Monday, January 30, 2012

W.W.D.S.

What Would Disney Say?


"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"

What a wise little bunny that Thumper is! Disney movies are choc-full of inspiring words and this one has been weighing on my mind a lot lately.
It seems like everywhere you go someone is angry with someone else and is wasting time and energy to drag their name through the mud. Whatever happened to just being nice? Or, when that doesn't work, keeping our mouths shut?

I fail at this daily, like to the extent that it's embarrassing to admit. When I see or hear something that makes me want to lash out in anger-- an urge that I often give in to-- I try to remember sweet Thumper's little words. There are some things (people included) that just fire me up and I could go on and on for days about how much I don't care for them, but I know it isn't helping the situation. I exhaust myself by focusing so much of my being into disliking whatever it is! It makes me look way more pathetic than the thing causing my reaction. Sometimes my knee-jerk reaction is to say something degrading without even thinking about it. That's terrible! Who likes a grouchy complainer who is constantly downing other people? I don't! Not only is it petty, but it isn't how God wants His people to feel about one another.

Ephesians 4:29 tells us, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

So, not only are we not supposed to slander one another, but grace each other with encouragement! Easier said than done. Isn't everything? My prayer this week is that God will help me to become the kind of person who doesn't talk badly about others and only offers up pleasant things. Compliments, words of affirmation, and support. And when those fail me, the strength to say nothing at all!


Ps. Totally didn't realize how sad Bambi is until watching it the other day! I sobbed through most of it.

*Bambi pic from here

Monday, January 16, 2012

the big 2-0! woot woot!

Today my sweet hubby has moved into his TWENTIES!


That's right. Today Tommy has turned 20! He's a real life grown up now, you guys! How exciting! I feel so privilaged to be able to spend this milestone birthday with him and I hope that he'll let me stick around for many, many more. I think he will though because I'm the world champion of snuggling.

I had something totally rad planned but since we collectively had to spend $800 on text books (Yeah, we both bought all used and it makes me sick every time I think about it.) it fell through. So, we decided to just hang out and be lazy all weekend. That's Tommy's absolute favorite thing! If it were up to him we would be hermits and the only people who would ever visit would be food delivery guys.
I could resist getting him out for at least a little while though. We went to Cheesecake Factory Saturday for lunch and nearly bust a gut! Oh, it was so soooo good! Fried mac-in-cheese heaven. Then we came home and took the most glorious nap in the history of all naps!

For his actually birthday I got him a few little gifts. Instead of getting him another card (he had already gotten a pretty sweet Jim Halpert talking card from someone special) I made him a message in a bottle.


I bought the little bottle at Michael's, rolled the letter around a pencil, and dropped it inside! It was really hard to squeeze it in that little bottle and even harder to get it out but he loved it :)

Tommy is my best friend and I can hardly believe he chooses to spend his every day with me. I can't imagine a more thoughtful, understanding, kind, funny, snuggly, HANDSOME man than the one God blessed me with. Happy birthday, Sunshine! I love you.

Monday, January 9, 2012

i love books!


I do! I love them! Books open doors to new worlds and places and times that a person would never have access to otherwise. Book are full of all the life and adventure and emotion that could ever be imagined. One can never read all the books in all the world; they're like a never-ending supply of everything that is good!

Yes, I'm kind of a nerd. I don't care!

Since the break started I've been reading up a storm! I'm trying to read everything I can get my hands on before I'm confined to boring ol' textbooks for the next five months. Not being able to read what I want nearly kills me!

I got a Nook from Tommy's parents for Christmas and I have used the crap out of it! The first thing I downloaded was the Hunger Games trilogy!

 I really, really enjoyed all three. They're suspensful and full of action and, of course, a love story. They're also pretty short so it's good for a quick read. I finished all three in about a week. Now I can hardly wait for the movie coming out in March even though I know the books will be way better! Aren't they always? Except for maybe Holes. It was pretty spot-on.

One thing I really love about reading is that you can cast whoever you want as each character. I've chosen very different people for Peeta and Gale than whoever they paid to be the casting director. Personally I like mine better, but I'm a little biased!


           Alex Pettyfer (my pick)                                           Josh Hutcherson (cast)

Sean Faris (my pick)                                      Liam Hemsworth (cast)

 See what I mean?! They cast the kid from Bridge to Terabithia as Peeta! I still see him as that immaginative kid from all those years ago, but I'm interested to see if he can break that image for me. I'm excited reguardless! You can watch the trailer here! It gives me chills!

Definately, definately read The Hunger Games trilogy if you haven't already! And when you finish, start on Water for Elephants. I finished it tlast week and loved it! But parts of it are pretty raunchy, so if you're sensitive to that you might want to skip out on this one and go straight for The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks.

What should I ready next?
Do you have a nook? Will you be my nookfriend?!


married christmas to us!

As you all know, this was our very first married Christmas! It was fantastic!
Of course I'm not going to lie to you, I seriously missed waking up at my parents house. It's just because it's different and the first year I was away. Tommy missed his old traditions too. But we still participated in everything we normally do and had fun figuring out new, grown-up-ish traditions!

Dec. 23rd we woke up early and went to my parents' house for gifts and breakfast before we left to visit my family in Ft. Payne!
Ps. I took all these with my phone, so they're pretty crummy. Bear with me!
Dad was really excited about his gift!

We spent Christmas eve at my aunt and uncle's house...
 ...having Tacky Christmas! I won.
 I didn't realize how long an actual game of Monopoly took! It eventually dwindled down to just Tom and I. Then he clobbered me and the bank took all my property.
 After a hard night of stealing my cash, Tommy used it to get his hair done at Salon Abby! He wasn't took happy about the pink and purple clips.
Abby and Sara found out that they are going to Disney World! They're sooooooo excited!

Christmas morning Tom and I packed our stuff up and met up with his family for our annual trip to Gatlinburg!
Tommy won this snowman/penguin man for me at a gas station on the way. He's the champion of crane games! Ha!

That night we exchanged our gifts to each other and to his parents.
I love how Tommy wraps my presents! Layers and layers of whatever paper he has on hand. He never cuts off the excess so he just folds and crumples it until he can tape the wad down! He also writes the recipient's name across the front in big, sloppy Sharpie! I get cracked up whenever I see his finished product! He's gotten a little better over the years, but I refuse to show him how its really done because I like knowing exactly which box from him. Underneath the double wrapping, packing tape, hand towels, old tshirts, and a broken hairdryer sat a Canon Powershot! I couldn't believe it! I've been so sad about my Cybershot breaking at Disney and I'm thrilled to be snapping away now! It was way too big a gift and made the Polo sweater I got him pale in comparison, but I'm extremely grateful for it! Now are better pictures!!!! Woot Woot!


 We had tons for fun in Dollywood!
 And the Ripley's aquarium! I swear, in Gatlinburg if Dolly doesn't own it, Ripley's does!
We had a wonderful first married Christmas!