It's Just Me...

Take a moment and say a prayer....

2009-04-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

One of my precious friends Erika's husband is in ICU in Fort Walton Beach with some type of trauma to his head. Please take a moment and pray for him... her twin sister Darby posted on her blog and you can read here to get more updates! Erika is pregnant and I know that she will covet all the prayers that you can send for her and Chance right now!

Good Morning February.... It's been a long time again!

2008-12-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

Riley Grace, Maggie Ruth and their new "Jack Brother"

I know it has been a LONG time since I posted last and AGAIN things have changed for me. I took a new job with Astonish Results and I have been traveling since the end of October. That makes for some crazy days and hence the reason I have neglected to post. It has been an amazing time for me and I love what I do so I will try to capture from now on the cities that I get to visit and the things I get to see.

I am in Phoenix right now and I woke up early this morning to get some work done, have a little coffee and enjoy the 74 degree weather here. This place is beautiful! I do not have pictures yet but I plan on taking some when I leave this hotel room. I am staying at the Clarendon Hotel. The pool here is great (I forgot my bathing suit) and NO I did not skinny dip but it looks amazing and the rooftop bar seems like it would be the spot to be (when it is open). Last night it wasn't and I was in the mood to see what Phoenix had to offer me. I went to FEZ and had the most ridiculously mouth watering burger I have ever had in my LIFE. Read the menu... the "Fez" Burger. The bartender was awesome and recommended it and I really thought... who wants PEARS on their burger? Well he told me to trust him, and I did and now this morning I am craving the darn burger. Is that weird? Probably not if you really KNOW me... I am not your breakfast kind of girl. I like hot hot hot things and really have never developed the love for the big breakfast!

So today I am off to an appointment in Phoenix and then I fly to Houston (via direct on Continental) and I have two appointments there! The reason I tell you the flying situation is that I never realized how difficult it is to have a job and have to make reservations for plane flights, hotels and car rentals all around the country. If you fly daily like I do now, you get accustomed to trying to get to your next destination DIRECT!!! If you have ANY questions at all about travel, PLEASE do not hesitate to email me or if you have my number, call me. I hope now that I have gotten over my lapse in being a blogger that maybe now I can use this as a place to tell a little more about myself but actually share my travels with you, my friends.

Off to Houston tonight, going to see some family as well... Hope that you all have a beautiful day... Some pictures for you since I don't have any at the moment of Phoenix!

Until next time...
KW

My next DESTINation!!!

2008-10-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Soon I will be traveling through Alabama to share my mom's belated birthday with her as well as to head to Destin/Santa Rosa Beach/Point Washington to where these two are getting married! I love Jenny to death. I lived with her in Point Washington at one point in my 6 years down in the Panhandle and she is the most amazing person and friend. God gave her to me to help teach me patience. She is the most patient, gentle, caring friend I know. I can not wait to share her BIG day with her.

When times are tough...

2008-10-03T06:13:00.000-07:00

Death is just the beginning of another life... my quote for you all this morning. I spoke to my mother who is in Galveston, TX with my great aunt and uncle, helping them recover from what Ike left behind for them. I will say more about their experience but would ask that you all make it a point today to pray for my family and especially for Joann. Joann is part of my mother's side of our family and right now she is in Birmingham fighting for her life. The Dr.'s called the family in yesterday as they put her on life support. As of last night, the family was to make the decision as to whether or not to keep her on. Joann's daughter doesn't want to see her mother suffer and I can only cry now imagining EVER having to make that decision about either one of my parents. What a burden on a heavy heart... to have to make those decisions. I ask you all to pray for her children that God will wrap His arms around them and lead them through their decisions as well as keep them close to them for what occurs in the next few days. This time right now for our family is definitely a challenging one and most of all for my mother. She is torn right now... over in Galveston trying to help, wanting to be in Alabama to be with her mother and the rest of her family so that she can help comfort in a time like this. I can not say it more than I will say it here... My mom ROCKS. She is a rock, a pillar for our family and gives more of herself than anyone that I know.

Pray for my grandmother as well today. She lost her son last December and now to lose Joann, who she has been extremely close to will break her heart. Pray also for my mother that she can feel peace about being in Galveston and know that the rest of her family will be there for support.

Thank you all for your prayers... I will post happier thoughts later today.

More pics for your visual stimulation...

This is where I can't wait to be in a few weeks.... and below is how I ride... Boots with high-heels. Please take note of how well behaved Bailey is when riding.

Two of the people I can't wait to see in a few weeks! Yeah... I am going home soon!

The girls of our family...

I need more organization...

2008-10-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am in need of a complete overhaul of my life right now. I feel rather unorganized and I just keep looking at it and walking away... anyone have any great ideas of how to motivate myself these days? Things in need:

My car

My bathroom

My closet

My drawers

My emails

I could do it now but instead I will go to my hair appointment and then make my way to the Fulton County Republican Headquarters for the great debate tonight and then come home and snuggle with my newly groomed pups. I need some rest...

Here is a pic of Okie this morning having a cup of coffee and looking out the window at the wonderful area of Buckhead... He picked out his outfit as well!

Call it a clan....

2008-09-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

I wish sometimes that I would not try to think that I will someday become a "weekly" blogger. I soooo desire to do this and somehow I find time to look at my Google Reader and catch up on EVERYONE else's blog. I think most would call me a blog stalker... I wouldn't say that, I just love knowing that all the people I care about are happy, loved and feeling a lot more fluid with words than I have for the past ...oh well let's say... a year?!

Most of these blogs are people I know and if I started listing them, well we would have a whole page about everyone else's blog, but a lot of them are blogs that I have found through other people's blog.

Let me tell you, I am a girl of visual stimulation... I can read only so much until I want a PICTURE interjected for a little break and a little glimpse of someone else's life. Most of you are married, with children or with child, or either engaged or in committed relationship. I, on the other hand, It's Just Me. I started this blog almost a year ago and my headline STILL rings true. Please don't think I am ashamed of this, as I am not, but I think it is quite comical that my story has changed only in location... (not really but kind of?!)

From the last blog you all know that I am in Atlanta, the city of the South... or my city of the South! To be honest, as I sit here and type I can't help but feel a little like Carrie from Sex in the City... my glass of wine to my left, my open window to my right (the city down below... I live on the 16th floor of a high rise in Buckhead) and my dogs... yeah she didn't have dogs but her BOYFRIENDS did. And yes, I am a lot like her. Single, in the city, typing at the end of the day, my thoughts of the day, (thank GOODNESS this doesn't get published in the newspaper), and wondering through it all... What really is in it for me? Well let's just say that I watched the last episode of the show but have yet to see the movie... please do not spoil it for me... I need to know how my life will end, or might I say begin.

I know what is in it for me...WAIT, hang on... you might be visual too and at this moment might quit reading if I don't post a picture... here ya go.

This is me wake-skating this summer at Lake Martin. I was invited to go with a friend for her husband's birthday and celebrate. I came back with only a few thousand bruises and a ton of laughter at myself for still trying every possible sport meant for children at the age of 31.

So back to my thoughts, I know what is in it for me... I know that it is God's plan and not my own and that is why what lies ahead and what is planned for me is something I am ok with. I love surprises! God loves to give them to me too! I don't think he would have wanted my sister and I to switch places... Poor sister, she doesn't like surprises. She did love to tell me every year at Christmas what she got me and any time she had a gift for me, she told me what it was before I opened it. She never liked the surprise factor! God probably appreciated there was at least one of us in the family that loved and welcomed the element of surprise. Well it seems to me that my life just keeps getting more surprising and I hope that one day God slows me down enough to want and have the beautiful joys that a family brings... that is SO NOT Carrie!!! I think we need a pic here of me in the office ... so you can visualize my being Carrie... Just call me Kimmy in the City... City of ATL that is!!!

I feel it is only fitting to let you know a little about my office... you see that chair, the one to the right... well that is Okie and Bailey's ($800... I only add this so you can see my insanity with my animals) chair while I am hard at work, and you see that chair, the one I sit in, well that is Okie sitting in it... he has decided that instead of that wonderful $110.00 dog bed on the floor (that actually is water resistant...i.e pee resistant) that he would like to sit in the $80.00 Office Depot and offer his mother a nice back support! Most days I find myself sitting on the edge of the chair to accompany him... seriously I think I need dog therapy!!! Who in their right mind would have a beautiful chair, an expensive dog bed, and 3/4 part of a desk chair that they would give up in order to make their little pups happy? Maybe I should re-think WHY I might be Carrie and not Charlotte (wait she had a dog)... oh and no thanks, I wouldn't want either of her men!!!! I will stick with Carrie.

I would now offer a glimpse of the city but I can't figure out how to make it show up at night... any help from photographer's ( ummm... Summer... ummm Erika???) is appreciated! Seriously... I am awe inspired by photography and hope to one day be able to take it up as a hobby. I might not be the best but the passion is there!

So back to my life... God is good. I struggled to find a church here in Atlanta and I have finally found one I want to call "Home". It is called All Souls and a great new friend that God introduced me to took me one Sunday and I knew that was it!!! It is awesome to feel so convicted and ecstatic about going to church. This is my first small step, finding the right one, and now I want to start working toward ways that God can use me in this church!

So back to Carrie, I think I might need to be named Kimmy in the City... with morals!!! hahaha. Just thought I would let you all know that I am not as free natured as Carrie but that I do like the appetite of life and grand explorations! I can not say that I truly have her style but I should do a comparison so you will be visually stimulated.

Ok, so maybe we might not look alike, (this is the closest pic I could find to hers) and I flipped it horizontally for the same effect... man does it look weird!!!)

I think I should keep trying...this is almost as fun as yearbooking yourself...which I did last night!
So, here I sit, it is 9:55 my time and I have been invited to come watch "P" play basketball. Like some of you do for your kids (and trust me I would too!) I will do for those I date as to not expose them and make them feel as though I am sharing them with the whole world. Please remember for those of you who read this... the word "date" is casual now. Back in the old days, it meant someone that you were spending most of your time with. Unfortunately, as the years have passed, and we all are no longer in college and 12 year olds are now 20 year olds, dating is only dating... it is casual. I could really go off on a tangent here but until I am famous for this blog (which of course you know it will...hahahahahaha) I will not.

So back to the time... what in the world... why would he think that I would want to take off my pajamas, take my hair out of a bun, put make-up back on, go down 16 flights of stairs (just kidding... we have an elevator) to take my dogs out and then bring them back up, to go back down the elevator, past the concierge, to another elevator, down three floors to my garage, and get in my car, and go up three garage levels, out a gate and then drive to a gym to watch BASKETBALL at 10:00 at night? Shouldn't he be calling to ask me out on a date, where he will pick me up, a dozen roses in the car (of course he would open my car door), drive me to a restaurant where they call me Miss Wells, and then sit at a fancy table, with a great bottle of wine, a good filet of steak or salmon, and a nice creme brulee for dessert, and then drive me home, tell me how wonderful of a night he had, and kiss me on the cheek, saying he can not wait to do this again and then tell me that he will call me tomorrow... of course he should!!!

So, I guess I have posted enough for tonight... I would like to say, but I won't hold myself to it, that I want to post more, and I want some of you to stalk my blog like I stalk yours! You all are an inspiration to me... you make me laugh, cry, turn my head sideways, push my chair back and do a little dance, sit and reflect, appreciate what I have and most of all give me joy each day that I get to read that God works in and through your life and that you all can be examples for me! So... here's to another day... with HIM!!! My friend Lyndsey (a gift from God through my new job...pray for her), who is 27 years old and is battling cancer for the 2nd time in two years sent me this email the other day and I will end with it and a few more pics for your visual stimulation...

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did ‘
When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you,
But merely opening your hands to receive something better.
'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

always bring an umbrella to the concert...it might come in handy!!! This reminds me of a blog... not anything in common with this pick but it is called "Bring the Rain"... what a touching blog.

a girl after my own heart... and NO those are not Manolo Blahnik's ... wish they were!!!

A sweet precious soul... what is it that she is thinking? I love her beyond words... Children, the gift of them, simply amazing! So I leave you with this, as it is posted as the title...

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one!.... I, Kimmy in the City, call it FAMILY.

until we meet again... and we all know that could be ages... God Bless!

I am back! Sorry it has taken so long!

2008-08-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

I seriously can not believe that I am finally stepping back in to the blogging world again. I really don't know what got in to me... I sometimes have these moments in my life that I like to step back, be by myself and not share so much of myself. And that is EXACTLY what I have been doing for the past 6 months. Life has changed so drastically for me and all I can do sometimes is just wonder how everything happened so fast! I started praying in January of '06 that God would lead me to the place that He wanted me to be. I also prayed that He would show me what He wanted me to do in honor of Him through my job. Well I am not sure if I could wholeheartedly agree that He has me in the "right job" but for now I will trust Him. I have so much to tell, about how I got here (living in Atlanta), what I encountered along the way, and what has become of my new job that I prayed so hard for. I am now an Account Executive for a Wholesale Lender and my job entails going out to Mortgage Broker's and Community Banks and asking them to consider using my company, Acopia Capital Group, to fund their loans. Obviously we all know how the real estate market and thus the mortgage industry is doing right now, so to say that my job is a challenge, is an understatement. But... it is what God lead me to do, and not what I had in "my" plans. So yesterday, I was in a Broker's Office and we were talking about how my last week was (it was miserable... I had every challenge of our business laid in front of me and by the end of the week... I wanted to have a break down... thank goodness I didn't) and he walked in and brought me his Daily Devotional book entitled "Streams in the Desert" and the page from yesterday read like this... " Never pray for an easier life... pray to be a strong person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power... pray for power equal to your tasks. Then doing your work will be no miracle... you will be the miracle! Phillip Brooks "
And I thought that God somehow was not going to be able to reach me in a job like this! It is so humbling to see Him work through others and through me in my job. I played tennis with one of my clients on Saturday as well who I engaged in a deep conversation about life and the pursuit of God! At the end of my match, he told me that he had been really bummed about the mortgage business and the companies that he had previously been dealing with and that I was a breath of fresh air for his company and that from Monday on, they would be dealing with me in all of their loans! God is good :)
On another note... things here in Atlanta are good. I am loving being in a condo (although the dogs have their issues being on the 16th floor) and I love having the wonderful amenities of living here. I went to a concert the other night... Crosby, Stills and Nash at Chastain Park and it was a total blast! City life is so much fun with ballgames (went to an Atlanta Braves Ballgame last week), The Georgia Aquarium, Piedmont Park, Chastain Park, The Coca Cola Museum, Stone Mountain... need I say more about why I love it? Anyways... this video is taken here in the condo. Just thought I would show you all what we do on Saturday mornings and to show you how much my littlest roommate has grown up! Love to you all!

My littlest Roommate

2008-02-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

Meet Tracen... I have many videos to share but this was taken last night suring Super Bowl. His mom Carolina and I believe that he now thinks that he is a dog like Okie and Bailey, or maybe he just likes their bed!

Happy New Year

2007-11-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

I am really bad about posting blogs and I really want to get better at it for 2008 but with my work schedule I am not sure that is possible! Last weekend Riley Grace had her 8th birthday party here in Destin at Build-a-Bear and Johnny Rockets! It is so much fun to watch little girls interact and get excited over things that I used to get excited about.... the simple things! My niece is the most wonderful, precious, kindhearted, considerate 8 year old there is. She really has a heart of gold and I love every minute of being with her and being her best "big" friend. Of course I could not leave Maggie Ruth out of this post so I thought I would share a video of her at Christmas... she was intrigued by my camera, so intrigued, she got really close and then backed away to give the "model" glance.

Also, there is a new member of my family. Oklahoma (Okie) Winston Wells. He is a 1 pound 10 ounce yorkie that is a total MANIAC and has given me the experience of what it is like to have a small child. I am not used to the 2 am wake-up... "I think I want to play, no...wait let me chew on a bone, oh no.... I think I really want to get down off of the bed...YEAH! Mom is awake and keeps swatting her hand at me... I think she wants to play with me too! Oh yeah! I just woke Bailey up... thank goodness I now have Mom and Bailey to play with! I just LOVE 2 am!" (Of course that would be from the thoughts of Okie). Last night I seriously thought of maybe just GIVING him back... PAYING his breeder to take him back, but now as I sit in my office...he is laying so PEACEFULLY on his bed with Bailey that I can not even IMAGINE how I ever even had that thought. I am sure though after his RESTFUL day at the office, tonight might just be another night of OKIE'S TWILIGHT ZONE! Here is a pic of he and Bailey today at the office... they are the best of buddies now!

You all have a great weekend and hopefully I can find it in me to post over the weekend~
KW

It hurts beyond words to suffer the loss of a friend....

2007-11-21T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I am finally able to get my feelings out since I lost Balki. I can not tell you how hard the past few weeks have been. Talk about calling out to God... the day he died I knelt down and put him in his grave and I prayed that I too could lay there beside of him. I struggle right now to even tell you this...my eyes are filled with tears. I have never in my life thought of wanting to die...but on that day, all I could think was that the pain of heartbreak was unbearable and to be beside of Balki whether on earth or in Heaven, was all I wanted. Therefore today I want to tell you what I am thankful for. I am thankful that God allowed me to feel the pain of losing Balki, that He allowed me to weep, scream, and in the end call out to Him. What did I ever do without God? I am thankful that I have a precious 10 pound little black "fox" named Bailey. What a joy to have him in my life! We now share a bond that I don't think anyone could ever imagine. He is like a little person. And by the way, he is very photogenic (don't you think?) He has been my saving grace, and hopefully I have been his. Don't you wish sometimes they could just talk to you and tell you how they are feeling? I want to know that he is ok, I want to know that he hurts the same as I do, that his love for Balki is still as strong as mine is, and that I am doing the right thing by trying to find him another companion. It is now, and only now, that I can truly even imagine for a minute what pain God had to suffer to give up His only Son to die for my sins...what a great and mighty God. How awesome to be called a child of His. I struggle still with even how to end this post, it is now November 28th and I started this post on Thanksgiving Day. My words no longer come easily, and my feelings seem like they have no place to call home. I want so badly to feel like the same "me" again. But I know, that my whole world has changed with my loss. Never will I walk in the door again and see my little guy Balki barking at me because he is mad that I left him home, never will I see him take a piece of food and throw it with his mouth and then run over to it and "save" it, never will I lie in bed at night and have his little body crawl on to my chest to fall fast asleep. As I am typing, I am crying and I am ok with lettting everyone know that. I MISS HIM. My heart ACHES for him and I know that I have experienced a love for something that I will never feel again. I miss my "heart"... because that is what he was. He was my everything. Somedays I feel numb, as though I am just going through the motions, and somedays I allow myself to be "real" which is my sadness. I know that time heals, its just some days, I wish that I could take time back and be there for one more day with him. I can't help but tell you about the song that I play every night before I go to bed....

Diamond Rio : One More Day

Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didnt ask for money
Or a mansion in malibu
I simply wished, for one more day with you

One more day
One more time
One more sunset, maybe Id be satisfied
But then againI know what it would do
Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you

First thing Id do, is pray for time to crawl
Then Id unplug the telephone
And keep the tv off
Id hold you every second
Say a million I love yous
Thats what Id do, with one more day with you
Leave me wishing still, for one more day
Leave me wishing still, for one more day
with you.........

It really is how I feel.... just one more day. I lay down at night and think about Balki, I wake up afraid sometimes that I have "rolled over" on him and then I realize that my reality is just my nightmare, that he is no longer here, and I am.
Many people talk about the Rainbow Bridge, and I can tell you for the first time in my life, I am excited about the day that God calls me to Heaven. For me, it can be today or tomorrow, or later in my life, but on some days, I pray that it is sooner rather than later. Not that I want to die, I just dream of the day that I see my best friend again. And there is no place better to be than in the midst of God. My friend Becky sent me a poem about dogs and I cry every time I read (seems normal for me these days :) ) I want to share it with you.

I live among God's creatures now, in the Heavens of your mind,
so do not grieve for me, as I am with my kind.
At night I sleep in angel's arms, her wings protecting me,
and moonbeams dance about us as stardust falls on thee.
So when your life on earth is spent and you stand at Heaven's gate,
have no fear of loneliness, for here, you know I wait.

I have to believe that he waits for me there. I can see him now and I smile, which I have to admit ...is hard to do right now.

go red sox!!!!

2007-10-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday night and I am at Emily's about to eat one of the first meals that she has cooked FOR me (and Ben). The Red Sox are about to kick off the World Series and the Ipod is jamming to Sector 9. I feel good. It has been a while since I have hung out with Emily and I am really enjoying it. I played tennis tonight and will be playing in the morning at 6 am. I have a long day.... work, then open house, then Carolina's birthday party, (need to find her a gift...suggestions are appreciated! :) ) and then some sleep, but packing first to get ready to go to Andalusia and then to Auburn! I am spending the weekend with my family this weekend and going to Auburn to watch my dad play in his alumni baseball game. Really looking forward to spending time with them...my sister and and Riley Grace and Maggie Ruth! War Eagle this weekend. That's it for now.... Love to you all.
Kim

no words

2007-10-24T05:15:00.000-07:00

No words can express the sorrow that I feel right now. This morning I woke up to find on a website that I check every day for a special person by the name of Jacob Steel, that he went to be with our Heavenly Father last night. My heart aches for his family right now. Jacob has fought a long battle and as one of the Dr.'s said, "his bodied failed him, but his spirit never did". I never met Jacob, I only knew of him because he is the son of one of the developers that I work with. I kept up with Jacob's progress through www.caringbridge.com/visit/jacobsteel The strength of Jacob and his family through all of this has drawn me closer to God daily. I recognize my need for our heavenly Father more and more each day. As I sit here this morning outside on my patio, I want to share with you all a part in my devotion...
"Never presume My presence. Never assume that knowing your need, I will automatically supply. Ask, and it shall be given. Call upon me, and I will answer you. Tell me that you love Me, and I will make your heart know in a very real way My love for you and My nearness, and you shall never feel alone."
I think so many times I just think that God already knows what my needs are... and I assume that he is going to supply. The other part of the devotion made me realize why we need to ask of God..." Do not think that since I know all about you, you need not bother to tell Me. It is true that I know, but you need to tell Me so that in the telling, you may experience the release of and open heart, and the fellowship of a Friend. "
I want to experience an open heart... and God asks us to call on Him so that He can provide that through our asking. How simple yet how much we forget to do so.

What a beautiful morning. It is 51 degrees, I have my red hooded surfer sweatshirt on with my pink shorts and flip flops and I am sitting here on my couch on my patio with 2 little dogs curled up next to me. I think they are cold. I will have to start letting them wear their sweaters and fleeces now. Balki LOVES to wear his... Bailey only likes his if he knows he is going somewhere. It is amazing how quiet it is out here this morning... I feel God's presence with me right now and what a wonderful feeling. I know that I am loved. The sun is still not up and I have been sitting here waiting for a while. It is almost time for me to go in and start getting dressed. I love to watch the sunrise... I am such a morning person. There is no better time for me than in the mornings. I am the most productive and have so much to give of myself earlier in the day.
I am a little disappointed right now though because yesterday I neglected to get my creamer from the grocery store for my coffee and I am drinking BLACK coffee at the moment. It's the little things that make the biggest difference :) ...of course I can do without it ( I keep telling myself). Balki has now decided to start trying to dig a hole through the cushion in the couch. Ever watched a 2 pound dog try to dig a hole? It's like watching a squirrel. This little guy thinks he is SOOO big. His holes would not be big enough for a crawdad to fit through (do you all know what crawdad's are?) but he thinks that he is succeeding. I guess I won't tell him the real truth. Oh goodness... I just looked up from typing and the whole sky changed. CRAZY!!! I think it is about to storm. Guess I will go in for now and start the whole dreaded process of getting dressed. This .... is a task for me. Please keep Jacob's family in your prayers. They are a strong christian family and they are hurting immensely right now. I can not imagine....
My love for you all!

little hands

2007-10-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

So I am writing this morning because for the first time in 9 months, my hands feel REALLY small again. Yesterday I took off my "fake" nails and decided to go ala naturel from now on... and it feels REALLY weird. I no longer can type with my nails and therefore it feels like I am learning to type all over again! They feel like little nubs now. And for those of you who know me and have ever seen my hands... they look like it to. My left hand ring finger size is a 4 1/4. I only know this because I was engaged ONCE. Otherwise, I probably would have never known... because attention to details such as that, have never been my thing. I think that Riley Grace's hands might even be as big as mine now. Oh and I couldn't forget to mention that my hands look like the hands of an 80 year old person... small and wrinkled! So as for me this morning, I am feeling great. I just started taking this new juice called Mona Vie the other day and I have felt 100% better since. I am sleeping great, waking up refreshed and I know my Dr. will never believe me when I tell him but my vertigo has stopped for the past 3 days.... I know it is not a miracle drink but it does have tons of phytonutrients (if you are wondering what these are just email me and ask) but it also has a berry called the Acai berry that is found in the rainforests in Brazil and this fruit has an unbelievable level of phytonutrients. This level of phytonutrients are potent antioxidants and therefore help in neutralizing free radical charges in your body. Free radicals that are in your body and left there without the neutralization can potentially cause aging and poor health. I am a believer in this drink without a doubt. For the past 3 years I have been struggling with Meniere's Disease ( http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/balance/meniere.cfm) I recently went to see Dr. Greene, my specialist in Jacksonville, FL and I was diagnosed to be at stage 9 of the disease which in turn means I need to have one of two options, the first non-invasive treatment of a meniette device or two, surgery. I am in the process of getting approved through my insurance for this lovely machine that I am to carry for the rest of my life and use throughout the day to "de-pressurize". Yes, you heard me correctly... I have to get all the pressure out of my head 3 times daily with this machine... I hope that it doesn't affect my HIGH level IQ by taking away all that built up pressure :) ...But ANYWAYS, the point is, I feel amazing and I really have no idea why this was ever introduced to me but I am more than thankful. Maybe this is my answer to controlling my vertigo? Maybe I can avoid the machine all together.
So it is Friday now and if any of you have watched the weather, we have for the past few days had some rough weather down here. Pensascola was hit with tornados, but we were lucky. The rain still continues here. Before this week, the lake behind my house was almost dried up... seriously! This morning I sit here in my bedroom (on the 2nd floor) that overlooks the lake, and the lake is full and about to flood over! I really can not believe it. I know that Georgia needs the rain really bad so I hope that they get some relief today from this system.
I am supposed to be driving to Atlanta today to go see some friends. I am hoping that the bad weather passes before then.... I do have On-Star though and even though some of my family members don't think having it makes things as safe as I do, I feel confident that On-Star and I will make it to Atlanta today. I am one of those funny On-Star callers.... they always answer when you call from your car " On-Star, how may we help you Miss Wells". I love it. It feels so personal... talk about customer service, they have it. Now, you have to have the PLUS program and not the emergency one, and of course, that is one of the things that I can think of that is worth the investment, so I do it. They not only give you directions, they can make reservations for you, make suggestions of where to dine, stay, see in a city and best of all (especially for me) they have to be there to answer questions.... ANY questions. So when I am on a long trip and something comes up and I start pondering about it... I call and ask them their opinion. Can you imagine what those people are saying when they put me on mute to tell all the other operators? Lots of time I find myself calling them so they can keep me awake. I love to sleep, and I can sleep most any place, in a car, on my desk, sitting up, laying down in the middle of the woods (I did this in Colorado...probably not the best idea but I guess the bears did not want me) , pretty much anywhere. And driving relaxes me, so when I go for long drives, I need a friend to talk to so I call On-Star if I can't reach anyone else.
If you are ever on the phone with me though and I tell you I am driving somewhere (and it is a long trip), remind me to put cruise control on. You see, I have this problem that when I am talking, my foot presses harder to the gas pedal... you can't explain that to the State Trooper so I really need to watch this. Actually the reason I bought my new Yukon was partly because my cruise control in my old car stopped and it was going to cost a lot to fix, (and this was after a State Trooper in Tallahassee stopped me and gave me a ticket). I figured the cost of the car could be justified for my safety.
Well this is a LONG post, but it is 2 days combined. God continues working in me and through me. I know He loves me and I am seeing it more and more each day. This mornings devotion was entitled "You Have Run Into My Arms" ... Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I like the part of the devotion that says "Knowing My deep love for you, your own heart will no longer condemn you. My mercies are everlasting. My kindness, abundant. My grace extends to the least of My children, and My tenderness shall make you STRONG." I love that part.... make me strong.
My prayer this morning is that God continue working in me and through me. I want to be "authentic". Thank you God for my life, my home, my job, my family (and all the wonderful and quirky parts about it), my friends (especially for those who you have brought to help me through my walk with You), my dogs, my health, and thank you most of all for helping me realize that the struggles that I face, are ones that you want me to go through with You, so I can know Your grace even more. ...And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.... Grandma Orene,I miss you and I know my Dad is really missing you!

Authentic Christianity

2007-10-16T19:40:00.001-07:00

There is a quote that I have written on a small board in my kitchen that every morning reminds me of what my life would be without God. "God's grace is what we need, but not always what we deserve." And tonight I went to my first session of a bible study called "Authentic Christian", and realized that I could do nothing in my life without the grace of God. You see, I haven't been the most devoted, committed, faithful christian, and I sometimes feel as though I am not deserving of the blessings that God gives me. But what I learned tonight is that my walk with Him did not have to start on anyone elses time, but it had to start with me giving ALL of myself to Him. I think so often times we are ashamed that we are not in the same place with our walk as others are and we are ashamed to admit that we have fallen to the sins of this world...so much that we think that we can no longer be given God's grace... not true. I am proof. I am 30 years old and for the first time in my life, I think I have finally had a "real" talk with God. Don't get me wrong... I have loved him the whole time and I have KNOWN that He was there, I just chose to have a part time LOVE AFFAIR with him.
I have MISSED OUT! I can not tell you all how much my world has changed in the past few weeks. On the Sunday morning that revival started in my church, the preacher gave us all salt packets before we went in. I held the salt in my hands and when the preacher asked us to get up and go give our packet of salt to someone that had really made a difference in our life, I looked over to see my first roommate here in Destin, Erika, standing and I knew exactly who to give this packet to. You see, she was my salt when I needed it most. Not only did she help me through one of the hardest times in my life, but she also LOVED God and I saw it. So on that Sunday, I had no doubt about who in that church had salted me. But I thought after church, who would come to me and give me a packet if she weren't there? Who have I salted?
After my grandmother passed away, I could barely stand in my office. I remember being there and being so weak that I could not stand so I dropped to my knees and prayed. I prayed the most reverent and honest prayer I think I had ever prayed in my life. So I tell you all this, that if you find yourself at a place like this, where it is too hard to stand on your on....KNEEL. We serve an awesome God.
Tonight as I sat in the Bible Study, I realized that I might be the "youngest" Christian in the room because I had just committed to giving ALL of me to Him, but for the first time in my life, I did not feel ashamed to be that ONE. I know I have something to look forward to and if these past few weeks are any example of what God's grace is.... I AM ALL IN!
So my focus these days is to be an Authentic Christian, someone that by just by being around me, you can see God through me.
Tonight I am thankful for a lot of things and I just want to share them. I am thankful that I had 2 friends tonight that encouraged me to go to the Bible Study and who told me that they would hold me accountable for being committed to this Bible Study. (You see I have a hard time with commitment unless it has anything to do with work or exercise). I am thankful for my friends that even though I might not see them often at all... they really are my heart. Kelly... one of my best friends and possibly my "soulmate" ... I say this in the sense that she knows me best. The flaws, the quirks, the issues with commitment, the wilder side of me, but she KNOWS me... I am thankful for her. I am thankful that even though we haven't seen each other in YEARS, I am thankful that she can pick up the phone, and I can do the same, and she GETS me. I am thankful for my ability to be independent, to be stubborn, to be candidly honest with my friends. I am thankful for my family.... and I am thankful for my dogs. Because tonight as I sit here and type this, I have two precious animals that want to love me, that want my attention, that need me, that can not wait for me to pull back the covers so that they can settle in right beside me. I am thankful for my dogs because right now they keep me from being lonely until God allows me to have and to share a 1 Corinthians kind of love.
So God... thank you for my dogs. For the one I paid too much for and for the one who I rescued...
Well I did not mean for this blog to be this long. I just thought I would catch you up on what has been going on in my life. I love you all and again your friendships, love and support mean the world to me.
Night!

early morning sunrise

2007-10-13T04:54:00.000-07:00

So it is 6:30 am on Saturday morning and I am wishing that I somehow could force myself to sleep in. Unfortunately my body has grown accustomed to rising early and therefore I sit outside on my patio this morning drinking coffee, reading my devotional and typing on my computer waiting for the sun to come up. The sky is a deep orange and just down the street it looks like the sun is about to peak over the trees. I have my camera ready this morning...let's just hope those dogs walk by while we are out here. I have to leave the house this morning by 8:30 so that I can run by my office before my 9:00 appointment so we might have to go in before I can film Bailey...
So this morning my devotional was a poem... I love poems but I couldn't relate to this one. I decided to read the next devotional ... 1 Corinthians 13:8 "Love never fails." At the end of the devotional it states "He sees Me most clearly who loves Me most dearly." How true... how could we see the works of God if we could not love him dearly. I pray this morning that I would be able to see him more clearly each day and that one day I could find the 1 Corinthians kind of love.
So I sit here this morning realizing how quickly our lives change. In the past 3 weeks I have experienced a lot of change... change in my family, change in my friendships, change in my living situation, change in my work schedule, change in the way I exercise, change in the way I spend my time. It is amazing how we get so comfortable with routine and how resistant we can sometimes be to change. If I had it my way, all of those things I just listed would not have changed... just because I was comfortable with the way those things were before... but God had a different plan for me and through each of those changes, He has revealed Himself even more to me.
My sister and I talked the other night and I asked her to pray for me and for what God wants in my life. I feel like He is calling me to be somewhere other than where I am but I have no idea right now where that might be. My sister said that I should pray for God to open new doors for me. So my prayer these days are that God will open new doors for me and that I will have an open heart and mind to go where He calls.
For most of you that know me, I love to move. However, in the past 2 years after owning my own home and settling in, I am not sure that moving is really what I want...but I still feel the tug at my heart and therefore I choose to listen.
So it is getting time to go in and start getting ready for my appointment. The sun just came up and is radiant.... I love mornings... I love the beach... I love life.
Saturdays Quote: No matter how steep the mountain - the Lord is going to climb it with you.

Buzzing on Sudafed

2007-10-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

So sometimes I really feel like I am CRAZY... you would think that I learned my lesson yesterday after almost collapsing from Red Tide. Well I didn't... I got up early again this morning... and could not resist to step outside and see if it really was as cool as the weather man predicted... and then when I realized it was, I grabbed my jacket upstairs, made my coffee (Hazelnut Creme... buy one get one free special at Publix) and went outside to sit on my couch AGAIN. This time though, I loaded myself with Sudafed and at the moment, it is almost 6 hours later and I could write for hours, clean for hours, go jog a marathon (this time it would be FOR REAL) or really do anything... I guess next time I really need motivation, I will know who to call... Sudafed! So this morning I sat on the couch and again convinced Bailey not to bark at the pups passing by and OHHHH how well he behaved. And when I went to turn on my camera...wouldn't you know I left the battery here at my office... so no film today. I am quite the picture taker these days though so I am sure after the weekend, I will have plenty of footage and photos to share.

Well all I can say is thank goodness for gift certificates... I would say that Sudafed really does give you that extra jolt that you might need sometimes. I have 3 gift certificates currently for 3 different spa treatments and today I booked ALL three. Tomorrow morning at 9 am I will be getting my spa pedicure and then at 11 am I will have my first microdermabrasion. I won this randomly one night (the micro that is) when I was out dining with some friends. They had a free raffle and I entered. I WON!!! The last time that I won something like that was when I was younger and I wrote about how I had "The Best Mom in the World" at JC Penney's and I was actually chosen as the best writer and my mom was the receipient of a gift certificate... poor mom, I should have entered Macy's or Neiman Marcus...instead it was JC Penney. But hey, for our small town, that was great.

Red Tide

2007-10-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

So this morning I woke up early... as I usually do and thought what a nice morning to sit outside and read my daily devotional. It was such an awesome morning and I sat outside on my outdoor couch and took it all in. The sunrise was amazing... and the wind was blowing and I really thought and prayed about how beautiful a morning that God created. Little did He tell me in my heartfelt prayer that I was sitting in absorbing what is called"Red Tide". For those of you who do not know what Red Tide is, you can check it out at http://www.redtideonline.com/ Needless to say, I went upstairs a few minutes later and thought I wanted to rub my eyes until they popped out... a few minutes later the sneezing started. I am still sneezing at the moment. I am sure that everyone in my office wants to strangle me right now because when I say "sneeze" you have no idea unless you have been in the same room with me. God blessed me with allergies at a young age. My poor family! When I sneeze, it starts in my toes, goes through my stomach, in to my lungs, and out my nose with a sound that would make birds fall out of trees. And might I add, after each sneeze, my abs hurt, my shoulders ache and I feel like I have run a marathon. So this morning, I have exercised while sitting here at my desk. I have done 100 marathons, my abs now resemble a six pack and my shoulders, well they probably look a little like "The Hulk". As for my toes, they seem a little skinnier now, I guess maybe because that is where all the rumbling of my sneeze starts.

But enough about my constant ability to acquire the most awkward symptoms and physical reactions to things of nature... I need to get back to work... and yes, I blogged at work... I decided that this would be a good break for me. By the way... I love this "blog" idea. I love to write.... and now I really look forward to sharing my days with you all. I am sure, since I am now possibly addicted to this blog thing that there might be a blog posted later today as well. My days are usually eventful. And one thing that I must add that I am proud to say, Bailey, my beloved Schipperke, sat beside of me this morning out in the "red tide" and for the first morning EVER, obeyed me when I told him not to bark at the dogs walking by. I have been working on this with him for about 6 months... so PROGRESS PROGRESS PROGRESS... I think tomorrow morning I might just have to video him, because as much as he obeys, he struggles under his breath and I think the small little whines that I hear are really deep barks within... wanting to creep out! It is unbelievably hilarious...

I want to share with you all my scripture this morning... Revelations 1:4-8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

I serve an AWESOME God. I love you all! Have a blessed day!

My start at being a blogger....

2007-10-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

So I am giving this a try.... yesterday I read Darby Stickler's blog page and could not help but laugh out loud and even cry. She was so vivid about her everyday life and I really felt after I read it that I was part of her world. So I have decided to create this blog to let my family and friends, who I don't always get to see or talk to, know what is going on with me. Hopefully, through this, even when we don't talk, you can know that I do cherish every relationship that I have.
In the past few weeks, I have realized how selfish of a person that I have been and I feel the need to share this. I have been living here in Destin for the past 4 years and I truly can not say that I have lived each day to the fullest. I am not saying that I have felt that the past 4 years have meant nothing... because they have. It's just that I am beginning each day to realize how truly blessed I am to be here and that my life is meaningful and I should be giving more of myself to those around me.
On September 19th, I lost my precious Grandmother Orene. On Sunday, September 16th, I woke up with a little voice telling me to go see my grandmother. I had a pretty rough week that week and the thought of taking that one day to drive up to Andalusia and then to drive back was something I really did not want to do. I wanted a day ALL to myself (this is where the selfishness recognization began). I decided that since I had promised my mom to come up the first weekend of October, that I would wait until then to go to Andalusia and see my grandmother. On Tuesday the 18th, my daily devotional talked of "Our time here on earth coming to a close". I felt it necessary to focus my prayer that morning on my Grandmother. I had visited her in the nursing home to see her in a place that I never wanted to imagine, a place where it wasn't home for her, a place that the only time her family would spend with her would be the short visits that we allowed ourselves in our busy lives. My grandmother was not the same person... dementia had set in and she had trouble speaking what she was thinking. Nevertheless, she held our hand and loved on us the whole time we were there. Telling us how she loved us, and reminding us of what a beautiful lady God had created. I have to admit, I had a hard time seeing her there. I dreaded it... I wanted so badly to see her at home again and to sit beside her in her den and talk about the Braves, talk about my "new" boyfriend ( my grandmother was always wanting to know about my love life :) ), watch the artist channel, see her Bible beside of her, see the Church Bulletin and her yellow pad and pencil. So my prayer on that Tuesday morning was that God would give my grandmother peace. Talk about God answering prayers.... My grandmother left this world the next morning. I don't think that when I prayed, that I knew God would answer a prayer so quickly. But I know, that she has found her peace and place in Heaven. I held on to the guilt of not going to see her that Sunday, up until last week. I was in church and I heard the song, "In the Garden"... and the words, "and He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known." When the song was over, I felt as though my heart had been freed of the burden that I carried of not being there for my grandmother. It seemed so surreal and I felt as though she was letting me know that she was not alone and that she was ok.
Today I can't get her out of my mind.... she was an important part of my life and a reason I now will always self reflect as a reminder.
Well, that was my first post and I am sorry if it might have been a little sad... just a state of mind for me right now.
As for my day to day life at the moment... it is beautiful here at the beach right now. I just finished lunch with a friend and we ate at a restaurant on the beach. The water was awesome and it made me want to go home, put on a bathing suit and go kayak, surf, swim, snorkel.... or just anything in the Gulf. I love the beach... I love my home... I love my dogs... I love my friends... I love knowing that there is still so much more for me to look forward to. I love quotes so with each blog, I will end with a quote:
"No one remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself."
Thomas Mann (German Writer 1875-1955)
Love to you all....
KW