The Gray Family (old blog)

NEW BLOG

2008-06-27T07:09:00.001-05:00

I started a new blog (i wanted it to look different and I didn't want to take the chance of loosing my posts while i was in trial and error mode). Please click here to visit my new and improved blog http://ericandhaleygray.blogspot.com

NEw blog

2008-06-09T10:46:00.002-05:00

I have created a new blog...... its more creative and better suiting to my personality. The new website in ericandhaleygray.blogspot.com instead of ericadnhaley. I have not added anything to it as of now (monday morning) but i have tomorrow off and i plan to blog all morning. I tell Katie she will blog her summer away and this may hold true to my tuesday at home..... :) My first post will be adding my the latest 6 word tag.... yay!

6- word memoir

2008-06-05T16:41:00.001-05:00

I was tagged by Jenny @ http://themaddoxfamily.net/.

This idea came from the book by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser called Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. The book is a compilation that is based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his entire life in just six words.

His words? For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

My six words:

Holding hands and exploring life together!

I will add pictures and tag people (like the rules say) sometime this weekend (while I am working on my new blog look) so check back with me next week (I just know you will love the pics)!

Almost done!

2008-05-16T19:23:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures of how the bathroom is coming! They finished the tile today and we can put our vanity in tomorrow. I will have to do a little more work to the little bit of bare walls (the green walls in the pictures). Then next week we will paint! YAY! Then we have to go back to finishing the other bathroom. It will take a little more time and it will be put on hold for a week or two since Eric and I will be going to camp!

Eric Demoing the walls!

Me helping Eric hang sheet rock!

The guest bathroom (before)

The tile was old and cracking and I'm not really sure what the blue stuff is on the bathtub.

The new tile it still needs to be cleaned.

The new vanity! WOW!

The tile starts at the floor and runs up the wall a little over 4 feet. So their isn't much to paint!

Tile.......

2008-05-15T16:01:00.000-05:00

The tile will be in our bathroom by the close of work tomorrow! YAY! The tile guys will be here in the morning. It will take them all day but they say it will be done by 4 tomorrow! Yay! That means I get to paint on saturday! and you know what that means......... we will be done! Well for the most part....... we will be done with everything but decorations. YAY!!!!! Our guest bathroom is fishies! And I am so excited! But getting done with that one means that we have to get started on the other one. YUCK! The major part is done and we are in the process of putting up sheetrock now.

~PAW PAW UPDATE~

2008-05-14T14:01:00.001-05:00

My PawPaw is doing much better. We saw him on Mother's day and he looked great.... (considering he just had open heart surgery). However......... Eric's PawPaw was having chest pains on Sunday morning (Yes, Mothers day). DeeDee (Eric's grandmother) called the paramedics and they took him to the hospital. He was their until this morning (what a week). He had a heart cath. yesterday and they put in a few stints. All in all the doctor was surprised with how well it all went and he was able to come home. Eric is sitting with him this afternoon while DeeDee goes to the eye doctor. Please pray for them and we all hope he has a speedy recovery!

Friday Night Lights.....

2008-05-09T11:25:00.000-05:00

I know that a football movie but whatever........ I love High School Baseball! YAY! It reminds me of the good ol' days (three years ago lol) when my friends and I would fill the bleachers with our posters in hand! We would cheer and scream (and sometimes talk smack to the umpires but hey..... somebodies got to do it and I would rather it be us then the team members and no we never did it bad enough to get in trouble). Tonight I will go to my first PRATTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL game and I can't wait! We have a Senior in our youth group that will be playing (and we are such slackers that we haven't been all season but to our defense he never brought us a schedule). ;) WE WILL GO SEE JONATHAN BUFORD TONIGHT AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE I WILL BE CHEERING ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE! I may even have a poster in hand (if I get off work early enough to make one). YAY!

Bathroom Remodeling......YUCK

2008-05-07T08:35:00.000-05:00

I will never again buy a house that the bathrooms need to be remodeled! YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK! I love our house! It has plenty of room for us and I love our backyard! BUT THE BATHROOMS STUNK! Our master bathroom needed to be re-done (it had a small leak) and our guest bathroom is funky! It had blue tile everywhere and my sink even had blue in it! I love blue but this 1960's bathroom had to go! Eric and Chris tore out the shower in our bathroom a few weeks ago to see if their was any damage under it! The leak was so small that we only needed to replace 2 studs (YAY) and the shower (it was old and worn out)! Then yesterday Eric and I tore out all the sheet rock; we left nothing but bones (studs). Then we took our new shower out of the box (we were planning on tiling the bathroom shower but to pay someone was alot of $$$$$$ and for us to learn would take a while and time is just something we dont have a lot of around the Gray house hold right now). Eric just bought a shower and we will use the tile we have to do the floor (something we can both do) and we will also tile the back splash! Eric is at home today (taking part of his vacation) to rip out the bathtub in the other bathroom (the plumber will be there tomorrow to hook up the shower and bathtub in both bathrooms) and the sheet rock. YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK! So yep you guessed it! We will be bathing in our swimming pool for a day or two..... J/k that thing is still a little green (We have spent so much time doing this whole bathroom thing that the pool has gotten very little attention. So the I guess it will be hose pipe baths for us........ YEAH RIGHT! That would be way to cold! I guess we will be bombarding one of your bathrooms soon! & if you are wondering I did take a few pics and they will be up soon!

Update on the update of my PawPaw

2008-05-05T08:12:00.000-05:00

I went to Birmingham to see him Saturday and they said he wouldn't be leaving until Monday at the earliest. He has had a few episodes were his heat rate goes up and his heartbeat is irregular. When they give him medicine it works itself out but they can't let him go home until he goes a few days with out having one of these. He is still really tired after the surgery. He walked down the hall right before Eric and I got their on Saturday and he could barley hold his eyes open. Poor PawPaw, this is just not like him. On the other hand the nurses at Shelby Baptist Hospital are wonderful! The night of the surgery my grandfather had a male nurse and he was absolutely fantastic. As I went back after the surgery the nurse explained everything he was doing...... every IV he hooked up every medicine that entered his body. He explained what it was and told us what it would do for him. He chatted with us and put us to ease. He also came and got My Nanny at 3:30 a.m. when my PawPaw woke up for the first time. He knew that she would want to see him. Then at 7:30 a.m. he came and sat with her in the waiting room and explained to her everything that he had done that morning and told her that he would be leaving. He went and found the lady that would be taking over his shift and introduced her to my Nanny. This made my Nanny feel much better! And the new lady was just as sweet! We couldn't have asked for a better staff of nurses!

Update on my Pawpaw.....

2008-05-02T07:13:00.000-05:00

He made it through the surgery and he is was in recovery yesterday. By yesterday afternoon they already had him moving around a little bit (to keep him from getting stiff). The doctor says he will be fine and that he should come home on Saturday as long as nothing goes wrong. Thanks for your prayers thus far! Keep them coming. They have a long road ahead in the next few weeks!

Pray for my PawPaw

2008-05-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

My grandfather had an emergency heart surgery last night. He was having chest pains Tuesday night and he was admitted into the hospital and yesterday afternoon they did a few tests and found that his main artery to the heart was 99% blocked. They had to do bypass surgery last night at 6 and he was out about 9. Eric and I went to the hospital to be with my family last night after church. I felt like I needed to go see my Nanny and see how she was. My PawPaw is 78 years old and very healthy. He owns a construction business (it has downsize since getting older) and he still works outside. At the age of 74 he built my Nanny a new house. He subcontracted some of it out but he definitely did most of it! He is such an amazing man! These cholesterol problems just run in my Dads family and the doctor says my grandfather is very healthy for his age and that he has done a great job of taking care of his body but no matter what he was still going to have these problems. The doctor says that because of his health he should recover fine as long as he made it through the surgery (b/c of his age). Please pray for my Grandparents during this hard time.

IM A LABRADOR RETRIEVER

2008-04-30T15:46:00.000-05:00

I FOUND THIS ON MISS, NANCY'S SITE AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN.
I HAVE A LAB AT HOME AND I LOVE HER DEARLY..... I GUESS WE HAVE A LOT MORE IN COMMON THAN I THOUGHT! LOL

Wow, You're a Labrador Retriever!
Labrador Retriever
The Caretaker
Your family is what makes you tick, and you never "flea" from an opportunity to hang out with the whole gang. A family picnic complete with hot dogs, deviled eggs and a refreshing swim in the lake is hard for you to stray from. Your sparky temperament and dogged intelligence mean you are not only a blast to hang out with, but great to work with as well. Your close pals appreciate your patience and forgiveness, knowing you'd rather let sleeping dogs lie than dwell on the mishaps of the past. Your dashing good looks may one day lead to a modelling career, if only you can tame the unfortunate clumsiness that sometimes causes you to go flailing from the catwalk.

Erics 23rd Birthday

2008-04-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

Eric had his 23rd Birthday this past Friday. He went with Chris to sit in on the RICK AND BUBBA SHOW! They had a BLAST! Eric loved it so much that he wants to go back and take me!
We also had Matt & Katie over to grill out and play wii.... actually the boys played wii while Katie and I crashed on the couch! We were both exhausted! But all in all it was a good day for him!

Pictures form the girls night

2008-04-23T09:31:00.001-05:00

Here are the pics that I promised you guys! Sorry it took so long! I have been sick.

~living in the 50's~

2008-04-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

at least for one night. We had our monthly devo. at Larry and Vicki's house. They have a beautiful home complete with its very own diner (in their basement)! How cool is that? They have the 50's diner booths and a jukebox! If you ever get the chance to visit this home you are in for a very BIG treat! every room is a surprise! She also has a pink poodle guest room downstairs. We had a great night! It was fun to pretend!

~GIRLS NIGHT~

2008-04-11T10:28:00.000-05:00

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran

I am having a GIRLS NIGHT for the teens and a few YA (young adults) are helping me... however my huge support system (Katie) will not be there..... what in the world am I going to do. She always helps me get stuff done on time. But Brittney is coming early and a few others will be their to help me along the way.

Our theme is "Discovering our beauty inside and out!"
I have decorated my home like a SPA (white Christmas lights, candles and I made cute decorations from hot pink and lime green flowers and tissue paper... pics coming soon). I bought all the products needed to do manicures, pedicures and facials. WOW we are going to have a blast! We will also have all kinds of snacks and a chick flick!

Tomorrow we will be going to Dalraida COC for a girls purity day.
LONG WEEKEND BUT ITS GOING TO BE FUN!

oh yeah and for those of you who read this and know who Kristen S. is.... its her Bday today and she is giving up her special night to come and help out with the girls!

DRAMA......

2008-04-07T09:26:00.000-05:00

is way over rated! I have been so worried lately over some things that have happened.... I have done my best to fix it but the situation still feels the same! I was thinking about it (AGAIN THIS MORNING) and I began to realize what my problem was.... I had tried to do the fixing. I know I have to trun over my problems to the Lord but it can be so difficult. The reason the problem has not been fixed is because I, the imperfect human has tried to do it, instead of turning it over to my graciouse Father.

Eric....

2008-04-03T15:57:00.000-05:00

will be leaving on Saturday to head down to the coast! He will be in FL until Wednesday night or Thursday morning doing a Gospel Meeting! He did a Gospel Meeting for this same congregation last year and they loved him so much they invited him back! YAY However, my house does get lonely and it never fails I always hear weird noises when he is gone..... :( The house is just so quiet without him......

Joyce Smith...

2008-04-03T14:37:00.000-05:00

is Katie's mom she is going through some things right now with her health. Some of you know that she won her battle with cancer but she now takes treatments for another disease that she has that affects her spine. On Tuesday I went with Katie to the hospital to be with her family while her Mom had a heart Catherization (SP). When it was all over the doctor said that everything looked great and that she could continue on with her treatments! Please pray for this wonderful family!

Creature update!

2008-04-03T14:28:00.001-05:00

My shrimp died two weeks ago. Eric and I came home from Lads to Leaders and Katie told me that my shrimp had molted (lost is shell). This is the way that they grow. However, the next 24 hrs after they molt they are very susceptible to things and apparently the salinity in my tank was a little off.... he passed away on that Monday...... This way a sad day in the Gray house hold. Well, this past Tuesday Katie and I went to the Creature store (after her moms heart cath.) and purchased a new shrimp..... Katie bought a snail and 2 starfish. I sit in front of my tank a few times a day and just watch everything move around.... its neat to watch how the whole ecosystem works inside this little tank. This really is a great hobby! I find myself looking up different things on the Internet because I have this "need" to learn more about it!

Doctors Visits.....

2008-04-03T14:22:00.000-05:00

are no fun. I went to the doctor yesterday to see whats been wrong with me..... its nothing serious (at least as of now we don't think its serious). I have just been having a few things that aren't normal.... so I had some blood work done yesterday (and just as a side note..... that lady hurt me! My arm is still bruised and has a knot on it) and I have a few more tests on Tuesday. We pray that these go well and that what I am going through is just a fluke.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.....

2008-04-03T08:41:00.000-05:00

of YMCA Church League Volleyball! Eric and I have been playing the last 2 months on 1 of our Churches volleyball teams....(our Church has 4 teams). The teams are split up into two divisions.... their is a division for the teams that have been playing longer or have really experienced team members.... and a division for everyone else....lol (this is our teams 2nd year together so this is the league we are in). We played all of our regular season games and came out on top.... we were the #1 team going into the tournament! YAY for us! Then we beat out all the other teams and now we are the Champs of our division..... Pretty good for a team that has only been playing together for 2 years! I cant wait till next year!

Im A Slacker!

2008-03-20T17:06:00.001-05:00

I know I know I said I was going to post pictures from SOAR when I got back but I have been so busy this week and I have been so stressed out (about several things)! Please just pray for me.... we are going to lads to leaders tonight and I want to have a good time... it will be stressful but please just pray that Eric and I get to spend a little time together! We need it! Things have just been so crazy.... I want things to get back to normal.... but hey what is normal anyways? Please just pray that the things I am dealing with will get better or at least easier to deal with.....Well, sorry for venting but I just needed it! So its off to HOT-LANTA for Lads-to-Leaders. Pray for our trip, pray for the kids and just pray for me! TTTTHHHHAAANNNNKKKSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

SOAR

2008-03-14T15:47:00.000-05:00

We will be leaving today at about 4:30 to go to SOAR youth rally in Agusta, GA. Please pray for our safe return! I will have pics up next week! Have a great weekend!

I started a PartyLite blog!

2008-03-13T14:29:00.000-05:00

I have kinda slacked these last few months with PartyLite (as most of you know I started a new job) and I am ready to get back to business! So I started a new blog just for PartyLite! I will have specials and all kinds of information. You can place a regular order and you can also order gift baskets. Just tell me what you would like in it and I will get you a price or you give me a price range and I will let you know what you can get for that amount! You can also let me know if you want to host a party or if you have questions...... so what are you waiting for check it out!

Updates on the tank situation!

2008-03-12T07:45:00.000-05:00

Most of you guys know that I bought a saltwater aquarium this past weekend (after braving the cold weather for Katie's yard sale). My first two creature purchases were a cleaner shrimp and a SEAHORSE! I have always wanted a saltwater tank and a seahorse so I was so excited!

Katie got a Seahorse, Horseshoe crab (named Hercules) and an Arrow crab (that we call long legs because he looks like a grandaddy long leg in water).

As you all know from a previous post Katie's first Seahorse was attacked by long legs and he did not survive so I am housing him in my tank. I have watched him interact with my shrimp and I told Eric that he would have a free ride down the water slide (toilet bowl) the first time he tried to eat my shrimp. So then Katie called the store that we got our creatures from and they said that they would GIVE her another Seahorse since they were wrong about long legs being OK with him. So she went and picked it up Monday. I would love to say that our seahorse drama ended here but it doesn't. At night Katie's urchin likes to get near the water filter to eat and the Seahorse uses the running water as an amusement park. The Seahorse will get near the entering water and wait for it to push him along and then he whirles around the tank until he can catch something to hold on to..... (this is fun to watch). Well, Tuesday something caught him. Katie came in to find that the Seahorse had whirled right into her urchin! AAAAHHHHHH..... not again! She pulled them apart and the seahorse is still alive but even a day later I think he is stunned. Katie and I went to a different creature place yesterday and we hung out with the owner for about 3 hours. We learned so much about saltwater tanks and the animals..... even our little seahorses! We learned that they are a BIG undertaking for armatures like us! We found out what it really takes for us to keep these little boogers alive and we realized that we did not want to chance it with their survival at hand. We called the store (that we got them from) and explained that the new seahorse had gotten stuck and that we did not think that our tanks were the best place for them (we read that they should be in a tank with nothing but seahorses and be hand feed and we confirmed this with the new creature store). They have decided to let us bring them back along with long legs for an in-store credit. So Katie is taking them back today and she is going to get more live rock for her tank and I need a heater and a chocolate chip starfish for me! YAY! So as of this afternoon I will have a Cleaner Shrimp, an Urchin (that I bought last night), feather dusters, chocolate chip starfish, and of course live sand and rock!

~Creature problems~

2008-03-10T07:51:00.000-05:00

As of this morning I have a new inhabitant of my tank, Katies Grandaddy Long Leg Crab! Sometime in the night Long Legs attack Katies Seahorse, which was still a baby. Her Seahorse did not make it through the night. She was VERY upset about this when she called me for our morning chat. Like me, she has always wanted a Seahorse and was so excited that they had some in the store that was in our price range. However, she is so upset because Long Legs is not an animal that she "has always wanted" and he is the one that killed her baby Seahorse. Matt was bringing Long Legs to my house and he is going to make sure that he does not mess with my shrimp......

Recap of last week!

2008-03-10T07:15:00.000-05:00

Monday- I was off work because the doctor I work for was on his honeymoon! YAY! So I painted our bedroom...... It was long over due! And we had a volleyball game. Eric and I play Church League Volleyball and our team has improved so much from last year.
Tuesday was our anniversary and we spent the day together (it just happen to be on our off day). We slept in a little bit and then we ate breakfast together. After that I went to the spa to get a manicure and pedicure (2 hours of total pampering and relaxation). Then Eric and I both went back to the spa that afternoon for our couples massages!!!! It has been so long since we have had a massage..... it felt so good! Then we went home to get ready and we went to eat at Olive Garden and we went to the movies.
Wednesday- I worked and went to Church. After that a group of the Young Adults went to eat!
Thursday- We had a volleyball game and we did not do so well. We WON, but we still played pretty bad the first game....... Not like ourselves at all.
Friday- I helped my dear friend Katie get a few last minute things organized for a yard sale that Matt had planned. The we played Wii until midnight! I love our Wii nights with the Griffies'!
Saturday- I was back at Katies by 5:30 a.m. to get ready for the yard sale! It snowed on the way over their.... so that was nice to see. And Saturday afternoon I got a saltwater aquarium! I have always wanted one of these and now I have one! Katie is friends with Greg who owned Petsville and he was at the yard sale to visit..... so he got me a tank and then when the yard sale was over he went with us to WetPets in Montgomery and he showed me all of the things I would need to start a tank. I got a cleaner shrimp and a seahorse. However, I can not put my seahorse in my tank for a few weeks because Seahorses are a little temperamental and they need an established tank to live in so Katie is Seahorse sitting for a few weeks. Katie also got a seahorse, she watch this one for over an hour before she got him. She also bought a horseshoe crab (she needed a sand sifter to keep her sand mixed up and the horseshoe crab is way more active than a star fish) and a grandaddy long leg crab (we forget what the real name is but this crab looks just like a grandaddy long leg in water and his purpose is to eat all the bristle worms in her tank). We were so excited. We (Matt, Katie, Eric and I) set my tank up as soon as we got home so that we could put my shrimp in it. Katie took the rest of the sea creatures to her house.

We also had a bonfire devotional on Saturday. I love these devos because they are so much fun. The Brashers cook hot dogs and hamburgers to eat and then we had smores by the fire! What a Saturday!!!!!
Sunday- I went back to Church at 4 p.m. to watch our girls practice for lads to leaders and they were great! Speeches, song leading and scripture reading were all amazing! Then after church we had hot dogs at our house for a few people and we played the new Wii game, Super Smash Brothers Brawl. We had lots of fun! Sorry I did not post last weekend it was just a crazy week.

Happy Anniversary to US!

2008-02-29T09:35:00.000-06:00

I am so excited...... Our 2 year anniversary is on Tuesday and we have decided to get our gifts early! We bought a 26" flat screen TV for our bedroom!!!!! Eric can now play is XBOX 360 (his surprise anniversary gift last year) in HD! He is so excited! He is like a kid in a candy store! And I am happy to since the new TV is 6 inches bigger than the old TV.

BUT I AM EXCITED ABOUT MY GIFT EVEN MORE!

A WII! I have wanted one of these since they came out but I was sceptacle about purchasing one until we had the chance to play one..... Just so happens Katie bought Matt one for his birthday in Dec....... So we have had a Wii night at their house at least once a week since then! So needles to say we have had the opportunity to "try it out". Im still no gamer but the Wii is right up my ally! My husband has an XBOX 360 and I have been stuck in the stone ages with my nentendo 64..... I just cant help it. I love nentendo games! Mario games are so much more GIRL friendly........ and the new Wii is so family oriented! I have learned from going to Katie's that our living room now needs to be Wii proofed, so I will be doing this today. As well as playing my favorite game............. Super Mario Galaxy. This game is awsome! Eric says, "I would rather not frolick in the daisies" (this is what you have to do in a few of the levels to find the stars that you can trade for more lives) "but I will watch you" (which translates into- I will tell you how to play the game and then I will take it form you to HELP you get past one part and then continue through the end of the game). So my weekend may get interesting. This is when the NEW HD TV comes into action...... I will simply remind him that he can play his XBOX on HD and Im sure he will give the dang remote back! :)

I have a wedding to go to tomorrow and we will be going to JAMBOREE tomorrow night but Im sure i can sqeeze in some Wii action this weekend!

I could make a book...... YAY!

2008-02-27T07:31:00.000-06:00

I was reading Nancy's blog the other day and I saw that she had a link to a page that was AWSOME! It would turn your blogs into a book! I would love to do this. It seemed so affordable too! I think at the end of every year I will turn this thing into a book and that way we can always have the memories. When we decide to have kids this site will be a great way for everyone to get a copy of the memories that we have enjoyed through the years! Click here http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook to see how great it is!

Damage.....Everywhere.

2008-02-20T07:48:00.001-06:00

As you look at these pictures all you see is damage....... but I always try to remember that we didnt have any fatalities in the city of Prattville. We should all thank God for that! Clean-up began on Monday and will continue for sometime. This city has pulled together to help each other and it has made a BIG difference. A city that can help each other will also help heal each other! Several of of Church families have been damaged in some way or another. Please pray for these families.

~Mike and Elizabeth Manley and Matthias suffered the greatest extent of damage, with their roof being completely torn off, the back wall blown out, and many of their belongings ruined in the wind and rain. They were at home when the storm hit but escaped injury.

~Martha Aubert also suffered disastrous damage to her home. Her roof was mostly blown away and her windows shattered. She has suffered a total loss. Thankfully, she was not home when the storm hit.
~Sammy and Beth Huggins suffered significant damage to their home.
~ Mike and Donna Strickland suffered significant damage to their home.
~Others of our congregation who also suffered damage to their homes and/or vehicles include:
*Allen and Lynne Griffies

*Tommy and Anita Deason

*Lamar and Roselyn Grissett

*James and Verna Grigsby

*Cecil and Annette West

*Pat and Wayne CobbRobert

*Laura Culp
* William and Jeannie Goodwin are away on a cruise, but suffered damage to their home. Their daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Trace Watson live across the street from them and also suffered damage. They have had to be responsible for both homes and have two small children. They have been very appreciative of the help given to them during this time.
* Matt and Anna Lovell also suffered damage to their home in Highland Ridge.

The Hunter Hills congregation called the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief and they sent a truck load of food, water, cleaning supplies etc. They droped it off at the YMCA and it was up to us (Hunter Hills and Prattillve CoC) to distribute it on Tuesday. I was amazed at how many people from the two Churches were able to come. I would like to thank everyone for helping!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Tornado.... hits Prattville

2008-02-18T08:43:00.000-06:00

We went to eat yesterday after Church and then we went home to watch the news. We were supposed to have volleyball practice at the PCA gym but Rusty Adair thought that it was a good idea to call it off and it was a good thing....... about 2:30 Eric and I started to watch the news and about 2:45 we were in the closet..... we listed as the rain and wind got harder and harder..... and then nothing..... complete silence until all of the sudden the sound of a train coming through our town......... it roared in and left everything in its path damaged. We were lucky we only lost power, cable and phone...... others were not so lucky. We got a call from Matt and Katie. They said that his parents neighborhood had been hit by the storm. After that our phones wouldnt work..... so we got in our car and went toward Lynne and Alan's house..... as we got to Sheila rd the police officers had it blocked off. Eric told the officer that he was a minister had had several families that lived in this neighborhood..... they told us that they could not let cars through because the roads were blocked but that we could park our car and walk..... so we did. Not 20 minutes after this storm came through we took off on foot to check on the ones we loved. After running in the rain we got to Griffies and they were ok.... they were shaken up but they were ok. Their yard and cars were severly damaged and their roof will need some work but they were ok.... not long later Matt and Katie showed up as well as the Missildine's. So we left on foot to go and check on other families..... It was weird their would be patch of homes gone and then their would be homes that were just fine...... we checked on several homes and talked to lots of people (some we knew and some we had just met). Then we heard that the Huggins were damaged and we headed that way. When we got thier we saw that their cars, roof and windows were damaged. They were picking up thier belongings (than once were kept in a storage bulding intheir yard) out of their neighbors yard.... after this we got a ride to the Manleys.... it had begun to get dark and you could see that thier roof was gone.... but when you stepped into the front door you realized that that they were missing much more....... you could see right through to the neighbors home.... most of their walls had fallen and some were gone. We all helped them pack what was left..... they didnt have much. While my heart had been broken for these people all day, when we got to the Manleys.... I was devestated for them.... I too know how this can feel. I lived in Orange Beach alabama when hurrican Ivan came through and damaged our home...... I saw neighbors whose homes had been flooded and I remember the cleeanup and all the damage that we had..... but we still had a home.... no matter how many times I have seen it in my community or when we did disaster relief work after hurricane katrina..... you never get used to it..... it always breaks my heart..... I woke up this morning trying to remember yesterday like I was trying to piece together a dream....... Please pray for all these affected and lend a helping had to those that you know have been affected. you dont know how much a helping hand, a warm lunch or simply an "I love you and we are glad that you are safe" means to a person who is in need of comfort in this time of tragedy. Below are a few pictures that someone took of Prattville Christian Academy here in Prattville. As you look at this just remember that this was a school and a gym..... but that several others lost their homes and all that they had. (I will try to get other pictures and post them soon).

Cute kids.....

2008-02-14T11:07:00.001-06:00

Everyday when I get to work I check my email and look at everyones blogs to see if anyone posted anything the night before.... and I read all the new ones and then I check it again before I leave for lunch and then before I leave in the evening... I think I am addicted to this thing.... Thanks Jenny and Nancy... :) I dont know who all read it but its fun...... anyways on to the cute kids.......
Everyday I look at The Maddox Family blog and I check out Ian and Noah..... these kids are so cute..... Jenny takes the best pics of them...... and recently my sister-in-law started a blog and it has this pic on it of our Neice Helen.....this "red headed fireball" (as Kristy calls her) is so darn cute.... I just cant get enough of her BIG eyes and her CUTE smile! We were so lucky to be able to drive to Birmingham for her Birthday(thats when this pic was taken) when she turned 1! Her "Party Dress" was adorable..... and she wore her "Party Hat" so well..... When I look at this picture I see nothing but Cuteness......

Then their is Nathan.... our nephew....... He is past the "cute" phase and now that he is 2 1/2 for a boy I think we should say handsome..... but whenever I see this picture it alway makes me laugh........ and think....... thats a cute kid......

The picture to the left is my dear sweet Maggie... She is so cute! From a baby until now (1st grade) she is still the one that is close to my heart..... she lives with my Step-Mom and Dad and she will grow up as my sister (even though she knows were really aren't) and she will always have a special place in Mine and Erics heart..... She is a great kid..... even though she can be a little sassy and picky about her clothes...... but what little girl isn't.... she still minds well and loves everyone! She is shy in the begining but when she gets to know you she never stops.... ask Eric..... she didnt talk to him for a long time.... she refered to him as "HIM" as she pointed his way..... and would always say can you tell HIM.......as she pointed in his direction clung to my leg as though she though he would take her away forever...... but now she loves him and can't get enough of him.... she came and stayed a week with us during the summer and she had a blast... since i had to work she stayed with Eric during the day.... she even went on an overnight trip to GA with him....... I LOVE YOU MAGGS!

SURPRISE!!!!!

2008-02-14T10:56:00.000-06:00

My husband just showed up at my work for another surprise..... He happened to be at Books-A-Million buying another Bible (to add to his collection that is already above 15) and he saw Joe Mugs...... and he thought that I would like to have a treat. So he got me a white chocolate mocha (iced)..... he hates coffee so I was surprised that he remembered my fave........ and brought it to my work.........YAY HUBBY! YOU ARE GREAT!

Happy Valentines Day!

2008-02-14T08:53:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning to a, "Happy Valentines Day..... I have to go get your gift". After a minute or two Eric returns with a card and flowers (Carnations).... They are so cute and they last so long! Then Eric said wait I have one more..... So I read my card (it was so sweet) till he got back. I can hear him getting closer to the room and he peeks around the corner (with the object still hidden) and says.... Ready? He came through the door with more flowers (these were of what we call the not real family). They were in this pretty brown pot and they were orange and red.... very exotic looking! We painted our living room over thanksgiving and it has a Medditeranean feel to it and I have been wanting fake flowers for this room..... every room should have some sort of plant or flower..... and he found the perfect one! YAY!!!!! He did such a good job! (I will have pics up soon)! Then he got back in bed while I went to get his Vday gift..... Since I am working and i have to leave before 7 am I did not have time to make breakfast so I bought breakfast. I warmed up a really big Bakery Style Cinnomon roll (his favorite) and put his card and gift on the tray. He had breakfast in bed and he got a RED tie! We will be going to dinner tonight and I am so excited!~

ENCOUNTER....

2008-02-13T11:53:00.000-06:00

WOW! I want to start off by saying that we all had a BLAST and we owe it to Matt Griffies! He planned our get-a-way and we all really enjoyed it! I think it was much needed among the Young Adult group. We were able to spend much needed time together growing in the faith as well as just goofing off and getting to know each other better. Saturday morning most of us ate breakfast together.... since we had to wait an hour on our food we had time to "Chit-Chat" as Katie G. would say. Then we heard a Great lesson by Lonnie Jones and we enjoyed singing together..... after this we had free time and Matt had planned games for us to do on the beach. Then later we went to eat and we had another lesson and singing..... that night we had a group devo. and the next morning we got up for Worship and then we packed our bags....... hey Matt checkout is at 11 am right? lol (only the ones that attended would get this small but very funny joke). We hope to make this a yearly event....... as well as add others to the calendar so that we can all enjoy being with each other!

In the picture below we had to put on the rubber gloves, unwrap bubble gum (that was hard as a rock) and blow a bubble.... then pass the gloves along.....In the photo to the left Katie is trying to find the balls and put them in her bucket.... since she is blind folded she has to listen to her team mates to find them. The first team to have every member complete this task wins! I thought it would be easy but with everyone screaming (on both teams) it gets a little CRAZY..... lol

In the photo to the right Matt is finishing that darn banana! Each team had to have someone put it under their arms and hop on one leg down and back and and have 2 people throw it back and forth and so on..... then the last person had to eat it.... and the sand that was stuck to it!

The photo below was taken after we had shuved a pack of noodles in each persons head.... we had to race to see who could finish the pack the fastest (and you could only put them in one by one)..... Sorry Laura I was brutal with the noodles!

To the right is a picture of Eric and David Turner. Each team had to divide up into 2's and they had to make it down the beach and back withouth dropping the balloon....

Below is a picture of The Group!

A few of us went to play put-put.......We ALL had a great time!

Thanks Matt & Katie!

YAY it's Finally Friday!

2008-02-08T07:20:00.000-06:00

This week has been sssoooooo LLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG! Sunday was hectic (see blog below). On Monday Eric and I did a 24 (actuallly 23) hr fast. We had nothing but water!!!! It was a detox and a way to jump start our "HEALTHY EATING". However, we are going out of town this weekend and I hope we can stick to the healthy part of the "healthy eating". Tuesday, Eric left for Birmingham at about 5:00 am or so because 2 members at Church were having surgery. I was left to grocery shop, clean house, and cook dinner (Nicole Pugh and David Turner came over to eat with us) on my off day. Wednesday was just a long day at work and then to Church. We went into the REVIVE class (since Eric has someone teaching the teens this quarter on Wednesday nights). WOW! I love being able to go in their sometimes...... When I leave I know its just what I needed. I love being around the teens and I love hearing my husband but I know sometimes its really good for the both of us to just be able to walk in a class and hear a lesson together. Especially at revive. I love that we get to sing the "devotional" songs and hear a great lesson that is so applicable to our lives! Rust Adair really put things into perspective. Then on Thursday Eric was out of town again.... He went with Brian to Mobile to check out camp (Gulf Coast Bible Camp) to do some planning for the week they direct during the summer. Then as soon as he got back he has basketball game in Montgomery so I did not get to see him until about 8:30 last night..... I also found out that my mom is changing her week of camp to the Montgomery week (this is the one I will be going to) so we can have the week together. She helps Eric and does crafts and the Gulf Shores Church will be joining us for Montgomery week this year so it only made since that she and my little brother attended the same week as they did. YAY! Today I woke up feeling great! Not just because it's Friday but because we leave with the Young Adults today to go to Panama City. We will be attending Encounter as a group and I am so excited! This will be the first thing that we will get to go on as a Young Adult group. We usually do monthly devos but something about getting away and having a retreat with other Young Adults just seems so wonderful. In Gulf Shores we did not have any young adults to do things with so Eric and I are really looking forward to this event. Like I mentioned before we LOVE our kids deerly but every now and then it is good to be able to do something for us that is spiritually uplifting! We dont have to worry about anything but ourselves and the lessons we will be hearing! I know this will be a great weekend for all of us! Yay for Matt and Katie Griffies who decided to take on the resposibilities of planning this event (welcome to our world lol)! So pray for all of us and that we will have a safe and uplifting weekend! I hope to have pictures up when we get back!

Super Bowl Sunday.... had fun but glad its over!

2008-02-04T11:13:00.000-06:00

We brought back an "OLD" tradition with a "New" twist! Flag Football on Super bowl Sunday! We had 2 teams..... the teeneagers and the Young adults.....and Rusty Adair (he was the only one that showed up to play for the adult team so he played with the "young adults"). Eric played with the young adults and I played with the teenegers..... I was the "OFFICIAL SNAPPER". The young adults creamed us but hey we let them...... we felt bad. lol j/k Im surprised we didnt have to nurse any wounds but Im sure their are a few that are limping around today! After Church last night we had the teens and young adults over to our house to watch the game. We had 27 people in our house last night! WOW I think that was the biggest group yet! We ate dinner and watch the game........ and surprisingly nothing was broken and their were no spills to be cleaned up..... (We recently got new furniture and I have been wondering how our first big crowd would work out). BUT ALL IS WELL IN THE GRAY HOUSE HOLD!

My Husband is AMAZING!

2008-02-04T07:49:00.000-06:00

I know what your thinking, "NO MY HUBBY IS AMAZING!" But mine really is! Yeasterday was the first Sunday of the month which ment that it was Erics turn to preach last night. He puts so much in to his lessons and usually ends up with about three of them before the week is over..... He will start one on Monday and study it tuesday and by Wednesday at Church someone says something that SPARKS his interest and he writes another lesson on Thursday. He will then study that one on Friday and I always hope that he doesn't change it again..... but he has been known to wake up early on Sunday and tell me he is going to the office and if he leaves without me it can mean that he thought of something in the middle of the night and has decided to change it AGAIN! This happend at least one Sunday morning and he was preaching that morning! I prayed though the entire lesson..... but everyone told him what a great lesson he had prepared and gave genuine smiles of appreciaition. When we left Church he asked me what I though of his lesson (as he always does after he speaks). I looked at him with a smile on my face and said, "It was Great!" He said no really, was it ok? I said no really it was one of your best ones yet! However, I think that this week may have been a first! He was sick Thursday and Friday and we were busy all day on Saturday so he was forced to only prepare one lesson for this week. lol But I say all of that to say, "MY HUBBY IS AMAZING!" He is about to be 23 and he has been in the ministery since he was 20 and he gives me goosbumps everytime I hear him speak! After 3 years I am still in awe at the work and time he puts into everyday of his life and everyday of this congregations lives! He is straight forward and will tell you like it is but he is very compasionate and caring! At the age of 23 he has been asked to teach at youth events and he now has two weeekends that he directs at Gulf Coast Bible Camp, and has even done Gospel Meetings (and was just asked to come back and do another one this year for a Church he spoke at last year)! All of this at 23! I fall more and more in love with him everyday and I thank God that the man of my dreams is a man that follows Christ each and everyday! I am so blessed to be able to "tag along" and help him in everyway that I can! I love seeing the joy that helping these teeanagers in their walk with Christ bring to my husband and being right their with him every step of the way! MY HUSBAND TRUELY IS AMAZING!

~Winter Retreat!~

2008-01-22T14:02:00.001-06:00

We had so much fun! We left on Friday and got back on Monday(yesterday). We had a weekend full of fellowship and learning! We had classes and activities that were centered around God. Our theme was "TRANSFORMED- Turning Barriers Into Bridges" We had cold days and

LLLOOOONNNGGGGGG nights! Eric and Curtis decided to bring back "The Candle Thing" and for those of you who have done it you know how touching it can be. Its where the kids get to talk about all the positive things they have experienced in the youth group and about others. We passed around a candle and as it went around to each person the emotions surfaced. I told the kids how much they meant to me and I told each one of them the great qualities that I loved so much about them....... Eric told them how great our year had been with them. These are some of the things that I said about the seniors that went with us.......

Rachel Dunn- She is an awesome leader and all the girls look up to her so much. She has been such an example for all of them.

Stephen- He always knows how to make everyone laugh. We have went through our ups and downs but you know that we care for you very much! We have shared so much with each other and I cant wait to see you grow after High School! We will always be in your life and we look forward to your friendship for years to come!

Becky- Your smile always helps me get through!

Richard- I am so happy to see how you have stepped up this year! You have been amazing with the group and you mean so much to us!!! You are truly a GREAT leader and so many of the boys look to you for help and you are always there to get them through and offer them encouragement! You will be such a great Youth Minister someday! You are such a role model for your brother and he is already following in your foot steps.

We enjoyed a weekend with the kids and the adults that went! We learned so much more about the group! We shared memories this year at the Winter retreat that will never be forgotten! We got snow last year and we were all looking forward to snow this year. However, we didn't gt any. We had below freezing temps but we didn't have the moisture! Some of us were dissapointed when we found out that Prattville had snow and we wouldn't get to see it! Maybe next year!

OUR FIRST YEAR AT PRATTVILLE

2008-01-15T11:17:00.001-06:00

As of Jan. 1 we have officially been here 1 year!

I wanted to recap our year for those of you that are interested!
I want to warn you that this is long and a little choppy (rambling) since I did it at work and I went back in the end and took things out and added things in.... but I hope you enjoy!

~~In January I had my first Birthday away from what I call home….. While I was glad to be turning 20 (I was just happy to be out of the "teens" so people would take me seriously) I was VERY homesick…. The adjustment to being married, my husbands responsibilities and moving to a town without my family was HARD! I spent a lot of this month crying at the drop of a hat…. I know it was HARD but Eric comforted me the BEST way he knew how.
~~In February We bought our first HOME! That was so EXCITING! We have a pool…. Which was really NICE since my husband moved me away from the beach. My Mom came when we moved in helped us clean and when she left I cried some more….. Even now that I had a HOME I was still missing the home I had known for 11 years.
~~MARCH- We had our 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! It was so EXCITING! In your first year you learn so much! When Eric and I were dating I really thought he ENJOYED shopping….. after a few months of marriage I found out the TRUTH! You also find out how kind and considerate that they can be and how much more protective they become when you are their wife instead of girlfriend….. You may be wondering what we did to celebrate this BIG event in our lives…… well, we didn't take a second honeymoon or go on a weekend get-a-way….. Instead we spent our first anniversary at my first Faulkner Jamboree!!!! "The Kids" (youth group) wanted to go so we took them with us. We had a blast…… and as something thoughtful my husband took me to Red Lobster (it was one of the restaurants we ate at on our Honeymoon) for dinner….. (We didn't take the kids. They ate before they came and while they were busy on campus we went to eat).
~~In April Eric had a BIRTHDAY! THE BIG 22! I wanted to throw him a surprise party so Stephen helped me out! Since Eric loves music we decorated the fellowship hall in that theme. Stephen hung old records from the ceiling and Im pretty sure their were Christmas lights (If you know Stephen you know that he carries these around with him) and we decorated the tables with black and blue cloth and balloons! Everyone who knows me knows that pulling this off was a MAJOR task for me….. It took all I had not to tell him about it!

~~SUMMER- The summer came and went so FAST! It seemed like Eric was gone ALL the time. Since, I had taken a new Job at ALFA I was unable to go on any of these trips. It was really HARD for me since I loved going just as much as he did. They went to camp (which is my favorite) and my mom went and did crafts for Eric's FIRST OFFICIAL week of camp as a director…… (He was nervous for months wondering how well he had planned). I have heard so many great things about that weekend since then! Then they had the mission trip…. Which I really hated to miss. But we have so many pictures and I have heard all the stories…. So I feel like I was there. Their were also a lot of little trips in between! I want to add that up until this point I was still HOMESICK. Some weeks were harder than others but I still caught myself talking about "Home" a few times a week and crying at least once a week. When Eric would leave is when it got worse…. I would feel all alone with no husband no family and no friends……. But I did enjoy the pool some this summer and my family came to visit and I went to visit them. Oh yeah and I am closer to my Dad so when eric went out of town I would go and visit him.... which was really great!

~~August is when the kids started back to school and everything seemed to get back to normal (for the most part). We also took our first "Vacation" since we had been married and to none other than .....GULF SHORES, ALABAMA (HOME)! On our way their I started to CRY at about the time we got to FOLEY…. 20 minutes from the beach…… I really missed home and it was great to be back. This was the first time since we had moved. We had an AWSOME time; however, Church on Sunday was hard… They still had not found a Youth Minister since Eric left and that made it harder to see the kids. We spent some time with our FAVORITE people one afternoon,The Thompson's. They had been very close to my family and then to Eric when he moved there. So all in all our trip was GREAT. It was much needed for me and my homesickness….. I had also begun to make friends at the end of the summer….. (They are mentioned in a previous blog). I also quit ALFA in this month…. I was just not cut out for that work….. I don't like sitting at a desk all day with only 30 minutes to socialize at lunch and taking phone calls from "not so nice people".
~~September-Novemeber all just kind of run together. We were so busy with the Youth Group and other Church activities that naming all of them would take me days (And I know you have already begun to wonder when this would be over) lol But I will say that we took a trip with Katie and Matt Griffies and Chris and Tiff Simmons and that was a very Relaxing weekend (Katie and I got a NEW Uncle Larry) I also, started PartyLite in this month…… For those of you who don't know what this is just ask!
~~December- Was crazy I don't think we had one weekend at home except the weekend of the Christmas parties…. Yes I did say PARTIES so that weekend was crazy too! I also got a job at a chiropractor's office (which those of you who know me well you know that this is what I did before we moved here and it's what I love to do). I love knowing that I am working for someone who makes a difference in people's lives! We ended the Year at a 4 day YOUTH RALLY with the kids.... What could have been better?.?.?.?.

So after a year here at Prattville we have several new friends and a lot of great memories! Im still a little homesick but having friends makes it so much easier…. I think the transition would have been easier on me if I had had them from the start! Thanks to all of you and I hope that you are richly blessed in the upcoming year but more importantly I hope you bless someone else in this New Year!

The Move

2008-01-15T11:06:00.000-06:00

Eric had gotten a few calls from some people at Prattvile wanting him to put his name in for the Youth Minister job at The Prattville Church of Christ. He thought about it and we said no. Then we thought about it more and I cried the whole time..... so we said no. Then we talked about the possibilities and Eric had told me about his dream. He said when I decided to becaome a Youth Minsiter I always dreamed about hopfully being good enough to come and work at Prattville. He said, " I know I wont get the job but can I please just put in for it. We will have nothing to worry about. I really want it but I wont get it." So i said, "Ok." So he did and the day he told me that he applied my heart sank..... I was not ready to move away from my family and the Gulf Shores Church that had always been so good to us! Then a few weeks later my husband told me that "WE" had made it past the first round. The first round of what I asked? Applicants at Prattville. So this went on for a little while (them sending stuff to fill out and Eric making through to the next step) until we had a date to come and try out! AAAHHHHHH! talk about nerve racking! And my husband left out the part about how I had to sit in on the question and answer session from the parents and kids as well as form the search commitee..... complete shock! I was so not prepared! I just had to do the best I could! Then we heard the news..... ERIC GOT THE JOB! Ok so now we were wondering what in the world do we do now? We talked and prayed about it alot! And we decided that if Eric got the job then it was meant to be! God wanted us in Prattville. Even so breaking the news was hard! We loved our church family there so much! And we will never forget "OUR" first group of kids!

March 4, 2006

2008-01-15T10:52:00.000-06:00

WE WERE MARRIED!

We had a great time but when it was over I was happy to say, "I'm glad we will only have to do that once!" We had a true ALABAMA wedding! Our colors were crimson and white, the Groom's cake was in the shape of "the Alabama A", and we walked down the isle as husband and wife to Rascal Flatts (a country song)! How great is that! I had some of my best friends from high school by my side and I could not have done it without them! Eric had his brother, brother-in-law (whom was not actually at the wedding, he got sick! Really sick!), and Eric's Two best friends (David Turner-His best friend form the Youth Group and K.P.- His best friend from High School). My Dad and my Step-dad walked me down the isle (they both had such a big part in my life that I could not imagine having to choose)! My mom and my step-mom helped me decide on things for the wedding and they were both their to give me advice! The reception was at the community center and it was wonderful! Eric played the guitar and sang me the first song he ever played me at camp (it was of course a Faith Hill and Tim McGraw song) and then he had surprised my Dad by playing Butterfly kisses while my dad and I danced! Then we were off to Gatlinburg! We had so much fun that week! We went Skiing and to the aquarium! Then for our first week home married we were sick..... we caught the bug that the Simmons' family so graciously brought to the wedding with them. Most everyone who came remembers that darn bug! But We had fun.... and it was memorable for everyone!

How We Met

2008-01-15T08:11:00.000-06:00

I want to start off by saying I am so excited about OUR blog! Since it is about the BOTH of us I am going to catch you up on the last few years of our lives together. I hope you enjoy!

Eric was at Faulkner University and he was going to take a class over the summer of 2005 that involved being a Youth Minister Intern for the summer. He would have to keep a log of everything he planned and did with the kids and turn it in for class credit. Well, he knew the minister at the Gulf Shores congregation and then boom their he was... THE INTERN FOR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED to be the summer. Before he came the ministers wife, whom we will call S.J. said, "Haley I'm going to set you up on a date". I told her no thanks and that I just wasn't in the "mood" to date (not in the mood meant I had way too much going on). Then she described him and I was kinda interested but still too busy. But out of curiosity I asked what his name was and she said, "Eric, he is the new Youth Minister that will be here next week." I told her never mind and that I did not want her help. lol Actually, I think my words were something to the effect of COUNT ME OUT! lol How odd would it be to go on a date with the youth minister..... About a week later I saw this really cute guy walking the halls and talking to everyone..... WOW WAS HE GOOD LOOKING! Then S.J. Introduced us and it was then that I realized that this was "the guy". I tried to get him out of my mind but a few days later I caught myself thinking of crazy reasons why I could call him. I kept telling myself that he didn't know anyone and I could just invite him over to eat with our family (after all I did have two younger siblings that he would need to get to know) but I could never find the right way or time to call until my Graduation Get Together. My parents had rented a dinner and dolphin cruise boat for my family and friends (I think it was like 60 people). So it hit me that day that S.J. would be coming to the event so I called her and said, "Eric is new and all and I thought it would be nice if you guys brought him with you. It would be nice if he could meet some of the people from church and it would give him something to do." Well, guess what he showed up. He brought David Turner with him. David had been in town to visit him from Prattville. I spoke to him a little but I was nervous for some reason (this was not like me). After the gathering all I could do was think about graduation and about how I had invited him and didn't even talk to him that much. WAY TO GO HALEY! But to my surprise on Sunday he invited me to go to lunch with him on Wednesday...... I saw him everyday for 2 weeks straight.... HE DIDN'T KNOW HIS WAY AROUND TOWN AND I NEEDED TO SHOW HIM! lol So he would call and need directions to get guitar strings and other odd things (anyone who knows me knows that i cant give directions so...) I would just go with him. S.J. would also invite the two of us places with them as well...... THINGS WERE GREAT! I had never had this much fun in my life! He is also part of the reason that I am a Christian! So....... 5 months later we were engaged (Eric proposed while we were on the beach listening to "OUR SONG"). Yes, he can be romantic if he wants to! And 5 months after that we were hearing wedding bells (yes we had only known each other a total of ten months when we were married on March 4, 2006). But I say why wait, when you know you know! We were not blinded by love, we are deeply in love! Oh yeah...... during the time of all of this Eric had been asked at the end of the summer if he would stay and be full time! This was exciting! He would get to stay and I would not have to move north (just yet). This was Great! The kids and the church really needed him! So everything worked out really well! I worked and went to school and he worked and went to school!