Liebster Blog Award

Thank you so much Wendy for nominating me. Wendy has a wonderful blog that you can view here.

The rules, should you be nominated:

1. If you were nominated, post 11 things about yourselves.
2. Then answer the 11 questions the person who nominated you created.
3. Create 11 more questions to ask the bloggers you decided to nominate.
4. Choose 11 bloggers to nominate with less than 200 followers.
5. Make sure and let these people know you nominated them! No tag backs, so don't nominate someone who nominated you.

11 things about myself:

1) I am a VERY shy person. It takes me forever to warm up to people, but once I do I am a huge talker. Most people think I am a snob because I rarely talk and don't make eye contact and those type of things...I seriously need to work on this lol.

2.) I absolutely LOVE going to the beach. There are days I wish I lived on the beach

3.) I get the Christmas spirit by October and generally listen to non stop Christmas music from October through the New Year.

4.) I am a child of God and He is constantly showing me things. This year I have really focused on getting my faith back like it was when I first got saved. I have also been humbled quit a bit this year.

5.) I am a single mom to my three year old daughter Maddy. She is truly a gift from God.

6.) I am a weather geek. I enjoy keeping up with it and try to predict bad weather on my own, but I need a lot more practice.

7.) I play the flute. I started playing in middle school, midway through my seventh grade year. I started out on clarinet but my band teacher at the time didn't have time to work with anybody but the percussion. I needed help on fingerings, so I switched to flute so my mom could help me when my band teacher couldn't. We are the flute section at our church.

8.) I love to scrapbook, but generally don't have the time nor money to devote to it. I have started Maddy's scrapbook, but haven't gotten very far.

9.) I like to work out...I actually love it...it's just the time issue in actually doing it. I pretty much work 24/7 so by the time I'm off of work I either have the choice of working out, cleaning up, cleaning myself, or bed.

10.) I have high hopes of ONE day being able to own and operate my own daycare. I have a lot of opinions when it comes to daycare and how they should be run. I want to make my facility the best, or what I consider to be the best, but work with parents on the financial piece of it...daycare's today cost WAY too much.

11.) I love pretty much anything with hearts on it. I can't explain my fascination with hearts, but they are special to me. I actually have a heart shaped freckle on my knee. Needless to say I LOVE the liebster blog award lol.

11 Questions for Wendy's Nominees

1. What do you struggle with right now?
I have been really struggling with worry. I am a true worry wart even though we aren't supposed to. God has been trying to show me how He can provide for me if I just trust in Him, but that devil knows right where to get me. 
2. What's your favorite comfort food?
Well, mine is more of a beverage. For stress I go for mello yello, but my so called comfort food would be a cappuccinno blast from baskin robbins. My favorite food would be a variety lol...Olive Garden is pretty high up there.
3. What can you do really well that's unusual?
I'm very good at messing things up lol. This is a tough one. There aren't many things I consider myself to do really well...the only thing I am somewhat confident in is being a good mom. Maybe playing the flute??? 
4. What can you cook that everyone absolutely loves?
I'm fairly new to cooking all the time. I haven't cooked for people yet, other than Maddy. I did find a recipe on Pinterest that is just amazing and that is Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili....I HIGHLY recommend that recipe :)
5. What inspires you?
My daughter Maddy
6. What do you see yourself doing in ten years?
I'm really hoping I will be in a profession that I am passionate about such as daycare. I have a heart for the children and helping them see just how special they are...especially in the eyes of the Lord. I will also be crying over Maddy being a teenager lol
7. What's the best advice you've ever been given?
To pray about everything and trust in the Lord. 
8. What one word do you think describes you best?
shy
9. What is your best feature?
I'm really not sure. I think it's my heart. I  sincerely care for people and would do whatever I could to help. 
10. What's your favorite time of the day and why?
The end of they day when I'm rocking Maddy. We have some of the best moments when we rock. In fact she brought tears to my eyes last night because she had me fold my hands in prayer and she took it upon herself to pray my toe would feel better...that really touched me and is something I will NEVER forget. I was one proud mom!
11. Where is your favorite vacation spot?
For now Panama City Beach, Florida

11 Questions For My Nominees:
1.) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
2.) What if you favorite TV show?
3.) Do you have a favorite type of car?
4.) Has 2012 been a good year for you?
5.) Favorite nonalcoholic drink?
6.) Favorite fast food restaurant?
7.) Favorite dine in restaurant?
8.) Favorite recipe?
9.) How do you cope with stress?
10.) What made you start blogging?
11.) Favorite time of year?

I don't know 11 blogs to nominate and most of the people I know have already been nominated. I may have to add to this a little at a time. I am tagging:

1.) Amy at All About Us
2.) Rachael at The Lewis Family

God Provides

This has been a very strange week for me. I would never imagine a broken toe could cause THIS much pain. The pain level has actually made me very nauseous all week. Yesterday/this morning was the worse. I didn't get much sleep last night. I fell asleep around midnight and woke up at 2 a.m. in excruciating pain. I decided to go ahead and take a pain pill and hoped I would be able to get up. I went back to bed around 3 and then was up at 7 and the pain had returned. Having a broken bone is no joke. I knew this wasn't going to be a good week, but it's nothing like I thought and in a way I'm kind of glad. I do NOT like having a broken toe. I find myself trying to hurry around the house like I normally do, but I just can't walk fast at all. I had our meals all planned out and was only able to cook one of them. I haven't been able to clean. I haven't been able to do much of anything. The reason I haven't been able to do these things is not because I'm physically unable to, but because I have been so sick and it has absolutely exhausted me. I am on constant overtime so I decided I needed to get as much sleep as I could and worry about the household chores over the weekend. I hadn't really stopped to think about how God has provided for me this week until recently. God is so good and cares about our needs and wants. Here is how God has provided: The only doctor I would see did not have any openings until November 7. I refused to go to anybody else. By Wednesday I felt so sick that my hands were tingling and I just felt weird and I got a little worried, so I tried going to my PCP but it was her off day. I had to see another doctor in the group and it was a huge mistake. He was a royal booty head. The first doctor that didn't have any openings would have given me an orthotic shoe to wear and would have taped my toe up and probably would have x-rayed it to make sure it was ok. My mom had unfortunately broken her toe 2 years ago so she still had her shoe. She found the tape at a drugstore to tape me up with and she also had crutches I could use. My mom helped me bathe Maddy because there was no way I could. She also picked up dinner for Maddy and me. My mom picked up Maddy for me Wednesday and took her to church and then brought her home. She also fed Maddy for me. I had forgotten that a pizza place called Papa Murphy's was going to be at Maddy's school giving out one free pizza to each family. The day I needed a meal the most is the day it was our turn for a pizza. I was telling my mom how God had just really provided for me this week and I was so thankful and she added that not only did God provide me food but He gave it with a smile. The pizza was in the shape of a pumpkin and they put a smiley face on it.

 I mean how cool is that. My mom came over tonight to help me bathe Maddy again and she brought over some dinner for us that will be great for tomorrow. I've been a little worried over what I'm going to feed Maddy, but God has just taken care of it all. I am so thankful my mom has been so willing to help. Bless her heart she has gone back and forth so much for me, but I truly appreciate her help.

Broken

Yesterday I gave Manny a bath, which he absolutely detests. Instead of drying him off some in the tub like I normally do, I just let him go wild lol. This was my first mistake. I wasn't really thinking about how much water he could really "shake" off of him, but it was a huge puddle in my bathroom. I was wiping it up with a towel and somehow managed to slam my foot into the corner of my bathroom cabinet. It was definitely painful and I had to hold back a tear or two because Maddy was in there with me. She asked me what happened and I told her I had a boo boo. I went on about my day as usual. At some point I even put on my tennis shoes. I noticed as the day went on my foot or toe started hurting more and more. After I washed Maddy I went and sat on the couch and realized I may have actually broken my toe earlier. After putting Maddy to bed I was in some intense pain. My mom has broken her toe so of coarse I called her asking what I could do. Tylenol is about all there is for now. Today it hurts so bad. It's discolored and just blah. It's the kind of pain that can make you feel nauseous. I have to drive with cold air blasting and spearmint gum in my mouth. On my way to get Maddy from school this afternoon I felt so sick. I found a way I could drive without it killing me. Yes, I did manage to put on a shoe...I actually sleep in my shoe because it puts pressure where I need it, but I also know it probably is squeezing my toe all at the same time.  Please know that I was stopped when I took this picture and I would not have driven like this had it not been safe or had it altered my driving abilities :)

Luckily for me it's the toe next to my pinky toe, otherwise, I don't think I would be able to put a shoe on. I did take my shoe off today to shoe my mom and to try out her boot from when she broke her toe, but it just wasn't enough support. It's the strangest feeling...yes, it hurts pretty darn bad but when my shoe comes off it just feels like it has a mind of it's own and will twitch and just feels weird. I'm contemplating going to the doctor to get my own boot but I'm scared of the pain they may inflict lol.

As the day goes on I find myself not able to cope with the pain as well. I'm not able to keep my emotions under control. As I was taking Manny out for the night I found myself listing all the things in my head that I need to be doing and with a broke toe I can't really do because the more I'm up the more pain it causes, plus it has exhausted me having to walk the way I do. My thinking started to turn into complaining and before it got too far I heard God tell me that this time was to be used to spend with Him. When I heard Him I immediately realized that even though I'm in physical pain, I needed to thank Him.  I needed to thank Him for showing me a positive in a negative situation. I needed to thank Him for being here with me as He always is. Thank Him for giving me extra time to spend with Him. The things I need to do can wait or they just aren't THAT important. God knows how busy my life is. No, He didn't cause me to break my toe, but He did allow it  and I know He allowed it so I could put my focus where it needed to be. I wanted to journal this because I do feel like I am gearing up for a hard battle. I don't know what lies ahead of me but God does. 

I watched a movie tonight that just really inspired me and I think it was based on a true story. I found it on Netflix and it's called A Greater Yes. I highly recommend this movie. One line I took away from it goes as follows (or similarly) "When God says no maybe it's because there is a greater yes in the future."  I want to write this down and next time God tells me no remember that there is a greater yes somewhere down the line. Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite verse in the bible...For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper...not harm you...no, I don't always do a great job of remembering that no matter what I go through God has a great plan for me, but when I'm able to stop and calm down this verse is just so comforting to me. I feel like I'm not making sense at all, but in my own head I am lol. This movie just hit on what I feel like I am really fixing to be tested on...always having faith no matter what our circumstances are. 

Goodbye Weekend

It's that time again...the time where we say goodbye to the weekend and hello to the week :( I feel like I'm in for a really rough week and that kinda scares me. I have been trying to pray up for this week, but I haven't done too good.

This weekend was a Mommy and Maddy weekend. We woke up early...ok late Saturday morning and got ready for the day. I originally planned on going straight outside when we woke up, but it was WAY too cold for me. I let Maddy watch tv while I got coupons ready for the store. Maddy decided she wanted to help me organize...she did a great job!

After we were all ready we went to the gas station to get mommy coffee (french vanilla cappuccino) and Maddy some juice and candy. After we got our goodies we headed up to my mom's house to let her dog out for her. My mom and step dad took off early Saturday morning to Knoxville for the Tennessee/Alabama game. My mom is a TN fan, but my step dad is an AL fan. My mom surprised my step dad with the tickets for his birthday. They had a lot of fun and got to experience the whole package. Next year we may be heading down to Tuscaloosa for the TN/AL showdown...it all depends on how Maddy is by that time.

my mom's cute decorations :)

After letting Misty out we headed back home for nonstop play time. We went back and forth from her swing to her glider back to her swing back to her glider and every now and then go down the slide. Her picnic table got put together this weekend as well, so she now has ALL of her swing set put together. After we played outside we had to go to the store and then let Misty out one more time. We didn't make it back home to see the kick off, which was at 7:45 but we did get to see from the 2nd quarter on. I told Maddy that's where her Nana and Pops were and from that point on she was very interested in watching the game. She got her baby and put her right beside her and then sat down next to me and watched. I was surprised at how long her attention span was. She kept asking me what happened. I started cheering the first time and she asked what I was doing. I told her the Vols scored. The next time I started clapping she turned around and asked me if they scored...it was so cute. We never got to see my mom and step dad on tv.

she was looking for Nana and Pops/watching the game

We had a very powerful church service this morning. Our pastor's prayer had me so ready for the skies to open up and see Jesus' face calling us home. Jesus is coming back for us one day. We don't know the time, day, or hour but we do know He's coming back. I am beyond ready for that day to come. My pastor also got me to thinking. He was talking about when the rapture happens...gave a scenario of your colleague coming to talk to you and they see nothing but your clothes. They wonder what happened to you then figured it out and said I wished you would have told me. I don't want anyone who comes in contact with me to have to say that same thing. I have really missed our church these past six years...it is such a blessing to be back :)

I hope you all had a great weekend and have a great day!

Football Friday

Today Maddy's school had football Friday. They decorate the foyer in TN and AL colors and have balloons and signs...it's really so very neat to walk in to. Obviously Maddy was dressed in orange today and I must she was so super cute...as she always is. I wanted to get a lot more pictures than I did, but we were running late as usual this morning and the director was at the front desk so I felt a little awkward trying to take a picture lol. I then tried to get a picture of Maddy in front of their decorated door, but right when I put her in front of the door it flew open...her class was going outside. Photo op number two didn't happen. When I went to pick her up I came prepared and at least got a couple of pictures.

 She was hyped up when I got her. She kept swinging the football behind her and I was scared she was going to break it because she was pushing it pretty hard. Then on her right side there were some Alabama balloons that she kept trying to bring down to her level. To get this picture she was not being still, which is why she looks like she does lol. She was rocking herself back and forth and I caught her on the up right before she went back.

Nana and Pops finished the rest of her swing set. She immediately noticed the glider and swang on it for a while. She wanted it to go fast like her swing, but it just doesn't. She was not too happy because our next door neighbor's kid came over and talked our ears off. My mom and step dad didn't really get to visit with Maddy at all due to the kid talking...he must be very lonely :)

I'm not a big football fan at all, but I will be rooting for the Vols...GO VOLS!!!

Hello Princess

It's been a bit of a rough day today...not gonna lie. I was getting Maddy ready for bed and decided to put her in a gown for her pajama's. As soon as I put her gown on her she immediately said, "I'm a princess!"  She twirled around and kept saying, "I'm a princess!" I have no idea where she even heard about princesses because we don't watch them here at home. My only guess is one of her friends at school likes them. It was so cute seeing her twirl around pretending she was a princess. She is so precious! I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of her in her gown, but I'm going to post some random pics of her.

 lol...this picture cracks me up! I went to check on her one night and found her all sprawled out like this. She was sound asleep. I'm really surprised she does as well as she does when we sleep in the same bed because she rolls around a lot, but she does really well. She cried and cried tonight because she wanted mommy to sleep with her. Talk about melting your heart. One of these days I will get her pouty face so I can show her when she gets older. This girl knows how to stick out her bottom lip and get her eyes just so...she looks so pitiful but then sometimes she will look like she's starting to smile a little...as if to say, "ha ha ha...i know how to work ya lol"

This isn't the best comparison of me and her. I have no idea how old I really am here. My hair isn't AS blonde as hers but it's close enough. We have different face shapes, but apart from that we look alike. I mean no, we aren't twins by any means but she does have some my features. I actually see a lot of her in my picture :) 

This post is random, but not for me. I think we are definitely headed towards the "princess" phase. Maybe soon we can start getting some of the Disney movies...although I must say there are some things in Disney movies I'm not sure I am ready to let her watch just yet. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday tomorrow! I for one am SUPER excited the weekend is here. I've had a rough end to my week but I'm trying my best to just trust God will pull me through. 

Boring Meal Planning

I have slacked off on my meal planning the past two weeks because I hadn't had time to get to the grocery store. Yes, we ate but I had to scrounge around trying to figure out what we would eat. I finally got to Wal-Mart on Sunday to get things we had to have and picked up a few extras. I am hoping to get back into the swing of couponing this week to get stocked back up. Since getting my mom planner/calender it has helped me to really get things organized and it truly makes life so much easier. I have a spot for meal planning and all I have to do is cook it :) Here is what my "weekly" calender looks like...yes, I even schedule my cleaning and exercise lol.

Here is our meal plan for this week...so far I have really stuck with it.

Monday: Chicken fettuccine alfredo

Tuesday: Chicken Teriyaki w/rice and broccoli (we left out the broccoli and had macaroni instead)

Wednesday: Lunchable for Maddy and leftovers for me

Thursday: Spaghetti w/garlic toast

Friday: leftovers

Saturday: leftovers

Sunday: Beef stroganoff

I hope you all are having a great week so far!