I'm not worthy...

Good grief. I can't believe it's been over two months since I've blogged. Why is it that I feel I have less time to blog now than I did before? When Zack was home I was busy cooking, doing laundry, being Band Booster president, and still had time to blog. I can't explain it. Maybe it's not a time issue, maybe it's lack of motivation. I'm so not worthy to be a "B Club" member! ;-)

So, here's what I've been doing in a nutshell...

Valentine's Day was good - remember, we decided to give each other gifts starting with the letters in our names... T was a bag of Twizzler's (my fav!), R was roses, and for the life of me I can't remember the rest. My memory is gone. Oh yeah, he gave me a yo-yo for the Y, but I can't remember A, C, and E.

Spring Break we went to Orlando and spent the week with Zack. We had a great time! He even surprised us one night with tickets to the Blue Man Group show at Universal which was a blast! He is such a good son and doing so well in school. We are so proud of him. We also took our baby, Knightro (puppy) with us for the week. That was an adventure!

Back hard at work at the school. Seems things get really crazy busy the closer it gets to the end of the school year. I'm counting down the days...27 more school days. I'm looking forward to being off this summer and spending time with Zack. He'll only be home a few weeks here and there.

Church is going good. The Lord is dealing with me on so many levels and I am slowly learning to surrender every area of my life to Him. I've also joined a Sunday School class that I really like and am getting more involved.

I'm reading a fantastic book by Randy Alcorn called "Edge of Eternity" which is piercing my heart every day. I also recently finished "Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom which has so many wonderful lessons in it. He also wrote "Tuesdays with Morrie" which was another excellent book. Guess I've been reading alot in my free time.

So, that about sums up my last two months. It's been raining like crazy here and although we need the rain, I'm ready for a little sunshine! I was going to say I'll try to do better blogging, but every time I say that, I disappear for months. So, until next time...

Please pray...

Hi bloggy friends! I just wanted to tell you about a friend of mine that I worked with in Atlanta at the South Metro Baptist Association. His name is Novel and he and his wife, Martha, are among the sweetest people you will ever meet!

Right before Christmas, Novel found out he has prostate cancer. I've set up a blog and am doing updates to keep their friends and family informed---these two are friends with just about everyone in every Southern Baptist Church on the southside of town! And trust me, if you knew them, they would immediately become your friends too! There are no two people more warm and loving.

Please stop by and offer up your encouragement to them and "bookmark" their site so as to periodically check in on them and pray for them. I know it would be greatly appreciated!

http://novelsjourney.blogspot.com/

In the Name of Love

Love is in the air! Can you believe it's already February? Valentine's Day is right around the corner! This year, because neither Gary nor I really need anything, plus [like everyone else] we are trying to "pinch pennies", I decided it would be fun to give each other gifts that correlate with each letter of our name...BUT here's the catch...it can only come from the dollar store!!! How funny is that?! You can find some really odd and interesting things at the dollar store!

Since my name has more letters than his, we agreed to spend $10 each. I think it will turn out to be pretty funny and I will definitely share our "findings"!

So, what are your plans?

True Colors

So a week has passed by since I last blogged...and I was doing so good there for a while! It's been an extremely busy week. Zack made it back from Washington, D.C. safely...and just in time! They've had quite a bit of snow in the past couple of days. He was glad to get back to temps in the 80's! But, now he's fighting a bad sore throat and cough--probably from over exhaustion and also the extreme cold, but he'll be alright.

It's been quite interesting to see and hear how passionate some people are about politics. Honestly, I really don't care that much about politics. It's only been in the last year or two that I've really thought [much more than a minute] about my views on certain issues. I can't imagine though, that even if I really cared about politics, that someone's political views would cause me to sever a friendship.

Unfortunately, I've experienced that this past week. I had a childhood friend that I've known since the 5th grade "un-friend" me on Facebook because, as he put it, "I had to take a break, you were going way over the top with all the 'O' entries."

I was stunned.

I looked back at all my status updates and over a week's time, I only used the "O" word (he makes it sound like a 'dirty word') ONE time and that was when I made reference to Zack attending the staff ball and the Bidens and Obamas showing up. I was excited for Zack and the opportunity he had to witness history personally and made comments on my status regarding his travel, what he was doing that day, etc. NO political 'stands' or comments whatsoever! BUT even if I did share my political views on my facebook status every moment of the day, is that seriously something to sever a friendship over? Wow. I just know that my relationships mean so much more to me than that.

I really don't know why I'm that upset over it. I mean, we were elementary, jr. high and high school friends...best friends. We even went to prom together (as friends) cause neither of us was dating anyone. But, we haven't really kept in touch that much since high school. I guess it's more the shock of it over such a ridiculous thing that stunned me so much.

And disappointment too--Christians that choose to act like this. The past few months I've really been struggling with Christians that claim to love, but the reality is that it's conditional love---Christians that make racist comments throughout the week and then proudly hold their heads high on Sundays---Christians who don't think the "brother's keeper" applies to them. Christians that will pick and choose which parts of the Bible they want to quote and which parts they choose to disregard.

I love to read and re-read the Sermon on the Mount in the book of Matthew...and Romans 13 really is applicable no matter what your political views are. I just think that as Christians, we should show kindness and love to everyone we encounter---not just those who agree with us.

A Night to Remember!

Zack attended the Staff Ball last night in Washington, D.C. and had a blast! He was texting me all night and sending me pictures via text messages and even some video messages. Here's just a snippet of some of the hundreds of pictures he took. Hopefully, when he gets back to school, he will upload all of them and I can share the link with you! (Please pray for his safety as he travels back to Orlando tomorrow!)

A little something sweet...

I just love decorating cupcakes and thought I would make some tonight in honor of tomorrow's inauguration celebration! I made several different designs to share with my co-workers. There's something for everyone in red velvet or chocolate fudge!

Check out the concentration...

Move over Martha Stewart!

Something for everyone...

Knightro says, "Mommy! I want some too!"

Up on the hill...

This is the only photo I have so far. Here's Zack in front of the Capitol today. They have been going non-stop since he arrived in D.C. yesterday evening! Last night he went to a New Hampshire campaign dinner, this afternoon he attended the 'We Are One' concert at the Lincoln Memorial and tonight he's headed to a Florida campaign dinner. He is having the time of his life, in spite of the cold temps!

The eagle is in the nest...

I heard from Zack all along his route and they made it to D.C. about 8:00 p.m. eastern time. He said it's 'ridiculously cold' but he doesn't care! The friends he's staying with have a place on Constitution not far from the capitol, so they'll be able to just walk everywhere. He's super excited about visiting all the monuments and the Smithsonian. He's been to D.C. numerous times, but it means so much more to him now that he's older and cares more about American history and politics. Please continue to pray for his safety while in D.C. I will post updates!

On another note, congrats to my friend Jean! Her son, Anthony and his wife, Lori, welcomed their first baby into the world last night! Go here to see pics of precious Austin and congratulate Jean on this new blessing to their family!

History in the making...

This morning I awoke an anxious mother because Zack left very early to drive to Washington, D.C. It's about a 13-14 hour trip from Orlando to D.C. and he's never taken that long of a trip before! I am glad that at least he's not alone. His friend, Lauren, who was an area organizer in Florida for the Obama campaign, got them tickets to the inauguration and also tickets to an inaugural ball. He has been so excited! He's been counting down the days since Christmas!

Regardless of political views, I believe everyone is aware of what a history-making moment this is in our country! I am so thrilled that Zack has the opportunity to witness it in person! Please pray for his safety today as he travels. I will post updates!

Blind...but not mute

About two years ago, there was an older gentleman who worked in our local post office named Sam. I affectionately (sorta) referred to him as "Postal Sam" whenever I would discuss him with my hubby after visits to the post office. Postal Sam was not a very friendly man. He seemed irritated with the mere thought of even having to wait on customers. Plus, he always had this white puss-like stuff in the corners of his mouth that just repulsed me. I would stand anxiously awaiting my turn in the slow moving line, praying for some other ever-so-friendly postal employee so as not to get Postal Sam. Without fail, I always would end up across the counter from Postal Sam.

As he would bark out "what can I do for you?" I found myself concentrating on the mysterious substance in the corners of his mouth. I came home complaining and told Gary how grossed out I was by his mouth and what an ornery old man he was, blah, blah, blah. And can I just tell you... hand on the Bible...the next morning I woke up with sores in each corner of my mouth? I had NEVER had this problem before and with gleeful delight, my hubby said, "that's what you get for talking about him!"

You would think I learned my lesson.

When my hubby turned 50, I began to notice he would hold things at arm's length to read them. I began to relentlessly tease and torture him...especially when he had to give in and get glasses! To which he quickly replied, "your day is coming!"

"HA! I have a long way to go before I reach 50 mister!"

A few months ago I turned 42. Overnight my perfect vision vanished! "How can this be? I'm only 42!" I said to myself. Gone are the days of reading medicine bottle labels, grocery labels, mail, any kind of directions or instructions, without holding them out as far as my arm will reach.

Lately, I've resorted to putting on my hubby's glasses--the very ones over which I tortured him.

So, have I learned my lesson? Hmmmm....maybe mute wouldn't be such a bad thing.

It's all about who you know!

So, you stopped back by! Can you believe I'm posting again?! I just had to log on and give "props" to my friend, Lindsey for my blog re-design. She teaches computer at our school and also is in charge of the Yearbook. That girl has more talent in her little finger than I will ever have my whole life! It's amazing what she can do...and in such a short time! I'll say something like this, "I'm thinking about a new look for my blog" and with the likes of Jeannie or Samantha, she will give a twitch of her nose or a bob of her head and voila! A whole new look! (That's Jeannie from "I Dream of Jeannie" and Samantha from "Bewitched"---she's too young to know that!)

Today she was trying to show me how to do some things in Photoshop and after about the 3rd step, I was completely lost! But it's all good...as long as I have Lindsey around...she is my go-to girl in all things design!

Stop on by and introduce yourself to her! I promise it will be worth your while! The girl talks faster than anyone I know and her blog is absolutely precious!

Thanks Lindsey! You're the best!

2009...off to a running start!

Happy New Year! Let me introduce myself...my name is Tracey and I'm a slack blogger. I know, I've been horrible at blogging ever since Zack went off to school...which is weird, because you would think I would be blogging more often since I have more time on my hands. Unexplainable. Other than maybe my blogs would look like this.

I woke up.
I went to work.
I came home.
I ate a bowl of cereal for dinner.
I went to bed.

Woah, Nellie! Exciting stuff, I know! Try to contain yourself! But, that really is the gist of my days lately. However, I did get a new puppy. Kinda sounds like I'm in the 1st grade class and we just got back from Christmas break and we're all reporting on what we did or what we got. My turn! My turn!

Anyway, the puppy keeps me busy. It's like having another baby---not sure I was quite ready for that. He's on a schedule...he eats, he poops, he sleeps...and then he does it all over again. Come to think of it, me and the dog have alot in common.

So welcome me back to the bloggy world. Kinda reminds me of that obnoxious Christmas song by the guy that wrote "Footloose"... anyway, the "Celebrate Me Home" song. Can I just tell you how irritated I get during the Christmas season when I hear that song playing on the radio?! Is he telling someone to celebrate him coming home? Is he telling someone to celebrate his home...like maybe in Pirate language...ahoy mateys! celebrate 'me' (my) home! Regardless of the meaning, I hate it...double hate...loathe that song.

I digress.

So, in the spirit of hospitality, I'll welcome YOU back to my blog. Come back often, I'll do my best to be here!

A fun weekend!

Zack came home for the first time this weekend since school started and it was so great to have him home! I'm so thankful the Lord provided safety while he was traveling, cause you know how worried mamas can get when 18 year olds are driving 7+ hours! I'm going to try to link to the photo albums that I've posted on Facebook. You can literally load 60 photos at a time in like 2-3 minutes...so much easier than the 5 or 6 blogger lets you load at a time. Here are the links...hope it works!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62846&l=5cf0b&id=705199065

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62849&l=99daf&id=705199065

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62844&l=19818&id=705199065

If this works, then I will post links to the photo albums where we moved him in and also my birthday weekend (his first game marching too).

Oh me-me...it's a Meme!

I was tagged by Kat to do this meme, so here goes...
What you are supposed to do...and please don't spoil the fun...Copy/paste, type in your answers and tag four people in your lists! Don't forget to change my answers to the questions with those of your own.

A) Four places I go over and over
Work
Church
Grocery Store
Bathroom (haha!)

B) Four people who e-mail me regularly
My hubby
My family
Dianne
My co-workers

C) Four of my favorite places to eat
Carraba's
Jason's Deli
Eastside Grill
Home

D) Four places you'd rather be
any beach
Orlando
Turks & Caicos
Perdido Key

E) Four TV shows I could watch over and over
The West Wing
Dancing With The Stars
What Not to Wear
House Hunters

F) Four people I'm tagging
Dianne at Glasses of Grace
Joy at Joy's Corner of the World
Jill at Who Could Ask for Anything More
Lisa at Tropical Mexican

You! Yes, you!Come on, play along!

...and I haven't forgotten that I still need to post pictures!!!

Gone...but hopefully not forgotten!

I can't believe the last time I blogged was August 28th as I was getting ready to take my road trip to the first UCF game. Wow! Now, here I am again, in Orlando, killing time while Zack is at band practice. This is family weekend and I am so pleased that Gary was able to come with me this time. Tomorrow will be his first time seeing Zack march in a college band and he is so excited!

The August weekend was so much fun. I got to meet Zack's new girlfriend and we were all able to celebrate my birthday together. Zack got me the sweetest UCF Mom coffee mug as well as some UCF Knights earrings. I will post pictures from that weekend (I promise!) when we get back home. I have posted them on Facebook because it is so much faster to upload photos than Blogger, but I will post them here too.

Things have been going well...I've just been staying busy working full-time at the school. Then when I get home in the evenings, it's constant caring for my new baby....no, not that kind, I got a PUPPY! He is so precious! I told Gary when Zack went off to school that I needed something to take care of...I was feeling so lost and without purpose. He said, "well, what do I look like?!" ha ha! I told him he could take care of himself for the most part, that I wanted a puppy! So after many nights of looking online, about a month ago we decided on a Friday afternoon to run over to the Humane Society and we found the sweetest dog (aside from Miss Daisy, of course!) He is just over 6 months old and a dachshund/terrier mix and has the most precious face! He is so needy and has been such a good boy in his crate-training. We named him "Knightro" (the UCF Knights mascot) because he is tan with a black tail and the Knights are black and gold. I will post pictures of him too. But let me just say, I NEVER thought I would love an animal so much! He is my precious little buddy!

Zack is doing well in school. He got an "A" on his first paper for Freshman English and so far has "A's" in all of his classes. He has matured so much and our relationship, although it's always been good and we've always been very close, has become even better. He has opened up so much and is always so good to call me at least once a day and tell me something about a class, or something that happened in band, or a grade he made on a test, etc. I really am trying to give him his space, but the most wonderful thing is that the more space I give him, the more he draws closer. Does that make sense? Not sure I worded that correctly.

I can't believe it's October already. It's been so great pulling out all my fall decorations and the cooler temps in the evening. This is my favorite season...I love all the warm colors, the browns, reds, oranges, etc. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing God's display of artistry sweep across a hillside in rich hues. He is the Master Artist!

I miss all my sweet blog friends and hope you will forgive me for my absence. I will try to do better on my updates as well as checking in on you all. I am so ready for another "B Club" reunion! ...that is, if I haven't been voted off the island yet! ;-)

Have a great weekend and I will post pictures upon my return! Love y'all!

Road Trip!

I am so excited about going to UCF this weekend for their first game---and Zack's first game marching in a college band! I went by Cracker Barrel today after work and picked up two audio books to listen to on the way down and back (thanks Kat for that tip a while back and for my sweet award today!)...hopefully it will make the travel time go by faster.

Got my game tickets via Fed Ex and I'm ready to go! Lots of pictures when I return!

UCF let's goooooooooooo Knights!

Lazy Saturday...

Gary and I cleaned house (big time!) Thursday when we got home from work. We did this so we could just lay around and do nothing this weekend. We knew it was going to be a rainy weekend with "Fay" headed this way...so we thought, how much better does it get than laying around on a Saturday while it rains all day.

Right now I'm sitting in the recliner with the laptop and he has an "Eagles" Concert DVD in so loud I can hardly think...but it's nice...each song he keeps saying is his "favorite". The rain is coming down and it's getting more windy.

Several of you mentioned that Zack looks older now! It was amazing to me to see how much he changed in just the 6 weeks he was away for summer term at UCF. He came back and seemed so much older and wiser! ;-) Plus, he has started wearing his glasses more---started when he had pink eye in both eyes and the Dr. ordered him to not wear his contacts for 10 days!

After summer term ended, Zack went to Las Vegas with my sister and niece for 4 days. It was their second time (they went last summer)...and they had a blast! However, Air Train lost his luggage.... It's been a nightmare of a story and we had to spend hundreds of dollars just before he went back to school replacing everything he had lost. Now we're in the process of filling out tons of paperwork and filing a claim with them! Ugh. Never again will we "check" a bag! Carry-on's only!

Zack has had band camp from 8a - 10p all this past week (including today). GREAT time for "Fay" to hit, huh? Zack said it's rained everyday since last Monday and they haven't been able to set drill on the field. I know the Band Director must be having a fit! The first game is a week from today---August 30th. I'm going!!! Woo-hoo! I'm so excited to see him marching with close to 350 kids! Big difference from high school band! He is having a blast! I'm planning to leave Friday when I get off work and come back Sunday (my birthday).

I'm trying to talk my sister and niece into going down with me for the weekend. Unfortunately, hubs can't go because of his duties at church. My niece plays Varsity Volleyball at her H.S. and just smacked her head real bad in last Thursday night's game diving for a ball---lost her vision for about a minute, which was real scary. My sister ended up having to take her to the E.R. Thursday night. She had a concussion and Dr. said she absolutely cannot play for the next week. Keep her in your prayers. She said today that she has a bad headache and neck pain. I hope she's going to be alright.

Well...gotta go....and do absolutely nothing! Kinda nice for a change...

Is Anyone Still Out There???

I have been a terrible blogger...no excuses...I know we all are busy, so I'm not even going to try to run down my list of reasons why I haven't blogged!

We just got back from taking Zack back to UCF for the Fall. He was only home a little over a week, which went by way too quickly, and then we had to pack him back up and move him back. Unfortunately, since he was going to be living in a different dorm than he did in the summer, we had to completely move him out at the end of summer term. It's a good thing, though! His "dorm" for the school year is much nicer! It's a 4 bedroom, 4 bath, apartment style dorm, plus he has a full size bed instead of a twin bed and his room is larger.

We just got back late Monday evening and I've been doing better this time---I miss him terribly, but I haven't cried for a week straight like I did when we took him down for summer term. Plus, I've also been busy with work, so that helps. Unfortunately, we took him down there just in time for "Fay" to hit Florida. They actually closed the campus Monday evening at 8:00 p.m. for 24 hours---the kids didn't have to leave, they just closed the restaurants, stores and student union. So, I've been one worried mama with one eye on the weather channel and the other texting him to make sure he's ok!

Here are some pics from the weekend...plus I'll be back soon with a post on some "observations" from our trip. Love y'all!

(All pictures are clickable)

Getting ready to leave...

This picture doesn't do justice to how packed my car was!

Here we are! Tower II...

Almost done setting up...can you tell by the look on his face that he is REALLY wishing I would put the camera down!

Notice what we were watching on tv!

Yep, he has his very own bathroom!

Kitchen...this is NOT my idea of clean! This is how we found it when we arrived. It was left like this from the previous "tennant". It literally looked and smelled like someone had just cooked a meal in there.

Living Room/Dining Room

Tower II

View from the Tower II patio looking out towards the football stadium

1st floor patio area...

Tower II (taken from the stadium area)

Yes, I have a ton of pictures of the fountain in the center of campus! I just love it!

We have found a new way to go that only takes us 7 hours from our doorstep to his---we go across 84 East to 75 South...we pass thru some quaint little towns with some interesting things. Here is a picture from a little town called Whigham. Don't think I'll be attending that event! Only in South Georgia!!!

By the way, I'm on Facebook too...so if you're on there...look me up at "Tracey Brennan Shields-Kirksey"

Been a long time...

Wow! I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted! In some ways, it seems like a long time, but in other ways, it seems like just yesterday!

This summer has flown by and for that, I'm grateful! Zack is finishing up Summer Term this Thursday and we're going down to move him back. He will only be home two weeks, then we have to move him back down for fall/spring. I know that will be hard, because it will be a long time before he is able to come back home--probably Christmas break. Unfortunately, we have to completely move him out of the dorm he is in now because he is in a different dorm in the fall. He's excited though, it's a 4 bedroom, 4 bath, apartment-style dorm--so he's thrilled that he's getting his own bathroom!

He's done real well---adjusted well, made alot of new friends, enjoyed his classes. It's been a newfound, liberating experience and it feels like he's matured so much in these past 6 weeks. For me, it's been kinda rough. Initially, I cried and cried and wasn't too motivated to do anything, but I'm adjusting--and thanks to my sweet friend, Joy, reading about others that have experienced the same feelings I'm experiencing has helped. She loaned me a book about surviving the empty nest syndrome, and I'm slowly working my way through it!

I start back at the school on August 5th. This year they've asked me to work full time, and since I don't have too much going on with real estate, I accepted. I do have a closing tomorrow though, for which I'm thankful! They are few and far between!

I've missed my bloggy friends. I check in from time to time, and hopefully soon I'll post some photos that I've been meaning to post for the past two months! Thanks for the sweet emails and for checking up on me! Love y'all!

Happy 18th Birthday Zack!

Here is a video my sweet hubby made and brought home to me today. Be sure to turn your speakers up for this great song! It was a hard day being apart from Zack on his birthday, but I'm headed to Atlanta tomorrow and he will be flying in tomorrow night to spend 4th of July with all the family in Atlanta