Critty Joy

My Sassy Niece Has Something to Say....

Last weekend I had the lovely honor of taking some of my favorite photos....

So I'll let those photos do the talking....

 

 

Yes!

I am going to be an Aunt again and I am over the moon excited!  

Toccoa was Bean... and we are calling this one Spike for now.  This is totally Toccoa's doing.  She loves My Little Pony and she has deemed it that she is Twilight Sparkle and the baby dragon is Spike.  So of course he had to be in some photos too.  It was such a fun day and we are all relieved we can now tell people!  In the next few weeks we will learn the gender....I must admit I am hoping for a boy.  That is Toccoa's hope too.  I think it would be so special since it would be like Michael and I.  Big sister...little brother.  :)

What is something lovely that has happened to you lately?

A Favorite Summer Night. (Alternate title... Go Braves!)

I mentioned a few weeks ago Braves baseball was one of my favorite things....

Growing up baseball was the sport I knew.  I played softball for years...and my brother played baseball.  It was our thing.

My Pappy was a big Braves fan (even during the hard, lean years!) so we grew up watching the games and taking trips to the Fulton County Stadium.   It was the end of an era when the TED came in and the old Fulton County Stadium was torn down.  

It's always been a family thing....rooting for the Braves.

We watch the games on television and cheer... even Toccoa gets in on the cheering.  She will sit and watch with us, try to do the tomahawk chop, and even knows the name of a few players.  My brother and I often debate stats, who plays the positions better... you name it we talk about it.  (Almost every game my brother and I watch together we chat about how Freddie Freeman is so freakin' tall yet runs so slow!)

Going to a game is one of my favorite things but doesn't happen to often. (If I ever live in Atlanta I will be a season ticket holder.)  Although I was reminded last week...y'all... baseball players are hott.  ;)

Last Thursday we got to go to a game and had a blast!  It was Chipper Jones bobble head night so a fun keepsake from his final season was the first order of business...followed by getting out seats....and sitting.  We got there a little early but I was very okay with it.  Watching batting practice and taking in the views from the TED were more than worth it.  The city of Atlanta is my favorite.

It was a great night with Medlen pitching the whole game, Chipper hitting two home runs, and a BIG WIN.  Out of all the games I have watched at the stadium...this is the first time I have been there for a win.  

We also discovered we adore sitting in the upper level seats.  The view is great and you can see everything.  It was fun to actually see and cheer for our favorites.... Chipper, Freeman, JHey, BMac....  I was surprised I still had a voice at the end of the game!

We really made a point to make a game this year as our favorite is retiring.  Chipper Jones started playing when I was 13 years old.  He was on the team that went all the way and won the world series in 1995... as a Braves fan he has been a constant for 20 years.  Its funny how you get attached to someone you don't even know.

I think my favorite part, however, was watching Nate celebrate at the end of his first major league game as our team won!  We screamed and clapped...and it's a memory I now get to store in my heart.

The game and time with some of my favorite people is now one of my favorite summer memories of 2012.

What has been one of your favorite summer memories from 2012?

My Friday Adventure :: A Photo Story

*****Warning....LONG post ahead!!******

If you are my friend on facebook....you already know who my Friday adventure involves.  If not....well read on!

First a little backstory to my adventure:  To be quite honest after Thursday I was not in the mood for my adventure on Friday.  In fact I had pretty much decided to not go.  I had a horrible day and in the end did not want to go on an adventure on my own.  Funny thing is I had forgotten I had set my alarm Thursday morning for Friday morning.  So Friday morning at 6:07 a.m. my alarm went off.  Sighing I got up and turned my alarm off.  I sat there for a few minutes internally debating...but God had asked me to do something for someone earlier in the week when I found out about this event so I knew I had to go.

****************

So I got up and left my house at 7 a.m.

 it was a cold and nasty wet day.  And yes that is traffic.  Lots of traffic.  I sat in traffic for about an hour.  It was nice in that I got lots of talk time with our God in :)

 I arrived at my first destination at 8:50 a.m.  They opened early so I was able to go ahead and go in...

 I purchased two copies of the book I wanted signed and got my purple arm band....this meant I would be 1 of the first people to see the author!  (By the way the book is half price on amazon right now...amazing deal!!)

It was only 9 a.m. so I had some time to spare...so I did a little shopping at Target (I needed a planner...this year is getting busy!!)  and then I had my first experience at....

 And I am in love with that store.  I found some yummy things...and I got challah bread...yum.  By the way their chocolate is the best I have ever had in the US :)

I also went in to Williams-Sonoma and had to leave quickly because I pretty much coveted the whole store ;)

I headed back to Border's and enjoyed their free wi-fi and some hot chocolate until 10:35.  I then went to get in line.

Now.  One of my favorite parts of this adventure was standing in that line.  I met several nice ladies and one nice fellow and we talked and chatted as we waited.  It was so fun!  

So the line moved slowly and then....

 I made it to the front of the line and there SHE was!  My adventure was to see Beth Moore!

And can I just tell y'all....She is one of the nicest people I have ever met.  She hugged me....twice.... and held my hand as we spoke.  She called me Sister....and y'all she told me she loved me.  I could feel her authenticity and love in her words and actions.  She is the real deal...and I love her even more now that I have met her.

 I also got to have my photo taken with her! (Yes I was as tired as I look in this photo and if nothing else it proves my love of her to put up this photo...HA!)  

Oh...you want to know what God told me to do?  He asked me to get an extra book and get it signed for a sweet bloggy friend.  I was going to surprise Amy Beth but she figured it out anyway (and not by my facebook photo!).  Turns out she needed some extra encouragement that day too.  Our God is SO Amazing!!  And I am so glad I obeyed...not only was I blessed but I was able to bless someone else and that made everything totally worth it.  If you get a chance to bless someone I think it is the greatest thing you can do.  If God prompts you to do something for someone....do it!  It is the biggest blessing EVER.

 My question is...do you think I can call her Beth now?  ;)

After chatting for a few more minutes with the ladies (who I wish I had gotten their email addresses!) I started home.

As I was sitting at a red light I looked and there on the right side of the road was this....

 God gave me a treat!  I loved this place as a child and I had not seen one in years and there at a red light on a rainy Friday morning was a TCBY.  

Sometimes His thoughtfulness overwhelms me!

So there you have it....my wonderful Friday adventure.  It really was worth the tiredness and the nasty weather to have my little adventure :o)

 
 

Sami

So my new bloggy friend and fellow Exemplify writer, Tracy, has been doing this fun series of introducing her pets.  I just could not resist any longer!  Yesterday I introduced you to Bella.  Today it's all about my miniature schnauzer, Sami.  

 Sami is 2 years and 2 months old.  My Mum had a friend who had some minature schnauzer puppies and I had been wanting a dog of my own.  I had, at first, wanted a cocker spaniel but after seeing those mini schnauz puppies I just could not resist!  I was able to meet and pick out Sami when she was 3 weeks old.  Goodness she was adorable.  When I first brought her home I took a lots of photos of her.... I love that her eyes still convey the same things they did when she was a puppy.  She has beautiful eyes and you can tell how she is feeling by just looking at her!  She also has the cutest eye lashes.  She is a blast to play with and loves to spend most of her time outdoors.

Sami is actually named after my favorite movie character ever.  I had actually picked her name out before I even saw her.  At the time I was going to get a boy dog but when I saw her...well who could resist?  So she became Sami Gamghee instead of Samwise Gamghee :)

She has several different names we like to call her....Sami, Sam, Sami girl, and a personal favorite Nosey Rosey.  She loves to get her nose into anything! 

I had to make Sami sit and answer these questions....she is quite the on the go pup!

 1. What three words best describe your personality?

Fun loving, adorable, stubborn.

2. What three words would others probably use to describe you?

Silly, talkative, trouble :)

3. Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.

My Human and her Mum.

We live in a house but my favorite place is the fenced in front yard.  I love to run and play....and chase the neighbor's cats that come to visit.  I love to bark at the cows who are across the street and I can always see when Michael comes to visit.  He is one of my favorite humans.

4. Do you have any ailments or physical weaknesses?

Nope I am a healthy pup.

5. If you were any other creature what would you be?

I like who I am just fine.  Being a dog is just great....I get to run and play and be friendly.

6. What are your pet peeves?

I don't like cats in my outside territory and I hate loud music.  I do not like when Bella has my Human's attention.

7. What is your greatest fear?

I am not scared of very much....well except my cousin Nova....she is a much bigger dog than I am!

 8. Do you care what others think of you?

Very much so.  I get my feeling hurt very easily but I forgive with just a few cuddles.

9. What is your favorite food?

What ever is in the bowl.  I have been known to eat napkins and the like but I have not done that since I was a pup.

10. How do you deal with stress?

 I like to bark my feelings out.

So now you have meet my sweet Bella and fun Sami!  Pets really do make our world a better place :)

Have a wonderful weekend Peaches!

 
 

Bella

So my new bloggy friend and fellow Exemplify writer, Tracy, has been doing this fun series of introducing her pets.  I just could not resist any longer!  So taking a cue from her I thought I would introduce my kitty and my puppy dog to you.  

Today I am introducing you to Bella....tomorrow I will introduce Sami.

 Bella is my kitty.  She was my college graduation gift.  It was a really rough time family wise and I needed a pet.  Bella was a fiesty little kitten.  She had been outdoors and she did not like become an indoor kitten...at first.    She is definitely a cat.  She has quite the stubborn personality and can be a little erhm...stuck up!  She has definitely mellowed out over the past 4 years.  She is also a one person cat.  This year has been a really tough year for me health wise and she has been a constant in my life.  She sleeps with me and loves on me and she makes me laugh a lot.  When I am feeling really bad she stays by my side and follows me everywhere.  I could not ask for a better furry friend.

I loved Tracy's questions so I thought I would borrow those too :)

Bella loves my computer so of course she jumped at the chance to answer a few questions!

1. What three words best describe your personality?

Lazy, stubborn, Queen.

2. What three words would others probably use to describe you?

Lazy, constant, lovable.

3. Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.

My Human and her Mum.

We live in a house with windows and french doors that are perfect for sunning and plenty of room for me to run around like a crazy cat.  I also love the heater that I can lay in front of during the cold times.

And I have a scratch pad with cat nip that is one of my favorite things.

4. Do you have any ailments or physical weaknesses?

I have a weird flap of skin but it does not detract from my natural beauty.

5. If you were any other creature what would you be?

Why would I want to be any thing else?  Cats are far superior beings to other creatures.

 6. What are your pet peeves?

Not having food in my bowl all the time and lots of people in our house.  When my human leaves...I try to sneak in her suitcase but she always finds me.  And when my human will not let me climb the Christmas tree.  Oh and when my Human gets out her camera...sometimes I have to put my paw over my face to stop her from taking my photo.  I mean I know I am beautiful but there is a point where photos are just too much.

7. What is your greatest fear?

Loud noises and going outside...I tried once but hid under the stoop...its a scary world out there.

8. Do you care what others think of you?

Of course not....I am a cat you know.

9. What is your favorite food?

I enjoy this special formula of cat food for indoor cats that helps with hairballs....I have not had one since I added it to my diet.  I also like a little milk every now and then.

 10. How do you deal with stress?

Stress?  What stress?  This is the life!

I really do have a fabulous life!  

So there you have it...your introduction to my sweet Bella.

 
 

Things that bring me Joy.

   

The little things and the big things in life bring me joy.  I am not feeling well this week so I thought I would remind myself of some things that make me happy! 

--Reading makes me happy.  My TBR stack is huge and I love knowing a good book is just a bookshelf away! Re-reading also brightens my day....my old favorites and a comfy chair is perfection.

--My journey with my Beloved has brought me to a level of Love I have yet to fully comprehend.  I cannot even begin to describe what an amazing journey this year has been!

--Music (especially DC*B's new cd as well as the Wicked soundtrack are my go to choices) makes me happy.

--Tea and chocolate are pure enjoyment..

--Netflix and Hulu make my insomnia not seem so bad.

--Getting comics in my inbox makes me laugh.

--My kitty cozying up to me for a few snuggles in the morning brings me contentment.

--Good friends bring delight to my life.  And a few Rockstar friends remind me what life is all about.

--Encouraging others encourages me.

-- Cooking and trying new recipes makes me feel creative and useful.

--Creating in PSE, taking photos, and writing energizes me.

-- Being a part of the amazing Exemplify team blesses my sock off.

--My family is just so wonderful and I am glad they are mine.

--Thinking of little Bean and being an Aunt next year...let's just say it brings such delight to my heart I cannot even begin to describe it :)

How can I stay down when I have such goodness in my life.  Our God has blessed me so tremendously and I lose sight of that sometimes.  

He is so good to Me!

Peaches, what brings you Joy?