30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 21

- Day 21 - A Picture of ME -

Kinda keeping with the Halloween theme here and posting this picture of me from Halloween 2009. Funny story about this picture, it was taken in the dark in the women's bathroom at work!! That is the only place that we could get the flash to reflect off my "sparkles" cause you know, the BEST vamps always sparkle!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 20

- Day 20 - Nicknames -

Nothing to exciting here, only nickname that I have ever had has been Steph or Stephie.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 19

- Day 19 - Something that I miss -

Many of you know that my daughter Addison was a twin and that Avery Grace went to be with Jesus shortly after she was born. I think of Avery Grace every day, but since the girls were twins, I get to see Avery Grace each time I lay my eyes on Addison.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 18

- Day 18 - Something that I regret -

This is a tough one for me because I believe that life has no regrets, only lessons learned. If I had to go back and do something over again it would be that I would have finished college the FIRST time around. I attended college straight out of high school but my life took another road and I never graduated. Flash forward TEN YEARS later and now I am almost a college graduate who has applied myself this go around. I do regret that I did not finish earlier because I would be teaching in the classroom right now, but I also believe that God has a plan for my life and I am along for the ride!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 17

- Day 17 - Something I am looking forward to -

I am looking forward to student teaching in January!! I have been working and going to school at night since Oct. of 2007. I am very excited about getting in the classroom and applying all of the knowledge that I have learned in my classes these past few months.

I have felt a case of the "nerves" creep up on me here and there the past few weeks because I honestly cannot believe that I am about to become a teacher!! I have wanted this for ten years and I have FINALLY completed that goal!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 16

- Day 16 - Dream House -

The Cullen Residence

(along with The Cullen's inside would be amazing!!)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 15

- Day 15 - Bible Verse -

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 14

- Day 14 - A Picture That I Love -

I took this at Addison's first trip to the Children's Museum of Memphis. I just love the pigtails and the smile on her face!! I am so ready to kiss that face - she has been out of town with my parents this week and I am missing her something TERRIBLE!!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 12

- Day 12 - What I Believe -

I believe that....

- with Christ NOTHING is impossible

- miracles do happen

- I can do anything that I really put my mind too

- mascara is one of the best inventions ever

- teaching is going to be such a rewarding profession

- my husband is one of the best men around

- I will see my daughter Avery Grace again one day

- God's grace is sufficient

- it is extremely important to find comfortable shoes!

- vampires are mysterious

- I am blessed with an amazing family

- that life is not about waiting for storms to pass, it is about dancing in the rain!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 11

- Day 11 - My Favorite T.V. Shows -

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 10

- Day 10 - Something That I Am Afraid Of -

This is will be a VERY short post - I am very very scared of ventriloquist dummies!! I remember walking in on my Mom and my Aunt watching the movie, "Magic" when I was a kid and I have been terrified of them ever since!!

CREEPY CREEPY CREEPY!!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 9

How ridiculous is it that I am almost THREE days behind on my 30 day blog challenge!! When ya get up at 6am and do not get home til 10pm, some days its just impossible to blog! However, I said I was going to do this challenge and well, I am NOT a quitter! :)

- Day 9 - My Friends -

I am blessed with so many close friends - I am going to try to give a quick "shout out" to all of them real quick.

Malorie - Where do I start? Your friendship is such a God send! You know how to make me laugh when I need it and have been such a support this past year as we complete our college degrees!! Classes would NOT have been the same without you and I look forward to growing together as we start our teaching careers!! I love you so!!

Marlana and Tina - My life has become so busy that we do not get to see each other that much, but thank goodness for texting!! I love you both and you will ALWAYS be two of my best friends!! P.S. - Tina, do NOT answer any phone calls about flip flops!!

CloseTRAK girls and Mel (you will always be a CloseTRAK girl) - You girls ROCK, I love that we are not only co-workers but we have become such close friends that we can talk to, laugh with and occasionally cry with. I love having such a support system with you girls and the encouragement you have all given me as I was finishing up school. I thank you all for your kind words but most of all, I thank you for making me smile each day!

Karen - Thank you for your listening ear!! I love that if I ever have a question that I can call you for your advice. You were my angel when Addison was in the NICU - such an awesome support, I love that God has allowed us to be such close, close friends over all these years!

Angela - Thank YOU for allowing me to be a part of your journey with baby Grace. I hate that you had to go through the stress and the trauma of such a rocky pregnancy but I love that God put you back in my life after almost 20 years. I look forward to watching Grace grow and see the amazing things that God is going to do in her life. I love you so!

My RICK girls - Can you believe that it has been TEN years since we have started this amazing ride?? What memories we have shared!! The sleepless nights, the concerts, the road trips, the pictures, and THE Rockgod!! :) You girls have been such a BRIGHT spot in my life - stories that I will tell for years and years. I love that I have a group of girls who share my crazy adoration for Rick Springfield.

MOPS girls - I am so blessed to have a group like you at church. I love the friendships that have started to bloom and look forward to getting to know all of you and your families as we all conquer this journey of Motherhood!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 8

- Day 8 - A place I have traveled -

I have to tell everyone that I am so envious of everyone's old pictures of themselves at various travel destinations. I have so many film pics that I need to put onto discs so that I can share them on my blog. I did not really go "digital" until we had Addison and even then I still printed all my pics and did not store them on a computer. Since then I have learned my lesson and I now have over 5000 pictures on my laptop!! Sadly, once we had Addison we stopped traveling and just took our FIRST family vacation in 5 years this past summer!!

Don't get me wrong though, I have been able to visit some wonderful places in my life. Here are my top favorites that I would love to visit again someday!

New York City

Las Vegas

Atlantic City

** I do NOT enjoy gambling but I have seen some amazing shows in Vegas and Atlantic City**

Belize

The Grand Canyon

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 7

- Day 7: Favorite Movies -

I have really enjoyed this blog challenge - I love having the set topics to blog about each day!! I have also had such a good time reading the other bloggers posts who are participating in the challenge. I could post my top ten favorite movies, but I will spare you and just post my top five.

(These are not in any particular order.)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 6

- Day 6 - A picture that makes me happy -

A picture of my miracle Addison who weighed 1 lb. and 11 oz. at birth.

She is now a perfectly healthy five year old and lights up our lives every single day!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 - My Siblings

I do have a younger brother named Kirk, he and his wife live in North Carolina. Kirk is an extremely talented artist who creates beautiful pictures on canvas, you can check out his website HERE. Unfortunately, our busy lives have gotten in the way and we do not talk as much as I would like for us too. When we were kids we were into some of the same pop culture kinda things and were always laughing about the latest comedy movie that was out on the silver screen. Kirk has always been one who could quote line for line an entire movie and will keep you constantly laughing. I miss my brother and his wife and hopefully we can all reconnect soon!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 4

Day 4 - My Parents

I do not know if I have words in me to express how much I love and admire my parents. They are both not only my mom and dad but two of my best friends. I make it a point to talk to them each and every day - I love that the older I get the closer my parents and I become. I hope and pray that my girls feel the same way about Shawn and I as I do about my parents.

When I was growing up my dad was an avid fisherman but a few years ago he sold the boat and bought a Harley! He and Mom take off riding almost every weekend, I love that they still spend good quality time with each other even after many years of marriage.

Mom and Dad - thank you for being such Godly parents and I appreciate you both more than you will ever know! XOXO

30 day Blog Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 - First LOVE

My first love is and will always be my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

However, my earthly first love is my husband Shawn. We were married six years this past August and he is my rock. We have had our ups and downs, but what marriage hasn't? He knows when to make me laugh, knows how to comfort me when I am down and most of all he loves me for who I am!! Shawn, if you are reading this I love you with all of my heart and I do not tell you enough how much I appreciate all that you do for the girls and I.

Now - we ALL know that I have had my "first love" celebs too...

1. - Rick Springfield I have loved and adored since 1981!!

2. Davy Jones from The Monkees - when I was in high school The Monkees TV show was on Nick at Night, needless to say I taped every episode and watched them many many times!!

3. New Kids On The Block

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 - Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

For as long as I can remember I have always loved music. My aunt has told stories of me being very young and always remembering every lyric to songs that I heard only once or twice. I decided to start blogging after I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a few years ago, it was easy for me to update my progress here on a blog for friends and family to read. As I was going through my thyroid removal surgery and even before then with my troubled pregnancy, music and lyrics were my escape. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard God speak to me through a contemporary Christian song or how many times I will hear a song that will spark a wonderful memory/moment in my life. Even though my blog is not put to music, these words that I type are my life's lyrics.

Ready, Set, BLOG....

(me and my daughter Addison)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 1

So today's topic for the blog challenge schedule is to introduce myself and tell 15 interesting facts about me.

My name is Stephanie and I am a wife, mommy, employee, student and child of God. I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and now live in Bartlett, Tennessee. I have been married to Shawn for six years and we have a five year old daughter named Addison, a fifteen year old step-daughter named Jena and we have Addison's twin sister Avery Grace who went to be with Jesus shortly after birth. I have had some major trials in the past six years of my life but I have not given up and have not stopped looking up to the One who has helped me through the stormy times. I started blogging so that I can eventually print these posts out and make them into a book for Jena and Addison someday. I hope they enjoy having these silly rants and babbling that I do from time to time for years to come.

Okay, so on to the 15 facts about ME!

(if you have read my blog for any length of time, you might know some of these already)

1. I am currently in school to become a teacher and will FINALLY student teach in January of 2011!!

2. I LOVE Mascara and have physically injured myself with the mascara wand more than once!

3. I cannot drink from a "glass" glass. I have to drink from a plastic cup or have a straw to drink from a glass.

4. I adore Rick Springfield and have seen him live in concert over 60 times.

5. My daughter Addison was born 15 weeks early and weighed 1lb 11oz at birth.

6. I am a music lover and enjoy MOST music. :)

7. Yes, I am one of THOSE moms - I love all things Twilight and or vampires!

8. I have recently attended several painting classes and enjoyed each and every one!

9. I said that I would NEVER own and iPhone, and now it is my favorite gadget!

10. I currently have a 4.0 GPA and have worked very hard to achieve it!!

11. My parents are two of my very best friends.

12. I am a night owl - I could easily stay up all night and sleep all day.

13. I will admit that I am a reality show junkie - especially the shows that are about celebrities.

14. I love all things Titanic

15. I could not get through each and every day without the grace and mercy given to me by Jesus Christ. He has shown me that with Him nothing is impossible.

30 Day Blog Challenge

So it has been over two weeks since I have even had the time to THINK about posting on my blog. I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs tonight and I came across a post about a 30 Day Blog Challenge. This is the PERFECT thing to help me get back into the groove of regular blog posts.

Stay tuned - here is the schedule in case anyone else wants to join in on the 30 days of fun!!

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3-Your first love

Day 4-Your parents

Day 5-Your siblings

Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7-Favorite movies

Day 8-A place you've traveled to

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Day 10-Something you're afraid of

Day 11-Favorite tv shows

Day 12-What you believe

Day 13-Goals

Day 14-A picture you love

Day 15-Bible verse

Day 16-Dream house

Day 17-Something you're looking forward to

Day 18-Something you regret

Day 19-Something you miss

Day 20-Nicknames

Day 21-Picture of yourself

Day 22-Favorite city

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Day 24-Something you've learned

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26-Picture of your family

Day 27-Pets

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Day 29-3 Wishes

Day 30-a picture