Top Ten Tuesday - 2010 Edition

Top Ten Tuesday is back…finally! It feels like it’s been forever since I posted a list. I actually had some to post but for some reason or another I never was able to do it. So, today’s post is actually somewhat a cry for help. What I mean by that is that I will need all the support possible to help ensure this list is completed and to make sure I am held accountable for my word. This week I present…

Ten Things I WILL Accomplish in 2010

10. Go to an awesome concert.

9. Shop less – I have developed a bad habit of buying more than I need. This year I commit to buying things that logically make sense and stay away from the “As Seen on TV” isle.


8. Floss more – I do floss, I PROMISE, but I don’t floss as much as I should. Come on you know you were thinking you need to do the same, I just happen to say it out loud.


7. Purchase a professional quality camera and expand on my love for photography – I have always loved photography since my first 110 camera in elementary school but now I want to take it to the next level.


6. Volunteer at least 3 days at the local Humane Society


5. Walk a Half Marathon or 5k – There is a 5k in Austin in March and a half marathon in San Antonio on November. Anyone want to join?


4. Take a fun leisure learning class


3. Visit my family and friends more often


2. Pay-off ALL my credit card debt – I did a good job this year of paying off the discrepancies on my credit report. In 2010, I want to focus on paying off the plastic.


1. Work on improving me physically, emotionally and spiritually – This means eating better, working out more, reducing stress and anxiety and most importantly letting God take the wheel.


I am fully committed to completing all items on this list. I thought that wording the list this way instead of referring to them as resolutions will make me more accountable. So, HOLD ME TO IT! I am printing this list and posting it at home and work to keep reminding myself they need to be completed.

Now that I have shared mine, what do you commit to doing in 2010?

Hit the Road 2009

Ok, so i haven't fallen off the face of the Earth I SWEAR! Have you ever had one of those months where if feels like your world as you know it has been turned upside down? Well, I have! Needless to say, this past month has been emotional and hard and I am not sad to see it and 2009 be over and done! I would like to elaborate about on what all has gone down, but I don't want all of it to be for public viewing. So, if your intertesed, ask me and maybe I can give you tidbits in a less public form. Another reason I haven't been able to blog like usual was I was lacking the neccessary equipment: a computer. Luckily Santa aka Zac brought me a new Sony Viao to help mend the wounds. Let the blogging proceed!

Well Christmas 2009 was a very white one! It was my first Christmas in Lubbock in a few years. Unfortunatley, I spent the holiday home-bound thanks to snow and a car very low to the ground. Sorry I didn't get to see my Lubbock friends. I did however get to see most of my family. My whrilwind trip inlcluded stops in Paris to and from Lubbock which allowed me to see most of everyone I wanted to see. This even included my Dad who was able to take leave from Iraq to spend Christmas at home. I will be heading back up to Paris to spend New Year's with him since I only got to see him for a grand total of 30 minutes.

By the way...Zac loved the snow! Being a Louisiana boy he had never seen that much snow or have it last that long. He and the dogs LOVED it and played for hours. I have some picutres I will post later.

I promise to get back on blogging track! I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!

Top Ten Tuesday

Nothing puts you into the holiday spirit like a good Christmas tune. In fact, many of my Christmas memories involve music. I have numerous memories since I was a child of singing Christmas carols in nursing homes, Alzheimer’s care centers, school concerts, church plays, and the list goes on. Some Christmas songs are fun and some can make a tear come to your eye. That’s why this week I present…

My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Songs

10. When it’s Christmas Time in Texas by George Strait – This so true of Christmas in Texas, but I’m sure my Louisiana friends can relate. Sunny and warm Christmases happen in the south. Although, I have had the pleasure of experiencing one white Christmas in Texas; it was many years ago.


9. Feliz Navidad – Ok, this song is just fun!


8. (TIE) Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty, the Snowman – These two famous Christmas staples bring back so many memories for me. I remember being so excited (ok, so maybe I still get excited) when these movies came on CBS every year and I remember many solo performances I put on for anyone that would listen. They have become a holiday tradition and hopefully be one passed down to my kids.


7. Carol of the Bells by Trans-Siberian Orchestra – This song is a mix of Christmas and rock-and-roll flare! I can’t help but enjoy it every time I hear it. I also had the pleasure of seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert, and one word: amazing.


6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town by family – My Mom and Paw Paw used to sing this to me all the time before Christmas and I would get so excited to see what Santa brought me. They liked to emphasize the part about Santa making a list and checking it twice which meant I had to be good for goodness sake!


5. All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey – So, in junior high I had the Mariah Carey Christmas CD and I fell in love with this song. I would repeat it over and over and try to relate to it with my stupid crush on Jay Carpenter, oh how that makes me sound like a dork. I still love the song and wish I still had that CD. Maybe I’ll get one in my stocking (hint, hint, Mom JK)…


4. Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me by Elvis – The Elvis Christmas album is one of my favorites. My granddad and I listened to it together many Christmases and no one except Elvis could make a Christmas song have so much style.


3. Melle Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby – My favorite movie is National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. I have been watching it every Christmas season for as long as I can remember. So much of that movie reminds me of my family. This is the song that plays while Clark is dreaming of the saleswoman in his pool and I just love it (the song that is)!


2. The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole – Even though I have never seen chestnuts roasting by an open fire, this song just reminds me of what Christmas is all about. It’s such a great song and Nat King Cole was amazing.


1. Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant – I first heard this song during a Christmas play I did with my church youth group in middle school. It is literally one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my life. I love the song because it tells of what Christmas is all about. Forget Santa and elves, Christmas is the time to celebrate God sending his only Son. What an amazing sacrifice and the best gift any of us could ever receive.


Now that I have shared mine, what are some of your favorites?

Top Ten Tuesday is BACK!

In lieu of the Thanksgiving holiday this week, I am dedicating my list to the Ten Random Things I am Thankful For. I’m going to steer away from the generic list of things like family and friends because hopefully they already know how thankful I am for them. Also, notice how “top” was taken out of the title? That’s because this list is not necessarily a “top ten” of things, just a few things I am extremely thankful for. Here it goes…

Ten Random Things I am Thankful For

10. Chapstick – Yes, it’s making its second appearance in the series. That’s how important it is to me. So, thank you chapstick for keeping my lips feel moisturized year around!


9. Katy Kress – Thank you Katy for opening a dance studio and starting an adult dance class! The class has been the best therapy I have ever paid for.


8. Target – Thank you Target for allowing me to purchase shoes and clothes that are fashionable, yet still affordable.


7. 6” Roast beef and cheddar on wheat from Subway – Thank you sandwich for being the best dinner option when I need something filling and without a ton of Weight Watchers points.


6. Jack FM – Thank you Jack FM for playing music I can sing along with at work and not be embarrassed of the lyrics. You help me keep my sanity on those long days, and for that I am forever grateful!


5. Random Lady at Pitt Memorial Hospital – Thank you random lady for telling me I looked like I just had a baby, because of you I will remain on my diet this Thanksgiving and not gorge myself on unneeded calories


4. Koozie- Thank you dear Koozie for keeping all my beverages ice cold. It’s because of you I am able to enjoy my Coke Zero with Zero for hours after I have opened the can. Thanks a million!


3. Facebook (yes, I went there) – Thank you Facebook for allowing me to reconnect or stay connected with family and friends all around the country and the world. With your notifications I am able to cyber stalk from a far and still feel somewhat involved in the lives’ of old friends that I haven’t spoken to in years. Thank you for making me sound a little creepy…


2. DVR – Oh I sound like a dork, but whatever. Thank you DVR for keeping me in the loop with all my shows. Because of you I am able to live my life worry free from missing an episode of The Mentalist or Biggest Loser. You’re a lifesaver!


1. The Bible – Thank you for being there to answer all life’s questions when no one else could.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! In all seriousness, I am thankful for all the amazing people I have been blessed with in my life. I wish everyone a great holiday!

These are the best days of my life...

I know I am totally slacking on this blog. I promise I will do better; just been a little busy lately! Top Ten Tuesday will return next week I promise!

I want to start with updating everyone on what’s going on with my sister. Jaclyn delivered Adrianne Paige Rubin Smith (Rubin is the father’s last name and a “silent” middle name) on Friday the 13th a little after 1 p.m.

The delivery happened extremely fast. When I got there (around 11:00 a.m.) she was dilated to a 5. She thought she needed to use the restroom so she kicked us all out of the room. Turns out she didn’t need to go to the bathroom at all, she needed to have a baby! Within 30 minutes she had completely dilated and it happened so fast they didn’t even have time to move her to a delivery room. The nurse had to run to the cafeteria to get the father, my mom and me and we took off running towards the room. Of course only the father was allowed in, but I impatiently waited in the waiting room. I called our other sister Tamara to tell her the good news, and she had the audacity to put me on hold to order Taco Bell! (I’m never going to let her live that one down) Literally not even 5 minutes later we received a picture mail of the new family member. After only three pushes, Adrianne entered the world at 32.4 weeks weighing a grand total of 3 lbs and 2 oz and 15 ½ inches long, and to me was the most beautiful niece a girl could ask for! Yes, I was the only goober in the waiting room that cried when I saw the picture, but I was overwhelmed with emotion, partly because that beautiful baby girl is my niece and secondly holy wow, my little sister just became a mom!

I spent the next three days playing my sister’s nurse and earning the title of “Breast Pump Queen.” I loved it because I got special moments with my sister and Adrianne that no one else got to experience. I was the one who wheeled Jaclyn down to see Adrianne for the first time, and I was the one that got to watch her hold her for the first time (well, it took a little persuasion to the nurse on my part for the hold to even happen).
My favorite part was what I called my “midnight visits.” As soon as Jaclyn would fall asleep (which was after midnight most of the time) I would sneak down to the Neonatal ICU and spend alone time with Adrianne. I would pray with her, give her “auntly” advice, rub her tiny feet and let her hold my finger. Those seriously were some of the best times I have ever experienced in my life. No matter how tired I was, how much I hated the cafeteria food or even how uncomfortable the vinyl chair was that became my bed, I would not have changed a moment for anything in the world.

Of course this is just some tidbits of all that happened this past weekend but I wanted everyone to know that mom and baby are doing well! Jaclyn has been having some problems but they seem to be better and she hopes to be discharged today. She will be staying at the Ronald McDonald House for a while to be close to Adrianne while she is still in the hospital. Adrianne is definitely a little fighter. She was off the ventilator in less than 12 hours and breathing on her own. That’s outstanding for a premie! Everyday she keeps getting better so hopefully she will be discharged sooner than expected. They originally said she would be in the hospital for a month, but we can only hope for less since her progress is amazing.

Ok, another update on my other sister Tamara. She went to the doctor yesterday and just like I predicted she’s having…..A BOY! Franklin Riley (as seen in the photo directly above) is due in February and I am so ready to meet him. The name Franklin is in memory of the father’s brother who passed away and Riley is after our amazing step-dad. Let the countdown to February begin…

I want to say “thank you” to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. Power of prayer is awesome and I can say it was felt by all of my family this past weekend.

Adrianne's Coming

We thought Jaclyn had gotten better and we were going to get to hold off on the delivery for a while, but God has a different plan. After a Jaclyn's blood pressure went back up and she started having chest pains, they decided to do a stress test on the baby. It was determined Adrianne would have better chances outside the womb. They have began inducing her for labor and we expect tiny Adrianne to be here sometime tomorrow. Please keep the prayers flowing becasue Jaclyn, Adrianne, our family,  and everyone involved need them dearly! Thanks for the support so far! Jaclyn is amazingly strong and I just hope Adrianne inherited a little bit of that to fight her way through....

Top Ten Tuesday Postponed

Hello readers. Usually I would be posting a top ten list for my weekly edition of Top Ten Tuesday but today I will be unable to do so. My mom called this morning to tell me my sister Jaclyn was in the hospital. I had mentioned her pregnacy in an earlier post and how excited I am to meet Adrianne. Well as I type this, Jaclyn is being transported by ambulance to a hospital in a city near by to the Air Force base where she is stationed. Turns out she has developed preclampsia and they will be delievering Adrianne sooner than expected. Adrianne is currently 32 weeks old and weighs approximately 3 pounds. So, today I am asking for prayers for Jaclyn and Adrianne during this time, as well as, my family as we all hope for the best. I am trying to arrange to be there Friday through Sunday  and the anxiety is overwhelming.