our boys. And win or lose, they will always have our un-dying support. After all, it is those boys that you are really there for, and not a coach or a logo or a trustee or a president.

It is the complete and utter exhilaration of walking away victorious over a worthy opponent...that feeling of pride and accomplishment as if it were your own feet that had crossed the goal line scoring the last points yourself...that feeling of wanting to scream War Eagle" at the top of your lungs and hug complete strangers...and then there is the ultimate high of defeating your most hated foes from across the state. No words can describe what this feels like, but you know because you have experienced it.

It is the sheer agony of defeat as the last minutes tick off the clock and you realize that all hope of a victory is gone. You feel like crying and maybe you do...then you hear the faint sounds of a cheer that grows louder and louder...."ITS GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER."

It is knowing that year after year, no matter how things change in our hectic lives, you can always come back to "the Loveliest Village on the Plains"...the place where you came from...your home. It will probably look a little different and there will be new names on the backs of the jerseys, but deep down, no matter what, it is still the same. You still love it as much as you always have, because Auburn is as much a part of you as your arms and your legs and the orange and blue blood that runs through your veins.

And, finally, it is the feeling you have right now as you read these lines....the anticipation inside of you, because you know its almost time....Its about to start all over again...but then it really never goes away, does it?
Author Unknown


a BIG thanks to my friend Kristie who sent this to me. around my house we are really looking forward to a great football season. this is one of my favorite times of the year! good luck to all the teams and WAR EAGLE!!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Enjoying The Games!!

can i just tell you how excited i am that on my week off i get to sit in front of my tv and watch wall to wall coverage of the olympic games. i am such a BIG fan of the olympics. yesterday i got caught up on the opening ceremony and the first few days of the games. by that evening my husband was like "jennifer can we pleeeeese watch something else?" of course my answer to him was ARE YOU CRAZY THIS IS THE OLYMPICS!! well i hope everyone is having a great week and enjoying the games as much as i am. i've got to get back to the tv. swimming, diving, and gymnastics are on tonight and i certainly cannot miss a moment.

Friday, August 1, 2008

$1.50 Cheesecake Day!!

so the other day a groups of us girls from work got together at the Cheesecake Factory for $1.50 cheesecake day! can i just say that it was crowded and HOT!! i will spare you the sweaty details and tell you thanks to my good friends mary and erica who got there 30 minutes before, i only had to wait about 30-45 minutes (they waited about 60-85 minutes). luv you girls, you are awesome!! anyway back to the cheesecake. i ordered the white chocolate carmel macadamia nut cheesecake and of course the vanilla bean for my husband. trust me when i tell you that i can not go to the cheesecake factory and not bring my husband something back. mary was the solider of the group. she was able to finish every last bite of her cheesecake unlike the rest of us who got to-go boxes. it was a great day hanging out with such wonderful girls. to all of you, i had a great time and each one of you are very special and such a blessing to be around. we should do this more often!!


Mary and Heather showing off their cheesecake!



Jillian and Courtney enjoying themselves!!


Tangela and Erica


Monday, July 28, 2008

First CVS Shopping Trip

i am very new to shopping and saving at cvs, so on my way home from work this morning i stopped by for my first shopping trip.

Here's how it went:
1 50ct Tylenol PM
1 Schick Intuition Plus Razor
2 Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil
1 Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Bath
1 Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Lotion
2 Purex Ultra Concentrate (BOGO with card)

Regular retail price would have been: $56.48
I used $7 in manufactured coupons
Paid: $27.81
Earned back: $10 in ECB

overall i think i did okay. i will be interested to see if going to wal-mart might have been cheaper. will keep you posted.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Decisions

have you ever felt like the smallest decisions in life can sometimes be the hardest to make. decisions in life should not be this hard. life in general should not be this hard, but i guess it is what makes us stronger. over the last six months i have tried to make a better effort in praying for God's will for my life. i have been a Christian for over 13 years and it seems that in the past six months to a year i have finally realized that i cannot make decisions on my own. crazy i know!! what in the world was i thinking that i could handle my own problems? my life has been full of ups and downs. more downs than ups here lately (could this possibly be from me trying to make my own decisions without the help of my heavenly father)? the decisions we make in life requires the help from our wonderful Savior. without his guidance we end up going the long way around. and trust me i know all about the long way around. in Isaiah 58:11 it says: the Lord will guide you always: He will satisfy your needs... sometimes it is hard for me to understand that the Lord knows what is best for my life. so many times i want to do things my way and in my time without waiting on the Lord. i need to remember the verse of scripture in Psalms that says to be still and know that i am God. decisions in life can be difficult when we don't seek the will of God. over the next few weeks my husband and i have a lot of decisions we need to make. i pray that during this time we will seek the will of God and listen closely to what he says. prayer is so powerful. well... i guess i have gone on long enough. hope everyone has a great weekend.

Trusting In Him!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Beware of Spoilers

i know what you are thinking: where is this girls pictures? well... a couple of weeks ago during the bachelorette i was looking around on the internet to see if i could find out who she chose before the season finale (don't act like you haven't ever gotten on the internet to look for spoilers on your favorite shows). anyway, long story short i wound up getting a virus on my computer and am in the process of having it fixed. all of my pics where on that computer (including wedding, honeymoon, birthdays, Christmas, and etc.) and just let me tell you i have no backup system. so needless to say in the future i will be more careful when it comes to surfing on the internet and will learn to have some sort of backup. i hope to get my computer back within the next two weeks and will try and get some pics up. got to get back to work. will post soon.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Welcome!!

hey guys!! i have finally given in to the pressure of starting my own blog. i have to say that this first post is not so easy. i have been sitting here on my couch for the last 30 minutes trying to type out what i want to say. as you can tell i am very new to this. i have been reading various blogs over the last few weeks and for me this is a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. i will tell you some of the content could be boring, there could be some misspelling of words, and my grammer is terrible - so i apologize in advance. i have many stories that i hope to share with you soon. well...i think i am going to try and figure out how to upload and post pictures. please feel free to comment and thanks for visiting!

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