BIRTHDAY MISSION: Be surprised



MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Hey everybody! My birthday was on Monday, and the only plans I had was breakfast with my mom and sister and hopes of getting an appointment for a massage. I prayed that my birthday would be filled with sweet surprises. I wanted the Lord to demonstrate His love for me through the people He's put in my life. If you don't mind, I want to share with you the highlights of my day. I was running late for breakfast with my mom and sister, but when I arrived, I heard these two little voices saying, "There's Tee Tee! There go Tee Tee!" I was SURPRISED that both my nieces were there. Candace let them go to daycare and preschool a little late so they could SURPRISE me. Mom and I left together for a meeting that lasted until lunch. Attending the meeting was one of my favorite people, Ronnie Edwards! That was no surprise. I was SURPRISED when she invited us to attend the farewell lunch for her assistant, who is also a long time acquaintance of mine, Lynelle. In fact, my dad coaches her son, but I was the only one who could attend the lunch. See, I really had no plans. I enjoyed celebrating Lynelle and the blessings she's been. I was SURPRISED when Ms. Ronnie covered the meals for me, Lynelle and her new assistant. At that point, she told everybody it was my birthday. Then I went to Starbucks to get my free cup of coffee when I was SURPRISED to see Beau. It's a funny little story that I won't get into, but I was SURPRISED to see him. Then I went to work; maybe they were SURPRISED. LOL! My friend, Courtney, along with her daughter and niece SURPRISED me when they walked in the office singing happy birthday while giving me a delicious mini red velvet cake. I called and was able to get an appointment for a massage for later. I went home to freshen up when there hanging from my door was a gift bag of goodies from Keshala. I was SURPRISED! After my massage of which was afforded by the generosity of my Bible study group of sisters (I was SURPRISED to get $5 off because it was my birthday), I raced back across town to Zoe's Pizza to visit my favorite people and get my favorite pizza. The "Pizza King" remembered that I said that I would come back on my birthday so not only were they anticipating my arrival but he SURPRISED me by wearing a crown. LOL! How cute! Then they SURPRISED me with a free pizza of my choice. We laughed and talked. Then they SURPRISED me when they came out singing happy birthday with my pizza and a free dozen of their cinnamon rolls that I love. I closed the night with loving attention from my parents, my sister and her family and my son. Triston SURPRISED me with a bag of gifts--a case for my cell phone, awesome ear phones, a workout hoodie, a music cd and a beautiful card that he took his time to pick. All of these items are a result of him remembering random conversations we've had over the last couple of months. Thank God for my mom, his personal driver :) Funny story there, too, but I won't keep you any longer. Thank you for all the sweet phone calls, voice messages, text messages, facebook messages, emails and sweet SURPRISES! God used each of you to tell me how much He loves me :) I hope God uses me to do the same for each of you.  

and the celebration continues...

12 Days of Kindness

Hey there!
How would you describe the importance of friendships in your life? I believe friends enrich our lives, but honestly, I feel like I'm in a constant struggle to find time for friends, the energy for friends or sometimes even the courage to build solid friendships. Routines, transitions, responsibilities, pride and a number of other things in life have a way of isolating us from the gift of good friendships. I believe God uses our friendships to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Good friendships provide support and encouragement to be all that God wants us to be. In fact, those good friendships don't distract us from the Lord, but actually draw us closer to Him. As Christians, we have a responsibility to live, love and be like Christ displaying the fruit of the spirit even with our non-Christian friends.  In my closest friendships, I have many opportunities to be patient, kind, peaceful, gentle, self controlled, loving, faithful, and joyful. More accurately, I have been on my knees asking the Lord to help me be all of those things. Ha!


Onya, me and Makesha
Courtney pictured below



For over a year, three of my friends and I have been gathering once each month for lunch. That alone is monumental.  Working out our schedules is no easy task, but we do it. We missed one month, and it was as if six months had passed. We gather to stay connected, set personal goals, hold each other accountable, encourage each other thru hard times, celebrate our victories and to treat ourselves to a delicious meal. Sometimes we even replace our monthly luncheon with events like conferences and birthday celebrations. We are all very different and are only connected by being of mutual acquaintance and motivated by how God is causing us to grow in friendship with one another while slowly revealing His purpose for our relationships. We are in the middle of 12 Days of Kindness leading up to our monthly lunch. We designated 12 days of January to demonstrate kindness to one another in appreciation for the gift of our friendship. Since there are four of us, we focus on each person for four days. By focusing on the other person and their needs, we have grown even closer. It's makes a difference to be kind everyday to every person, but it is so renewing to do it intentionally for those we love. My heart melted when one of them sent me a text message saying that for the next four days she is focusing on me. Wow! Pictured above are a couple of the roses and a sweet card that one of my friends brought to me. I'm writing this in hopes that you all will find ways to cultivate intimacy in your friendships and crush any barriers that may keep you from forming new friendships. The twelve days aren't up so maybe I'll get in the craft room and actually create somethingfor one of them. Here are a few of the kindnesses shown between us so far. Try a few of these below and see how it can put a beautiful smile on your friend's face. Then when they smile at you, smile bigger :) 

• Send heartwarming text message
• Pop by to give them a hug
• Help with planning and setting up daughter's birthday party
• Send a card
• Treat to lunch
• Call to check on your friend
• Send flowers
• Bring breakfast
• Send a handwritten letter

Let this be a year of healthier relationships!

Relive my birthday!

Hi everybody!

This weekend has been filled with happy reminders of my birthday celebration last year. This year I'll be 33 which happens to be my favorite number, but I have no plans on my birthday this year (Jan. 30th). Saturday, I wandered into Charming Charlie thinking back on the party I had there last year (read the post here). It was actually pretty exciting to walk thru and reminisce of all the love that night. I remember that I smiled and laughed so much that my cheeks ached. Thanks to all 50 of my friends for celebrating with me last year and the charming staff for accommodating us and several of my aunt's friends. One of the awesome sales associates who worked my party was there. I told her, "You probably don't remember me, but I had my birthday party here..." then she interrupted me with excitement, "I remember you! I remember you! I want to show you something." She went to the storeroom then came back with her phone. She said that I inspired her birthday party in July. She said, "You had the best party ever! We've never had a party like that before or since then." So then I took the liberty of proclaiming myself a Charming Charlie Legend *smile* She showed me this picture of her cupcake display to the upper right. How fabulous! After all the excitement over her chic display she asked what was it that I trying to ask her. LOL. I just wanted to thank her for helping to make my party so special.

Sunday, I took a spontaneous ride to Coffee Call for a cup of cafe au lait. I went through the drive-thru then decided to go inside to sit a while. I ran into a dear friend and her family as I entered the cafe. I felt like it was a divine appointment for me to be there then I saw a family celebrating the 40th birthday of a young man. The bakers created the number 40 out of beignet dough. Remember they made the number 32 for me last year. Oh, I was so excited for another reminder of my birthday. Read the post from last year here. As if that wasn't enough, today I checked my email to another amazing surprise and wonderful reminder of last year. The multi-talented Amy Locurto featured my party on her blog! Thank you, AMY!!! Amy is a wife, mother of two adorable children, blogger, photographer, stylist, and graphic designer. I used her Red & Black Damask Party Collection for my birthday party last year. I'm so happy that she liked how I used her collection that I could jump the moon right now. Please visit her blog to read the feature by clicking HERE. Don't forget to leave a comment. Follow her blog for other party ideas, printables, DIY ideas, and crafts. Explore her website to find out more about the amazing Amy Locurto. 

 Thank you, AMY!!!