The Journey begins..

(2004)

This little guy!

Can there possibly be anything cuter?

Oh, I just can't get enough!

So, anyways, today is the day!

Let the "He is going to college" journey begin!

We are off on our first Campus Visit to the University of Alabama.

I know it is so very cliche, but, it just seems like yesterday, he was this sweet little bouncy guy.

He loved to snuggle in my lap.

He loved to play in the bathtub forever.

He loved to eat chocolate pudding.

He loved to drink chocolate milk.

He was my little best friend in the whole world and he loved me more than anything.

****WAIT--------he is STILL all of these things! Silly guy!

I can hardly believe that we are here, and just over that hill, is the beginning of the rest of his life! His adult life!

Unbelievable.

I guess we have raised him daily, to prepare for this day!

How do *I* feel?

I am excited! I am CRAZY excited! I am excited at the potential of a college student. A future. A goal. A dream. I am excited at the thought of dorm rooms and college laundry and sending brown bags of groceries in the back of the car. I am excited at the thought of going down on game day, for Parents Day.

Now, I know that he might not choose UofA, and I'm ok if he doesn't. But, I know where ever he DOES choose....we will be his biggest fans!

But, on the flip side, I must admit, I am nervous, and a little teary-eyed.

All of those emotions, I can't deal with right now.....so I am going to stick with the VERY excited ones!!!

***Now, what in the world is a college mom supposed to wear :)

Deep thoughts by Jack Handy....

So, today, I am struggling with the concept, that I have been using...My Travel Planning Services are Free! Well, truthfully, they are. IF, and only IF, you book with me. You see, if you book your Disney Vacation with me, then I get paid. And if you don't well, then I don't. Very simple, huh.
However, lately it seems that I have a lot of "friends" or friends of friends, that want to call me, ask me for tips, what about this, when's the best time to go, what about fireworks, dinner with the princesses, etc....and then only to find out, or see on facebook, that they booked their trip online. Or however.
So, the reality of that is....it's because I have de-valued my own self. Not on purpose. And not even knowing it. But, by saying I am free. I am NOT free. I am of no cost to you...and that comes as a perk, an add-on, if you will--with your Disney Vacation, booked thru me. It's almost like I'm the toy in your Happy Meal! The extra! The prize :) Yes, that's it!

So, anyways, my very critical self....I posted my status this morning..and then quickly deleted it. Not sure why, but here's what it said...and then, of course, stupid insecure me...I was scared I would hurt someone's feelings. GOSH. I get on my nerves!

Status: Today I am rethinking my "tag line"
My Disney Travel Planning Services are NOT free. They are of no cost to you. If you don't book with me, I don't get paid.
I am NOT free. I do NOT work for free. I am valuable. My Time is valuable. My knowledge, thoughts, tips, tricks. They are valuable.
If you choose not to book with me, and you call that 1.800#, well that's up to you. Or, if you just wanna book with me because I am your friend, then Thank You! But, I am *not* free....and I'm gonna stop saying that I am.
I deserve more than that.
#DeepThoughts
#KickingWednesdaysButt

**Anyways, I promptly removed that status..but I still do mean it! So, I'm posting it here...where I am a little more transparent :)

Jesus and Brownies

This morning in church, my friend Mistie gave and awesome example of God's grace.

Her little girl, 3, was having a not-so-obedient day. After dinner that night she asked for a brownie.

Her mom said "do you think you *deserve* the brownie, after the way you've acted today??"

"No mommy. I don't"

She said " you are right. You don't. But just like we didn't deserve God's love, and we didn't deserve His forgiveness and Jesus' death on the cross. He gave us grace. And He gives us grace every day"

And then she went on to say "and I love you. And because God has given me grace, I'll give you the brownie. Just because I love you. Not because you deserve it"

God's grace! Wow!

enough said

He would've been a teenager today!

Today, he would've been 13.

I could've been having a great big birthday party!

But, it's not.

For whatever reason, that's not God's story for me.

And, again, and again, I am reminded of that.

I just read my post from 2010------and sadly enough, my feelings haven't changed one bit.

I run.

Jazz Kitchen Express - Home away from home!

Nothing says "Southern food" like Beignets. Yes, pronounced BEN-YAYs!!!


And we love them in the south, and when you go to New Orleans, you MUST, that is a MUST stop at Cafe Du Monde for fresh Beignets.

So, imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon the Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney at Disneyland, and they had them!

Oh, sweet mother of pearl!

So, I ate my Turkey Sandwich (mostly because I was starving) but really because my Mama told me that to get to dessert, I had to eat lunch. So, lunch I ate!


and then we dug right into the bag, or warm, powdery goodness!


And, yes, we licked our fingers....and we liked it!!!

And the truth is, maybe we ate 2.

Well, maybe we did. Maybe we didn't!