Holiday Exhaustion

So...Thanksgiving is over. YAY! Bring on the Christmas music. T laughs at me because I refuse to listen to christmas music or wrap any presents until after Thanksgiving. It's important for me to keep the holidays individual and celebrate them that way...I'm not exactly sure why though. It just drives me nuts when Walmart has started the christmas decorations and it's just JULY!

Thanksgiving was great with our families, even though it was incredibly busy. We started out at T's parents in Bishopville, SC (which was very eventful the night before Thanksgiving) and then drove down to Rocks Pond, SC on Thanksgiving day for his extended family Thanksgiving meal. We then drove 4 1/2 hours back up to NC to visit with my family that evening. T got his day of rest and relaxation yesterday...I however was awake at 3 am for Black Friday shopping. We started at Walmart (which was COMPLETELY insane) and then to Hendersonville and Asheville for MORE shopping. By 6pm when my sister, my mama, and I got home...I was beat. Needless to say, today was a day to sleep in, rest, and do absoultely nothing. It's been a cold and nasty day out...so we ventured to the movies to see 4 Christmases (which was pretty funny) and then to Cato's (haha...never too tired to shop I suppose). Finally T and I are back at home in Greenville for a few days, before heading to Florida for his job. Ugh.

I'm tired from just re-reading what I've done these past few days...

Beyond Blessed

Hi all...T and I are down in Bishopville, spending some time with his side of the family for Thanksgiving. Last night was a rough night, and I won't go into detail online, but something happened with my sister-in-laws brother, and we ended up getting roughly around 3 hours of sleep. Unfortunately it did not end well for him, and it's just so sad and unfortunate that it had to happen...especially being Thanksgiving (he's just in heaps of trouble).
It made me stop and think about things that I am so very thankful for. God has blessed my life in so many different ways, and I know that I could never be thankful enough to him for all he has done. Too many times I get stuck on "my problems" that I don't see the blessings...
I have an amazing family (and wonderful in-laws too)...my sister that is my best friend, parents that have worked hard all my life to teach me right from wrong, and help me learn about the love that God has given to me, my brother, who despite his age right now, loves and looks out for me...even from an hour and a half away. I have Ginger and her kids, who no matter how far away they are, love and miss me...and make me feel needed...and Alyssa who is improving everyday (the power of God is amazing).
I have a wonderful husband, T, who loves me, unconditionally, and I know I can rely on him, who works very hard for our family, and is my supporter.
I have amazing friends who would bend over backwards for me, who pray for me everyday, and who just make me laugh and enjoy the goodness in life.
I have an awesome God. I have been given another day to breathe in life, and rejoice in the many blessings he has given to me. How incredible is that? I can't imagine not having all that to rely on. To know that every new day that I am given, it's because God has a purpose for me in that day...if not, I wouldn't be here.
I know that I could never be THANKFUL enough for what He has given to me, but I want to share my thanks for Him with others.
Thank you God, THANK YOU!
I challenge you all to look at your lives as well. Not the problems, the blessings. Think about it...are YOU thankful?

<3 Jess

Exciting News : )

Okay....I'm new at this whole blogging thing, but I've heard it's a really good way to vent, and just get things out there. So, here's mine.

Here's a little bit of background:
*I married the love of my life, Trevor, on August 30, 2008. I now live in Greenville, SC...about an hour and a half from my hometown Canton, NC, and it's tough. It's hard to leave family, and friends that you are so close to. I have lots and lots of friends, but my "little twin" sister is my best.
*I love God, and am so very thankful for the many things that I have been blessed with.
*I have an "etended family" (Ginger and all her kiddos) that we kind of adopted into our family. They spend lots of time with us and are a part of all of our family traditions/holidays. I consider Ginger to be my "big sister" and the kids are my "neices and nephews". Back in February of this year Alyssa, the oldest, who is only 10 years old, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma (cancer)...and it's been tough. I can't even imagine what Ginger is going through, because I know how hard it's been on me just seeing it all. Her kids are a HUGE part of my life, and not just now, they have been for as long as I can remember. I even got to be there for the birth of Savannah (who just turned 1 year old) and cut her cord and be the first (after Ginger) to hold her...It was an amazing experience.
*I got to spend some time with Kaitlyn and Daniel this past weekend, T and I took them to see the new movie Bolt, and we had fun. It was really hard to leave them while they were begging to come back to Greenville with me. I love them so very much.
**SO THE EXCITING NEWS: Alyssa was sent back to Mission Hospital in Asheville today, after being told she would probably be at Duke through Christmas and probably longer...so that was GREAT NEWS! Hopefully I will get to see them sometime this week or next. They are both very excited to be so much closer to home so they can see the other kids and family.
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On another note...I'm starting North Greenville University in January of '09...and should have my Elementary Education Degree in a year and a half (at the most). I have 93 transferrable credits from HCC (I changed from Early Childhood to College Transfer and have tons of extra classes) so I will be entering NGU as a junior. I can't wait to be a teacher : )

Oh...and my dog snores. I know, random...but she does, and it's ridiculously loud. Go figure.