"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

You know those weeks that are an exceptionally good week in every area of life. I love those weeks. That was my past week. My mom and little sisters except Hannah went out of town. Hannah came and stayed the week with Mary and me. One of those nights Leah(Mary's sister) came and stayed a night too. It was fun. We had a good time making dinners together. Watching movies. Eating chocolate (Suggestive dove chocolate to be exact. You know how they have little messages on the wrappers? We are pretty sure it was a sex bag of chocolate! Yikes!) We also ate a lot of asparagus. Did you know that if you eat a lot of asparagus it makes your pee stink? Well now ya know. You're welcome. Also, Asparagus is a very good source of fiber,vitamins A, C, E and K. Full of antioxidants and delicious! So eat more Asparagus people! =) I also made these.

Bacon wraped water chestnuts! They are so delicious! Eat these with your asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes and you will have a meal fit for a queen! On Wednesday Hannah and I went with my friends Erica and Latifah, ice skating at the outdoor rink downtown Columbia. It was cute and a fun activity to throw into the middle of our week! It was a bit on the cold side so when are fingers started throbbing we decided it was time to leave.

I managed to fall hard on my knees. I came home with a big blue bruise on each knee. Besides the cold and the bruises it was a fun night and it's always good to catch up with friends you haven't seen in a while. On Friday after work. I was feeling a bit of the shopping bug. Now, I just want to put out there that I have not done much shopping since the end of November because I have put myself on a strict budget. (I know, I know, Im so disciplined... ok I over spent on Black Friday so I had to chill out for a while!) So anyway I wanted to find some brown wedge boots I decided to check CATO because I always have the best of shoe luck with them! And once again I scored big time. They had brown wedge boots, my size, the last pair! 29 dollars. Here they are.

While I was there I looked at the clearance shoe rack they always have a clearance shoe rack with awesome deals. I picked up one pair of shoes that I probably wouldn't normally get but then when I saw that they were on sale for 4 dollars I couldn't resist. I cant find a picture unfortunately but they were a chuncky heeled black shoe with a tan strap. I also scored on a cute little open toed wedge that was bright mustard yellow for 7 dollars. Now as if this isn't enough, I guess Mary was feeling the shopping bug too on Saturday. So I decided to join her on her shopping adventure. She decided to look at CATO after seeing my success. She scored these cute little booties.

And I looked at the black dress pants and scored a very nice pair for 7 bucks! Can't beat that! So CATO's where it's at! You should go check it out! After our shopping adventure Mary and I came home and ate the meal I mentioned above for a second time that week because it's seriously the best! Then my mom came by to visit which was fun. For dinner I went with my family to eat dinner with a family from our church at their house. We played a long and exciting game of Dutch Blitz! My favorite!

On Sunday I was talking with some ladies at my church about doing the Cooper River Bridge Run. I said they should do it with me! Now we are planning that trip Im pretty excited about it this will be either my 5th, 6th or 7th time to do it. But now I've lost track and can't remember. I called my sisters on the phone 3 times yesterday to make sure they were going to go running that day in order to prepare for the race. haha Im kinda being a slave driver about it! I'm excited to do it with the ladies from church! =D Later on Sunday afternoon the Bausums came over to mom and dads. We played Kings Base, Guesstures, and Mafia. It was a good time. Aso Alex called Mary and I got to talk to him for the first time since he's been gone which is weird because he has called plenty of times I just haven't ever talked to him when he called. But this time I had to tell him about my crazy weird dream that he was in. =D Yesterday was my day off work. So I did some errands I bought a scrap book for 2014 that Im pretty happy about. And I bought a lot of produce. When I got home I made the best stinkin pizza EVER! No joke never had one so good in my life. I put a lot of fresh produce on it. I got the recipe from www.dontquotetheraven.com She wasn't lying when she told us we would eat the whole thing in one sitting!

So that was my exciting week. Today, Tuesday is a new day. I wonder what adventure it will bring. I'd like to leave you with this thought that has been on my mind. So often we are quick to point out peoples faults. To talk about the horrible things they have done. To gossip about others or even to speak rudely and harshly to those we love. Something that has stopped me dead in my tracks was a realization of just how ugly and nasty me sin is. How I do some of the same things I accuse others of doing. What if, instead of being quick to accuse and point fingers and talk about others we were quick to extend grace. Because really it' just about laughable to look at your self a dirty sinful thing pointing a finger at another dirty sinful thing. It makes no since. It's not our place. Instead lets live up to a higher calling. Lets extend grace when we are tempted to judge or speak rudely. Lets love others because we are so grateful for the grace and love that has been extended to us. Read Romans 12 and let it give you perspective on how we should think of ourselves and how we should think of and treat others. Romans 12. 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Cousins, Christmas and Christ.

I have some of the best cousins anyone could ask for! I found this quote.

It makes me smile! Here is a picture of all my cousins on my moms side. Actually it's a picture of me, my 6 siblings and our 7 cousins on my moms side.

We had a fun Christmas. Every year we cousins draw each others name at thanksgiving and play secret santa at Christmas! I drew my cousin Stephen. I drew him last year too. He got the same gift as last year. Jeans and a T-shirt. I dont think he minded. When we get older some how jeans, shirts, underwear and socks become exciting. Probably because we have gotten to the age where our parents make us get our own clothes. They are no longer freely provided. So now we are more grateful when we do receive clothing. It's a good thing really. And then again maybe that little theory only applies to me. Moving on. Here Stephen and I are after Christmas morning.

And here are all my girls. This one is from Thanksgiving we are blessed we all get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together!

Some of our Chrismas included Apples to Apples. An AMAZING magical card trick from the amazing, beautiful Michaela.

It also included garlic mashed potatoes(my favorite) a silly string fight, a dog fight, some frisbee in the road, A LOT OF SPARKLING GIFTS, a "Merry Christmas Laura! :)" text, making a blanket with Aunt Vanessa and Aunt Alice along with some good talks.

some aprons made by mom and some socks hand knit by our amazing Mi-mi

Here is Mi-mi in the middle.

and a Happy Birthday song to Jesus. Thank you Jesus for such a beautiful blessed Christmas week! :)

Time Is Precious.

My best Friend Mary got married to Alex on October 4th. They moved into a pretty little house 20 minutes away from my house. Alex is going into the Navy Seals so he has to leave for bootcamp on November 18th. He will be gone for 6 months. (Say a prayer for the both of them) In the mean time Mary didn't want to be alone so she asked me if I would like to move in with her! I said yes!!! I am excited and I am nervous and I am happy and I am sad. I am excited for a new adventure. I have lived in the same house my whole life. This will be my first time to live somewhere else. I am sad because now as the day approaches I realize that my time with my family will be becoming less. (Even if it is only for 6 months)(and even if I can come home as often as I want because heck its just down the road and across town.) I am happy because I will get to spend more time with Mary. Marys path and path in life has not been crossing as much with my path in the past few years. She went to college in Sumter while I was going to Cosmetology School in Camden then we both began working. Her at a preschool and me at a hair salon. So its not that we didn't want to spend time together, our paths just didn't cross that often. Now we will get to see each other all the time! I am nervous because a lot of things can happen in 6 months and there is not all ways the guarantee that I will be returning home and that makes me nervous. And Im nervous because Im pretty sure another sister is going to move into my room an take over. So if I do return what if they don't have a place for me!?(I will just kick her back out) ;) So while I have this last month at home I am making the most of it by spending more time with my sisters! This week we played a long game of phase 10.

And another night the sister and I went to Lugoff House of Pizza. But I didn't get a picture. Then we came home and watched a movie. So anyways I hate to get all bittersweet on ya. Let me just say go make the most of the time you have with those you love because memories are a precious thing to have.

Potato Soup Anyone

Tonight for dinner the little sisters and I made some fabulous potato soup. If I do say so myself. The littles were very helpful especially when it came to stirring constantly the soup, so it wouldn't burn on the bottom.

Here we are chopping onions, carrots and celery.

adding the chicken broth

Contemplating the recipe.

Hannah chopped some salad lettuce for us.

Abby chopped some cucumbers.

Soup Anyone? Mmmm...

Day 7 - Siblings

I have 6 Siblings which makes us a total of 7.(Funny that this Days post is number 7) So It has taken me a long time to sit down and write this post because Its about my siblings and there is just so much to say about your siblings so many paths you could take.I mean they are the only people that really truly know who you are. The only people who can understand where you are coming from, because they come from there too. They are the ones who know all your crap and know how mean you can be and still love you to death any way. They are the only ones you can talk about your parents with whether its good/bad/funny, because they are the only ones who will get it. The most critical of you and your rivals but also your closest confidants and best friends. These are my siblings let me tell you a little about each one. John David Is my oldest sibling. My big brother. He is 21. And the easiest of all my siblings to get along with. Probably because he is laid back. Doesn't pick a fight and in general just does his own thing. (and probably because he is the only sibling who has been out of the home for 4 years at college. Funny how easy it is to get along with someone whom you don't have to deal with every day.) John David has always been really smart. We were all homeschooled. And some how all school just came easily to him. Like Algebra. He didn't even need mom to explain it to him. He just got it. Im not at all bitter about that... I must say though, it is nice to have some one who can do what ever I need done on the computer for me. Because Im not very tech savvy. This is a picture of John David with his girl friend Liz. Some day hopefully in the near future he is going to propose and they are going to get married. Im excited to have this 7th sibling added to the family! =D

Im next in the line up. Im 19. but since Im not my sibling we are skipping me. Chapman is next. He is my little, big brother. He will be turning 18 in 21 days on November 8th. (My little boy is all grown up.) ;) Chapman has the ability to make me laugh really hard and get angrier than ever all at once. Unlike John David. Chapman can be very hard to get along with. He likes to pick a fight. Yet I love hanging out with him because he is hilarious. Chapman is a welder and a hard worker and the comedian of the family. He loves to eat and he's a jerk(I say that laughing because he isn't really a jerk he just isn't gentle. But really he is a super nice guy!) And he loves Jesus so he's on the right track. He will go far in life. He likes to meet as many people as he can all around this town we have lived in our whole lives, because he believes connections are important. Here he is with his girl friend Bailey.

Hannah is 16. Shes pretty hot. Shes super smart.(Like John David) She is the sweetest, kindest person you could ever meet. She loves kids, life guarding and teaching kids to swim or play piano or whatever. She is really one of my best friends. She is the first to tell me I look good. I love her for that! I tell her how I feel and she is sympathetic or rolls her eyes and tells me Im being ridiculous. She looks better in all my clothes than I do. And I hate her for it. She has great legs! And cool mermaid hair! And sometimes all the time has blonde moments.

Sarah Jane is 14. Sassy, opinionated, photogenic, an artist who creates beautiful paintings and drawings! I can come home with THIS GREAT IDEA of a painting that I want her to make for me and I will try to explain it to her and she looks at me like I have 3 heads but then kindly attempts to paint or draw whatever I just tried to describe to her! She enjoys ballet and classical music and giving art lessons to a little girl down the street. She is fun to laugh about things with!

Abby is 11. She is the sister that I share a room with. We are as different from each other as turquoise is from magenta! She likes to act like she is annoyed with me and doesn't like to share a room with me. But really she loves me and hates it when Im not home at night to go to bed. She is not a girly-girl. I am. So when I decorate our room with pink and sparkles, she says, "When you move out Im making it a horse room." She loves riding horses. She takes lessons.She says that one day she wants to be in the Olympics! Im all for it! She refuses to wear anything girly. Like pink or sparkles (I don't get that) Or frilly things or dresses or skirts. She likes comfort over cute!(I don't get that either) Oh well. She is funny and makes funny faces and doesn't like to go away from home too much unless it has to do with horses. And she is forever begging me to braid her hair and clean our room(since it's usually my mess.) And she always tries to tickle me because she knows it's torture! Im very ticklish!

And finally Mary Alice. She is 9. Full of personality. She also seems to have the smarty pants genes that John David and Hannah have. Mary Alice likes to do anything and everything her sisters are doing! She plays piano and rides horses and writes stories and likes crafts and reading and puting together big puzzles and if any of us are knitting or making jewelry or working out or whatever she has to do it too! She also wants to be like her big sisters who wear makeup and bras and shave and do our hair and my favorite wear pink and sparkles!!! She's really pretty cute! =)