LIVING

Catch Up On... Belle's Summer and Fall

2011-11-25T19:33:00.001-08:00

Joshua Leif Haug...

2011-06-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

...is the most perfect father for our Little Miss Bell!!! I am so thankful that he has been my partner through this new adventure of parenthood! Happy 1st Father's Day my love!!!

We are also so blessed to have 3 wonderful Grandfathers to love on Isabella! We are so thankful for these men and their influence in our lives and our sweet little one's!

Little Miss

2011-06-15T13:38:00.001-07:00

My sweet friend Cassie came in to take the sweetest little pictures of Bell and I L.O.V.E them!! She also designed the cutest thank you note/birth announcement for me! (I'm actually finally sending these out this week) So here is a peak at the announcement and the photo shoot!!!

The Blair/Watts Wedding

2011-05-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

So we came home from the hospital on Friday afternoon and a VERY important wedding was the next day! Not only for the last 9 months had we been waiting for Little Bell to come but also for Kyle and Erika's wedding! I kept having little talks with Bell about how we needed to be there and she needed to come early or super late! It didn't work out exactly like I hoped but we did get to be there!!! We missed a few of the events but we got to be at the ceremony! We drove up on Saturday afternoon just in time for a few pictures, a walk down the isle, and to visit with a few friends. Josh kept Bell in quarintine so we didn't have hundreds of people touching our 3day old:) It was a great evening and I was soooooo glad that we could be there! I just couldn't miss this special day!

2 months ago...

2011-05-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

....I had a baby!!! She is the most precious little thing!! I can NOT believe that two months have already come and gone! I feel like there is so much I need to catch up on!! Where to start???

Let's see...first I guess I should start with her birth...

Bell decided that she loved my tummy just a little too much...she was not wanting to come out on her own so a week late we went to the hospital to start the induction proces s!

As you can see I was rather LARGE at this point! People were convinced I was having twins...(really it was just a 9.9lb baby)... We got to the hospital that night and they gave me some medicine to help me "ripen" a bit to be ready for the induction the next morning. We had some friends and family come up and hang out to pass the time!
I was feeling great the whole evening and apparently having contractions the whole time...I wasn't feeling them and was loving life! I was so excited that I wasn't able to sleep so the nurse gave me a sleeping pill around 1am and then I finally passed out! About 3 or 4 I was starting to feel the contracts but it still wasn't terrible... Josh was passed out so I thought I would just breathe through them on my own for awhile...plus my sleeping pill would just knock me out in between contractions so I was ok. About 5ish they started to be pretty intense though so I woke Josh up and told him I needed my coach! When the nurses came to check me I had progressed enough that I didn't have to be induced anymore!! The medicine from the night before had put me into labor!! I was so glad about that! So for the next hour or so I had contractions and finally I got my lovely shot! That was like heaven!! I was still feeling my sleeping pill so the next few hours were very fuzzy for me...I pretty much slept till we needed to push 4 hours later! When I woke up I was 9cm and they were ready to get started! It was really special b/c Josh and I had Camille stay in the room with us and it was just such a great experience to have her with us! Camille and Josh both were the best partners for each other and me during it all!! We pushed for about an hour and a half...and when I say "we" I mean the nurse had to tell Josh to stop pushing b/c she didn't want to have to pick him off the floor if he passed out! It was pretty funny..I would be pushing and my nurse would be watching Josh to make sure he didn't pass out...he was just real intense ...haha! Miss Bell finally made her arrival at 2:02 9.9lbs 22 1/4 in long !!!
We only got to see her for a min and then they had to take her to the nursery b/c they needed to monitor her for awhile. She had swallowed a lot of fluid so Josh went with her and I stayed to finish up :) About 3 hours later I got to move to my new room and got to meet up with Bell and Josh again. We had so many friends and family waiting ALL day for sweet Bell so we were all in the room when she finally got to come back!

The next few days we had lots of friends and family around loving on us and sweet Isabella! We went a family of two and left a family of three! I really can't imagine life without Little Bell...it just seems perfect now!

My new hobby!!!

2011-03-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

So I have been reading all these blogs where people have started to screen print! I got very interested and figured I needed to learn how to do it! There are lots of different ways to do it but I've only attempted one... I just wanted to figure it out before Isabella came! Here are a few of my finished products! I'm really into making fun little onsies for my little friend that's on her way! My favorite is the silloette of Baby Shelby! Is there anything cuter than a basset? Then I have her little shamarock onsie in case she does make it here on her due date! Then that last one I just threw in (it's not screen printed just sewn on but I think it is cute).

I also have learned how to do a little ruffle...so fun and so cute on little girl bottoms! That's on the back of the Shelby onsie!

Here is the kit that I bought to start my screen printing hobby! There are lots of homemade versions that I will use from now on but I figured at first I needed the real deal to teach myself!

Here is my lovely screen...I forgot to wash it out so now it will only make those few images...you live and learn...good thing I love the "i" and the "Shelby" I can keep using those for sure!

If anyone is interested in learning how to screen print this is the blog Lil Blue Boo, that I followed! It was very helpful! I'm super pumped about all the things you can do with screen printing..I definitely need to practice a bit more but I think it's a fun thing to do!!

(Not sure why everything I typed is blue and underlined...that's pretty annoying)

Here is a little sneak peak into the room...

2011-02-24T20:05:00.000-08:00

Well the room is almost done. Just a few more thing here and there and we should be set! We have had so much fun getting it all ready! My sweet husband has been so wonderful to let me be creative and do my thing in the room. Josh and his buddy Tim put up the chair railing and we of course painted the room yellow and white :) I was a bit nervous about the "custard" color but it turned out great!

This sweet little dresser came from Dee and we just painted it pink and added these little knobs! I love the knobs b/c they are roses!!
Here is my fun birdcage with a little homemade bird that Heather made for Isabella :) and my highchair that I thought might be fun to actually use but I really like it in her room as decor instead! Also there is a little quilt you can see in the background that my mom and Heather made! I love it!

Here is a little thing we made from some knobs from Anthro ...I love the roses! There is our little changing area with the super cute rose tile above that Josh's sweet sister made for us!
This area still needs a bit of work but you can get the idea! I'm collecting the letter "I" to put all over the room and still have a few to find a home for on the wall! There you can see Isabella's coming home outfit! It will be March Madness so she will be wearing home her little Longhorn onesie :) That's also a little dresser we painted...that Lisa gave us...I wish I had a close up of the knobs.. I L.O.V.E them...they are the originals and have little flowers on them!
Here is her bedding...it's kind of a hodge podge and I love it! My mom made the skirt out of some of my favorite Anna Maria Horner fabric...then I found that polka-dot sheet at target ..and then the Erwins got us the pink minkey bumper pad! I think it goes just perfect with our old school Jenny Lind crib!!
Then last but not least here is a chalkboard we made to put above the crib! I love the verse..Josh helped me pick it out and I think it is perfect for our little one!
So there is a little sneak peak into Isabella Rose's room! It really has been so fun to piece everything together! It makes me so happy to walk in there...I'm just ready for there to be a little girl in there too!!!

rain drops keep falling on my head...

2011-02-20T20:25:00.001-08:00

My School Shower

I have a cute little video from my school shower but I couldn't get it to load. My sweet assistant principle Mr. Forgey made the cutest little slide show/movie. Quite a few of the pictures are not my best side but what can you do ...it's the last month ...let the swelling begin!

Josh and I have been apart of a new church plant this fall and they all through us a shower! It was so thoughtful!

I also had a "girlfriend shower" that was just so fun! So many friends came to shower us with love and support!! Everything was so cute and fun! I love being a girl!

Well the last few weeks we have just been showered over and over with wonderful gifts for our sweet Isabella! Everyone has been so wonderful to support us and bless us with the little necessities and spoil us with the sweetest little girl things! There are just some of the sweetest little things out there these days! We have just been so blessed by all our friends and family and are feeling so overwhelmed with love and support!

Here she comes..

2011-01-31T19:10:00.001-08:00

This picture makes me sooooo happy! Mainly b/c of the sweet person sitting next to me and the little girl growing inside of me. I was reading in my week by week prego book yesterday about how my emotions might start taking over me and I think it might be true. It has been shocking but during my pregnancy I have actually been less emotional than I have EVER been in my life. Now Josh may disagree but I think he has just forgotten what life was like before :) But my poor friend might be in for a ride b/c I feel the emotions starting to creep back in. I get so overwhelmed with emotion for him and Isabella ALL the time. I have just fallen more in love with him over the last 7 months. He has been taking such good care of Isabella and I and is just so excited about our sweet baby that I can't really handle it. I'm so thankful to have him as my partner in this... Camille and I were driving back from Abilene yesterday and just talking through the next few months and all the changes that will come and I just got so overwhelmed with emotion. I can not believe that in less than two months I will have a BABY!!! I have just been so blessed over the last 7 months. I have LOVED being pregnant! I think I have worried Josh a bit b/c if all my pregnancies are like this we could have a basketball team by the time we are done! I just hope the finale of this little adventure goes as smoothly as the beginning...reading through my little prego book is a bit scary at times. I told Camille I think I would just rather not know most of the things that are going to happen during the labor. I would like to just be knocked out and wake up to Isabella in my arms! I think if I wish that it will come true...right?....just like how I keep telling her to come on the 12th instead of the 17th...I keep telling her if we don't make it to Aunt Erika and Uncle Kyle's wedding that mommy will be VERY sad! I know if she is anything like her mother she will be her early and ready to socialize ...so I don't think it will be a problem!

Well we have about 7 weeks to go...and lots to do in the meantime....finish the room...(post to come) ....shower it up.....and mentally prepare for the finale!! Wish me luck!

Thanksgiving Baking Time...

2010-12-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

So my mother in law got a brand new kitchen this summer and she has been so excited and dreaming of the day this would happen for years. She is a big host and has been doing it out of her tiny little kitchen for years. Her dream has come true and she can now have more than 2 people in there cooking at a time. We had our first cooking party over there the week of Thanksgiving and we all made some goodies for our own Thanksgiving dinners we were having later in the week. We all were pumped b/c we were learning how to make some things we have never attempted before. I made my first cheese cake and it was so much easier than I thought it would be!! Some other first were pecan pie, homemade crust, pumpkin cheese cake, shortbread, pumpkin chocolate muffins and an apple pie. It was a fun night and I hope one that will become a tradition each year!

Loving the bump...

2010-12-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

Bird Cages, Babies, Blogging, and Bellies...

2010-10-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

It's Fall and I'm soooo excited! I love the chill in the air, the pumpkins at HEB, Highschool Football games, wearing burnt orange on Saturdays, and Chai Tea Lattes from Starbucks! It's such a fun time of year! Lots of fun things have been going on lately! I got to go to my favorite place on earth, Round Top!!! I found lots of good little finds for my house and Isabella's room! Our Vista Ridge Rangers are doing so good this season, which makes our Friday nights so much fun! We are helping to plant a new church which has been such an incredible experience, and Josh and I are so excited about starting our new little family!!!

And of course we can't forget about our little Longhorn!

*PS Thanks Cas for making my blog so cute! It's always fun to have a little change!!!

Help!

2010-04-29T19:45:00.001-07:00

So I tried to get crazy and change up my blog ... now I'm stuck with two yellows that don't really work well...I have no clue what to do... I changed the background but can NOT get anything else to work...I'm not really even sure how I changed the background...so my blog is stuck like this till someone can tell me what to do!!! I'll take any advice!

How much is that doggie in the window?

2010-04-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

So I have never really liked dogs...

I'm afraid of them when they jump on me. They stink. They shed. They bark. They cost money. They don't always pee and poop where they are supposed to. They definitely take time and money and can be a hassle... BUT I HAVE NEVER LOVED SOMETHING MORE!!!(Besides my sweet Josh) We got a dog on Christmas Eve and I am so in love with her that I can not handle it. It is amazing how much I do not care that she sheds, that she has stinky breath, that she will bark for no reason, that she cries when we don't give her attention or that she sometimes mistakes our rugs for grass! She has brought so much joy to our little family. We have had so much fun with her. I also like other people's dogs now...which is a good thing!

Who couldn't love this face?

Now that Camille and Marcos are home from NYC we are having a blast watching all the dogs play ... they are out of control. They have a Sheltie named Oliver and a Yorkie named Maxwell. The three dogs are so different and really funny to watch! Here are a few pics on our way to Abilene this past weekend!

Spring is here ...the sky is blue...

2010-04-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

There is something about the spring that just makes you want to get out there and do things... everyday I have wanted to try something new. I've been trying new recipies (those of you who know me know I don't really cook) but this woman

http://thepioneerwoman.com/

is changing my life. Who knew that if someone would just put a recipe in picture form it would be so much more fun for me to do! I've made salsa, breakfast potatoes, cornbread (with my cast iron skillet), and her blackeyed pea salsa. I feel like the girl in Julie and Julia I want to make everything that The Pioneer Woman has ever made! We will see how far I get doing that! Here is a picture of my salsa I made tonight...how delicious!

I've also been inspired by the wonderful spring weather to do outdoor projects my list consist of:
1. pulling weeds
2. mowing and all that goes with that
3. planting Zennias in my front garden from seeds...still waiting on those to grow

4. Josh and I made our first flower bed

5. My sweet husband built me an above ground vegetable garden!!! This is my very favorite thing! The only thing that is a bummer is that after Camille and I planted our tomato, bell pepper, okra, and green bean seeds we realized it will take 60-72 days to get an actual vegetable!!! What in the world why does it take so long?? Whatever, we will see what happens. I knew it wouldn't grow overnight but I was not prepared for 72 days of waiting! I think Camille and I are going to head to the farmer's market this weekend to help fill our void for veggies while we are waiting for ours to grow!

Now we have to still put our vegetable labels in there and find some way to keep the dogs out! Otherwise we are done and are just WAITING!

6. Another fun addition to our backyard is a gift from my dad! He so graciously donated some blackberry bushes and we are so excited!! My dad thinks it is quite humorous b/c I was the daughter who HATED to pick blackberries the MOST! Every May all three of us girls had to join our father outside after dinner to pick blackberries. I HATED picking them. It was always hot and my hands would get all scratched up by the thorns. I also felt like I was in the book "Blueberries for Sal" I picked a berry then ate a berry. So by the end of picking I never had as many blackberries as my sisters! It was all worth it though b/c our mom would create the most delicious blackberry cobbler from our pickings and it did make for some very memorable Mays. Now I'm excited to have them in my backyard!

7. Another little project Josh and I took on was making an entertainment center. I have had this idea in my head of what I've wanted but wasn't finding it anywhere. I finally decided that I could make it myself if I found the right dresser! I found it and I love it. Josh and I found this OLD dresser on Craig's list for $15 it looked rough but I felt confident that we could transform it into everything I'd been dreaming of! Ha Ha! So here is the before picture...

We sanded it ... painted it... and made some shelves ...now I know it isn't quite up to Pottery Barn's standard but it works for me!!!

There are two doors that we haven't decided if we should put back on yet or not in the background. I do love them but the speakers fit so nicely there??? Anyway I also have a super cute teal screen door to hang above the TV... that is a project my sweet love will have to do!

So there are a handful of things that I have scratched off my Spring To Do list...there are many more to come! I love Spring and I love Projects!!! I wish I was this motivated and productive with every change of season!

Party in the USA

2009-11-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

We had such a great time in Nashville this year. The pictures can speak for themselves!!!

Felt, owls, chairs, and chalkboards...

2009-11-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

So I am crazy about Anna Maria Horner I think she has the most unique style and unbelievable ideas and fabric. I stalk her. Anyways I am wanting to make my own Christmas decorations this year (well some of them). I have sweet memories of my mom and dad's first Christmas decorations that my mom handmade. I think it would be so fun to do that as well. So I borrowed Anna Maria's patterns and have gotten to work...I am crazy and am trying to make the garland pictured above. Josh thinks I have lost my mind b/c it has taken ALL week just to make 40 of those circles....I need atleast 90 maybe more. They are sooo cute though who wouldn't want that on their Christmas Tree. I will get them done it's not a problem.

I want my Christmas decorations to be all colors and sort of vintage, so I got the 12 Days of Chirstmas ornaments from C & B and the felt ones. They are adorable! I'm trying to make my own version mixed with Anna Maria's pattern of the owls b/c I can not afford a whole tree of C&B's.

I'm also wanting to hang that cute door over my couch. I love the chalkboard. It will be so fun to change what it says depending on what is going on or what season it is.

Now I am starting to have a love hate relationship with craigslist. You can find some of the most wonderful things but it is so difficult, too. I want 6 old wooden chairs that I can recover the seats. I have the perfect material but no chairs. Hopefully some pop up soon b/c I have a total of two chairs in my house and we are about to have a house full of family and friends. These projects are all I can think about right now...

wish me luck...

Boom Boom Pow!

2009-11-09T19:44:00.001-08:00

Ok I'm back but I'm a bit rusty... here is our summer in Europe backwards ....I'm not fixing it...this took hours as is... forgive the slide with a black spot...that is Oxford...I guess I didn't finish that one.. grace please

Here are some of my bests when we all meet up in Houston to spend some good quality girl time!!!

More to come... New house, Nashville Trip, and Holiday/House projects...

Why was I born in 1983...I would so have loved to dress like this...

2009-03-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Well it's the week before Spring Break and all of us teachers thought...we could either jump out the 2nd floor windows at our school or dress up each day of the week according to different themes...the windows were locked so here we are....Wednesday was 80's and we were loving our lives!

Winter

2009-03-12T17:06:00.001-07:00

Well we ended our Fall semester with our 2nd Annual Faculty Follies...
"Let's go to to Hollywood!"

All my fun friends at school...dressed in our old prom dresses...haha..

My grade level did "Mama Bee-ya" we had so much fun!!!

My sweet friend Nikki got engaged at the end of the show! We were the directors of the show so we had spent a ton of time together leading up to the show and I had to keep it a secret for so long!!! I'm a good secret keeper!
Here is Josh and his little brother Zac...he was his freshman coach this year!
Oh my...who remembers these? I always wondered how my teachers made this ....it's applesauce and cinnamon...who knew...they smell so good....these were our gifts for our parents!
All my kids made gingerbread houses....how fun are these!!! Tey kept trying to eat them.

All the Haug men at a Ranger basketball game ...we actually won!
That made our Holiday season bright!

Sweet baby cousin Anna!

Haug kid annual Christmas stair pic.

Josh and his buddies on New Years ...loving Rock Band! I'm actually really good at the drums!

My sweet friend Rach!!! I was so glad to see her and Drew over the break!

(For some reason I do not have pics of the rest of the family Christmas...I'll have to find those)

The Fall

2009-03-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

That's a little glimpse into my late summer early fall. The next season to come...

Jen's Wedding Events

2008-11-30T20:02:00.001-08:00

Way over due!..... Such a fun few days!!!

UT vs A&M Annual Softball Game (July 4th)

2008-11-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

For the past 5 years or so the Haug's and their friends have been playing softball every 4th of July. All the people playing have either gone to A&M or UT or are just a die hard fan of one or the other. It was a good thing that the UT team won this year! We were a bit worried about the evening event taking place ... Josh takes this game very seriously! It worked out just fine!!!

Flower Party (July 3rd)

2008-11-30T19:07:00.001-08:00

This was the day before the wedding. We meet at Dee's house and put together all our bouquets along with put together the yellow puff balls! It was so much fun! I loved the flowers! It was so neat for all the bouquets to be unique to each person that made them! I loved the flowers! My favorite were the Billy Balls! They are so fun!

Just for your information...

2008-11-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

One thing I love about blogging is that it helps me keep record of all the things that have been going on in my life. I always want to post things in order and I get stressed out when I can't document it all. So all that to say I will be back tracking for a few blogs so I can put up stuff from this summer till now!

Living is right...

2008-11-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Well I guess I have done a lot of LIVING and forgot to blog about it!!!

Let's see 6 months later I've...

* worn a white dress and danced the night away
* flown on a plane and become a beach bum
* decided it would be a good idea to teach 7 year olds instead of 9year olds???
* am learning how to love someone more than myself
* started throwing ingredients together to make something called a meal
* have figured out throwing a ball made out of pigskin is a very time consuming sport
* and decided I will never celebrate another fall without a fairytale pumpkin or a pumpkin tree

I am loving life and loving living it! What a whirlwind the last 6 months have been. I feel overwhelmed at the thought of catching up so I think I will just post a few pics and let them do the talking. (I can never get them in the order I want :( and I don't have my computer so these are the only ones I can post off Josh's computer...I'll post more once I get my comp back)

I also need to give a shout out to Moriah!! She volunteered to redo my blog to give me a boost to get blogging again! Thanks MoMo! I'll post "girl weekend" pics soon!!

I'm back!!!

Here we go...

2008-05-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a brief summary of pics and captions to catch you up on my semester...not in the right order...
Trip to Virginia and DC
Here is B, Josh and Drew while we were in DC on our Trip to visit Rach and Drew!!!

The A Team listening to some jams!

School Shower
Here is my WONDERFUL team throwing my 1st shower!!!
The got me cute little "HAUG"letters to replace my "PERRY" letters outstide my door.

All my teacher friends were so nice to come and shower Josh and I with gifts!

Jen's Fiesta Girl Weekend

We had a blast chilling by the lake and relaxing for a weekend!!

CINCO DE MAYO
We celebrated at school and made pinatas and then headed to Emily's house that night...

It's a boy!! We found out at the party that Emily and Ryan are expecting a little boy!!

7th Annual Crawfish Boil
This was our first time to come and it was a blast! This is Carrie and I chilling in the heat
There were millions of people in this one backyard livin' it up with some shrimp, potatoes and all the works..
My Girl Weekend!!!

We went to float the river and got to stay in this cute little log cottage! It was so fun to be with so many friends and celebrate my fun upcoming event!!!

What the O'?
Omaha

Josh and I were asked to help take a trip to Omaha from our church. Us along with 18 college students treked up to Omaha and learned from a church up there. Josh's brother Kendal works with that church up there so we got to spend some time with him and his new friend!!
Josh and I infront of some awesome jellyfish at the Omaha Zoo
Kendal and his new friend Ally who we love!!

Well that is a very brief summary of what has been going on this past few months. Life is OOC with wedding planning and wrapping up the school year! We have 3 1/2 more days and I could not be more excited for the summer!

I am ridiculous!

2008-05-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

I didn't die! I really do have a life and things I would like to share and document on my little blog but apparently I can not make any time for it...I'm going to try to set aside some time this weekend and make a post of pics I guess that will document the last crazy few months! I have so many things to post!

Prom Night 1983!!!

2008-01-26T21:41:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to go to an 80's party! I finally got my chance the other day for Emily's Birthday party! It was AWESOME! Emily and I went dress shopping and found the most incredible dresses for Jen and I! It was love at first try on! We wanted to go 80's prom but we ended up being more 80's drugged out rock band...haha! We had such a fun time playing dress up! Here are the pics to prove it!

It' s her party and she can do what she wants to....even if it suffocates Jen!

Jen and Hayden brought some sparklers to liven up the party!

Here is the gang with Hayden...the hit of the party....he won all the girls over with those short shorts! Jen you may have some competition with some of my teacher friends now!

My AWESOME team...we will take any chance we get to dress up!

Josh's incredible guitar solo!

For just one second I felt like a star! Thanks for the magic Jen!

Prom Night 1983!!!
"A Night to Remember"

We Wish You a Merry Christmas...

2008-01-15T15:19:00.001-08:00

This is one of my favorite parts about Christmas. These stockings are so special to my family b/c my Granny made them for all of us before she passed away...all my 30+ cousins have them and every time we add a family member they get one. So mom surprised Josh with his when we were home !
These are all he boys playing basketball on their new hoop after opening presents on Christmas!Josh had a fun time mocking how excited Lisa, Erica, and I would get when we opened a present. Here he is super excited about Lisa's new oven mits!

Here is the Haug clan sitting on the stairs that we had just walked down singing, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," in age order......a Haug Christmas tradition!
Here we are having Christmas at Josh's mom's house! I apparently forgot to use my camera there...I must have lost my mind. This is the only pic I have! That is Josh's sister, Erica and her husband JT!

Here is the Perry Clan...minus Heather and Matteo :(We got to catch up with Kelli and Leah and a few other UYGers over the break which was wonderful!!!

Here are some pics from the Christmas Break.......It's a hodge podge of pics from being home with my family and friends and with Josh's family! We had a wonderful time spending time with our families!! It was fun to see what Christmas will be like in years to come!

"I think it is quite possible that I am falling for you..."

2007-12-26T18:11:00.001-08:00

So for those of you who do not know.. Josh and I got engaged on Friday night!!! It was an incredible night. Josh was so thoughtful and so sweet about everything. He had asked me earlier in the week if I wanted to go on a date that week. I had been begging him to take me to the Trail of Lights at Zilker park. He never wanted to go b/c of the crowds and having to park...blah blah...but he finally gave in and wanted to go.(Here is Josh in his awesome parking spot really close to the park....that he never thought he would find..haha!!)

So he picked me up on Friday and we headed to Ztejas, this is the restaurant that we had gone to on our first date. We had a wonderful dinner outside and then headed to Zilker Park to see the lights. Once we got to the park we walked around looking at the lights for awhile and then we went to "the spot." This is a place that Josh had also taken me to on our first date. This place overlooks Town Lake and you can see the reflection of all the lights of downtown on the lake. It is so beautiful! So we sat down there and Josh started being real sweet. He told me he had an early Christmas present for me and pulled out a bible. He began to read from 1 John and then had me finish it up. As I was reading he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! He then showed me that the Bible had my new name on it, Rosalyn Haug.
I was so excited I kept saying, "we are getting married, we are getting married!!!" We then went and saw the big tree of lights and then headed to his parents' house. On the way up there I kept asking a million questions, "do my parents know? does Camille know? How did you ask my dad? Can I call them?...etc..." before I could do any of those things we arrived at his parents house. There were tons of cars on the street and he brushed it off saying there must be a big Christmas party going on. I of course was thinking too much about everything else to worry about all the cars. Little did I know Josh had prepared a surprise party with our family and friends!! I flipped out .....I walked in and the first person I saw was Camille...I of course got ugly cry face and didn't let go of Josh for 5 mins. It was so awesome...all the people here in Austin that Josh and I love were there to celebrate with us. I was so blown away that Josh had planned all of this for me. He knows me so well to know that I would want to celebrate with everyone!! It was such a wonderful night!!! ( Here are my sweet friends the Petersons. I work with Vikkie and the little girl in the brown is Kaitlyn and she is in my class at school! I love this family! It was so special for them to be there!)

( The A-Team)

( Here are some of the girls that were there! )

( This is Josh and his brother Kendal)

I'll post more pictures later but my brother-in-law has them with him in Russia! He even has a recording of Josh and I telling the story to everyone at the party...it's so funny! So maybe I'll figure out a way to add that on! We don't know when the wedding will be yet...we are hoping for the 4th of July weekend!

myACU

2007-12-17T20:23:00.001-08:00

Dear Christian College we love you....

A few weekends ago a few of us met up in Dallas to have a little Christmas party at the Couchman's. It was so fun to see old friends and all to be in one place again. It stinks how busy everyone's lives get once we get into the "Real World." It was nice to catch up and remember old times. Here are a few pictures from that night!

6 inches of Snow on Thanksgiving

2007-12-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

So this Thanksgiving I got to go home and Josh went with me. We got to spend some time with my dad's side of the family on Wednesday night out in the country. On Thursday we woke up to sleet outside our window and the Macy's Day Parade on TV. Josh was so thrilled to watch that instead of football. I don't think he realized that in an all girl family you watch the parade with girls kicking their legs in sync with music rather than boys kicking balls through goal posts. We ended up compromising don't worry! The rest of the day was spent with the Acosta's (Camille's in-laws) eating Turkey, watching football, and sitting by the fire! It doesn't get any better.

So the sleet I mentioned, ended up turning into HUGE snowflakes that came all day and stuck. It was so beautiful. For those of you who know my mom know that this made her very happy. The next few pictures are of Rose twirling in the snow! She loved her life that day.

By the end of the day we had almost 6 inches of snow. It was so beautiful. Josh and I drove around Abilene and I showed him all the old stomping grounds. Aka...ACU...our Campus Ct. House...UCC...The White House...intramural fields...etc. I wish I had taken pics of all the snow that was everywhere ....here is our backyard around 4:00. Well this is a post way over due...just wanted to throw it out there before all the Christmas ones begin!

Faculty Follies 07

2007-12-14T15:22:00.001-08:00

So my school decided this year that we were going to put on a talent show to raise money for our book room. Some teachers thought it was a great idea while others wanted to abort immediately. I of course was one of the teachers who was ecstatic about the whole idea and decided to volunteer to be on the committee and help co-direct it. No one at school was surprised at all about my involvement considering the grass routine I had performed last year infront of my whole faculty. I guess they figured a young girl who thinks dressing up in a grass costume waving her arms around on a stage singing in harmony (and enjoyed it) was crazy enough to organize a group of 60+ women/men in a faculty talent show.

At first we were going to make the show directed towards bedtime stories b/c we were raising money for the book room. Some teams stuck with that theme while others did whatever. It all worked!

Once the night came we decided on the theme of ..."Let's go to the Movies"....we started the show off with Daddy Warbucks and Annie coming down the isle towards stage while all the faculty dressed in black waving flashlights around the room with that song playing. It was so cool...I started crying watching the kid's faces through the opening. I think it shocked the kids that their teachers had put so much time and effort into this. Here is the stage minus the NY City buildings that were on stage. ( I forgot to take the pictures that night so these are the following week when some stuff was gone and moved )
Here is one of the popcorn boxes I made and put in the foyer along with hundreds of stars and a ticket booth. I was telling Erika this performance was the Siggie Cinema I never got to decorate for. I have had these dreams of popcorn boxes, scene counters (I don't know if that's what they are called but it's that thing in the first picture), and movie film decorations since Senior year. I know that is ridiculous but I wanted to decorate that rush with this stuff and didn't get the opportunity to do so. Now was my time! Haha! Again I didn't get a good pic of this foyer all put together. :(
Ok, so my team decided to dress up like the leader girl characters in the most popular story books in Elementary. We painted the cover of our books and then used them as our props. We placed our books on stage and jumped out of our books when the music started! We danced to the song Fabulous, from High School musical. The kids went crazy. It was so fun! Here are our pics of our books. I was Junie B Jones!!!

Every grade level did something and they all turned out so cute! The finale was all the faculty dancing around to another High School Musical song, We are All in this Together. A few of us learned the dance from the movie and danced around in b ball jerseys. It was so fun! The whole thing went better than we ever thought. We ended up selling 681 tickets and raised over $3000 it was awesome!!! I was in HEAVEN organizing all of it! I laugh b/c sometimes I think I learned more about organizing people making props and embracing my creative side at ACU than I did about teaching children. I totally felt like I was back in College preparing for Sing Song and I loved every min. of it! It was a hit and I think it's on for next year! I can't wait!

They have come and gone....

2007-11-03T10:43:00.001-07:00

Well, Heather and Matteo have come and gone again. I believe this will be one of the first of many comings and goings between Italy and America. We started out their visit celebrating Christiana's wedding last weekend. It was so much fun to see all of Heather's good friends and new little babies. I got teary-eyed sitting through the wedding thinking about how special it has been to not only have one older sister but like six. Over the years Heather's girlfriends have practically taken on the role as Camille and my older sisters as well. Sunday after the wedding we all headed to Austin and spent the day as a family eating and watching football before Camille and Marcos had to head out.

The last few days we all gathered in Abilene to celebrate my Memom's 80th Birthday! Friday night we all took her out to eat and then headed to Abilene's biggest event of the year. Abilene High vs Cooper! Of course my grandmother went home to drink tea with her sister while the rest of us headed to Shotwell Stadium. We did end up arriving a little later than we had hoped and were forced to sit on the enemy's side. It was a fun game...Abilene dominated Cooper which was expected. I loved watching how excited my dad got at every good play and touchdown. He is quite the AHS fan. I think he has been to probably every AHS vs CHS game since he graduated in '69 along with every other season game. We were lucky to get to sit with Erika and her family and witness Erika complete one of her life long dreams...attending the AHS vs CHS game. Her parents were both Cougars so it was fun to all sit and cheer for the opposite teams. It was also fun for Matteo to see the intensity of a small town school rivalry football game!

Now it is Saturday and Heather and Matteo have left to go home. It was a wonderful visit that was way too short. Hopefully this summer we will be having another reunion, but in Italy this time!

I'm just sitting here thinking about how God's faithfulness is so wonderful! I see that of course in so many situations in my life but this past week I have seen that through my relationships with my family. My mom and dad were so intentional when they raised us to teach us how to communicate and how to be honest. We grew up in a home where there was nothing off limits to talk about. We all knew we could bring up any topic or any situation and it was welcomed and we would work together to solve the problem or just be listening ears. Because my parents established that type of relationships with us growing up it is so much easier now as adults to live apart and still maintain the closeness and unique relationships that we have. Our parents not only created this safe environment for us but instilled a desire in us to GO. They raised us as their own but always reminded us of Who's we really were and what our main mission in life was. We were taught this life is not our own and it is not to be selfish with. Our parents have always supported us girls in everything we have done and encouraged us to discover our own faith and encouraged us to just Go. So coming home this weekend and all being together I see how faithful God has been with my family. We are all over the world, all in very different places in life, but all still have maintained our family's unique relationship and for that I am very thankful.

(Well I am terrible at uploading pictures to my blog apparently. They never come up in the order that I want. So I'm sorry that all of them are out of order and there is only one at the bottom. I refuse to try any longer to fix this problem.)

Halloween

2007-11-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

First of all...Halloween should never fall on a School day...that was a nightmare and I have already decided to put in for a sub for next year. I tried to prepare myself for how they would be that day...but I didn't prepare enough. The good news is my teacher friends are AMAZING and we all survived with lots of candy, cookies, and cute Halloween head gear!

Roomies

2007-10-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a wonderful weekend with my old roomies!!! It was so much fun to catch up and hang out. Mary Beth came in from Birmingham for work and Linds and I drove in to see her and Becca. We just got to relax, layout, watch football, and EAT! Mary Beth brought some of the most ridiculous pictures from when were in High School...I wish I had some to post b/c they were hilarious. It was so much fun to go down memory lane with her. I had braces throughout all of High School...how embarrassing...haha..thanks Mare for not being too embarrassed to hang out with me!

Here are some fun pics from the weekend! We also got to meet up with one of my teacher friends, Emily. She was in town and she got to meet all the girls!

I promise I'm not pregnant in this pic...it might be deceiving....apparently that shirt isn't as flattering as I thought... :)

Labor Day 2

2007-09-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

The club for you the club for me within my heart we'll always be Sigma Theta Chi...

Well we had our 2nd Annual Girl Labor Day weekend! Thanks to Cas we had a well organized trip to the DFW area. We got to eat lots of junk food...see all types of wild life...shop around..and love on little babies! It was a great weekend to relax with old friends and catch up on everyone's lives. Here are a few pics from the weekend!

Ice Cream!

2007-09-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Well here are a few pics from our outing to the Ice Cream Festival a few weekends ago!! It was really hot and really crowded but still fun to be with friends and embrace an Austin Festival! I couldn't flip the pics so you'll have to turn sideways.

Sonshine Stables Camp

2007-07-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

This summer I have been working at a horse day camp. A mom from my school owns it and needed some help in the arts and crafts area. So I have come on this summer as the "Craft Girl" I only work in the afternoons and it's been real fun. We make cute little things like watter bottle pigs like you can see above. Two weeks ago Josh's little brothers Ben and Zac came and worked the whole week. They made it tons of fun!I know nothing about horses so I stick to my little air conditioned room away from the horses..they kind of scare me!

Hodgepodge

2007-05-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

Birthday dinner...Cinco de Mayo celebration...Austin friends...A-team...here are a hogepodge of pics from the last month or so. Sorry some are sideways I'm not sure how to fix those yet!

Three weeks of school and then it's summer!!!!! This year has flown by!

Happiness

2007-03-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

I feel like that word describes my life at this time. If you are like me you sometimes have a hard time seeing into the future and seeing how life can be better. Erika and I have talked about this a few times and how we want every stage in life to be the best. When I left ACU I thought..were those the best years of my life? At the time I thought they were and thought how can I find friends as good as the ones I had there? How can I create experiences like the ones we had during those years? What will the years to come look like, who will be in my life, and will I be as happy?

Well most of you already knew this (and knew I would figure it out....eventually haha!) but there is life after college and its GREAT! I love being a teacher and I love living in this big city. I love being challenged by the world and deciding why I believe the things I do. I love that I am surrounded with people who are different from me and learning from them. I love that my friends from growing up and ACU are still my life long friends and that those relationships have not changed much. I love that the Lord provided me with a community here with friends that are just as great as my others. I love that I have met Josh and that he is now a consistant part of my life here. I am thankful that we have a God who is so gracious and so loving!

I was reminded how blessed I am this past weekend when a ton of us reunited at some dear friends' wedding!

Yellow beads, polk-a-dot dressess, childhood friends, college reunion, bride and groom what could make a weekend better? I was sad not to get to visit more with everyone but was so glad to have almost everyone I loved in one place!!

Christmas and Camping

2007-02-28T19:48:00.001-08:00

Well here are the long awaited pictures of Christmas throwing up in my room and the outdoors coming inside! I thought I had more pictures of my room at Christmas but my kids are in all of them. I'm not sure how their parents would feel about me putting their child on the web for everyone to see. So just picture...gold tassel everywhere..red bows hung on door frames....Lights hung in no strategic fashion...snowflakes hung by purple yarn (it didn't match at all but is all I had) one afternoon when I ran out of activities to do for math I turned decorating our room into a math lesson..."If each of you make 3 snowflakes and we hang them how many snowflakes are there in all?" It was a stretch but my room got decorated and my kids learned what 3 times 16 was...haha!

This past week we had our first TAKS test and we survived! For those of you who do not know the Writing TAKS is a big deal in 4th grade so we were all pretty stressed about it. The week before we did a whole unit on writing that we called "Camp Write Along" it was AWESOME! As you can see we put up tents and made pretend fires. The kids got to camp out all week and write stories. We ate s'mores, trail mix and sang camp songs!!! At the end of the day we would sit around the campfire and read the kid's stories! It was soooo cool! I think it got the kids really pumped up about the TAKS so that is good! I LOVED decorating my room and getting ready for it. It did make me real anxious to go camping in real life! So later this spring watch out...a camping we will go!!!

That one picture is my team of teachers!!! I love them so much! I would not have survived this year so far without them. I could not have been placed at a better school with a better support group and community. We have so much fun together. I think they think I am pretty weird and pretty sheltered...it makes for some funny conversations and laughs. Life is definitely different outside my little ACU bubble but it's good and I'm learning a ton about myself!

I feel like I could write for hours about what all is going on in my life but I will spare you of all that right now!

I want you to notice the reindeer ears on my head...my team wears head things like that for every Holiday and we LOVE it!! We try to find any excuse to: wear things on our heads, ponytails or carry cute fuzzy pens to to Faculty meetings!

Christmas and Camping

2007-02-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

Miss Perry's Beach

2007-01-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

Well here is my classroom! I'm finally posting pictures of it! These were pictures from the beginning of the year! Don't worry I do hang up my children's work and it is much more cluttered now! I'll try to post pictures of my room around Christmas time b/c Christmas did throw up in there so those pics are funny! We started school back up this past week and are hitting things hard. I am still loving my class, kids and team of teachers! We have a blast!

Baby it's Cold Outside

2006-12-16T22:55:00.000-08:00

Baby It's Cold Outside

I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
well Maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour

The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move a little closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

C'mon baby

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh baby, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm -- Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Man, your lips look so delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips look delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before

I've got to go home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your comb - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - Your eyes are like starlight now
But don't you see - How can you do this thing to me
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Making my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that old out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

Baby it's cold outside

Brr its cold….
It's cold out there
Cant you stay awhile longer baby
Well…..I really shouldn't...alright

Well that's my favorite Christmas song...every season I get it stuck in my head and sing it as my default song almost everyday! I tried to download the ring but it was awful and makes me mad so I don't use it. Now I know this song is really long and has lots of words and you are probably really impressed that I know them all....don't worry I only know like 10 of those words and that's what I sing over and over! Shocker! That's why everyone around me hates the song now. I love when I sing it around Josh though b/c he will join in and that makes the song more fun especially b/c I don't have to sing both parts...haha! Anyway I love this song and I think everyone should embrace it this holiday season!

"Where are we...what the hell is going on?"

2006-11-24T13:30:00.001-08:00

"spin me around again and rub my eyes this can't be happening"

(all the quotes are from an Imogen Heap song that I'm obsessed with)

let me explain....

Thanksgiving Thursday mornings in the past began with waking up to mom's marmalade coffee cake and watching the Macy's Day parade downstairs with all of us girls and dad. Later in the day we would stuff our face with pecan pie, dry white turkey, frozen rolls with honey, and various other side dishes which changed depending on the company. Some years we were with Mom's side but most of our memories came from spending the Holidays with Dad's family. My memom has a sister that lives here in Abilene and they have three boys who now have their own families and kids. We would spend Thanksgiving with them and my aunt and uncle. I remember going over to their house many times and watching football and sitting by the fire. I was usually pretty bored considering I was a little girl and football wasn't as appealing to me then. I'm becoming a pretty good football fan now considering the company I keep but not so much then. I still loved going over there and getting tons of attention from my older boy second cousins. Anyway all these things said, I have very fond memories of Thanksgivings past.

This year is different because of a handful of reasons some understood some not so much. I got to spend ten mins with my whole family yesterday on a conference call with Heather in Italy(figuring out her life) and Camille in Dallas (experiencing her first holiday as a nurse). My extended family that is usually here did something different this year which is weird. The friends that are usually here over the break weren't here long or weren't here at all. Things just change when you grow up.

Mom, Dad and I spent Thanksgiving visiting with each other over mom's famous pizza. I love mom's pizza and I do not mind all the attention on me...we all know that's not a problem! It is just different not having my sisters here and the family that I have most memories of Thanksgiving with. I have had fun shopping with mom and watching the football game with dad! I have enjoyed relaxing and being home for sure!! I am excited because Camille and Marcos will be here tonight and we will do "Thanksgiving" with the Acosta's tomorrow. It will be great! Good thing I'm flexible...haha! I know I sound bitter I'm really not just stating how I feel about change over the holidays.

On another note....sorry I have stopped bloging! I'm back and will try to stay up with it. Lots of things are going on in my life now which are fun and exciting! I'm still loving school and my kids! I was so blessed this year with my job! I love living in Austin!! I have a new friend! I am still loving the church Erika and I are going to. Ashley Mize has been living with Jen and I and we love it! The holiday season is here which means crafts...crafts...crafts!!! I just need to make time for them!!

"it's all for the best"

I have the "Plastics" in my class!

2006-09-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

The Test
1. What's your favorite Color?
2. If you went to prom what would you wear?
3. If you had to pick a theme for a party what would it be?
4. If Logan (the kid in the class across the hall) asked you to be his girlfried what would you say?
5. Do you think the lead guy in Highschool Musical is cute?

If you do not answer 3 of the 5 questions right then you do not get to be apart of "The Angelz Club" Sorry.

Now if you got 3 out of the 5 right then you are IN, if you accept then you have to follow these rules:

*dress code
*be nice
*call each other on the phone

Dress code:
Monday- Free Day
Tuesday-Pink and White clothes with flip flops
Wednesdy-Free Day
Thursday- skirt with a blue or pink shirt and flip flops
Friday-school shirt with class hair-do

We have to walk in a straight line around at recess in a certain order and their are no exceptions to the order.

If you do not do these things then you are out!

WHAT!!!!

I found out the girls in my class had started a club and this was all spelled out in their book....rules...diagrams of how they walk...and sign up lists! It was ridiculous and really funny! I figured something was up when they all had skirts on today and there was lots of whispering going on. I had to put a stop to that today. I took the girls outside and we talked out why this wasn't a good thing and how it's hurtful to those not included. I think they understood. They had all watched "Mean Girls" and were trying to imitate it...I was like, "don't you remember that the mean girl got hit by a car?" So I think we got it under control but I just thought it was soooo funny and out of control. I guess I shouldn't have started pigtail Friday a few weeks ago...I created monsters!

1,10,1000,10000000,100000000...God?

2006-09-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

Kids blow my mind...where do they get things?

"Miss Perry if numbers go on for forever then where did we come from?"

What in the world? One of my kids asked this question after I was explaining that numbers go forever and ever. It apparently got his mind going in a completely different direction. I was so unprepared to answer this question but apparently the other kids in my class were not. I got responses like ... "God made us that's where we came from" ... "Yeah Adam and Eve had kids and then they had kids and so we came from them,so really we are all a family"... the boy then responded with " Well, ok but where did God come from?" A few of my kids were stumped but one said, " We don't know but that's who made us." Then they all looked at me...awesome...I was like "Well guys some people believe in God and they believe that He made us." They took that answer and then started talking about something completely different. Looking back maybe I should have said more...but at the time I think that was best.It was a funny question to begin with!

The girls in my class are adorable. They are such big helpers always wanting to help me, file, pass out papers, erase my board, and apparently find me a boyfriend. I had the class working on their TX symbols books around the room and one says, "Miss Perry do you have a boyfriend?" I said, "No!" they said, "Well Miss Perry we are going to get together and find you a boyfriend." I was like great. Erika predicts I will be getting some phone calls from their 14 and 16 year old brothers soon.So guys don't worry I'll be dating soon!

Just thought I would share some funny stories with yall! The last few weeks have been great! Last weekend I got to see so many of my bests (of course not all of them but I will be seeing those this weekend in Abilene!!) Then this past weekend I went to a Counting Crows concert which was GREAT! Lets see ...Jen and I had a fabulous guest for two weeks which we are sad b/c she has now left (Kenli we miss you!) I'm about to buy a car which is annoying but exciting I guess! That's it, my life in a paragraph.

I am loving life!

2006-08-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh I love being a teacher! Seven months ago if you asked me what I would be doing now teaching would have been at the bottom of my list maybe not even on it! Which is shocking considering that is what I got my degree in but I got soooo EXCITED about event planning I couldn't see beyond that dream! I still would love to do that one day or incorporate that into my life along with teaching but I could not be more excited to be where I am now. Who knew a little conversation Erika and I had at Chick-Fil-A would have changed my life! I love my school district...I love my team of teachers...and I love my kids!

We started school this last Wednesday and it was so Fun! I wasn't nervous at all I was so excited! I think some of my kids were scared of me b/c I was squealing as they entered the classroom! I have made my classroom look like a beach (I will try to post pics later)and they love it! They all want to sit under my yellow and white beach umbrella and read! They love to listen to Jack Johnson's Curious George sound track as they hang out during the day! I have a great class I think....Miss Perry has had to pull a few to the side already and let them know who was incharge! I think it will be a great year though!

I have one funny story I want to share real fast ...our principal's son is in the fourth grade classroom across the hall and she was asking him how he liked fourth grade. He was like "I love Mrs. Sharrock (his teacher) so much and my class .." ...and his mom was like what else do you like..and he was like "Also Miss. Perrywinkle across the hall..she has these big diamond earrings that are like the size of her teeth"...my principal thought it was so funny out of everything he could have said about fourth grade ...he commented about Miss Perrywinkles earrings...it was so funny! Those of you who have not seen my earrings they are quit bling bling...I love them! Kids say and think the funniest things!

I love living here in Austin...I've been here seven months and I can not believe it! Erika and I were talking today about how we finally feel like we LIVE here now and feel apart. We have been going to this church where we have made some friends and are really starting to feel apart of a community! This one family has really just adopted us and made us feel so welcome and accepted and it is so nice! I love being apart of a Christian community that is so supportive and encouraging!

God is good and I have been reminded of that so much through what he has been doing with my life! He has reminded me of this passion I have for kids and helped place me in the most perfect place for me to grow and be used to glorify Him. He has placed various people in my path to support and guide me and I am so thankful for that! I feel like He has answered prayers with things above and beyond what I could have imagined I would have wanted for myself. What an awesome God we serve and I pray I serve Him daily and glorify Him in all I do!

The Ranchers

2006-08-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

THIS IS MY NEW SCHOOOL!!!!!

I finally got a job and I am now a 4th grade teacher in Leander ISD at Rutledge Elementary! I am so excited! It all happened so slow but yet so fast. I have waited ALL summer for this one interview and I finally got it last week! I was then passed on to the principal of this school and had my interview yesterday! She hired me on the spot! My principal is so great and the staff that I have met are great as well! I will work with 3 other teachers right now, we may be adding a 4th once school starts. I love this district and the community that it strives to be!

I have been reminded this past week how important it is to remain calm and trust that the Lord WILL take care of me! I had been pretty calm all summer when thinking about my job, but last week about this time my mind started to flip out...what if I don't get a job?...where will I work?...how will I pay my bills? ...I don't want to have to look else where..? Now I have to buy a new car and that stinks b/c that wasn't my fault...how am I going to pay for that....All these thoughts were going through my head and then Erika called me and told me that she had meet my principal that day and she still needed teachers and was going to get the ball rolling so she could interview me. I started bawling (shocker) b/c I thought they had just forgotten about me. I was reminded the Lord never forgets it is just in his timing not mine! I just cried b/c I felt so bad that I had doubted that the Lord would take care of me and I allowed myself to worry. The Lord has put multiple people in my path this summer that had I not met I would not have gotten this job. This one man I met at the church Erika and I have been attending is in charge of hiring all the principals in Leander so he worked really hard to get me the interview and job. He has been such a blessing! I was blown away by this man b/c he barely even knows me and he went out of his way to help me get this job. It's so nice to be taken care of by fellow Christians!

So all that to say...the Lord is good and I now have a job and it started today! We started new teacher training today and I will be in training for the next two weeks! It's so fun because Erika is in this same district so we will be able to go through the training together!!

Now it's time for me to decorate my room!!! I can't wait I think I want it to be a beach theme...with lots of pink flamingos, sailboats, and a big yellow and white striped umbrella...don't worry I will for sure post pictures of my room once it is done! My kids are not going to be sad summer is over b/c they will get to go to the beach EVERYDAY!

The Real World

2006-07-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I love it and like to embrace it but other times I want to go back to second grade. That's when my mom packed my lunch with the PBJ sandwich, cheetos, swiss cake rolls and a banana...set out my clothes and paid for my clothes...I wish my mom could still put my hair in pigtails or french braids and I would just run out the door..I want my parents to drive me around to basetball practice, to get a cajun cone, and take care of all the car stuff. Life use to be so simple!

Well this week I had to grow up a little ... I hate "taking care" of my car...I just feel so absent minded about it and can not remember to do things..I don't understand cars so I think that's why I do not care. It all started Sat night when my car got hit over night! I was at Linds and brent's with Erika we had just had such a fun night with friends and I had to awake to my poor car, it had been smashed! The girl left her number and all so that was good but poor little red honda. This is the second time she has been hit this year neither were her fault!

Anyway no big deal got the insurance stuff called they say they will take care of it...blah blah blah. Well that's great! Well on Wednesday morning I wake up to a huge orange sign on my car saying YOUR CAR WILL BE TOWED ON THURSDAY MORNING IF YOU DO NOT GET YOUR TAGS UPDATED!! Tags? What does that mean? So I look at them and sure enough my inspection sticker had expired in MARCH!!! Great I'm an idiot...but what can I do...my tail light is smashed in it's not going to pass inspection. I flipped out and my dad is out of the country so he can't help ... what is a girl to do without a dad at that moment...so I call Cody and Marcos and they helped me figure it all out. Apparently the big deal is that my apt complex doesn't want the complex to look trashy with broken down cars in it...(well I'm not going to leave my car broken..I'm trying to fix it) Whatever...we got it straighten out but now I can not get hold of the insurance people...it's a mess and this is when I hate the Real World and I wish my dad took care of my car and I wished I just lived close enough to all my friends where I could ride my bike to see them! It use to be so easy!

Camp Eagle

2006-06-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Well I just got back from a GREAT week! I got invited by Kenli and Zach to go with Oak Hills Church to be a middle school counselor. Kenli and I ended up getting the girls who were going into 9th grade and it was very challenging but quite rewarding! It's amazing to look back and see where God's hand was throughout the week!

Lots of our kids had very real issues and it seemed so unfair for them to have to deal with them. Early in the week I got so sad and confused I questioned God and questioned why these kids have to deal with such real life things at such a young age. They didn't ask to have the parents they do or didn't choose the life they were given. I was so frustrated b/c I thought I do not understand where these kids are coming from and I have not experienced anything like some of the things they had and I was questioning why I was there and questioning how God was going to use me. One night we had a time of praise and worship and I just stood there and listened to the band and the words to the songs and I was broken....the songs were saying..."God you are glorious and bigger than air..." another saying "you paid it all...all to HIM I owe...sin had left a crimson stain you washed it white as snow.." and the final one sang, "How GREAT is our GOD, How GREAT is our GOD" and I was broken and couldn't believe that I for one minute I doubted that God could fill these kids and help them overcome there life situations and that no matter what all these kids needed was love and the confidence that the Lord will be with them. I was there to show them love and unconditional love at that. I was reminded that God can move mountains and He did. Throughout the week all over camp not just kids from my group but all over were giving their lives to Him and committing to serve and honor Him with their lives and it was awesome! I was so proud of them and so excited to watch the Kingdom now be changed by them!

I was listening to Ginny Owens today and the song "If you want me to" came on I know most of us have heard it before but it's such a great song to hear and actually listen to. My favorite part is...

"It may not be the way I would have chosen
when you lead me through a world thats not my home
but you never said it would be easy
you only said Id never go alone"

We know this has happened to us all and will continue to. We have all been in valleys and we have all gone down paths we would have chosen to be different but look we are on the other side standing tall and more blessed than we could have imagined! What a blessing it is to have Jesus on our side and walking along side us everyday! I believe one way the Lord walks beside us in these times is giving us friends and providing us with community to carry us through that valley. I just pray for my kids that they find that community and those friends that will help keep them strong and will be a reminder that they are not alone when times get tough.

Here are the rest of the words so you can read through them..

Cause Im not who I was
When I took my first step
And Im clinging to the promise
Youre not through with me yet
So if all of these trials
Bring me closer to you
Then I will go through fire if you want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
when you lead me through a world thats not my home
but you never said it would be easy
you only said Id never go alone
you oooh oh.

so when the whole world turns against me
and Im all by myself
and I cant hear you answer my cries for help
Ill remember the sufferin your love put you through
And I will go through the valley
If you want me to.

Thanks for letting me share my heart today!

Who's Next?

2006-06-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well this past weekend was soooo much fun! You all know I flip out when I get to see friends and that's just what I did last weekend! I wont go into all the details I'll just make a top ten list in Linds' honor and that will fill in some of the details.

TOP TEN
Celebrating "Brinds" Wedding!
Late night talks with Barker and Mize and acting like a 13 year old girls at a sleep over!
After wedding cookout/swim party with a lot of our friends (minus Cassie and Austin who were really missed)!
Spending time with Emily W.
Bridal luncheon at fun Aunt Shannon's
Lemon Box Ice Cream for Breakfast
IHOP Breakfast with the Acostas, Barker and Cody
Being early to everything and shocking Linds K.
Visting with Deb and seeing her incredible Siggie T-Shirt Blanket
BEING SURRONDED BY BESTFRIENDS FOR 4 DAYS STRAIGHT!!!!!

So who is next??? Who will make the sacrifice to get married so we can all get together again? It was sad saying goodbye to friends b/c we couldn't say when the next time would be that we would see each other. I got depressed! I guess I can just plan an activity for us all and no one HAS to get married! I'll keep you posted!

Here are some pics of the weekend that I'm stealing from Mize's facebook!

Camille

2006-06-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

May 20th has past!

2006-05-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

Camille and Marcos are now married and it is a great thing! We had such a great wedding week filled with many to do lists. Everyday we put a new list on the fridge of things that needed to be accomplished that day before we could do anything else. Our days usually started around 9:00 and went until midnight! The days were long but filled with fun!

Us Perry girls really wanted the wedding to be very personal and in our minds that ment we needed to do it all! So we made all the food from the cheese balls to the wedding cake, are grandmother's (Memom's famous chocolate balls), we designed all the paper products, invites, programs, wisdom cards, etc...and of course all the crafts, candles, table decor etc... because we did it ourselves that made us buisy all week! We got it all done though and we were all in one piece at the end. We had so many friends and family come in and help through out the week which made it so much more special and fun.

The thing I loved the most about this whole process of a wedding was realizing how blessed we are to have such amazing friends and family. We were so blessed to be raised in the church we were. UCC was not just a place we went to three times a week growing up but it was a place where we formed relationships with a community that is now our family! To see how many people supported Camille and Marcos and our families through this wedding was just incredible and just reminds me that life is such a blessing and that it's important to surround yourself with friends and family and take care of those you love.

So the wedding went great! Camille and Marcos are in Spain now and will come back and live in Euless, TX. Heather leaves in a week to move to Italy for two months to figure out parts of her future. Mom and Dad leave in a few weeks to go to Oxford for the summer. And I will be here in Austin. If anyone wants to come visit feel free. If anyone wants to go camping...Erika and I have a two bedroom tent screaming for some more campers to join us....I guess I need to find a job now b/c I don't have the excuse that I have to plan a wedding...now I need to focus on my life and my future...wish me luck!

Stay tuned for wedding pictures all I have right now are prewedding...preparation, bridal luncheon, rehearsal dinner!

Graduation and Weddings

2006-05-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

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Well Camille graduated from nursing school this weekend and it was great! Heather and I drove in late Friday night and I got to surprise Camille. She thought I was going to have to work but I tricked her!

Saturday was a long and exciting day! After graduation we drove to Ft.Worth for my cousin Donny's wedding and it was so fun b/c I got to see tons of my cousins!! My mom's side of the family is huge and we have a million cousins and we always have a blast together we range in age from 39 to 5! We were missing a few cousins which stunk but we got to see a few that we hadn't seen in over 7 years. It was a sweet and much needed reunion! I love my family and extended family so much, I'm obsessed with them actually! I just love that even though we are all so different and in so many different places in life, that when we get around each other that doesn't matter b/c we enjoy being with each other. I love that we have this connection with each other like no one else in the world. We are cousins and we have all experienced the loss of a grandfather and grandmother along with an uncle who left this world too soon. I love being around them and seeing different characteristics that come out in our personalities that we recognize as Granny or Paw-Paw or any of our aunts and uncles or each other. It's fun to have cousins and to have a big family that will love each other no matter what. It's neat to see how the Lord has worked through us over the years and to see how he has continued to bless our family's relationships. Being around all of my family this weekend made me so emotional (of course) and reminded me that we aren't perfect and that it's important to keep family close and love on them no matter what. I pray that the Lord continues to watch over the "Southern families" and our relationships and heals wounds and mends relationships that have been broken over the years.

Now this week is WEDDING WEEK! We have lots of fun things to do to get ready for the weekend and I hope I can stay calm! I can't wait to see all the great friends and family that are coming in!

This is is me.....

2006-05-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have a hard time deciding if I am so excited I might explode of if I'm flipping out because there is so much to do. I found this picture today when I was looking at Martha's website for ideas for a kid table for Camille's wedding and thought it was so funny and exactly how I felt right now! When planning a party/event I get so excited and my mind goes crazy with ideas and thoughts and I just get so anxious to get it done and put it on to see how it turns out! But of course through out the planning and while putting it together I start flipping out and wonder if it is going to turn out how we imagine...will the little things get done...will everyone get there jobs done before the day before... will it be what we all pictured? Then I get distracted and forget about the small things and get so excited again that I want to scream for joy...and then it's just a crazy cycle in my head of wanting to scream for joy and wanting to scream out of frustration! So this is a random blog but I just thought this picture was a great way to describe me and how I'm feeling about life right now.

P.S. If you ever want to throw a flower party or garden party isn't that the cutest way to make a flower to hang all around the party!!

These are a few of my favorite things!

2006-04-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

SPRING

CRAFTS

FRIENDS

SISTERS

picnics

SINGING

Chocolate Chip Cookies

camp fires

WEDDINGS

Cosby Show

RAIN

Just call me J Lo

2006-03-29T11:41:00.000-08:00

Well this weekend I went to Dallas to be the Wedding Coordinator for a new friends wedding! It was quite the experience! I didn't fall in love with the groom don't you worry. I did do lots of the other things JLo did though. It is crazy the amount of things that go into making sure a two day event goes smoothly. This was a pretty big wedding! We had the rehearsal dinner in Deep Elum at this mexican place, the wedding at the Perkins Chapel on SMU campus and then the reception at a ballroom in downtown Dallas. It was all beautiful and went perfectly. I learned so much about what types of communication goes on between the various wedding venues (dj, photographer, caterers, ballroom director, and chaplain)I was incharge of all of that which was quite overwhelming at first! It went over great and lots of people were surprised that it was my first wedding so that was very encouraging! I definitely can see myself doing that as a profession eventually so that's exciting!

The weekend was also great because I got to spend some good time with Brent, Linds, Linds B, Cody and Emily which was just great!I'm glad to be back in Austin ...Oh I got another part time job working at Bath and Body Works in the Aboretum! I'm so excited I think it will be fun!! It's such a cheerful happy place...I think I will like it there!

Good Things March 2006

2006-03-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

Well I have clearly not followed through with my theme for my blog as well as I would have liked...so I'm coming back and committing from this day forward not to forget about Martha Stewart's magazines..(not herself) but the themes of them and how they apply so perfectly to my life right now.

CONTENTS:

Kids
Well I am still working at Brentwood in the afternoons and I love it. I'm with K-2nd for the first hour or so and then my 3rd-6th graders come in and we do "study hall." I like this age group of kids b/c they do not TADDLE as much...they can carry on a fun conversation with you...and they can remember that my name is Ms. Perry not Ms. Henley. (The little ones have trouble with that sometimes). It's fun to be in a school environment and not have to be the teacher all day!

Food
Well my new goal when it comes to food is when I go to the grocery store I need to buy one thing at least from each food group and then every day eat one thing from every food group. The hard thing to remember is that chocolate chip cookies are not a food group and it's important for me not to make them multiple times a week. My last batch I botch up so maybe that will teach me!!

Living (Sewing 101)
Well in the arts and craft world of Rosalyn Perry I have moved in a new direction. Yes that is right I am now making clothes. After watching Project Runway I decided it was time for me to make my own collection of clothes...well atleast one skirt...which I did and conquered in about 8 hours...yes it took forever but the final product is GREAT I think! I wore it yesterday and loved it! My next project is making curtains for Jen and my apt...more to come on that...

Body and Soul
Well lately I've been talking to a few of my friends about how great God is. Right now so many of us are in a place of uncertainty with jobs, relationships, where to live and not to live, where to go to church, what to do when family members are sick and their are scares of cancer or heart failure. Life throws so much at us that we just can not handle it alone. One of my friends commented on how it's not surprising how many people just end their lives b/c of this or that...when you do not have the Lord what is there to live for. Who gives you peace...who reminds you there is life after deaths or life after break ups or life after college who gives you confidence in your gifts and talents to go find a job or peace to know you'll figure out how to use those gifts somehow..who reminds you that you are not alone...who surrounds you with fabulous families and friends...who is it that feeds you with little blessings throughout the days or weeks...how blessed are we! We forget so often how lucky we are to have a God who is so loving and so patient and so strong...this week I was reminded to stand back and look at life and think HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! And of course I cried b/c He is.

Weddings
Well a few little blessings have been thrown my way since I've been here in Austin. I volunteered with the Red Cross this past month and a half. I assisted their event planner in putting together a Heroes Celebration fundraiser. We had over 300 people there and raised lots of money for the red cross. It was a great event and I learned so much about event planning and working for a non-profit. I also became good friends with the event planner and now she has asked me to be her Wedding Coordinator for her wedding that is coming up in the next month. I'M SO EXCITED!!!! I'm also going to be Cody's sister Cayce's coordinator for her wedding in the fall which will be so great b/c I'll get to be on the majority of the planning which will be so fun! So things are opening up for me in the event world...slowly but surly and I'm excited!!!

Do not worry I won't go through every category each time I blog just this time to catch you up!

Saturday Shower...SIGGIES....Sing Song...Sunday Sadness

2006-02-24T09:54:00.000-08:00

Well a WONDERFUL Abilene weekend come and gone.

Shower
We had Camille's girly shower this weekend which was so fun! I love being a girl and I love when tons of girls are in the same room at the same time and get to act like girls! This shower was so great b/c everyone we love or have impacted and been apart of Camille's life were there..(minus a few we knew who wouldn't be coming in for sing song which were missed) It was a great start for a great weekend! Of course I loved decorating it with pink and green and polka-dots!

Siggies/Sing Song
I will not go into all the Sing Song drama go read...Austin...Cassie..and Jen's blogs and you will know exactly what happened and pretty much how I feel about it all as well!

I will not lie, though I probably was a little too emotional about the whole event. I'm not sure if it's a problem that the little penguins brought tears to my eyes not once but multiple times through out the night ...the first time was when they opened their little orange beaks and began to sing and they ROCKED the stage and then the second time was when I saw all them walking down the hall with awful looking sing song faces after the shock of the results...I took the results a little too personal at first, VOCALS ....give us fourth in costumes...or originality...or props (which were all amazing as well) but VOCALS that was ridiculous and it hurt my stomach to see the girls after that announcement that's what we work the most on and feel the best about and are good at. They all handled it so well which made me so proud to be a siggie and proud of them! Our girls knew they had a GREAT show and knew they didn't need the judges to prove that to them...they worked hard and had great attitudes. I loved what our sponsor Linda Wallace said on the scene before the show.."our girls prepare in a unique way for this show" and that's true and that's why we can win or loose and still be ok! No one will understand that though except us and that's fine! I love Sing Song.... I love Sing Song Face ...and I love Siggies!

Sunday sadness
It's so sad when everyone has to leave. I love Kenli's blog about Abilene and ACU and how fabulous it is and how great it will be to come back year after year. I know I'm from Abilene so it's a little different for me but I am out in the real world now and get to go "home" to Abilene and I love it! I was sad to leave and sad not to be able to see all my friends more. I wish we could all live in the same city again...... and have fun themed parties.....and stay up late and skip class (not work)....and go to clyde's pizza...and eat cookie monsters every night...and go to intramural games for hours every night plus a ton of other things as well! But I do love life after college and I do love the friends I have here in Austin...so I wasn't sad for a long time just a little! I'm ok with the reunions at Sing Song and Homecoming and random others in between...they get me rejuvenate until the next!

What a GREAT weekend of friends and memories!!!

mrs. perry meet ms. perry

2006-02-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

well i am the librarian at austin elementary school in abilene right now! my mom had some surgery this past month and i'm filling in for her as the lrc specialist! what fun! it actually has been great so far. the kids think it's so fun to call me ms. perry and let me know that the other librarian's name was mrs. perry too...even though they do understand that it's my mom. they are cute. it's fun to see my kids from last semester but it's weird not having jev here to see in the halls everyday.

this week i have been reading this book about rosa parks to all the older kids which is so cool and i learned a lot myself from the book...it's weird to go from that book with fifth grade to my FAVORITE book "if you give a pig a party" with the kindergarten classes. Completely different moods and tones but both books are winners!

one little girl who was checking out a book yesterday said, "i have to go to the doctor today" i was like, "oh what for?" she leaned in and whispered..."you see i have a uterus around my belly button and i've had it since i was born and they need to look at it" i was so confused...i think she thinks she is the only person in the world with this "uterus thing"...it was so funny!

anyway it's been fun so far. i think i'm getting a little cold which is no good...i've gone to bed the past two nights at 10:00 WHAT? i never go to bed that early...that's how i know i'm coming down with something! don't worry i'm drinking tons of orange juice.

Me and Mopac

2006-01-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

I was driving in my car today real fast down Mopac and my mind was going miles a min...like my mouth usually is. Anyway, I was thinking about what the HECK I am doing here in Austin and what the HECK am I going to do with my life? Which direction should I go with a job?...How much should I volunteer?...Is it crazy to volunteer when I do not have a job? Does my job really need something to do with events or can it be whatever so I can pay bills? Will Brandi ever pay me? If she did then this? If she doesn't then this? Should I go home for a few weeks and sub for mom? or do I need to stay and look for a job? Why does this station keep playing all the same songs over and over? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

now I'm fine ...and I'm calm...and here is what's going on in my life....

As everyone knows I want to do event planning. I want to be apart of some company that throws HUGE events with tons of decorations, flowers, color, themes or I want to help with weddings...I want to learn how to do the flower arrangements, make the bouquets, decorate a reception or rehearsal dinner. I also wouldn't mind working for a hotel or big business doing dinners or even helping out a private event planner as her side kick. I will do whatever leads me to more knowledge of this industry and gives me experience. I want to use my gifts and use my creativity to add something to an event. To make an atmosphere in some venue that people gasp when they see. Something that brings some type of joy to someone else. I want to learn about all the behind the scenes work...all the grunt stuff...all the crap no one wants to do or know about. I want to do that!

I told myself when I moved to Austin that no matter what I did it had to some way prepare me or teach me about events. So I have researched and researched and looked and looked. I am not qualified which I knew (I got a degree in Elementary Education duh). So I have decided the best way for me to learn about that stuff and be more qualified is to volunteer. So I am and I'm so excited! I'm going to help the Red Cross event planner plan this big dinner/reception for all the heros of the Austin area! I'm also in contact with a woman who needs help planning a fashion show to raise money for children in Ethiopia with HIV. She has done many events and parties and I think I could learn a lot from her. The third thing is still pending but I may get to help with the special events at South by South West in March. That would be so great!

So things are opening up for me and I'm sooo excited but the down side is volunteering doesn't bring in any money. Now that's a problem. So now I'm looking for a job...any job...it doesn't even have to do with events. So that's where I am. I love being in Austin and I love living with Jen. It's been so great to see my sister so much and Cassie and Austin. I just need a job ( I do have a part time job with Cas which I love but I need more work) . I know one will come just pray for my patience. I know I will be taken care of I always am. I know I have supportive friends and family and I have all the important things in life. A job is a job and I will find one.

Sorry this blog is more like a novel...I just haven't written in so long and so much is going on in my little head!

Austin, Texas

2006-01-10T15:46:00.000-08:00

This is my new home and I'm sooo excited!!!!! Jen and I moved in this past weekend! We love our new place. I'm working with Cassie at Brentwood part time and I'm looking for another job! I love Austin...it's so alive and fun!!! Obviously so different from Abilene, not better just different...I think I was ready for a big town. I'm already finding my way around pretty well, which is abnormal since I still didn't even know all the street names in Abilene. Anyway I love being here...now I just need a job! I'll find one though!! I love Austin!

The UYG

2005-12-29T21:36:00.000-08:00

The people in this picture were my bestfriends growing up minus a few who could not make it. We spent every day of every summer with each other for seven years doing mission trips, going on treks, participating in what we called Mission Mondays, swimming or just hanging out at each other's houses. Most of us have been together since birth....gone to preschool, elementary, middle school, highschool and now college together. Over the break we had a UYG (University Youth Group) reunion and it was soooo much fun! I think everyone was a little nervous to come around since it had been so long since a few of us had been around each other but immediately everyone started joking around and throwing out memories that made us laugh for hours. We are like brothers and sisters and no matter what length we are apart we have a bond that is speacial and allows us to feel at home. What a blessing it was to grow up with these people. We were blessed by the community our church had and by the relationships we formed with the each other in our youth group. These friendships are very unique and ones we are all greatful for.

18 hours later.....To God be the Glory!

2005-12-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

TO GOD BE THE GLORY...was in bold print on the top of the Cross Plains Baptist Church gym. Mom, Dad, Camille and I spent Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning setting up a shelter for victims and firefighters of the Cross Plains fire with the Red Cross. Mom and Dad just started to volunteer with the Red Cross and this was actually their first time out...Camille and I have actually helped our sister in Austin a few times. We rolled out around 6:00 and had no idea what we would see once we entered this little city of about 1000 people. It looked almost like a battle field. There were little patches of fire everywhere it was dark but we could already see that this fire had devastated this little town...we went there thinking only 20 houses had caught fire, but left knowing 60 to 100 had burned to the ground. We got to set up the shelter at the first Baptist Church there and they were so great. Their facility was incredible a huge gym and then a side activity/kitchen area which was perfect to serve food in. We set up 30 or so cots not knowing how many people we would have that night...Most had been evacuated to Brownwood. The Methodist Church down the road set up a shelter as well but we heard later in the night it burned to the ground. I do not believe anyone was in it though.

We had one family come in the whole night. They lived down the road and they lost everything it was a grandfather, gradmother, two women and a little boy named Matthew. They came in and we fed them, they were in shock. Matthew and I played some basketball and I wanted to pass out. Later though the grandfather started to shake and apparantly had, had a stroke earlier that week...Camille was the only person in the building that had any type of medical training so she was trying to ask questions and see what was wrong...Suddenly though he stopped responding and we called 911 poor Camille lost it ...it was so scary though. They took him to the hospital and he came back later he just went into diabetic shock along with having a seizure.

All night firefighters came to eat and sleep and then go back out to fight. They were exhausted...they would almost have a fire out and would run out of water and by the time they got back with more the fire would be roaring again.

Through out the night tons of food came. Walmart and the Salvation Army brought tons and tons of food. It's incredible the response when tragic things like this happen. So many people and organizations called to see if they could help. It's a horrible thing that has happened to this town so many people have lost their homes and what they know of life. Matthew the little boy told us when he woke up this morning that he dreamed his house was back. How does a little boy like this ever understand or comprehend what just happened to him. Throughout the night I just kept reading ...To God be the Glory...and I remembered God will bring good from this. God is faithful and that was already evident through the responses we saw from the people there.

Pray for this town and all the other towns around Texas that have been affected by all these fires.

Chrismukkah and Kylie Webb...Two of my favorite things

2005-12-15T09:22:00.000-08:00

Yes this is Seth Coen and Yes I am in love with him...and Yes tonight is Christmukkah on the OC and I am going to pee in my pants...Brent, Linds, and Ashley H this is for you.........."California here we come right back were w started from California...Califonia...here we come.........!" (pretend like I am singing that really loud)

This blog is dedicated to Kylie Webb Lyons:

A. Because she is just as obseesed with Seth Coen as I am and she too has a deep appreciation for the OC!

AND

B. Because she is getting married on SATURDAY!!

I'm so excited about this Wedding Weekend...I get to be with some of my bestfriends for four days in a row and we get to celebrate Kylie and Eric!! I love Chrismukkah and Weddings and how they bring people together.

(sorry i couldn't get this pic bigger)

Top Ten Memories of College and then some....

2005-12-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

So on Tuesday night Kat and I watched the Siggie video that Jen made. It wasn't the first or the second or even the third time I had watched it but what did I do???? I cried...I totally lost it...and have done that almost everytime I watch it. I love Siggies....I do not love the name...I do not love the shirts....the sweatshirts.....the grubs and socials...but I love my friends! I love that for no rhyme or reason hundreds of girls were put together to make a group and life long friends came from it. I love that even at the beginning when we got our bids...tons of us were destroyed when our bestfriends didn't get in and we questioned whether we would want to be apart of something that didn't accept everyone. We all stayed in and saw God work through that...whether our friends took other bids...or tried again next year. Those of us who stayed in made more friends and were blessed by that experience. I know tons of people do not understand club and actually hate it but that's fine. Those of us who have experienced it and have been apart of one know and could not imagine our lives with out the experience and friendships that came from it. Being apart of Siggies was a very unique experience and being able to be in a Leadership position stretched, challenge and molded me into who I am becoming and for that I'm thankful!

Ok sorry I got off on club but here are my top 10 favorite memories of college...

* Going Dancing at Oplin or dancing in my house infront of our mirror with my roomies
*Eating BTS Popcorn and hanging out in Gardner Freshman year and creating friendships with some of my very bestfriends!

* Living on Campus Ct. with Linds K, Linds B, Mare, Cam, and Becca
* Kylie's Lake House Freshman Year and getting lost trying to follow Matt

*Going to Tishomingo
*Sing Song/making props..I love that!
*Cassie and Austin's Wedding
*Emily's Wedding
*SBC to San Fran with the Calli Girls
*Singing Opra to Ashley H. at night!!!
* Going to Crimea
*hanging out at the White house
* Studying abroad in Oxford
* Sharing and Caring/PHI MIZE's (I never knew how to spell it) and EOX and everything that goes with those two!

I loved college. The past four and half years have been incredible. I learned how to live away from my parents...(atleast not in the same house) I searched for a faith of my own...I learned how to make and nurture relationships with friends. I figured out what some of my passions and gifts are and what I may want to do with my future. I learned how to serve and how it can not be selfish. I learned life isn't easy and not always what you plan it to be and when you are broken the Lord will bless you with Friends and peace to get through it. I would take up way to much space if I continued to write all I learned during College...we all would if we tried. Anyway...I love ACU I love my experience and love my friends and I'm ready to graduate tomorrow!

If You Give a Pig a Party!

2005-11-29T14:49:00.000-08:00

Well my new favorite book is, If You Give a Pig a Party! This week is the book fair at our school and I fell in love with this book. It's just a play off of one of those books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie or If You Give a Moose a Muffin, they are so fun. This not only includes decorating a party but a jammy jam with all her friends (a jammy jam is a dance party/ slumber party in your pjs, for those of you not into the teeny-bop lingo), too! This book was MADE for ME! Anyway I loved finding that today and thought I should share.

Oh my gosh I've been inspired.....Here I go.....

If You Give Rosalyn a Party!

If you give Rosalyn a party she is going to want to decorate it herself so she will ask you for a Martha Stewart magazine. If you give her the magazine she will not be satisfied with just that one she will actually need a dozen. If you give her a dozen magazines it will make her think of a dozen cookies and she will want you to take her immediately to the United. If you take her to the store she will not just want chocolate cookie dough she will actually want to make a dozen cookie monsters, soooo she will need Blue Bell vanilla bean ice cream to go with it. If you let Rosalyn makes a dozen cookie monsters then she will need 11 more friends to eat them so she will need to send out invitations. If you give her invitations that will remind her she was supposed to be throwing a party and she will need to make a list of more things for the party. If you help her make a list she will realize she hasn't' picked a theme or color scheme and she will want you to take her to Hobby Lobby. If you take her to Hobby Lobby she is going to want to use yellow and polka dots but will realize that Abilene doesn't have any cool crafts or party supplies so she will want you to take her to Austin. If you take her to Austin she will decide she actually wants to have help with the party and will want you to take her to a professional event planning company. If you take her into the event planning company she is actually going to ask for a job.When she asks for a job they are actually going to give her one. When they give her a job she is going to want to throw a party!

Ok I'm sorry that was out of control but actually fun to sit here and write. I think that is how my brain works right now or maybe all the time...I'm all over the place and have no clue what I'm going to do but it's fun I guess!

I heart...

2005-11-15T20:28:00.000-08:00

The things I love... (not in any specific order)

chocolat chip cookie dough
sweet tea
anything yellow
hydrangea
Martha Stewart crafts
lanterns
jeans
pictures
polka dots
snow
fall
my sister rings
lasagna
basketball
taking naps on cold days
S&C
watching movies on rainy days
sweatshirts or long sleeve shirts with shorts
layered clothes
fun earrings
Oxford
cookie monsters
Crimea/Kazakhstan
Tishomingo
Teeny Bop Shows (Too many to list)
cool hair parts
TRAVELING
intramurals
ACU
EOX
Austin, TX (going to be my new home...here I come HP, C&A, and J&H)
sewing
Throwing PARTIES!!!!
FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!
FAMILY!!!!!!
JESUS!!!!!!!!

What a blessing life is, look at all the fun things we get to enjoy! So with all these things I probably should not ever really be sad or upset for too long b/c I have all these things to cheer me right back up!

Keep your cats in your house!

2005-11-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

So this weekend we had a new little roommate (in our backyard). A little grey and white kitten showed up on our back porch out of no where. Linds, Brent and I were sitting in the kitchen and all of a sudden we start hearing a little pitiful meow. Then this little kitten head pokes up over our door window in the kitchen. First off we are shocked out of our mind that it can climb that high and then second none of us really care that it's a lost kitten. This cat stayed at our house all weekend just meowing and wanting to come in pretty much driving us crazy. Poor thing it was lost it had a little pink collar and little bell, but it should have stayed inside it's house then it wouldn't be lost. You would think with 6 girls living in a house that one of us would LOVE cats...no luck...we all HATE cats and really had no pitty on this little thing. Ashley and Macey tried throwing it over the neighbor's fence....we tried ignoring it ... we didn't' feed it or anything hoping it would just leave but without fail it still hung out in our backyard bugging us to death. I was working on a project where I had to spray paint tons of dots and it was getting all in my stuff.....ahhh! Anyways, I do not like cats. I'm sure you want to turn our house in for animal cruelty but we did give in and start feeding "Tootles" (Brent named her). I even made flyers which I drew a picture of our little feline friend and Linds B. and I put them all over the neighborhood. No response yet but thank goodness for Kristin she saved Tootles and took her home until we find it's owner. Now it will not be neglected any longer. All this to say....if you keep your cats inside then they will not get lost, they will not go in other people's yards, they won't eat my childhood rabbit named Jack, and they will not be a problem.

Weddings: Consider the Key Passed!!!!

2005-11-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

IT'S CAMILLE!!!Well you maybe wondering why would I put a picture of Big Ben on this blog? Well it's only because that is where Camille got engaged this weekend!!!!!! I know it's out of control. On Friday Camille and I drove to Dallas because I was "supposedly" going to be speaking at a girl's retreat for Cody's youth group. Instead though, I dropped Camille off at DFW where Marcos meet us, he surprised Camille with a trip to London. Camille was shocked out of her mind! It was so fun!
They arrived Saturday morning around 7:00 and then around noon Marcos proposed to her under Big Ben looking at the Thames River at this special place they had found almost five years ago when we had been in London before. It was incredible! They spent the rest of the day walking and shopping around London. They of course ate fish and chips and then went to see The Lion King Musical. Saturday night at midnight they sat on "their bench" and listened to Big Ben chime 12 times before they headed home to rest up for their flight home! They then flew home Sunday morning and Lindsay, Cody, and I meet them at the airport!!! It was such a fabulous weekend! Camille will probably get married in May either the 20th or 27th we are not sure yet! Anyway I just wanted to share with everyone the exciting news about Camille. It's such a blessing that Camille and Marcos will get married. They are perfect for each other in everyway.

(I'm sorry I couldn't get this picture to flip
but I thought it was so cute of Camille)

P.S. We won the Championship rec football game last night!!!!!!!!!! Go Blue!!!!!!!!

I caught the ball !!!!!!!!!

2005-11-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

Tonight we had an intramural football game and it was a close game of 3 touch downs to 0 (I'm not sure what that score would be) but it was so fun. This season I play safety and love it. Some games I get action and others not so much. I'm not going to lie I usually have a hard time catching the ball...I think that's why they put me at safety b/c usually girls don't have too good of passing games. So most of my time is spent cheering on the rest of the defense and trying to stay warm by spinning around or doing silly cheers to myself. Anyways to get to the point tonight the ball was thrown in my direction and I got so nervous but relieved when one of my other teammates was going to intercept the ball and I wouldn't have too. (but wait she missed it and it fumbles out of her hands right into mine) hooray I caught the ball and for a moment was unsure of what I was supposed to do next. I quickly realized I was supposed to run and managed a few yards!! I was so excited! I'm not meaning to brag but I haven't' really caught a ball all season and just needed to share my excitement and joy with everyone else! Our team is still undefeated and are trekking along! Dave thanks for being such a great defense coach and cheering me on tonight! For those of you who didn't recognize me that is me in the picture up there pretty cool catch huh?

Blogs

2005-10-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

I always forget people's blog names and I can not figure out how to add their names to my links so I'm just going to put it as one of my blogs so I can come back to it. Sorry I'm not computer smart.
http://codyblair.blogspot.com/ Cody Blair
http://chenley.blogspot.com/ Cassie Henely
http://www.andallthatimplies.blogspot.com/ Austin Henley
http://www.erikawatts.blogspot.com/ Erika Watts
http://www.davidsessions.blogspot.com/ Dave Sessions
http://www.kristinsessions.blogspot.com/ Kristin Sessions
http://mrsburns.blogspot.com/ Kat Burns
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=kah02a Katie Hooper
http://emilywallace.blogspot.com/ Emily Wallace
http://blakeandmo.blogspot.com/ Blake and Moriah
http://www.butididntcare.blogspot.com Mary Beth Timmerman
http://www.ashleymize.blogspot.com/ Ashley Mize
http://kenlishea.blogspot.com/ Kenli Edwards
http://emilywallace.blogspot.com/ Emily Wallace
http://jenperkins.blogspot.com/ Jen Perkins
http://lindsaybarker.blogspot.com/ Linds Barker
http://beccalt.blogspot.com/ Becca Templeton
http://andyzimmerman.blogspot.com/ Andy Z
http://austinpaulaustin.blogspot.com/ Austin L

One Friend, Two Friend, Old Friend, New Friend

2005-10-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

Well I have a ton of things flowing through my head right now. I just read Erika's blog where she talks about how crazy it is to be so far away from the people she loves the most but knows it's ok and is being blessed by her experience. Then I read Cody's blog where he challenges us to think and make a list of why we love Jesus. Well I haven't come up with my list completely but of course one of the things at the top of my list is friends. I think why on earth do I deserve friends and not just any old friends but the most extraordinary friends. I'm sitting here going through names in my head of different people who are apart of my life and not one name comes to mind that I could imagine my life without or could imagine who I would have been without their influence. I do not deserve them and that's one reason I'm thankful for Jesus. He has blessed me with so many, some have just meet in the last few years through club or ones I meet my freshman year to ones that came along in High School and then some that go back farther. As long as I can remember I have been surrounded by incredible people and that I am thankful for.

I think the hardest thing about leaving college is not trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my life (party planner/teacher) but how on earth can I get all my friends to live in the same city with me. Yes, I do realize that is unrealistic but wouldn't that really be sooooo GREAT! Why doesn't life just work like that?

I know change is ok but it is so hard and sad sometimes. TodayI am going to help one of my closest friends move to Alabama. For the last seven years she has been a constant in my life. She moved here our Sophomore year in High School, I can not imagine how Camille and I would have survived with out her during those years. We all got to go to ACU together, be apart of Siggies and travel the world while we studied abroad, along with being roommates. We have experienced so much and have been so consistent in each others lives and it will be so weird to only see each other a couple times a year.

I do know this is not the end of the world. I know that I am still surrounded by a ton of people I love and I always will be. This isn't the first friend to move and will not be the last. Change is hard for me but God is good and will continue to bless my relationships with my friends whether we are in the same city, state, or country!

So one reason I am thankful for Jesus is because he blesses us with friends, even though he might send them to other states for awhile or even other countries.!

Pink, Brown, & White Polka Dots ....yes please!

2005-10-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Event Planning here I come.................!!!!!!!! Today I found out that I get to help decorate this huge place for a girl's convention that is coming up in a few weeks! I am sooo excited and guess what colors they are using, that's right pink, brown, white and they are using polka-dots!!!! AHHH my favorite! The person I am working with wants to some how hang hula hoops and balloons from the top of the Teague Event Center ceiling. Can you just imagine walking in and looking up and seeing a ton of hula hoops and balloons hanging from the ceiling in there! How much fun! We are also going to try to find a bubble machine!! What? OH my goodness I can not handle it! I love this stuff and think it would be sooooo great to do this profession for forever! One thing that drives me and makes me so passionate about event planning and decorating is the atmosphere that can be created and the way it can make people feel. Can you imagine being a little girl elementary/middle school age and walking into this almost fantasy like place and it's just for you! To me that is so exciting and special!

Anyways, I'm probably making a bigger deal of this than it really is. I'm sure the woman I am helping is going to be like...woa...I just wanted a few decorations....calm down. Hopefully I am imagining what she was talking about! If not I can down size! I just think this will be so fun!

Side Note: This whole week I have devoted a few hours a night to finding myself a job. So far no good! I am just trying to weigh my options and see what I think is best for me and my future of course. Obviously I really want to be an Event Planner or in some way use my creativity. I'm finding though that to do that of course I am needing experience which I'm not sure if all these showers, Birthday parties and black and white parties really count. So I'm just trying to see if I really do need to teach for a few years and get my event experience in the summers and weekends. Maybe I can find a job low on the totem pole in events and be able to survive, that is just what I'm trying to research now. The exciting thing about all this is that I really can do whatever I want. I'm not worried about making the wrong decision or worrying about which one is what the Lord wants. I know which ever direction I choose to go the Lord will open doors for me and will use and bless me along the way! What an incredible God we serve!

Kids-"Ms. she said the "H" word!"

2005-10-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today they needed me to sub for one of the 1st grade classes for about two hours and it was so funny. 1st graders are so funny and soooooooo different than my 4th graders. They are so needy and so touchy. The whole time they kept calling me Ms. Ms. and poking me to get my attention. I wanted to scream "My name is Ms. Perry and get your fingers off me!" Of course I didn't I let them continue to poke and call me Ms.

It was so funny b/c there was this one little group of girls who were so chatty. I kept having to get on to them for talking. At one point one of the little girls goes, "Ms. she said the "H" word and pointed at the little girl across from her. Without thinking I said, "What's the "H" word?" She continues to say, "who cares." What! (obviously they do not have their alphabet conquered yet) Apparently the little girl told the other one she didn't care about her paper or something. I was trying so hard to not laugh out loud.

Wouldn't it be great if that was the worst thing these kids heard. In reality though we know it isn't. There are so many kids who hear so much worse and have just awful home lives. I have one little girl in my class who actually lives with her 15yr old sister and her boyfriend, b/c her mom is in jail and who knows where her dad is. There is just something not right about that. I just pray daily for these kids and that my teacher and I can be some type of light for these children. I pray that we can love on them no matter who they are or what their lives are like. At least if they are not getting love from home they can hopefully find it in Cristi and I.

Living

2005-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Ok well if you didn't catch it (which probably only Cassie would) my blog is going to be modeled after Martha Stewart's magazines. The top things that seem to be going on in my life and world right now have a weird but perfect relation to each of her magazines. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Martha's line of magazines she had put out one called Food, Weddings, Body & Soul, and Kids. Of course there is Martha Stewart Living (my favorite full of crafts and much more) but that's why my blog is titled this. Anyways I think all these categories apply pretty well to me right now.

KIDS-I'm doing my student teaching right now which is very fun and interesting but has confirmed my lack of desire to teach right out of college.
FOOD-I love to eat and have tried a few new recipes lately that people may be interested to know. My first feature will be chocolate chip cookie brownies...yum!
BODY & SOUL-I'm at this point in my life where I'm searching and trying to define a little more of who I am and who I want to be. I'm discovering how to be ok without seeing all my bestfriends daily. I'm trying to listen to the Lord and see what he wants from me and where I need to be used! So I think I'm going to need to share some of that, along with how often I am NOTworking out!
WEDDINGS- Now this one may seem a little weird but this will be my favorite! All of those who know me know I LOVE to plan parties and it's my dream to be an event planner!!! So this section is where I will dream and talk about my future and what I want to do! Also my sister is very close to getting married so some of those things may be discussed as well

So here we go I'm so excited to start blogging! I think it will be so good to get my thoughts and feelings down in some form or fashion. Maybe I can stop talking so much and just use this to vent and express how what I'm thinking and feeling.

This is a test

2005-10-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

I think I broke my blog...I'm trying to figure this out...