For those of you who don't know what's been going on with Russ and me lately because of the recent delays between blog posts, no contact from either of us, or just simply because you are too confused...let me fill you in! It's hard to explain really. We are basically living a life of cartoons these days. A young "party of two" enjoying the perks of having no strings attached!

As you know, we sold our house in October. We've been living with my in-laws since July, which has proven to be quite the adventure. Everyone should have that chance once in your life! As for the next few weeks....our life is a cartoon!


The apron business is booming! In fact, my life is currently a whirlwind of threads, fabrics, scissors, ironing, and monogramming! I finally stopped tonight around 11. I LOVE that so many people like my creations! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside! There are orders coming out of places I never knew existed! From people I barely know...and some I know very well. Yay for "Sew Me Oh My!"

Then...

Monday, we will load the boxes up AGAIN and move to our final destination. At least until we find another destination. Ha! Yes, we have found a place of our own! We are actually simplifying life for a while by moving into a cute two-bedroom apartment, and I am so excited! There are several reasons for this. But, you know that a "party of two" doesn't need much and can save lots by doing just this very thing! And, besides, the only thing I'll be responsible for is changing light bulbs! How awesome is that!?

First things first...
One of the hard things lately about not having our own place is wondering about how we will feel at home for the holidays. But, when we move the boxes in...I'm getting the Christmas decorations out! Yes, I am! I'm off next week, and Russ doesn't like to help decorate anyway. I know. A sad tale. Once upon a time, I had visions of sugar plums and decorating with the hubby. But, then reality set in. My hubby is on call, working, and just simply not the least bit interested in helping decorate. Poop! Oh well. I'll play the Christmas music or put on the latest ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas show and decorate myself. I might even throw in a little hot chocolate while I'm at it!

The next day...

I will drive down to Jackson to spend Thanksgiving with my side of the family. Russ and I have hosted Thanksgiving for the last five years. Now that we have moved, I'm passing the torch on to my sister and her new hubby. It's a fun affair to say the least. We will all stay in their apartment, have brunch with one side of the family and dinner with the other side. We will settle in for a nice night's sleep....or not...because Black Friday comes early!
Friday morning, we will leave the apartment around 4 AM so that we can stand in line with all the crazies that dare attempt to shop for great deals on this crazy day! Yep. We'll be there. Always are. And, I hope we never find it "too stressful!" It's just fun! I didn't even buy anything last year. I just enjoyed watching everyone! I'm thinking football paint on our face this year. I saw that last year, and it was too cute! Ha!

The next day...


I'll travel north to Corinth for Thanksgiving with the Johnson side of the family. Russ has to work this day (and Thanksgiving Day), but we are hoping he will get off in time for supper. Things aren't for certain yet, but I'll be there to represent. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my hubby to join us!

Two days later...

It's back to work as normal. By the way, for those of you who don't know, I am working at the new elementary school as an interventionist three days a week. I. LOVE. IT! Just so you know! It's teaching minus stress. It's a great way to keep me in the schools while we transition our lives from this crazy move! Ha!

A few days after this...
The Smith clan is setting sail on our cruise! Yes, we are! We are very excited! I'm sure this will serve as a great rest time for Russ and me after such a crazy couple of weeks. It will also be a great way to spend my birthday (which is creeping closer and closer to 30 each year!). We will say Bon Voyage and probably not blog at all! Or is it you that are supposed to tell us Bon Voyage?? Well, anyway. You get the idea!

Once we return...
Russ and I will enjoy each other! We will enjoy our new "home." We will begin the Christmas season with just us...this "party of two." And we are so thankful!

First Annual Merry Mansel MIstletoe

Last week, Jenny hosted the first annual Merry Mansel Mistletoe at her home. Of course, I brought along my aprons! She had some stockings and aprons made as well. She also had her pottery on display along with a Christmas tree full of handmade ornaments. Thirty-one Gifts was there to take orders, and our nieces brought their crocheted and hand-sewn items. There was much to browse as we sipped spiced tea and ate homemade brownies! Take a look at what we all made...

How do you like my display? I was quite proud of my "Dollar World" arrangement with the wooden spoons. I thought it was a nice touch anyway! Ha!

When I got the pictures printed off, the lady almost wouldn't let me take them home because she thought they were professional photos! Ha! Russ was so proud!

I also brought along about six of my full aprons and ended the evening with about six more orders. They are SO cute and even cuter ON!

Jenny's cross pottery was a big hit as well!

Her poor Christmas tree was nearly bare by the end of the night! Cute ornaments and a great price for teacher gifts.

I loved the stockings. There are still several of these left. We monogrammed names on these as well.

And, in case you wanted to see the assortment...

We saved the kitchen table for Olivia, Julie, and Leah's handiwork. Look at these cute owl purses. I can say that the owl items were first to go. I think there are still one or two owl purses left. I'm not sure.

Julie sat and crocheted at her table. Busy working on another masterpiece!

Look at all these detailed animals! I was SO impressed! Great work girls!

Leah even brought a bag she appliqued all by herself! Olivia helped her line the inside. But, other than that, it was all LEAH!

Grace sold some of her handmade items as well. She was so proud!

Not everyone was as excited as us girls! This is how Sam felt about all these goodies...

We had a great night! If you are interested in seeing what is still available. Jenny still has her things out. My aprons are on display at my parents' house. A couple of my full aprons are at Jenny's still. Thanks to everyone who came out to support us! We had a great night!

Her Future Plans Are...

Last night I went to see our high school's annual Beauty Revue. Our beauty review is a little different from most places. It is only for seniors. This is an event that is special for our senior girls...if they want to participate, of course.

I enjoy beauty reviews like many women. I have my list of names and pen ready to begin numbering, starring, and picking my finalists.

I enjoy this particular beauty review experience because of the information shared on each young lady. Of course, they list the activities, clubs, church activities, and community service that each girl is involved in. Then, they talk about the adult who had the biggest influence on them as a person. Those are always sweet. The last thing that the MC talks about is each young lady's future plans.

Isn't that funny how we, as girls especially, plan everything out. I laughed...sometimes out loud...as I listened to each young girl's perfect plan for their future. Let me see if I can remember some:

• Graduate from college, go to college at a major university majoring in [whatever], marrying the man of her dreams, having three kids, and become a buyer for a major high end department store like Saks Fifth Avenue.
• Graduate from college with a bachelor's in [whatever], marrying her high school sweetheart, and having two children who play tennis or football at Ole Miss.
• Graduate from high school, attend college in a big city with a great public transportation system or marrying a rich man and having a chauffeur.
  

Do you see why I laughed? I know that your senior year is the best time to have a dream and GO FOR IT! You must have a plan. Something to strive for. It is fun, however, for me to look back at my senior year and think about my future plans.

Have you noticed how we always say I plan to... We never really stopped to consider what HIS plans were. Of course, the one comment that kept sticking out to me was "marry the man of her dreams and have 2.5 kids." I think about how that plan really may not be His plan. I certainly had MY plans. I planned to have 2 children by now. I planned to be a stay-at-home mom by now. I planned lots of things that just never happened. Although I was sad to see those dreams, or plans, come and go...I am anxiously awaiting His plan.

I just finished talking with my mother-in-law about this tonight. She has struggled with some health issues and we discussed this. As the conversation ended, she stated that she prays for healing and relief. I asked her this strong question..."What if that does not happen? What if His plan is different from ours?" I only asked this question because I have dealt with this question myself, and I must say that it hurts to think about.

In all reality, God does not owe us ANYTHING! We owe Him EVERYTHING! He gave His only son so that we may live forever. So that we may not experience eternal death. All we have to do is accept His gift and ask Him to come into our lives. So, although I want more than anything else to have children and to be a stay-at-home mother, this may not be His plan. And although we all want complete healing for my mother-in-law, it may not happen. We must realize that He knows best. He knows our yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. He has a plan and it is more than we could possibly imagine. (Eph. 3:20) We need to give it up! Give our lives over to Him and let Him take control. Trust Him with our lives. Our prayers might need to change from asking Him to fix things to asking Him how He wants to use us today. How can we use our current situation to bless others or show others to Him.

I think about precious friends, family members, and church members who have struggled though unimaginable difficulties, pain, and suffering. I think about how they pointed us to Him with each struggle, each pain, each difficulty. When they were down, they picked someone else up. When they were in pain, they helped others heal by their faithful example. When their struggle seemed lonely, they were surrounded by those who were touched by their example.

How will others remember you? What does your life show others about Him?

When your plans don't work out....

Take a look at us...not living our "planned life." Living HIS planned life!

What will you do with your circumstances? How will you use what the Lord has given you to serve Him, give Him the glory, and point others to Him?

Jeremiah 29:11 says,

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

MSU vs. KY

Once again, this family headed south to Starkvegas for some good ole SEC football! This was a big game for us. You see, we've been put in the rankings. Simple as that. Some of you may be thinking, "So what? Isn't it more important what NUMBER rank you are?" No! If you are a State fan, you understand that it is simply unheard of to be RANKED! Much less be ranked #21! So, coming into this game as the #21 team, we were feeling the pressure. The pressure to MOVE ON UP!

But, first things first! Tailgating!

Mama and Sherra

We took our normal spots beneath our four tents, grilled out, and enjoyed the company of our regular group.

Daddy and Rickey grilling burgers and hot dogs

Hoping for a victory, we happily relaxed as we welcomed visitors throughout the day to visit, eat, and take a seat to enjoy more college football on the TV.

The hubs

I used to say that tailgating was the best part of football season. You can see why, I'm sure! It is always a time for friends to get together from all over the state to celebrate one single love....Mississippi State football!

Vicki, Mama, Sherra, Lauren

Kristin, me, and Season

Dustin and Mary

Ryan, Season, me, and Russ

Lee and Rhonda

Russ, me, Becca, and Adam

Then, there is the Dawg Walk. That's pretty high up there this year. It has been fun welcoming this hard working, winning, sold out, and RANKED team and coaches!

Sisters and their cowbells!

Then, we come back to what USED to be the best part of MSU football...the tailgate! We visit some more, watch more football on TV, and eat more food! We laugh more, watch fans pass by, and anxiously await kickoff!

Phil and Ricky

Allison and Mary

More friends...

Finally, it's game time. Now, let me speak for myself when I say that NOW....NOW that we are playing football with a few "W's" under our belt and a number preceding our name on the ESPN score bar....NOW that we are proud, unified, and pushing forward and movin' up....NOW the actual football game is just as much fun as the tailgating! I'd go with the word AWESOME, ENERGETIC, and LOUD! I love it!!

This week, "Dan the Man" spoke before the game to encourage all our fans to ring responsibly. I must tell you that WE DID A PHENOMENAL job ringing only when prompted. I'm thinking we won't be fined after all! Ha!

Coach Mullen speaking to the students

But, when it was time to ring...we RANG! Mama thought this through as she brought one glove for her ringing hand. This is to avoid blisters, in case you weren't sure. Ha!

Mama and her cowbell glove

Yes, we were excited! We were ready! Oh...and it was Halloween weekend as well. I guess you could say Daddy was ready!

Bully and Mama

The game was incredible. It was close and action packed! I'd even go as far as to say that "Bully" got a little nervous...

But, all in all...we ended with a WIN! And that's what matters!

The fans were unbelievable! Everyone stayed until the end ringing their cowbells unrestrained. The team celebrated. The coach threw his cap into the student section. We were PROUD!

Yep...we're movin' on up AGAIN! Up to #20 this week in the BCS rankings! Can we say BOWL GAME?! Yes we can!

Go Dawgs!