I'm Elizabeth... Remember me?

I know... I know... I've been a slacker. My last post was December 10, 2010. I've had exciting things going on in my life. I really did, but I guess I would just rather read about your interesting lives. Since I am not finally updating the blog, please allow me to update you on this semi-interesting life of Elizabeth.

February
In February I bought my very own sewing/embroidery machine. It's very much a beginner machine which is good for me because I am very much a beginner at sewing and embroidering. I've learned a lot and have created a lot of cute things. I love making things, but I am still learning.

April
In April, I met Jeff. We met the "new age" way... on a dating website. I tried eHarmony and got tired of paying for a site where I wasn't matched up with anyone good so I ventured on over to the free dating website, plentyoffish.com. I'd been on there for a while and hadn't found anyone that caught my attention. I soon decided that I was going to stop looking and just let God's plan be fulfilled. About a week later, I get a message on POF (Plenty of Fish) saying that there was a guy that wanted to meet me. We started messaging each other on the website and then met at Falls Park one Sunday afternoon. One week later on Easter Sunday(4/24/2011), we made our relationship "official" and became boyfriend and girlfriend. We made sure to put it on Facebook that night because you know nothing is official until it is on Facebook. :) This coming Saturday will be our 5 monthiversary. I love him. :)



May
On May 14, 2011, I graduated from Liberty University with my Masters of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education. I am certified to teach pre-k through 6th grade in Virginia, but I am still waiting to find out what I need to do to get my certification in South Carolina.


Here is a picture of me waiting for graduation to start. There were about 6,000 graduates that walked. Luckily, we separated into our different schools for the actual walking across the stage part. Everyone gathered in the stadium for the commencement speaker and then we had assigned places for our graduation ceremonies. Mine was at Thomas Road Baptist Church. At the ceremony for the commencement speaker, it was estimated that there were 30,000 people there plus the 6,000 graduates. It was crazy! They had 30,000 ponchos to give out in case of rain. Luckily, it just misted.

August
In August, I celebrated my 27th birthday. A bunch of my closest friends (minus a few that live far away) went to a Greenville Drive game. If you know me well, you know that I LOVE Greenville Drive games. We had so much fun! I loved getting to do one of the things I love with people I love. Turning 27 wasn't that bad. :) I would post pictures from that night, but I seem to have misplaced my camera. :( Pray that I can find it.

Well I believe that's all of the important highlights that I have for now. I do have another blog planned so be looking out for it. It's about the dreaded topic of exercise.... ahhhhhhh. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

By His Grace.

Help!

I need your help! Help me decide which photo card is the best.

Card #1

Snowflake Dazzle Christmas Card

Turn your photos into personalized Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Card #2

Nativity Blessing Religious Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly for beautiful photo Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Card #3

Three Wise Men Religious Christmas Card

Create beautiful photo Christmas cards at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Card #4

Christ Is King Religious Christmas Card

Turn your photos into personalized Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Thanks for your input!

By His Grace.

Check your mailbox!

I absolutely love getting photo Christmas cards in the mail. I love seeing how children have grown and how people have changed. This year my family and I have decided to send out Christmas cards to our friends and family. There are so many people we would love to wish a Merry Christmas, but they might not live close by. Aren't photo Christmas cards just a great way to spread some holiday cheer?

A couple weekends ago my family and I bought our Christmas tree at a little lot on the side of the road. The tree was beautiful so we decided to take our family Christmas picture in front of the tree. The pictures turned out wonderfully. Now, I just need to pick out which Christmas photo card I want to use. Shutterfly makes creating Christmas photo cards so very easy! I have spent so much time looking through all of the design options Shutterfly has available. There are so many lovely designs to choose from. I love how they not only have cards with one photo, but they have cards with multiple photos as well. They're so many options and the cards are trendy and modern!

I love this one. It's so classy looking!


I also love this one. I like how it incorporates faith, hope, family, and love.


I also love this one. I have three horizontal pictures to use and this would fit them perfectly.

I just don't know which photo card to pick!

Shutterfly also has these great photobooks if you're looking for a neat gift to give someone. I know grandparents would love to receive a book filled with pictures of those grandchildren! Just check out Shutterfly's website for many other ideas for great Christmas gifts.

Well it looks like I need to start narrowing down which photo card I am going to choose. I'll display it on here once I order it or look for one in your mailbox in the next few weeks. You should definitely take the time to check out Shutterfly and see what they have to offer. Oh, and if you're also a blogger, check out this link to see how you can receive your own free photo cards. Shutterfly's photo cards are great, but free photo cards are even better! Happy Shopping!

Because I know she'll read this...

Mrs. Rada,
I miss you. Let's plan to go to Cracker Barrel and the Goodwill Clearance Center very soon. Okay? I love you!

Miss Petty

Calling All Prayer Warriors!

My best friend Mallory is 25 weeks pregnant. This morning at 3am she went into pre-term labor. The doctors are working to stop the labor. Baby Maci currently weighs around 1lb 16oz. We know that God answers prayers and He is the Ultimate Physician. Please pray for Mallory and Maci. I love the mama and this baby girl so much! Thank you!

By His Grace.

Furlough Day #2

Today was furlough day number 2 for my school. The first furlough day was on August 5--my birthday--so I wasn't really bothered that I didn't have to work. :) Today I decided to use a little bit of my birthday money. I went to Christian Supply and bought the book Laughing in the Dark by Chonda Pierce. Chonda is a Christian comedian and speaker who has suffered from depression and wrote this book to inform the readers that there is hope. Since I've suffered from anxiety and depression since I was 13, I thought this might be a great read.

I then went to Goodwill. I absolutely LOVE shopping at Goodwill. I got this pretty necklace for 5 dollars.



This winter dress for my god-daughter Brianna for $3.25. It still had the tags on it from TJ Max. Isn't it cute?!


I got all of these books for $8.43.


Last, I got some clothes for my friend Mallory's baby girl, Maci who will be born towards the beginning of December. I got all of these clothes for $5.10.
This cute skirt and bloomers set is from Baby Gap.


This cherry dress is from Gymboree.


This purplish-black shirt is from Gymboree.


This blue jean jumper is from The Children's Place.


These cute shorts are from Target. These will be great for the summer time!


Did I meantion how much I love Goodwill?!

By His Grace.

A Birthday Party with a BFF and a Fruzin

On Friday, August 6, my good friend from college Laura invited me to her house in Anderson for a birthday party for ME! :) She is so sweet! We had delicious tacos, pickles, and a yummy dessert. Her fruzin, Morgan, also hung out with us. (FYI: A fruzin is a cousin that is also a friend!)

While we ate our tacos we watch a movie that was one of my favorites when I was probably in middle school. We watched The Babysitters Club. I loved reading those books when I was younger. It had been so long since I had seen the movie or read the books that I had to ask Morgan to refresh my memory. I loved those books.

After we finished eating we took a quick trip to Dollar Tree and Walmart to hunt for bandanas to make Bandana Blossoms. Check out Laura's blog to find out more about Morgan's new creation. The next morning we got up an checked out a few yard sales and then went to the Jockey Lot! I didn't buy anything except for an icee at the Jockey Lot, but I still had fun. I love those girls.

Laura, thanks for a wonderful birthday party! I love you!

By His Grace.

Cutie Patootie

Check out this cutie patootie that I got to play with on Monday!

Her name is Briana.

Briana, her parents, Matt and Diana, and Briana's big sister, Felicity, go to my church. Felicity had a doctors appointment and I quickly volunteered to keep this little bundle of joy. She's three months old and so much fun! I loved holding her and making her smile.












Ahh... I want one.

Dear Lord, please send me a husband. :)

By His Grace.

"Reunited and it feels so good..."

This past Saturday I met up with one of my best friends from college, Laura Mercer Rada. I never knew how much I had missed her until we spent a few hours together. The last time we saw each other was November 11, 2006. That seems like forever ago!



Well we met up at Cracker Barrel. She brought her friend Jessica aka Bubba along too. It was so much fun reuniting with an old friend and making a new friend too! We had a very delicious breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then decided to do one of mine and Laura's favorite things to do when we lived together.... Goodwill shopping! We hit up the Goodwill Clearance Center on Haywood Road. It is amazing! I want to give you warning though... You will probably feel like you need to take a shower after you leave there and you have to dig and search to find the good stuff. One of the things I love about the clearance center is that they have soooo many books! I was able to get books for my classroom collection. I got 44 children's books. Guess how much it cost... $3.25! There are some well-known books I found too! I got Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? That book has a lot of memories for me.



I also bought a ride-on toy and a resting mat that I hope we can use at school. I got both of these things for $7.00. Sorry I don't have a picture of them. Laura ended up finding a bookshelf for $7.00. It took 2 men and ideas from Laura and Bubba, but they finally got it in Bubba's car.



Bubba and Me

Laura, Bubba, and Me


I had so much fun with Laura and Bubba! I can't wait to do it again!
By the way, the Goodwill Clearance Center has everything 50% off on Sundays!

By His Grace.

Mr. and Mrs. Davison

On June 5, one of my best friends from college, Elizabeth Vaughan, married her true love. Here are some pictures from the Davison wedding festivities.

Rehearsal Dinner
Alisha and Taffie

Kim's baby, Kieran

Nick and Allison

Taffie and Kim

The Wedding Day
The bride getting her hair done.

The Bride

Getting into the dress





She had to hold onto the door frame in order to lace the dress up.

Still lacing

All Done!

Fixing the veil

Beautiful!

Dancin'!

Self Portrait

Introducing us at the reception

Parents of the Bride

I believe they were excited that the wedding was over.

Mr. and Mrs. Davison

Cutting the cake. It was yummy!

Elizabeth and Josh were listening to Elizabeth's dad sing "My Girl."

Bouquet Time!

It went right over my head.

Garter time!

Line Dancing... like old times! :)

Still Dancing

Liz's brother Andrew joined in during the Cupid Shuffle.

Representing Anderson University... woop woop!

Driving off to the honeymoon!

I'm so happy for Josh and Elizabeth. I hope they live happily ever after. :)

By His Grace.