25 Random Things about Me

Ok, so if you are in the Facebook world, then you know about this note that has been going around called "25 Things about Me". I have been "tagged" by a few friends in it. If you are tagged, then that means they want you to do it too and send it on to others to read. I have read a few of my friends and really enjoyed them, but just didn't have the time to do it myself. I even told a friend, "I probably won't do it because I don't have the time." Well, I guess I just ate my words.

I was up early this morning with AG. She woke me up at 4am throwing up. The good news is, I think she is fine. It is probably just the stomach bug. So, as she was watching tv this morning, what did I find myself doing??

The 25 Random things about me post!!

I thought I would share it with you too! I know some of you aren't on face book, so enjoy!!

1. I am married to my highschool sweet heart. Thomas and I started dating in 10th grade. We had assigned seats beside each other in Biology class. On the day he asked me out for the first time, I needed a ride home from school. My friend Sallie insisted we ask Thomas for a ride. I was so emabarrassed, but we did ask him for a ride. Thomas wanted to be "cool" to impress me, so he took off the tee tops on his car, and blared "Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana the whole way home. It was the start of a beautiful relationship! :)

2. I love to have conversations with Anna Grace. She has taught me so much about life. I am seeing life thru a whole new set of lenses - thru the eyes of my child. What a blessing that God has given her to me to raise. I am humbled when I think that He chose me to be her mom. Such a blessing she is!

3. I love spending quality time with Thomas and Anna Grace. I could be anywhere in the world with them and be happy. They both mean so much to me. I am blessed to have both of them in my life. In the words of Jerry McGuire - "They complete me."

4. I became a Christian when I was 7. Of course I did a lot of backsliding, but as the scripture says, "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." I am very thankful and blessed to have been raised in a Christian home with parents who did not give up on me and a sister who prayed for me A LOT!!! Her prayers were answered. My prayer is that my Anna Grace will accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a young age too.

5. I was baptized in an above ground pool at the 4th of July celebration at my church. Wooo hoo!!

6. I was Patty Simcox in my highschool's play "Grease" . My sister was her too. We alternated the character on different nights. Who knew we would both be chosen for the same part?? I guess we are more alike than we think!

7. People (who just meet me) think Sage and I are twins. Sage and I have entered a store together and people's jaws drop and they run up to us asking us if we are twins. The funny thing is we think we look NOTHING alike!! She has black hair, and a darker complexion. I have auburn hair and lots of freckles and fair skin. I don't see the resemblance, but love that people think I look like her, because I think she is beautiful!!! And I wish I did look like her!

8. Thomas teaches Sunday School at our church. He is an amazing man and such a servant of God. He is such a blessing. He is a spiritual leader, hard worker, helper, wonderful father, wonderful husband, such an encourager to me, and my best friend. What means the most to me is that he prays for me. Such a special gift he is. I am blessed.

9. New Years resolution - joined the gym with some friends and am LOVING it!! Who thought I would actually look forward to going to the gym?? Of course, I think having friends there helps!! I look forward to seeing their faces when I go!! I am blessed to have such special friends in my life.

10. I am from Greenville, SC and cosider that "home". My parents and Thomas' parents still live there and would love for us to move back. We always said we would move back to Greenville, but now I am not sure. We will see where God leads us. I never thought we would live in Sumter, SC or Florence, SC. God has a way of taking us out of our comfort zone and making us rely on Him. What an awesome God we serve!!

11. I miss my sweet high school friends and college friends more than they know. There are many times that I wish we could all go away for a girls weekend - laugh, relax, and just spend time together. I hate we don't get to see each other more often.

12. I have met some famous people.....I baby sat for Dwight Clark's children. Dwight Clark was a professional football player for the San Francisco 49s. He is most known for "The Catch".

13. My blood runs orange! I am a Clemson Tiger fan and have been ever since I was a kid. The first word AG spelled was CLEMSON! We didn't even know she knew how to spell it. We were eating in a restaurant and a man walked in with a Clemson hat on. AG said, "Clemson! C L E M S O N!!" Who knew??
It did make us all proud!! Just goes to show - children learn by watching us - more than we think they do.

14. Thomas and I love getting away together and wish we had the time and money to do it more.

15. I was pregnant with AG (7 weeks) when we went on our trip to the Bahamas. Had a fun time, but wish I could have enjoyed the trip more. I had horrible morning sickness with her.

16. Thomas and my first "baby" was a precious Jack Russel Terrier named Scoot. She was the best dog in the world and we loved her dearly. She was 4 when she died (and I was pregnant with AG when she died, so AG never met her) from a seizure disorder. We were driving her to the animal hospital in Columbia and she died in Thomas' arms. It was a horrible night. Thomas still won't talk about it. AG never met Scoot, but talks about her all the time. Once again, just goes to show what children pick up.

17. We have two cats (Sylvester, Little Foot) and one JRT named Shug. Shug turned 8 years old yesterday. We love our pets dearly.

18. My sister calls me ARA. It means Animal Rights Activist. Yes, you could say I do LOVE animals. I can't tolerate animal abuse. It sickens me to no end, and sends me into temporary depression. I can't think of it, or I could go into a dark place and never return.

19. Some nick names I have - Ching, Chinger, Ding, Dinger, Bee, Tink, Big Daddy Kayne, Big, Bigster, CoCaine, Sugar Cane, Hurricane, etc. etc. the list goes on. And you would be surprised how many people think they are the first to think of a nickname for me or ask me the question, "Where is Abel?" Believe me, I have heard it. You aren't the first!

20. My favorite food is PIZZA!!! I could eat it all day everyday!! Some of my fav places - Frodos Pizza, Pizza Inn and California Pizza (at the beach).

21.I recently reailized I like sushi!! Who knew??

22. I LOVE Chai tea!!! I think a hot cup of chai to start the day makes the day better!

23. I have thrown up many times in my life. I used to get car sick as a child, so I threw up about every time I got in the car. On the night I went into labor with AG, I didn't want to make a big deal about having contractions and how horrible I felt, so I sat thru dinner at Ruby Tuesday and then ordered an ice cream sundae for dessert. About two hours later, I went to the hospital at 4 cm dilated. I got my epidural at 7cm dilated....I have never felt such horrid pain in my life...as labor pains. The epidural was a blessing!!! And when I was 10 cm dilated, and ready to push, all I could do was throw up the ice cream sundae. Then I pushed and AG was out. She was here by 5am the next morning. Probably would have been sooner if I hadn't eaten the ice cream sundae!

24. I have saved my sister's life 3 times - once when she choked on a cinnamon disk, once when she locked herself in a refrigerator and couldn't get out (or breathe), and once when she rode her bike into the road (and a car was coming). I still have a scar/freckle on my shoulder from saving her life from the bike in the road. Once I brought her back onto the driveway, I fell and hurt myself. I have always felt like my sister's protecter. I would do anything to save her - even risk my own life!

25. I love to laugh, enjoy life and have a good time!!

Snow Day!!

Well, we woke up to a blanket of white all over the yard this morning. It SNOWED!!!

It was very exciting because this was the first time AG has seen real snow! I still am in shock that we got snow this morning. That is very rare. We usually end up with the cold rain. What an exciting day!

Mommy and AG in the snow


Daddy and AG in the snow


Daddy and AG making a snow man.


Still making the snow man.


Shug playing ball in the snow.


AG making a Snow Angel


Ta da! The snow angel!


What a fun day!!

Christmas back in Florence

We drove back to Florence on Christmas eve morning to spend Christmas at home. My parents, Sage, Wes, Wyatt and Walker joined us for Christmas eve. Once again, it was wonderful to be with family over the holidays.

We enjoyed Chicken Tortilla soup for dinner and opened presents. Here are some pictures from our evening together.

Thomas and AG looking on the computer to see where Santa is....he was getting closer!


My dad, Walker and Sage in the kitchen before dinner.
Sweet Walker was ready to go to bed!


Mom helping the kids with their meal.


AG and Wyatt eating their soup together.


Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus


And blowing out the candles on the cake!
Uncle Pat made a special coconut cake for Jesus.


Time to open gifts....

Wyatt received a cowboy and his horse from Nana and Big Pop


As you can see, He LOVED it!


AG is ready to open a gift!
Big Pop enjoys opening one too!


AG is excited about her new cupcake making machine from Nana and Big Pop


Big Pop and Nana enjoy watching the excitement in the room!


Sage having a good time!


AG singing "Connected" - the Barbie and the Diamond castle song


Is that Wyatt or Samson?!?
Wow! Look at those muscles!


A fox!! Wyatt loves foxes!!


AG and Big Pop enjoying a hug during the chaos!


AG opening another gift.


Time to go to bed.
Leaving out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer....


Santa Came!!!
Thomas and I were asleep when we heard little feet run down the stairs and into the den. Then we heard the little feet run into our room and exclaim, "Santa Came! Wake up!! He Came!"


Santa ate the cookies and the reindeer enjoyed the carrots.


AG receives three gifts from Santa because the magi gave Jesus three gifts.
This year she received - Baby Alive, Puppy in my Pocket, and my Little Pony Amusement park. She was very happy!


AG taking Baby Alive for a ride in the stroller.


Dad, Thomas and aunt MC grilling out.
We enjoyed steaks on Christmas day.


Our neighbor's dogs came over to show us their new clothes.
Scruffy received a beautiful dress from Santa and Fluffy is dressed up like Santa!
AG loves Scruffy and Fluffy!


And lastly, Thomas got a special gift from Santa this year. He has been wanting a Wii, but we decided they were too expensive and we better not get one this year.
Well, Santa surprised us with one! Good ol' Santa!
Thomas found a Wii candy dispenser remote in his stocking with a note attached that read, "For your real present look under the tree." He looked under the tree and found a small, wrapped gift to Thomas from Santa. He opened it and it was a pair of Wii boxers. He was a little disappointed until he read the next note attached - "Look in your closet for the real gift." When he looked in the closet, he found a Wii!!!!
As you can tell, he enjoyed playing with it....


I think my parents enjoyed it more than Thomas on the first night!!
My mom wanted to stay up all night and play...while Thomas slept away....


We had a wonderful Christmas and hope you did too!!
Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Andersons

On December 23rd we went to Thomas's cousin's house for Christmas dinner. We enjoyed a prime rib for dinner along with mashed potatoes. Yummy! It was great to be with Thomas' side of the family. We have a tradition where Mrs. Anderson reads the Christmas story while Anna Grace acts it out with the manger scene. Then someone reads 'Twas the Night before Christmas'. After that we bless the food and eat.

We had a very nice night. It was great to be in Greenville and be able to spend time with Thomas's side of the family and mine.

Lynn, her daughter Kaylie and me


Charles (Lynn's husband), Gramps and Thomas


Pop (Thomas' grandfather who is 101) and Donny.


Mrs. Anderson reading the Christmas story while AG acts it out with the manger.


Donny, Pop, Gram reading a story and AG listening to the story


Chassie and her daughter Faith read "'Twas the night before Christmas" to us.


Mary carol and AG open presents together


AG gets to help aunt Mary Carol open more presents


Pop and Mary Carol watch AG open her mirror from Gram and Gramps


Gramps and Thomas


Ta da! AG's new mirror


AG trying out her new mirror - nothing like making a few silly faces!

Some time in Greenville

This post is a little hard for me to write. I didn't know it on this night, but this was the last night I would see my aunt Henrietta alive. I am so thankful Sage, Wyatt, Walker, AG, Thomas and I were able to go to Greenville and spend some time with our family. Moments like this remind me that we have no idea when the end of our life will come. Only our Father in Heaven knows. That is why we need to set aside the busyness of our every day lives and make time to spend time with the people who mean the most to us.

I am so thankful for my aunt Henrietta. Aside from my mother, she was like a mother to me. She was always there for any of us, she loved her family dearly and would do anything to protect us. She was a fighter. She fought for her life for about 35 years. She cleaned out a freezer on a cold day back in 1972 and developed pneumonia. The medication she took in the hospital caused her kidneys to shut down, which started the 35 year fight for her life. She was put on dialysis back then, then had two kidney transplants - her last one being in 1986. Her body rejected that kidney in 2001 and she was put back on dialysis. She fought hard, but gave up the fight for her life on December 29th 2008. I already miss her so much and can't believe I won't see her again.

Here are some pictures from that night. They are mainly of the kids. My mom had us all over for dinner.

The kids eating dinner.
AG, Wyatt, Austin and Taylor.
Austin and Taylor are my cousin Case's children. Case is the son of my aunt Henrietta.


The kids eating together again.


After dinner, the children put a Christmas show on for us!


It was great! They had every "singing" thing turned on as they belted out "Away in a Manger" and cheered for Clemson!!


Since I didn't get any pictures of my aunt that night, I decided to add a few memories.

Here my aunt is holding AG when she was only 5 days old. To me, this picture shows how involved my aunt was in my life. She was having some health problems here, but it didn't stop her from driving to Sumter to meet my child. She was always so involved in my life. She never let her health hold her back. She was always there.



And this is a picture of her from Thanksgiving - just a few weeks ago.
You can see her health was failing and she was having to use a cane to walk because she wasn't stable on her feet. She always enjoyed holidays and spending time with us. Every year at Thanksgiving we go around the room and tell what we are thankful for. We almost didn't do it this year, due to time, but I am so glad we did. None of us knew this would be her last Thanksgiving.


My aunt knocked on death's door many times, but always pulled through. For some reason, I thought she would pull through again.

I am very glad I was able to see her one last time two weeks ago. My aunt Henrietta may be gone, but she will never be forgotten. As my sister said the other day, our world was more colorful with aunt Henrietta in it, and now it has become a little duller. She was the fruit loop in this world of cheerios. She stood out among the crowd, and definitely added more color to our lives. We are thankful for the time we had with her on this Earth and look forward to the day we will see each other again in Heaven.