Presley's Baby Dedication

Today I was honored to be a part of Amanda Presley Stephens' baby dedication.  Presley's mom is one of my best friends.  Christie and I met at IMS.  She worked as a receptionist and in collections.  She and I hit it off instantly.  We soon learned that she and a high school friend of mine, Andy Allison, were cousins!  Small world!  Then, I moved to the same neighborhood where she lived with her mom.  We use to take walks around the circle with Roscoe, Holly and Sophie.  While working at RamTool she met Craig.  I remember her calling me about him.  He drove a yellow corvette too!  She and Craig were married in Panama City Beach and just before we walked out of the rental house for them to get married - she asked me and another long term friend LeAnn to stand at the alter with her.  We were delighted to stand next to our dear friend! 

Christie and I are the type of friends that we may not get to chat often but when we do - you can't get us to stop!  During many of our conversations I would always ask - when are you going to make me and Aunt?  She brought a beautiful little girl into the world on June 2, 2010.  I was off work because I had just had gallbladder surgery but that didn't stop me from going to meet my newest niece.  She was gorgeous.  I gave Presley her first Auburn cheerleader - that was tough for this Bama fan!

A few weeks ago Christie called me to invite me to Presley's dedication.  She was worried that since I am part of the GFBC orchestra that I wouldn't be able to attend ~~ I wasn't going to miss it!  I played in the GFBC 9:15 service this morning and headed to Vestavia.  Presley had a wonderful group of family and friends to witness her dedication.  Presley had all her grandparents, Aunt Lauren, cousin Brooks,  Aunt Pat, Aunt LeAnn and Aunt LaVonda. I can't wait to see the pictures that the church took of everyone. She did great!  She is such a happy little girl.  I gave her a WillowTree "Guardian Angel" figurine.  She also received a musical jewlery box (complete with jewlery), a tea set and a cross. Below are some pictures from Presley's special day. 



Presley Stephens

Presley, Christie and Craig

Presley and Christie

Presley's Guardian Angel from me

Little Sweetheart!

Christie and Craig - thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this special occassion!  I love you~

Cakes and Cocktails

Tonight mom and I attended Dreamcakes Bakery's Cakes and Cocktails. Don't worry - we had a strong Diet Dr. Pepper and Diet Mt. Dew :) 

Dreamcakes already had the cakes baked and iced.  It is a vanilla cake with vanilla butter cream icing.  We had great teachers in Aaron and Kendra.  They taught us how to make the leaf boarder, polka dot border, etc.  The theme was Mardi Gras!!  Dad had dropped mom off and he waited for her while finishing up some PI business. 

Below are pictures of our finished cakes.  I am about to tear into mine now :)

I thank the Lord everyday for each moment spent with my mom and dad!

 My cake

Mom's cake

GFBC Write Ministry

At my church, GFBC, we have connection classes on Sunday nights.  Pastor Kevin always says the key to a large church is small groups. I love, love being in the orchestra but it limits my time in Bible fellowship classes to meet people.  So, I have been seeing this connection class - Write Ministry in the bulletin.  They write encouragement cards to guests/visitors of GFBC.  It was an important class for me to get involved in because when I first completed the visitor form, I received numerous handwritten notes.  It mean the world to me!  So, I felt it was time to pass on the joy to someone else.  Tonight we had 4 people to write to.  I sat down amongst 7 people and jumped in with both feet!  I was the new kid in the group so I introduced myself and told them that I was in the orchestra.  One lady even said - "that is why you look familiar".  LOL - it still cracks me up that I am on the big screen :)  After we finished the cards, I talked to one couple about band and got to know a few others. 

I was proud of myself because I went by myself - no Sonja, no David, no Janelle, no Angela.  Just me.  It was important to me to be a part of the Write Ministry because it made me feel special about a year ago when I walked into that big church without knowing one person and completed that visitor card.  I am so thankful for the many blessings that I have received from God.  He has given me another platform to use the talent that He gave me.  He has put wonderful people in my life that I would have not met if I hadn't walked through that door, if I hadn't met Howard, if I hadn't asked to be a part of the orchestra and if I hadn't been patient to wait my turn to play.  I played for the first time with GFBC on my 35th birthday - a Wednesday night.  My first Sunday worship was Palm Sunday, we played Psalm 24.  Thank you Lord for all of my many blessings!!!

A date with Jerrod, Darius and Brad!!!

It is becoming tradition that we go to the Brad Paisley concert!  He is such a GREAT artist and you get more than your moneys worth at one of his concerts...really!  Mom, Dad, Ann, my friend Candace and I went to see Jerrod Niemann, Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley.  Since dad has taken up wanting to learn how to play guitar, mom and I told him that he really needed to see Brad light a guitar up.  Dad stood in line several months back for us - for some reason they went on sale on Friday.  Go figure.  He got there at 4 am and they didn't open the gate until 8.  Tickets didn't go on sale until 10 am.  We got 8th row!  AWESOME!!!!  Thank you dad for standing in line for us!!!!!!

We arrived at the BJCC with our tickets and club passes in had.  Club passes are the way to go - for $5.00 you get a restroom, vending, and merchandise on the floor level.  Totally worth it!  We made it to our seats and I think I had one of the biggest smiles ever - we were literally next to the portion of the stage that came out into the crowd.  AMAZING!!!!! 

First on stage was Jerrod.  I was only familiar with a few of his songs - specifically "Lover, Lover" and "What do You Want to Do".  He did a great job and will probably being buying his CD very soon.  Oh, did I mention I got to touch his hand --- yep!  Next up was a singer I had heard before but in a different setting.  Darius Rucker, formerly lead singer of Hootie and The Blowfish, was awesome.  He sang several of his songs as well as some Hootie songs.  But what brought the house down was "Purple Rain" - I think he sang it better than Prince ever thought about.  I will definitely purchase his CD this week!  Oh, touched Darius' hand too!!!

Then it was time for the main event!!  Brad opened up with "Water" and the party began.  He did all of his biggest hits and then some, including "My Home is in Alabama" and "Dixieland Delight".  Oh Brad also displayed the Alabama Crimson Tide logo twice and the Auburn logo once.  ROLL TIDE!!  In "Celebrity" a cartoon Brad came onto the stage.  Fun!!  What I love about Brad is that he goes into the crowd and to a smaller stage in the back.  He always sings a few songs to what he refers to as the cheap seats.  No one at a Brad concert feels left out.  He is a wonderful performer.  He threw out several guitar picks and Ann scored one for me  -- two little blondes behind us kept looking for it on the floor and it was on my chair the entire time!!!  Thank you Ann!  It was a great night and I had a great time with mom, dad, Ann and Concert Candace.  By the way, most of the concerts I attend are with Concert Candace :)  Below are some pictures from a memorable night !!!! 

Jerrod Niemann

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker

Brad Paisley

Is he not HAWT??

My view -- not so bad :)

Brad shoes - this is how close we were

Profile shot

Cartoon/Celebrity Brad

Me and Candace - Brad is on stage behind us :)

Friends and Concert Buddies!!

Mom and Dad - Feb 2011

Ann and Mom - friends since high school

My ticket and Brad's guitar pic

Thanks mom and dad for a great evening!  Special shout out to Sonja and David who took me to the BJCC !!!

Snow Day -- Again

It has been an interesting weather year for the state of Alabama!  Mom and I were suppose to go to Cakes and Cocktails on Wednesday night, Feb 9th.  But Old Man Winter had different plans.  Due to the weather it was canceled - boo :(.  We hope it will be rescheduled soon.  Dad happened to be on my side of town so he lit my pilot light to the fireplace in case I lost power.  Luckily, we only got about 3" of snow and we didn't lose power.  Check out some pictures below.

Family Birthday Dinner for Mom

As tradition the family gets together for birthdays.  Today we celebrated moms!  We had delicious ribs cooked by Richard along with butter beans, turnip greens, slaw, potatoes, mac n cheese that Nana cooked.  It was all yummy!!  (I skipped the butter beans).  After dinner it was game time - no not the Super Bowl -- it was time for Mexican Train and Rummikub.  It was mom, me, Linda, Casey, Rochelle, Nana and Lindsay.  I won Mexican Train and Rochelle won Rummikub.  We all enjoyed the carrot cake and everyone was impressed with my cake skills =)  Mom received several nice gifts.  Uncle Larry had a private shopper and got her a black/white workout suit.  Rochelle and Sushi gave her a cute birdhouse complete with a bluebird.  Lindsay, Casey and Cameron gave her some tasty tasty fudge - 3 different flavors!  Nana gave her a purple shirt (may have to borrow that one) and a gorgeous necklace.  Linda and Richard gave mom a beautiful picture frame with a very sentimental saying complete with a picture of mom and Cameron.  I gave her two more beads for her Pandora bracelet (a red one and black heart one).  Dad's present is still being worked on - a gorgeous, one of a kind black diamond ring :)  It was a great day and I know mom appreciated everyone coming to celebrate her special day!  Below are some pictures from today's celebration!

 Cameron loves birthdays!!

 Blowing out mom's candles!!

 Pure sweetness!!!!!!

 Happy Tears - I think

Me and Cake Face!

It was a wonderful day and it was awesome to spend time with family.  We will continue to celebrate mom's birthday with a trip to Cupcakes and Cocktails on Wednesday at Dreamcakes.  Followed up with a Brad Paisley concert on Friday with me, mom, dad and my friend Candace.

oh - The Packers won the Super Bowl -- ROLL TIDE!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

I have the best mom in the world.  Period.
She is a wife to her high school sweetheart; 40 years this July!!!
She is a supporter.
She is a cheerleader.
She always thinks of others.
She is an animal lover - dogs, cats, birds, etc.
She loves her family.
She has carried on traditions from Mama Mae and Daddy O.
She is a daughter.
She is an aunt, a great aunt and a great great aunt.
She is a sister.
She is a wife.
She is a friend.
She is my role model.
She is MY MOM!!!!

Me and Mom @ Brad Paisley

Me, Mom and Cory Reamer - RTR!!

Me and Mom - Rochelle's wedding

Mom and Dad - JSU November 2010

Me and Mom - JSU November 2010

Tomorrow we will celebrate mom's birthday with the family.  Richard is cooking ribs and Nana is cooking butterbeans, potatoes and slaw.  I am bringing the birthday cake - a HOMEMADE CARROT CAKE.  Yes, from scratch.  I made one Thursday night and we tore into Friday night - it was great!  So, I made another one this morning.  It is prettier :)   I can't wait for the family to be surprised with my birthday cake surprise!!!

Mom, Dad and I went to Cajun Steamers tonight to have birthday dinner.  Linda, Lindsay and Cameron were in Leeds at the outlet mall so they joined us.  It is great to have family around us to celebrate my awesome, beautiful, smart, talented, caring and wonderful mom.

Me, Dad, Mom, Cameron, Linda and Lindsay

Happy Birthday Mom!!!  I love you!!!!