Sweet Monkey Frozen Yogurt

My mom and I took a trip to Sweet Monkey, a delicious frozen yogurt place in Gainesville.  It was nice because my mom doesn't have too many days off.

This was their cute logo on the back wall. They had a few couches and chairs that beckoned us to relax and stay awhile. 

This was the self-serve stations that housed flavors like tiramisu, eggnog, peanut butter, red velvet cake, and espresso. 

Fruit toppings abounded! I can't wait to go back in a few months to try the mango or peach yogurt with some fruit!

They had lots of candy options to top off the yogurt, but I preferred the salty nuts like pecans and cashews.  The best part is Sweet Mokney is coming to Athens and Augusta soon! At least I'll have something to make my routine doctor appointments a little more enjoyable!

Cozy Christmas

My Christmas was wonderful.  While the presents were nice, I loved spending time with my family the most.  I've spent my days lounging around reading books on my new Kindle Fire.  If any of you have any good book suggestions, please let me know.  I love a good book!  I also helped put together my first Christmas drama for my church with some very talented friends of mine.  It was quite an undertaking, but so worth it.

Our family tree this year

Me and Mason hanging out on Christmas Eve

My break is coming to a close, but I have so enjoyed not having any homework or assignments!  I have several blog posts planned, I just haven't felt well. I love to write, though, so I am making myself do a blog post. :)



True Success

Even though I'm not graduating from college just yet, people are asking, "What are you planning on doing?"  "You need to go get a master's now so you won't loose the rhythm you're in now..."  The short answer is get a job.  Just because I have a few limitations doesn't mean I can't be a productive member of society.  It just takes me a little longer to do some things.

Success for me is not measured in dollars and cents or degrees.  To me, success is waking up every morning with a sense of purpose.  I'm here on this earth for so much more than to just do a job.  I'm supposed to spread God's love wherever I go, which is why I can be content not pursuing a master's degree right now.  If I'm so busy filling my schedule with lots of "stuff", I may miss an opportunity to spread God's love to someone in the workplace.  In short, my life isn't about doing something just because someone else thinks it's a good idea.  I'm more committed to God than I've ever been.  Yes, I will continue to write.  That's part of the talent God has blessed me with, and I'm determined not to waste it!

 I'm looking into some online options for master's degree, but I'm in no hurry to do anything.  I want to be doing what God wants me to do where He wants me to do it.  I've been spending a lot of time praying and listening to His voice, because I know I am nothing without Him.  

I just wanted to write this post to let everyone know they don't have to be pressured by people.  Let God direct you.  He has never let me down yet, even when I was confused and doubting the dream I had in my heart.

Best Birthday Gift Ever!

My mom gave me the most awesome gift for my 22nd birthday a few weeks ago: A 30 minute massage!  I had never had a massage, but I know how much it helped my mom when her back was hurting.  As it got closer to my appointment with Kayla from Absolute Muscular Care in my hometown, I became more and more excited because I'd I had almost forgotten what it was like to live without neck pain! My neck had been hurting for months with no relief. I couldn't even sleep good at night because of it. After visiting Kayla, I have noticed a TREMENDOUS difference!  I have slept better ever since my visit! 

 

I didn't have the typical massage, though. I had something called the CranioSacral massage that is designed to help migranes, fibromyalgia, and even childhood disorders like cerebral palsy! Click this link to learn more about it. I couldn't believe there was a massage designed just for me! 

 

Anyway, I just had to share this with everyone.  Kayla didn't not ask me to write a review.  I just believe in sharing good stuff!  If you live in my hometown, I highly recommend her!

Book Review: Sunrise on the Battery by Beth Hart

Sunrise on the Battery is a story by Beth Webb Hart.  The main characters are Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville, a couple who started with nothing and trying to work their way up through the elite Charleston society.  In the midst of all of this, she found herself wishing she could go to church with her three daughters and husband.  She struggles to find a balance to it all, though.  This story is a captivating tale of the Scoville family as they all try to live a perfect life.  For Mary Lynn, that means trading in her small-town roots for high-class tea parties.  For Jackson, it means making sure his daughters had ever have every opportunity that he never had growing up . 

I really liked this story because it was relatable.  Families get so caught up in doing lots of stuff that they often miss what's truly important in life. I thought Hart did a great job developing Jackson's character.  His disgust about anything relating to God  reminds me people in my life.  The sweet innocence of the youngest daughter was refreshing in this story because it provided a nice balance to his teenage issues that Catherine faced.  I loved all the flashback she included to  about small-town life   before moving to Charleston because they added more depth to the characters and story as a whole.   I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a new book to read!  It's raw  and real.  The message still lingers in my mind even though I'm done with it .


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Finals are over and I'm off for a month!  I've learned a lot this semester.  In my creative writing class, my final project was the beginning of a novel.  I turned in 33 pages, and I'm quite proud of myself because this is the longest work on one subject that I've ever done!  I plan to continue working on it.  One thing people may not realize is it takes a lot of time and patience to to tell a story in right way.In other words, not rushing from point to point, but really taking your time to develop the characters and setting.

I've been sick. Instead of focusing on the negative, I want to write a list of things that I can do now that I couldn't do a year ago.

1.  I helped my mom decorate the Christmas tree this year
2.  I was able to attend college classes from 8 to 2 on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays
3.  I started helping on my church's publication team, which meets weekly
4.  As of Saturday, I am now able to transfer myself for my wheelchair to the recliner with no help 
5. I can pick up my baby cousin without hurting my back
6.  I can put on my stretchy pants on with no help (Blue jeans still require help, but I will master that eventually)
7. I can pop a wheelie in my wheelchair
8. I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator
9. I designed a logo using Adobe Illustrator
10.  I'm able to sit up more, which is why so many things on this list are possible
11. As an extra special surprise, I'm coming back to church on Wednesday nights starting TONIGHT!  I have not been able to go church on Wednesday nights in several years because of my pain.  All praise goes to God for His neverending grace!!

I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I was!  I wanted to write these things down so I won't forget how far I've come.