October Findings

So, I get it.

I need to post more.

The only thing is... there's no time. Sure I could write something as soon as i get home for the day, but who wants to do that after sitting at a computer for 10 hours?

So, you are stuck with the sentiments i have after my brain has gone to bed. ;)

Tonight that means i need to show you a few things...

like this:
In the name of (somewhat tasteless, sure...) current events, I was a Texan Mormon for a Halloween party. It was fun, albeit counter intuitive, to intentionally be so "unfortunate looking" (as Kristin would say.)

Also I would like to show you this:
The MOST precious Becca and Aaron Scoggin! They are officially hitched and adorable! Their wedding in Edisto Island was about the most lovely thing I have ever attended! Kristin and i both agreed it was the top 3 weddings we ever seen... ever. Amazing! The wedding... gorgeous and touching! The reception... outstanding!!! The plantation was the perfect backdrop for a lovely dance party and yummy food. complete with photo booth, of course. It was just... incredible! I even stayed at a beach house with Kristin, Chad, Emily and Justin! Great friends, great fun, great EVERYTHING! can you tell i had fun? I wish i could go every weekend.

I am in love.


IN LOVE WITH AUTUMN!!!

(calm down, mom. i'm sorry... that was tricky. keep your hopes up.)

This weekend is the "Americana Folk Festival" and i am so pumped! Sarah June is coming too!!!!

There's so much to share about the last few weeks, but it will have to come later, i think. I am too tired and i have been doing the work of three people lately. I am excited for my co-workers to be back from illness!!

I will leave you with this:
- hanson has one HECK of a Christmas album... just sayin.
- red wine = relaxation and i dig it.
- i LOVE when silly excitement is an appropriate response... !

ok, night night.

xoxox

Fridays at Emma...

Cheers!!

Things on tap for me include:

- organizing a basement
- carving a pumpkin
- a co-worker's wedding!
- halloween party
- eating eggs and turkey bacon
- dancing with navy men... maybe. haha. don't worry mom.
- general "first weekend home in a while" kinda stuff

Have a great weekend!

On my Mind...

1. I love SKYPE.
2. I love my parents.
3. I love dinner with friends that includes hamburger stew and "pumpkin love". yummm.
4. I love Fall.
5. I love sleep.

That is all for tonight. I'm so sleepy so that's all I've got tonight. More tomorrow!

xoxo

Inspiration

Katherine sent me this inspiring story:

http://consumerist.com/5059687/reader-pays-off-14330-in-20-months-with-our-tips

smacks of Dave Ramsey which i love!

Tackling the Beast,
Kelley

Whirlwind!

I don't even know where the last week has gone! Rather perplexing, actually.

That's right... perplexing.

I do know that I have been staying at work until at least 6:30p every night. I don't have to get there until 9, so its not too bad. My days at work are so packed that I feel like i surface in time for lunch and for bathroom breaks. Its SO much better than the opposite! I really do love it!

Ok, for our latest installment of "Random Kelley Tidbits" I give you the following:

- I had THE BEST TIME with Katherine, Heidi, and Julie in San Antonio! Well.. it was magical being with them anyway. San An was nothing like I anticipated. Great food and... the Alamo. Those girls make anything fun, so it was great. Nothing like old friends. Here we are!



- I paid $3.24/gallon for gas today... and thought it was so cheap they were GIVING it away! sad.
- I have discovered (a) the Kenny Loggins station and (b) the Motown station on Pandora. dangerous. Its like Kroger is always with me. Kind of like that creepy Verizon guy.
- I just packed WAY too much for the weekend trip that starts at noon Thursday. I have Becca's wedding on Saturday and A TON of friends will be at the beach together to celebrate. Pretty much incredible! Then there's coming home through Charlotte where I will be sharing some thoughts at my sweet Grandma's memorial service. It will be good... just a BIG swing of emotions in one weekend. If i were going to two more weddings, it would be a movie. i kid.
- I have woken up humming Phil Collins songs the past three mornings.
- My daddy got a new job! He's working with a ministry he's been on the board with for as long as I can remember: "Helping International Students." He'll be holding down the fort for them in Charlotte. Much growth to come with an institute, etc. He'll guest blog for me soon. Right pop? ;)
- This is the first time in 4 years that all 5 family members (yes, Chad gets counted) have been employed at the same time! That means one thing to this girl... we get to exchange CHRISTMAS GIFTS AGAIN! holler! ok... it means a few things. but that was the first to pop in my mind!
- I have been listening to Christmas music already.
- I am SO PUMPED about my Halloween costume! I'm gonna be a "sister wife" from Utah. Complete with awesome frumpy jumper and poof hairstyle. SO awesome. I'll even have baby dolls that get taken away. Hey... the tackier the better. that's what i always say.

Ok, I'm getting too worked up. I need to be winding down, but its hard. I come to life at night. Its 12:48a (my favorite time b/c each number doubles!) and all i can think is that i would like to look through my memory box and chew Big Red. Time to calm down. I think I will start to re-read "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. That should do the trick.

Next time you hear from me will likely be from Edisto Island! holla!

Cheers, homies!

Overload

So, sometimes, when I neglect to blog, i experience something of a creative overload. I have so many little things I feel like I could expound on. None of them feels worthy of following up a tribute to my precious Grandmother, however. I guess I just have to bite the bullet and let them, right?

Here are things that have happened/occurred to me recently:

1. I WISH you could have seen my boyfriend get baptized on Sunday. He cried and cried as soon as he was taken from Courtney's arms. He is the cutest baby boy- y'all just don't know. I can't get enough.

2. Saturday, Lucie turned one year old! You may remember I used to babysit that little nugget. She's tied for cutest child on earth. :) It was SO fun to celebrate her!

3. Saturday evening I went to a going-away party for Brent. He's leaving for Mexico today to do work with a deaf ministry there. Its really exciting, but I'm sad he's going to be gone for at least the next year. A piece of trivia for you: A LARGE part of why I moved to Nashville is due to the fact I met Brent and some other dear friends in Mexico, LO these many 4+ years ago. so sweet.

4. this BLOG is so hysterical. I get lost in this site for... too... long. :)

5. I just got to "chat" with my dear friend Julia who is living in Tanzania. I love her SO much and can't believe she'll be home in two months. She will have been there for over a year. She's a nurse and has been doing AIDS education and just loving on the people there. I admire her so much. She's one of my oldest and dearest friends. hmmm. can't wait til Christmas when we're all together!

6. I am heading to San Antonio on Thursday evening to go enjoy a weekend with my GIRLS from college! We randomly picked S.A. as a city we'd like to visit, so here we are. I look forward to this weekend each year with such fervor! Its usually in the Fall, so i start getting excited in... oh.. April. :)
It promises to be a riot. holler!

Welp. Guess I'll go back to working. (Incidentally, this job is amazing!! I'm loving it so much! I'll find out this week if I have "made the cut" and get to stay! Its the end of the 30 day trial period on Wednesday. I'll keep you abreast of the situation, naturally.)

Cheers, homies!

For My Gramma...

Norma Jean Thompson, passed into the presence of her Savior Jesus on 30 September 2008 at age 87. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold G. Thompson, and is survived by three sisters, Frances Hatfield of Sun City Center, Florida, Mary Geisler of Venice FL, and Margaret Ehlers of Tampa Florida; her only child, Carol Kirker and husband Cameron of Salisbury NC; and twin granddaughters, Kristin Rochester of Columbia SC and husband Chad, and Kelley Kirker of Nashville TN.

Norma Jean was born third of eleven children to Glenn and Hazelle Hatchitt of Davenport IA. As a teenager she pursued a modeling career at Neiman Marcus in Dallas Texas, and later expressed her professional creative artistry through painting canvasses and murals. She also worked in the hospitality, real estate, and home care industries.

Mrs Thompson sang in many church choirs and over many decades lovingly tended countless infant children in church nurseries.

Norma Jean resided in Southern Florida much of her life, and moved to South Carolina in 1997 to be near her daughter and family. She relocated with them to Salisbury NC in 2004, and has resided at Hope House in Rockwell NC since April 2007.

Mrs Thompson trusted in Christ as Savior in her middle years, and attended church at StillWaters in Salisbury, the congregation her son-in-law served as church planter and pastor until early 2008.

A memorial service is planned for Sunday, 19 October 2008 beginning at 3:30 pm at the West Park Baptist Church, 715 Westpark Drive, Rockwell NC.