Saturday, October 25, 2008

Celebrate Life!

*Celebration*




Friday I got to go to lunch with a new sweet friend who is on staff with GCM, Mary Reading. It was so great to get to know each other and hear about some of her trip to HK. Of course, she was probably annoyed by how much I had to say about it. I can't help that HK is a subject that I could talk about all day long :-). Then I went into work where I was greeted by a huge sign on the wall that read "Happy Birthday Miss Brandy," and all my kids had colored all over it! It was the cutest thing!! It was a GREAT afternoon to hang out with my lil angels. After work, my friend from Tuscaloosa, Anna Walker, came into town. Mom also came up so she took us and some friends to dinner. After dinner we ate the cookie cake mom brought me and I got to celebrate with some close friends. It was great to see mom and I'm so thankful for all she is doing for me right now and how daily encouraging she continues to be in this time.



Saturday, we woke up early to go to the city of Loachapoka. This town holds an annual Syrup Sopping Day. It is a really neat "Santuck" type thing. In this huge field, they set up a country-style outdoor festival with shopping booths, food, and activities. In this town, they grow sugar cane and then make homemade syrup right there in front of you by spinning a huge log type thing that crushes up the cane and pours out the syrup. It's hard to explain such an event. You eat biscuits with homemade syrup and sit around listening to some blue grass music while watching crazy folks square dance and clogging (how embarrassing?) Many of my friends were there and some of them actually participated in this dancing! :-) I saw one of my students there with his family, too.


After a couple of hours at the sop, some friends accompanied me to my new favorite place- THE PUMPKIN PATCH! haha! We walked around for a bit and then bought some pumpkins and some gourds! It was so thrilling for me-I'm a nerd! Finally after lunch, I got the chance to take a break and chill out with Anna.

Me and Anna went to the park because it was so dang pretty outside! The Lord could not have given me a prettier day on my birthday! As Anna slept, I just spent some time reading and reflecting on the year... more to come on the next blog. However, it was the most relaxing time just hanging out in God's creation and meditating on Him. After Anna left Auburn, I took a bath! haha, yes- I still love baths! I just soaked up an amazing afternoon. I was then ready to finish up my day with dinner with my roommate Chatty at her friends house. They made taco salads and cupcakes! I even got a cupcake with a candle in it presented by the birthday song! It was fun to meet Chatty's sweet friends and to fellowship for dinner. After dinner, I ended my day with hanging out at my house with some of my favorites! It was so fun to get to see mal, mary r., and my roommates one more time before the day was over.



Sunday was great at Cornerstone! Two of my small group girls rode with me and the roomies to church! I then drove to Montgomery to see my sissy, Blair! She's in town for a few days so I hung out with her. AFter we ate, she and I just chilled and talked about life at a park. It was such a beautiful day, AGAIN! I went and saw my Grandbuddy who was filled with some crazy opinions about life, religion, and politics- I'm sure you can imagine! Dinner with Mom and B + hang out time with Bec, Trip, trio, and Katie and LeRoy pretty much summed up an amazing weekend! Hope yours was great as well!! I will be writing more soon about my thoughts looking back on this year.. it's been a crazy one!