Cell Group Kickoff

Tonight was the night. We take a month off in August from our cell groups, just to give ourselves a break and make us really miss each other!!

We had a great group there. Lots of talking, lots of laughing, lots of GREAT food, great games and just great fun. We really do have such an awesome group of people in our church.

But I think my biggest "proud mommy" moment happened tonight. Let me rewind a little though.

Last year we bought a Veggie Tales sings worship music cd. Saraya loves this cd. She constantly listens to it, and we even have it on both of our iPods so that it's pretty much always with us. It is the funniest thing ever to ride in the car when she's listening. You know how it is when your ears are plugged with earphones, you sing way louder than you should. She sings at the top of her lungs to these songs. We've been saying for awhile that we need to video it. Hopefully we'll actually do that soon.

Monday night we were at church setting up the tables and chairs for the kickoff tonight. Saraya was running around playing and then she asked if she could go on stage to pretend to sing. I let her go up there with two very strict rules. 1) you cannot take the mic out of the stand. 2) you cannot touch any instruments or wires or anything up on stage. She agreed so we went up and I lowered my mic down. Then she needed a music stand. (Like she can read) I set her up and asked her what she was going to sing. I know that she loves Blessed Be Your Name so I started singing it as I worked and she stood up there and belted it out. It was so cute. I asked her if she was going to get on stage sometime and sing, and of course she said yes.

To my surprise, not very long after we got to church she came up to me and said, "mommy, is it time for me to sing?" She was 100% serious. So, we went up there and I turned on Blessed Be Your Name on my iPod and she sang right into the mic and did a great job! I teared up! It was so precious. She was so cute up there. I think I was in Kindergarten when I sang my first solo, so she is starting earlier than I did!!

Draft Day!!!!!

I have been so excited about the fantasy football draft for weeks!!!! I have a great team name this year.... Victorious Secret!

My brother made a logo for Cristi and I so we could make tshirts. We were geared up and ready.... we both had pink flip flops, pink hoop earrings, pink toenail polish, pink folder, pink clipboard, pink ink pen and pink highlighter.

There were more people dressed up at the draft than there are on Sunday mornings for service!!! Jay, Mike and Tommy wore ties! I meant to get a picture of the three of them... I forgot.

I feel good about my team. I'm ready for the season to start. There was only one guy who I never beat last season and that was Laubach. My main goal this year is to beat him when I play him.... oh, and move up in the ranks. I finished last season at #2, so winning the whole thing is my only option!

Girls Night Out

Saturday night we had a Girls Night Out with our women's group at church. There were several conflicts, so it was a small group, but we had a ton of fun none the less. This is usually one of my favorite events of the year, because I LOVE laser tag!!! The first time we played, I was ranked #1. The last time we played Kelly Warner took it from me. How dare her! My goal was to get that back.

We split into two teams. The first game I was MVP of my team, but ranked #2. Dang you Michele. My team lost by just a little. It was on. Game two we had some unwanted boys that got put on our team. Which totally changed everything. I had an aweful, AWEFUL game. Barely scored any points, and I ranked #8. Seriously????? My team won though. Technically, we're 1-1, so we need a rematch to decide the actual winner of the night.

I am very competitive, and really really hate that I did soooooo bad. Lesley was so kind and loving as she made eye contact with me this morning as I walked out on stage.... holding up eight fingers. Nice.

Impressive

Of course I'm impressed with my little Ray.... all mothers are with their kids. But I'm always a little extra proud with anything that has to do with music. James and Saraya were riding in the car Thursday, listening to the radio. Phil Collins Hold on My Heart was playing. After Saraya listened for awhile, she says, "Daddy, this sounds like the Tarzan song". Wow!!! I was very proud that she recognized Phil Collins voice!!!!!!

If you like to talk to tomatos.....

Today we went to Lifeway so that Saraya could meet Bob and Larry. When we got out of the car I told her what we were doing, she was soooo thrilled. Larry was the first one we saw. She was all smiles when she saw him. We had to wait in line for a little while. By the time we were at the front of the line, she had seen several kids cry and she was a little nervous. So... there's no picture of her with Larry. When we walked away she said, "I won't be shy with Bob Mom". We found Bob and she walked right up and got her picture made.

Tongue Tricks

We were in the bathroom a few days ago, and I showed Saraya how you can roll up your tongue. She thought it was hilarious and has been doing it ever since.

Now, rolling up your tongue isn't really that special. Most people can do it. But then, we were eating at Chili's and she was showing James how she could do it. For whatever reason, it popped in my head to see if she can turn her tongue over.... because I can. I am proud to say that I have passed on my great trick!!! She did it with ease!

One Girl, One Boy

Well, from the previous post you know that I love to take pictures. Tonight I took one year pictures of the sweet, adorable, cutest, makes you wanna pinch his cheeks, Houston. Saraya always loves when people come over to take pictures. She knows she gets to pose for me when I test the light. She also loves to entertain and try to make them smile. Here's my favorites of Saraya from tonight. She's so photogenic.... or at least I think so, but I'm suppose to say that right?? I put a couple of Houston on too. I didn't add the really funny ones of him eating his cake cause I didn't want to steal Misty's blog thunder. :-)

27 Things About Me

Well, I've seen gals blogging about random things or lists, so I thought I'd do one of my own. Mainly because I was wanting to blog and had absolutely nothing to blog about. :-)

1. I love a good laugh. There's nothing like being with a friend and cracking up. That true deep down laugh. The one you can't stop or control.

2. I love my iPod. If you see me during the week, I've probably got it in my ears. I even have a speaker pillow, and most nights I fall asleep listening to it. I love listening to music. I also love podcasts. I have my regulars.... Francis Chan's sermons from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley California, The Official Lost Podcast with Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse, The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack, and now I'm checking out a couple fantasy football podcasts.

3. I love things flavored with cinnamon, milk chocolate, caramel or lemon. However, I hate coconut, nuts mixed in things, and cooked fruit. I'm an ice cream and chocolate snob. I really only like the good stuff... like Ben & Jerry's, Marble Slab, Godiva and Toblerone.

4. I love instant messaging. It keeps me connected to one of my best friends, Sarah. Pretty much all day when I'm at work, we're chatting. We've been friends since the summer of 1990. We've been through so much, and I am so blessed to say that 18 years later, we're closer today than we were in high school. There are many miles between Jonesboro and Raleigh, but she doesn't seem that far away.

5. I love to shop at Charlotte Russe (when I have money to spend that is!). I usually spend any money I make from taking pictures or doing invitations in that store... which is what I was doing Saturday!! :-)

6. I love fantasy sports. I wasn't real sure if it would be my thing, but I love watching sports anyway, so I fell in love with it! It actually makes me want to watch teams other than "my" teams. Its fun to beat the boys too!!

7. I love the praise band. We have a great group of talented people. Every person brings something different to the table. We have really meshed as a group. We have a lot of fun at practice. Everyone in the band sacrifices time and effort, but most importantly, everyone is there to be used by God.

8. I love going to concerts. I think I could go to one every weekend if I could afford it. It wouldn't even matter who it was, I just completely enjoy live music.

9. I love facebook. I have found so many people from years ago, and it's been really fun to reconnect.

10. I love my church family. I have never been this happy at a church. I have never felt this connected with a group of people. There are so many people that make my life better just because they're apart of it. They're some of my favorite people on the planet!!

11. I love taking pictures. Of course, my favorite subject is Saraya! But I love taking pictures of just about anybody. I love getting that "perfect shot" for someone.

12. I love big hoop earrings. I have no idea why, but I always have!

13. I love spicy food. The spicier the better. I especially love indian, mexican and italian food. I love fresh guac. I love cilantro. I put it on everything I can.

14. I love Friends the tv show. I own all 10 seasons on dvd. I have seen every episode a million times... and they still make me laugh. I often quote it and most people don't even know what I'm talking about.

15. I love Burt's Beeswax Chapstick. I always have one with me. I also have one on my keyboard at work, and one by my bed. I don't wear lipstick, I wear the tinted Burt's Chapstick!!! I'm addicted to it you could say. My lips feel weird to me if I don't have it on.

16. I love to travel to big cities. I don't think I'm cut out to live in a big city, but they're so fun to visit. My favorites that I've been to are LA, Chicago, Las Vegas and NYC... I'd like to add Boston to that list.

17. I love old muscle cars. My first car was a '66 Mustang Coupe that my dad restored. I loved it. I regret getting rid of it. I love old cars because of my dad. I've gone to more car shows than I can count, but I wasn't drug there kicking and screaming... I wanted to go! My dad is restoring a '68 Camaro right now and I'm hoping I get to drive it!! One day I hope to own one again.

18. I love to drive fast. There's something about getting on a highway and just driving. I really enjoy it. Once again, my lead foot comes from my dad. I come by it honestly. Dad gave up drag racing when I was born. I've always had a desire to try drag racing.

19. I love to do things I'm good at. On the flip side of that, I have a problem doing things that don't come naturally to me. If I can't do it well, I'd rather not do it. I have a fear of looking stupid and being made fun of.

20. I love to play games. Board games, card games, anything... there's nothing better than a group of friends, playing games, laughing and enjoying each other.

21. I love LOST. I love to try and figure out what's going on. I love researching things, finding theories and seeing how things are connected. The show is so creatively written. It's amazing and it's very addictive.

22. I love my cell phone. It keeps me connected to my other best friend and cousin, Ashley. We talk every couple days. It makes me feel like she's just down the road. My cell phone is usually always with me. When my life is really busy (which is often these days) it's usually ringing a lot cause I'm planning something! Besides that, I like that you can get ahold of people so easily these days. It's hard to remember what it was like before them.

23. I love to scrapbook. Although I think my "scrapbooking" is changing. (I really like the photo books online!) I do still love the art of real scrapbooking, I just don't have the time to scrapbook everything like I used to. I think I'm going to keep it to a minimum, mainly vacations and Christmas.

24. I love circles. Anything that has circles on it, I'm drawn to.

25. I love flips flops. I start wearing them as soon as my toes can stand it, and I don't put them away til I absolutely have to. I also love having my toenails painted.

26. I love my family, James and Saraya. I love it when the three of us just hang out. I love Saraya's personality, her laugh, and her sense of humor. I love to watch James be such a great dad. (Even though I'm jealous sometimes that's she's such a daddy's girl..... I remember that I am too) I am blessed to have my parents. I love that I work with my dad, mainly because I get to see him 5 days out of the week. I love that I'm close to my brother, David. I love that my mother-in-law lives with us. I love all the brother/sister-in-laws I have, and I have wonderful nieces and nephews.

27. I love blogging. Obviously I love it so much, I came up with this list just so I could blog!! haha! I really do love it though. I love reading other peoples blogs too. It's such a great tool to keep up with people. Losing touch with people is easy cause life gets busy. But I can keep up with friends that I don't see that often and it makes me feel like I'm still in on their life.

J and Fe

Saturday was the big day!! Jason and Felicia tied the knot. Saraya was a flower girl for the second time and she assured us, "I won't be shy this time". And she wasn't. She walked right up there and stood the whole time. She looked just beautiful in her little dress.

Fe looked beautiful and so did her girls.


The ceremony was beautiful. Crossroads looked like a completely different place!

The happy Mr & Mrs!!!!!!!