a 'when harry met sally' new year's eve...sort of:)

I have exactly 1 hour 15 minutes to finish this "New Year's Eve" post.

Yes, I took a break from the wild party to come peck a few words out on the laptop.

Yes, I'm living every girl's dream...

... a dramatic New Year's Eve party wearing a fancy little black dress...

...you know, like the party in When Harry Met Sally....

...with champagne, party hats, and party horns...

...with streamers and confetti falling from the sky...

...the big band playing "Auld Lang Syne" as you fall into the arms of the man of your dreams...

...kissing passionately as the clock strikes midnight.





Well, I sort of am:)

We almost had party horns and hats. I saw some today at WalMart, but I decided they weren't really worth worming and squirming my way through the crowd of 14-year-old partiers huddled around the selection at the store.

And about the confetti...

Well, confetti equals clutter, and clutter gives me anxiety. Let's not do the confetti thing for the sake of my sweet TT....when I have anxiety, I tend to take it out on his most patient and precious soul.

And speaking of TT....

He has a terrible, terrible toothache. He has been to the dentist and has to go back on Monday. For now he has to take antibiotics and put ice on his face to help the inflammation.

Soooo...a passionate kiss is probably out this year.

But I am spending New Year's Eve with the man I love.

And the baby I love.

No drama.

Peace and Quiet.

And I wouldn't have it

any.

other.

way.

Now, finally, for the 'real when-harry-met-sally new year's eve'....

Just a snippet of the Taylor Party, and those who watch til the end gets a special surprise!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

FB friends click HERE to view videos:)

rerun: on keeping it real:)

I initially started my blog when I was the house mom at The Way Home, a faith-based maternity home for teen moms. In the beginning, I blogged because it was a free hobby. My salary at TWH was sufficient, yet minimal, so the whole blog-thingy was an excellent hobby...free..:)

Eventually I found writing to be an excellent outlet for expression of the thoughts, feelings, ideas that I didn't necessarily have an ever-open ear to tell. The great part was that no one was forced to listen to the quirky stories or mundane details that were my life...anyone who read, read because he wanted to.

The greatest part of blogging....it was my stage for keeping it real. I mean real. There are just some things I can't necessarily verbalize, but I can write. Sometimes it's sad and sappy, sometimes informative, and sometimes plain-ole-embarrassing. Through my blog, I've learned to just be who I am. I love keeping it real.

THIS RERUN is just that...one of the posts where I kept it real, girls. I am who I am, and perhaps this is TMI. Fun stuff from the days at The Way Home...

rerun: pondering my mother

I can hardly believe this is the 5th Christmas without my Mom.

I've had more mountain-top and deep-valley experiences in the last year than I can number, and this holiday season has completely followed suit. Oh how I wish my Mom was here now. Especially now...to know my sweet husband, to play with my sweet new son, to answer my questions, to tell me how to overcome some obstacles that are causing me to stumble these days.

So the next in my series of "Read My Thoughts....the ReRuns": Pondering My Mother.

I really like that post. I hope you do too.

Merry Christmas!

rerun: the mouse wrestler:)

It's difficult to believe I've been blogging for almost 3 years!!!

I've decided to post of some of my favorite posts, a series of reruns, if you don't mind:) I will begin with one of the most popular posts ever to surface on Read My Thoughts. If you are a "regular" around here, you've likely read/watched this post many times. If you are a newbie... well, you've just got to see THIS (click here to check it out "The Mouse Wrestler")

Hope you enjoy!!!!

eat your heart out, Martha...DAY 2:)

Just because I told you I would...here's a pic of the blue and white snowman that I told you I was planning in my previous post. You can all breath a sigh of relief...I know you were just sitting on pins and needles waiting for me to post. HA!

I hope you've all had a fantastic Sunday.

I have.

eat your heart out, martha:)

I've always wanted to know how people make those beautiful Christmas cookies. You know...like Martha Stewart's cookies. Cookies that are edible artwork. Cookies that are just too stinkin' pretty to eat.

Well, enough is enough. It's time for me to stop envying and do something about it. I searched the world wide web and finally found THIS WEBSITE. It looks simple enough, so I thought:)

I went to WalMart, spent a small fortune, and purchased everything I needed.

This is meringue powder. Well, laaa-teee-daaaah! It's new to me, but actually a neat product. It replaces egg whites in the icing. I'd hate to give my family food poisioning!

On a little side note about the meringue powder...CONSUMER BEWARE!!! Although the label clearly indicates this container contains only 4oz, I didn't really notice that until I opened the really tall (as in "this-is-a-lot-of-stuff-for-five-bucks") container....

...and got a load of this...

...The really tall container is about half full. Just so you know....

Anyway....

I baked my little sugar cookie Christmas trees and snowmen.

Poor little naked Snowman!!!

Then the fun began! I mixed the meringue powder and water in my pretty white mixing bowl. Then I add the powdered sugar and little at a time. Which took FOREVER. Added a little corn syrup. Added a few drops of Almond extract. The beat the fire out of it until stiff peaks formed. I wasn't sure about the stiff peaks, but I hope this was right...

Oh...I almost forgot! In addition to using my pretty mixing bowl (a wedding shower gift that I thoroughly love!), I also used these beautiful measuring spoons given to me by my good friend Alice...

Don't you just love'em???

TT (on baby duty) sampled the icing. He licked the beater clean and said "it's alright". HA! Little MT was already out like a light. Aren't his little pajamas cute???

About 2 hours later, I had me some Christmas cookies all over the kitchen!!! The icing was still wet, but cookies were decorated- the most important part! I don't know how long it takes for the icing to dry, but I'm pleased with them so far. I'm hoping they dry!

Here's a few of the cookies...

Tomorrow, I'm going to get serious about this and try some....

....drum roll people.....

Blue and White Snowmen!!!!

Whoop! Whoop!

I know you will be checking my blog on the hour every hour to see the pics!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

our elf on a shelf...

I've been hearing all about "Elf On a Shelf". I soooo look forward to a few years down the road when we can do this with MT.

I happened to think....we already have our Elf. Elves (plural), actually.

I remember when I was in about the 5th grade, the year my Mom and her friend Peggy made the cutest little Christmas elves. I have four that my Mother made. This year I have them sitting under our tree like little watch guards over gifts. I love these little elves.

How cool will it be when MT is 3 or 4 years old to use elves that were sewn by my mom some 30 years ago!!!

I miss my Mom.

Especially now.

But she's here...

in all the things she left behind...

material...

and immaterial.

I believe she knows all the good things happening here.

I don't even know how to finish this post.

I'm just glad.

So glad.

on my christmas baby....

My sweet baby boy discovered his hands today. I know...I know....all babies do this, and it's all sweet. Surely you know how it is. Isn't it somehow different, sweeter, more awesome when the baby belongs to you?


MT held his little fists together and raised them up to his eyes only inches away. He wiggled his chubby little fingers then made fists again before his widening eyes. Down to his mouth went his hands....then up to his sparkling brown eyes...then back to his mouth. It was just beautiful, I tell ya!


Oh how I want to brand this sight into my memory! I want to hide these precious moments in my heart, for I know he's growing so fast and soon he will be using his hands for important things. Will he use them to pass a football someday? Will he play the piano? Will he be a great artist?

Will his hands someday be in chains?

For serving our country...?

For serving our Lord...?

This Christmas season has brought the mother of Christ, Mary, to mind.

I can relate to her a little bit...having a new baby. I don't know if she knew for sure what all was in store for her Son. Without a doubt, I'm positive she was in awe of his sweet little toes. Surely she kissed his little nose and "spanked" his cute little bottom.

She must have wondered what life had in store for Him. The angel had clearly told her, "you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:31-33)." She must have wondered just how the details of His life would unfold.

Yes, I can relate to Mary this year....especially when she sang from her full and overflowing joyful heart...

My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

.......

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name....Luke 1:46-49

Yes, truly He has done great things for me!

I wonder what life has in store for my sweet baby boy. I know God has big, big plan for his life, and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

For now...I'm going to tickle his little feet. I'm going to kiss his little nose and "spank-spank" his cute little bottom as my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...

Ahhh...sigh...

God is so good, isn't He?

say whaaat?...scientists these days!

Okay.



You know something profound or distinctly strange is about to follow whenever I begin a post with 'okay'.



Okay. THIS is weird. I mean I'm glad scientists have developed this new use for MRIs and all, and I'm sure there are many, many socially redeeming results waiting to be revealed. It's just that the image is a little weird to me.



That poor baby looks like Achmed the Dead Terrorist!


If you've never watched Achmed, check him out on Youtube. Funny stuff. Not kid-friendly, but funny stuff! Jeff Dunham is a talented ventriloquist!

oh so sad for my BamaSlammer...

Today I was scrolling through the newsfeed on facebook when I saw the saddest post I've ever encountered. My friend Shay wrote, "rest in peace, daddy. a very sad day for us."

My heart broke. Not because I was so close to Jim, but because I know what Shay will be facing in the coming days. Grief is hard. Grief during the holidays can seem unbearable.

I remember a particularly moving post that Shay, a.k.a. BamaSlammer, once wrote about her dad. BamaSlammer, a hard-working single mom of a toddler, hasn't done much blogging lately, but her posts are still out there. Check out THIS ONE.

I'm humbly reminded of those who may be having a Blue Christmas....praying for all of them.

Praying for you, BamaSlammer....

I can do anything Sandra can do...BETTER:)

OK...I'm just gonna say it.

I had to search my heart deep and wide.


Do I have what it takes to face the challenges that will surely come?


Do we, TT and I, have what it takes?


Is it fair to the child? I mean, really? What will it be to be an African-American boy being raised by two old white nerds? TT and I aren't getting any younger, you know.


I searched my heart, and found a resounding YES!!!!


Yes we do, through Christ who strengthens us, that is. But I have to admit, on a much more spiritual note (ehem), my buddy-ole-buddy-ole-pal Gequetta gave me the vote of confidence that settled it all. I distinctly remember the steamy July evening, sitting in my lawn chair along the side of Hwy 27 watching the Somerset Cruise-In (a whole nother post for a whole nother day!), texting back and forth with Gequetta, bouncing my thoughts off of my friend regarding the whole race-thing. Finally she said...you can do anything Sandra Bullock can do.

You are so right, Quetta I thought! And that was that!

A funny thing happened today. Waiting in a most lengthy line at Wal-Mart, I realized my baby had been the subject of some ladies' attention when a Wal-Mart worker came up to me, joyfully declaring...

"We finally figured out who that baby looks like!"

"Who?" I couldn't wait to hear this....

"Sandra Bullock's baby, Louis!"

HA!

"Well, I will just go home and GOOGLE him for myself to see what he looks like!"

I did GOOGLE lil Louis....

You can decide for yourself...

MTT...Meet Louis...

I might can see it a little bit:)

Oh, and by the way....

About the whole race-thing...

I don't care if my baby grows up to be blue and red polka dotted! Yes, his race is different than mine, a fact that may create some challenges, but it's not better or worse. TT and I are not at all concerned with his race, but we are concerned with his character. We will do the best we can to teach our baby right from wrong, encourage him to appreciate his heritage, pray for the Lord's wisdom and help, and hope we handle the challenging times in a way that helps MT to grow up to be a man with impeccable character.

Isn't that what parents do...regardless of race.

Yeah, that's right!

Thanks, Quetta!

Pray for Rain in Israel

I heard just a snippet on the radio today about a drought in Israel. I thought I heard it said that tomorrow is a day of prayer and fasting in Israel as called by Jewish rabbis. Home I came to research if this is fact.

Did you know that Israel is in its seventh year of drought? It seems that many Jewish Rabbis are proclaiming that the drought is a result of the many sins of the people (click HERE for example).

I was unable to determine if tomorrow is specifically set aside as a day of prayer and fasting for rain in Israel, but I know the people there are praying for rain. Some even traveled 1000 feet into the air in a balloon to pray (CHECK it OUT). I'm not sure if going up in a hot air balloon gets them closer to God, but I admire their faith and creativity!

I don't know why this radio news story touched me so much or why I can't get it out of my head. It just did. Perhaps this is God moving me....asking you....to pray for rain for Israel.

The news story got me thinking about THIS STORY. Cool, right? You gotta read it for yourself!

The news story also brought to mind a cool, cool song. Now, Southern Gospel is not my favorite genre, and the singers in this video would probably cringe at their 1990 hair and wardrobe, but the message and harmony is pristine nonetheless! Give it a listen!



FB friends click HERE to view the video.

A Time to Exhale....

Fifteen.

That's the number of posts I published on Read My Thoughts this year. Fifteen. Actually, my sweet TT wrote one of the posts, so I guess the true number is fourteen.

I used to write all. the. time.

Oh, believe you me, I've had plen-tee to write about. The problem was, some of it was so mushy sweet, I was afraid you, my dear reader, might just not be able to take it! Not that I don't have faith in you, but I do believe that sometimes it's just TMI...

It's been a fantastic 2010.

My first month in Kentucky brought more snow than I had experienced in the first thirty-something years of my life. The snow was just beautiful. Snow...not ice...just snow (Alabama friends and family understand my point here!)

February....the month of BLING! Yes, I got engaged. TT and I had been dating almost six months when, on my birthday, we wandered into a jewelry store, I squealed over some bling-bling, and he slapped his checkbook down on the counter. Holy Cow!

March, April, May.....a blur of beautiful bridal showers, trips to Lexington, and late night Internet shopping in preparation for...

June 12...quite possibly the happiest day of my life....my wedding day.

That's a whole nother post...

Sigh....

After our honeymoon in Hilton Head, South Carolina, TT and I returned to Kentucky and began our life as newly weds. I hardly had all of our wedding gifts put away when....

July 20....The Lord dropped the opportunity of a lifetime on my doorstep when we learned there was a little baby boy scheduled to arrive September 15th...he needed a family.

Wow. What a gift.

We were so excited, yet I was afraid to get toooo excited. These things sometimes fall through....

Sept 2, 2010....MTT breathed his first breath around 5:30 a.m. Approximately 6 hours later, I laid eyes on him. A nurse slapped an I.D. bracelet on my right wrist while I held him with my left arm. He was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

I've been his mommy ever since.

We struggled with legal red tape for 11 weeks....baby and I staying in Alabama while TT was working in Kentucky during the week and commuting to Alabama each weekend.

Finally, on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, the "powers that be" gave us permission to take the baby out of the state. Thank you, Lord!

So here I am...taking time to exhale.

Both my Sweetheart Baby and little Miracle Baby and sound asleep.

I'm just enjoying the quiet, soaking up the site of our first Christmas tree...not only as newlyweds, but as a little family. Some of the ornaments are TT's old ornaments, some are mine, some were my Mom's, and a couple are new "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments.

I remember a time when I thought all of this was impossible for me.

Was I ever so wrong.

Now, that's hope.

God is so, so good.

TT, MTT, and me on Thanksgiving, 2010, at the home of TT's Aunt Kay in Otisco, IN.

Guest Writer: TT

On several occasions, I have had special guest writers to post their thoughts here on my blog. I'm excited to have my sweet TT record his thoughts. I think this post is just great:) And in case you've ever wondered how we met...

As my upcoming wedding day quickly approaches, I have to reflect back to a summer day last August. I was 39 years old and it was about two weeks before my 40th birthday. I had just made a new Facebook friend named Theia Chaffin and she had just sent me a message on FB hoping that my CT scan of my abdomen would go well that day. I sent her a reply thanking her for her good wishes.

That seemingly innocent exchange would lead to a series of messages and a first date on the eve of my 40th Birthday. I had just finished two long days of student advising and was coming home to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to celebrate this milestone birthday with my family.However, this time I was stopping in Scottsboro, AL. to have lunch with a sweet princess at a Mexican restaurant called Buena Vista.

She wore a summery black dress and had lots of blonde hair and a beautiful smile. The dinner and conversation were great as we talked about our lives, our jobs and everything else we could think of. Thirty minutes led to an hour, then two hours and three. The staff at the restaurant seemed oblivious to what was going on around them, but I felt it. As is turns out, she did too.

Two days later we met for our second date in Huntsville, AL. After a quick dinner, we went to Big Spring Park where Theia proceeded to step in a pile of duck poop. She got it all over her pair of “yellow box” flip flops. I had no idea what a pair of “yellow box” were before that night. Now I can recognize them anytime/anywhere I see a pair.
This started a series of dates that fall in which we’d get together on an every-two-week basis. Sometimes I was coming home to Alabama and sometimes we’d meet in Lenoir City, TN just to go eat and hang out for the day. Regardless of what we did, I was having the best time ever. Theia Ann was everything a man (at least this man) could ever want in a woman. Beautiful, smart, sweet and could even put up sheet rock if called upon to do it. Over this time we met each other’s families and that went well too.

At the end of December her work at “The Way Home” came to an end and she moved up to KY to take a job at a nursing home doing speech therapy and to be closer to me. Wow. I’d never had a woman actually want to move 5 hours away from home to be closer to me. I have to admit I was a little nervous about it at first. But I soon got used to having not only a weekly date with my sweetie, but two and three dates a week with her.

One month later on February 5th, I took Theia out to Tumbleweeds restaurant for dinner at the Somerset Mall. After dinner, we strolled through the mall and stopped by Roger’s Jewelers to look at some engagement rings. After looking at a few rings that didn’t get her very excited, the clerks brought out “The Hannah.” Upon seeing this ring I heard an odd squeal that was high pitched, but not loud. You know the kind that is normally only heard by a dog. My girlfriend Theia was about to become my fiancé

After a quick stroll around the mall, we went back in to the jewelry store and I surprised Theia by saying to the clerk “what’s your best price on this ring?” After a little back and forth, I had my checkbook out and was soon to be engaged to the best woman in the whole wide America.

The time since then has been filled with tea lights, glitter, dresses, tuxes, photos, showers and moving stuff from London to Somerset. Now with just a few days to go until the big day all I can say to my Bride-elect is “I hate deviled eggs, but I love cheese dip” and “I don’t want to milk a goat.”

Random Update:)

I thought when I moved to Kentucky that I would have lots of blog material.

Wroooooong.

Well, not exactly wrong....it's just that I've just not had any major emotional epiphanies since I moved, and whenever I start to write a new post, it just seems sooooo boring! On the flip-side, as my relationship with sweet TT progressed to engagement (and now less than 2 months til marriage), I've had some very special revelations that I'm just not ready to reveal here! Perhaps you, dear reader, are thanking me for keeping those thoughts to myself:)

This "blog for today," to quote my good friend BamaSlammer who I miss soooo much, will be merely a random update on my new life in Kentucky...an only slightly-organized blogging stream of consciousness of a woman making a conscious effort to resist the urge to become a BRIDEZILLA:)

First of all...yes, work is going good. It's been an adjustment to get back into the long-term-care-setting swing of things. It's still as dysfunctional as it was the first 9 years of my career. Not much changed during my 2 years away:) My caseload has been plentiful (which is good). For the first time in my career I am working side-by-side with another speech pathologist. I have usually been the only one in the facility, so this is a pleasant change for me. Kissten, the other SLP, is a very sweet girl, and I have learned a lot of things from her! I work with some really intelligent and sweet therapists...they have been quite welcoming. I'm having a more difficult time establishing good working relationships with the nursing floor staff for some reason....It'll get better...The floors in the facility are sooooo hard, and as a result, I'm having a terrible time with pain in my heel. UGH.

The Wedding. I've become and expert at internet shopping. I've had a lot of help from some girls back home. My dress isn't here yet...but it should be in early May. June 12, 2010 cannot get here fast enough! The reception should be yummy. The ceremony will be beautiful! I'm so happy. We're going home to Tuscumbia the first weekend in May for a Tool & Gadget Party hosted by TT's cousin Anita and a Bridal Shower from his home church, Mt. Moriah Baptist. I have a wonderful family, and now I am honored with the blessing of marrying into another fantastic family. I will be going home to DeKalb County the 3rd weekend in May for my GIRLFRIEND PARTY, hair-practice, and bridal pictures. Both TT and I will go to DeKalb County (and maybe to Tuscumbia too) the 4th weekend in May. It's about to get soooo busy!

I've discovered a few new favorite-things....sort-of like Oprah's list of favorite things, except I don't really care for Oprah and that my favorite things can usually be found at WalMart or Kroger.

#1: CoffeeMate Creamer in "Coconut Cream" flavor...my step-mother Kathy turned me on to this one. It's DEEE-Lish! I can only find it at WalMart.

#2. Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers. Yum. Not your typical microwave meals. 6 Weight-Watcher points if you are counting. I've been counting since TT has been counting:)

#3. Jet-Dry for my dishwasher. My duplex has a high-fah-lootin dispenser for Jet-Dry. Wow...it really makes a difference in how clean the dishes are!

#4. The BP station on Main Street in Stanford, KY where I work. They pump your gas and their prices aren't higher than the next fellow's. That's what I'm talking about!!!

I told you it was gonna be random this time....

Until next time!

Love,
The Non-Bridezilla:)

stealing buttercups

I'm sorry. I just could not control myself.

It happened today when I got home from work as I made the daily walk to the end of Beasley Lane to retrieve my mail.

I saw it.

It was the most beautiful patch of buttercups I've ever seen. Right in the middle of a green pasture full of rolling hills. Right next to a dilapidated house with a rusty tin roof.

I stood there at my mailbox and took in the view of those vibrant flowers, and I just had to get a little closer. There wasn't a fence to keep me out, sooooo....what the hay, right? I tromped through the green pasture until I stood there in the midst of the flowers. There were 2 varieties of daffodils in at least 4 original rows with many other random, wandering clusters scattered about.

They were gorgeous.

Gorgeous.

That's when I lost it. I just started picking buttercups as fast as I could. I felt like I needed them in a vase on my kitchen table now, and the urgency was almost more than I could stand.

I know...technically I was stealing buttercups. I'm sorry. Sue me.

When I had collected as many buttercups my hands could hold, I was was stopped dead in my tracks by the up-close-and-personal-look at the old house that neighbored the beautiful flowerbed. I see the old house every day when I go to the mailbox, but I've never observed it quite like this.

Who once lived in the house and planted the four rows of buttercups? What was her story? Did she peer out from the bedroom window in the early mornings and admire the flower beds? Perhaps she, too, picked them in early spring to brighten her home. As I stared at the old house, I realized that she had planted those buttercup bulbs years ago and, whether knowingly or not, she planted something that had lasted for generations to enjoy. The bulbs not only lasted, but flourished and multiplied.

By the looks of the old house, it's been there on that land for generations and left empty and unattended for years and years. The live flowers, however, have by far outlasted the materials of the house.

I want to be that woman. Now more than ever as I prepare to begin a new life as a wife (and hopefully someday as a mother), I want to plant seeds that will last for generations. Perhaps there will be some literal flowerbeds planted, but I hope more importantly there will be lives affected positively, people who know real love, and more than even this...

Stealing buttercups, at least for today, was a good thing.

I must look for life's buttercups more often.

And now, to quote my friend BamaSlammer, this is my blog for today.

Today begins my quest for my perfect wedding gown. I'm so excited!

Terry's parents came to KY for a visit this weekend, and I am thrilled that Mrs. Shelia Taylor is going shopping with me. We are going to Danville first and then possibly into Lexington.

How fun!!!

...that's why i'm so goofy...

Today TT and I attended church at First Baptist Somerset. We were greeted by some friendly greeters at the front door who automatically recognized that we were visitors. Then we were greeted my more nice usher-people who gave us the bulletin.

We walked into the large sanctuary and searched out a place to sit as people were obviously filing in from their Sunday school classes. We found a seat and sat. I began to glance around the place, admiring the beautiful sanctuary with its pipe organ and stained glass windows. Then I noticed something else....except for the nursing home where I work, I've never been under the same roof with so many senior citizens in my whole life.

Yes...I began to count the canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. I'm serious ya'll! I'm glad that God knows the number of hairs on our head...there were so many gray hairs there that I could not begin to count them. After a few "it's nice to have you" greetings and a couple of strange looks, TT looked at me as said, "We stick out like a sore thumb." Yes. Yes indeedy. We sure did. Eventually there were some younger people who came into the large sanctuary, and I felt less conspicuous.

There was this one lady sitting in front of us. I apologize that I don't remember her name (not that I would post it here on my blog anyway), but when she introduced herself to TT and me, I was too taken aback by her perfume to catch her name. I can't really say her age...maybe in her late sixties. She had her gray all covered with her platinum dye, and she had her curly hair-piece up on top of her hair just like she liked it. Now please don't misunderstand...I'm all about having my hair like I like it too, especially on Sundays, but I just want you to get the visual here....short, elderly woman with her platinum-blond bottle-job accentuated with a curly hair-piece, cooridnating sweater, blouse, skirt, necklace, earrings, and bracelet in burnt-orange, walking cane in her right hand, and big purse in her left.

Initially, she just said "Are you new?" She introduced herself politely and welcomed us kindly, then she stopped almost every person who walked past her to engage them in conversation. Awww, people love her I thought to myself.

The service started. The pipe organ boomed as the congregation sang out We have heard the joyful sound! Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves! I was digging it.

Next, a man from behind the pulpit asked the congregation to stand for the Presenting of the Colors by the Boy Scouts. Interesting I thought to myself. The sanctuary was quiet as everyone waited for the scouts to come through the back door with the flags. Awkward delay. Crickets, crickets. Obviously the boy scouts were a little late.

In the meantime, sanctuary still quiet, the lady says to me "Do you live in Somerset?" She kept talking, and I don't even remember what she said. I just knew the boy scouts were walking down the isle with the American Flag. We were supposed to be quiet and reverent and the lady kept talking to ME!

I must have had an uncomfortable expression on my face because she went on to announce, loud and clear, "I'm sorry! I've had a stroke! That's why I'm so goofy!"

Bless her heart!

Sweet little lady. Loud, but sweet!

That's why I'm so goofy!

I love it!

I act goofy sometimes too....at least this little lady has a reason. I don't know why I act goofy sometimes.

When the service had concluded, the lady patted me several times and encouraged me to come back again.

Just so you know, we did enjoy the service, and we plan to go back.

They have a contemporary worship service at 9 a.m. in a different sanctuary. I think we'll go to that service next week!

On the Backside of 30 :0 Holy Moly!

That's right. This is the last night that I can consider myself to be in my early thirties.

Holy.
Moly.

Thirty.

Plus Six.

But I'm not sick about it! In fact, I would say that life is getting better as I get a little older.

Now that I'm thirty-six (well, almost), I can see rude people for who they are now....rude...and understand that truly it's not my fault. I can encounter a Royal Grouch and remind myself that, truly, behind every inconsiderate deed there is a need.

Now that I'm thirty-six, I can usually remember whenever I'm having a bad day or some personal crisis that somewhere, somebody in the world is having a REAL emergency. You know...at least I'm not searching for a kidnapped child or fighting cancer as some people are.

Now that I'm thirty-six, I can call my Dad, when I know that I've done the best I can do, and ask him for help. I'm not ashamed.

Now that I'm thirty-six, I can go to WalMart and buy the old-timey Oil of Olay. None of the fancy-schmancy-alpha-hydroxy-pro-vitamin-retinol-regerist-kind of Oil of Olay. Just Original Oil of Olay. I can wash my face and then slather it on my face and neck at bedtime. I just might smear it thickly on my arms, elbows, and hands too...merely because it smells sooo good.

In fact, it smells like my MaMa Chaffin's pillow. My cousins who are reading this post will distinctly remember the scent. How comforting! And by the way, the original Oil of Olay worked out just beautifully for MaMa Chaffin...she hardly had a wrinkle the day she died at 86 years young.

Yes, for now, thirty-six is comforting. Life is good for me now.

It's comforting to know ...

....that although I am in a new place, and I hardly know a soul....

....that even though my birthday makes me miss my Mother so much my heart literally aches inside my chest...

...that although I will likely never win American Idol or be America's Next Top Model...

...It's all going to be okay.

I'm so thankful for a fantastic family, an adoring adorable boyfriend (TT=one lucky man, TC=one wonderful woman:), a good job (in the current state of our country, this is a miracle!), some great friends back home in Alabama (you know who you are)...

The list could go on and on and on and on!

I can't fail to mention the most important Reason to be thankful...the Author and Finisher of it all, the Mighty Fountain from whom all these blessings flow, the One who gives and takes away, He who helps me accept the bitter with the sweet, the One who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases...My Jesus, the One and Only.

Yes, I'm on the backside of thirty. And this backside (not unlike mine) of thirty is BIG.

I can't wait to see what this year has in store!

This is my Happy Birthday blog for the year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Go RED this Friday!!!!

Today is Feb 1st....the day I pin on my Little Red Dress! This tiny lapel pin is the American Heart Association's symbol for women's heart health, a cause near and dear to my....ummmm...heart:)

February is Go Red for Women Month...the month the American Heart Association dedicates to promoting awareness and prevention of America's #1 killer of women- Heart Disease.

This Friday, February 5th, is not only my birthday:), it's also National Wear Red Day! Wear something red as a personal reminder to take good care of your own heart and to remember those who have been affected by this terrible disease. If you don't have someone special to remember, you can remember my beautiful mother....I remember her and miss her every day!

Someone's Something's Been Walking in My Snow

I was pondering today about whether Kentucky is a Southern state or not. Given the fact that I have lived here for almost exactly one month and I have seen more snow than dry ground, I'm beginning to believe that Kentucky is NOT a Southern state.

The latest winter weather event began around 5:30 PM on Friday and lasted until about Noon Saturday. In the highest drifts, accumulations were knee-deep on me. I feel safe to say that Somerset, KY received at least 8 inches of snow!

I tried to build a snowman, but the snow was so dry and powdery that it just would not stick together. Yes, TT and I had a snow-fight. Yes, I won. Yes, I did make a little Snowcream, and no, I did not use the yellow snow that the neighborhood animals may have left for us!

Speaking of animals, I decided to go out to the backyard a little while ago, and I discovered the most strange tracks in the snow. I took some pics, but they are difficult to see in the photographs. They definitely were not human footprints. Does anybody have an educated guess as to what creature has been walking in my snow???

Alabama doesn't have Trunk Monkeys...

I've been in Kentucky for about a month now, and I have made one huge discovery since I've been here. Actually, TT alerted me to this phenomenon prior to my northbound trek, but it wasn't until I settled here that I fully realized these fascinating little gems.

Trunk Monkeys.

In Kentucky, if you purchase a Suburban, you get a Trunk Monkey. Suburbans aren't equipped with Trunk Monkeys in Alabama as I recall.

I want one.

When my lil Honda finally gives up, I'm getting a Trunk Monkey.

You can go to youtube.com to see even more adorable Trunk Monkeys.

FB friends click HERE to watch video.

Dear Brad Paisley

Dear Brad Paisley,

I came to your concert on Friday night. Oh my, what a great show you have! You sound as good in person as you do on the radio!

I had to travel about an hour to get there from my house, but that's ok- TT was driving! We were a little late so we didn't get to see the opening act...Justin Moore, whoever that is:) Boy O Boy was it raining cats and dogs. Furthermore, there was a detour in the highway and neither TT nor I knew where in the world we were going.

But anyway, back to the concert. The second act, Miranda Lambert, was ok. I would have rather you just skipped her and you have done the whole concert yourself.

Your video graphics and lights were FANTASTIC!

You are just so cute! I'm giggling like a 14 year old even as I type this.

I think I love you more today than I did yesterday, Brad.

I wanted to take my camera to your concert so that just in case you called me up on stage, or especially if you invited me backstage, I could ask someone to take our picture together. PLUS...I wanted to put the pictures on my blog for my friends and family to enjoy. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera because I was just soooooo excited about coming to the concert. Oh well...I probably would not have been able to take it in anyway. There were security guards checking for stuff...I even had to pull up the pants legs for him to check....my camera has a good zoom, so the would have likely confiscated it.

I found this good video of the concert on youtube, so I guess my friends and family can watch it. It shows clips from the whole concert.

If you ever come through Somerset, KY, please call me. I will bake you a cheesecake or something.

Very Truly Yours,
Theia



FB friends click HERE to watch the video:)

Ahhhh Yes! I've still got it after all these years!

I remember when I worked at the nursing home in Tennessee. I had a special talent that would sometimes dumbfound the physical and occupational therapists. If ever there was a difficult...errrr...stubborn....errrr...strong willed resident who refused to leave his room to go to the rehab gym for therapy, I could almost always convince the patient to join us down in therapy. I always loved the look on the PTs and OTs faces when I wheeled the resident into the gym after they had unsuccessfully made multiple previous attempts to persuade the resident.

It happened again today. Day 2 on my new job....I wheeled a grumpy little old man into the rehab gym only to be greeted by the dropped-jaw of the other Speech therapist. I love it! Yes! I do still have it after all these years!

As far as the new job goes....so far, so good. For my friends and family who have been asking, I'm working at a skilled nursing facility in Stanford, KY for THIS company.

It's raining here now, and it's supposed to rain through the weekend and all into next week.

It's bedtime for me now. I must get to work early tomorrow, because I need to be home a little early. In case you didn't know, TT and I are going to see Brad Paisley in concert tomorrow night! I'll do my best to get some good pictures...I hope it's not like the LAST CONCERT I attended where my camera was almost confiscated!!!

FB friends click HERE to see video!

i tried something new...

I tried something new this weekend. I attempted my first ever homemade cheesecake. The real kind of cheesecake! Not a Jello No-Bake deal!

Nikki Wilks...of Nikki's Hair Trix in Henagar...gave me a recipe for a sugar-free cheesecake. Don't get too excited because it's NOT fat-free.

It looked really pretty. It tasted OK. I think I need to call Nikki and ask some questions before I try it again.

I will try again:)

One special note of interest....I sliced my index finger open while attempting to remove the cake from the spring-form pan. That was at about 1:30 p.m. today. My finger is still bleeding. Maybe I need some superglue...or something like it.

end of the era....falling hard into the next:)

I'm learning that one good thing about getting older is that things that would have seemed really BIG years ago just seem like another page in the book now. After you experience one life change after another, I suppose you just come to expect the twists and turns in the storyline of your life.

You learn to accept it. Go with it. Grab on tightly to the good and bad as it unfolds. If you are brave, you learn to love the suspense of the Great Epic which is your life, enjoying each unique era, and anticipating the future with hope.

I feel like the end of an era in my life-story is upon me.

All the snow has melted now. Almost all of my boxes are unpacked. I've even stocked my kitchen with most of the necessities. The electricity, water, and garbage companies have all received their deposits and the bills will come to my mailbox...with my name on them...oh what joy! I've already received my first bill. The Move to Kentucky is done.

These are the last couple of days before I begin the new era. Tuesday marks its beginning when I start a new job in a new place. I'm very hopeful that this will be a positive chapter in my life.

I'm also settling in to this new "Era of TT"....that's the whole reason I moved to Kentucky, right? To check this man out. To see what he's all about. To determine if he's really a dirtbag gentleman or not. To acquire information about his character.

I discovered a little bit of his character last night.

My Sweet TT took me out to dinner (Mexican, it was very good). Afterwards I wanted to peruse through a store in the same strip-mall as the restaurant...he agreed without a word. Then I wanted to go to WalMart....again he agreed without as much as a sigh, huff, or puff. When we got back to my apartment, he grabbed the bags to bring them inside as I went ahead to unlock the front door.

After I got the door unlocked, I looked back just in time to see Sweet TT, with both hands full of WalMart bags, fall sideways, seemingly silently and in slow-motion, from the driveway into the yard. Not a even a grunt came from of his mouth. I stood there frozen with my mouth wide open for what felt like an eternity!

I knew that fall had to have hurt.

"Are you okay TT?" I finally uttered, my feet still glued to the front porch. By that time he was back on his feet, WalMart bags still in hand, on his way into the house.

He evidently was okay.

Then I lost it. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I tried to stop laughing, but I just couldn't. I mean, it was Obnoxious Laugh. I'm-afraid-i'm-gonna-wet-my-pants-laugh. "What hahahahahaahaha....What hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa Waaahhahahaahah.....What...Happened???" was the best I could get out of my mouth!

Poor Guy! He had escorted me around like Queen Ann all night, was bringing my bags into the house, fell while doing so, and all I could do was laugh! Laugh Hard!!!

Sweet TT just chuckled. He let me laugh. He even laughed a little.

Character....TT's got the good kind. I learned he doesn't take himself too, too seriously.

Yes, he's got character.

Me....not so much!

"I'm gonna let you put those groceries away by yourself," he said slyly.

The joke was on me I suppose....

I guess he had had enough...

....sigh.......

Yes, the former Era has come to a close, and a new one has begun. Sounds like it's gonna be a fun one. I can't wait to see what's next...

KY: Week One in Review

My landlord says it's not always this cold up here in Kentucky, but I'm not so sure. I have woken up to snow on 8 out of my first 9 days as a Kentucky resident! What a change from Alabama weather, right?

The night before my big move, my good friend Stephanie asked me if I needed a snow shovel....I said no, but I'm beginning to think that perhaps I do. Driving in the weather has not been an issue as the roads have been salted, but getting in and out of my driveway today was a challenge. I don't know how to manipulate the snow, but I just twisted and turned the wheel to get some traction as I gently eased up the sharp little hill at the end of my drive. Hopefully the snow is on its way out, and I won't have to practice my snowdriving skills much longer.

I moved into a little duplex here in Somerset. I had only seen cell-phone pictures of it before I actually moved in, so when I arrived I was a little anxious about what I would find. I had found the duplex on the internet, and after talking to the owner, Sweet T came over to check it out for me. He liked it alot, so I went with it! Sweet T did good... I could not be happier!

The duplex is very, very roomy with an open floor plan. 2 Bed/2Bath. Lots of closets and cabinets. It has a garage...which I love given the current weather conditions:) It is about a year old and looks as if no one has ever lived here. From what I understand, the resident of the other unit is a Psychiatrist who lives there part-time. I've never seen him.....so I don't know about him....Maybe it's Frasier Crane:)

I joined the YMCA this week. What awesome facilities! You can check it out HERE. It feels good to be back in an exercise routine. The real test will be when I start to work....

Speaking of the YMCA, yesterday I wore an Auburn t-shirt to work out. That really got the attention of some of the old pawpaws who were there working out, I tell ya! They had a lot of questions and comments about Auburn and Alabama and why I'm in Somerset and whether or not I will be a Kentucky fan except for when they play Auburn and on and on and on. It was soooo funny! Just hilarious!

....And when I say PawPaws at the YMCA, I mean PawPaws. Old men love me. I guess that's why I'm going back to work at the nursing home...sigh...

That's all I have to report for my first week in Kentucky.

I will leave you with a thought that has been floating around in this brain of mine as I have watched the snow fall so beautifully...

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

blogging nap-time over:)

My first home-cooked meal of 2010....turkey breast tenderloin, pintos, blackeye peas, greens, candied jalapenos, and cornbread. Not too out of the ordinary for a New Years Day meal prepared by a girl raised in the South, right?

The thing is...I'm not in Alabama any more. That's right, Toto! I'm in southeast Kentucky!

What in the world? I've been here 6 days, and I still find myself sitting in the living room of my adorable apartment wondering what in the world is happening here!

On January 4th, 2009, I would have stood toe-to-toe with anyone who merely suggested that within a year I would have packed everything I owned up onto a Budget rental truck to migrate to Kentucky. KENTUCKY, I SAY!!!!

But here I am...

I've been on somewhat of a blogging nap lately. It's not that I've not had a lot activity swirling around in this brain of mine, it's just that either my thoughts weren't "readmythoughtstoday.blogspot.com" appropriate or my thoughts were too scattered to organize into coherent sentences.

Yes, I do love a good nap...even blogging naps are necessary at times. And yes, all good things must come to an end. I feel confident that this move to Kentucky will open up a whole new can of blogging worms.

To my sweet friends who have been asking about the "Read My Thoughts" blog...

...thank you....

...and stay tuned...