Fun Times with April & Brandon Owen

Glendale, Here We Come!

2010-12-06T19:38:00.008-06:00

Well, it's official, we are going to Glendale to watch Auburn play Oregon in the National Championship game! We are so so excited! In one word, this season has been AWESOME! We have had so much fun hanging out with friends and watching our Tigers win. So, when they won the SEC game on Saturday, we just knew that we had to make the trip to Glendale.

Yes, it is A LOT of money, but we haven't splurged on anything since we've been married. We have taken small trips here and there, but we haven't taken a nice trip since our honeymoon (which was HELL, by the way - that's a whole other post). So, we will fly out of Birmingham on January 8th to Phoenix, Arizona. We are staying 3 nights at the Arizona Grand. I hear it's nice....we shall see.

Hopefully, we will come home with Auburn being the 2010 National Champs! Although I am an Auburn fan, I think it would be very cool to have two schools in the same state be the National Champs, back to back....not to mention them both having Heisman players (not putting the horse before the carriage). What other state can say that? What's more, this would be the 5th year in a row that the National Champs came from the SEC! So, I hope you'll support my Tigers in their run for the National Championship.....WAR EAGLE!!!!

Better Late Than Never....

2010-11-15T19:05:00.006-06:00

I realize that it is almost Thanksgiving, but I wanted to share my pumpkins from Halloween. Staying true to my Hoover roots, I had to do one with the Jolly Roger face. That joker was hard! I mean, H-A-R-D! My hands hurt for 2 days after I carved that guy. We also carved one with a funny smile and one with a ghost. Overall, they turned out cute (I thought). I was proud of my pumpkins.

We actually had trick-or-treaters both night this year. I think some of the kids came both nights - double the candy! Those little ghosts and goblins are smart!

Smiley Pumpkin

Jolly Roger Pumpkin

Baby Updates

2010-09-24T20:25:00.014-05:00

Many of my friends are either pregnant or have just had babies. Here are some updates. It sure is fun having all of these little ones around. I can't wait for the rest of them to be here. Only one more month, and we will welcome Baby Drumm and Baby Morris!

I had a fun Saturday with Allyson, Campbell, Christin, and Jack. Allyson and Campbell drove to Birmingham from Atlanta for Campbell's first appearance. She is so adorable, and I can't wait to see her again. I just love those cheeks!

Me & Baby Jack. I love this little guy!

Allyson & SWEET Campbell

Megan & I at her shower

The girls at Kelly's baby shower

Cloudy, with A Chance of Baby Showers!

2010-07-11T20:19:00.006-05:00

It seems like every other weekend I'm hosting or going to a baby shower. Many of my friends are expecting their first child in 2010. The pictures shown are from Allyson's, Leah's, and Christin's baby showers. I have known these 3 girls since childhood, and I lived with Leah at Auburn. Christin is due August 1, Leah is due August 2, and Allyson had her baby girl (Campbell Donna Blue) on June 30. She is perfect!

Full Moon Downtown....and I'm Not Talking BBQ!

2010-04-07T21:10:00.003-05:00

These last few days have been absolutely beautiful! I'm talking gorgeous! After many months of rain and cold, I gladly welcomed sunny and 80 degrees. Even with the dreaded pollen, I've enjoyed the nice weather....well, almost all of it. Apparently, pollen is not the only added bonus that came with the change in weather. Wind gusts have also shown themselves over the past couple of days....this is what cause the full moon.

Tracy and I went walking Tuesday afternoon, just to get out of the building for a little while. We were both talking about how nice the change in weather was (minus the pollen), when all of a sudden my wrap dress flew up above my waist. A gust of wind got underneath it, and before I knew it, I was mooning the corner of 19th and 5th Avenue North! And, I do mean M-O-O-N-I-N-G! My whole booty was exposed for the downtown onlookers to see. Yes, I had on underwear, but let's just say it didn't cover a whole lot.....

It was horrible! I ducked into the first opeing I could find. I'm sure it will be funny in a week or so, but right now, I'm still mortified. So, if you were downtown on Tuesday and saw a full moon (not the BBQ place), it most likely was me. I apologize! :)

Sick & Tired

2010-04-02T21:32:00.003-05:00

I usually don't like to use my blog to complain, but sometimes, you just have to let it out! I am sick and tired......of being sick and tired! I have been sick more times this winter than I ever have in my life. Why? Is it because the winter was so cold, and we were all shut up inside? Was it because there wasn't much sunshine for me play in? Was it some reaction to all of the rainy, wet weather? What was it?

I had "the worst case of strep" my doctor has ever seen in early winter. Literally, my tonsils were black. Then, I had some infection in my tonsils before Christmas and had to be put on antibiotics, and now, something new. I've been to the doctor 3 times this week! Three! That's more than I usually go in 2 years! I woke up Monday morning feeling less than stellar, and I was running a fever, so I made my way to the doctor's office. Strep test = negative. Flu test = negative. But, since I am prone to strep, the doctor decided to treat me for strep anyway. After a shot and starting antibiotics I felt much better. I went back to the doctor on Wednesday (a routinely scheduled appointment), but woke up feeling terrible on Thursday. I mean TERRIBLE! I went to work anyway thinking I would feel better. Not so much.

I finally went back to the doctor today. The prognosis......after 3 attempts to draw blood, a strep test, and a microplasm test, I have a double ear infection. Seriously? I think I was 5 the last time I had an ear infection. Thank God it's been that long. I forgot how bad they hurt! But the good news is, I'm starting to feel much better. I guess the shots are kicking in. I also have 4 other prescriptions which I'm sure are helping. Hopefully, this will be the last round of sickness I'm struck with for a while. I am not a good patient. I try, but I just can't sit still long enough to heal.

Anyway, thank you for listening to my complaining. I will try not to complain in the future. And, thank you Lord for the invention of drugs to make us feel better! You're so awesome! And, last but not least, thank you B (my hubs) for taking such great care of me!

My New Kitchen!

2010-03-15T18:42:00.013-05:00

By now, most everyone knows how much I hate the kitchen in our house. It was either designed by a man, or by someone who has never cooked a day in their life. It's small, it's ugly, it has a white sink, and most of all, it has NO counter space! Well, it's still small, and it still doesn't have much counter space, but WOW, is it beautiful! I finally got my new granite countertops and tumbled marble backsplash. It looks like a whole new kitchen! Here are a few before and after pictures.

Old, ugly, grey countertops

Don't be jealous of the white sink and the BRASS faucet!

New and improved!

Pretty kitchen!

Global Warming, Mardi Gras, the Black Eyed Peas, and Brandon's Birthday

2010-02-25T13:30:00.009-06:00

Wow, a lot has happened lately! Brandon and I went to Mobile for Mardi Gras (Feb. 12) in the Blizzard of 2010! The weather was CRAZY! What ever happened to Global Warming? We saw more than 5" of snow on the ground in Greenville, AL (south of Montgomery). Flakes the size of golf balls were falling from the sky. I secretly wished that I was at home enjoying the snow, but I knew that Mardi Gras would be well worth it. And, of course, it was! Me, Brandon, Jacquie, and Kristy had a great time at the Crewe of Columbus parade and ball. Here are a few pictures.

The very next night, Me, Jacquie, Kristy, and Emily went to to the BJCC to see the Black Eyed Peas. It was an awesome show! Even if you don't like their music (which I do), the show was incredible! I've never seen so many lazers and lights. LMFAO and Ludicris opened for them. Fergie was gorgeous and Will.i.am rocked the house. We had such a great time singing out hearts out with the BEPs! It was the best $100 (well $93.50 to be exact) I've ever spent. I will definitely see them again if they come back to Birmingham.

Finally, February 21st rolled around. Why is this an important day, you may ask. Well, it's my fabulous husband's birthday! He turned 29 this year. We spent the day enjoying the beautiful 60 degree weather, then met his family for mexican at Pablos. It was a great day!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2010-02-14T18:16:00.012-06:00

Wow, what a day! Valentine's Day 2010 will be a day I will never forget....and not because of "normal" Valentine's stuff, but because of all of the junk I've eaten today. Apparently, I decided to celebrate this holiday by stuffing myself full of goodies. Let's see, I started off the day with a giant piece of King Cake for breakfast on my way to church. Then, after church I stopped by my parent's house and had a delicious cookie from Cookies By Design. If you've never had one, I strongly recommend you try one! They're wonderful! Then, had some BBQ Lays (not the baked kind), a hotdog, 2 petit fours from Edgar's (compliments of my wonderful mother-in-law), more King Cake, a few Reese's peanut butter hearts, and finally, a Mint Moon Pie!!!

OMG!!! No wonder my belly is killing me! Why did I eat so much junk? Oh yeah, because it's so yummy! Thank goodness Valentine's Day only comes once a year! Otherwise, I'd be in a great deal of trouble. Let this be a warning...do not consume all of the junk listed above in one day. I'm paying for it now for sure.

Even with all the junk I ate, Valentine's Day rocked! I got to spend the day worshiping the Lord with the man that I love. What more could you ask for?

A Few Pictures from New Years 2010 & Gatlinburg

2010-01-21T19:09:00.008-06:00

At Ripley's Aquarium

Happy New Year!

Me & Brandon before midnight

Riding the ski lift down the mountain

Bling Bling!!!

Happy New Year – Baby It’s COLD Outside!

2010-01-12T07:29:00.010-06:00

Whew! It was a chilly 14 degrees in Hoover this morning! It has been a long time since the wind has made my eyes water or my cheeks sting, but this morning, the wind blew with a fierce force that made me want to crawl back in bed. I’m just not used to the cold. Generally, I prefer more “tropical” weather, but it looks like I’ll have to deal with it for a while. Oh well, at least it’s good for business! We’ve set multiple new peaks over the last week!

Speaking of business, it was hard to go back to work after being off for so long. I thoroughly enjoyed my break between Christmas and New Year’s. Me and Brandon went with my family (mom, dad, brother, brother’s girlfriend, and Zorro) to Gatlinburg, TN for a couple of days. We had a blast! We stayed high in the mountains and woke up to snow 2 of the days. We actually had to come home a day early because we were afraid that we might not make it off the mountain if we stayed. Of course, we did all of the corny tourist things while we were there. We rode the ski lift, went to the Ripley’s Aquarium, played with all of the celebrities in the Wax Museum, and ate tons of junk! And I mean junk....caramel corn, candied apples, homemade chocolates, fried Oreos, a foot long corndog, and taffy just to name a few. I felt like a kid again! But, we eventually had to come home, back to reality.

I am excited about 2010 though. 2009 was good, but it definitely had its challenges. I am hopeful that 2010 will be full of fun, family, and good health! Let the good times roll!

Where Have We Been?

2009-12-04T21:32:00.007-06:00

Okay, so I admit, it has been way too long since I've blogged. So much has happened since my last post (in September). We are approaching our 1 year anniversary. Wow! How did we get to December? Where has the time gone? It seems like the wedding was just a few months ago. So, you may be wondering what we've been doing. Here's a list of a few things:

Sold my house! We are down to just 1 mortgage..WOO HOO!
Refinanced our current house to get a lower interest rate.
Bought a new Maxima. Two weeks after I sold my house, my car died. A new transmission was going to be about $7,000, and the car wasn't worth much more than that, so we lucked up on a brand new car!
I coached 2 cheerleading squads of 6th graders at Oak Mountain.
I coached 1 squad of cheerleaders that won FIRST place in the state UCA competition (more to come on that).
We drove to Edisto Island, SC (an hour from Charleston) for a long weekend. One of my college roommates got married. The trip took us over 8 hours....I don't recommend driving if you can help it.
We carved our first pumpkin together. That was fun!
We celebrated our first Thanksgiving together with both of our families.
Now, we are in the process of decorating the house for our first Christmas as a husband and wife.

I promise to do a better job updating the blog. I got pulled in too many directions and let it go for a while. I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season. Many blessings to you all!

Many Blessings

2009-09-04T20:37:00.012-05:00

So, good news.....we are officially down to only 2 mortgages!!! Woo Hoo! We closed on Brandon's house last Monday, then on Tuesday I got an offer and negotiated a contract on mine. The prospective buyers want to close on October 1st. So, if everything goes as planned, I'll have my house sold by the end of the month! This is our prayer.....

We've been praying continually for buyers since last July. Finally, one month apart, it looks like we'll get rid of both of them. I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well. Brandon and I gave up so much to take on 3 mortgages, so we are really looking forward to "living" again. Of course, I already have a list of things I want:

A king bedroom suit
A trip to Disney World
To get rid of "The Unit" - Brandon's 1995 purple Altima that he bought when he lived in Calera to drive back and forth to work in
Granite countertops
Oh yeah, some new clothes....it's been way TOO long since I've gone shopping!!!!

My Life According to Kenny Chesney

2009-08-19T17:31:00.004-05:00

This is fun! Answer every question using song titles from one of your favorite artists.

Pick a band/artist: Kenny Chesney

Are you male or female? She’s Got It All

Describe yourself: Big Star

Describe your current location: In A Small Town

Describe where you want to be: On The Coast of Somewhere Beautiful

Describe your political philosophy: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems

Your best friends: Don’t Happen Twice

Your favorite color is: Old Blue Chair

You know that: Some People Change

What’s the weather like? Summertime

If your life was a television show, what would it be called? The Good Stuff

What is life to you? Freedom

What is your dream job? The Road and the Radio

What’s the worst feeling in the world? Somebody Take Me Home

Your favorite means of transportation: She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy

What is the best advice you have to give? Fall In Love

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Dreams

What is your favorite food? Key Lime Pie

Your last words will be: Everybody Want to Go to Heaven

How do you feel: Young

Describe where you currently live: Back Where I Come From

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Somewhere In the Sun

Favorite time of day: When the Sun Goes Down

Your relationships: A Lot of Things Different

Thought for the Day: There’s Something Sexy About the Rain

How I would like to die: French Kissing Life

Your fear: Never Gonna Feel Like That Again

My soul's present condition: She’s Got It All

My motto: Be As You Are

God is So Good!!!!

2009-07-20T18:55:00.010-05:00

As I sit here typing, I'm feeling so many different emotions. I feel joy, relief, excitement, wonder, etc. Ever since I heard the good news this afternoon, my mind has been moving in 20 different directions. Today, my brother-in-law, had a scan which revealed that his 3 brain tumors are gone! That's right....gone! Praise God for this miracle!!!

Brian was diagnosed with brain cancer back in early February (2009), and since that day, he's been fighting a tough fight. And the worst part about it.... Brian knew exactly what he was up against. You see, this wasn't Brian's first battle with the nasty disease. He was diagnosed with it back in February of 2007, and like today, he beat cancer then too. To me, this is simply amazing.

What can be said for the love and power of our Father? There simply isn't a way to put the awesome-ness of God into words. Sure, I can use creative adjectives to describe Him, but they all seem to fall short of his true greatness. We serve such an amazing Lord! There is nothing that he cannot do. There is no doubt in my mind that Brian is God's latest miracle. Prayer does work. God does hear you, and He does move.

So, for all of you out there struggling today, remember that the Lord loves us much more than we can understand. He wants happiness for us all. The power of prayer is unbelievably awesome, and yes, miracles do still happen. So, whatever you do, don't give up. Be Strong and Pray Hard! God heals!

To all of my prayer warriors, thank you for your never-ending prayers! I know that because of you, we are able to celebrate this miracle in Brian. I love you each dearly, and I'm so thankful to share this good news with you.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

~ Isaiah 26:4

Out With the Old, In With the New!

2009-07-09T18:19:00.005-05:00

Finally, after 5 months of sitting in it's box, Brandon got around to hanging my new dining room light fixture. It's so pretty! I really do love it, and I can't wait to order more of them (for my kitchen and entrance hall). As many of you know, we purchased a foreclosure in October. The previous owners took just about everything they could, but unfortunately for me, they left all of the ugly, brass fixtures. Have I mentioned that I HATE brass? I mean, the ones in my house are terrible! I'm sure they were "stylish" at one point, but not in 2009! Scroll down to see the before and after photos.

Before

After

And the Rockets' Red Glare

2009-07-07T20:22:00.004-05:00

Happy (late) 4th of July! I hope you had a fabulous day celebrating our freedom as Americans. B and I were at the beach with a boatload of friends. We had a great time! Each year, I find myself getting more and more emotional on this holiday. As a kid, I loved the festivities related to the 4th of July, but I really thought it was just a time to eat yummy food and shoot fireworks. I guess as I've matured, I've really begun to understand what July 4th is all about. It's about so much more than sparklers and BBQ (although, i do love a good sparkler)!

Independence Day is a day that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring the United States of America's independence from Great Britain. Most importantly, it's a day to remember all of our military men and women who so graciously serve us and our country to protect our freedoms. Without them, who knows where our country would be. So, as you're eating your yummy foods and lighting your fireworks, take time to thank a soldier. God Bless the USA!

And We All Fall Down

2009-06-22T17:28:00.006-05:00

So, last week was not a good week for Gurley family. At least, it wasn't a good week for our balance....or something. Was it one of those strange times of year where the earth is tilted a funny direction? Was the magnetic force of the earth different? Heck, I don't know, but I can tell you one thing. Whatever it was, it sucked!

Fall #1 happened last Tuesday (6/16). My grandfather was in town from Huntsville, and he tripped in my parents' back yard. I swear the step was only 3" high, but you would have thought it was more like 3' high looking at his injuries. My poor grandfather took a great fall. He cut 2 fingers open to the bone, broke his glasses, hurt his hip, and hit his head. We rushed him to the hospital because he is on a strong blood thinner, and since he hit his head, we were worried about internal bleeding. Praise the Lord, he was okay. They had to stitch up his hand, and they gave him a walker to use until his hip healed. But, he's is doing much better now. Again, thank you Lord!

Fall #2 happened to me on Wednesday (6/17). I was stepping into the shower when I BUSTED! I don't mean a little bust either. It was so bad, I could feel the pain shoot right through my spine to my teeth. Brandon heard me and came running. All I could do was sit in the shower and cry. It hurt so bad. I didn't know if I was going to be able to stand up or not, but I sure wasn't going to have anyone help me up. Eventually, I made my way to my feet, and am finally beginning to feel a little bit better. I was so lucky that I didn't hit my head.

Fall #3 happened Thursday (6/18). My mom was at her friend's house working on a doll when all of a sudden, she fell out of her chair. I'm not sure how it happened, but apparently, it hurt. My mom is still limping. On top of the fact that she already battles arthritis in her knees, this fall was not good. She also hit her arm and has a huge purple battle wound as a result. She is still hobbling around, but I think she's getting better each day. Praise the Lord!

Hopefully this week will be better for us. Hopefully whatever was going on last week has passed, and we will all manage to keep our feet on the ground. It's no fun to fall.

Billy Bowlegs 2009

2009-06-12T21:09:00.009-05:00

Brandon and I left last Thursday around noon, headed to Ft. Walton for the 54th Annual Billy Bowlegs Festival. This was my second time to attend, and B’s fourth (I think). It rained off and on all the way through Andalusia. We had our GPS ready with the condo address in it, but we decided to go our own way – the way I’ve always gone since I was child. We knew it would take longer, but thought it would be nice to come out on Highway 98 a little further down, so we could see how much things had changed. Really, I wanted to see how much things had changed. I don’t think Brandon cared one way or another. Anyway, we knew we had time to kill and thought it would be nice just to drive with no schedules or deadlines ahead of us. Good thing!

The drive went by pretty quickly until we got to 331, 6 miles from highway 98. We were so close we could smell the salty air. This is the point in the drive where I normally let all the windows down, open the sunroof, turn the radio up loud, and sing at the top of my lungs. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do that (well, maybe fortunately for B). Anyway, as we approached the last set of bridges that stood between us and the beach, traffic came to a standstill. We sat there thinking it was probably construction or something. All the while, the GPS was telling me to “make a U-turn at my earliest convenience.” After an hour or more, we heard on the radio that the road was closed due to a fatality. It was a very sad moment. So, like the other cars in front of us, we turned around and headed back in the opposite direction. We decided to take the Mid-Bay Bridge to Destin instead. It felt like it took hours to get to bridge, when in reality it only took 40 minutes or so. By the time we arrived at the condo in Ft. Walton, we had been in the car for almost 6 hours!!!! This trip was not starting off like we had hoped….

But, it did get better! One by one, everyone began arriving to the condo. We had dinner at The Crazy Lobster and then walked over to Pat O’Brian’s. It was a fun night. We woke up to BEAUTIFUL weather on Friday, and spent the whole day on the beach. It was perfect! I had my toes in the sand, a cold drink in my hand, awesome weather, and a group of fun friends by my side. Friday night we went to High Tides for dinner and watched the fireworks from a pier. We didn’t stay up late though. We had to rest up for the next day’s adventure.

My alarm went off at 6:40 am on Saturday morning. We had to get the coolers packed, feed everyone, pack the food, get lathered up in sunscreen, pack the 200 jell-o shots I made, slap on our pirate tattoos and gear, and pick up the boat, all by 9:00 am. Oh, and did I mention, it was a group of 11 going on this excursion? All that to say, we had a lot of crap to do! But, we actually arrived to the boat early…success! We loaded the boat, signed release forms, and headed out. Everyone was excited about the day ahead of us. Most of us had been before and knew what awaited us. It really is something that you just have to experience for yourself. I’d compare it to Mardi Gras on the water. It’s definitely NOT kid-friendly, if you were wondering. Anyway, back to the boat. There was a moment or two of panic as we were heading out to our spot (under the Ft. Walton bridge). Our rocking, powerful, rented pontoon boat, took on a TON of water and almost sunk! From the back, I heard Emily shout, “We’re all gonna die.” Everyone (well, except the guys) was scared. But, we did survive, and in fact, did not sink. We finally arrived to the “spot” and began looking for a place to park (or whatever you do in a boat). I couldn’t believe how much larger the crowd was compared to just two prior years. I bet there were easily 5,000 people there. You saw people and boats of all kind. There were speed boats and yachts worth millions, along with john boats and dinghies that looked older than me! They all had one thing in common though; they all had various types of Jolly Roger pirate flags flying. It was spectacular!

In order to handle the crowd, police patrolled on jet skies, and helicopters circle above the crowd. It was 9:15 am, time for the first jell-o shot of the day! After the boat was anchored down and secured, we decided to take our first walk. See, the boats make 2 lines, across from each other, forming a large walkway in between. And, similar to Bourbon Street, people walk up and down the “street” all day long. There were a ton of people! There were more floats, noodles, beach balls, and giant inflatable couches than you can imagine. People were covered in pirate gear and beads, and there was a coconut smell in the air (I guess from sunscreen). I felt like I was in a Jimmy Buffet song. Perhaps the most “creative” thing I saw was the floating stripper pole. Some guys had made a 6’ x 6’ platform and put a silver pole in the middle of it. They anchored it down, and literally made a floating stripper pole. And as expect, as the day got later, the floating stripper pole became a very popular attraction. It was humorous watching intoxicated, sketchy girls (who thought they looked good) spin around the pole. Most of them busted and eventually fell in the water. Another boat made a homemade slide that went from the top of their boat to the water. And, like the stripper pole, the slide was pretty entertaining to watch too.

If you enjoy people watching at all, Billy Bowlegs is the place for you! It’s non-stop entertainment at its best! You have to go into it knowing that 1 – you’re going to get wet, 2 – that there are going to be drunk people involved, and 3 – that you’re probably going to see a few wild and crazy things. But, if you’re okay with 1 – 3, you’re guaranteed to have fun! If you decide to go next year, holla' at me.....I'll be there! Here are a few pictures to help me describe the fun!

A Pirate Festival: Surrender the Booty!

2009-06-07T20:43:00.002-05:00

Billy Bowlegs 2009 was awesome! For those of you who do not know, Billy Bowlegs is a pirate festival, held in Ft. Walton, Florida. The festival honors the local pirate legend, Billy Bowlegs. Similar to Mardi Gras, the festival consists of a parade, fireworks, and associated celebrations. This was the 54th annual celebration.

I wish we could have spent a few more days at the beach. The trip was very relaxing and totally fun. I'm too tired to write about the festival tonight, but I promise to blog about it soon. Oh yeah, and there will be pictures. Argg!!!

Beautiful Weather & Expensive Cars

2009-05-31T11:13:00.007-05:00

Wow! For the first time since I don't know when, we had absolutely perfect weather! Thank you Lord! It was so nice to enjoy the sunshine this weekend. On Saturday, I worked in the yard while Brandon cut his grass (in Calera), my grass (in Bluff Park), and our grass (in Hoover). Those yards keep him busy. He's so good to keep them up. I just don't know that I could do it. We are still praying that our houses will sell soon, leaving us with only 1 house payment. I've also decided that I'm getting old. I'm actually sore from pulling weeds.....how sad is that? I'm actually hurting from pulling weeds. Hmm, I guess i should do it more often.

While I did enjoy the fantastic weather this weekend, there was one thing that made me sad. I took my car in on Wednesday for "service B." Service B usually runs me about $450 or so. I was prepared to spend $500. Unfortunately, on Thursday morning, a man from the dealership called to tell me what all my car needed. Here's the list:

Service B = $450
Spark Plugs = $390
Trans. Service = $380
Right Door Lock = $573
Valve Cover = $480
Fuel & Air Filter = $350
Brake Flush = $75
Coolant = $170

For a GRAND total of $2,868 plus tax! AWESOME! Of course I have $3,000 laying around on top of 3 mortgages. WTH???? I mean really? I thought it was some type of mean joke, but he was serious. So, I told them to go ahead and do everything except the fuel and air filter. I'll take it to someone else for that. Anyway, it was a sad day when I went to pick up my car on Friday. It really did suck! Oh well, at least I was blessed with nice weather for the weekend. I guess you can't win them all!

Leading by Example, Or Not...

2009-05-26T17:33:00.002-05:00

For those of you who really know me, you already know my feelings toward Birmingham's mayor, Larry Langford. Overall, I feel that he's a joke. I mean, he wants to bring the Olympics to Birmingham. Don't get me wrong, I love Birmingham. I think it's a great city. But, to compare it to Beijing, Athens, or Sydney is just plain ludicrous. If Mr. Langford was honest with himself, he would admit that bringing the Olympics to Birmingham, AL just wouldn't be a good idea. In addition to his crazy idea about the Olympics, Mayor Langford has vowed to put a domed stadium in Birmingham. Now, come on, who really wants a domed stadium??? Especially a domed stadium that is located in a dangerous part of town? Not me! Not the majority of Birmingham citizens. Mayor Langford promoted a tax hike to pay for the domed stadium, but the fine citizens of Birmingham voted 'no' to the tax increase. But, none the less, Langford has vowed to make the domed stadium happen. In all seriousness, the man acts like a kid in a candy store with his crazy, outlandish ideas. You just never know what decision he might make next…..

We’ve all heard the famous saying, “actions speak louder than words.” I had the pleasure of witnessing the following over the weekend. On Saturday, around noon, Brandon and I were driving on the interstate when I noticed Mayor Langford's black Cadillac SUV speeding up the on ramp, making his way to the interstate. His window was down, he wasn't wearing his seatbelt (law breaker), he was playing on his Blackberry, and smoking a cigarette. Once he got on the interstate, he threw his cigarette out the window (litter bug) and swerved across 3 lanes of traffic in order to make his exit towards Fairfield (his home...although he claims he lives in Birmingham). As I watched the event take place, I wondered to myself "Is he setting a good example?" Now, don't get me wrong, I realize that the man is only human and will always make mistakes. I make mistakes daily. But, if I were in the public eye, I think I would make an effort to mind my p's and q's…..everywhere I went. Perhaps for just a moment, Mr. Langford forgot he was the mayor? Perhaps he forgot that he was in Birmingham, where people recognized him? Either way, all I'm saying is that people lead by example, regardless if they want to or not. Unfortunately for the citizens of Birmingham, our example is a fast driving, law breaking, litter bug. Are we lucky or what???

Gone Fishin', Not Just Wishin'

2009-05-17T20:36:00.013-05:00

For the past couple of years, I've participated in an event called Exceptional Anglers at Oak Mountain State Park. Exceptional Anglers is an event for mentally and physically kids in Shelby and Jefferson counties. It's a day where kids can come, have fun, and forget about their disability. It's a day where kids can come and just, “be kids.” For many, this is their first time to ever experience "the big catch." The joy and excitement that these kids experience is overwhelming, and I'm lucky to be a part of it!

This year was the second year that my group from work has participated with me. It makes for a fun community service event, and it sure beats a day in the office! We met so many amazing kids! The things that these kids overcome are truly inspiring, and it always humbles me. My favorite kid this year is a senior from Clay, named Matthew. He spoke six different languages and chose to speak with British accent on Friday. It was hilarious!

I'm so thankful for a few guys that were present this year. I have to give a shout out to the Troy University Fishing team and to Jim Hardy. Without their help, my kids wouldn't have caught many fish. They helped me bait my hook, take my fish off the line, and picked up a catfish that I accidentally dropped in a child's lap.....oops! The day would not have turned out so perfectly if they had not been part of it! So, thanks guys for all of your help! Hope to see y'all next year!

Pink Rooms, Mini Lobsters, & Mother's Day

2009-05-11T17:56:00.004-05:00

My sweet Brandon did a favor for me this week....he painted my laundry room HOT PINK (my favorite color, after sparkle)!!!! It looks so good! I told him that if I was going to be doing laundry and working in there, then it needed to be a fun color. So, Sexy Pink was the winner. I finally got my washer and dryer too, so now I'm good to go! I can wash clothes for hours in my pretty pink room!

Yesterday, we met my mom's side of the family at the country club to have lunch for Mother's Day. It was a great meal. This is something we do every Mother's Day so the moms in my family don't have to cook. Plus, it's just a good excuse to get everyone together. As we were leaving lunch, the bottom fell out! Of course, I lost my shoe while running to the car. Brandon and I were drenched, but it was kind of fun to play in the rain. :) For all you mommies out there reading this, thank you. Thank you for being a mom. I know how blessed I am to have a wonderful mother, and hopefully one day, I can be a good mother to my children. So again, I love you Mom! You are so incredible!

On the way home from my parent's house, I passed a small creature that was worthy of a U-turn. I told Brandon as we passed it that I thought it was a mini-lobster. I got the "are you crazy" look from him. But, when we got back, we saw a rather large crawfish. Well, that's what Brandon said it was. I don't eat those things, so I'm sticking with my story....it was a mini-lobster. Check out the picture for yourself!

The Joys of Owning a Home.....or Three

2009-05-03T20:31:00.006-05:00

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, but that doesn’t mean that life has slowed down. Things have been pretty busy to say the least. For those of you who do not know, Brandon and I are currently the owners of not one, not two, but three houses! We like to joke that the 2 of us are trying to “stimulate the economy.” Before we got married, Brandon and I both owned homes of our own. Then, in October, we found a foreclosure that was too good to pass up, so we bought a house together. Poor Brandon has stayed super busy keeping 3 yards cut this spring. But, the good news is, people are out and looking. We’ve both had inquiries about our homes, and we’re hopeful that they will belong to someone else soon! So, if you know anyone looking for a house in Bluff Park or Calera, hit me up.

In addition to maintaining 3 homes, we’ve been busy with weddings season. We had Joey and Stephanie’s in March, Sarah and Jason’s last night, and Michael and Alicia’s in 2 weeks! So far, they have all been great, and I know that Michael and Alicia’s will be great too! We got home from Sarah and Jason’s wedding around 1:15 this morning. I guess you could say we had a good time….As if 3 houses and weddings weren’t enough fun, I also ran over a cell phone (a really nice Blackberry…oops), searched for a suspected missing person, and made 8 loaves of Amish Friendship bread this week. Good news, the cell phone wasn’t mine, and it turns out the missing person was not missing. But, I still have a ton of bread left! Let me know if you’re interested in any!

Happy National Jelly Bean Day!

2009-04-22T20:45:00.002-05:00

For those of you who may not know, today, April 22, is so much more than Earth Day.....it's National Jelly Bean Day! Yummy! Did you know that Jelly Beans have been around for over 100 years? I was shocked to hear that! Anyway, I enjoyed some of my favorite (and very delicious) jelly beans today.....buttered popcorn. Yes, I'm that weird kid who LOVES buttered popcorn jelly beans. My friends have made fun of me for years, but I can't help....they just make my tummy happy!

On this National holiday, I suffered from a very unfortunate accident in the Harbert Center. At lunch, in front of tons of people, my dress got caught on a hook, and my drink and food went flying everywhere. I couldn't move because I was hung. At one point, I thought my dress was going to be pulled off my body! My good friend, Tracy, laughed hysterically! I can't blame her though; I would have done the same thing. Lucky for me, some stranger (a man) assisted me by unhooking my dress and setting me free. Wasn't that nice of him? It was awkward at best, but I was very thankful for his help. As I was leaving the scene of the accident, the man working behind the counter said, "I would have hated for you to leave your dress here." Yes, I would have hated that as well! I mean, who says that? I couldn’t get out of there fast enough!

Then, as if my lunch experience was interesting enough, Tracy and I got caught in the middle of an Earth Day Parade while walking back to our building. There were kids everywhere, shouting and singing. Thanks to them I’ve been singing the following recycle song all night:

R,
R-E,
R-E-C-Y-C-L-E,
RECYCLE, WOOP WOOP!
RECYCLE, WOOP WOOP!

Ahhh…..just another day in my life. Hope you had a happy National Jelly Bean Day……oh yeah, and Earth Day too! :)

A "Wicked" Busy Week

2009-04-12T19:38:00.000-05:00

So, this past week has been ridiculously busy for me. I had an activity every night after work. Not to mention, I had 8 friends with birthdays this week. That's a lot of birthday cards! Monday night, I met some friends for drinks. Tuesday I went to a CABI party and spent entirely too much money. Wednesday night I went with my mom and a friend to see "Wicked," which was AWESOME!!! The show was so much better than I thought it would be. Everyone reading this should make time to see it. Thursday night I went out to dinner with my family to celebrate my sweet Mom's birthday (1 of the 8 for the week), and on Friday, I went to church with my family. Whew....that makes for a long, busy week and one tired girl!

Luckily, I got to catch up on some sleep this morning. I slept till 8:30 am, which is HUGE for me! I'm used to getting up around 4:30 am or so, so 8:30 felt like sleeping all day. It was nice! :) I also got to do one of my favorite things in the whole world.....dye Easter eggs! My friend, Christin, came over and helped me. We had so much fun. I think Brandon thought we were weird, but that's okay. I'm used to his strange looks. :)

Well, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter. I know I'm thankful for Easter and for what Jesus did for me. I'm overwhelmed when I think of how God must have felt when he sent his son to die for me. I certainly didn't deserve it. We serve such an awesome, loving, gracious Lord. Take time to thank him today for all that he's done for you. I love you Lord! Happy Easter! May your holiday be filled with many blessings!

Stomach Bugs & Baby Showers

2009-04-05T20:43:00.000-05:00

This past week has been a rough one! On Tuesday, I caught the worst stomach bug that I've ever experienced. Literally, I thought I was going to die. I mentioned to Brandon that I "felt like I was dying" on Thursday night. What he didn't know is that I was being completely serious. In all honesty, I thought I was going to meet my Maker. It was the worst pain that I've felt, and I hope to never feel it again!

Lucky for me, the bug was gone by Sunday so that I could visit the "Loveliest Village on the Plains" to help host Ashley's baby shower. We had a great time! Ashley got so many nice things for baby Gracie, and it was wonderful to spend time with some of my favorite girls!

The Nitty Gritty.....

2009-03-30T18:52:00.000-05:00

So, it dawned on me after I wrote my first posting that I didn't give you any of the who, what, where, when, or whys? My apologies! This blog was created so that friends and family could keep up with everything that is going on in my and my husbands life. We are both quite busy and don't always have time to reach out to all of our loved ones personally. So, this seemed like a good idea to help keep everyone updated. Plus, we usually experience some pretty crazy things that make us laugh and thought it might be nice to share.

So, for those of you who may not know me, my name is April. I married my husband, Brandon, on December 27, 2008. We had the most beautiful wedding! Well, I'm probably bias, but still.... In all honesty, it was EXACTLY what I had been dreaming of my whole life. Secretly, I started saving money for my wedding in a piggy bank under my bed when I was in the 1st grade. I guess it's the hopeless romantic in me. Yes, I'm one of "those" girls who loves to get flowers, be pampered, and basically be spoiled in every way. I can't help it. I guess it's my dad's fault, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I simply appreciate every effort taken to make me feel special. In turn, I also go out of my way to make others feel special. It warms my heart!

My husband, Brandon, is the sweetest, most gentle man I've ever met. He's always there to comfort me, inspire me, motivate me, and love me endlessly. He even understands when I cry for no apparent reason at all. (You know how us women can be.....) Brandon is precious, and I thank the good Lord every day for bringing him to me.

We have 2 dogs - a yellow lab named Zeke and a long haired chihuahua named Zorro. Zorro is my little man and Zeke is Brandon's pride and joy and hunting companion. We love hanging out with them, and since we don't have kids, they are a little on the spoiled side.

Now that you know a little bit about us, we hope that you will follow along in our journey of life. It's gonna be fun one!

This Little Light of Mine....

2009-03-29T12:29:00.000-05:00

Wow! My first blog ever! That's kind of exciting isn't it? Well, to me it is. Lately, I've been toying with the idea of creating a blog, but finally today, I decided to go for it! I'm not sure what to write, and I certainly don't know all the "rules" to blogging, but I do believe that this will be a fun project for me.

You see, for the most part, my life is an open book. I'm a fun-loving, big-hearted, Southern girl from Alabama who loves people. I generally don't meet a stranger which is one reason why I think my blog might be interesting. I have a tendancy to meet all kinds of strang people who have a story in life. In fact, they usually stick around to tell me their story. That's kind of why I decided to start this blog today. You see, it all started this morning......

After church, Brandon suggested that we go to the Waffle House for breakfast. Hasbrowns did sound good, but I was mostly excited because that meant I didn't have to cook :) When we arrived, the parking lot was full...never a good sign. The inside was packed full of people! There were no booths available, so we decided to sit at the bar. Brandon's words were, "We'll probably get served faster anyway." That comment proved to be so NOT true! No one was next to me, but to the right of Brandon sat a very large man who immediately began to talk to us as we sat. I just knew this was gonna be good!

Kenny Chesney's "The Good Stuff" was playing as we sat, so I hummed along. The man, whose name was Mike, leaned in to tell Brandon that I had really great taste in music. I have no idea how he knew this because it was the only song on at the time. Anyway, the conversation turned to CDs and how Mike had over 400 CDs in his truck that he just loved to listen to. Brandon and I politely made light conversation, mostly just saying, "uh huh" and "right." Brandon leaned in and whispered to me, "You know this is your fault," meaning, that the strange man was talking to us because I was there. Remember me telling you that weirdos seek me out...well, this is just another example of that. Anyway, I remided Brandon that this was our opportunity to speak kindly to the man and set an example of Christain love. You never know where someone's been or what they're going through. Mike, had been through a lot...

He proceeded to tell us that he had brain tumors and that the doctors removed his good sense when they removed the tumors. Had that been possible, I might have believed him! Then he continued to tell us that he was born in Iowa, raised in Texas, was a Marine all over the world, and finally resided in Alabama with his family. We learned that he loves Kenny Chesney, White Snake, and Tupac (quite the variety of music), and that his mom has been a waitress for over 50 years. We also heard first hand of each of his encounters with Helena policemen. My favorite line, "Can you believe they gave me a ticket for running a redlight?" He talked and talked and talked as he drank his black coffee with 3 sweet n' lows. He called all the servers by name and even knew some of the customers. He really was a friendly man.

Finally, our food was ready! Mike gave us a break as we began to eat. He did, however, stare while we ate. I wondered if he needed money to buy breakfast, or if all he really wanted was the black, artificially sweetened coffee. About half way through my bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich (on Texas Toast) I heard a familar song being sung. The music had stopped playing in the background long ago, but Mike was singing the old familiar, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song that we all know and love. He was singing it loud too! My favorite part was when he got to the high notes in the song and sang, "ooohhhhh, ooohhhh, ooooohhhhh Don't Worry." It took all I had not to bust out laughing!!! And, just when we thought it couldn't get any better, Mike broke out with the ever popular "ABC's." That's right....the alphabet! I couldn't help but sing along while Brandon nudged me under the table.

As we finished our breakfast and paid our bill, I couldn't help but think how happy Crazy Mike seemed. He was in his own little, crazy world, but he was happy. He was letting his light shine to everyone in the Waffle House. It made me think, we should all let our light shine. No matter how bright or dim, crazy or sane, we all have a gift that the world should see. So,get out there and let your light shine. I'm ready to let mine shine!