I AM MARTHA!!! AND I DON'T MEAN STEWART!

So as most of you know my plate has been a little full these days - With all the weekends packed with trips out of town - I have not been able to attend church like I had been and with Suugah moved we haven't had bible study (it starts October 5th)
So LESLIE has been giving me a little grief about my quiet time...
Apparently we as a church are reading a Proverb a day - so I did that yesterday but I was in need of a little more help last night - As I laid down I pulled out my trusty "Battlefield of The Mind" by JOYCE MEYER (my fave) - It was still open to where it had been when I last read it
This day was called My Normal Mind (I chuckled - WHAT'S THAT???)
So as I read it was about Mary and Martha and then I read this
"Luke says Martha was distracted with much serving"

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things" (that's what Jesus say)

THEN I get to this part ~ People who are excessively busy cannot even sleep when they lie down at night. They are either mentally going over the day's activities or making mental notes of tasks for the next day!

DANG - THAT may explain the lunesta ~ So this is the prayer I am suppose to (and did say - but it will be my new mantra)

Dear God in heaven, distactions constantly come at me. When I try to pause and focus on You, my mind seems to be filled with dozens of things I need to do. I realize that I truly only need one thing ~ to focus on YOU. PLEASE help me push away every distraction and noise so I can only hear YOUR voice that says "Come unto Me and I will give you rest" AMEN!

So to this I say TELL IT LIKE IT IS JOYCE (and Leslie you may have been right!)

Thursday Thirteen

ANNIES 13 Firsts of This Year!

FIRST BLOG!


First Trip to The BEACH


First Trip to the ER


First Concert


First Time Meeting Kalie



First Pedicure


First Panties



First Big Girl Swing



First Trip At That Chuck E Cheese


First Horse Back Lessons

First Trip to the State Fair


First Golf Lesson



First Black Eye

Not so Wordless Wednesday!

SOOOOO FUN! I can't believe it! Mari, Laura, Heather, Bob and Aaron stopped by for a visit today!! They are visiting Charleston on their way to Columbia to see Andy!! It was sooo neat to meet some of my bloggie friends IN PERSON!!! And in TRUE southern fashion - they brought me some flowers! What a treat! I am happy to report they have NOT seen any other Palmetto Bugs (that's Summervillian for roaches) since their first encounter!
They have done some really fun things - Bob said the Yorktown was his favorite! I am glad they are enjoying the city and SOOO excited they made the trip into the Ville to stop by and see me!!! I LOVED IT!!!

Terri and Cheri don't be jealous! We did talk about ya and how we wish you could have come too!

By The WAY - They are from MICHIGAN - so that's how far they came to see me!
(hahahahaha - Andy but they did have to go out of their way to drop by!)

Things That Make Me Smile

I have been tagged by Terri for a MeMe - so here are some things that make me smile!

1. Annie - She makes me laugh everyday with her funnies and she makes me realize that ALL things are possible if you give God a chance!

2. Adoption - I LOVE to hear about people adopting - I think it is the purest form of love - I am blessed to have that experience and to know many who have done so!

3. My friends - I really could go on and on - but I think y'all know how much they mean to me!

4. Blogging - I love that I have made new friends I would have never otherwise known
Mari just called me because she is in Charleston and needed to know how to get somewhere! THATS AWESOME!!!!

5. College football - I know but I do LOVE it !!! Not only the sport but the fact that people dress in their colors at the game or their house and cheer and talk and eat and YELL at the field about how they would have done it better! Did I mention CLEMSON is ranked 13????

6.Food - I know but it truly DOES bring a smile to my face - Leigh Ann and I going out to dinner ~ complete with apps, salads, entree AND dessert ~ being so full we can't possible do anything other than SHOP is a face brightening experience!

7. My FREEDOM - In a day and age where war is all over the world - it brings a HUGE smile to my face that I as a woman (or anyone) gets to drive her car (without fear of roadside bombs) to a store (that I don't have to wear a veil in) that I love (where people can AFFORD to buy paper and have the freedom to celebrate birthdays) and drive home to MY house with my little girl that I was BLESSED enough to be able to adopt (with support from my family) and raise her in a SAFE COUNTRY where she will be FREE to be whatever she wants!

8. TV - It's FINALLY premier week in TV land and my DVR will be on overtime! I don't know when I will have time to watch them!

9. YMCA - I know but I love to go and see everyone and have 45 minutes to do nothin' but sweat and listen to my rockin tunes! It's a great way to start and/or end the day!

10.My store - I have some fun things coming up and I can't wait for y'all to hear about it all and I am going to have to post pictures soon - It's sooo full of fun girlie stuff! (Somedays it's a total pain in the - but what isn't!)

I am tagging Leigh Ann and Jennisa cause they make me SMILE!!!!

Happy Birthday MAC ATTACK!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAC ATTACK!!!!
It was Mac's BIG BIRTHDAY this weekend and I didn't make it - I am sooo sorry I missed all da fun!

It's a jungle IN here!

Leapin' Lizards!

















So OBVIOUSLY a lizard had gotten into my house and taken up residence in my lush fake greenery that hangs above the couch - So Lizzie (as I have taken to calling her)
seems to have been perfectly perched to watch Grey's Anatomy last night - I hope she doesn't take to leapin' cause she would land on MY head!

I told y'all my life is CRIZAZY!!!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things in the daily life at the Bailey Pad

1. Get Annie dressed for school (while KICKIN' AND SCREAMIN')
2. Head to the YMCA - Either for a walk on the treadmill or a chisel class
3. FRAPPUCINO TIME
4. Shower and Dressed usually while either on the phone with Leigh Ann OR with Buffie, Leslie, Lynn or Mom (or a COMBO) on the couch as I rush (hence the never quite done look)
5. Off to work - Usually with about 8 minutes to spare (thank God I live 6 minutes from work)
6. Listen to voicemail & Check Emails
7. Cruise Bloggiewood for the latest updates
8. Talk to Leslie, Sugar, Leigh Ann, Buffie and Claire
(today - I have SEEN Susie, Shannon and Lindsay and TALKED to Buffie,Leslie
and Sugar and it's 12:30)
9. Print all the LATEST and GREATEST invitations and stationery
10. Deal with those Pesky customers
11. Go home to hang with Annie - hear about her day, eat dinner and chat with Buffie, Leslie, Claire, Sugar and Leigh Ann
12. Watch a little TV
13. LUNESTA!!!


That's pretty much how we roll here at the Bailey Pad - of course there are parties and some other exciting stuff along the way - especially now after all it is FOOTBALL SEASON!!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Thanks Terri!!!
I certainly appreciate it! making people smile is my FAVORITE!!!

Who's got THE cutest friends??

I DO!!! It was ANOTHER great Mom's Night Out! We were missing some of our friends but wow did the SALAD make up for it! YUMMY - then it was off to Nanny Diaries!
I love girl time and the Lord has blessed me with the BEST friends EVER!!!

The Doodlebug turns THREE!!!

Happy Happy Birthday Baby!



Me and the BIRTHDAY GIRL!!!

I mean it's The Reeser - She's SOOO STINKIN' CUTE!


That's just cute!


Dem some cute boys!



I think she would TOTALLY pass as mine!


Happy Birthday to Abby - Happy Birthday to you!


My Girls!


Who loves cake?


The MOMS - Wow - we have THREE YEAR OLDS!




I would like to give credit where it is due - Buffie was in charge of da camera and did an excellent job and it was sooo nice to get a break!

First Step Friday!

I was looking at some old pictures and came across these and they were just too too cute not to share and have for prosperity! My sweet Annie taking her FIRST steps (she was 23 MONTHS old) She was SOOOO proud of herself and I was THRILLED!!! She hasn't slowed down since!!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Reasons I Miss SUGAR!













1. Our once a week talks at my house about our lives
2. I miss bible study - it was at her house every Monday
3. Her REAL name is SUGAR (it's no nickname!)
4. She's not at playgroup anymore
5. I am use to seeing her AT LEAST 3 times a week
6. Leslie and I have one less thing to talk about
7. Cell phones just don't do the trick
8. She used to pop over to borry my clothes
9. She is a clean freak - always cleaning something at me house
10.I miss her LAUGH!!!!
11.No one else understands my Frappucino addiction
12. Annie and Abby miss da boys!
13. She's just one of the best friends a girl can ever have and I HATE her being sooo far from me!

Praise God for BLOGS or I would go NUTS!!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Did you hear the news???
Aunt LeLe has OFFICIALLY joined BLOGGIEWOOD!!!

PS - This was our portrait outfit! She actually left the bow in!

Talk about GOODmail!

I got an email from Isabel (Annie's foster mom) with some recent pictures of HER grandchildren at a birthday party - She keeps up with Annie through the blog! We LOVE getting emails and comments from her family!
Happy Happy Birthday - I guess ALL boys like Spider Man and EVERYONE loves a pinata!!!

We can't wait to go visit again!
Gracias and Hola Isabel, Carla y familia!

Can you tell me how to get... how to get to

SESAME STREET???!!!


A little pre Elmo lunch! We need our energy to DANCE!!

Hey - Aunt LeLe - do you know we are going to see ELMO???

We're going to see ELMO mommy!



Annie saying hey to Elmo while we are picking up our tickets - the lady at the window had a little chuckle!


Aunt LeLe and Annie at the photo op!

Her first Elmo doll - she is sooooo happy!


Mommy, Annie and ELMO!


THE GIRLS waiting for the spectacular to begin in our ROCKIN good seats Aunt LeLe scored us!!!!


You hear dat mommy? It's ELMO!


Zoey is MOMMY'S favorite - she is tu-tu cute!


She LOVES her Aunt LeLe!


COTTON CANDY? I think that was her favorite part!


THIS is what the dirty dogs brought out at intermission! Like who isn't gonna buy one?


That's the smile an $8 ELMO BALLOON will get ya!



She's got that women wrapped around her finger!


Dancing Machine - Watch her get down!




Wipe your mouth PULEESE- Oh the COTTON CANDY!


They were so cute and had some kickin dance moves!


Elmo has his own SECURITY - I guess they were expecting kids to rush the stage!


She SOOO tired she actually fell asleep in her own bed (it didn't last)