Weekend Updates

Another weekend has come and has (almost) gone so quickly. I have had a wonderful weekend, and I think it's clear to see why. The world is so much brighter through my eyes since Friday evening. Let me just say, letting go is the most awesome thing I've ever done. I kind of feel like the Grinch when his heart grew 3 sizes. You don't realize how much energy it really takes to hold onto something until you let it go. I am so grateful to not be holding onto so much right now. Am I perfect and complete now? Um no....but I'm pretty darn close. Haha, jk. No, I'm not even close. But I feel like I took a pretty radical step of faith for me, and God met me right there in the middle of it. SO...it is good.

I'm also healing some in my wounded friendship that I...don't have the right words to describe other than that. But I still love that person and their family very much. They know that. I was able to tell them that. I hope they receive that, and I hold onto the hope that one day, things will be better. Because I really miss them in my life. But I'm CERTAINLY not going to let go of one thing just to pick up another. I'm pretty content with being free. My main thing was that I desperately needed them to know that I don't hate them at ALL nor do I hold resentment. I just...want it all fixed. Because I like order and things to be right, and even if that means them not being in MY life, I STILL wish them well. I am content with whatever. WHO would have ever thought that "don't-even-THINK-about-messing-with-me-Julie" would EVER say these things? God, who am I???

Okay, so this weekend, we had our annual holiday party at Nick and Emily's house. Guess what? I took two pictures. And neither one of them are that awesome. I suck. A little while before, Nick texted me to ask me to bring some drinks. I just thought I'd throw this up here to show our crazy friendship. There's no one quite like him. And I thank God for that daily. ;) (My texts are in green for all of you non-iphone users. Which, btw, there should be no such thing...and another thing, if you text me regularly, I'm gonna need you to have IOS5 so that our texts will go through lightning fast in I-message.)

Okay, here's one of my 2 pictures. I have to give a shout out to this girl--Lori Tompkins. She and her husband, Jonathan, opened up their home regularly years ago every week in a life group. They invited me and Travis in to an already established group, and I met some of what would turn out to be my best friends there. They saved me in so many ways because up until that point, I was still so alone here in Alabama. They loved me at a time that I wasn't my best. I know even if we all don't get to see each other regularly, I could call any one of them--including this pretty girl--and they'd be there. THAT is a blessing.

Here's my 2nd and final picture of the party. Do you know this guy? I sure do love him. I'm so glad that I have someone to laugh with, love, share my life with, and yes, even argue with on a regular basis. I'm even more glad that it's him. When I look at Travis, I can't help but think, "God. You are SO lucky to be married to me." Ha! Okay, I'm kidding. I can share anything with him, and I never have to be worried about his reaction. He is really my best friend.

Okay, and this morning, here's what we had going on in elf world. (We had to look quick because 8am--when I have to be at church--comes early, especially when you don't get home until 11:30 the night before). It was a trail of Hershey's kisses leading to....

the baby reindeer! He (she?) returns!!! Santa must have dropped him down the chimney. Sage was thrilled, but I don't know if she was as thrilled as Jaggar was with the CHOCOLATE. OMG, that boy had HANDFULS of chocolate, and he was just shoving it in his mouth. I spent a good 10 minutes picking up candy wrappers.

And I was so excited to see that me and my girl, Jen, coordinated in red this morning. Look at us lookin' all Christmas-y. I went in and said, "I KNEW you'd do it! I KNEW IT. Look at us. JUST LOOK!" I'm so retarded, and if you don't know me and just stumbled upon this, then I've made that pretty clear.

I love this girl a lot. She is one of my best friends. We are just about as opposite as can be, but NOT REALLY. She likes to come ACROSS as being meek and mild, but she'll let some things come out of her mouth in her sweet little voice that will make me bust out laughing because it sounds just like something I'd say. Seriously, I have a lot of respect for this girl. She has been through some tough times in her life, and her song and worship have never even faltered. I can't say the same for myself. And, she's hot. I tell her all the time. :)

And this was my fortune today at Old Faithful, China Luck. I feel like I made peace with them today. Last week, I told the lady that I was not sitting in the initial booth she placed us in because the sun was blinding me last time we sat there. (They need shades!) But today, we were fine and Jaggar made his "scary face" at all the people around us. Him doing that needs to be documented because it is hysterical! And this was my fortune. Okay, I had 3 cookies for me and the kids. I opened up the first 2 and they weren't fitting for me. They were something about going east and some other random one. But this one? Well, I knew this had to be mine.