Perspective

The older I get the more I appreciate the New Year.  My view has changed, mostly in the last three years, from seeing the New Year as a fantastic drinking opportunity to seeing it as a time to reflect and renew.  There is something refreshing about knowing that I have another year of opportunity before me.  Another year to get it right, try something new, do something different.

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I asked my husband last night, "What are you most proud of accomplishing over the past year?"  I was trying to be all lovey-dovey and reflective and cute, but men don't really feed in to that sort of thing, do they? He grunted a reply while I sat, half-listening, thinking about what my own answer would be.  What would you say?

A few weeks ago, God laid the word perspective on my heart.  This word has been ever present in my daily life since then.  This year most of us have dealt with unimaginable sadness at some point, hopefully unimaginable joy at another.  Some of us are eager to see this year go, and others are anticipating the joys that a new year will bring.  As a country, we have bickered over elections and banned together over heartache.  I have welcomed a new class of children, and yearned for children of my own.  I have cried and laughed and cried again.  And I hope to cry and laugh and cry again next year.  We are only human.  We can never hope for perfect.  We can hope for perspective. 

Opening Christmas presents

I am writing this sitting in a small cabin in Ellijay, Georgia.  There is ice on the ground and a fire in the fireplace.  I am surrounded by people I love; my mom, my dad, my brother, his girlfriend, Dallas, and my loving husband. There is a hot tub waiting to warm me next to a flowing river with trout for the hubs. This is a great way to welcome a year of new.

Happy New Year from The Clowers

So, while I may still wake up with a hangover on Tuesday morning, I'll be doing it with a whole new perspective.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust Him, and He will help you.  Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.  -Psalm 37: 5,7

Thinking about Thanking

Does anyone else stalk Facebook like I do? 

If so, you've probably seen the multitude of posts about being thankful. But, if you also are a blog stalker, like me, you've probably also seen this post from Enjoying the Small Things.  She rocks. 

So, it got me thanking thinking could I find the best in the mundane?  Could I find gratefulness past the devoted parents, wonderful siblings, loving husband spill? Not hard, right? Shelter, clothes, food. Done. 

Deeper. That's what she said. 

I'm thankful for:

Sunrise. I've been blessed with another day to try again.

My pillow. It has just the right angle for late night tv watching.

 Starbucks. Enough said. 

 My students. Their innocence is an escape. 

 Knowledge. I hope I never stop learning.

Lazy days. 

 Friends.  Life would be far less entertaining without them.

Straight teeth. I wanted braces, but now I know better.

Freshly washed sheets.

Sadness. Without it, happiness would be far less joyful.

The Bible.  Nothing brings me more comfort than God's word.

Music. 'Cause I'm a talented singer. Duh.

Eyebrow pencils. My real eyebrows are literally non-existent.

A strong back. I know what it feels like not to have one.

Conversations with my husband. He gets me.

Silence with my husband. He gets me.

Holding my niece. 

 Crisp mornings.

Weekends. I love to sleep in. 

Books and movies. So I can be lost for a minute. 

A brand new, felt tip, fine point, Sharpie. Nothing writes better.

My list isn't perfect. My list isn't complete, and I pray that it will never be complete.  I hope that even when Thanksgiving has come and gone, I am still finding small reasons to be thankful. 

Oh, one more reason, I'm thankful. 

My sweet babydog. Heck, I'm even grateful for the pile of laundry she was able to snuggle in.

A Dollar Makes Me Holla...

Or, ten dollars, to be exact. Which is how much a paid for this darling dress that was perfect for Sarah and Daniel's nuptials.

Even though the sky threatened rain, God's mercies are great, and we didn't feel a drop. The humid, Georgia air left my hair in shambles, but the bride was beautiful and radiant.

A bottle glass of wine later, I found myself on the dance floor. I say "found" because I would never have "put" myself on the dance floor. I'm not a dancer, and my wobble doesn't lie, but I had a blast with hubs and our friends.

Here's to a lifetime of happiness for Sarah and Daniel! I promise to bring back the wobble at your 50th Anniversary.

Girl's Got the Ring...

Time for her Final Fling! 

Last weekend a bunch of us girls drove up to Helen, Georgia for Sarah's Bachelorette Party. When I say we drove up, I mean we literally drove UP a mountain.  There were definitely some tire-sliding moments and maybe (I'm not saying for sure, but my passengers were pretty convincing) some back-end-of-the-car-hanging-off-a-cliff moments, but we made it.  The view was spectacular! 

This is the view from our deck. Could you imagine waking up to this each morning?

On Saturday morning we took our time getting read and headed to town for some lunch and shopping.  It was the first weekend of Oktoberfest, so the crowd was decent, but can you believe that not a single pizza place served beer?  We finally opted for something quick. 

Me and Katie at lunch.  They had delicious slurpee drinks.  Nothing like Wet Willies, but they sufficed. 

 If you need an outfit for Halloween, look no further! You can become your very own, Jack-in-the-Box. I was slightly amused by this and also intrigued.  There is no way I could keep a straight face for that long! 

 We all realized how old we were on this trip because, after an afternoon of eating, shopping, and being entertained, we needed a nap before dinner and drinks.  The saddest part...we all immediately changed into our stretch pants when we got back to the cabin before laying down for naptime. 

After some snoozing, we managed to get ourselves dolled up for Sarah's night out. I opened my own jewelry shop in the cabin and decided that I could be a personal stylist in another life. 

The bride before heading out!

Me and Sharmilla 

There is actually a funny story behind this picture. Apparently, not everyone knows how to make the kissy face.

If you ever wondered where that random guy that drove you home that one time is living...he's in Helen, GA.

The bride, myself, and Tiffany.

Anjanette is a real trooper.  She is pregnant, and still managed to make it longer than me!

Wrapping up our night. 

Me and Laura.

One lost "wobble" and we were out the door.  

The boys spent their bachelor weekend at Gulf Shores, AL.  Besides some posed pictures on a boat, there is not photographic evidence of that trip. Hmmm.....

If You Really Knew Me...

As I was doing my daily stalking reading of some of my favorite blogs. I fell upon this little gem over at MamaLaughlin.  I decided I'd roll with it because I love to talk about myself. Really. 

If you really knew me...

...you'd know I love to be in control. All the time. 

...you'd know my favorite breakfast is a Starbuck's Frappucino and a slice of CLASSIC coffee cake. 

...you'd know that I could eat a whole box of macaroni and cheese by myself. 

...you'd know that when I sing in the car I pretend to have an audience in front of me. 

...you'd know I'm a sucker for the underdog.

....you'd know that I have to check my alarm seven times before I can go to sleep.

...you'd know that I am afraid of death. 

....you'd know that my mind comes up with worse case scenarios and I can convince myself to believe they are actually happening...or will happen...then I call Katie to confirm I am NOT crazy.

...you'd know that I actually am crazy. 

...you'd know that peanut butter M&M's are my favorite.

...you'd know that I've always wanted to a be teacher. Always.

...you'd know that my husband has had my heart since high school.  

....you'd know how badly I want to be a mommy.  

...you'd also know that I'm convinced I will be the best damn mother in the world.

...you'd know that my heart belongs to the Lord. 

...you'd know that praise and worship is my favorite thing of all time.

...you'd know that I can't listen to STAR 94 when they are doing their Children's Wish-A-Thon.

....you'd know I'm convinced Miranda Lambert would definitely want to be my BFF.

....you'd know that money gives my anxiety.

...you'd know that I'm a major daddy's girl. 

...you'd know that I heart cheerleading and I hope to be a cheer mom one day. 

...you'd know that clutter drives me insane.

...you'd know that my house is always cleaner than my car. 

...you'd know that I talk to my mom once twice three times a day.

...you'd know that I often say inappropriate things at inappropriate times. Then I have anxiety about it.

....you'd know that I'm obsessed with reality tv, and my husband is obsessed with golf.

....you'd know that the golf thing could be a whole post in and of itself. 

Beautiful

There could never be a more beautiful you

Don't buy the lies, disguises, and the hoops they make you jump through

You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do

So there could never be a more beautiful you.

Jonny Diaz - More Beautiful You

Jesus Loves Me. This I Know.

I've been waiting to write this post because, well honestly, I didn't know if I'd have the strength.  However, there are about a million things on my list that I'd like to blog about right now, and if I don't get it done, I'll forget. I'm not getting any younger, ya know. 

I'm literally sitting here right now willing the words to flow from my fingertips. Not because I don't have a lot to say, but because I don't know that it can be expressed through words. You see, my life has changed. Call me a Jesus Freak. Call me a Bible Thumper. Call me Sinner. All of it would be true. The Lord has taken over my life, y'all, and I'm climbing a mountain  sitting at my computer to shout it to the world!

Our sweet friends, Mandy and Penny.

My mom and me

I was born and raised a Methodist girl. I went to Sunday School, Children's Church, Youth Group. I know the Bible. I can recite verses. I can tell you the ten commandments about as fast as I can break them. But you just don't know Jesus until you KNOW Jesus.  

He crept up on me in the huge auditorium filled with 9,000 other women, and He slapped me in the face hugged me fiercely. He has not let go. I'm on quest. A Bible quest. I want to read more, know more, speak more, show more, love more, let go more. Y'all, He has made me want to let go! My little OCD personality just doesn't know what to do with itself. And I feel sorry for it.

9,000 women there to praise the Lord!

My mom asked me the other day if I had changed something about myself, and I told her that "it was just the glow of the Lord in me."  

I hope His arms continue to hug me. This girl may be ready to let go of a lot, but she is not ready to let go of Him. 

Mrs. Beth Moore herself! We got to have our picture taken with her! She is so blessed  with a gift to share the Lord's word.

Psalms 40:1-3
I waited patiently for God to help me; then He listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things He did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in Him.