Happy Birthday Dad!

I have the most unbelievably selfless father in the world. What an amazing example he is to me and my entire family. I am so thankful for all that he does and all that he means to our family. 

I hope that you enjoyed your day daddy! We are so blessed to have you as the head of our home!

Love you!

Paper Lanterns

A couple of weeks ago I saw a tutorial for making paper lanterns and thought they were so cute. I started making one and realized I really didn't have any specific reason to make them. After I did one, Amy saw it and thought they were great. She is throwing a "Blue and Pink" party tonight for her brother and sister-in-law. They are all going to find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl tonight. So, I decided to make a few for her party! They are simple, slightly time consuming, but turned out great!

 All you need is the paper that you are going to use, scissors, some tape, a hole puncher, and some string or ribbon. That big thing at the bottom is a paper cutter. You don't need it but it sure did make things easier!

 Start by cutting your strips of paper. They should be the same length and width. I did 16 strips 11"x 1" (it may have been slightly over 1") I did a couple of other smaller ones but I do not remember the measurements! You just have to play around with it.

 

Next punch a whole in both ends of all of the strips...

 Then...string part of the ribbon in one end and tape it down

 ^Tie a knot at the top and pull it through until it is tight like this ^

 Fan them out like so...and VOILA!

 

You can do different  sizes and then make them different lengths.

You will also need a pushpin to attach it to your ceiling. I thought they turned out cute and I'm sure they will look great at Amy's party tonight! 

Monday Ramblings

Hello and Happy Monday! It was a dark and gloomy day in these parts and I hear many of my friends up north got a good bit of snow! Crazy Alabama weather!!

 So with this cold and gloomy day it called for a cup of hot chocolate this morning and some time with the Lord...perfect morning.

As I spent time with the Lord this morning I was reminded, as I am so often, of His faithfulness. Seriously, the Lord kept bringing to mind the hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." For Christmas, Brett's mom got me this devotional, Jesus Calling. It is just a daily devotional that I have been reading before I spend time with the Lord. There is one a read a few days ago that has stayed with me. It is short so I am going to write it out. It has been so encouraging. This book is presented as if God is speaking to you. 

"Relax in My healing presence. As you spend time with Me, your thoughts tend to jump ahead to today's plans and problems. Bring your mind back to Me for refreshment and renewal. Let the Light of My Presence soak into you, as you focus your thoughts on Me. Thus I equip you to face whatever the day brings. This sacrifice of time pleases Me and strengthens you. Do not skimp on our time together. Resist the clamor of tasks waiting to be done. You have chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from you."

I love this because I am so guilty of letting my thoughts wander or "skimping" on my time with the Lord. I am realizing more and more the importance of my time with Him. I thought it was so encouraging.

And....off the subject....but, check out this adorable mug from Anthropologie. 

Sweet Julie got me this mug for Christmas. I have always liked Anthropologie but NEVER bought anything from there. It is a bit pricey most of the time and although I LOVE the bright colors I see when I peruse their website.....not everything is practical. As I was looking around today, here are a few things I LOVED! Looking at these different things makes me excited to get married and have my own house!

I love this couch....but again...not terribly practical! :)

Cute vases...

Love these bowls!

And these too!!

Sorry, I know that is random but I was just looking around the website that I cannot afford and dreaming.... :) 

Other than wandering around and wasting time browsing the Anthropologie website I was actually productive today too. I have been in an organizing mood these past couple of weeks. It started with my closet, then all of my "teacher" stuff that I have been collecting for the past few years, and today it was my linen closet. Let me tell you it was a wreck. See, my mom shops at T.J. Maxx and stuff there is cheap so we used to buy towel sets often. That closet hasn't been cleaned out since I don't know when...it was definitely time. Everything was so crowded. I didn't really get a before picture but I did get a picture of EVERYTHING that was in the closet before...

I mean...who needs that many towels, hand towels, rags, and sheets? :) haha.

Here is the empty closet......

 And.....afterwards.....

Any of you girls who read this blog and have seen this closet know that this is looking so much better! :)

And tonight.....well, it is Brett's Christmas. Auburn is playing in the National Championship. 

And because I remember so many Auburn fans screaming, "Hook 'em Horns" last year......

I have one word: Quack!

13.1 and DONE!

It has come and gone. The weeks of training built up to this one day. In all honesty, there is not much to say. It went really well! I am so thankful that I did it and I am thankful that it is over. :) They say you catch this running bug while you do races like this....They say that it makes you want to do more after you do one. I can honestly say that during the race, I did not catch the bug. I was thinking...."Okay, way to go Laura! You completed your first and only half marathon." Now that it is over, I'll be surprised if I don't do another one! It feels so good to finish and I really would love to do it again........not tomorrow of course! :) 

Here are some pictures from the day....

 Sam....obviously pumped!

 Mangs and Pudge

 Downs and I

 And....we're off!

 Our cheering squad waited about halfway for all of us to pass.....Pudge in the lead!

 Here comes Sammy!

 The two beasts...

 Mangs and I....this is when I commented that this would be my last race. haha. I actually felt good at this point...

 Trained with him....but he is a stud.

 This boy literally didn't train. He ran our 10 mile run with us then a few days later went to London....got back on Friday and decided to run the half. Seriously? I obviously didn't get the running gene. haha.

 Colleen and LaJuan all done!!

 Coll and Jason

 Our turn to finish!! Feeling great right now! I have to give a HUGE thanks to my sister and best friend!!  Amy has been running for a while. This was her second race. She so didn't have to stay with me but she did the whole time. She has been such an encouragement through all the training and everything! So thankful for you Mangs!!

 All the runners and our cheering section!

Sammy and I after we finished. 

 So happy to be done!!

Oh, and I didn't get a picture with Brett cause he was taking all the pictures but he was a major encouragement through all of this too! 

Overall, this was such a fun experience. I kept thinking towards the end when I felt like I couldn't finish that I was so grateful that God has given me the ability to run because so many can't! He is so good! It was freezing and long and tiring and I am sore right now but I cannot wait to do another one.....eventually! :) 

"......and let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us!" -Hebrews 12:1

Twas the Night Before the Half...

Guess what we went to pick up today?

That's right! Tomorrow is the day! I am so excited and just a little bit nervous about it! I'm definitely ready to just be running! 

I'll post an update tomorrow if I can. I'm sure it will be from the couch. I plan on napping and resting tomorrow afternoon! 

See you after 13.1 miles! :) Pray for me! 

he & she (january 2011)

..: he and she :..

She is job searching/subbing.

He is not looking forward to school starting.

She is enjoying her "stay-at-home-daughter life" :)

He is BEYOND ready for January 12th.

She is prepping to run 13.1 miles.

He is encouraging.

She is trying to cut back on diet coke....

And 2 a day is cutting back

He is cutting back on sports.

GASP.

They are enjoying being back in Mobile together.

I saw this little project on this website. It is quite possibly my new favorite blog. She does so many DIY projects and just seems so fun. I feel like we could be friends. She got the idea from this blog. The plan is to take one "interesting/unique" photo a month and write different thoughts that go along with that particular month. I liked the idea so we are gonna give it a go.

How cool to have one photo and remember a few random thoughts from that month.

In other news.....my half marathon is in 4 days! Eeek! I'm excited and a little nervous. Mostly just ready for it to be here!

Also, guess who has entered the wonderful world of blogging? I have been meaning to mention this but my dear sweet sister has become a blogger! Check out her blog here.

enjoy this rainy day. mmm..I love rainy days!

Happy Birthday Big Bro!

Today is your birthday and I hope it was really fun

I know you had to go to work and I'm sure you got a lot done!

So I have to say, you are getting kinda old

But, I will be 28 soon...or so I'm told.

Even though you are older you cannot be sad

Because, you are still a hot dad!

Now it is time for this poem to end

But before I do, one more message to send....

You are awesome my sweet big brother

And I have to say you are like no other!

I know...I know...you don't have to tell me, I should rethink my career choice! But seriously, Happy Birthday Eric!! I love you!!