I Heart! a Valentine's Post

I Heart:
-a late night bowl of cereal usually Cinnamon Toast Crunch
-a good song on the radio with the windows rolled down
-the anticipation of snow
-a cold beer (or 2 or 3)
-Ruffles chips in French Onion Dip
-a thoughtful conversation
-watching Wells and Graham play together
-a Fall day in Tiger Town
-the silly giggles
-a laugh good enough to make you cry
-road trips
-going out for breakfast on Saturday mornings
-the smell of a new car
-getting ready at the beach after a day in the sun
-the taste of cilantro
-southern novels (any good book for that matter!)
-The Real Housewives  
-running errands with my mom
-Broadway musicals
-a clean house
-seeing Graham's truck pull in the driveway
-hearing Wells squeal as Graham opens the door
-my sisters
-a fun wedding reception
-Carolina beaches
-going to bed without setting the alarm clock
-the first warm days of Spring 
-YOU for reading this!  And I really heart your comments! ;)

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Thursday Nights...

..are just not the same!  I miss my girls!  What girls am I referring to you might ask?  These sassy little ladies...

I just keep hearing them say,

"The other Real Housewives will never emotionally fulfill you...KNOW THAT!"

It's Hump Day!

Happy Wednesday Blog Friends!  It's Hump Day!  One of the many funny moments I have from teaching has to do with this particular statement.  Every day in my classroom we would have circle time which always included doing the calendar and reading a book.  Well, one Wednesday as we were discussing the day of the week I mentioned that it was Hump Day.  Most of the kids just accepted the nickname, having no clue what it meant at all.  But one little guy who just so happened to have older brothers looked at me and started laughing.  He then raised his hand and said "Mrs. Stepp, that's a really funny name for a day!"  I was hoping we'd leave it at that so I moved on only to hear him blurt out "So does that mean that people can only hump on Wednesdays?"  Yep...gotta love those kiddos! 

Happy Hump Day Wednesday everyone!  :)

Super Bowl...

Yes, the Super Bowl was tonight!  And...if I am being perfectly honest I really didn't care much about the game!  I mean, if I am being really honest, I spent half of the week feeling sorry for myself because we didn't have Super Bowl plans this year!  A very sad and embarrassing confession, I know!  But, it is true and here I was approaching Sunday, not so much looking forward to the game at all!  That's when church happened!  It happens every Sunday but this week was different.  And I mean to tell you, did the Lord ever want to speak to me!  During this series at church we are diving into the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  It's a question that I am sure most if not all of us have asked at some time or another.  Well today, we had the chance to watch Mandy's story and Zac's story. (Grab a tissue before you watch!)
I am sure you are asking yourself, what in the world does that have to do with the Super Bowl?  Here's how: As the pregame started I sat and watched Wells run around the den chasing Lucy, I glanced over at my adorably precious husband and thought..."Alright Coach, I get it!  It's time to get off of the bench and get in the game!  Every play counts and we're playing to win!  You never said the game would be easy.  You never said the game would be without pain, struggles, sweat, or tears.  I love the way you jump in during the final minutes of the 4th quarter with your grace, comfort, and wisdom!  And I realize, You are so right!  I've got everything I need right here in this very room!  It's time to run each play and live it to the fullest!  Thank you, Jesus!  My "bowl" runneth over!"

Bunco...or Birthday Group?

When we graduated from college in 2004 (wow, that seems like forever ago) we thought we would be super grown-up and start a Bunco group.  It was the new, hot game that women all over were playing so we figured, why not?  Here was our plan:  we would meet once a month at Brooke's house (she was the only home-owner at the time), eat snacks, drink cocktails, and play Bunco.  But here's what happened: we met once a month at Brooke's house, ate take-out, drank cocktails, and talked, laughed, and just enjoyed being girls!  So, 7 years later we still have never played one game of Bunco but we are still meeting and doing what we love!  We now try and meet during everyone's birthday month.  And here's what generally happens: we end up eating sushi, mexican, or our local favorite Adam's Bistro.  We drink cocktails! (If we're not pregnant of course!)  We bring fun gifts!  Brooke never brings a gift but always pays for the birthday girl's dinner!  Jami and Lindsey always go in on a gift together.  There is always....ALWAYS a yummy cake!  And we talk and laugh for hours! 
So I ask, are we still the Bunco Group, or should we change to the Birthday Group?  Whatever we are I can guarantee you one thing, we are pretty darn fun!

This fun group of ladies standing behind us just happened to be a "Birthday Group" too!  They gave us the helpful tip to continue this for years to come!  I think we will try and do just that!