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5.31.2011

Picture Challenge - Seven & Eight

Since I have been slack about posting I figured I could do two today and kind of play catch up! :)

Picture Challenge Day Seven and Eight:

•A picture of something you hate:

Growing up my mom never bought mayo because she hated it so I never really understood the need to slather it on every sandwich like many of my friends do! I love ranch, potato salad, coleslaw and just about everything that uses mayonnaise as an ingredient but if you give me a burger or sandwich with mayo on it then you might as well take it right back!







•A picture of something you love:

I never in a million years thought I would say that I love a dog...but it has happened! As many dogs as we had growing up I just never really understood how people could be so "crazy" about their animals...then Miss Costa came along--there is just something so sweet about her that stole my heart and I finally "get it"! :)



xoxo,
Faith

5.23.2011

Picture Challenge - Day Six

Day Six:
•A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

"Skeeter Phelan" a character in the book "The Help". She is one of the three narrative voices in this book and throughout the book she repeatedly shows how she is determined to do what she feels is right no matter the consequences. With a very demanding mother, the pressure of her Junior League ladies, and the lack Civil Rights in the 1960's Skeeter still prevails by being a strong woman, who at time doubted herself but never enough to stop her from her dream of becoming an author.
It is so easy to sometimes to just change our opinion on something because it is just easier to go with the flow rather than to push buttons. Skeeter shows us how despite it all, through losing her friends, and standing in her community she still continues on the path she set out on. If you read the book you will see how just when you think she is "giving in" she is able to still make her points in her own little way that states a way bigger statement then she ever could have spoken....all through the use of toilets - You have to go read it to know what I am talking about! ;)

Maybe this desire to trade places for a day also stems from the fact that I probably should have been born during this time--the fashion, the decor, the option to leave your house unlocked all night....are just a few of the ideas I love from this time!

I of course do not have a picture of her since she is a "character" but the movie "The Help" is coming out in August so I have included a picture of her character from the movie. I also included the trailer from the upcoming movie - I am SOOOOO excited and for anyone who knows me - you know I never go to the movies, However I will be there for this one on opening day!




xoxo,
Faith

5.20.2011

Picture Challenge - Day Five

Day Five:
•A picture of your favorite memory

Again, like the other "picture challenges" this is one that could be answered with multiple photos! As soon as I read this I instantly saw this picture in my mind, so I decided to use it. It is definitely in my all time top five favorite memories!

My parents were always taking us on different vacations, mostly to the beach before we moved there, but we were always on the go to somewhere! Last year my mom mentioned us going to Disney World again. At that very second I jotted this trip down in my calendar and asked my boss for the days off...only later to find out that my mom was just thinking more than planning but while she was thinking I was online ordering tickets and planning for the trip. Once I realize mom was still in thinking mode and the time was quickly approaching I decided I better let her know that the day she mentioned it I had it set in my mind and that's all she wrote!
I sent mom an email of our ticket confirmations with a picture of the four of us and thanks to photo shop I gave us each Mickey Mouse ears! Within no time my phone was ringing and even though I could hear a little uncertainty it  quickly disappeared once she knew this was legit and her tone turned to excitement!
The trip was amazing!

All of that being said....I'll get to my favorite memory...of course there were so many on the trip but my all time favorite moment was on Thanksgiving day....througout the trip mom kept bringing upThanksgiving day and we did not have a turkey packed haha and how we had to figure something out. Mom just would not hear of us skipping out on the turkey for cheeseburgers and other park food so she found a solution!
We had our Thanksgiving dinner in the middle of one of the theme parks once mom spotted a man set up selling turkey legs!


Thanksgiving 2010

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family." ~Anthony Brandt


xoxo,
Faith



Tim's Story

A friend shared this story with me and I felt the need to pass it on - this accident took place last year but Tim has just recently returned home. Please read and if you know of any possible ways that you can help whether monetary or through prayers please do so! My favorite part of this email that I am posting below is that if you will notice....the smile on Tim's face is the same in his pre and post accident pictures--that is true encouragement!

xoxo,
Faith


December 11th, 2010, Tim’s life changed forever. He woke up and started his normal Saturday routine by heading to the YMCA and then returning home. He had made plans to cut some branches away from the house then shop for a bike for his grandson. Tim began trimming the branches by tying them back with some rope. Unfortunately, a branch swung back, knocking him to the ground from the ladder on which he was standing. Instantly, he could not move.

His wife, Lois, heard the commotion and rushed outside. Tim was on the ground bleeding from his mouth, nose and head. He yelled, “I can’t move Lois!” She ran inside to retrieve her cell phone and call for help. He was soon airlifted to CMC where he was told that he had broken his neck and was going to be examined further for other possible injuries.Tim was placed in the trauma unit where his neck and spine were stabilized with weights and metal bars. As he was waiting for surgery, his brain began to swell, which induced two strokes. The quality of his life at the time was not promising and uncertain at best.The surgery required that part of his brain and skull be removed. We were not certain if he would make it through the surgery alive. He did!

After the surgery, Tim’s long road to recovery began. During this process, Tim’s heart failed and he had to be resuscitated. Doctor’s determined that he would need a pace maker. After receiving the pace maker, Tim remained in the hospital for several months. He attended therapy and rehab but is currently paralyzed
from his shoulders down, due to the fractures of his C3 & C4 vertebrae. Now, he operates his electric wheel chair with his head. Tim’s memory of the event is excellent but he will always remain positive and keep a smile on his face. Thank God for the excellent doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

Now that Tim has returned home, a new reality is facing the Stewart’s. Although they remain optimistic, Tim & his family face many challenges that seemed unthinkable just 5 months ago. Tim can no longer work, Lois is now a 24/7caregiver and the family has limited income. Their most pressing obstacle is transportation.
They currently have no way to get Tim to and from the doctor for his frequent visits, so they rely heavily on the generosity of others to help make those trips possible. With your help, we hope to give Tim and his family back their independence. Our goal is to raise enough money to purchase a van that can be equipped with everything Tim needs to get around town: to the doctor, to church and hopefully, back to the YMCA.



To help, please send donations to:
Tim Steward Fund
c/o SCBT
Attn: Rene Brannan
PO Box 3186
Rock Hill SC 29732

5.19.2011

Picture Challenge - Day Four

Day Four:
•A picture of your favorite night

When I first started thinking about this one, I thought back to proms, graduations, birthdays, holidays and things like that...while all of these events each hold their own favorite memories it was not until going through pictures that I realized how to answer this.
September 2003--I guess I have never really considered this "a favorite night" until now, seeing the picture and knowing it is a night that will never happen again and never be replicated.
The look on her face when she climbed out of the limo, the way she pranced around the entire evening with everything about her just glowing because she was at a celebration that was all about her and her husband reaching a great milestone...their 50 year anniversary!


My grandparents and I at their 50th Wedding Anniversary
September 2003

If you had asked me that night at 20 years old I probably would have been able to tell you a few other places I'd have rather been...isnt it crazy how you realize whats really important and what are truly your "favorite" times now that you can look back and see the big picture.

God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” ~James Matthew Barrie

xoxo,
Faith

5.18.2011

Picture Challenge - Day Three

Day Three:
•A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Hmmmmm.....this is one that constantly changes just like my favorite song or favorite band. I am not too big into  reality tv or the series like I use to be with Greys and Desperate Housewives - I would be so excited for the next weeks airing and then it would be a rerun so I stopped watching. However, if I were scrolling through the tv guide tonight, I'd probably stop channel surfing once I got to two shows-these are the two that if they were on at the same time I'd def have to flip back and forth for.........













I normally only watch TV right before bed and "Family Guy" is a great light hearted laugh to wind down a long day.
The other show that the remote always seems to stop on is....



I was never a fan when the originals aired and never jumped on the whole S&TC bandwagon and I really hate that for myself! (I wonder if I would be the same way if I ever watched "Friends"-I've probably never seen one full episode!) Katie P - You were right - I was missing out - now I understand why you skipped paying the light bill to own the DVD set haha ;)
Now that this show airs reruns on E! I am obsessed and would dare to say I have seen all episodes at least twice since I started watching it in the past six months! I wish the show was still in production! I am such a fan...Carrie (aside from her sometimes "tacky" wardrobe) of course is my favorite mainly because of her passion for writing and the way she is able to sum up life at the end of each episode in a simple quote!
This show is def not as lighthearted as Family Guy but is still pretty simple....Most episodes leave me relating the storyline to my own life, it gives you that same feeling you sometimes get on Sunday morning in church when you feel like the preacher is talking to nobody but you. :)

"We seldom enjoy leisure we haven't earned."  ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You

xoxo,
Faith

5.17.2011

Picture Challenge - Day Two

Day Two:
•A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest


Of course my family since they have been with me since birth-that is a given. Instead I am going to choose a person that is not blood related but one that I still consider family!
I will give you a little background info first...
I met her when I moved to Conway Christian School in the 7th grade. I was the new girl in a small school so of course the boys were able to see past my big bangs, chubby cheeks, and braces. All they saw was a race to who could win the "new girl" over first! Unfortunately for the guys, I was not able to see past the braces, bowl haircuts and awkward looking phases that they were going through so I was not interested in any of them UNTIL.....I found out that this girl in the 6th grade liked one of the guys in the 8th grade, that was all she wrote--even though I did not "like" this 8th grader (who shall remain nameless) in that way; he was in the 8th grade and I could make this little 6th grader jealous so I did just that! The boy acted as though I hung the moon as much as any 7th grade girl can ha and I acted like I did not hear him calling my name during recess but looked his direction long enough to keep the "connection". Well, even if this was not apparent to him it was very apparent to the 6th grade girl and she decided to take matters into her own hands! One day while in the bathroom an anonymous note was thrown over the stall addressed to me....It basically told me to stop playing with this guys emotions or else and was signed "a person who cares for him a lot". OK, I may have only been in the 7th grade but it took no rocket scientist to know that Kaci was the caring person :)
Eventually my game became boring and a new boy (another 8th grader) started attending CCS so I moved on but first I played a part in bringing my "boyfriend" and Kaci together - It's so crazy how simple things use to be ha :) From that day on Kaci and I connected and a very special bond was created!
Kaci and I have always remained in contact through college and me moving away...college was the only time I can say we would go the longest without talking but once the phone rang we picked right back up from the last conversation and when I finally met Kaci's roommates it was as if they knew me better than some of my own friends just from hearing her talk about me!
Kaci is now married, which I just knew would be the end of our friendship and fell asleep crying to her in bed the night before her wedding as she played with my hair (my fave thing ever) and reassured me she would still love me just as much! She was telling the truth, she does, almost one year later from her wedding day and we still talk most days...as a matter of fact I am spending the weekend with her and her hubby this weekend!
I have had friends longer than I have known Kaci and I cherish them all so much but when having to decide among my friends the person I have been closest to the longest it would have to be the greatest best friend a girl could ever ask for...Kaci! I hope everyone in the world has that person in their life who you know you could tell anything to and never be judged--fussed at but not judged, never fight with, know that this person depends on you as much as you depend on them and has an unconditional love that comes as close as possible to the one you feel for your own family!

Kaci and I in Miami for her bachelorette party - we were laying in the floor after falling down laughing so hard we cried - we felt that a photo shoot would be appropriate to capture this moment!
Remember what we were laughing at Kaci?! ;) Blah!




“Everyone has a "best friend" during each stage of life-only a precious few have the same one.”

xoxo,
Faith



5.16.2011

Picture Challenge-Day One

Since I love pictures I am going to start posting from something I saw on facebook..."30 day picture challenge". Each day you post a picture depending on the description for that day. Since I also love quotes I am going to also try to find a quote for each day that relates to the task/photo. :) Enjoy!!

Day One:
•A picture of yourself with 10 facts

1)I love the beach...ocean, sand, sun. - Favorite place in the world.

2)I am a Christian.
3)I have a slight shopping addiction (in my defense I am a bargain shopper!)
4)I love my crazy family more than anything in the world, yes even more than Gamecock football!
5)Exaggerating/Lying is one of my biggest pet peeves...right next to smoking.
6)I cannot let my food touch.
7)I must have a straw in every drink and a cup that does not sweat or it needs a coozie.
8)I talk a lot, (and interrupt people really bad on days I don't take my Adderall!) but I listen too!
9)I love writing and hate spelling/grammatical errors.
10)I am a hopeless romantic...speaking of--where is that handsome prince riding a white horse and carrying my dozen roses and glass slippers?!

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.  ~Judy Garland

xoxo,
Faith