the big game!

Well, the big game has come and gone and in case you don't know, LSU lost the Battle of the Boot, but that doesn't mean I'm not posting about the game! Despite the score at the end of the 4th quarter, the LSU/ARK game was so fun! I actually wasn't planning on going at all. In fact, I avoid crowds. At one point in my life, I seriously thought I had like social phobia or something. I would get overwhelmed and claustrophobic. But that seems to have passed thankfully. I still don't enjoy large crowds so I just thought I would watch this game at home. B had to work until 4 on Saturday so I knew he wouldn't be able to go to the game. We DVR most big games and watch them later together. It's kind of our thing during football season - it's our date night. :)

However, this year my cousin, Lindsey, and my brother, Craig, were planning on attending the game and came by and picked me up. I'm so glad they did. We didn't have tickets but Lindsey was sure we would find some at the game... and we sure did for a great price! I brought my good camera and took about 250 pictures and loved every minute of it! I was thinking the whole time how cool it would be to be a sports photographer. In high school I was yearbook and newspaper photographer and would often take pictures of the football and basketball games, but that is my only experience. Wonder how I get into taking pictures for games like this? Anyway, a girl can dream right? ;)
We tailgated with my best friends and even met up with some old friends too. Lindsay & John David went to elementary school with Craig & I, so we had to get a sibling pic. :)

I sat behind this guy the entire game. Suprisingly I actually liked his hat but purely for the creativity that went into making it.

I also sat behind this guy who again I must give credit where credit is due. Those are some nice pants. Wonder if they make some in purple and gold...
Like I said I had a blast taking pictures! Also, I discovered that if you have a zoom lens then you don't need binoculars. :) But we didn't need binoculars anyway because we managed to score 4th row tickets!

My brother and I got tickets together on the 4th row but my cousin, Lindsey, found a ticket at face value in a separate secion from us. We were texting each other and when he told us what section he was in, we looked over and spotted him immediately. He stood out like a sore thumb in the sea of red!


But after the half the people next to us left their seats so Lindsey came to sit with us. By the 4th quarter, Lindsey had pretty much given up on LSU. He is the biggest LSU fan I know and he was actually calling the Hogs! ha! We made friends with the people around us and they LOVED seeing the LSU fans call the Hogs. (I would like to state for the record that I, in NO WAY, called any Hogs... However, I might have danced a little to the band music.)
The Battle of the Boot trophey. I hear that thing weighs like 150 pounds or something crazy like that! Congrats to the Hogs!
and the LSU fans were still smiling, believe it or not. Despite the outcome, we had a blast!
Maybe next year I'll finally see a game at Death Valley in Baton Rouge...

Giving back

Over the past year, I have been able to witness a group of beautiful people grow into a body of Christ, a church. One day I will tell you more about this church but for now I will just tell you about the people of which this church is made. They have challenged me, confused me, pushed me but most of all, loved me. They are some of the most giving people I have ever met. Just when I think I have given plenty, they show me how much more I can give.

This past Friday, B & I met these people under the Broadway bridge to give back to the community. Society is harsh in so many ways, including how it treats its homeless. These people have committed to dedicate one Friday a month to prepare a good home-cooked meal for the homeless of Little Rock. I was blessed this past Friday to be a part of this. Together with these people, we brought ham, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, cornbread and enough desserts to feed an army. I don't know who was more blessed, the homeless or us. Either way it was a beautiful thing to experience. (to protect their privacy, I did not include any pictures of those that we were serving). Enjoy these pictures of some of the wonderful people of Eikon Church, including my lovely husband below. ;)

Thanksgiving Recap:: in pictures

We had a great Thanksgiving in Louisiana visiting with my parents and my mom's side of the family. Landon (our new nephew) was definitely the highlight of the event. He was passed around more than the green bean casserole. ;) Here are some of the pics from this year's Thanksgiving. I hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Now, time to go to bed so I can be well rested for the big game! Geaux Tigers!

Giving Thanks.

This Thursday we will gather with family and friends to eat an enormous amounts of food, watch football, take a nap on the couch, get up eat some left overs and watch some more football. Sound familiar to anyone? This is what we do at our house and I love it. I also love the time spent with family... and I LOVE when my parents and grandparents get in the story telling mood. :) This Thanksgiving I hope for you it is more than eating, football and the ever popular losening the belt move while settling in on the couch. I hope that you really take time to think about the things you are thankful for. I know, personally, I don't stop and just thank God enough. Well, now is the time.

• I am thankful first of all for my parents because they have taught me about integrity.


• I am thankful for my husband who has taught me about patience. He is the most patient man I have ever met.


• I am thankful for my siblings who were my best friends while growing up and are still two of my most favorite people in the world! We are proof that not all siblings fight!


• I'm thankful they married amazing women of God to keep them straight, too. :) I love my sister-in-laws.
• I am so thankful that God blessed me with wonderful inlaws. I often hear horror stories of mother in laws and daughter in laws and I just thank God that I get along so well with Buie's parents. They are a blessing in my life. :)


• Next, I'm thankful for my friends (and you know who you are)... the ones who can tell stories about me that would make me shudder...but yet they still love me. ;)


• I'm thankful for my animals because they make me insane (like when they chew up the brand new outdoor cushions) yet they fill my heart with so much love!


• I'm thankful for a group of people to worship with. These people have taught me much about myself and about others in the past year.

So this Thanksgiving instead of gorging yourself and falling asleep from tryptophan overload, ask your grandparents THEIR favorite Thanksgiving memory or perhaps go around the table and ask everyone what they are most thankful for. You may get to know your family even more than you already do! :) Perhaps this will open up a whole afternoon of stories. This may just become one of YOUR favorite Thanksgivings. I hope you have a wonderful week and I'll be back later on this week to talk about the big game! Geaux Tigers!

Live Simply

Last night at church one of my friends spoke on a topic that is near to my heart. He spoke on living simply. What does it truly mean to live simply? Here are a few thoughts of mine I have about the topic:

• Be satisfied with that you have.


• Do more with what you have.


• Improve your life without buying anything more than what is necessary.


• Increase your awareness of those in need around you.


• Be responsible with the things you no longer need.


• Simply use less & give more. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.


• Do not be defined by your "stuff."
  
• Base happiness on yourself, your values and your family, etc.- spend less time comparing yourself to others.


• Define what is important and determine to live your life accordingly
  
• Be a good steward with your finances.


• Remember less is more. :)

You may think this is a weird topic to post before the holidays but to me, this is the BEST time to be thinking about this topic. Americans are consumers. We are surrounded my commercials and the latest gizmos and gagets. Some of them, yes, are handy and makes our life easier. But this Christmas I am encouraged to remember the root of true happiness. The reason for our joy should not be stuff. If it is, then maybe you should do some self examination. Ask yourself what are the most important things in your life. Is it equality to all human beings? Social justice? Peace on earth? Please understand that I am not asking you to sell all of your possessions to the poor and live on the street- I am simply asking for a self reflection. What is most important to you? I have been thinking about these things a lot in the past few years. And I would like to blog about these things more in the future. I would love to know your thoughts.... thanks for your time in reading this and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving spending time with your loved ones.

Related links:

72 Ideas to Simplify your life

Live Life Simply

Peaceful Simplicity

the fire is so delightful

If you are wondering where to find Hazel this time of year...

just look by the fire.

That is, until Conner knocks her off...

We may need to buy another ottoman, you think?