Goodbye 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, I am taking a little time to reflect back over the year.The first thing I would like to say that is is hard to believe that the year is over and that 2012 is starting!!! Here are a few of the highlights from my year.

Roushie's Top 11 of 2011

11. getting to visit the pits at the October race (yes I am a redneck, and proud of it, so you should've known a racing event would make the list)

10. volunteering at Elevation church

9. day beach trips ~nuff said~

8. my sister announcing that I am going to be an aunt again in 2012 - woohoo another one to spoil rotten

7. spoiling Kins, hearing her say "Hehe, come on" "Hehe, let's color" "Hehe, is coming aww FUN!!"

6. renewing old friendships

5. Charleston, SC trip with the girls - where are we going next????

4. making new friends

3. trips home, its always good to go home to WV and visit. Life is different in a small town. Living in a large town makes you realize how fortunate I was to grow up in a small town. Always will be a small town girl at heart, but I heart the big town now!!

2. my car getting broken into - granted it wasn't fun, but it makes you think of your safety and therefore do things a little differently

1. finding out that dad's cancer was centralized and localized and that it was all removed - Faith, Hope, and Love

Romans 8: 31 - 39
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Days 10 -12

So I couldn't keep up so here are the last 3 days.
Day 10
Today I am thankful for traffic that moved at a swift rate. Of course there was a snag in VA on 77 (backed up for 5 miles), but other than that a flawless trip.

Day 11
Today I am thankful for my beautiful, rotten niece....she is adorable. I love hearing her say "Hehe, come on!!"

Day 12
Today I am thankful for my family. ~nuff said!!!

Day 9

Today I am thankful for Code Orange Christmas!!! The message and the music were right on tonight. Just the songs I needed to hear. The message was incredible. God is, God was, and God will be with me. How perfect of a message. If you can, I recommend you get yourself to Elevation and experience Code Orange Christmas.

Day 8

Today I am thankful for friends who have more road rage than me....hahaha. A shopping experience was had today with a friend. Many laughs were had - cutting thru traffic, getting behind slow people, wondering why parking lots are made the way they are...(yes Stonecrest we are talking about you!!) Also we wondered why there were MANY cars who were decorated like reindeer? Not sure why I would put antlers and a nose on my car....(TRISH you may be getting one for your car next year). And then of course to top off the crazy car decorating - how about a white van, giant red wooden sleigh that covers most of the top, with a tree inside, led by a reindeer that is lit up - yep you might be a redneck if that is your car!!!

Day 7

Today I am thankful for my fellow VIPers who made me laugh tonight. These ladies are awesome, they made my bad day much better. THANK YOU!!!!

Day 6

Today I am thankful for WORKDAYS!!! I had the chance to finally clean out that cabinet that has been driving me crazy since the beginning of school. Dusting was done on the tops of the bookshelves (now I need to do the same at home). Lesson plans for the entire month of January are almost complete - just need to finish science/social studies and a few lessons here and there. Did I mention that I still have TOMORROW to finish everything.....wooohoo!!! On a ROLL!!!

Day 5

Today I am thankful for my friends who talked me into attending Elevation Church a little over 2 years ago. That first experience, I walked out feeling like I had attended a ROCK concert and heard the word! Not many can say that on a weekly basis that they get to hear the word preached on a level right where you understand and feel like Pastor is talking right to you. I will admit the music is what drew me in - and those of who know me well, know that I am a COUNTRY girl at heart, but I fell in love with the band. Thank you to my Elevation friends! Thank you to Pastor for always preaching the word!!!!

Day 4

Today I am thankful for the weekends of break. It was so nice to sleep in - although I did wake up at 5 am...ugh....but I was then able to sleep in until 8. Weekends are wonderful. Especially this weekend, because I came home with NOTHING to do....no school work...nothing...

Day 3

Today I am thankful for friends and family and the 2 weeks that I have to spend with them. Its not about the gifts we receive or the gifts we give, its about the time we spend with our loved ones. In the hustle and bustle of the season many of us (including me) get all wrapped up in being here, being there, going here, and going there. Tonight I got to spend a fun, leisurely, laughter filled dinner with 2 great friends. I am looking forward to hanging with my family and friends over the next couple of weeks. Love you all!!!!!!

Day 2

On the 2nd Day of Christmas I am thankful for.......almost always procrastinating. HAHA you didn't see that one coming did you? Why am I thankful for procrastinating....because for some odd reason I seem to do MUCH better under pressure, not to mention that I often get it completed much quicker. So have I completed all of my work that is due tomorrow morning...yes but the real question is when did I start it?? Why that would be tonight!!! haha. Have I finished my Christmas Shopping? NOPE, sorry to say I haven't - but I might by next week this time - actually I am making a left to buy list and completing it on Wednesday and I am making TRISH make me stick to it and get it completed.

Procrastination refers to the act of replacing high-priority actions with tasks of low-priority, and thus putting off important tasks to a later time.

The 12 Days of Christmas - My version of 30 days of Thankfulness

So everyone usually does thankfulness for the month of November leading up to
Thanksgiving....me being me would like to do the 12 days of Christmas - simply put because I know I can keep up with 12 days. Over the next 12 days I am going to share something that I am Thankful for.

Day 1: I am thankful for my co-workers. I work with a SUPER bunch of people who never cease to amaze me with their positiveness, their concern, their happiness, their ability to laugh, their love of what they do, and most of all their friendship. What a great group of people! No matter what mood you come into work in you are guaranteed to leave laughing. This is for my co-workers.