Reddish/Orangeish/Peachish

Color: that's the only thing these photos from my phone have in common today.  But I loved them all for different reasons, so here they are.

First, pumpkins!  It's officially the first day of Fall.  I think.  But when I saw these pumpkins outside the grocery store, I couldn't have been more excited.  The weather may not have changed, but at least the decor is pretending like it's a new season!

Secondly, I was cleaning out my closet a few weeks ago, and I found this t-shirt and thought of Troy.  Originally I bought it while I was in Spain at a bull fight.  I thought it was kind of cool.  But the more I looked at it, the more I realized that the bull was...well, ALL BULL, in all his glory.  Needless to say, I didn't really want to be wearing it. 

However, I did think that Troy might like to have it.  He's just random like that.  And he doesn't much care what other people think.  After a week long texting match back-and-forth, I finally got his address, and was rewarded with this photo on Monday evening...

Ever the multi-tasker, that T-roy.  He just cracks me up.  It totally made my day to see him wearing his new shirt.  And I was glad to know he still has good hygiene.  He loves that toothbrush.  

Lastly, I walked into my office after a meeting on Monday afternoon to find Adam sitting behind my desk with these roses in his hands.  I was busy texting, and looked up, only to gasp at seeing him there.  It was such a sweet surprise!  He was afraid I'd scream.  (Apparently I do that?!)  But I didn't.  I was just so, so surprised to see him there.  I didn't say anything worthwhile to say for the next hour or so--I was just so speechless!  And now I see them every morning next to my sink.  (But don't worry, I didn't include a photo of me brushing my teeth.)  

Tomorrow = Friday = Jeans day at work = weekend is on its way!  Yippee!

Got Me Thinking

I have a rather long list of wonderful people in my life that have shaped me into who I am today.  And I am so grateful.  One that I've never written about on this little blog, though, lives thousands of miles away, is seven years older than me, and is a fabulous wife and mama.

Meet Emily.  She originally started out as my high school Spanish teacher.  I'm pretty sure I've retained everything I learned in her Spanish class, simply because I loved walking in her door.  I can recall reflexive verb rules and the imperfect tense endings like I just learned them yesterday.  She is a gifted teacher.  She took that a step further, and began meeting with me and two other girls each week, discipling us, praying for us and listening to our  high school chatter.

Whether she knows it or not, she has made a huge difference in my life, and continues to do so.  Despite her several moves to different states and now another country, we've managed to keep in touch.  High School wasn't my most favorite thing--let's be honest.  Emily often told me that I was "made for college," and I think she was right.  But she helped make High School more than bearable.  

Even now, as I follow her blog while she is in Scotland while her husband gets his PhD, she makes me stop and think, just as she did as I sat in a desk in her classroom seven years ago.  While I haven't completely cut out Dr. Pepper, her cutting back her Coke Zero consumption has made me reconsider how much DP I drink, and I'm working on consuming less of it every day.

Emily recently posted about how easy and necessary it is to compost and recycle in Scotland, which got me thinking again.  Now Claire and I have so much less trash since we decided to find a place to take our recycling!

While both of these examples may seem rather practical, my point is that she makes me think.  I do not do these things because I have an I -want-to-be-exactly-like-Emily complex or anything, but just because I hadn't considered them before.

Emily and her husband Josh had been married about a year before I met them.  So I have had the privilege of getting a little glimpse into their married life for a good while.  They try their best to love each other well.  And it is so sweet.

We don't get to see each other all too often.  In fact, that picture was taken over Christmas, and it had been three years since I'd seen her last.  But I love that we've kept in touch.  And I love that she blogs.  I think that's my love language.  Ha!  It makes it easier to keep up with each other that way, too.  And don't even get me started on her kids...they are just too cute for words.

Once again, Emily has me thinking.  Thinking about who I am impacting, and who I'm pouring into.  Because I know it can make a big difference.  

So Emily, thanks for making a big difference in my life.  You are dear to me!

Love,
Shay 

Just Wanted You to Know

Dear AMP, did you know that this pic was taken 

hours before we met six months ago?  

I'm glad we both decided to go two-stepping that cold, snowy night.  

Just wanted you to know.

I'm thankful that you add extra laughter, smiles and fun to my life.

Just wanted you to know.

Sometimes we go out and get all fancy, 

but my favorite things are going to church together,  

running and cooking with you. 

 I'm all about the little stuff.  :-)

Just wanted you to know.

And it doesn't hurt that we build forts, wear silly hats, 

take (short) road trips together, have great conversations, and laugh a lot.

Just wanted you to know.

Happy Monday.

Grumpy to Grateful

This afternoon I was quite grumpy.  My day did not turn out like I had planned. (Shocking, right?)  I mentioned this to a friend who said, "Sometimes we feel grumpy when we forget to be grateful."  She was right.

I flipped through my pictures, some old and some new, and found several people and experiences that I was grateful for recently.  And I'm already feeling better.  I posted a similar story here last October about my mom singing "Count Your Blessings" to us whenever we complained.  Once again, it turns out she was right.

Here's what I'm thankful for today, at this moment:

{Amanda's wedding, August 2009}

I got to see Amanda two days in a row, since she was in town for work.  

{Baylor Basketball game, last season}

I had lunch with my cousins, aunt and uncle and a few others, on Sunday.  It was so. much. fun.  And we all know I love them.  My aunt and uncle just moved back here, so I'm excited to see them more often.

Because I didn't want her to feel left out, here's my cousin, Anna.  I've always liked this picture.  Maybe because we were just so goofy.  This was on a ski trip when my hair was braid-able...so a long time ago!

{My 22nd birthday lunch}

I had a nice little phone chat with my dad today.  It was sweet.

I got to catch up with Katie on the phone on Monday night.  Loved it.  

She starts teaching school this week.  So fun!

Papa and I had a little text session last night.  I love that he can text.  

And I also love this pic from earlier this summer when Troy was in town.  They love each other.  

And I love them. 

I'm looking forward to dinner with this chicky tomorrow night!

Isn't he just the sweetest dog ever?  

Tonight I had a good catch-up chat with Claire, and she let me play in her makeup.  She loves anything sparkly.  I watched her put on four different shades of shimmer this evening.  Hilarious.

  

These flowers next to my sink greet me every morning.  They are still so pretty after more than two weeks!  They make me smile when I think that this guy gave them to me...

AMP:  You make me laugh. 

I'm thankful for our run in the rain sprinkles 

last night, and the "dinner of athletes."  It was yummy.  

Thanks for being my most faithful reader.  

So now I'm feeling a lot more grateful--thanks for reading down this far!  :-)  My lesson for today: gratefulness often outweighs grumpiness.

All roads lead to...

...Fall!  At least on the calendar.  Not exactly on the thermometer.  Here's a cornucopia of my thoughts for Fall...

Fall Recipes

I've been craving cornbread and chili, so I made that for dinner tonight.  It hit the spot.  

Today on the Pioneer Woman this new recipe for Pecan Pie Muffins was posted, so I grabbed the ingredients while I was at the store, and they were so good!  The recipe only have five ingredients, which is always a plus in my book. (Six if you add chocolate chips, like I did!)

source

The recipe:

1 cup Packed Light Brown Sugar

½ cups All-purpose Flour
1 cup Chopped Pecans (I used 2/3 cup instead and added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips!)
⅔ cups Softened Butter
2 whole Eggs Beaten

Preheat oven 350 F.

Grease your muffin pan (whatever size) or use the silicone cups. I grease my silicone muffin cups with Crisco or lard.

In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour and pecans. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and eggs together until smooth. Stir into the dry ingredients just until combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Cups should be about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks when done.

Option: when you take them out of the oven, place a slice of butter on top and eat warm. You may also use walnuts instead of pecans.

Seasonal Music

I have a confession:  I've listened to "The Way You Look Tonight" ten times, according to iTunes...and I just downloaded it this weekend.  One of my all time favorite movies has always been "Father of the Bride,"  and I love the soundtrack.  This version is the one from the movie.  I used the Genius feature to create a playlist, and instead of similar songs, it pulled up Christmas music.  I just let it play.  'Tis the Season!  (Almost.  Maybe.  Ok, it's only September.  But a girl can dream.)

Fall Clothes

On another note, I got this Momism today in my email:

Wear your most comfortable shoes today.  It will make you feel good all over!

Ironically, these were the shoes I was already wearing.  I Don't suppose that falls into the category of "comfortable?"  While they're not recommended for the aforementioned grocery shopping, I was feeling quite chic.  Or something.  :-)

Here's to feeling Fallish!

You know you live with a teacher when...

...You find paperclips on the ground while vacuuming.

...You hear about fourth grade quotes that go like this: "Miss Chambers, you need to really work on getting a husband. You aren't going to have that pretty face forever."  {They are really concerned with her finding a husband.  It's truly hilarious.}


...You have a lunch box living in your fridge that looks like it could belong to a little kid.


...You help with stacks and stacks of paper that involve cutting.  {I actually found that cutting stuff out is really relaxing!}

...You feel bad for your roomdog when it rains, because that means that the kids have to have indoor recess, which usually means chaos.

This was last year at Christmastime when I got to come read The Polar Express to Miss Chambers' class.  I loved it.  I went back in the spring to read again, and they wrote me a huge card to say thanks for coming.  I loved that, too.

Roomdog...thanks for making life so fun!  Proud of your mad teaching skillz.

Where Were You On September 11th?

source

The first thing I heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York was in my second period biology class.  I had just come from choir, and there were two guys in my class that typically said idiotic things.  So when I heard them say, "The World Trade Centers have been hit."  I thought they were being ridiculous.  And then I quickly realized that they were actually telling the truth.  And then my biology teacher confirmed it.

I remember after biology that we had chapel, which was one of my favorite parts of the day.  (Maybe because wasn't actually in class?!)  As I look back, I am more and more grateful to have been able to go to a Christian school where we were able to pray.  Right then.  

The rest of the day was a blur.  I just remember that our counselor and assistant principal pulled a TV out of their office and plugged it in under the stairwell in the main entryway.  There were students hovered around the TV the rest of the day.  Remember how they played the images over and over and over again?  I do.  

I remember coming home and finding my dad there in his study.  They'd evacuated all the buildings downtown, just in case.  And we sat in his office and continued to watch.  That night, I remember watching President Bush speak on our TV upstairs in the game room.

I remember feeling very American.  Very united.  Very prayerful.  And I remember hugging my family a little tighter that night.  

What do you remember?