Favorite Friend Friday

Favorite Friend for this Friday: My husband, Kevin

Kevin and I have been married for 3 years 8 months 18 days today. We have been together for 6 years 4 days today. He is a very good friend to me and I like being his wife! He is also a wonderful father to our daughter, Alexandria "Allie". Kevin is a respiratory therapist at Harris Regional Hospital. He is currently in Nursing school to become "Nurse Kevin". Ha. He will graduate next summer with his nursing degree.

Kevin and I have become very close over the years, but quite honestly I feel like I have come to know a new person over the last few weeks. This past week he has really gone above and beyond for me...and bless his heart...he has worked hard in the process. He can really be such a sweet heart. For example..on Tuesday he knew that I had a doctor's appointment and that I had to work on my final research project that day. He did all that he could to help me out on this day...saying and doing just the right thing.

He called me up after my appt and wanted to take me to lunch...so I did. He then proceeded to go and do laundry while I went home and worked on my paper. When he came home that day he surprised me with a movie that I have grown to love and he knew that I would love to have it for my very own (Walk the Line). Then, that afternoon he just hung out and did his very best not to distract me while I was working on my paper...but at the same time he let me know that if I needed him for anything he was there. He is a sweetie. I have seen the absolute sweetest side to this friend of mine this week...and I love it. He has been so sweet and kind and helpful and loving and patient and awesome and many other wonderful things...I love this man!

He and I, like any other couple, have our ups and downs...but throughout the "downs" we have gotten to know one another better...and we have grown much closer. This past week he has really proven himself to be a wonderful friend and spouse. I have seen a whole new side to this wonderful man that I married and I like it...I guess that it has been more of a sensitive side.

He has been very supportive and helpful as I have been in graduate school and I have seen him become more supportive throughout my stressful times...like right now as I am on the down stretch to the end...

Thanks Kevin for being a great friend to me. I love you!! 143!!

Things I love Thursday

These are a few of the things that I love....

I love my sweet niece, Josey.

She is 11 months younger than Allie.

I love my Alexandria.

She is so darn cute. She and I had the best time last week on our Spring Break.

I love my Kevin.

We have been together for a little over 6 years now...married for almost four years.

I love taking Allie to Chuck E. Cheese.

It is a lot of fun...for both of us!

I love my friends!

Maleah and Lori went out of their way on this day to come to the park with Allie and me.

Maleah took a lot of her own time to play with Allie at the park...Allie adores her playmate Maleah.

Wacky Wednesday

Okay, so, the entry that I am going to post for Wacky Wednesday is not exactly "wacky" but it is different than our normal Wednesday entries...I just have to post it.

So, you see the picture up above? Well, that is the wonderful work of my daughter, Allie. She brings this to me one night this week as I am sleeping...She had gotten up out of bed and decided that she could not sleep so she was going to draw a picture. After she drew the picture she proceeded to come into my bedroom, wake me up and tell me that she created a "mommy and me" picture. I got up with her and checked this cool picture out. My heart just smiled. She proceeded to tell me which one was me (the one on the right) and which one was her (the one on the left). She then told me that I was her best friend. She is so darn cute! I love her artwork...all of the artwork that she creates is so cute and beautiful! I am a little partial...but what do you think? Is that not an adorable picture of "mommy and me"?

Tell All Tuesday

I am changing the perspective of "Tell All" on my end this week. Instead of me telling all about something related to me...I want anyone/everyone reading my blog to respond to what I am questioning...so I am asking you to "Tell All" that you know or feel according to what I am asking...

WHY DO WE HURT THOSE THAT WE LOVE?

I know that we are all only human and because of that we are all going to make mistakes from time to time. Many times the things that we say or due are not done to intentionally hurt those that we love, but sometimes we do things that we KNOW will hurt those that we love and we do it anyway.
Please don't get the wrong idea...I am not writing all of this because I have intentionally hurt someone I love..that is not it at all. I have just recently encountered friends or close loved ones that have either been the victim or the culprit to the action...and I just wonder...why? If the things that we do go against our beliefs and morals, why do we do it...especially if we know that it is going to hurt those that we love so dearly?

Mad Music Monday

Okay, so I know that Sarai's song for last Monday was "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts...but I just have to use it for this week too.
I have ABSOLUTELY loved that song since before it was released. I heard it on their web site before it was released in stores...and fell in love with the song.
When the song was finally released I went to the Wal-Mart web site to download it and was not only able to download it, but I was able to see the music video for it as well. I just cried at the video! I had actually taken the song totally different than what the video was showing...but either way it is sad! But, hey, what is it that Billy Ocean once said in his 80's song..."There'll be sad songs that make you cry...Love songs often do"...so there you have it!

What Hurts The Most by Rascal Flatts

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house,
That don't bother me
I can take a few tears now and then and just let them out
I'm not afraid to cry
Every once in a while
Even though going on with you gone still upsets me
There are days
Every now and again I pretend I'm okay
But that's not what gets me
What hurts the most, was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
Never knowing, what could have been
And not seein that lovin you
Is what I was tryin to do
It's hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go
But I'm doin it
It's hard to force that smile
when I see our old friends and I'm alone
Still harder gettin up, gettin dressed, livin with this regret
But I know if I could do it over
I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart
That I left unspoken
What hurts the most, is being so close
And having so much to say
And watchin you walk away
Never knowing, what could have been
And not seein that lovin you
Is what I was tryin to do
What hurts the most, was being so close
And having so much to say
And watchin you walk away
And never knowing, what could have been
And not seein that lovin you
Is what I was tryin to do

Favorite Friend Friday

Favorite Friend: Brian Pesci

My favorite friend for this week is Brian Pesci. Brian and I became friends when he was an Intern for Lori about 2 years ago. When Brian graduated with his Elementary Education degree in December 2004, he immediately started back to school working on his graduate degree. He and I took classes together in Spring 2005 and Summer 2005. Brian is a very sweet, caring individual. He loves being a teacher...and he is a good one at that (was there ever any doubt since he had Lori as a host teacher!).
Brian and I became great friends as we were suffering together through some of our graduate classes. Brian, being the computer whiz that he is, helped me through the Multimedia class that I had to take last Spring. It was a tough class...but because of Brian being the generous friend that he is, I was given help often and he helped me through the class. There was a small group of us that would meet on Saturdays last Spring to work on the homework that we were assigned in this computer class...and Brian would always show up (sick and all) to help us with our assignment.
Brian and I share a passion in teaching kids each and every day. It is always nice when we can talk with one another about the ups and downs that we see going on within our own classroom. He is always there to listen and offen suggestions when he feels the time is right.
When Brian started teaching (his own classroom) this past fall, we kind of lost touch. But, just like good friends do, we picked up right where it seems that we left off and it is like we never lost touch.
I am so very thankful for the friend that I have in Brian. He has a warm, kind heart and a personality that everyone loves. He is the type of individual that will leave you with pains in your stomach and sides from laughing so much when he is around. He honestly made last Spring and Summer classes much more interesting and entertaining!
Thanks Brian for all that you do! I am honored and thankful to know you!

Things I Love Thursday...

1. That I am almost caught up on two weeks of blogging...please forgive me...I am going to do better!

2. Hallmark Stores - just recently went into the Hallmark store in Bryson City...wow...why have I not ever gone in there before!

3. My New Digital Camera!

4. Precious Moments Figurines- especially the one where the character is in a car and the license plate says "Heaven Bound"...I looked for so long to find this figurine and FINALLY found it....it is stored away with all my other figurines until I get a house with a nice case to store them all in!

Wacky Wednesday TAG

Okay, here we go! Another fun TAG! I tag all of you reading to complete this on your blog! Have fun!

1. What time do you get up in the morning? through the week - 5:30

2. If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?
Joyce Meyer

3. Gold or silver? White Gold

4. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Health Inspector

5. Favorite TV game show? Deal or No Deal

6. What did you have for breakfast today? Cinnamon Roll

7. What would you hate to be left in a room with you? Serial Killer

8. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Um...NO!

9. What inspires you? Real life accounts, conversations with those close to me

10. What's your middle name? Jolene

11. Favourite flower? Carnation

12. If you had a big win in the lottery, how long would you wait to telephone people? hmm....I would let those close to me know immediately!

13. Fizzy or still water as a drink? Still Water

14. What colour is your bathroom? Blue

15. How many keys on your key ring? 5

16. Favourite day of the week? Saturday

17. What did you do for your last birthday? Hmm..not much of anything. It was right after Christmas and it was my last day house sitting for a good friend of mine.

18. Summer or winter? Winter all the way baby!

19. Favorite ice-cream. Moose Tracks

20. Buttered, plain or salted popcorn? Buttered

21. Favorite car? Four Runner

22. Favorite food? The kind I eat at Yoshidas!

23. What characteristics do you despise? DISHONESTY, BEING UNFAITHFUL, TWO-FACED, FAKE

24. Favourite country to spend your holidays? US of A

25. Beach, city or country? I would prefer to live in the city, vacation on the beach, and visit/retire/relax in the country

Tell All Tuesday

Once upon a time...I was a clogger...and I miss it like crazy.

I started clogging when I was very young...like 6 years old. I was living in Metro Atlanta at the time and there were MANY different teams to choose from in the area. The team that I joined was wonderful. I stuck with that team until the time that I moved to the North Ga Mountains. We would perform in competitions (always placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) and shows of all kind. It was such good exercise and it was soooo much fun. When I moved to the North Ga. Mountains, I did not have a team to join so I stopped clogging altogether. I always told myself that one day I would rejoin a team or have one of my own. Well, my first year of teaching I started a team at my school. It was soo much fun and I had many great students that could really get down! Well when I became a mother and a grad student, I did not have the time that I wanted and needed to dedicate to teaching kids how to clog. I wanted to continue clogging..I just did not want to be the instructor! Well, again, I moved to a town where there is no clogging team...and the nearest one that sounds like the kind of team that I would want to join is in Asheville. I think that once I finish up with my graduate degree *3 more weeks* then I will check in to joining the team and even get Allie into clogging too!

Mad Music Monday

I recently watched the movie "Walk the Line" and LOVED it.
I was hooked to the entire movie and would watch it again with the same attention to it. The music that was sang and played through the whole movie was wonderful. I look forward to getting the soundtrack to the movie. I understand that Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon were really singing the songs throughout the movie and in my opinon they did an excellent job. I grew up listening to many of the Johnny Cash songs because my parents liked him. I also grew to like his music because of the rhythm it always had...it was/is wonderful clogging music!

Favorite Friend Friday

My favorite friend Friday is going to have to go out to more than one person because it consists of a family of 3: Reuben, Kim and Raechel Councill

I have been blessed with having this wonderful friendship with each member of the Councill family since the year 2000 when I first started teaching at Fairview Elementary. The way that I became so close with this family is through Lori. Lori was already really close with the Councill family and so when I came along and started teaching with Lori, we all started hanging out and having chick flick night on Tuesdays. It was so much fun. We would all hang out at Kim's every Tuesday night and watch a movie or sometimes we just hung out and talked. The more we all hung out the closer we became. I was only blessed with having these wonderful friends in the same town as me for a year because Kim was going back to school to get her Doctorate. The Councill's moved to Ohio, where Kim worked extremely hard to get her degree...Go Kim! When Kim graduated, she took a job in Pennsylvania...which is where they are still living. Each year on Easter weekend, the Councill's come to Sylva to visit. It is a visit that we all look soooo forward to. We are lucky that things have worked out the past few years for them to be able to come to Sylva and spend this wonderful holiday weekend with us.
Even though there are many miles between us, I still look upon the Councill's as some of the greatest friends that I have EVER had. I love and care for each one of them so much. I know that they are a God send for me and I love them and cherish their friendship-always.

Things I Love...

1. Spring Break

2. Visits with Friends that I have not seen in a long time (I have missed you terribly Kim, Reuben and Raechel!)

3. Trips to Chuck E. Cheese with Allie

4. Reuben Councill's Awesome Ability to make the best coffee ever!

5. Yankee Candles!

Wacky Tag Wednesday

Okay, so, I know that I did this tag last week before I left school on Spring Break! Iknow that I did and now I have no idea why it never posted...but hey, I like doing these things so I do not mind doing it again.....

The Top 5 Things I Must Have in my Refrigerator:
1. Half and Half
2. Milk
3. Water
4. Juice
5. Soda

The Top 5 Things I Must Have in my Closet:
1. Jogging Suits
2. Capris
3. Turtle Necks
4. Anything Old Navy
5. Container of all the cards and letters I have received

The Top 5 Things I Must Have in my Purse:
1. Wallet
2. Keys
3. Inhaler
4. Pen
5. Cell Phone

The Top 5 Things I Must Have in my Car:
1. Decent music
2. Sunglasses
3. Cell Phone
4. Chapstick
5. Gas!

The Top 5 Things I Would Have on TiVo:
1. Gray's Anatomy
2. Deal or No Deal
3. House
4. Without a Trace
5. American Idol

Tell All Tuesday

Well, I guess that the one thing that I will tell today is that I have become the biggest procrastinator ever.
When I was an undergraduate, I NEVER procrastinated. EVER!!!
I was always the one that got the assignment and immediately went and completed the assignment...a.k.a....NERD!
Yes, I guess that is exactly what you could call me.
Well, since I have been in graduate school I have been nothing but a procrastinator...and here it is...about 9 days until my symposium to present my final research project and I have not even completed it much less put together a presentation. Yikes. Also, my spring break is about to be over...and I did not open the project up to even think of completing it.
I know that it will get finished....I know that I will get the paper and the presentation completed...I just don't like the fact that I have become a major procrastinator...what to do????

Mad Music Monday-2 weeks ago

I think that it is very important for everyone to be themselves at all times. It really frustrates me when individuals act a certain way because of the company they are in or because they want to impress others. A song that I truly love and could hear it over and over is True Colors. It has been recorded by Cyndi Lauper and also Phil Collins. As a teacher, one of the many things that I teach my students is to always be yourself...don't say or do something that is out of character for yourself...always be yourself...so for my mad music catch up day I want to use "True Colors".

You with the sad eyes
don't be discouraged oh I realize
it's hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you can make you fell so small
But I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors
are beautiful like a rainbow
Show me a smile
then don't be unhappy,
can't remember when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up because you know I'll be there
And I'll see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful like a rainbow