Evidence of a new day!!

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert". 

Isaiah 43:18-19

 I am so blessed that God has given me the ability to embrace each day -each wonderful miraculous day- that I am given to celebrate my health. Through His grace alone, am I able to focus on today and not harbor bitterness about the many, many yesterdays and all the things that I have missed. Instead, I want to show you what all I am doing to catch up and find my way in this new world. 

Evidence #1:

I'm in school! This is old news, I know but the new news is that I am enrolled in TWO classes on campus this fall!! SOOOO Excited!!!

 Evidence #2

I am driving and it never gets old! Never, ever gets old...I'm telling you! I cry a lot while I am driving because I am soooo happy. Driving is AMAZING! Did you know that?!

 (don't worry I was stuck in traffic when I snapped this!)

Evidence #3

I wrap friends' birthday's presents. I don't just stick them in bag. Why? Because I feel sooo good! I feel like getting all my pretty paper goods out and using them! I am little rusty with my handiwork...

Evidence #4

I took a big step (for me) a few weeks ago and I have decided to try and find a new church to attend. I am so overwhelmed by this process. I am terrified of meeting new people and being sick over the last few years has really done a number on my self-esteem.  So, I decided that I had to face my fears head on. I am visiting churches by myself and forcing myself to speak to new people and try to find a new church home. I took this photo after my first Sunday visiting a new church. 

  

Thank you for your conintued prayers, love and support! I am so overwhelmed by your love not only here but on facebook, polyvore and through email! You all love me such much and I am touched everyday!

Austin Was Amazing

I am home from Austin and wanted to share some photos from my VERY FUN trip!! Austin is an amazing place! I want to move there. :) I always thought New Orleans was my favorite place but Austin is now on top of my "Favorite Places" List. We did stop in New Orleans on our way to Texas, though. I forgot how completely insane Bourbon Street gets at night. (Just in case you were wondering!)

We had dinner in New Orleans at Emeril's restaurant. It was so good. Kim and her roommate Jimmy. Jimmy is a traveling genius. I want him to plan all my vacations...he planned us a great trip. Please note this is the only photo of the 3 of us! :( I always had Jimmy take our photos and never got one with him. I am such a nerd!

 My best friend Kim.

Beautiful view of Austin nature. 

Some very yummy food trucks on South Congress Street. We had cupcakes! They were delicious! 

This photo was taken with my iphone so its color is a little off. We were at a restaurant called Shady Grove. I had the most amazing sandwich in the history of the world! It was called the "hippie chick". Grilled veggies and chicken on some very good bread!  

That amazing "hippie chick". Seriously, doesn't that look great?!

Our itinerary for our final day. I rested the first half of the day so I really did start out until number 6! :) But I still count it as a very successful day!

Our last night in the great city of Austin. I was pretty excited about this photo!

Thank you so much to everyone who sent me well wishes for this trip and prayed for me while I was gone. I am so happy I was able to go! I am so very thankful! 

just wanted the world to know...

I have had a couple of better days and I have enjoyed them so much! I haven't done anything major but I have just been more comfortable. (I even did a couple of loads of laundry and that made my Mom happy!)

source

Tonight, I am having dinner with my best friend Becca. I am so excited. 

I feel it is important to share when I am having a better day (or two!) because you all share in the down times and it is important to celebrate the up times together too!

 

My own Friday's Frills!

I had my very own fun filled, live action Friday's Frills, this past Friday. It was so much fun! I have wanted to get out of the house with a big-o list of things to do and just paint the town red. I totally got to do that! And I took a bazillion photos just for extra fun. :)

Out of all my cute notepads & pretty post its...I just grabbed a Netflix envelope and wrote my list on it. It worked though. I would also like to add that I was able to get everything on the list except shampoo. That never happens! 

Our first stop was at Petco and then we headed to Target. Target just puts me in a good mood. Don't y'all love Target too?

Mom getting some storage tubs for her China. 

Me, trying on a headband that I ending up buying and wearing the rest of the day.

The cashier was not amused by my photo taking at the check out. I tried to explain that I had a blog and I needed my Friday photos for Project Life but she was like, "Hey crazy girl, get on with it." Oh well. 

Next was lunch & dessert at our favorite bakery, Edgar's. I got a fried green tomato BLT. Yeah, it is so good. And we got cupcakes. 

We went to Belk's. They were having a massive shoe sale but I sadly didn't find any that I liked. There were some really unattractive shoes at this sale. I can't leave out that before we left, I managed to knock over a rack of sweaters with the wheelchair. Slightly embarrassing, I will say. Fortunately, no one was around and Mom quickly cleaned up my mess and we were on our way!

And lastly, we went to the movies. I have been wanting to see Country Strong. I know the reviews haven't been that great but we loved it! It was so good. I promptly came home and downloaded a couple of the songs on my iPod. 

Our last photo of the day. We are in front of the theater. It was freezing and this photo was taken in hurry! 

It was such a fun day, y'all. I am so thankful that I felt like going out. I hope I can do it again sooner rather than later! :)

a good day

 " I will alure her,and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. She shall sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt."

Hosea 2;14-15

 I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I don't know how I will feel next week. I don't know what the Summer holds but I still hope for the best every single day.

I can tell you what kind of day Tuesday was. Tuesday was magical. On Tuesday, I drove. I drove for the first time in a year. It was a dream. I drove myself to the movie theater. I was by myself and soaked up the last moments of the sun and the solitude. I also cried a majority of the time but it was a happy, cleansing cry. A cry that seem to wash away the pent-up emotions of the last few months.

It was a beautiful afternoon.

I know everyday won't be like that day but I will take every good day as they come. There is still wilderness ahead but there is sunshine too. The sun shined brightly from above me that day.

photo from here

Last Week in Pictures

Last week was a really good week. I felt better than I have in months and I was able to do a few things and see a couple of friends. I was a bad blogger last week! haha!

Monday

My lovely package wrapping goodies arrive from The Gilded Bee. You should visit her blog too. She has such pretty things!

Tuesday

Holly got a haircut and posed for pictures. She is so photogenic. I can't get over how totally cute this little puppy is. I am so in love with her.

Wednesday

 

My friend Jerica came over and visited for a little bit. She brought me some wonderful organic bath goodies! I was quite envious of her necklace! ;)

 

 

Thursday

 

Another visit with a friend! (See, I told you it was a great week!) My best friend Becca came by with her son, Jay. Isn't he a doll?! Laterwe went to dinner and had sushi.

 

 

Friday
Friday was puppy class but I was exhausted and didn't go. Mom took Holly to class for me and I stayed home and slept almost all day. Later that night I did make Martha Stewart tissue paper flowers. I found a kit at TJ-Maxx for $4!! Can't beat that!

Saturday was the day of my birthday party and it was so fun and so beautiful! I can't wait to post about it tomorrow.

I can't wait to catch up on everyone's blogs!

A Nice Weekend

You all are so kind enough to read and support me when I am having a bad day and I know you rejoice with me when I have a good day! Well, this weekend, I had two good days! Yay! And I am a complete goose and didn't take a single photo...ugh!

My weekend began on Friday with Holly's puppy class. She is doing so good! Friday was her "mid-term". She passed with flying colors...well, almost. She still hates the "down" command and is a little stubborn and it takes a bit to get her to follow that command but otherwiese she is doing great. She is even walking niely on the leash next to the wheelchair now. But most of the time, I just carry her because she is so snuggly! ha! I need to take a picture of her and Bear together. Bear is the only other dog in the class. He is a gorgeous, 80 lb. Golden Retriever and is an absolutely doll. He and Holly love playing together. Basically, Bear just rolls over on the floor and lets Holly go crazy and jump oh him like a jungle gym. It is pretty funny.

After class, we ran to the mall and I got a new swimsuit for our beach trip in July. Yay for that! I also got some cute blue striped pants that have a nautical feel to them. Super cute.

Satuday, my sister decided that she wanted to go shopping, so we loaded up and headed to the mall again. It was so nice to be among civilization! I found a couple of beautiful tops and a cardigan at Anne Taylor loft. Just click here and look at their opening page...it is pastel heaven!

And I made my first purchase EVER at J.Crew. I {heart} J.Crew but I cannot afford them. I splurged...alot and I almost immediately had buyer's remorse. I purchased this and this. I am about 99% sure that I am going to return the scarf because I think I can find a less expensive version somewhere else.

Most all of my purchases were things that I can wear with white pants. I love my white pants in the spring & summer. They are my go-to fashion piece for warm months. Mom thinks that I wear them too much but I don't care! I love them! I feel like I look nice in them!

Anyway, I had a great weekend! It was so fun and I missed being out and about like that.

And some final, random news:

I have signed up for Oh, Hello Friend's package exchange. I am super excited! I missed the deadline for the last package exchange. So, as soon as I saw that I could sign up today, I made a bee-line over to Danni's amazingly awesome blog!

And last but not least, tonight is the season finale of The Bachelor. I haven't watched it in ages but I started watching it again this season. It has been pretty good. Are any of you Bachelor Fans? I am Team Tenley but I think he will choose Vienna. Boo. We will see.

Aren't they a cute couple?

Have a great week, everyone!