Sebbatical

As you can see, I have taken quite the blogging sebbatical! This summer was a whirlwind. After 4 different trips with the youth group, 1 trip to WV for my friend Bethany's wedding, and 1 family vacation I have been going non stop! Blogging was one of the things that had to be put on the back burner (not that I have really ever been a consistent blogger)...
This summer was exhausting, but in a great way. I love my job and all of the incredible opportunities I have been given. Each day when I drive into work I think "how amazing that this is MY job!!" (did ya hear that Art?)
The beginning of the summer started with Senior trip to Myrtle Beach! We had some pretty fun seniors this year, and it was a joy to be able to spend time with
them alone preparing them for college.

A week after that, we loaded up and took 40 High School students
to New Orleans to help rebuild houses with Samaritans Purse. It was a GREAT week! Our students worked so hard and it was so neat to be able to help out that community. It was extra special for me, because i got to bring my dad along! He is a stud, and it was fun to see him working alongside all of the Vapor Kiddo's.

Then, we headed back towards home and stopped a 4 day camp called Wayfarer. It was so refreshing to be there and learn new things about the Lord, and our students really enjoyed it!

When I got home from that I headed to the Great State of West Virginia to get my friend Bethany married off. She was a beautiful bride. And I also got to visit my Friend Matt in Ohio and see his awesome church that he works at.

Straight from there I go to Charleston SC with my family for a week! I love my family and I love Charleston. We had a fun week together. Everyone got to come this year, even my sister Bekah's new fiancee' (getting married in Nov).

Then last but not least, I had the priviledge to go with the sweetest middle school students to stay at a house at Lake Hartwell, then travel back to Greenville each day to do service projects! I absolutely love those little angels! Can you find me in this pic?

So there you have it. Now I am back and in Action. It is nice to be back at a semi-normal pace. I have so many more things to share, but will hold back till the next blogpost!

Summers are for WEDDINGS

So, this weekend 2 of my longest friends are getting married. Deanna Coletti who was one of my closest friends in high school is getting married this saturday. Also, my very first best friend Lindsey Hawkins is tying the knot on the same day! I am so excited for these girls, and i know they are both going to make beautiful brides and wonderful wives.

I am a bridesmaid in Lindseys wedding, so I wont be able to go to Deannas. I am really sad I wont get to see her get married, but i'm sure by sunday facebook will be filled with pictures.

Here comes the BRIDES!!

1959

50 years ago today my sweet mom was born. This lady loved birthdays. She loved any reason for a party.
I miss my mom alot. She went to heaven 6 years ago. I was only 17 when my mom died, but I do know that I would rather have had her in my life for only 17 years...than to have any other mom in the world for a lifetime. She was perfect to me.

I was her baby. She let me stay home all the time from school, cause I was the last kiddo left at home. She would drop off all the other kids at school, and when it was my turn to get out she would look at me and say "Why dont you just come home with me today." Of course i would never fight that one :)

My favorite meal she made when i was a kid was frozen chicken fingers and fries. haha. Or, one of our all time favorite meals she made every sunday night before we watched "Lois and Clark" was chips with beans and cheese on them. She would put them in the oven and they would come out soooo good. We were healthy :) hah. She wasnt the best cook in the world, but she was great at alot of other things.

She made people feel loved. She attracted the craziest people, and she would REALLY love them. Not just pretend. She helped so many broken people pick up the pieces and get back on the right track.

She loved my dad. She always told me that she was the luckiest woman in the world, and thought my dad was the most handsome man she had ever seen! How fun to really believe that about your husband! He loved her too! I mean, they had 4 kids... thats love! They were eachothers best friend. It was so neat to see such a loving marriage growing up. I thought everyones parents loved eachother that much... but now that I have been around other peoples families, i see that is not always the case. What my parents had was rare, and I am so thankful they showed me how to love. I am so excited to love someone like that one day.

Rebekah got my moms conversational skills. My mom could carry on a conversation with anyone. And she knew exactly the right questions to ask to get people to open up. For some reason, people spilled everything to my mom. Bekah is alot like that. She shows people that she is really interested in hearing what they have to say.

Cyndee got my moms curly hair, and her love for the piano. Cyndee is a brilliant pianist, and my mom was too in her younger years. She played for the church choir for many years growing up. Cyndee is also a really great mom, she reminds me alot of my mom when I see her raising baby Kate. Cyndee also loves people like my mom did.

My brother Troy could make my mom laugh the most.He got moms humor and love for parties and people. He is always the life of the party and the funny guy. But he is also sweet and caring. He takes care of people. They are drawn to him, like they were my mom.

I am the one that looks like my mom the most. I love it when someone comes up to me and says "I know you dont know me, but i knew your mom and you look exactly like her".
My moms life was a legacy, and I hope I turn out like her.

The week before my mom passed away, she was pretty out of it. But when she would wake up, she would always look for my dad to make sure he was sitting right there beside her. One day she woke up and said "Chris!!" and he said "I am right here, holding your hand", and my mom says excitedly and in awe... "Chris! Hes Real!" dad responds "What? who is real?" and my mom says "Jesus! He's real. He's really real!!"

I dont know what my mom saw on that day, but something that took her breath away! I am so excited that she gets to be with Jesus all the time now.

There were over 1,000 people at my moms funeral. So many lives that were touched by her. The Lord used her over and over to help others. I am so proud that I am Beth Corley's daughter.

Happy Birthday Mom!! I bet you are having a CONSTANT party in heaven!

Kenny

Tonight I went to the Kenny Chesney concert. I have always liked Kenny, since I was in middle school... so it was fun to actually see him in person! His concert was the best concert I have ever been to. He sang for over 2 hours, without taking any breaks! He sings alot about summertime... so it got me in the mood!

So much fun!

Sisters are home!

Both of my sisters got to come home this weekend. I love having them around. We celebrated baby Kate's birthday on sunday with all of the family and close friends. She is about the cutest thing. She just all of a sudden will start laughing about nothing!
She is walking and talking so much. Not words you can understand, but still... cute noises are coming out of her mouth.

Help me figure out a plan to get my sisters to

move home. Any ideas?

Weekend Recap

We had the best time in Nashville. Didnt see any stars. But it was just so much fun to be with Troy, Bekah, and her boyfriend Aaron. They all finished the half marathon in less than 2 hours!! I was so proud of them. I decided that I would meet them at the finish line.... Little did I know that was pretty much running the race too! It took me an hour and a half of walking to get there!! I was worn out too :)

Here are some pictures

Nashville

This weekend I am headed to Nashville with my older brother Troy, to meet up with my sister Bekah and her boyfriend Aaron. All of them are running in the Nashville 1/2 Marathon (that's 13 miles!!!)... while i am waiting by the funnel cake stand :)

We have been planning this weekend since Christmas, so I am totally excited to go. My sister Cyndee and Baby Kate were supposed to come too... but Kate ended up getting bronchitis this week, so that are making good decisions and staying in Dallas.

I have never been to Nashville, so i cant wait to see what is like. I just imagine me sitting in an old diner, and up walks Reba Macentire, or Randy Travis. Or i'll be walking down the street and there goes Dolly Parton walking her dog. haha. That is my vision. We will see if that really comes true.
My friend Mike is letting me use his really nice,expensive camera to take for the weekend, so I am sure to have some good pictures from that.

I'll tell Reba hey for yall.