Last 2012 Update...

Believe it or not, we are still here.  I know so many no one has been concerned, but seeing that the simple contact of Christmas cards didn't even occur, some might be wondering.  See.... here's what's up.   We had that little thing called a move taking place, right before Christmas.  We were super excited to celebrate Christmas 2012 in our new home.  Little did we know, it wasn't in the cards.  We found out the Thursday before Christmas that we would not be in the house until after New Years.  While we were both disappointed, I know that if probably worked out for the better, seeing that we would have had to move, unpack and set up Christmas in 2 days.  With that being said, our Christmas card was also our "We Have Moved" card, so we couldn't send them out until we closed.  So no worries, friends.  I will be "that girl" this year who sends her Christmas cards out in January.  No shame in my game, it's just the gift that keeps on giving!

We have made it thought the holiday(s), still living amongst the boxes and 95% packed up house, but can't help and reflect on the year that 2012 brought us.  2012 shared blessings, memories, tons of fun, life lessons, new friends and so much more that it truly keeps me on the edge of my seat for what 2013 holds for the Browns.  Hopefully, the next time I blog, it will be from the new house, and the magical moving fairies will have unpacked and settled all of our belongings.... but until then....

Blessings and Joy as we enter a new year!!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

MOVING!!  Yahoo!!  Finally... we can say that we are progressing in the move to our very first home.  We are very excited that in just a couple of weeks, we will be starting the tedious task of moving all of our belongings, finally getting them all under one roof.  This whole house hunting process has been far from fun for me, seeing that I feel we have looked at more houses than one should ever have to see.  But finally, we see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We hope to close the week before Christmas, just in time to host our families for a holiday feast.  I am sure that we will be far from settled in our new abode, but it will be nice to have everyone together, in OUR house. 

With the move taking place, we have not done much in the area of holiday decorating and probably look like the biggest Scrooge on the block.  But have no fear.... our Christmas tree might be the first thing that goes up in our new house.  I am so excited to decorate it for Christmas, that I might even leave my decorations up through January and become "those" neighbors.  But until the big day, our lives will include boxes, tape, more boxes, empty walls and lots of cleaning!! 

Our box collection

Empty walls!!

Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly and quickly!!

Awareness

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.  I find it a bit ironic that  we become aware of diabetes, directly following the sweetest, candy-filled holiday of the year, but it is awareness, none the less.  I have definitely noticed more attention to diabetes this month than I have in Awareness months past, but I am sure it is due to the alarming number of diagnosis' these days.  Over the course of the rest of the month, I am going to highlight facts, lessons and the flat out truths of living with diabetes, in hopes that it will make someone more aware.

Today I will begin with facts, myths and common misconceptions of Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that my brother and I both live with.

• Type 1 diabetes is NOT caused by too much candy, unhealthy diets and laziness.  Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, which results in the body attacking the pancreas.  This attack leaves the pancreas unable to produce insulin, a hormone that the body uses to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.  Type 1 leaves a person insulin dependent, which requires someone to either take multiple daily injections or use a sub-q insulin infusion pump.  For many decades, Type 1 was commonly referred to as "Juvenile" diabetes, but is now occurring throughout the lifespan.  It is unknown what causes the body to attack itself, but it can be due to a viral infection, illness or genetics. 
• Type 2 diabetes has more links to genetics than type 1, because often times it can be caused by lifestyle choices.  Many times, type 2 diabetes can be controlled by simple changes in diet and exercise, but can often require oral medication which aids the body in the absorption of insulin.  It is not uncommon for a person with type 2 to require insulin administration if their body does not make enough for itself.  Type 2 diabetes can be described as an insulin resistance, which simply leaves a person unable to absorb the insulin that their body naturally makes.
• Just because someone is an adult or overweight, do NOT assume that they are type 2.  I am an adult and my weight has fluctuated, but I have also lived with Type 1 diabetes for almost 18 years.  I will take offense if you tell me I have type 2... so watch yourself.
• Do not assume that if someone is on an insulin infusion pump, that they have the "bad" diabetes.  An insulin pump was designed to mock the actions of a pancreas, which allows someone to dramatically reduce the adverse affects of having diabetes and tailor their care just for them.  I have controlled my diabetes using multiple daily injections and an insulin pump.  At this point in my life, an insulin pump allows me to have tighter control and gives me the freedom and luxury to make changes in my insulin regimen, minute to minute.
• Insulin is NOT a cure for diabetes.  It is the only thing that will keep someone with diabetes alive. 

I will not preach anymore on my soap box, but I do encourage you to educate yourself.  Very few of us can say that we don't know someone who lives with diabetes.  I can't even begin to tell you how ignorant the medical community is when it comes to living with diabetes-- which might be the most frustrating thing in the world.  The fact of the matter is, diabetes is manageable.  It is not always easy, not always fun, but I take one day at time, one blood sugar check at a time (out of up to 20 a day sometimes!!) and deal with it.  Life could be worse and I am thankful for the lessons that diabetes and the people that came with it have taught me. 

Stay tuned for more info on diabetes and become aware and educated on the disease that affects over 366 million people in the world.

Freedom

free-dom [free-duhm]: noun; 1.  the state of being free and at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint; 2. political or national independence; 3. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery

I am not only lucky to have freedom, but lucky and blessed to have family and friends who fought for us to have freedom. 

Top middle:  Helen Stribling
Top right: Bruce Latimer: Major in the US Army
Middle Right:  Leon Latimer: US Army
Bottom Right: John Latimer (my grandfather): US Army
Bottom Middle:  Jim Latimer:  Retired LTC in the US Army
Bottom Left:  Hugh Latimer:  Major in the US Army
Middle Left:  Boy Latimer:  US Army
Top Left:  Mildred Latimer: US Army
Middle:  Levi & Grace Latimer: my great-grandparents

Stuart & me with my cousin, David, who is a helicopter pilot with the Mississippi National Guard.

Josiah & Susan with my dad, who is a Retired LTC in the US Army.

Not pictured, but not forgotten, Hugh Wayne "Butch" Latimer who was a Captain in the US Army and in the Mississippi National Guard.

Thank you to all the veterans in my life who provide us with daily freedoms, which are most definitely not free.

The Past in Pictures

Since I have been such a slacker, I decided just to catch everyone up on our past few months with pictures.  So here you go!!

Girls Weekend for Emily's Wedding!! 

Ballin'

Home for Mary's Wedding!!

Sweet Jack:)

Mary's Wedding

John Michael and Lainey

My new dance partner

Reunion!!

SJB's new boo:)

Halloween 2012

Heroes in a half shell....

Hope you have enjoyed sneaking a peek at our lives' most recent adventures.  Next up... a HOUSE UPDATE!!

Put Me In Coach....

Well I am out of retirement on the sports circuit and am now playing on the "Creative Kickers" on an intermural kickball team.  Stuart and I both made our kickball debut last night.  Little did we know that the first team we were up against, was the team that placed first in the league last year.  So you can imagine how well that game went.  Then we had our next game and actually had a fighting chance.  We didn't look so bad.  Of course, I play catcher, but my athletic skills really shine through in the sport of kickball, definitely more so than in softball.   

Picture this... bottom of the 3rd inning, runner was coming home, I square up on home, one foot on the bag and the pitcher throws the ball.  Of course, I catch it, still having my foot on the plate, but apparently the runner did not see my neon orange shoes or my bright purple jersey.  Success!!  She was out.... and so was I.  I realize that I am now sitting on home plate with dirt down my left side.  I received my first kickball injury to my elbow, with a slight skin abrasion.  What I didn't realize at the time was I also fractured 2 ribs during the illegal tackle.  Even with my injuries, I was able to score a couple runs to add to my teams points, but it wasn't good enough to pull through with a victory.

 

 

Needless to say, I am now on the injured reserve list.  Seeing that it is painful to breath, cough and make sudden movements, I am not sure I will be good for much more than team Mom.  Let's just hope that Auburn doesn't have a game like I did!! 

 

 



 WAR EAGLE!!

Quite the weekend...

What do you get when you add a wedding, a football game (1st of the season, in fact) and a holiday?!?  You get an A-mazing weekend of fun. 

Friday night we went to a wedding with great friends and had good times!!  The setting was perfect, the food was fantastic and the friends were the perfect start to the weekend-o-fun.  We kicked off our Saturday pretty early, making our way to Atlanta for the season opener for Auburn and Clemson.  Once again, we had amazing food, fun memories with friends and plenty of laughs... which included Auburn's performance against the Clemson Tigers.  While I am no way a fair weather fan of the Auburn University Tigers,  it was a disappointing loss at the Georgia Dome and made it a not-so-fun time.  That is until we were on our 3 hour tour home on the Marta.  What we didn't know was the dragon-con convention was also being held in Atlanta.  So as forged our way back to our hotel, we got to experience Atlanta's public transportation system with 30,000 tiger (Auburn and Clemson) fans as well as animals, creatures and people who work in the zoo.  While wrong trains and long waits made the trip ridiculous, we definitely had many laughs.

To top the weekend off, we were able to make our way home from Atlanta and do....NOTHING!!  Since yesterday was Labor Day, SJB and I both had off and it was wonderful.  We were able to get things done that during the week, we can't seem to fit it in the schedule.  SJB also got to get a round of golf in before the busy week kicks back up.  We have been narrowing down some more house choices that we will hopefully see this week, so all in all, it was a great (long) weekend. 

Oh... and bulldogs in Mississippi.... get ready!!  The tigers got their loss out of the way and are headed to Starkville!! 

                                
                                                                WAR EAGLE!!

True Story...

Have you ever had one of those days that you have to ask yourself, "is this fake planet?"  Well not only have I had one of those days, I have had one of those weeks.  It all started when our hot water heater had to be replaced last week.  Luckily SJB's dad was able to get it taken care of in a very timely manner.  Next up, every shelf in my closet decided it should be in the floor.  And even better... this happened as I was getting ready for work on Monday morning.  Just so you get the point, let me provide a visual...

Yes.  This happened.  True story.  At the time, seeing that I was already running late for work, I decided to just leave it and deal with it when I got home.  Luckily, I have a handy husband who is excellent at building and fixing things.  He hit the road to Home Depot and gathered some supplies to whip up a closet organizational system.  While he played Bob the Builder, I went through all of my clothes (since I was told they were too heavy for the closet), and made quite the donation to Goodwill.  Once the shelves and everything were all installed on Tuesday afternoon, I slowly re-organized my closet until it looked like this.

What you don't see.... is as this picture was being taken, the left side of the shelf with 2 layers of hanging clothes decided it needed to be back on the floor.  Once again, clothes were everywhere... and I simply didn't care.  I decided it could wait until Wednesday, as I simply didn't have the energy to deal with it.  As SJB and I were settling down for a long night's nap, we hear the faint noise of water dripping.  SJB investigated and found the H2O dripping in our air return vent.  We He decided it would be best to turn off the air for the night until his dad could come back and check it.  I definitely do not favor hot conditions, but surprisingly, slept OK.  Thankfully, we are back in business with cool air, a closet that is put together and hot water.  Is it too much to ask to space out the problems?  Needless to say, as I grab my pajamas out of my organized closet, after a nice hot shower  and go to bed in my air conditioned room, I am thankful things were not any worse than they were.  But I definitely still ask myself... "was that fake planet?" 

House Hunting 101

Little did I know just how stressful house hunting would be.  We put a contract on a house that SJB and I both fell in love with and were riding on cloud nine until the inspection.  Inspection is now a word that I will be terrified of.  While we felt that our house would be perfect for us, the wall's insides and wiring had a different plan.  I am very thankful and relieved that we discovered this while we could still get out, but disappointed as I had my hopes placed on a pedestal and then knocked off with a bang.  I guess it's back to the drawing board for us!!

In the meantime, SJB and I have stayed super busy, getting back in the "school" swing of things (SJB, not I) and staying pretty busy.  We are both very excited to see the Auburn tigers kick off the season in Atlanta.  Also, I just returned from a trip from Chicago, helping host a DTreat Conference.  It was a great time and very exciting meeting new Dfriends and catching up with the old ones.  I am already excited for the future of our programs and feel proud to be on a team with such great friends!!  I also got to go to Huntsville for less than 48 hours to help my mom get out of the house (for the 2nd time since July 12).  While it was no easy feat, we were successful in our outing and even started some Christmas shopping!!

While this weekend doesn't include much, it will allow me time to dive back into the world of house hunting and hopefully find a few more appropriate prospects for us to peek at.  Cross your fingers and wish us luck!!

What DTreat means...

DLeaders at "The Bean"

The whole group.... by our school bus, on the way downtown!!

Just another weekend...

What a lazy weekend.  SJB and I semi-relaxed with the last weekend we both have before school starts... as if that matters with me.  We were able to meet with the realtor on Friday and see the house we are interested in.  It was fantastic and we both REALLY liked it.  And by really, I mean smiling, anxious and already talking about where we could put stuff really.  We actually met with the realtor again on Saturday to talk more detail with him and see if the seller would even consider some of our requests.  So, we will see shortly if we will proceed with this particular house.  It would be fantastic if we could, since it has everything we are looking for in a house!  Make sure you cross your fingers that everything works out!

Today, SJB and I went shooting.  This is something that I have never done with him, but it was actually fun.  I wasn't a huge fan of the people next to us having sonic boom-ish guns, but I excelled at the 9mm.  I felt better leaving, knowing that I could actually use it if I had too.  I feel that I will even improve as my hand heals from my surgery.

Coming up this week, I have a trip to Chicago planned on Thursday to help host a conference with some of my DFriends!!  We have spent many months putting together this event and I am really excited to see how it turns out and see everyone!  I fly out super early Thursday morning, so I will head to Birmingham to stay with Brett and her precious family!  I am ecstatic to see (and meet) her children!!  It will be a good time catching up with her and spending some time with them.

Sorry I don't have any pictures to share in this blog, but I should definitely have some in the near future.  I will also plan to update on our house hunt as we work our way down that road.  Feel free to shout out a prayer for things to go smooth!!

Home is where the heart is...

SJB and I have recently been on the house search and let's just say... it might be more stressful than planning a wedding.  We are looking in the Lee County area, more specifically, Smiths Station.  This would serve as the median for our places of work, as well as providing a great school system (for waaaaaayyy down the road in our future:))  I am not quite sure what I thought the house hunt would be like, but it is not easy.  Luckily, we have a realtor who is very honest with us about builders, locations, etc and it helps that SJB is familiar with the area. 

It seems that house hunting has brought out my OCD in full form.  I see a house I like, but then notice a small imperfection.  I guess that could be a good thing, but it probably stresses SJB out, as well as adds time to our search.  So far, we have only gone to 2 houses, but hopefully we will get some more scheduled in the next week.  Luckily, SJB and I have very similar interests in houses, including don't want a "cookie cutter" house, don't want our neighbors too close, no above ground aquatics, and definitely don't want to have to "flip" a house before we move in.  We are not excited when we see wallpaper or fluffy carpet, so it has been easy to make cuts off of our "to see" list.

I think that both of us are getting antsy in the condo.  While it has been a great space for us to spend the first 2 years of our life together, both of us are ready to move forward.  I am ready for a laundry room and having space for my fine china and SJB is ready for his shop, man cave and most importantly, yard work (this is actually the truth)!  I am most definitely not excited about the actual moving process, since I moved every year that I attended Auburn, but am definitely ready for the final result.  Feel free to cross your fingers that the perfect house falls right into our lap and exactly the right time. 

Regardless if we stay in our lovely and petite abode for the next 40 years, it will be complete, as long as we are together.  Simply stated.... home is where the heart is.

                         

Just pecking away...

Let's just say that I have never been more thankful for my seventh grade typing class.  Let me explain as I peck my story away...I recently had surgery on my right hand (my VERY dominant right hand) to correct my "trigger finger."  I have definitely had to rely on SJB to do everything from household chores to cooking and even playing beauty shop to help me wash and fix my hair.  None the less, I am thankful it is over and I am looking forward to a complete recovery and better use of my hands and fingers.

But to fill you in on the past few weeks of the Browns.... I will provide you a bulleted list of the high points.

SJB finished up his tenth week at Camp ASCCA. Thankfully, he was able to make it home in time to play nurse/babysitter for my surgery.

I was able to go to camp and help out with Prom, which was amazing. I was able to channel my inner "Ms. Gaye" (of course with the help of Mollie and Big E) to help with decorations and flower arranging. Stuart and I got to experience another prom at the greatest place on earth!! It was fantastic!!

Our traditional prom photo:)

Zoe & Andie!!

The  cutest Eli ever!!

 

• SJB, my dad and I attended the Neshoba County Fair in Mississippi.  While it was my first trip back to the fair in 20+ years, SJB and my dad were able to show me the ropes.  It was incredibly hot, but a good chance to see family I haven't seen in ages and have a nice little vacation.
• SJB and I celebrated 2 years of marriage!!  (can't remember if I already blogged about this or not...)
• We have gotten ourselves knee-deep in house hunting.  Now that he is home from camp, we are planning to buckle down on our search and hopefully the perfect abode will fall in our laps!!

While I know we have had much more going on... my mind is blank.  It is hard for me to think about the past when football season starts 4 weeks from yesterday!!  Yahoo!!  We are very excited about the upcoming season and crossing our fingers for the best!!  Until then....WAR EAGLE!!

Life Lessons...

First off-- get excited, Mom! I think I actually ENJOY reading! Well... let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, maybe I have just picked some really good books lately. Right now, I am knee deep in the book, "Bloom. Finding Beauty in the Unexpected." It is A-MAZING!! I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

This book by Kelle Hampton is the true story of her family's story of finding out their youngest child has Down Syndrome when she was born. Kelle reflects on this life changing milestone as well as the important things that aid someone in surviving the tough stuff, friends that go that extra mile, family that knows your mind's racing thoughts and communities that support your ups and downs. I have followed Kelle's blog for sometime now, but this book has taught me more about life than my prior 30 years. Not only does Kelle have the most amazing and cute family, but she is also a fantastic photographer and writer. I have truly been touched by her stories of life experiences that has brought her to where she is today.

Reading Kelle's experiences forced me to recall many life lessons that I have been blessed with in my day to day encounters. I can't help but be thankful for the many lives that I have crossed paths with and reflect on the lessons they have taught me. Working in the field I do, I feel like I get to really experience life as it was intended to be. Life was intended to be filled with experiences that teach you something, whether good or bad. The Hamptons have taken everything thrown their way, embraced it, given it 150% and shared it with the world. It only inspires me to provide open opportunities to all of the adults I work with, providing them with a foundation and education to take with them and live their life to the fullest. Everyone deserves the right to succeed and Kelle and her precious family are striving their daughter, Nella, with any opportunity they can. I can only hope that I can have her positive and eager outlook to strive for the best.

I am struggling to find my next read, since this book has placed so high on my reading list. I will gladly take recommendations, as I am drawing a blank. Kelle Hampton has truly put her thoughts and songs of her heart into words and shared with the world. I truly hope that others can take this material and take as many lessons as I have to maybe "better" the world.

I wanted to share a song that Kelle shares in her book that one of her dear friends shared with her while she was still in the hospital. The song,"Add to the Beauty" by Sara Groves speaks loudly to me how the world should be. I can only hope that these words can speak to mankind, that we might be a little more kind, a little more gentle and a little more beautiful to those around us.

We come in with beautiful secrets.

We come with purposes written on our hears,

Written on our souls.

We come to every new morning with possibilities

Only we can hold...

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces

Calling out the best of who we are.

And I want to add to the beauty

To tell a better story

I want to shine with the light

That's burning up inside...

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces

Calling out the best of who we are...

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful

...an invitation...

Calling out our best.

Kelle & Nella Hampton

Friday the 13th and Impromptu Trips...

So working in Mental Health, I have become a firm believer of full moons, Friday 13th and all the other "twilight-ish" types of days.  Usually, it is a day that my co-workers and I dread with every ounce of our beings, but today... I was lucky enough to not experience this dreaded Friday at work. I (and my dad who was on a business trip and my Aunt from Mississippi) made a quick, impromptu trip to Huntsville, to be with my mom.  While my luck worked in my favor, my mom's.... not so much.  This will be a Friday the 13th that she will not soon forget.  After she suffered a fall yesterday, she required surgery on her compound fractured ankle this morning to install 7 screws and a plate.  She will most definitely set off the metal detectors at the airport.  Even though she came through the surgery beautifully, it is definitely going to be a long road to recovery.  She is not allowed to put ANY weight on it for 4 weeks... which I view as impossible.  I had to ask her if she would like for me to order her a Hoveround... you never know when you might want to visit the Grand Canyon?  Hopefully, the hospital and wonderful doctors and nurses are able to keep her pain under control enough tonight for her to be released tomorrow.  I have no doubt that the pain that she has experienced from her 3 fractures (one on each side of the ankle and one on the tibia) and dislocation (like rotated the wrong way...) ranks on up there with kidney stones and childbirth.  If you get a chance, feel free to shoot her a prayer for a quick recovery and easy, pain-free and crazy-free healing.  While I love being home and seeing family, I hate the circumstances. 

Since my Aunt and my dad are taking over doctor duty tomorrow afternoon, my plan is to meet Stuart in Birmingham for us to celebrate our 2nd anniversary.  Being that he is working camp and I will be in Huntsville, we won't get to celebrate much on the actual day, so we are having dinner and going to the Stardome to see Rodney Carrington.  I am so excited to spend the night with some great friends (and husband) and have some great laughs!



For Real This Time!!

Ok... I know what you are thinking.  But I promise, I'm for real this time.  My blogging bug has bitten me once again and I am back.  I know there are no real excuses, but I will say that my summer vacation the past few/many weeks have been all work AND all play!!  I was able to get a bit of time in at CSH (my home away from home), trips to the pool, trips to the lake, Fort Rutger graduations, endless nights with friends, fun days at work and many more.  It's hard to think that the summer is half way over, but that only inspires me to enjoy it even more!!  SJB has been at Camp ASCCA since Memorial Day, so I have hated enjoyed having a quiet, empty house to come home to where I haven't had to cook a soul dinner or do absolutely anything.  He gets to come home every Friday-Sunday, so I definitely enjoy my weekends with him!  In the next few weeks, we will be enjoying:  our 2nd anniversary, trip to Birmingham, trip to Monroeville (just me:)), trip to the Neshoba County Fair and much, much more!!  I will have plenty to share over the next few weeks... I can only hope I have time to share it!!

Here are a few pictures from our past few weeks...

Olympic night at CSH

Zula's (& Joe's) Hug Booth

David's Helicopter School Graduation/Pinning

The 4th at the Lake

Liam or Langston....

4 kids under 8 months

The whole gang:)

Andie was a GREAT entertainer!!

Me and the sweet Suzanne:)

So... as you can see I have not just been sitting at home, choosing not to blog.  Well, maybe I have, but needless to say.... I'm back.... again!!

I have a lot coming up in the next few weeks, so stay tuned for a lot more fun!!

Better late than never....

A few weeks ago (yes, I know I am behind...) my niece and nephew got to spend a couple of weeks with their GG. I was lucky enough to get to spend a few days with them at my parents' house and in Mississippi for my cousin's baby shower. We had a great time hanging out, doing our nails, building legos, getting haircuts, bubble baths, going to a "girl party," hotel parties and much, much more. Here are a few pictures to show some of our good times!!

Playing with Miriam

Our new legos!!

Hop scotch with the Suse!!

Posing for the camera!!



Ninja moves:)

Granddaddy and J & S

Using the remote:)

Susan helping at Ashley's "Girl Party"

GG & the Suse:)

Sleeping Susan

DJ, Samuel, Josiah, Susan and Bo 

Can't wait til they make their way back down south!!