Yay for a new design!!!

I know that you must be tired of coming to my blog and constantly seeing new changes. I don't know - that may actually excite you because you never know if you will see something different or not. While I LOVED my Christmas design, I figured it was time for something different. I thought about going with the winter look, but it had lots of red in it and I didn't want you to think that I was stuck on Christmas. Trust me, I could be stuck on Christmas and that would be A-OK with me!!!

I was looking through Lee-Lou Blog Designs (which if you haven't already - she has some awesome free templates.) I finally found one that I like and I hope it will inspire me on my New Years resolution to learn to sew. By the way -- I plan on signing up for some sewing classes real soon -- would love a tag-a-long partner if anyone is up for it!!!

I am totally planning on actually doing a Blog Makeover in January. I have come to love the designs of Persnickety Pages and more. I have already contacted her regarding it. She has great prices and beautiful designs. I want a custom designed header at the top and I think I want a Mommy sitting in a chair, drinking a cup of coffee and reading or typing with a laptop in her lap -- wait, reading is not me, definitely a laptop in the lap! Anyway --- check out her designs if your looking for a blog makeover!! :-)

OK - back to work. Gotta a bridal show in a couple of weeks that I have to get ready for!!

~Randi

Determined to Succeed/Resolutions

Ok - so I am on a new kick ---- Running is one of my goals for 2011. Yes, I know, I have too many "resolutions" for 2011 but this is definitely one that has got to work or I won't work any more. I have GOT to loose weight and get my butt in shape. You see, I suffer from hereditary high cholesterol. I have no idea what it is right now but last time it was tested it was 290-ish. Kind of sounds like I could be a walking time bomb. Doctors wanted me on medication but I am child-bearing age and can't be on medication -- for the safety of any unborn children I may have.

So, I was blog hopping/blog stalking today, whatever you want to call it and I came across a link for a FREE running program.

Apparently this is a program that you can purchase in stores but they are offering it for FREE. All you have to do is go to their website, "like" them on Facebook, then fill out their form and they will send you the link to download the book for FREE! I am SO excited about it!!

Here are my goals that I put on their form:
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Goals in General:

1. To loose weight - obviously!

2. To learn how to run successfully --- I have had an "itch" lately to become a runner. My family and friends who know me have laughed when I have said that.

3. To look great in a bridesmaids dress for one of my bestie's wedding in April and to look great on my cruise in June!

4. To physically feel better. I am tired of being exhausted and out of breath because of my weight. I am tire of being embarrassed to go clothes shopping because of my weight. And I am tired of looking pregnant when I am not. My child is 2 years old almost and it is time to get rid of this weight!!!

5. To get my butt into shape so that I can become a certified yoga teacher!

Weight Loss Goals:
1. To loose 10 lbs per month

2. To loose between 50-60 lbs total - but I'll keep loosing if it is going good! LOL!!

3. To train to run my first ever 5K in October!!

I need this plan for several reasons. One being, as I stated above, I have never been a runner and really don't know where to begin. Second of all, I need accountability. I think this program will help me become accountable in sticking with a routine. Running can be a good stress relief for me and I am looking forward to using running as my "me time"!!
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I hope that you will join me on this adventure. By the way -- I need a good accountability partner... anyone up for the task??? Seriously! I really do!!!

Here are some of my other "New Year's Resolutions":
1. To loose weight and learn to run (isn't that always the number 1 resolution??)
2. To learn how to sew --- I am SO Excited about this. I am ready to get my crafty juices flowing!! Goal for Christmas Presents for next year -- to make something homemade/sewn for everyone!!
3. To save enough money to pay for my Yoga certification -- this also goes with #1 resolution because I am pretty sure that you can not be an overweight yoga instructor. LOL!
4. To become a Successful Blogger --- I read blogs all the time that have hundreds of followers and I want to be one of those bloggers. SO -- (hint, hint) if you are reading this and you are not one of my "followers" can you do me a favor and "follow" me? (I just love being "followed"!) Oh - and feel free to comment on any of my posts. Let me know you "stopped by for a visit!"

I think that is all of the resolutions I will put for now. I could put some goals for 2011 but I won't bore you with those!!

2010 has become a great year for our family. I will admit that it started off very rocky and depressing. We have overcame some major hurdles this year and still have a few more to jump but God is with us and HE has brought us this far and will see us through. I am very grateful to Him for that. I pray that your year has been full of blessings and pray that 2011 is great to you as well!! 

Love to all!!

~Randi

*note - Tips 4 Running did not ask me to post this for them nor did I receive any compensation for this. This was done at my own will.  

A Message From Grandma

As you know, Christmas is different this year. It's gonna be a tough one, I'm not gonna lie. I know that Noah is going to keep me very busy and entertained but I no longer have 3 stops to make on Christmas day - just 2. It's sad. There is family that I have seen every Christmas for the last 28 years and I won't see them this year. I often wonder what I would have done different last year had I known that it was Grandma's last Christmas with us. My first thought is that I would have spent more time there instead of feeling rushed. I would have taken in every minute. I tried to take in every minute because it was Noah's first Christmas but I was so overwhelmed. He had really mastered crawling so we were watching his every move.

I remember all of us gathering in the living room -- which was a very tight fit! We all watched as Grandma opened her presents. Tammy wrote down all that she got, so that we could help her remember who gave what, and I helped her with the boxes. She was pretty good at opening the presents herself. I loved watching her open each box - she was like a child, so excited to see what was inside.

So, this year will be different. I will make my stop to see Grandma and at least tell her Merry Christmas.

I have been following a Caring Bridge site for a sweet 9 year old girl with cancer. She made her transition to Heaven on Halloween day, the day that we "tucked Grandma in" for the last time. Her mom is no longer updating her Caring Bridge site but she has since created a blog and I am now a faithful follower. She posted this on her blog a couple of weeks ago and it brought tears to my eyes. I felt like this was from Grandma and she was comforting us for this upcoming Christmas holiday. So to my family -- this is the message Grandma has sent me and I want to pass it along to you. I love you all so dearly!!!  

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees

around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,

reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,

please wipe away the tear

For I am spending Christmas with

Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs

that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can't compare

with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,

the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description,

to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,

I see the pain inside your heart.

But I am not so far away,

We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,

You know I hold you dear.

And be glad I'm spending Christmas

with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,

from my heavenly home above.

I sent you each a memory

of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious

than pure gold.

It was always most important

in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,

as my Father said to do.

I can't count the blessing or love

he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and

Wipe away that tear

Remember, I am spending Christmas with

Jesus Christ this year

~Randi

By the way --- this is the first Christmas that Grandma and Grandpa have spent together in 30 something years. How amazing is that thought! Puts a smile on my face!!

Dear Santa ... I'm trying!!!

I SO totally stole my blog title from another blog but it completely describes how I am feeling. I pre-apologize for this blog post. This one is completely coming from my heart and is how I am feeling today.

It seems like I keep trying, I'm trying the hardest I possibly can and I keep getting knocked backwards 10 steps. The phrase - "Can't win for loosing" keeps coming to mind. I feel overwhelmed without being overwhelmed. I feel stressed without stress. Does that even make sense? Can that even be so? I just can't catch up!!

1. Christmas Shopping -- I am NO WHERE near finished! I've bought a few stocking stuffers here and there but other than my Black Friday all nighter - I've not bought anything. Take that back -- I ordered the photo book for my Nanny and I ordered a small something for my dad and I ordered Noah's toddler bedding - other than that - nothing!! Keith and I planned on finishing our shopping Saturday night but that didn't get to happen because he did not receive his paycheck like we planned. He has since received it (ie: today) but it messed up Saturday night - not like I can go back to Saturday night now. Noah and I were supposed to go to Atlanta with mom, Meghan and Rinda Wednesday afternoon and come back Thursday - can't happen now because someone has to finish shopping. Bunko tonight - Santa tomorrow night (cause we tried last time and someone threw up in the line) then shopping Wednesday night. See - can't win!!! No time!!

2. Money -- why does money always have to put a damper on everything. I mean - seriously!! Keith and I are trying hard with our money this month to help prepare for Ahmed coming to live with us in January. We are not "behind" in our payments but we are trying to get ahead to be better prepared for having a teenage son! Gosh - that's overwhelming in itself!! So, Keith got his paycheck, it went in, but I don't have much money left for all of the gifts that I have to buy. I came up with the perfect gifts for Keith's family but can't think of a thing for my family. Crud!! Shouldn't my family be easier to buy for because they are my family?? Anyway -- Keith decided that we are not buying any presents next year. So family members - use this as your forewarn! No presents next year!! Kids only!! Meghan -- I do still consider you one of the "kids" even though you will be 19 by then! When realizing how much money we have left for Christmas -- I jokingly said that we may not be buying my family Christmas this year! Keith was not as amused. But I will say --- with what little Christmas money I have left - I will be buying for the kids first before I buy for the adults.

3. Christmas Cards -- you would think that I would learn to put "Merry Christmas AND Happy New Year" on my cards so that I could send them out later. Next year, I think I will put "We hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year". I have had them in my possession for 2 weeks now but didn't have the extra money for stamps. I WILL be using some of my Christmas money for stamps today!!!

4. The Perfect Christmas -- all of Keith's family is coming to our house for Christmas lunch and presents. I am SO stressed about it. I feel like everything has to be perfect and I know that it will not be. I don't have all of the fancy Christmas china -- heck, I don't even have all of my fine china. We don't have room at our table for all of us to sit. Its gonna be cramped. My momma keeps telling me that it will be ok but I am scared to death. WHY did I tackle this project. I have been so excited about it all year up until now. I am still excited about hosting Christmas but I want it to be perfect. I want it to live up to every ones expectations. And I don't mean that bad when I say that .... it's not that the family has expectations or that I we don't live up to their expectations (well, that could be a different post all in itself) ... but I'm just stressy about it!

I told Keith last night I feel like I have lost my Christmas spirit. And that is bad. I feel guilty for it -- I really do. SO - I'm going to let loose and totally let all of this fall behind me. The meaning of Christmas is not about presents, and Christmas cards, and having the perfect Christmas and money. It is not. It is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. If it wasn't for his birth then I wouldn't be here. I want my son to grow up knowing the TRUE meaning behind Christmas. I don't want him to think Christmas is about Santa and presents and STRESS!

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I am sure that it does not make sense but it sure does make me feel better!!!

~Randi

Oh - and I won't be participating in tomorrow's Home Tour Tuesday. The home tour is on wrapping presents -- show how you wrap presents. Let's see -- I only have 3 under the tree and they are as far from fancy wrapped that they can be. No bows no ribbons. Gonna save me that embarrassment tomorrow!!

Flash Back Friday --- HOME SWEET HOME

In trying to keep with my "Flash Back Friday", I decided to stay in chronological order. Next after our engagement was buying a house. We knew from the time we got engaged that we wanted to buy a house - Lord willing. We kept our options open and looked at apartments, even touring one, and even looked at townhouses. In all that we looked at, we still wanted a house. Our game plan was to buy in the late summer to give us time to get ready for October. Momma Gena and I drove through a neighborhood on the way home from Jennifer's bridal shower in February. It was obviously dark but we liked the neighborhood. A week later we drove through it again, this time with GrandDanny and Keith. They had several houses that were built and open for visits. We walked through several and really liked the floor plans. We REALLY liked the kitchen in one of them but did not like the driveway area.

We moved over to another street and found another open house that was a different type of floor plan. This one was a story and a half - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a loft area. It was a house after my own heart - it had stairs and the master bedroom was upstairs. I have sense had a change of heart on the stairs and my bedroom being upstairs!! We walked in and Keith immediately went upstairs. I instantly felt at home in this house and I remember thinking that I was going to savor looking at the house. I wanted to take it all in. Momma Gena and I walked through the living room and into the kitchen. I remember walking back into the living room with Keith yelling down "If you come upstairs you will buy this house immediately!" I walked upstairs and fell in love with the loft area. (Ha - if you looked at the loft area now you wouldn't think I liked it too much! Hopefully that will change soon!!)

We obviously loved the house, put a contract on the house later that week and closed March 31st. It took longer on the mortgage stuff than we expected and took a while to finish the few little details in the house. So we closed March 31st, took immediate possession and I moved in April 23rd. Keith moved in October 29th though he didn't stay there until after our honeymoon. I think he had spent 2 nights in the house prior to the wedding when I was out of town for work.

Here are a few pictures from the house the day we put the contract on it. They aren't good pictures but they work for what I want. I never did any "after" pictures --- guess I should do that one of these days!!

This is the back of the house

Back patio

Front door -- into the living room area

Living Room from the loft

 Stairs to the loft and master bedroom 

Looking up at the loft

Me, Jennifer, Laura (our friend and realtor) and Paul

Kitchen to the Garage

(see me walking in the backyard)

 This is why we bought the house ---

This is our view from our driveway. Let me tell you, it is beautiful

when covered with snow. Papaw always looks out for deer in the back.

He wants to cover the field with deer corn and watch them feed.

Hope you have a great weekend. Ours is filled with Clay-Chalkville High School Color Guard Christmas Party at our house tonight, basketball tomorrow, Christmas shopping with the hubby tomorrow (date night!!), church Sunday morning, bridal meeting Sunday afternoon and Mom and Dad's church Christmas Cantata Sunday night. Ahmed is going with us so I am excited to introduce him to everyone!!

~Randi

Fun Phone Photo Friday ... Noah Noah

Webbisodes does Fun Phone Photo Friday each week and I have decided to join in today. 

My "Fun Phone Photo" today is obviously Noah. This picture was taken while he was in the bath tub. My baby boy LOVES his "bubba bath" as he says. And you know -- I wonder why I have spent money on bath tub toys because he insists on playing with empty soap bottles and cups from the kitchen. The "hat" on his head is a part of a plate. Crazy Boy!!!

~Randi



Time for Another Blog Change

I am sure that I am bugging you with all of my blog changes. I just can not make up my mind. I wanted something really cute and catchy but just couldn't find my nitch. I keep looking at all of these other fun blogs and joining in on these blog games and feel like my blog is so blah compared to some of these others. I intend on spending a little moo-lah after the first of the year and giving my blog a makeover. SO, before I have my face lift, I wanna change my blog name. My new blog name will be My Mommy Thoughts ... not sure what my "catch phrase" will be but I am sure that it will hit me.

This is so typical of me. I have great ideas, start with it and then come up with a better idea to my original idea later on. SO - welcome to the NEW and improved blog!! I hope you enjoy this ride cause I am excited to have you along!!! It may be a bumpy road along the way but what better way than to share it with my family and friends!!!

Love to you all!!

~Randi