What's on the other side of your front door?

I live in the country and I hate it. Let me tell you why. Today as I was folding clothes I heard some dogs going crazy outside. There aren't too many dogs around so I was curious. I opened my front door to see 13 yes 13 (I counted them) hound dogs huddled around one of our trees. Unsure of where the dogs had come from and if they were "friendly" I quickly closed the door.

About 15 minutes later I heard the same commotion again. Sooooooooo I again went to the front door, flung it open only to find three men dressed in camo and orange standing in my front yard........with large weapons.

Okay well I understand that I live in the country, and that's where most hunting is done, but ummmmmmmmmm isn't it illegal to hunt on someone's property?

Now personally I didn't have a problem with their hunting trip in my front yard. It wasn't like I wanted that poor little squirrel for dinner or anything. It was their attitude. When the hunters saw me they got upset that I had distracted their dogs long enough for whatever rodent they had sniffed out to get away. Ummmmm hello you are on my property.......so technically that squirrel belongs to me.

What's worse? Dad would have normally been home by this time, but it's suppose to snow tonight so he had to stay. Sooooooooo here I am home alone, three LARGE armed men in my front yard, and oh yeah we live in the country so no one was going to hear me scream!

So I smiled the biggest smile ever and quickly closed the door. Oh and then I called my daddy of course. LOL Thankfully he hadn't started salting yet so he ran home to check on me. Of course the "hunters" were gone by then and I felt a little silly for calling him, but c'mon what would you have done?

Oh well I guess it's all part of living in the country. I should probably look on the bright side, most people have to get up early and find a good spot to hunt........I can just open my front door.

What's on the other side of your front door?

In God I trust

So it's 2 a.m. and I am up. Why? I wish I could tell you why. My eyes aren't the least bit tired and my body isn't screaming at me to pour myself into bed. I just watched two episodes of Sex and the City and got lucky enough to catch the Sex and the City movie on HBO. I heart this movie......even if it does make me cry each and every time I watch it.

Speaking of things that will make you cry..........I am asking all of you to check out a blog that I follow www.littlegreenpastures.com and read their story. Just a quick overview.....Ryan and Bri Morrison had sextuplets, but only one survived. Sylas, their precious baby boy is awesome. They also have another miracle to celebrate, Ivy. Their story is one of heartbreak and happiness, and through it all they have never lost their faith. I think that's the most important thing.

Sooooooo Christmas is coming up, and......................I am not looking forward to it. Don't get me wrong I love spending time with my family, but this is the first year that I have been "alone" for Christmas since I was in my teens. See for me Christmas isn't about gifts, it's about spending time with the people you love. It's about having someone to share moments with. I'm not saying I "NEED" a guy to be happy during the holidays I am just saying that I enjoy having that person to share them with. I know I am not alone really, I have my awesome family and amazing friends, but I don't have that person. Ahhhh I sound like Kate Gosselin! I can't help how I feel. Feeling how we feel isn't logical, it's emotional. I've never been very good with controlling my emotions. Sooooo instead of focusing on what I don't have, I am going to be thankful for what I do. I have family and friends who are there for me day in and day out. I have faith in God and all that he can do. On top of all that I have high hopes for my future. My theory is simple............keep my faith in God, trust him and his path for me, surround myself with that awesome family of mine and those amazing friends, and to never ever give up or give in. Simple enough? I guess we will see.

Catch up!

Who has missed me? Yeah yeah I know I have read all your e-mails and comments. Ya'll have been so worried, and I really appreciate the concern! Well lots and lots have been going on so lets get started.

First I am no longer employed. I would like to talk about it, but for legal reasons I cannot. Just so you're not totally in the dark, I have been job hunting for the last six months. So I am not in the least bit upset about no longer being employed at FVB. Yes, I wanted to have a job to go to when I quit, but it didn't work out that way. I have spent the last two weeks going on SEVERAL job interviews and internship interviews. When I say several I mean several. Over the past couple of months I have heard so many people talking about the job market and how slim it is. Ummmmm sorry I don't buy it! There are plenty of jobs out there, you just have to get off the couch and go look. Thankfully, I am well qualified and educated so interviews have been pouring in.

Ohhhh and just for the record 99% of the e-mails have asked about a guy in my life. I don't have one right now so to speak. I have a major crush (yeah cause I am in middle school lol) but nothing has happened. He is an amazing guy and has been a major part of my life for quite some time. But just so ya'll know I have decided to be more private with that part of my life. It just seems like that part needs to be between me and the guy. Ya know? I would appreciate your prayers though. This guy is great and I could use all the prayers I can get for this to work out. I would be the happiest girl in the world if it did.

Since it's Sunday night let's recap the weekend. Friday night was movie night. We saw Blindside and it was awesome. If you haven't seen it yet......GOOOOOOOO! It was great. It was nice to see Phil Fulmer in it and so much talk about Knoxville and good ole Tennessee.

Saturday night the whole crew headed to Hooter's for fight night. Luckily we got there early and saw the end of the game. Tennessee beat Vandy and I couldn't be more proud of Lane! Mr. Kiffin has really impressed me, and I am not just talking about his looks. LOL Kristy and Brian's fighter won too. So except for Kristy's wallet getting stolen it was a great night.

Today has been my lazy day. Well if you can call filling out applications for internships lazy. Who knew internships required so much paperwork. One required 12 letters of recommedation. I will never be able to thank those 12 people enough.

Tomorrow is a new day and I am excited. Yes, I could be depressed, sad, scared or even mad that I am jobless and guyless, but really how would that help? No, Instead I am choosing to be postive, proactive and faithful. Faithful to God, because I know he has a plan for me. He never closes one door without opening opening another. I know that he has an awesome plan for me in both of those areas, so I am just going to see what happens. Isn't it amazing to just let go and let God?

Your prayers are welcome and wanted! There are several job opportunities that I have been working on for more than 3 months, andI could really use some extra prayers! Also in the guy department!!!

Bows Bows and more Bows!

Guess who's finally getting some hair???????? That's right miss pretty's hair is coming in more and more each day, and.................................she needs some bows!!!!! Not just any bows though.....big huge bows!

Oh and of course these bows must come from an ETSY shop! So here are a few that I found. I think they just scream Preslee!

Now I just have to choose........................

Who's ready for a giveaway?

Soooooo many of you have been emailing me asking for the daily giveaways to come back! Yes, I am working on it! I promise! Right now I am in the process of collecting pictures and item descriptions from the ETSY shops.

There aren't as many sellers interested in participating this time around. With Christmas coming up they are trying to make as much money as possible, not give things away. I totally understand! Our economy isn't great! So I just want to thank all the sellers who in advance who are participating.

Here are the rules (they are going to be the same for each giveaway):

1. One entry will be given for each comment you leave.

2. One entry will be given if you are a follower.

3. One entry will be given per friend referral.

4. If that friend becomes a follower then you will be given another entry and so will they.

5. The first person to leave a comment on the post will be give 5 extra entries!

Not too hard right? Also these items never touch my hands. They are shipped directly from the ETSY shop to you. Please remember winners that once I announce your name on the blog it is up to you to contact the seller.

Good luck everyone!!!!!

Purple Cows on Pins and Needles

I just wanted to share a picture of the best looking girls working at First Volunteer Bank! Ha Ha! This picture was taken last night at our "town meeting" and I think Kristy and I look pretty good.

Town meetings are held every three months at one central location. We have over 20 branches so the meetings are spread out over a week, and I really feel sorry for the board members who have to travel to each one. One town meeting is more than enough for me. Anyway we are on this "purple cow" theme right now so everyone had to wear purple last night.

Confused about the purple cow theory? It's really simple. Imagine you are driving down a country road. You pass farm after farm with fields full of cows. Then you pass a farm with a purple cow! Now I am sure that would catch your eye right? Well First Volunteer Bank is looking for purple cows so to speak. We are looking for new and interesting ways to be the best bank around!

Any ideas on how we can do that? Anything you would like to see at your bank the next time you walk in the lobby? Sounds like a good reason to have another giveaway! Leave me your ideas in a comment and if I choose your idea you win!

I love polka dots and ETSY and I have a new favorite shop........

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6004869

Pink Pins and Needles has the cutest things!

So here's the deal..............send me your purple cow idea and I will randomly draw a winner for a custom key fob in Pink Pins and Needles shop. So go look around and let me know which one you would like if you win. I will draw the winner next Friday (30th)

Tell me what you think?

Tennis is a big deal in my family. Daddy and some of his cousins grew up passing the time on the court. Most of my cousins played in high school and college and my sister too. Me not so much. Ha Ha! I am not much of a sporty girl........more of an indoor, anti-sweat kinda girl. Anyway even though I don't hit the courts on a regular basis like the rest of my family, I still follow the tennis world. Tonight I read this story and while I have mixed emotions about it, I want to know what the rest of you think.

Proving that no good deed goes unpunished, a tale of great sportsmanship has instead turned into an investigation of gambling, match-fixing and tennis integrity.
Caroline Wozniacki, a 19-year-old Dane ranked sixth in the world, retired from the first-round match at the Luxembourg Open with a hamstring injury on Wednesday while leading Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 7-5, 5-0.

Wozniacki's father, Piotr, told his daughter at 3-0 in the second set to retire before winning because her injury would prevent her from playing in the next round. His comments, apparently spoken in his native Polish, were picked up by microphones and heard by viewers watching the match on the Internet ...
... The father's comments during the match led to a surge in online bets for Kremer to win.
Wozniacki did a tremendous thing for Kremer by allowing her to advance to the second round in front of her hometown fans. As she explained:

I could possibly have finished the match, but felt there was no way I could get ready for the second round on Thursday, so I chose the sporting way and let her go through. She's also [playing] at home.

For her selfless actions, Wozniacki has earned an investigation from the Tennis Integrity Unit. Because there were a number of bets made after her father's comments were picked up by the microphones, the WTA became concerned that there was something nefarious about Wozniacki's retirement.

The British gambling exchange site Betfair, which allows clients to make mid-match wagers, says it did not have any concerns about the match.

First of all, if Wozniacki was going to fix the match, there are dozens of more effective and less obvious ways to do it rather than retiring up 5-0 in the second set. That'd be like if Tim Donaghy tripped opposing players in the NBA games he bet on.

This also seems like the WTA's way of covering itself for having live microphones in coaching huddles. From the way this story was reported, the bets in question didn't go through until after Piotr Wozniacki's comments were aired live on the Internet. Why not just cut those mics?
In all likelihood, Caroline Wozniacki will be cleared of any wrongdoing, but it's still disappointing that she's set to be investigated for integrity after a gesture which showed how much of it she really has.

So tell me what you think!