I'm Back....

I've been on a blogging hiatus...sorry.  We had been so busy with the house hunt that was what our life revolved around and that was pretty boring.  But, we have found a house which we love and life has kicked back in to high gear!  And kick into high gear did it ever....

Coming June, 2014!

We are ecstatic!

376 Quail Hollow Road

Lots of reflection going on in my heart right now as I said good-bye to 376 Quail Hollow Road.  This was the first house that I purchased, where I lived most of my 30's, made wonderful friendships in that house, studied God's word, had lots of laughs, shed lots of tears and made countless memories.

So, allow me to reflect a little...

The entry way - where so many friends walked through the door.  Friends who were always smiling, usually carrying food, because we were always eating, wondering what kind of discussions we would get in, if Alabama would win the game and how many tears we would shed because we would be laughing so hard.

This was one of two couches that I have had.  This living room has held so many people through the years (we put more people in this room than it could handle comfortably many times).  This living room had an awesome group of college girls who came monthly to study God's Word, to pray together, share, make silly videos and laugh a lot.  This room held friends who cheered on the Tide, held game nights, fun nights, Dirty Santa parties, lingerie showers, Just Dance nights, bunko and supper clubs.  When friends were present laughter always filled this room.

The room I loved to decorate for Christmas.  The big window where I had my Christmas tree that I would look at night after night.  The room where I saw that pesky mouse run behind the tv and began the mice invasion of 2005.  The room where I watched countless tv shows, spent lots of time playing Candy Crush, Farm Town and stalking people on Facebook.  The room where I found out my cousin had drowned - such sadness, the room where Michael and I watched countless movies, had lots of talks, ate lots of ice cream and popcorn and fell in love.   

But most importantly this is the room where I had my quiet time every morning, my alone time with the Father - learning from His Word and taking my requests to Him.      

My kitchen - where many meals were cooked (some good and some bad).  I baked lots of cakes, brownies, pumpkin bread and cookies.  Where I made a mess out of trying to decorate cookies and cupcakes. Lots of pizzas were made here (homemade and DiGiorno),  taco soup, chili and pancakes.  

This is also the place were many mice were killed in the invasion of 2005 (I was scarred by that if you cannot tell).

The dining room - Where Michael and I have had many meals the past year (some good and some bad).  Where many friends have sat around and talked, laughed and played a game or two of cards and the bunco head table.  Where I sat out my Christmas china year after year.  Where we had our parents over for dinner and the only time we have pulled out our fancy china.  But most importantly, where we say Grace and thank the Lord for our food and the blessings He gives us every time we had a meal.      

My bedroom and as of last year, our bedroom where the bed was never made unless I had company and after we we put the house on the market, where there were usually lots of clean laundry on the floor (until I got married), where I (and later we) would watch the news, Friends, the Today Show, Good Morning America, GFBC on Sunday mornings or James Spann in the middle of the night when there were storms.  The room where I hit snooze every morning because I didn't want to get up, the room I had to clean out when Michael moved in because I had every drawer and every space in the closet taken with clothes, shoes and lots of tshirts.  The room where I would listen to the train every night (and on stormy nights pray it wasn't a tornado), where before I went to bed I would always look out and make sure no strangers were walking down the street, where I killed a few mice in the invasion of 2005, where I had many talks with God, cried a few tears and laughed a lot of nights with Michael.

My bathroom and later our bathroom where there wasn't enough space for two people to get ready in.  Where I put on lots of makeup, fixed my hair a countless number of times, swept up lots of that hair and where I didn't clean the tub enough (I hate that chore). 

The guest room or as it was later called - Karen's room.  College girls, my sisters, brother-in-law, best friends, a praise and worship band and even my parents stayed here.  I slept in this room once during the mice invasion of 2005 - thankfully I never caught a mouse in here.  This room also served as my second closet and storage room.  I looked through old pictures, letters from friends, love notes from past boyfriends and school memories in this room.  Where not enough friends and family stayed - I wish we had had more company throughout the years.  But, I am thankful for the ones who laid their heads down in this room.  

The office - a room I never decorated or hung a photo in.  The room where I stored my Christmas decorations which later became Michael's closet.  Where we stored lots of books, games, photo albums and CD's.  The room that stored wedding gifts  that we had so much fun looking through and until the day we moved still was storing gifts that we do not have room for.

The guest bathroom that has had lots of visitors to it over the years :) .  

The back porch where I entered and exited my house every day (I can count on one hand the times I entered through the front door over the years).  Where Michael and the guys sat and did their guy thing while the girls were inside chatting, where Michael grilled lots of food for us, where Michael greeted me and comforted me the day by pawpaw died and where I sat outside just four weeks ago and worshiped the Lord, cried, and prayed for my sweet Uncle Murl who was near death.    

My gigantic yard that was a lot of work to keep up for my yard man and for Michael.  The yard that had lots of friends sitting outside talking, playing corn hole, and blowing up a watermelon with fireworks.  The yard where Michael and I would put out a blanket and look at the stars and dream about our future.

Our house - 376 Quail Hollow Road.  It was a great house for me to grow as an adult, have real adult responsibility by paying for it and taking care of it and later for us to spend our first year of marriage in.

We have been praying for the future owners since we put it on the market that they would take good care of this place and make many memories here.  And now that we know who they are, I believe they will.  A family of four will be the new owners here.  The kids will ride their bikes and make friends with the kids down the street, play in that big yard that is perfect for a swing-set.  A sweet little girl will have (what I like to imagine) a princess room in the office, two boys will share the guest room and plays lots of Wii or Playstation, and a mom will make lots of meals in the kitchen, do lots of laundry and a family that will grow together, we pray, for many years and love the house as much as I (we) do at 376 Quail  Hollow Road.

Weekend in ATL

For Valentine's Day Michael got me tickets to see Mary Poppins.  I was so excited about seeing this.  I had been talking about (hinting) that I wanted to see it and surprise - he got tickets for us!

It was so much fun. Its a little different than the actual movie but the songs are the same and they have added some new ones.  If it ever comes to your town - go see it!

Since we were in Atlanta for the day we decided to contact the Georgia Mayfield's and see if they wanted to get together.  Little did we know it was Abel's birthday party.  So, they invited us down and we had a blast.  Derek, Rebecca and Abel live at the Rock Ranch where they run a Winshape Home.  We were so excited to get to go and check out their new home, the ranch and celebrate Abel's 4th birthday!

 

We had such a fun time - seeing family and playing all day!  As you read in my previous post - there were lots of kids around to play with!

 

Playing on the trampoline with little Miss Harper

Riding in the back of the truck with Sarah

 

Molly

Abel had a Candy Land birthday!

Abel loved his new ninja turtle mask and decided to have a battle with Michael.

Michael tried to take down the ninja turtle....

 But alas, the ninja won and took down the bad guy!

 

After we partied - we all went fishing.  I had not been fishing since I was a little kid.  We had so much fun!

Everyone got in on the fishing...even Harper and Abel

 

It was then time to conquer the pillow!  A giant blow up trampoline.  After I tore my ACL in high school, I have sworn off any type of trampoline but Michael got in on it with the kids - the little ones and the big ones! 

 

 Who knew I was married to a gymnast?!

 

 

Needless to say we had a blast at the Rock Ranch!  We were exhausted when we left but our hearts were full to see our family and have such a fun Saturday!  Thanks Georgia Mayfield's for letting us in on the celebration and fun!

Couponing...

One goal I had as a newlywed was saving $ and learning to coupon.  My dad has been couponing for years and I never appreciated  the savings that he got until I got on my own and started paying my own bills.  So, I sat down with our friend, Jen, who is a coupon queen to learn how to shop at Publix.  This girl knows her stuff!  She has saved so much $ over the past couple of years and I wanted to do the same for our family.

I have gone on 2 trips now and feel very good about my progress.  Now, I am nowhere near the savings that Jen has but I am getting there.  My first trip I bought 52 items for $62 ($55 without tax).  I was pumped!!  My second trip I bought 23 items for $30.  Now these items have been chicken, cleaning supplies, noodles, rice - lots of staples we use.

Jen suggested I go to two websites - southernsavers.com  and Iheartpublix.com.  This week Southern Savers has a coupon how to coupon series - so I thought I'd share it.  Enjoy and happy shopping!

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-couponing-one-step-at-a-time-buy-whats-on-sale

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-couponing-one-step-at-a-time-sale-cycles-stocking-up

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-couponing-one-step-at-a-time-items-with-non-traditional-sale-cycles/

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-couponing-one-step-at-a-time-gathering-coupons/

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-one-step-at-a-time-never-miss-a-great-coupon/

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-couponing-one-step-at-a-time-organizing-coupons/

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-couponing-one-step-at-a-time-diy-coupon-organizers/

http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/04/getting-started-couponing-one-step-at-a-time-top-hurdles-to-saving/

Celebrations

Still catching up from the past couple of months (shocker).

In March we celebrated my birthday - lots of fun with family, friends and co-workers!  I am so thankful for the people the Lord has placed in my life.  I am one blessed girl!

I never diet in March for a reason...lots o cake!

Cake #1 at my dads!

Cake #2 - the friends get together cake

Cake #3 - the office cake

celebrating at my dad's

Tracy always wraps her birthday gifts in foil

Celebrating with friends...

nice photo bomb guys!

We then turned to April where we celebrated Candice turning 30 and Brandon turning 9.  

 

We celebrated the "dirty 30" for Candice!  Welcome to the club!

Candice found this old school camera - gosh how times have changed!

Its so hard to believe this guy is 9.  He has brought so much joy into our lives the past 8 years he has been a part of our family.  I am so thankful the Lord placed it on Tracy's heart for foster care and adoption.  He is one loved guy!

 

Happy Birthday Brandon and Candice!

 

 The day we celebrated birthdays was also Easter.  We had an Easter egg hunt for B & E. Its always so fun watching them and it brings back so many memories for me.  I remember hunting Easter eggs with my cousins at my aunt's house every year.  Fun times!

 

 It was then time for Brandon and Ella to turn the table and hide the eggs and let the uncles hunt them.  So, the race for the best continued...

Chase left the running up to Michael and Ronald :)

 Great times celebrating!