Just a little late. that's all!

We started off Christmas partying 2 weeks before with Church gatherings, Sunday school parties and other social events. Can I just say that I absolutely adore Christmas. Seriously!

Our church,BBC, decided to go to the Cottonplant Christmas Lights. Geez. This is like having a full time job. There are so many inflatables, lights, and even a cabin with Santa in it. It's amazing to see the joy and laughter on the faces of our little kiddos. We even heard plenty of, " I don't want to see him" about Santa Clause and the grinch that was actually quite hilarious! I had a great time seeing them get excited, upset, and having fun enjoying Christmas as a little kid.

I really hate how this "excitement" of Christmas dwindles down a little bit each year for me. I have often heard that after you have kids it all comes right back, so that is what I am hoping for! I still have the love and excitement for christmas but the "magic" just isn't there! :(

Family time was amazing this year! We had my "mom's" christmas with the family for lunch and we spent the day catching up with family. My cousin, Tyler, read the Christmas story and that was pretty special to see a 5 year old get excited to read about the birth of our Savior! I received some cash from my dear grandmother and this will be spent to sponsor my child from Africa, Esnard. Remember her?

We then had the Patton Family over for Christmas Day supper and it was a fun time! Only one cousin, Sam could make it for Christmas! We sure did miss them but know that they are fulfilling obligations! :)

Jesus blessed us with a WHITE christmas and I absolutely loved it! It was perfect! :)

I sure hope that you had a great christmas with the people you love and the people that love you the most and that God showed us all the true meaning of christmas! Himself! :)

Bucketlist.

Just for my records! :)

{SkyDive}





{See Golden Gate Bridge}-- Check





{Witness to Someone}





{Take Picture with Somebody who is famous}





{Eat Pizza in New York}





{Spend New Years in New York}





{Ride Toys R Us Farris Wheel In Times Square}





{ Go on A Cruise}





{Para sail}





{Shop at Mall of America}





{Study Abroad}





{Sing Karaoke}





{Go to Africa, or the Phillipines}





{Make an A on a Math Test}





{Ride a Train for a long distance}





{Climb a Mountain}-- This will never happen. Montana broke me away from this! :)

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore thee...

It's been a great day!


Santa was EXTRA good this year, Jesus' birth has been celebrated, and Family time is soon to come.


Last night I helped mama prepare the breakfast casserole that is eaten every Christmas Day Morning because that's something that my Grandmother Patton insisted on. We keep her memory going by doing this and it's a pretty awesome thing! :)


We opened presents and I promise pictures are to come of what all "ho ho" brought me. LOVE! :)


The Pattons' will be here sometime tonight and Mom is coming to celebrate with us. I just love family time. We will miss Jacob and Joseph this year!!


Jacob is spending Christmas with his fiance', they are getting married in Washington at the Jefferson memorial this summer! So sad I can't go! :(


Joseph is in the Peace Corp in Nicaragua! Bless him! Hope Christmas is great for him there! Miss you boy! :)


Merry Christmas to you all! :)


{I celebrate the day that you were born to die so that I could one day pray for you to save my LIFE! :) }

It's Here!!

The day we all love and look forward too!

"Christmas began in the heart of God.

It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man."

I am so excited to celebrate the holiday with my family and make memories that will last forever! I just can't help but think that this may be the last Christmas that I am living at home for the holidays. Teaching may lead me off somewhere different next year and I am totally okay with that! :)

I'll be home for CHRISTMAS! :)

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! :)

I pray that I would take time to remember the true meaning of the season and praise him for all that he has done!!!

Bored. Coveting. Not a good combination!

I obviously have nothing to do at work but look at all these lovely things!

i seriously want to learn how to sew. Look how cute!

anthropologie. Taken off another blog!

I'm loving this! :)

{the back says, "and a Hotty Toddy New Year" Too cute!

www.examiner.com

Graduation Present, anyone?!

My mother has one of these but don't I need to add one!? :)

I may or may not be obsessed with Christmas Decorations! ahh!

www.marieclaire.com

Totally random but I love baking cupcakes during this phase of my life.

But more than anything I want one of these...

"Happy Everything" plates!

Aren't they adorable?

My birthday issss January 8th! :)

That's all. Back to work, ahem!

{one}. We got our family Christmas cards done today! :)

{Two} I am going to Memphis tomorrow shopping with my best. Can't wait.

{Three} We practiced for our Christmas Cantata tonight at church and it's going to be awesome.

{Four} I can't wait for Christmas!!! Come on next week!

Pure. Bliss.

Being able to catch up on life, yeah, that's Christmas break.

Today has consisted of running errands, making Christmas cards, eating lunch with my mama, and doing things that I never have the chance to do!

Life is GOOD! :)

Tonight I will finish this endeavor and have some fun along the way.

Thank you Lord for Christmas break.

Fun times are ahead. Be ready for pictures! :)

Just a few Christmas pictures for your enjoyment.

Roommates putting up our Christmas Decor!

Merry Christmas from Harper!

{one}

I just bought my first Paula Deen cookbook and I couldn't be more excited. I am obsessed with her recipe's and pretty magazines even though, ahem.. I don't cook very often!

{Two}

I am sitting at work, not doing a thing but playing on my blog, facebook, twitter, and shopping. This might not be good. Come on 2:00! :)

{Three}

Tonight I am going to Friendship Baptist Church's Christmas Play. My cousin is a lead in it and we are going to see how God is going to show up! :)

{Four}

I just LOVE christmas! My mother has our house looking like the North Pole and it makes my heart happy when I drive up and see lights! Our house is beautifully decorated and I hope that my future houses will look as "christmasy" as ours always has.

Happy Monday! Hope your last work-week before christmas goes smoothly!

Love this!...

Lord Jesus, keep me in Your will! Don't let me go mad by poking about outside it."

IT'S CHRISTMAS BREAK! :)

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The semester is over, time to go home and relax. No more worrying about school after the most awful semester of my life. It was seriously the most stressful, busy, and the most like "real life" that I have had. I think that it has finally hit me that I am graduating in 6 months and that scares the crap out of me!

{Back to Christmas.. Last night I watched a movie and played aro

und with my blog. Now that was a weird feeling! I just knew that there was something that I n

eeded to do, but guess what? Their wasn't! I absolutely LOVE that feeling.}

Tonight I have the pleasure of going to watch one of my Best friends graduate from Nursing School! Her name is Meagan aka Merle (it's a long story!) I could

not be more proud of her. She has done so well but it was not an easy road! :) I can't wait to share in this exciting time with her!

Christmas break is going to be filled with so many fun times. Shopping, friends, family, NO SCHOOL!, Church services that blow my mind, pretty decorations, I just can't wait. I am so excited.

Love you all! :)

BTW: Roommate Christmas pictures! Our Christmas card is going to be adorable! :)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Hotty Toddy New Year!

Fill in the blank Friday.

linking up with....

{photo from weheartit via this tumblr}

1. Holiday spirit makes me smile. It's the most wonderful time of the year, right? Jesus' Birth, time with family around the tree, present, shopping, Christmas music, cinnamon scented candles and decoration that is glittery and beautiful eating my grandmother's chicken and dressing. It's the best.

2. The holidays are incomplete without family, Christmas movies, decorations, love,cold weather, friend ornament swapping.

3. My favorite things to do around the holidays is eat the most delicious food, dirty Santa parties, Christmas program at church , shopping,

4. A holiday tradition my family and I have is to eat breakfast casserole every Christmas morning because that's what my grandmother Patton always did, open presents one at a time and fight over who is going next, decorate our house the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Empty our stocking first on Christmas morning.

5. Holiday music is something that i have a new found respect for. I loved it as a kid but only recently have I become attached to it again! :)

6. This year, I'll be spending the holidays with my family, as always! Pattons at our house, Heards at Mom's house.

7. Holiday wish list McCarty Pottery, some new Toms, 2 teacher-y tote bags, and a few surprises. My mother, aka, Santa Clause has this! :)

Light at the end of the tunnel.

It's almost over! Praise him.

This semester has {almost} gotten the best of me. Very late nights, sick children in my classroom, a seizure on the playground, WAY too many assignments, and just plain busyness.

God has SURE gotten me through all these hard times and I am forever thankful! I take my first final tomorrow and then next week, it's all over! I am so excited to not have to think about school and finally get to accomplish some things that I need to get done.

I went to the BSU Tacky Christmas Sweater Party last night and had a fun time, ate way too much junk, and got to say bye to some pretty amazing people.

Pictures to come SOON..

On My way to see the Rebs play!

I'm about to leave my apartment and spend some precious hours in the GROVE before kickoff.

Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Biggest Rivals.

Love this game and can't believe it's my last egg bowl as a student. We shall see what is to come.

Ole Miss fans please remember: those annoying people ringing bells are state fans and not the salvation army... Please do not throw money in their cups." MCC

Love it! :)

HOTTY TODDY! GO REBS!

Better blog to come!

A heart full of Thanks.

And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.

God has blessed this unworthy daughter of his greatly and I just want to share "things, people and "stuff" that I am greatful for. God already knows but just to show how good HE is, I am listing these things.

{My precious family, Sweet Savior, Harper, Iphones, Chicken, thrift shopping, hamburgers, money. friends, School of Education, passing the Praxis II. }

Bellevue Baptist Church, Ole Miss, dresses, scarves, fingernail polish, my mama and daddy's house, My Altima, Caitlyn, sweet tea, bottled water, running water and indoor plumbing. :)

taking pictures, itunes, music in general, cracker barrel, roomates that makes me laugh, Emily, Alicia, Haley, Ashley Mcgee, Chad, Michelle, Claire, Brittany, Merle.. all my Ole Miss Education friends, ... this could take forever. a good laugh that takes your breath, love stories. blogging

hope that God has an amazing plan for my life. babies, planning and organizing, my purses, planner, GRACE, salvation, hope, ...

The list could go on forever but I will stop for now. Being thankful is a year long process but I am greatful that God makes it even more special on this day.

If I forgot you please know that it wasn't on purpose. Way too many thoughts going through my head.

Shutterfly Pretties.

Oh, Christmas card time makes my heart happy.

Taking the pictures, sharing memories, and letting people know how much they mean to you. Yeah, that's what I love.

Shopping has started, pretty decorations has been put up, it's almost time to start sharing the Christmas story in Sunday school with my little munchkins and NOW we are planning to start celebrating Christmas. :)

Shutterfly has done an amazing thing. They are offering 50 free christmas cards to bloggers who write a special blog about their Christmas products. How cool is that?

I went to shutterfly and my oh my, once again there are soo many to choose from. They really have the CUTEST ideas and I can't wait to show you what The Pattons end up choosing.

We have just recently started doing picture cards and I absolutely love the idea and will continue this idea even with my family one day. Last year we had a simple card with Adam, myself, Missy and Harper. <--- Our furbabies! :)

This year we can't wait to choose from a list of these beauties. http://http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

and these calendars are too much fun to make. I have one hanging in my apartment as we speak. :)

http://http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars

Check it out and get this awesome deal for yourself.

Believe me.. Shutterfly won't let you down!

Thank you Jesus! :)

{Thanksgiving Break, Enough Said}

This has been a crazy week. Break down from School Of Education, computer messing up AGAIN.. and the Praxis II. God bless it, he is faithful. All praises go to him.

My sweet brother let me use his computer, the computer guy hopefully has my computer fixed and IPASSED THE PRAXIS! :) I was up and at um at 6:30 this morning getting ready for that dreaded test. Finally, it's over. I am waiting on the writing part but I honestly feel that I did really well on it.

My furbaby, Harper has been such a good girl this week because she knew that I was stressed and she better stay out of my way. haha

I am also sick, they are treating me as if I have strep but they didn't test me. YUCK! No fun! Thanks kids at school. :)

I went today after my test to the Thanksgiving luncheon at school and my kiddos looked precious. They had made Indian suits out of pillow cases and we had lunch with the pilgrims :)

(pictures when I get my computer back)

I am so glad that I have a week off from school! I plan to:

* SHOP

*Get some important things done.

*Clean out my room at home

*Spend time with friends that I haven't in a while.

#1.. Do what I want and have FUN!

Thank God for all that he has done. He blesses everyday in someway.

Day 16: Dream House

Here are some pictures I have found of houses that I just love. Decorating is a hobby for me and I can't wait to have a house of my own to make my pride and joy

For my first house I want a fixer up. I want to be able to make it my own and something that fits my personality. :)

A red door is a must. I just love them! :)

I love kitchens that are simple and elegant and OPEN! Love it!

{I do not have time to be planning a house right now.. I've got to pack!} haha

This post will be finished .. someday! :)

And.. This house is a house from where I live that actually used to be in my family. I just. love. it!

this picture doesn't do it justice!

It hit me during church!...

Today we had a man in our church preach while our regular pastor was preaching elsewhere. It was a great sermon and his wife sang, "The Anchor Holds" after battling cancer for a good 6 months. It was so inspirational and there weren't many dry eyes in the church!

Bro. David preached on the man that was healed at the pool of Bethesda. The man had not been able to walk for 38 years and had been waiting to be healed but confessed that he had no one to help him into the pool. As much as this broke my heart it also revealed to me something that I had never one thought of. I compared this to me getting my degree in Special Education in order to help those precious kids succeed to their greatest extent. I believe that all kids should have advocates but that Special needs students need advocates to enhance their lives. Many people believe that special needs students are only going to make it to a certain extent and then just be here but I believe that they can have great impacts on this world that we live in.

This passage just reminded me that as a special education teacher I need to be there and help those students when circumstances rise. All students have a chance to succeed but some needs advocates to better their education.

In the end these students will have taught us something even better than what we could teach them! :)

Mark 2: 27-28--- Look it up! :)

A give away! :)

I am blog hopping and wanted to share a cool website that I found. This lady makes incredible jewelry and it is beautiful. :)

I would love to have one of these. HINT HINT! ;)

http://www.blog.therustedchain.com/

Hope you enjoy her website!

Colonel Reb will always be my mascot.

My roomate Emily wrote this article with a little help from yours truly.



Just wanted to share! It's pretty awesome! Hotty Toddy!

EmBEARassment to Ole Miss
Article Thu, 10/14/2010 - 21:49 By Emily Gasson

Now, after eight months of voting and waiting and voting and waiting some more, we are the Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears (like that even makes sense).

Did we really even have a fair chance to begin with? At the beginning of the entire process of selecting an on field mascot, we were asked one question: Do you want to have any student input in the selection of a new Ole Miss mascot?

However, we were not asked the most important question: Do we really even want a on-field mascot? For most of the Ole Miss family, there was an easy question to answer...NO!

This was all a plot created by Chancellor Dan Jones and his little puppet Athletics Director Pete Boone.

They have said how impressed they are by the amount of student support and involvement in this process. How was the majority of our Ole Miss family represented in the selection committee? These were students that were handpicked by the chancellor because they would provide him with the results he wanted.

One of my dear friends said that if she was not an Ole Miss student, she would make fun of our University for being the teddy bears.

Honestly, how many of us have really seen a black bear roaming around Mississippi? For those of us who have lived in this fine state our entire lives, we can testify that the only time we have ever seen a bear has been at the zoo. How is there a connection to Mississippi and our University?

I know that people have said that the connection is through William Faulkner’s story about a bear and President Roosevelt’s hunting trip to Mississippi where he refused to shoot a bear. How is this relevant?

Honestly, if we are going to choose some random animal to represent our school, why not choose a squirrel? We have more than enough on campus. They are really friendly and children love chasing them in the Grove on game day. Why was this not a choice?

If we are really going to have a Black Bear as our mascot, we sure as hell better have a real bear on the field. This would be the only saving grace from this total catastrophe. I want to at least be able to take a picture with a real Black Bear cub like LSU does with a tiger.

Not only are Ole Miss fan’s making fun of our new mascot, but so will the rest of the country.

Some of you may have heard of that farm school roughly two hours away from Ole Miss.

I don’t even want to know what these cow bell ringers are going to say. If you have a Facebook, you will be able to see the backlash of this ridiculous decision.

People are probably wondering who would want to be the person in the bear outfit on game days knowing how badly they are going to be booed. Well I have a really good suggestion. Dan Jones needs to volunteer to be the person in the bear costume to see just how “supportive” the Ole Miss family really is.

I can only imagine the posters that will be made for the game on Saturday. “Beat the stuffing out of those teddy bears.” Do we really need any more embarrassment?

I also want to know about the thousands of Ole Miss fans who have supported a petition for Colonel Reb? Why was this not brought up in the mascot decision? I was one of the 3,500 students who signed this petition, and I am very offended that my voice was not really given a chance to be heard.

Chancellor Jones I want know what are you going to do about all of these students who are not being heard? Do you even care or do we not matter?

Does our administration really believe that people are going to embrace and accept this decision with open arms? Who is really going to purchase Ole Miss merchandise with a bear on it? I personally will not every purchase anything with a bear on it, so I am wondering, who will?

What else is going to be taken away from us? When are Ole Miss fans going to revolt against this administration? I am fed up with all of our so called traditions being taken away from us. I am now embarrassed to say that I am an Ole Miss fan and student.

Well Rebel fans, we are now the Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears, so get your grrrs ready and learn to have a thick skin because we are going to be ridiculed for years and years to come.

What's your opinion on this article? I thought she did a pretty good job of stating the majority of the students stance! :)

Day 15: Favorite Bible Verse

I was blog hopping as I do daily and found this verse which really spoke to me. I have read the Bible since I was little and old enough to but this verse has never been revealed to me.

‎"And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else.

Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there." [1 Cor. 7:17]

Isn't that awesome? God cares enough about us to let us go through hard times, good times and awesome times. He knows exactly what he has planned and how we are going to react to those plans. I have been thinking about a lot of things lately and this verse just clarifies that I need to be focused on what is important and accomplish great things for him.

on to more blogging...

Day 14: A Picture You Love

Hello friends! I am finally getting to catch up on the blog challenge. I've been a horrible blogger lately.


I am obsessed with taking pictures so this can not be one of those one picture posts.

I adore this picture of my cousin Tyler P and I. He's a bundle of fun and I just love him to death. From the day he was born I have been so proud of him and I have loved having a little cousin. I was the baby for 14 years and i'm so glad he took my place for a while! :)

(I love his little bro Justin too but I just don't have many pictures with him!)

Harper Grace was undoubtebly sleepy. She's my precious girl!

Absolutetly loving ALASKA! If you've never been call the travel companies and GO! You will love it. It is beautiful and I had a great, great time.

Probably my favorite picture ever. Sums up my Summer Missions experience. We made this photo in Yellowstone National Park!! :)

I LOVE most of the pictures that I take because I feel like every picture taken is a memory remembered.

Day 13: Goals...

Goals have always been very important to me and even though I may not accomplish them, I do attempt!

• Graduate in May with all A's and B's. :)

• Read my Bible more, and have longer quiet times!

• Find a job close to home but not in my hometown. Time to spread those wings.
  
• lose weight.
• Become that organized person that I used to be.
  
• Be the most creative and friendliest teacher that I can be.

• Have fun every day of my life.
  
• Quit Procrastinating.
  
• dress up more often.
  
• Find my Husband and live happily ever after...

• Have lots of children.

LIVE LIFE LOUD!

This blog challenge is taking me forever. Sorry, school is crazy!

Day 12: What You Believe...

Jesus Christ.

This is a huge part of who I am as a person in this world. He died for me and he rose again so that I might have a chance to live in this world and witness for him and then when I die go to heaven and live with him forever. Could it be any better than that? But, guess what? Do I deserve it, do I treasure it, do I protect and fight for that wonderful sacrifice? NO! If anything I should be going on mission trips all the time, giving all the money in my checkbook for tithe, and telling everyone I come in contact with about my precious savior, but I don't. It's not that I can't or won't it's just that I am lazy and selfish and I put myself before him!

Jesus Christ loves us and wants to bless us more than we could ever imagine for ourselves and yet people like me let him down and treat him like just any other person. But you know what the cool part about that is? He loves us even though! Man, that makes me glad! :)

I try my hardest to live for him, talk about him, and let people know through my life, heart, actions, and words that I love him and want to please him. Let's all try to do that every day and maybe just maybe he will be glorified in our generation of people who seek his face!

I also believe that(not in)...

• there is that special guy out there for me.
• Teaching is what I was made to do.
• Kids are what make me happy and I am so glad that I can work with them every day.
• Oxford is one of my favorite places to be, live, etc..
• blogging is a great way for me to express my feelings and a great stress reliever.
• my friends are the best in the world.
• Decorating is my hobby.
• Harper has been my best purchase. Even though the dog drives me crazy! :)
• Hotty Toddy was the best saying every invented! Go Rebels!
• My family has got to be the best around.

Day 11: Favorite TV shows

Well, I am going to sound like a complete loser right here but I very rarely watch tv. I just don't have time to sit down most days and watch them. I would rather blog, check facebook, and do other things on the internet than watch tv. But.. this was not the case when I was younger and I absolutely adored watching tv. Here were a few of my favs...

I was the BIGGEST fan of this show. :) Love it.

Full House. I watched it everyday after school while I did my homework. Guess how much got done? haha




Saved By The Bell- I watched this every morning before school and I learned lots. This show was possibly my favorite. It still makes me smile every time it comes on! :)

Can I please marry Zach Morris? and.. use his big cellphone?!

I know that most people adore watching tv.. well.. hopefully that bug will hit me one day! :)

Today has been a good day and I am tired. Work was busy and the day was short! That's ok. We have a home game tomorrow and football frenzy is in the air. I'm excited because....

Maggie is coming to OXFORD! :) She'll be a reb in no time! :)

Let's go boys! Beat Auburn! Hotty Toddy!

Day 10: Something that you are afraid of..

As if you can't tell I am wayy behind on my blog challenge.

This weekend was crazy busy but ohhh soo much fun. So here goes.

I am afraid of death. Yes, I am a christian but just the thought of leaving my precious family and going through the dying process just gives me the hibby-jibbies. :(

I know that God has an amazing way of taking care of you through this time but it just scares me of the unknown.

I am also scared of someone breaking into my house. Always have been, always will be. I am very paranoid but I will stay by myself if the need be!

Another biggie is that I am scared that I won't fulfill my life long dream of becoming a wife and mother. I know that most girls think this just happens with time and I believe that God's timing is always right but I want it to hurry up and be revealed to me, you know?

God is in control and this I must believe. :)

Short and sweet. I'm not scared of a lot of things. More blogging to come this week.

Day 9: A picture of your friends.

This one is going to be picture overload. :)

Friends are majorly important in my life and God knew that I needed tons of them to get me through the everyday thing we like to call "life".

This is Caitlyn! We've been friends since the 7th grade. We played(talked and faked) the flute in the high school and junior college days. Hey, it payed the bills and we met some awesome friends in the meantime. She is a strong-headed, stubborn, crazy as a loon friend and even though we fight like sisters I would do anything for this girl.

I'm pretty sure this quote sums up our friendship. Wouldn't you agree ,Caitlyn?

Lane Maxcy- For the sake of Pete this girl keeps me laughing all the time. She is the most laid back and spacy person that I have ever met and I couldn't have her any other way. She loves the Rebels, going to the beach, and exercising. We are completely different but God knew that I would need a ton of new friends at Ole Miss and that's exactly what he gave me! Lane and I went to ICC but we didn't know each other at all. We ended up having a Sped class at Ole Miss together my first semester here and that's where our friendship began.

Oh, Michelle!
21 years and counting.. We've pretty much done anything random and crazy that there is to do in this good world. She's one crazy person. She loves her niece, Mary Michael, riding to the amish, and Memphis trips shopping and Steak N Shake. We have gone to church together for the majority of our lives. Her family is like my 2nd family and "crash" has been through a lot. She has had 3 wrecks and has been hit by the Panty Thief. Stupid boy. We fight a lot and have disagreements but she's pretty cool. :)

Last but definitely not least. Merle and Stanfield!

These two complete my life. They were awesome roomates and sisters for sure. We have a Ton of memories and times when we wanted to kill each other. (Merle- Does an iron and lou lou ring a bell? Love you!) I never get to see them anymore but stanfield will be teaching with me next year and Merle graduates from nursing school is Dec. AHH! We are adults. Love you girls!

Love you all!

Day 8: A Place you have traveled to.

Boy oh boy! This post will be fun. I absolutely LOVE to travel and I have had the awesome opportunities to go on 3 mission trips and some fun trips at that.

I couldn't name just one so here goes pictures and my stories to go along with those places! :)

Alaska

This picture really shows how beautiful the sights were. We spent a week in Anchorage, Alaska, my freshman year of college, for spring break helping the church there show God's love to children and adults alike. I got to see a moose up close and personal and I got to make snow angels in feet of snow. It was amazing. God is great. The church that we worked with was super nice and we got to paint the biggest portion of their church for them which was so appreciative by them! :)

Just a few of the girls that went. We had our own house and boy did I make a ton of new friends on this trip! :)


San Fransisco

This is my friend Amy and I. We spent a week at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary painting their main dorm and ministering to their campus. It was an awesome, very tiring, and special trip. My sophomore year at ICC and my last "Spring Break" Mission trip. We had a great time and I had some pretty awesome roomates on this trip. God provided, blessed, and allowed us to have a great time while working for him. :)

Montana-Summer Missions

I spent the most amazing summer of my life in Montana traveling across the Treasure State Baptist Association doing VBS's, Backyard Bible clubs, Wilderness camps, you name it. It was great. God showed up and showed out and I got to spend the summer with 3 amazing girls. Maggie, Jennifer, and Stephanie. Yes, we had our fights because we spent every waking moment together but we would do anything to see each other now!

Just some of the awesome things I was given the opportunity to do:

White water wrafting

Witness to a guy who had never seen a Bible and I got to share a little bit about what it means.

Rock Climbing(which I hated!)

Going and living in a different home/place every week.

Meeting a LOT of new people.

Teach and be around kids every day!

Jump off of a bridge. (Look at that big sky country)

The End. Can't wait to see where I go next! :)

Day 7: Favorite Movies

Welcome to Day 7. I can't believe that I am being pretty faithful to this challenge. This is good for me. I NEVER have time to watch movies anymore and this makes me sad because i love some curling up in pjs and watching a movie.

Sweet Home Alabama- Isn't this every Southern girl's wish! haha :) Love this movie.

Another one that I just adore. Such a good message! :)

and..

Can't forget The Blind Side. Such a great message and it's made in the best college town in the world, Oxford Mississippi! Hotty Toddy. :)

let's all help someone in need today. What can I do, Lord?

Day 6: Something that makes you happy!

Something that makes me happy!

Harper Grace Patton

She is the sweetest dog in the entire world!!

and...

I couldn't do just one..

jumping pictures. I just love them! This isn't the best undoubtebly! :)

See you tomorrow!

Day 5: My Siblings

Meet the big brother, Adam.

He's a pretty good guy. There is nothing like growing up with a brother who played football for all of your younger years and wearing Orange and Blue cheerleading unforms with Patton's lil sis on the back! :) It was precious! I must say.

Adam never really let me ride to school with him but that's ok because the one day I did was the only day I got a tardy. haha. Thanks Bub! Then there is the time that he threw that baseball and it went straight in my eye. Ouch! Remember that? Thanks again.

Yes, we have a love/hate relationship but more love than hate. Growing up with Adam has been an adventure but one thing I have always appreciated was that he always had my back. I'll never forget my little 4th(maybe) grade self getting in a fight with a boy on the bus and I had to go to the principal's office. Adam walked with me to the office and helped me win my case, lucky for me, the football coach was the principal. haha. Wanna know what the fight was about? The President. hahahaha

Let's just say we've had some great times and some not so well. Now that we are both adults we still fight but we respect each other pretty well. I'll always be little patton to most but to him I'm just terd.

Love you Adam!

It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on! ~Author Unknown

Day 4: My Parents

"Love Many, Trust a Few, and Learn to Paddle Your Own Canoe."

(this is a great motto that they would agree with.)

My Parents..

Donna- My Best Friend, loving, worries about wayyy too much, Jesus loving, supportive MOTHA!

My mother is the most encouraging and self sacrificing lady that I have ever been around. andd.. Guess what? She gets it from that lady in the red up there, Marjorie aka MOM. That's her mother and I guarantee that she would say the exact same thing about her mother. My mother went through a lot when I was born besides giving birth her and my daddy both stayed with me in the hospital until I was well enough to come home! :) She has helped with every prom, ballgame, church function, anything that would help me grow in my social life. I just love this woman!

David- The most HELPFUL daddy in the world. I pretty much have him wrapped around my little finger. He's the best. He loves my mama, which is the best gift that he could ever give me. He always takes care of those "daddy" things in my life such as car issues, money, keeping my BIG brother from killing me.. you know! I could not ask for a more supportive and caring daddy who would do anything in this world for me or my family.

I love you both and I thank God for you! Ya'll will never know how much your support means to me! Now.. just remember I'm almost an adult so try and spoil me as much as you can in these next few months...

:)

Lauren