The Birthday Fun Begins!!!

On Tuesday, my coworkers took me out to lunch a day early to celebrate my 30th birthday.  We went to one of my favorite places- Crazy Hibachi!  It's YUMMY!!  I love watching the Japanese cooks make the food right in front of you!

Katie and Drew even met us!  Drew wasn't too sure about all the fire and loud noises, though.  Katie took the picture  From left to right, Wendy, Debbie, Chris, Brittany, Me, Leah, Drew, Norma, and Dr. Bass.  Chris and Dr. Bass don't actually work for our organization within the VA, but they work in our building, so I invited them along with us!

Here's another view.  This picture's a little dark though.  Brittany and Norma are my office mates in the call center, and I LOVE working with them every day.  Check out Brittany's blog here!  My boss, LaNita, and our other call center rep, Ronita couldn't come to lunch because of prior engagements, and Angie was sick, so sorry we missed you all!

30 Great Years!!

Yesterday, March 31, I turned... the BIG 3-0!!!  I can't believe I am in my 30's!  Yesterday as I was thinking back about my life, I realized how incredibly blessed I have been with a great family, aweseom friends, and wonderful memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life and that will always bring a smile to my face.  I thank God that He has given me such an incredible life, and even though there have been challenges with a visual disability and with moving around a lot while I was growing up, I am a better person because of who He has shaped me to be and what he has brough me through. 

Now, if you don't mind, let's take a trip down Memory Lane!!

Me at 3 Months

Me Sporting my dad's team, Mississippi State at 3 months.  Though I became a traitor and became a Razorback.  Sorry Dad!

My First Birthday

I was about 15 months old in this picture and Brian was about 8

Katie and Me in 1983 taking a Christmas card. I actually remember taking these pictures!!!

Katie and me carving pumpkins in 1984 in Auburn, Alabama

Me in 1985.  I really like this picture

My kindergarten picture

Me at 7 with Precious, one of my favorite cats growing up

My first performance!  I sang "Somewhere Out There" at my cousin's wedding at seven years old in front of like 300 people!

Playing the piano for Girl Scouts in 4th Grade

Katie (9) and me (10) playing in the snow

Singing at a wedding at 14 in 1994

Homecoming in 10th Grade

Graduating from North Little Rock High School in May 1998

My solo performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on March 29, 2000.  I was one of two national VSAarts 2000 Panasonic Young Soloist Award winners!

I sang the National Anthem at the 10th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and President and Mrs. Clinton were in attendance!

I met Sandi Patti (my favorite singer) in 2003!

Me, my cousins, Sara and Matt, my friend Karl, and my best friend, Michele on my first cruise to the Eastern Caribbean in 2004

Me being crowned Miss Lakes of the Northwest in March 2004.  This was my second local title to go to Miss Arkansas.  I went to Miss Arkansas 2000 as Miss West Central and was in the Top ten.  I was so excited to win Miss Lakes, though because I had tried for three years and it was my last year (age-wise) that I could compete for Miss Arkansas, and I wanted to go as Miss Lakes.  Plus the directors, Ed and Kathy are amazing!

My parents and me at Miss Arkansas 2004 after evening gown night

My best friend, Megan and me after I had won preliminary talent on Friday night at Miss Arkansas 2004

After the Miss Arkansas 2004 pageant.  I had gotten into the Top Ten again and also won the Coleman Dairy Overall Talent Award!  It was a great way to finish my pageant careet!!

This was at my sister, Katie's wedding in May 2005.  This was all of my family that was there.  There were a few people missing, and unfortunately, one person in this picture (my cousin Leslie's first husband, Brent (far right, top row, black jacket) was killed in a motorcycle accident two months later.  But, on a happier note, the wedding week was such a happy time filled with lots of fun and great memories with family and friends!

Me, Michele, and Michele's sister-in-law April on my first and long-dreamed-of trip to New York City in 2005.  We were in Times Square right after we went to see Phantom of the Opera

Me, Michele, my other best friend, Melody, and my college friend, Crystal bowling on my 26th birthday

Me and my friend, Michele at Michele's wedding in 2006

At my graduation from my Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Arkansas in 2006

Gray family trip to Disney World in May 2007.  Brian and Jennifer and the kids, Thomas (then 11), Keven (then 9), and Madalyn (then 3), my parents, Katie and Ed, and I went and had a BLAST!!

This is when I tried out for American Idol in 2007 in Dallas.  I made it to the second round!  That's two rounds before Randy and Simon and them!

Me with Megan and Charlie at their wedding in 2007

Me with my great friends, Dave and Sarah at their wedding in 2007.  Dave and I were music majors at U of A and spend many hours studying for music history!

Me and Katie took a trip to Dallas to visit Brian's family and we went by our old elementary school in Cedar Hill, TX!  I went to 1st-3rd grade here!

Mine and Mom's first peek at my nephew, Drew just seconds after he was born.  Mom and I got to be in the room to witness his arrival and it was one of the coolest, most special moments of my life!

Me, Katie, Ed, and sweet Drew in 2009 at Christmas

Well, I hope you all enjoyed that sweet trip down Memory Lane!!  I sure did!!!!  It brought back a lot of memories, smiles, and some happy tears. :)  I had a great birthday yesterday, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 30 years!!

Amazon Kindle

Have any of you ever seen/heard of the Amazon Kindle?  My dad had one last year when I went to visit my parents, and I LOVED it!!  It's basically like a portable library that has a wireless internet capability where you can download books, magazines, blogs, newspapers, and other publications, and read them right on the device.  I kept hinting that I wanted one for Christmas, and Mom and Dad kept saying that I shouldn't hold my breath because they are quite pricey (but SO worth it if you like to read like me!).  So, I didn't hold my breath, but I still held out hope.  And, lo and behold, on Christmas morning, guess what was waiting for me under the tree??? My very own Kindle!!  YAY!!!!!  I love this thing!  The books that you can download are actually cheaper then buying the books at the store.  They don't have every book out yet, but they do have quite a lot of them.  I downloaded the whole Chronicles of Narnia series for like $21 when it normally costs about $49 to buy all of the books at Barnes and Noble or somewhere like that.  I also found a couple versions of the Bible for about $2.00 a pop when I was searching for books.  That's a bargain!  You can also create a wish list of books you want.  And, if you ever get an Amazon gift card, you can use that toward downloading books for Kindle.

Like I said, they are pricey, but if you love to read, they truly are worth it!  I love it because it's so portable, and it has an audio feature.  Check it out!

Also, HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY from me and sweet Drew!!!!  He and I hope you are all wearing your GREEN!!!

Weekend in Fayetteville

This past weekend, Katie, Ed, Drew, and I got in the car Friday after I got off work and headed up to Fayetteville to see friends.  It had been about ten months (too long!) since I had been up there, so I was so excited to get to see friends.  I got to stay with my sweet friend from college, Michele Tencleve, her husband, Keith, and their adorable 9 1/2-month-old son, Hudson.  Poor Huddie was under the weather this weekend, though bless his little heart! :(  But, when we got there Friday night, he and Drew got to meet!

Hudson wanted to play.  Drew wasn't quite sure what to think...

Saturday, we had to get up and take Hudson to the doctor because he woke up with a fever and chest congestion, and the doctor put him on an antibiotic and an inhaler.  Keith stayed home with him all day so Chele and I could go shopping and go out to dinner to our favorite restaurant, Shogun.  It was yummy!!  Chele and I also had a blast riding in the car jamming to 80's music.  It felt like old times!  I even got to see a friend from high school, Steve (who we all call Remus), who just happens to be best friends with Keith and who lives down the street from the Tencleves.  He had gotten a new camera that he wanted to show us.  He took some funny pictures of me and Chele in the backyard.  Chele and I always have so much fun! :)

Friends forever!!

Silly girls!

Fun times

Sunday, I got up and my sweet friend, Melody Jenkins picked me up and she and I went to church at her family's church, New Hope Fellowship.  Mel and I were music majors at the U of A together.  I LOVE her sweet family!  It was so great to see them all and to catch up with Melody again!  Hopefully she is coming down to Little Rock the weekend before my birthday, so that should be a blast.  Her dad took us all out to Marketplace for lunch after that.  It was good!  They have this great dessert called A Chocolate Mess.  Melody and I shared one and couldn't even finish it.  I didn't get a picture, but here is a pic that was taken about four years ago that's one of my favs, but we still look the same, so it won't matter.

After that, I had a lazy afternoon back at Michele's till Katie, Ed, Drew, and I headed back home.  I want to move back up to Northwest Arkansas ASAP!  I miss it so much!!

A Healthy Start

Well, since I'm about to turn 30, i figure it's seriously time to start getting back in shape.  It's going to be a grueling task, but I gotta do it.  I'm honestly not much for the diet crap, but I do want to start working out!

I bought this video two years ago and started to do it once before.  I really like it because it doesn't wear you out the first time you do it.  Don't you hate it when you haven't worked out for awhile, and you go to an aerobics class or do a workout video, and after it's done you can barely stand up, let alone move or breath??  Well, not the case with this video!  it's so easy and I feel great after doing it.  The only things you need are good walking shoes, light weights (like 1-3 pounds), and of course the video.  I really like Leslie Sansone.  She is very encouraging, and her workouts are very easy to do.  No complicated moves to do, which is really good for someone visually impaired like I am.

I have some "before" pictures that I took, and as soon as I see some results, I will be sure to post them on here.  Be prepared, though.  The before pics are kinda bad.  :)  But isn't that usually the case??

Welcome, Rudy!!!!

Well, I thought I was going to wait for awhile to let another four-legged, meowing, purring little kitty into my home.  I wanted to make sure that my house was safe, and also that my heart was ready to have another furry child after losing Harmony and Holly within two weeks of each other.  But, then I realized how much my house was not a home unless I heard the sounds of running kitty feet and the soft purring in the morning, and felt the softness of a kitty snuggle.  So, natuarlly, I gave in and decided it was time to welcome a new furry son or daughter into my life!

I searched and searched, and found a whole lot of cute older kitties, but no kittens like I wanted.  Then, on Martin Luther King weekend, a girl I went to high school with contacted me on Facebook and told me that her aunt and uncle just had a litter of kittens on December 22.  I hurried over there to meet the five little furballs, and I fell in love with them all.  It took me a week or so to choose which one I wanted, but finally, I chose this little guy!

The first day we met- 4 weeks

He finally got to come home with me on February 6, and after careful consideration (about two weeks worth! :) ) I decided to name him Rudy!  I chose that name for two reasons.  First, he was born around Christmas, so his name could be short for Rudolph (it's not, but Rudy's close enough).  Second, he's extremely playful, and there's that movie about the football player named Rudy.

Snuggling on my blanket on the couch during the Central Arkansas "blizzard" of 2010, two days after bringing him home.

Playing on the back of my recliner

He is the sweetest, most loving, playful, funny cat, and I'm so excited to have him!

This picture melts my heart!!

Happy New Year!

Well, here I am!  My hope is to keep this blog as an up-to-date record of what's going on in my life.  I will definitely try to do A LOT better on this blog than I did on my last one! :) 

Anyway, I thought I would start this new year and new blog by reflecting on this past year.  A lot of changes, both good and bad happened in my life in 2009.

I started off 2009 with a new job (I actually started in late November, but it was still new at the beginning of last year.  I still work for the Department of Veterans' Affairs, but I now work for the Department of Workforce Management (which is out of Washington, D.C.) instead of the Central Arkansas VA Medical Center.  I work for Recruitment and Staffing Services in the Little Rock office as a Human Resources Specialist.  I still post jobs, only now I post the jobs that are open to the public.  It's been an interesting year with this job.  I have travelled to both Dallas and Atlanta for training and made some very good friends.

I also moved to a different house up here on the VA grounds in July.  It's a smaller house than I lived in before, but it has a much better view of Little Rock.  It has a great screened in porch that I can sit on and read or relax in warmer weather.   The only drawback to these old houses (mine is 110 years old) is the mold, but the VA is working to remedy that.

Mom also came up from Jackson one week and painted my kitchen for me!  The zebra part is done by hand!  WOW! 

The windowsill

Entrance into the laundry room

The entrance into the rest of the house

The biggest and most exciting change in my life this past year ithat I got a new nephew!!  Katie and Ed told us that they were expecting on Christmas day of 2008!!  We were all extremely excited about this new addition.  And, on August 24, 2009, Andrew Harrison Hill (Drew) entered the world at 5:28 pm, weighing in at 8 pounds even and at 20 inches long.  I got to witness his arrival, and it was one of the most touching and beautiful experiences of my life.  It showed me just how AWESOME God is! 

This is Aunt Beth's first real peak at baby drew just minutes after he was born!

Now, Drew is almost five months old, and he is the light of all our lives!  He is a charming, talkative, and loving little boy, and I love watching him grow up!  It's also so neat to see my sister as a Mom!  And, it also still makes me do a double-take whenever I hear Katie say, "my son." :)

This is sweet Drew earlier this month during his first snow.

Unfortunately, 2009 ended on a very sad note for me.  I lost my precious kitties, Holly and Harmony within two weeks of each other.  They developed a condition called Histoplasmosis, which caused a horrible infection in their lungs and made them very sick.  The vet told me that the disease is not contagious, so he thinks it came from the soil around my house.  My cat, Holly was rather mischevious and got out a few times, so the vet says that he probably brought contaminated soil into the house and Harmony also picked it up.  I made the decision to have them both put down- Holly on December 20, and Harmony on New Year's Eve.  I also had an autopsy done on Harmony to determine for sure that it was Histoplasmosis, and it for sure was.  I also had my house tested for the histoplasm spores and for mold, and fortunately, the test came back negative.  Unfortunately, that means the histoplasms are in the soil around my house, which is pretty scary for me!

It was such a blessing for me to get this picture.  I was decorating for Christmas This past Thanksgiving and found this!

But, I was blessed for six years to have the two sweetest kitties in the world!  Holly and Harmony will definitely be missed, but I smile when I think of the happy, fun times I had with them.

I am really looking forward to 2010!  I just have a feeling that this year will hold some new and exciting adventures!