Little Signs He is Listening

Several weeks ago a need of the greatest kind (in my opinion) was brought to my attention.  This need is very near and dear to my heart and I have an overwhelming desire to help.  I've been praying about it a lot but I am not sure if is the right time just yet.  I know God will give me the answer I need but over the last few weeks I have noticed a lot more about it.  It seems everywhere I look there is something about it.  Facebook, the news, blogs, events, and so many other things.  I'm not quite sure if I am just noticing because I've been thinking about it or because God is showing me how great this need is.  You know how you see something you really like then you start noticing it everywhere?  I'm pretty sure this is God's way of showing me but I'm learning to let go of all the things that tell me it's not.   I just thought it would be good for me to get it off my chest (sort of hehe).  I've always felt that I was here for a reason and that God has HUGE plans for my life.  I've just been waiting for Him to show me.  Maybe this is it?  Maybe it isn't?  I am really hoping it is though.  If you think about it when your saying your prayers, say one for me, I would greatly appreciate it. 

It's Been A While!!

Hey guys!  I know its been a while since my last post.  It seems as though I don't have as much time to sit in front of the computer these days.  If it weren't for my phone I'd probably never read email or be connected to the outside world at all.  Crazy how things change!  Brace yourself this one may be a little long.  I'll apologize in advance!

I just thought it was time to take a little break and update on what we have been doing over the last few months.  Well, I'll just be honest, it hasn't been real exciting.  Just your normal everyday life.  Work, home, work, home.  But Reagan has had a few milestones lately.  Can you believe she is 9 months old????  It has gone by so fast!  Can you believe I'm already planning her first birthday party?  Ok, if you really know me then yes, you can believe that.  But I do have it all planned out, almost.  Any thoughts from other mommies on the best time to do it?  I'm still up in the air about that because of nap time.  I could really use a few opinions from those of you who have gone through it already.  More on the party as it get closer to time.  It's going to be great!

At Reagan's last visit to see Dr. Blair on the 10th she weighed 17 lbs. 10 oz. and was 27-3/4" long.  Which is all in the 50% range.  Not too bad I guess.  She is very healthy and has reached just about all her milestones for this age.  We are still working on crawling.  She isn't quite there yet but I don't think it will be too long.  She says bye-bye, da-da, and hi.  I'm sure most of you saw the "bye-bye" video on Facebook.  She will wave back if you wave at her.  And she has learned "No".  If you say "no-no Reagan" she will shake her head back and forth.  It's so cute! 

She does have a mean temper too.  Humm, wonder where that came from?!?  If you take something away from her that she really wants she will scream at you.  Lol!  I mean really scream.  I think it's funny, for now.    

She has 4 teeth on top, that she got all at the same time, and now has 3 on the bottom.  So, 7 total.  We started on puffs and yogurt melts which she loves.  And she is really good at the whole pincher grab thing.  Dr. Blair said we could start giving her soft table food now too.  Oops!  I didn't tell him that she has already experienced a plethora of table foods.  What?  You mean a 6 month old isn't supposed to have lemon pie at Christmas???  Oh well she survived.      

As for me and Zac,  I am still working for my dad in 1984 and Zac is working in East Buddha (Cedar Bluff, AL)  If you aren't sure where that is, it's an hour and a half from our house.  Good thing that gas money is on the company dime!!  Which is weird because they also have a job 5 mins from our house.  I just don't get the logic there but oh well.  It's not my money to worry about.  

We are starting our house remodeling back up again.  (Why is is we only do thing when its hot?)  We do have a slogan now, Spanick Remodeling  "We'll Replace One Ugly Thing At a Time"   So, that is what we are doing.  I went with my cousin Amanda to Cotton Tails a few weeks ago and bought a new mailbox.  That's right people, a mailbox.  Not a cute little Easter dress and a basket.  A mailbox. Winning.  It really wasn't a bad deal.  I got a black metal, powdered coated mailbox with our name and house numbers on it for $120. Winning.  It may sound like a lot if you haven't priced mailboxes lately but it really isn't.  I can't wait for Zac to put it up!!  Then I can plant pretty flowers around it!!  We have quite a few things on that "Replace" list.  

Let's see:

- Kitchen:

• All new cabintets
• Tile (already have)
• Counter top
• New dishwasher

- Bathroom tile and vanities in both bathrooms.  

- Laundry Room tile.

- All new landscaping.  "I want a Shrubbery!"

• All new Shrubs in the front
• Shrubs in the back and around the garage
• A few flowers here and there. 

- New railing and flooring for the front porch.  

That just about covers the remodel.  I'm sure I left something off though.  As you can tell, it really has to be "Replace One Ugly Thing At a Time" because we have SO much to do!

I'll post more about Reagan's party when it gets closer to time so you guys can see all the cute stuff I've gotten.  Don't forget to give me your opinions on a good time to do it!!!

Talk to you soon!!

It. Begins. Today.

Well folks the much anticipated iPhone is coming to Verizon.  Have you heard?  Just in case you've been living under a rock for the last few weeks I'll clue you in.  It comes out for purchase to everybody today on online and in Verizon stores tomorrow.  Verizon customers had a chance to order it on Feb. 3rd but I was still on the fence with what I wanted to do on Feb. 3rd so I didn't order it.  Boo.  I know right.  I know you all are sitting there saying "Geez woman make up your mind already".  Well I have done so.  I thought and thought and thought some more and researched and researched.  I read review, after review, after stinkin' review and decided I have been waiting for the stupid phone for like 3 years now so how crazy would it be to get the Droid now that Verizon actually has it.  So......iPhone 4 here I come!!  As soon as I get it I will do a review of my own for all of you that are still on the fence about it.


I'll leave you with this......

Twig and Thistle Valentine Day DIY Stickers

Check out these cute DIY stickers from Twig & Thistle.  All you have to do is download, print them on sticker paper and cut them out.  I just thought they were cute so I had to share. 

What We Did in 2010

    A look back...

• I was preggers!!
• We went on a Baby Moon to Gatlinburg. 
• I had a million eye surgeries.  
• Spent the first 2 months of the year laying on the couch.
• We moved to a new house and sold our old one.
• My dad got sick and I had never been so scared in my life.
• I finally realized my dad was not invincible.
• Lost a Grandmother and an Aunt
• Did LOTS of EXTRA praying...
• Did lots and lots of Thanking...
• Paid off my car!
• Had our first baby!!
• It was a million degrees outside
• Lost a lot of sleep.
• Carter had his 1st birthday!
• We built a garage
• Went on our first vacation with Reagan
• Zac finally got of the night shift 
• Lost all my baby weight then gained 15 back thanks to my eye and steroids.  (Nice)
• Made new friends just to find out they were moving to Kentucky.  :(
• Lost my job
• Got a temporary job thanks to my dad
• Zac's dad got sick and we got scared again.
• Had our very first white Christmas and our first one with Reagan.

We had some good times and some bad this year but I think the one good thing out weighs ALL the bad ones.  We are SO blessed and I thank God everyday for that.  Everything happens for a reason and I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in 2011!  Happy New Year guys!!!

So This Is (was) Christmas.....

And what have we done?..... Well there was this...

which is my absolute favorite Christmas pic of all time!!

And this....

 

Lots and lots of presents...

A good bit of this for the first time EVER...

A lot of this as well for Reagan...

And plenty of this....time with family

Oh and definitely plenty of this....mmm cake.....

We had a great Christmas!!  It was amazing!  I still can't believe it snowed here!  Zac got me a Brave Love necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!  This is it here...Brave Love.  It has all of our names at the bottom.  Sorry, I haven't gotten a pic of it yet!  I absolutely LOVE it!!!  Did I say that already?  Reagan got everything she needed plus more.  Santa brought her an excersaucer and a taggie blanket that she loves as well.  Santa didn't go overboard this year because he figured everybody else would.  He was right.  :)  I got Zac a Brew Your Our Beer kit which he loves.  Boy, I can't wait for that!  It makes 5 gallons at a time.  Nice.  My mom and dad surprised me with a laptop.  I was so shocked that I cried.  I just wasn't expecting to get something like that.  Don't you just love surprises!  They also got us a Handy Cam which is awesome.  We already have plenty of videos to share.  Aren't you excited.  I think we got everything we had hoped for. 

Most of all we took time to remember the reason for Christmas.  Our savior was born!  We read the story straight from the bible.  That is my favorite part!   Of course Reagan doesn't understand it all right now but she will in time.  What I think is important is that we start our own traditions and teach her the real reason for Christmas.  It's not about toys and what we get its about Jesus.  Hopefully one day she will love to read it too.

I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas!!

Goodbye Crossville Tile & Stone

I sit here in tears today as I write about a very sad day for me yesterday.  It seems I have become another statistic of the economy, I lost my job at a great company.  They said they were eliminating my position.  It was nothing that I did wrong they just had to cut back.  I am still a bit confused on why they picked me but I guess I have to just look past it.  Everything happens for a reason and God has a plan for me.  I just have to trust in Him and know that it will all be ok.  I just hope I can find something else soon.  If there is anybody hiring they probably aren't going to do so until the first of the year so I'm sure I will be unemployed at least for the month of December.  Why is it that companies let people go right at Christmas?  I guess they do it because it is the end of the year but it really sucks.  In my industry it is really hard to find a job right now.  I was really very blessed to have the job I did for so long.  I'm sure I'll have to do something non design related until something else comes up.  Which is fine, not what I would want, but fine.  What is most important is that I have the means to provided for my sweet angel.  Thankfully Zac still has his job but he can't keep us afloat by himself for too long. 

A part of me wants to get mad and just scream about it.  Then the other part wants to just cry.  I had 6 years invested there.  Granted the last 2 were probably the best.  The other ones I would be happy to forget.  All in all I had friends there and don't regret too much.  I will miss everybody.  They are all great people and I loved being there with them everyday.  I think that is what makes it so hard.  I actually liked going to work.  Some days were stressful but what job doesn't have that.   There aren't too many people that can say they like their job but I truly did.

To my co-workers:
You guys were so good to me and I can't thank you enough for being my friends.  We all went through a lot and leaned on each other in the process.   I am so thankful for each and everyone of you.  All I ever wanted to do is help and I hope somewhere along the line I did help you.  I am thankful for what I learned from you all while I was there.  The information is invaluable and I will carry it with me all the time.  Thank you again for all the good times and I hopefully I will see you soon.

My 100th Post and a coupon or 2!!

With this being my 100th post I thought I would share a few online codes for Shutterfly.  I ordered a photobook last week and when I got it in the mail I had a coupon for 10% off my next order and one for 5 free folded greeting cards.  I know everybody is getting ready to order pictures or cards for Christmas so I thought it would come in handy for you guys too.  


Here they are:


TNA7-32MV-ZYRZ-VJMTU - 10% OFF


PAUK-3CFZ-6SAB-9KND9R -  5 FREE CARDS

Thrifty Decor Chick

Check out this new blog I found!  This girl has some great ideas.  If you read her bio she said she decided to follow her dream of being an Interior Designer.  Well, with me having a degree in Interior Design I was intrigued to see what all she comes up with.   I think it's mostly like cute DIY crafty ideas for your home.  Which means I wouldn't necessarily call her an Interior Designer but that is a whole other post.  :)~  She does have some great ideas for your home that you can make yourself though.  I really like this one so I thought I would share. 

Memo Board and Cute Magnets


What I like so much about it is the magnets she made.  It is really a great idea and your kids can even help with it. 

Aren't these cute!  And you can use whatever paper you have to make them.  They don't have to be Christmas themed.

I really need to do this because our fridge is getting over run with coupons and junk.

Check out her post and you can learn how to make them yourself.  So cute!!

Reckless Raven

As most of you are aware, Zac brought home a black lab one night last year he found on one of his jobs.  She had a hard knock life up until then.  She was dropped off in the ghetto and forced to fend for herself.  Zac and all the guys he works with would feed her every night but then when his job was about to be over he couldn't stand to leave her out there.  So, we now have Raven.  She is a great dog but has a bad habit of just eating whatever she can find when she's hungry.  Maybe its the whole living on the streets thing.  We have a running list of what all Raven has eaten since we've had her.  Ready for this.....

• A pizza box (I can't blame her.  It had cheese still stuck to it!)
• A carpenter pencil
• A plastic bowl
• A plastic paint can lid
• Numerous cat meals
• Electrical tape (the whole roll)
• Hardwood flooring
• A plastic Lowes bag
• One of Zac's running shoes
• A paint stir stick
• A paint roller
• A blueberry bush
• Numerous cat toys

As you can tell it's a long list and it just keeps growing.  And these are just the things we've caught her with.  And when I say ate, I really mean that.  Like nothing was left.  So it wasn't like she was just chewing like labs often do.  We have learned that if we don't feed her at a certain time she will just eat whatever is there.  Needless to say we are very careful about what we leave out.  No worries, I keep a good eye on Reagan.

The point of the story is that on Monday I noticed Raven having a hard time sitting.  When I would ask her to sit she either wouldn't or would kind of hobble.  Of course I was worried but Zac said it was nothing don't worry she just wants her treat.  Well he gets home on Tuesday and notices that she can't wag her tail.  We thought her tail bone might be broken so he called Dr. Bean's office and took her in.  After a thorough examination and $50 later they told him she had swollen anal glands and was constipated.  Constipated?  You don't say?  I mean she has a very balanced diet. ;)  I just can't imagine what would have made her that way.  (Refer to list above)  They gave her some steroids and said to bring her back if she wasn't better in a week.  I am happy to report that when I got home yesterday she was wagging her tail.  I can guess though that she isn't going to learn her lesson.  As we add to the list I'll update it.  I really gets to be comical at this point.