I'm a Flip Flop Flapper girl!

I'm sorry...

2009-03-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

According to Melanie, no one is reading the blogs anymore because of Facebook. :-) I have good excuses for not being blogging lately. Steven sprained his ankle a few weeks ago and has been on the couch elevating it ever since. He's doing much better now and is able to get around much more. This has put a lot of extra stress on me because not only am I at his beck and call, but I have had to do everything around the house and with the dogs. But this wasn't the only thing that was going on. The main worry was for my little brother who was having some physical problems that was causing mental problems that started on March 3rd. He was in and out of the hospital and seing multiple doctors trying to figure out what was going on. After a week, my parents took him to the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital and they concluded that it was encephalitis. He's finally back home, but is a long way to full recovery. We just praise God that He was always there protecting John and my family from harm. Work has been good, just busy. I'm looking foward to tomorrow because I'm going to my first St. Patrick's Day parade here in Savannah. For some reason, St. Patty's Day is a huge deal around here and I missed out on all the fun last year. Who knew?!?!? lol
Thanks everyone for letting me vent! Please keep John and my family in your prayers.

Check it out!!!

2009-02-26T18:10:00.000-08:00

My brother Allan just posted some great pictures of my adorable nephew and breathtakingly beautiful new niece Sarah. What can I say...I'm just a proud proud Auntie! :-)

http://flickr.com/photos/allanbranch/

Sarah Wilkinson's Bridal Shower

2009-02-21T16:26:00.001-08:00

Sarah Goodman, Lyndsey and Jonathan's daughter who will be two in a few months

Lyndsey was so sweet to host a bridal shower for Sarah a few weeks ago. Sarah Wilkinson is Jonathan's half sister's, half sister, but she is an intricate part of our "extended" family and has been apart of it a way lot longer than I have. She got married today (2.21.09) at 2 pm in Allenville, but Steven was on call and I worked so we weren't able to go. We know only a little about her groom, Jason Wynn, but we look forward to some get togethers soon because they will be living only a few minutes away from us. We wish them nothing but the very best in their new life together. :)
We haven't had a wedding a long time as most of our friends got married about the time that we did, but it got me thinking about our wedding. We've been married now 6 1/2 years and it seems like a lifetime ago full of changes and learning. I was almost 24 years old, yet looking back, I was so naive and unaware of just life in general. Marriage takes a lot of hard work, dedication, time, energy, love and selflessness. There are so many things I would have done differently with the wedding too, but many things that turned out awesome. Who would have thought that a last minute addition of a coffee bar would have been such a hit? Thanks Mom. Steven is my best friend and I know we are meant to be together forever, but I am definitely the yin to his yang. :-) If you had to give advice to a friend about marriage, what would it be? If you didn't like the person, he or she was going to marry would you tell them? If you could do your wedding all over again, what if anything would you change? Thanks y'all~

Sarah Lucille Branch

2009-02-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

Born February 12th, 2009 via C-section 8 lbs, 4 ozs 19.5 inches long
I was the only one that wasn't there, but many thoughts and prayers were going out to the whole Branch family, Allan, Anna and little Jimmy. We love y'all so much and are so very very happy to welcome this new little blessing into our family. Check out photos at http://flickr.com/photos/allanbranch/

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope that your honey spoils you rotten not only this weekend, but through out the year~ LOVE LOVE LOVE to each and every one of you

Tomorrow...

2009-02-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

I'm getting a niece tomorrow and I'm so happy, so very happy. I just wish I could be there, but they will be in my thoughts and prayers. Sarah Lou will be brought into the world at 10 am via c-section. Pray that everything goes smoothly for Anna, my sister-in-law and my brother Allan. They will have a ton of family support and thoughts and prayers. I will post pictures soon guys I promise. :-) Love to all~

But my "doctor" said...

2009-01-29T16:44:00.000-08:00

So I went to my acupuncture (or "doctor") Wednesday morning at 9 am stressed from a crazy morning. After dropping a Pepsi on the floor where it preceded to explode all over my clean floor, accidentally spilling coffee grounds and dumping water from dirty dishes all over my scrubs as I was heading out the door, my morning had started off with a bang. He read my pulse and said "I think you need to relax this weekend. Watch movies, sleep in." Wow- my pulse told him all that! Sweet~ So today, I had the day off from work per my choice so I did nothing. Okay, not nothing but close to it. I'm booked on Saturday so I used the time off to my advantage. There's always that "gnat" of guilt that buzzes around and I always here my mom's voice saying, "Get your lazy butt off the couch and be productive or at least match socks while you're there!" :-) I did accomplish two loads of dishes, made a great white chicken and broccoli pizza for lunch, two loads of laundry, straightened up the house and vacuumed the never ending dog hair. That was my day plus watching a few movies and lounging around trying to get warm this morning. Oh how lovely!!

My week

2009-01-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

Not so crazy, just full of frustrations. This story marks the theme of my week. On Wednesday, I went to Publix to pick up a cake for a co-worker who had a birthday. Now, I never go to this Publix but I easily found my way around the store, purchased a cake (which turned out to be frozen) and was out the door minus twenty dollars. I walked out and just blanked. Where did I park the car again? My poor little old bronze Ford Taurus was not to be seen surrounded by huge, giant SUV's and five million other cars the same color. I went up and down each aisle looking like a psycho while trying to balance a cake in one hand and my purse in the other. (Why I didn't hit the panic button...because I was already in the panic mode!) After about 5 minutes of looking like I needed my straight jacket and a ride to the psych ward, I found my car. YEAH! So, then I was digging through my lovely, yet huge purse and I couldn't find them. I started hyperventallating! Did I lock them in the car? No. I finally sat the cake on the hood and it started to slowly slide down. I grabbed it as I angrily continued to search through my purse. Oops...I had put them in my pocket so I didn't have to search through my purse. Oh man! MAJOR Alzheimer moment...I feel like I'm 80! Thank you Lord the week is now over.

My busy week

2009-01-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

When it rains, it pours. This saying is the foundation of the massage therapy business. You take clients whenever and however they come along. This week, I did a record amount of hot stone massages which I enjoy doing, but they make me sweat like crazy! :-) It's like a workout for me because the stones raise my body temperature so high and I keep the room nice a warm so my client doesn't get a chill during any point of the massage. If you have never had one of these massages, it's awesome! The only reason that they are not more popular is that they are so much more expensive than a regular massage. It's a nice treat every now and then and it's great on cold days when everything feels all tight and stressed out. I normally run about an hour and fifteen minutes and we charge $100 at Bloom. It seems like a lot, but once you get one, you understand why. It's a lot more work for the therapist in preparing the stones and then dumping the water and cleaning each stone. I did three hot stone massages on Tuesday, back to back to back. A first for me. I did another one on Saturday. It's a nice change from the regular massages. I was also able to do some outcalls (going to client's houses and massaging them) this week as well which is a nice addition. Mondays are my catch up days, so the laundry is been cleaned, dishes in the dish washer, groceries in the fridge and now I am procrastinating on starting to clean the house. Ugh~ and it is so pretty outside. Maybe I'll open the windows and enjoy the fresh air (or at least, air out the cleaning product potent odors). :-)

Things I miss...

2009-01-04T15:03:00.001-08:00

My nephew Jimmy-
This little fella' has wormed his way into my heart. How can you not love something so cute and adorable! He is so sweet and fun and he makes the funniest faces. I hate that I am missing all his milestones and can't be there to be involved with daily activities. :( I just get to spoil him with gifts!

I miss hanging out with friends and family. These are pictures of Jimmy's birthday party. This crazy wacky family loves to play games, go out in the boat, watch movies and of course, EAT! :)
I miss my Mommy! lol It sounds so child-like, but I do. As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate my siblings and parents more. Growing up, my mom was teacher, discipliner, and mom which was very difficult for her and me. Having five kids alone is a tough job, but trying to raise them with values, morals, brains and art skills. (I'm still working on the cleaning skills) We love our Mom because she is the best mom on the planet. I wish we could be more involved with each others lives, but phone conversations will have to do for the moment.
My sister, Lauren and I weren't very close growing up, even though we did share a room at one time, but we have grown together in the last couple of years with the bonds of medical knowledge. We are so much alike yet so different. We love to go shopping at Dillards, drink very weak margaritas and watch old musicals and Jane Austen's together.

I miss the beautiful beaches of PC. It's hard to beat the aqua waters and white sandy beaches that I grew up with and spent thousands of hours building sand castles and floating around. It's so relaxing to hear the crashing waves with the caw-caw of the seagulls. Watching the sail boats fly by or look out on a still sea of glass. I never realized how cool it was to watch the sheets of rain come across the bay. It's home.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-30T16:56:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas tree before Christmas Day

Christmas morning brunch with Mom and Dad D and Grandma
Opening gifts after breakfast

The dogs with their new toys
Crazy lady with no makeup :-)

Steven got what he wanted- a PSP
Dad and Steven playing the Wii

Christmas day evening at the Goodman's- This one is Chase Goodman
Chase and Andrew Goodman
Sarah with her new twin boy babies
Goodman and Weeks clan
Jonathan and Uncle Danny
Samantha watching Chase
Chase chilling in his new "lazy boy"

Christmas Eve 2008

2008-12-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

Steven chillin'
The Tucker girls and Robbie Bray
Chuck, Dad and Steven
Our first "official" Durrence family picture Melanie Bray (Steven's cousin-Robbie's mom)
Aunt Lisa and Uncle Chuck

The Tucker kids- Chuck, Mom and Robert
Mallory, Kameron and Jessica- Chuck's girls
Aunt Gail and Melanie- like mother, like daughter

So our Christmas Eve tradition is at Aunt Gail and Uncle Robert's beautiful historic home off Calhoun Square. We eat lots of great food and see everyone that we might not have seen in a while. Now, it's almost like a company party. Chuck and Robert own Tucker Business Machines where Robert's son, Joey, and son-in-law Vince work and Steven currently works as well. :-) All in the family. We are very lucky to have such generous, kind people we are related to. Most people can complain about all their in-laws and the families that they married into, but not me! I will post Christmas pictures later. I promise y'all.

Jimmy's 2nd Birthday- Panama City- Dec 20th, 2008

2008-12-26T05:40:00.000-08:00

We had such a nice, yet very short, time with the family over the weekend. My cute adorable nephew is now a two year old toddler running around and getting into everything! He loves all his aunts and uncles so much especially my sister Lauren who plays with him consistently and loves to be a big kid herself. The second to last picture is of my sister Lacy and her boyfriend Stephen. It was nice to see them both and we are lucky to have such a great guy that puts up with our crazy family. :-) This was also kind of our holiday trip to see my family because we spend Christmas in Savannah and Steven is on call for New Years so we'll be here too. No complaints...just love!

Thanksgiving 2008- Lake Keowee

2008-12-07T12:32:00.001-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING~ I LOVE FALL!

Gran and Lacy

A "Shootout" Soccer game- Lacy and Allan vs. Blaire and Darcy
Jimmy "attempting" to play soccer with them

My adorable little Auburn fan nephew- he can't help what his mama dresses him in

For the past two years, we have been graciously invited to my aunt's lake house in Walhalla, SC right on Lake Keowee. It's a great place where we all have our own beds with access to the lake, a pizza oven, fire pit, hot tub for 6, boat, jet skiis, mopeds, a park with soccer fields and just a great time to hang out with family. We eat lots and watch a ton of football games and movies! Fun memories~

Welcome to the world, Andrew and Chase Goodman!!!!

2008-11-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

Chase is just chillin'...hey it's been a rough day for him and now he's got plenty of room to move around.
Chase Goodman- 6lbs 4 ozs

Andrew Goodman 5 lbs 12ozs

For all of you who have not heard the story, Lyndsey, Steven's cousin's wife, got to the hospital in labor this morning at 1:30 am. Dialated 4 cms and contractions 2-3 mins apart, she was in a ton of pain. At @ 8:30, after an epidural, she was 10 cms and ready to push. They had her in the OR just in case she needed a C-section. She pushed one time before Jonathan was in the room and they rushed him in because with the second push, Andrew "flew" into the doctor's arms. Not five minutes later with push number three, Chase's head popped out and they gently pulled him out. :-) Now that's what I call AMAZING! Both boys are doing great. We went and say them in the NICU and they are only there because they were born a day before their 35 week gestation. As you can tell by the weight though, I can't imagine Lyndsey going much farther with them both. Andrew was having some rapid respiration and wasn't eating as well as Chase so he has a little feeding tube down his nose. Lyndsey had gotten a shower and was chilling in bed in a tee-shirt and pants when we saw her. They are both doing good just tired. I'm trying to think of anything else they told us. I hope I got the story close to correct. :-) Thank you Lord that everyone is healthy and happy!

Not much...

2008-11-01T18:37:00.001-07:00

Sorry that I haven't written lately, guys, but there hasn't been much going on at the Durrence house. This month is always fun for us though because we have our anniversary on the 12th, my birthday on the 26th and Dad Durrence's birthday on the 30th. There's just something wonderful about fall and the wonderful fall weather. The dogs love playing outside and I enjoy re-potting plants, cleaning the garage and raking up pine straw. :-) I'm adjusting to the fact that I am now 30 years old which is still quite unbelievable to me. Where did the time go? I remember begging time to go faster when I was turning 16 so I could drive. I also couldn't WAIT to leave PC however I could and as fast as I could. Funny how things and times change...
We are both looking to forward to Thanksgiving as this will be our first "real" vacation this year besides the trips to PC. Steven hasn't been up to my aunt's unbelievable lake house in South Carolina and I can't wait to show him everything. :-) Lounge around like lazy lizards in the hot tub, eating all day long, taking beautiful mountain hikes through the woods and eating ALL the time! :-) No one can cook like my momma.
Well, Steven's sick today so I'm having to play nurse. I have a Facebook page that I check out at least once a day so if you're needing more info into my life check it out. (Alicia Branch Durrence) Love y'all and stay cool!

Check out my lil' sis!!!!

2008-10-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

My wonderfully adorable sister, Lacy, has a great new website...check it out everyone and tell your friends and family! She's a "starving artist" who needs all the work she can get. She is a great artist with a ton of talent and is a hardworking girl.

http://www.nobarewalls.com/

It's so hard to believe that she's now an adult. I remember when she was born and I use to dress her up as my "baby doll". So I wrote in my journal the other night about my family and I thought I would share it with all of you.

"I wish they knew how much they mean to me and just how wonderfully special they are. My parents are so awesome- my Dad has such a giving, loving heart and my Mom is always helping so many people and touching so many lives. Allan is so strong for his family yet so compassionate and sensitive. Lauren is so playful with Jimmy and loving to everyone. She's always helpful and sweet. Lacy is the "party", the fun and excitement. Loud and boisterous, she leaves everyone in stitches with love and compassion. John is my baby and always will be. He's got a heart of gold and is sensitive, kind and loving. Anna, our little addition to our family, is the peacemaker and jokester, but she loves so much and asks for so little. She ties our little family together making it complete with Little Jimmy as the cherry on the top. :-)"

Hello!

2008-09-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday afternoon and of course, we are watching football. Watching is not an accurate word for me because I could care less so I normally take a nap, play on the computer or read something/anything. :-) Now that my husband is fantasy football obsessed, he has the computer on his lap while he glances now and then at the game on the TV. He spouts of stats and game totals to me, but I hear is the Charlie Brown teacher, "Wha, wha, wha." (Something like that) This week has been nice and busy which is great! We have a new coupon program going on. A marketing company comes into a town, chooses one spa/salon, print up discount coupons and sell them to businesses in the area. They make the money off the coupons and we give free "mini" services to new clients who get to experience us and get to see all the great things that we offer. We have had great response from it. Most people would never know that we are there because we are way off the street and hidden in a business center. Some people have also upgraded their services which puts a little money in our pockets and the tips have been nice. I just love meeting all the different kinds of people and getting the wonderful feedback. :-) I know that some of these people I would never see and probabaly never see again, but it's nice to put a little relaxation/feel good in their lives. I particularly enjoy working on pregnant women because they just enjoy everything and it's very easy light touch. :-) I like hot stones too because it just melts away stress and tightness making my job SO much easier. I end up sweatin' like a pig though because it raises my temperature so much, but the moist heat feels realxing on my hands and fingers. I haven't gotten completely comfortable doing either, but I'll get there! It's a little more disjointed than a regular massage because you have to keep going back and getting more stones when they cool off. :-) Well, I hope everyone had a great weekend! Panama City people, I will see you SOON~~~~ YEAH! I'm so excited and I can't wait to be home! Love ya' and see you Friday! Lots of love~

Sarah Goodman

2008-09-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

These are photos of little 16 month old Sarah Goodman. They came over for dinner at our house in August and we had so much fun playing with her and watching her explore her new surroundings. I was able to give Lyndsey a nice relaxing prenatal massage while the boys played video games and "watched" Sarah. Steven was great and grilled some chicken and veggies on the grill for us. Great times!

Wow...my blog is boring!

2008-09-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

This week has been a little crazy with work and other things. Friday, I took my car in to get looked at because it's been making a very annoying squeal. Three hundred and eighty dollars later, my car sounds great, but someone and something large and high scraped and damaged my front driver's side. Of course, we found it at 7:00 pm, but were blessed that someone was still around the shop to see the car and they will take care of it on Monday. I'm trying to think why this week was so crazy, but nothing comes to mind. Work is picking up which is nice and I'm getting home later in day. I have been talking to a lot of my friends and family in PC which is nice and I'm really really really really looking forward to a great girls weekend with the Flip Flop Flappers and to see everyone. It's always so nice to bond and vent over junk food, late nights/early morning and fun activities like pedicures, walks on the beach, playing cards and dominoes, and putt putt golf. :-) Miss you girls and fam...see you soon!!!!!

A little crazy...okay, maybe a little more than a little crazy

2008-09-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

We just got through a crazy week with Steven working so much and being on call which means tons of calls at crazy hours. Yesterday, I just had to leave the house and we love to shop! So, having no money, we decided to do some browsing shopping at our favorite places Dilliard's and Macy's to see the good sales. Steven got bombarded with calls and we had to make two "pit stops" to help with problems he had been trying to fix all day over the phone. Now, it's hurricane mode...to leave or not to leave...where do we go? where can we go with the dogs? when do we go? I guess it doesn't help that business has been slow for me which gives me way too much time to think and worry. I wish I could find a deserted island sometimes...preferably not in the Carribean though. Poor poor people there getting pounded with rain and wind in their little mud huts. I just need to focus on someone other than myself.

This time last year

2008-08-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last year Labor Day weekend, we were in Panama City, but we had to come back early because of Steven's job. This year, Steven has been on call all week and is on call tomorrow (Labor Day) and worked yesterday in Savannah and today in Charleston. But all of this is small and insignificant. I started looking back on the photos from last year when I realized that our visit last year was the last time I would see my grandmother alive. Mumsie was a vibrant, loud, kind hearted lady who always wanted to make sure everyone was fed and happy with whatever we wanted. She loved her kids dearly, adored her grand kids and would have given the world to her only great grandchild Jimmy who was also named after her son and late husband. That last visit was just doing the "normal rounds" of visiting everyone and not a thought was given that we wouldn't be able to do it ever again. We knew that she had survived a lot and that her health was not good. Auntie was a saint, taking care of her 24-7 always looking for the best thing for her even when Mumsie didn't want it. I was very blessed at having spent three months with Mumsie earlier last year while I was waiting to take my massage exam and Steven was in Savannah. She was a handful, but I was able to have some great adult memories with her and she was able to be apart of my current life. Lauren and I took her to Super Target one day and she had so much fun picking out things for each grandchild and step grandchild. My fondest childhood memories with her was going to Tallahassee and spending a few weeks at her house where she would spoil me rotten with sugar cereals, dollar store toys and eating out. I was an only child there and I could watch what I wanted on TV and play on her organ. We played a lot in her pool at her PC home right up from the car wash. She would bring out sugar free Jello or Crystal Light for us to drink. Jimmy's Restaurant food was normally ordered and Dad would come up from the car wash and jump in to cool off. There was a great slide and we played tons of games together like Marco Polo and the Food Game. I still think about Mumsie surprisingly a lot almost every day, but I know she is happy with her new "thin", pain-free body in heaven and that one day I will see her again. I wish she could see cute toddler Jimmy now, her next great grandchild due in February and Lacy's wedding some day. We love and miss our Mumsie~

Boring lives...

2008-08-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

Steven and I live fairly boring, quiet, old married people lives so I look at my blog almost every day and think, "Do I have anything interesting to write about?" This weekend was nice. Yesterday (Saturday) we ran some errands and then had Lyndsey, Jonathan and little Sarah over for dinner and a pre-natal massage for Lyndsey. I absolutely love massaging pregnant women because it's easy and they enjoy just being relaxed and rubbed on for a bit! :-) In school, I had one of the teachers come and see me almost every week while she was pregnant and it was great experience to see her through a couple of months. (Sorry Anna, I know you're probabaly steaming mad at me right now for not working on you. If we only lived in the same town...) It was nice to have the Goodmans' over and hang out with them. Sarah is growing and changing so much. I'm looking forward to seeing these twin boys soon, Andrew and Chase. November is not that far away! :-) Today (Sunday) we went to church, I crashed on the sofa while Steven watched hours and hours of pre-season (really boring) football. Tonight we went over to our new Pastor's house for a new member gathering and dinner. It was neat to learn about our new church, Morningstar Community Church and the direction we are headed. We are happy to have a church that we love, built on a firm foundation of Christ and the Bible. It is a lot like my parent's church in Panama City called Eastgate (aka surfer church). Morningstar is a Baptist outreach church, but with core values and vision based on the Saddleback Church and Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life author). That's briefly what it is about. Time to go to bed and get ready for the week. Love y'all~ and hope you have a wonderful week. God bless!

Life changes....

2008-08-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Melanie's latest blog, I started thinking about my life changes. She started off talking about seeing the seasonal changes, but growing up in Panama City, Florida we didn't see the nice transitional seasons of spring and fall. So abrupt, spontaneous decisions and changes were a mainstay in my life. On January 1st, 1999, this naive, small town girl loaded down her little Honda and moved onto bigger and better things in Atlanta, Georgia. I was sick and tired of small town living and thinking, a very very crowded house and a limited selection of eligible men. I embarked on this new adventure with Georgia as my number one option, but as option number two a small mountain top school in western Pennsylvania. Scary! I had already applied to several other schools and at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, I had made the number one alternate. But everything works out for a reason.
In August of the same year, I met Steven online while he was going to school at UNF in Jacksonville. I was very lonely off at school by myself so I would talk to people online and I especially like the Christian chat rooms. One night, he was in there and his opening line was "Anyone from Florida?" So we started talking about Florida. I still have the notepad that I wrote his info down on, name, age, how many kids he wanted (3, 2 girls and 1 boy) and all the strange questions he asked me. LOL I don't remember the questions, but they are all very interesting and now make much more sense. We talked, emailed and chatted for 4 months until we "collided" in Jax. We definitely had some chemistry! :-)
Well, those two were the biggest, monumental changes in my life. Moving to Jax, buying a house and moving to Savannah, GA are a close second. I haven't lived in PC since I left in 1999 and Steven and I got engaged in May, 2001 and married in Oct, 2002. Hopefully, the next biggest change will be a baby. With every season comes change, good and bad. Everything works out for a reason!

This is from "A Daily Walk in the Word- Our Journey"

2008-08-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

"Courtesies"

"Courtesies. I extend courtesies to God. I politely thank Him for a good meal and a good day. I thank Him as I thank a waiter with a tip for a service well done. Yest sometimes I don't feel like leaving a tip or giving thanks. All too often I don't wake up in morning overwhelmed by God's goodness and overflowing with a heart that knows life is good and that heaven is far better.
What's wrong with me? Why don't I feel that with every waking breath and thought I owe God unending, heartfelt praise? Gradually I begin to realize that I have slipped into the presumption that God owes me something. I act as if I deserve what I get and more. I didn't ask to be born. Don't I deserve a good meal, a car that runs well, a meaningful work, and friends to count on? Don't I deserve health and happiness and all of the good things God gives me? That's why sometimes I say, "Thanks." I don't want to seem ungrateful.
Once in a while, the fog lifts long enough for me to see a different picture. In those moments, I am amazed to see the truth about what God owes me. Nothing. He doesn't owe me anything. More accurately, I don't even deserve what I have been given, let along what God has withheld. I don't deserve another day, another meal, another laugh. God is not indebted to me. He has no obligation to make me happy by giving me what my heart demands.
Thinking I deserve anything is my unholy presumption. I often forget the most basic and foundational doctrines of Christian faith. I forget that "grace" means "undeserved help." "Mercy" means "undeserved relief." What do we have that has not first been received as "grace" or "mercy"? Together they encompass everything. I deserve nothing. Any good is an act of God's sheer, undeserved kindness. In my presumption, I have it all wrong. God owes me nothing. But I owe Him everything."

By: Mart de Haan

Okay, I'm bored...

2008-08-01T14:18:00.001-07:00

and when I'm bored, I do too much thinking, complaining, worrying and EATING! Keep me away from the pita chips please!!! So what do you do when you're bored? does the guilt trip creep in saying "why aren't you doing the dishes? there are piles of laundry everywhere, what about them?" or do you through caution to the wind, laying around eating bon bons and watching soap operas?
So thought for the day...I was listening to the radio this morning and Max Lucado, Christain author, came on with his brief radio spot. He told the story of his trying out for high school football and making the team. He was the go to guy for the coach when he wanted to change plays. Now Max thought, "Wow- how cool would it be if I just told them a play that I wanted to do or just no play at all. Whatever I want to do", but he knew that he didn't see the whole picture (or game plan) as the coach did, he did not have as much experience or knowledge as the coach and he would probably be kicked off the team. Our life is like this scenario. We want to run our own plans and ideas, but we can't see the whole picture of things like God can. He doesn't allow us to run things our way because He knows what is best for us now and in the long run. It's so easy to get SO wrapped up into our own little lives and all the crap that is going on, that it is always hard to see outside of that. I love traveling for this reason. You get to see other people's lives and outside of your own "small world." We may not understand all hard stuff we have to go through or the day-to-day activities, but He does and He knows how and why they all fit together and work towards His good. Isn't that comforting?
So off my soap box now....lots of random thoughts today. If you could change anything in your life, what would it be? My first thought towards this is "Money. I want enough to live comfortably." But all the money in the world won't buy happiness so they say and if you ever watch those E! Hollywood Stories about "unlucky" lottery winners, that may be true. Most of them lost all the money to various reasons and ended up divorced and/or lonely with multiple family problems. I don't envy people with tons of money, I just would like to have the freedom that it allows. God has taken care of all our needs up to the point, so why is it so hard to give him over all the financial control so I don't fret or worry about things? Ugh- so frustrating to be so weak and prideful. I was reading in Exodus the other day and those horrible Hebrew people who saw first hand miracle after miracle yet were so quickly to whine, complain and turn from God to their idols. Yet, WE DO THE SAME THING! We may not have seen huge wonders like the Red Sea parting and then swallowing the Egyptian army, but everyone of us have had "small miracle" happen in our lives that we saw or were unseen. So, why are we so quick to turn from him? Frustrating to say the least...

Things I love about Savannah...

2008-07-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

Since I got a little emotional in my last blog, I decided to face reality head on and look at the positive sides to being located in Savannah.

Spending time with Steven's family. I love being able to see little Sarah grow up and I am looking forward to the twin boys making their arrival in November/December. We have gotten to know Lyndsey's sister Rebecca and her husband Richard better and "adapted" some of their friends as our own. :-) When Grandma Betty (Durrence) was getting her hair done in Savannah, I adored having lunch with her on Friday's when my schedule allowed. His Aunt Gigi and Uncle Danny have always been so supportive and generous and it was so nice having them close by when we were in Sunbury for dinners together and sharing Internet time. :-) The Tucker side of the family we are getting to know better and better especially with Steven working there now. They're some of my biggest fans of my blog! Hi Melanie, Megan and Aunt Gail!!!!! Love ya~
LESS TRAFFIC! My commute is cut in half from Jacksonville and I love it. We can get to downtown in @ 15 minutes from our house and @ 30 mins to the mall, but who needs to spend money anyways. :-) Walmart, Sams, Lowes and Home Depot are less than 5 mins away and Kroger is a 10 min drive.
The trees. The large draping oaks that line the streets of Savannah whisper tales of history going back to 1733. Their moss weighted branches cast a shadow of black coolness in these dog days of summer and I can see so many stories of romance and bravery etched in their gnarled trunks. If you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of history, writing and romance and the cobblestone streets, rustic iron works and horse drawn carriages are right up my ally. I'm hoping to head up to Charleston, SC sometime soon and absorb some history there too (it's @ 2 1/2 hours away).
My house. Our house layout is fantastic and the dogs enjoy the large yard tremendously. We're not big fans of yard work, but we do our best! We have so many plans that we'd like to do and hopefully, one day we can do. We still have some painting to do and curtains to get, but the four bedrooms allow Steven a Miami Dolphin crazed office/autograph room, a scrapbook/exercise room for me, a "guest room" with a wonderful king blow up mattress and our master bedroom. We have 500 more sq feet than we had in Jacksonville and it's great for all our "crap" with the addition of a great dining room suite from Steven's grandma Tucker.
Our neighborhood. We love all the trees that they left and the wonderful park right in the middle of the subdivision. We have a terrific pool which we hadn't used much, but we have started swimming almost ever night and it's AWESOME. We don't have the upkeep of a pool yet all the enjoyment. :-)
My job! I have never had a job that I have loved and now I do. Living day to day is so much more enjoyable when you don't dread everyday and are miserable at work after driving an hour one way. My bosses are so flexible, understanding and supportive and my co-workers are crazy and fun! I have taken advantage of getting my hair done, chemical peels monthly on my face and pedicures bi-weekly for free. :-) Don't get too jealous now...lol

Why do I...

2008-07-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

Bite my fingernails. It's a nasty habit I have had since I was little and I just can't ever seem to stop. Being a massage therapist, we are required to have short nails, but mine are shorter than short.
Always order different at every restaurant we eat at (or at least Steven says I do). I like being the adventurous one and adding some spice to my life I guess.
Love to sleep! Last night, I slept 10 hours and LOVED it. If I don't get a good night sleep, I am not a very pleasant person. I don't know what I'm going to do when we have kids. :-)
Talk my poor, innocent friends' ears off. Becca was so sweet to call me the other day and we were on for almost an hour with me going on and on about moving back to PC. Mandy and I played phone tag back and forth the other day until we finally got to talk a bit. Having friends that have kids is hard because I never want to call when they are so busy with crazy, wild kids. :-) j/k I don't want to be a pain, but I am.
Really enjoy just being at home. I think I have always been a sort of home-body. When we were in Jacksonville, it was easy to stay at home because we didn't have much money to do things anyways. I love watching movies and chilling out with some popcorn or working on my scrapbooks. I've really gotten into cooking a lot more at home too because it's so much better for you and it costs so much less. (If only I could learn to love dishes!) Don't get me wrong, I love a great dinner out like we had the other night at Uncle Bubba's with Dad and John, but I end up paying for it later.
Miss my family so much. In my totally dominated conversation with Becca, I was telling her that when I have to leave them or they leave here, it feels like my whole insides ache and my heart just hurts. I try not to cry, but lately it doesn't always happen. When Steven and I were apart, I missed him so much especially on the day to day activities and such, but this is completely different. In college, I remember just sobbing down Hwy 231 driving out of PC. I got better living in Jax because we were able to see them about once a month, but now that Anna and Allan have moved there, it makes it that much worse. I try to be realistic about all of this because I know that they would all drive me completely crazy, but I miss the little things....breakfast over at Mom and Dad's before church, Lauren's days off were we could go shopping or get our nails done, lunch with Mandy while helping her with cleaning houses, Friday morning breakfast with Mom and Gran, having Auntie just stop by to chat and hang out, watching my wonderful nephew grow and change with each passing day and really get to know Lacy and John who don't even remember me being around for anything in there lives. It's so hard to believe that I've been gone for almost 10 years now.

I think I'll stop at that point before it gets SO completely sappy and sad. Sorry, it's been a really long week and I'm pooped. No more massages for me...until Monday. Lots of love~

Just got home...

2008-07-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a wonderfully awesome weekend in Jacksonville with Steven's parents. They treated us to a day at the spa yesterday with massages, hot tubs, steam room and salt water pool. We lounged around and relaxed with not a care in the world. It was HEAVENlY! We then went and had an early dinner at P.F. Chang's, on our fav restaurants and desert at Cheesecake Factory. Who has the best in-laws in the world? MMMMEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
It was great and I didn't want to come home. I wish I could stay there forever except I couldn't affford the bill and they'd put me to work. :-) Time to unpack...yuck.

At home on a Friday...too much time to think and play on the Internet :-)

2008-07-11T15:38:00.001-07:00

Steven is so
good with kids!

Summer time blues I guess. Weird weird day. Business has been hit and miss at work with the phone not ringing much because the housewives of Savannah are busy with kids at home, off their normal routine and lots of people on vacations. I have to work tomorrow which always "bothers" me because Steven is home and I like to spend time with him or do projects together (aka go shopping and spend lots of money together). Went to Sam's and Walmart, my two least favorite places in the world. I always spend too much money, waste too much time, the employees are rude and inconsiderate, and I hate waiting in long lines.
Been thinking a lot about babies again, dang it. I am going to be an aunt again in February which is exciting. I hope it's a girl so I can shower her with lots and lots of pink things. As I surfed the Internet this afternoon, every (halfway decent) show on was about babies. Sometimes I feel like I want to have kids just for all the cool "things" that come along with kids. I think about how happy and excited my parents would be as their oldest child has a kid, Steven's parents with their first and only grandkid, and Steven's grandma who loves babies and could possibly see the Durrence name carried on. I think about having stuff to talk about with other moms and all our neighbors. Cool toys...someone that is half me and half Steven...and there is nothing in the world like a baby smile and laughter. I know they grow up and throw up and keep you up all night. Screaming, temper tantrums and crying...teenagers, what can you do with them? Growing up in a family of seven and two bathrooms and three bedrooms, I always swore I never wanted to have kids. Then Steven came along. An only child married to an oldest kid of 5...very interesting to say the least. Steven and I are opposite in so many ways, but alike in a few as well, the more important ones. He thinks I'm a weird homeschooling freak who sings educational songs and songs from musicals with her siblings and I think he's a "spoiled" special, business analyst who will always be a kid in his parents eyes and doesn't like to share his toothpaste. :) Enough said...lol

Fourth of July, 2008- Branch style

2008-07-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I haven't blogged in a bit. Our Mac crashed a few weeks ago and we had to get a new one. I don't even know where the pictures from Memorial Day are, hopefully they will show up somewhere. This year we were actually able to go to Panama City for the first time in 3 years because it fell on a Friday this year. :-) My parents have always thrown a HUGE cookout at their house on the water because you can see the city's firework show from the marina. There is never a formal invite and friends of friends end up showing up. This year, we counted about 90 people total. My mom cooks for about a week and dad worked on the house for 2 weeks. Auntie made 90 deviled eggs and we had a whole dinning room table full of desert. We always have a ton of leftover food, but Mom always freaks out about food. Mandy graciously and wonderfully had some great kids games planned and everyone had fun with water and she was soaked. I don't know exactly what they played because I did kitchen duty- refilling empty containers, greeting new people and trying to find a spot for what they brought and giving general directions for questions (which was more difficult than it sounds because I haven't lived there in almost 10 years). :-) It was nice seeing everyone and talking to people I hadn't seen in a while. The next day we went over to Shell Island on the boat and had a nice time in the pristine water and soft, white sand with Allan, Anna, Jimmy and Lauren. It was a very very quick weekend especially considering the 7-8 drive one way, but we're back to old routine and normalness of Pooler. Sigh- I miss my baby Jimmy already!

P.S. For more great, beautiful pictures of my awesome family and friends go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliciadurrence/

Concert in Forsyth Park May 2008

2008-06-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

So every year for graduation Savannah School of Art and Design (SCAD) put on a big ole' shindig free for everyone in Forsyth Park. How cool! It makes since on why the tuition is $26,000 a year. :-) This year the artists were The Veronicas (who sing the song for the Yaz commercial), Kate Vogel (who had a song on One Tree Hill) and Natasha Bedingfield whose songs are "Pocket full of Sunshine", "These words","Unwritten" and "Love like this". She's pretty cool and has a great smoky jazzy voice.

Memorial Day trip in PC

2008-06-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

The old ladies of the Flip Flop Flappers :-)
Additions: Jenna, Becca's little sister, Becca holding Avery, and the dark little petite girl we're messing with is Anna, John's girlfriend
Jenna, Avery and Becca getting ready for the pool
My little man, Jimmy walking down the hairway
He's all grown up now!
The boys in the pool- my dad, Steven, Allan, little Jimmy and John
Naked baby in the pool!!! :-)
Playing Apples to Apples with everyone. Fun times!

Jimmy playing in his playroom so very nice
Allan working in his office with his business partner's picture is looking over his shoulder
John, my little brother and his girlfriend Anna playing with Jimmy. He loves cell phones!

************************************************************************************
We had such a good time at Allan and Anna's house. Time always goes so very quickly while we're there and then we have the long haul back to Savannah. We had a nice boat ride to the beach where we swam and Allan and Steven drew sand art in the sand dunes. All my friends are so gracious and sweet with Becca and Monty driving all the way down from Dothan, AL and Mandy and Mike coming from Fountain, FL. Thanks guys! Y'all are the best~ We have so much doing not much at all and it's always yummy at the Branch house. :-) Love y'all...

More pictures of my wonderful sister-in-law...read the following post

2008-06-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

Lil' Miss Alabama Cheerleader
Roll Tide...j/k Anna. Please don't kill me!
WAR EAGLE....GO AUBURN TIGERS!!!!!

Some of the Flip Flop Flapper Gang- from left to right, Becca (my best friend since we were born), Lauren (my sister in the blue scrub top because she was on call), Anna (the middle master minder of all that is evil...j/k), Me (up top grinning like a hyena), and Mandy (in the pink top, my best friend from homeschooling times and working at the car wash together)

Boo, Pittsburgh Steelers! We need to get you a Miami Dolphin shirt to match your son's. :-)

If there was an award...

2008-06-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

for the best sister-in-law in the world, my sister-in-law Anna Branch would win the gold metal with perfect 10's. :-) She has been there any and every second of the day to help me with questions concerning the fun OBGYN visits and all that's involved with the baby process. She birthed and is wonderfully raising my adorable nephew while taking care of my brother's needs. She graciously moved to Panama City away from her family, friends and network into the crazy insanity of daily living with the Branch family. Anna is great to hang out with and have drinks or go and get pedicures and shop at Dilliard's. I know that I am a very blessed person. I have parents that are selfless and kind, two brothers and two sisters all unique and special in so many ways, and tons of extended family and friends that are always supportive and wonderful. I married into a terrific family as well who love me like their own blood and would do anything for Steven and myself. I love my father and mother-in-law so much that I lived with them twice and call them "Mom and Dad." God sent a wonderful angel though when he sent my sister-in-law. There is no one like her and I thank God for sending her every day!

Planning a vacation...NOT

2008-06-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

Our Branch family trip to Las Vegas, 2004

We realized the other day how very badly we need a "real" vacation. We make a ton of little trips to Panama City to see family and those are great, but we spend so much time in the car. Our last "real" vacation was in 2006. For Steven's thirtieth birthday, I gave him a trip to Miami to see a Miami Dolphin game live. He booked a hotel on South Beach so I could be relaxed and enjoy the beautiful water and white sandy beaches. There was also a great boardwalk that you could stroll for miles watching all the skinny, tan people run and sweat like crazy! Ryan and Tammy, Steven's friends from Tampa, called us up the other day and suggested we do another couple's cruise. The hard part is coordinating everyone with date, price, cruise line and ports. We had an AWESOME time when we went with Ryan and Tammy on the last couple's cruise we did where we had planned on having 10 + couples, but it only ended up being the four of us. So we made a pact that the four of us would have first pick and choice on the next cruise...HOORAH! We also planning to do a cruise together at least every two years. Well...three years later and the idea is just being tossed around again. I guess I need to call my superhero travel agent, Cathy to the rescue!!!!

Happy Birthday Steven!!!

2008-06-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today my hubby turns 32~ I still love him! :-) One year closer to 40....lol

A few things you may now know...

2008-06-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law did this cute thing on her blog of twenty things that we didn't know about her, so I'm going to do the same. (Maybe not all twenty, but a few things :-)

1. I have vitaligo, no pigment in the skin or white splotches, on my feet, knees, hands and a few splots else where. I've had it since birth or at least since I can remember. You can see it really well when I get a little sun on me.

2. I played the French horn in a little orchestra group at a private Christian school when I was a teenager. I didn't do very well, but I love the sound of it.

3. I dressed up as a Civil War reinactor specifically a nurse and participated in a few battlefields and educational venues.

4. My first "official" job was kitchen help for my uncle's steakhouse restaurant, Rough Riders. I was only fifteen so I would walk there from home (only a few blocks away) and then I would have to call my mom to pick me up at 11:00pm or later.

5. My first real boyfriend was Jerry Odle. I was seventeen and we both worked at my dad's car wash. I actually asked him out only after I found out that he liked me, but was to intimidated to ask me out. We dated for almost two years and I truly thought he was the one. My dad found out that we were serious and he "broke us up" per se. I went off to school the next year after much heartbreak, but there is definitely no regret at all!

6. I never wanted to have kids growing up only because I was around them so much them. Being the oldest of five wasn't much fun for me, but it made me who I am and I wouldn't trade any of them for anything EVER.

7. As a kid and teenager, I could sleep 12-14 hours straight no matter what was going on. My mom use to check on me to make sure I was still breathing. :-) Not anymore.

8. Steven says I snore when I'm asleep especially when I'm really exhausted. It keeps him up though. A nice gentle rhythmic snoring will put me right to sleep thanks to the lovely sounds of the Branch family.

9. I can take a very quick shower, Army style. (Family of 7 again)

10. I would eat almost anything if it was chocolate.

11. I absolutely hate with every cell of my body doing the dishes. I would rather clean toilets with a toothbrush.

12. I love baseball especially the Atlanta Braves. Steven and I love the go and watch the Jacksonville Suns Minor League team for the Los Angelos Dodgers and the Savannah Sand Gnats Minor League team for the Mets.

13. I take five million pictures. This started when I joined Phi Mu fraternity in college. CHEESE~

14. I can sing random songs from almost any musical made. My favs are Oklahoma, Seven brides for Seven brothers, My Fair Lady, Pillow Talk, and South Pacific.

15. I speed very badly (thanks to you Dad), but especially when Steven falls asleep. :-) Somehow he's always amazed when he wakes up to his surroundings.

16. I am starting to really love buying jewelry and purses because they are easy to fit into and buy and still make you feel good. :-)

17. I've always wanted to have red hair. I love it! Straight hair would be nice too, but red is better.

18. I am horrible with electronics. I just end up handing it to Steven to fix and half way listening to his explanation of how to fix it. He's good at it!

19. I love gardening until it gets hot, but I hate weeds! My roses are doing great this year and they are loving this Georgia clay. Steven and I have planted some azaleas and a few small trees. The funniest was trying to haul all of this home in our little compact car. Good thing Lowe's is only a mile away from our house!

20. When we retire, we want to drive around the US in a RV and have a condo on Panama City Beach. Oh, why can't we retire right now....

I made it to twenty. Steven was trying to help me out some, but he's a little crazy! I just keep on typing as he keeps on talking. Life at the Durrence house is always...something. :-)

Ok....I'm back!

2008-06-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

I had so many people say that they actually read my blog and missed it that I decided to bring it back! Yes, I still don't have much of a life, but we'll just see. I've been learning a lot lately about patience especially when we start to plan our lives and leave God out of the equation. I've always been the kind of girl to just "go with things" and see where God takes me. I was definately not the kid that dreamed about being a future astronaut or lawyer. According to my mother, I wanted to be the makeup girl at the cosmetic counter at Gayfers (old department store). My dad thought I should be in the medical field because it was a stable job (long story short). I don't know what I would have majored it had it been truly my choice, but I was always really good at writing (English classes), literature, psychology, and religion. Who knows...
These are kind of random thoughts, but it's late on this Sunday evening and my blonde brain is on shut down mode. Steven has been crazy calls at all hours this week for work and I have been so busy at work. I'll write more this week. Hope y'all enjoy these great photos I took last year at Panama City Beach while staying at a great condo for our Flip Flop Flapper girl's weekends. Man, I miss those. More on PC later on. Love y'all~