Hello World

I know, I'm sure you all (Charity) thought I fell off the face of the earth, but not so, I just no longer have Internet at home and writing a blog from a blackberry is just no fun whatsoever!

So let's see, what all has happened since I last blogged...wow, I just looked and I haven't blogged since May! That was a really sad day! That dear family, and so young to go through such a horrible loss! The good news is that while they still miss Brayden, she recently found out that she is expecting again. We are praying for no complication and a healthy baby. They have been a real example to all for leaning on God during the hard times and not railing against him. I'm sure they struggled with it, but it has not shown.

June:
June was crazy busy. My brother got married the first Saturday in June to the sweetest girl in the world! We aren't quite sure what she sees in him, but she loves him and he loves her and they couldn't be more perfect for each other! Then there was my birthday...yay (yes, I'm being sarcastically happy about that), I got a family lunch the day after Chris & Amber's wedding, was served left over wedding food and wedding cake...yum. Thankfully my mom had forgotten to give me one of my Christmas presents the year before, so she wrapped that up and gave it to me...hahaha I love my mom! My grandpa and Phoebe forgot my birthday all together...seriously, even when I saw them a few weeks ago, they said nothing about, sorry we forgot your birthday. And it's not even that I was hoping for the birthday money, I don't care about that, they both have facebook accounts and e-mail, just send me a message that said Happy Birthday, but I digress...seriously, though, I love my family and it was fun spending time with everyone who was able to be here. The next weekend a friend got married and both Jenn & I were in her wedding, and Ayva got to be a flower girl for the second weekend in a row, and let me tell you, she was completely adorable both time!!! That Monday (the 14th) my friend Becky had her baby, Ethan, he is completely adorable and stole my heart the first time I got to hold him! That week I was offered a new job, and after praying about it, I accepted the job and I have loved every minute! I started there on Jenn's birthday, and her b-day party rounds out an exciting June.

July:
You would have thought July would have been a little slower, right? haha, NO! July 4th weekend we went as a family to the NASCAR Nationwide race. Well, Jenn didn't go because she was 8 month's pregnant at the time and didn't think she would be able to handle the heat. So Seth, Chris, Amber, Mom, Dad and I all went to Daytona to see Dale Earnhardt Jr race a Wrangler #3! That was awesome to watch that car on the track again. Dad and I had both been to Daytona previously and watch Dale Sr drive the black #3, so it was awesome to see that car on track and that he won, well, lets just say that there was a little moisture in my eyes after that! The grandstands were slow to empty that day and the whole way home we just kept talking about how cool it was to have been there. I was so excited, I even commented that I was contemplating going back the next day for the Sprint Cup race. My family just laughed because they know I don't do things by myself, never, ever do I do things by myself, but boy howdy, I did this by myself! I got up Saturday morning and called mom, "Hey, I'm not going to be riding with you up to Keaton Beach." Mom "I didn't think you would be" Me: "Seriously, you're not going to try and stop me?" Mom: "You're a grown woman, just call me several times throughout the day and let me know you're okay" So by about 2 pm I was on my way to Daytona again, and I was so excited! I was going to my first Tweet-up to meet a writer I had been following since December, and any other fans who were coming out to the Tweet-up. I got to meet 3 NASCAR writers and Dale Jr's spotter (the guy who is the extra set of eyes up high above the track who will help the driver navigate through the field) TJ Majors. I had fun chatting with all of them and just before we left, the writer who was hosting the Tweet-up said he had a surprise for us, he asked who could attend the Bristol races. Obviously, my hand shot up. He said ok, the only fair way I know to do this is ask a trivia question. Phone's away, no googling the answer. What is the seating capacity of Bristol Motor Speedway. I was thinking 175K but I was going to let some others answer before I gave my guess. The first guy said 150K then TJ (the spotter) chimed in with 250K well the guesses started jumping to 260K, 225, 200, I knew that was too high, so just as Jeff asked for the last guess, I piped in with 165K, well the official seating is 158K, so the first guy and I won the tickets! Wahoo! I was so excited, I couldn't decide if I was going to stay for the race or not, I hadn't yet purchased a ticket, so I was uncertain what I wanted to do, I could be home in plenty of time to watch the race on tv if I left right then, but I decided, no it's only $40 for a ticket, I want to stay. So stay I did. And it was fun, I ended up with 2 extremely drunk people on my left and 3 people who had no clue what NASCAR was on my right. Obviously, I bonded with the people on my right! I was able to help them figure out who to watch, who to cheer for, and who not to cheer for (except when that said driver wrecked, then it was ok to cheer). Overall, it was a lot of fun, and I'm glad I went, but I must say, I had some people very upset with me for not telling them my plans and I got "yelled" at for taking that risk. But honestly, I would do it again in a heartbeat! Well, things calmed down after that, July was a slow summer month with not much going on. I was getting into the routine of my new job, sewing up a storm (my new favorite hobby) and getting ready to be an auntie again.

August:
August started out with a bang! Alyvia Morgan was born on August 4th. I took that Wednesday-Friday off and stayed at the house with Ayva while Seth & Jenn were at the hospital. Ayva and I had fun, but by the end of it we could all tell that Ayva did not like not having Mommy and Daddy around. She was so cute with Alyvia though, she calls her sista and just loves to hold her and give her suggies. Don't get me wrong, she is your typical 2 year old and throws her fair share of fits, but overall, she is just such a sweet girl! Seth turn the big 3-0 later that month and we had a nice party for him. And then it was time to turn in my Bristol tickets! I found out that not only had I won Cup tickets, but I had also won Friday night Nationwide tickets! So, Mom, Dad & I headed to Knoxville where we were going to stay at Grandpa & Phoebe's house and commute to Bristol (oh my, what a commute!). The Nationwide was by far one of the best races I have seen all year (except the part where Kasey went 3 wide over Justin Allgaier & Trevor Bayne which resulted in Kasey climbing the wall and traveling from the start finish line to the middle of 1&2 on his side, right in front of me, but did I get a picture, no, I was too busy trying to turn on the camera and keep from crying to do that. Over all it was a fun night, Kyle Busch won (totally could have done without that). And dad and I just had time to hang out. The next day, Mom, Dad and I head back to the track, Dad had been given a ticket by a gentleman at church who goes every year and so Mom was going with me. We went to another Tweet-up and I got to talk to the writer I won the tickets from and he actually remembered me (I was quite shocked!)!! At the tweet-up we were given tickets to be on the track for driver introductions! I was able to get close up pictures of all the drivers and I was told we had to cheer for each one, even if we didn't like them. I did cheer for the ones I likes and just concentrated on taking pictures for the ones I didn't like (haha). So if you remember anything about Bristol, you will remember that is where Brad K said that Kyle B is an ___! Yes, I was standing right there for that, and I have never laughed so hard (dad said that you could hear me laughing on the speakers b/c I have such a discernable laugh, not sure how to take that!). So after a quick dash to our seats on the exact opposite end of the track Mom & I settled in for the race. It wasn't the best race, but it was a good race. Kyle Busch pulled of the first ever triple sweep, and while I can't stand him, it is pretty cool to say that I was there for a piece of NASCAR History.

Well, September and October were extremely boring and now we are into November and things will be picking up again with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming.

So, Happy Fall! Hopefully it won't be so long between so long in between my next post! :)

A Day Like No Other

Hello friends!

Today has been a very difficult day! Just before lunch I had a missed call from my sister and a text saying call me asap. I panic and start calling, it took 10 minutes before I gave up and called mom to find out what was going on. Mom then starts crying and says that a friend of ours went to the doctor this morning for her monthly checkup and they couldn't find the baby's heartbeat.

She has now been admitted to the hospital and they will be enducing her tonight. Please, please, please keep the Locke family in your prayers. They need His loving arms around him right now!

Also, my Sunday School teacher, TJ, who is in his mid-30's was admitted to the hospital today with sever chest pains, they are still running tests, but all signs are pointing to a mild stroke.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I'm baaack!

Ok, I finally figured out how to access my blog from my blackberry...it really wasn't that difficult, but then you all know I struggle!

Happy Easter weekend! What are your plans this weekend? I'm in my church's dramatic production 'Bow the Knee'. It is a very powerful musical about the journey of a Roman Centurion who kept encountering Jesus and his love! Last night I had a friend come with me who normally has nothing to do with religion, but she was so moved that she is going to talk to her husband about starting to come to church! What a huge answer to prayer! Please pray with me that she will come if not to my church to a good Bible believing church!

Ok, well, I have to go start sewing (if you haven't heard, I was talked into making 5 bridesmaid dresses before June 12! Eek!)

Have a blessed weekend!

Cold Weather and 2010 Goals

Now, before I go any further, I'm not complaining! I love winter (it's actually my favorite season), I love sweaters and boots and puff vests (notice I didn't say puff jackets, you don't need those here, or so I thought) and scarves (oh how I love scarves) and fun hats! But our high on Saturday is 37*, at first I laughed, thinking there was a typo on the screen, then I looked again, nope, the high is 37*. Now I know, all you Northerners (Charity) are calling us wussy and wimps, but look at it from our point of view, it only gets this cold once in every 10 years or so, and normally only for one day. We are not equipped for long periods of cold weather, I barely had enough winter dress clothes to get me through the week! I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday and I get to wear jeans! I have been saving my favorite outfit (dark denim jeans, cream long sleeve shirt, brown tank and brown/teal puff vest and I can't decide between boots and flats, hmmm).

Tomorrow at lunch my team is having a meeting to discuss our goals for 2010. So far my only goals are to be on time more (I have been doing good with this one, except yesterday I woke up at 8:30, I'm supposed to be at work at 8:30, I made it to work by 8:40, I'm so glad I live so close!) and to read the Bible in a year. I would also like to pass my 220 test (insurance license) for work. But for now, that is all I got, good goals, but I know the team leader is looking for more, so I better go work on that!

Hope you are having a wonderful New Year so far!