Unwrapped Beauty

I won a free session at Whispers - Whoot Whoot!!

2010-04-07T12:46:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody - I have been so excited about my recent winnings that I just had to share. I just recently won a contest from Whispers Photography on Facebook. I won a free session for Sydney and also a print credit!! So, here are a couple of images of my beautiful baby girl. I can't wait to see all of them!

Doesn't she look a tad bit mischievious here??

And check out these precious little toes and feet!!

Meet Lisa: The Women in My Life Part 2

2010-03-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

Meet Lisa!

In case you didn't read my last blog post, I have decided that for the next few weeks I am going to highlight the women in my life who make me who I am. So, today is Lisa. Lisa is one of my dearest friends. We met at Harding my Junior year of college and we have been great friends ever since. If you ever were to meet Lisa, you would notice right away how beautiful she is - but shortly after that you would see that she is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. Lisa and I have actually gotten to do things together that most friends never will. We have been to the Eiffel tower in paris, Venice, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the Tower of Pisa and even to a Paul Simon concert in Rome. Lucky for us Harding University has an overseas program in Florence, Italy and we were able to travel Europe while studying there for about 2 1/2 months. And it was just luck that they put us in the same room together as roomies.

Lisa works in PR too...so she understands me. We are news junkies and communicationaholics to the point it is probably nauseating! We love sports...especially football and both of our goals in life were to work on ESPN as women sports anchors until we both realized that Erin Andrews had us way beat out for that job.

Lisa has definitely seen me at my worst. She has had to dry my tears more times than I care to remember and has had to do ridiculous things to make me laugh. Yay for friends who have seen our worst but love us in spite of it all.

Be sure to check out the next girlfriend highlight coming soon!

The Women in My Life Part 1

2010-03-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Last month, we had the ladies retreat at Mayfair. The topic was Friendship His Idea. I have been thinking about that a lot lately and how important good friends are to our walk with God. I have even had that conversation with some of my friends. So, I thought --- hmmmm...how fun would it be to highlight a girlfriend for the next few weeks and to tell you why this person is an important part of my life?? Well, I decided it would be SUPER fun so here we go (these are in no particular order) but today is........drum roll please

MOMSY "Patsy" Abernathy -

Since most of you don't know Momsy, I thought I would tell you what makes her so special. For one, she is my grandmother. But not your typical Grandmother - she is the type that tries extra hard to make everything fun and special. She makes WONDERFUL biscuits and having breakfast on her back screened in porch is just about heaven on earth. Family is THE most important thing on this earth to her. She has a big family and she loves all of us A LOT, but most importantly she makes each of us feel really really special. She is the kind of person you can call if you have a bad day and she will make you feel better. I remember one phone call imparticular I was sad because I had interviewed for a job and then I didn't get it and she called to check on me and she said "obviously they do not see what I see - who do I need to call." So, that's just how she is. She sees the best in me and she always has and she always will.

This Thanksgiving she decided that the grandkids would have a dessert baking competition. Well, of course I was running behind and trying to get to Florence after work so my submission into the competition was a store-bought pie (and so was Sydney's). But, Sydney and I made out like bandits - Sydney tied for first place in the "little tikes" competition and I don't remember which title I received - but it did come with prize money. So, we left with 40 bucks - all for bringing in a couple of store bought pies!!

Most of all, Momsy encourages me. She encourages me in my marriage, as a mom and she is really just my really good friend. I feel really lucky that I was the first of her grandchildren and I have gotten to enjoy her being my grandmother longer than anyone. Although, don't tell my cousin Rachel - she thinks she is her favorite...and it will be best to keep it that way. Wink Wink

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

2010-03-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

Do you see the resemblance?

It was Dr. Seuss day today at school - Syd went as Thing 1.

Sydney turns 3!!

2010-03-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

Sydney turned 3 on Monday. I can't believe that she is so grown up. It seems like she should still be my baby, but instead she is now a little girl. So, in honor of her birthday - I thought I would share a little bit about what she enjoys these days.

She loves to color - she will color for hours as long as someone is working on it with her.

She is extremely opinionated about what she will and won't wear - I end up bribing her with jelly beans sometimes just so we can make it to church on time.

Puzzles are her favorite! She actually got eight new ones for her birthday and she has put together every one of them.

She is definitely a "Daddy's girl" - I think she would rather be with him than just about anybody in the world.

She loves to sing and it is so cute to hear her singing those new between the lions cds from Chick-fil-A.

Speaking of Chick-fil-a the girl is chicken nugget crazy.

Sydney's favorite meals besides chicken nuggets are spaghetti, mac n cheese and any other type of carb.

She knows all of her letters and numbers.

She always likes to wake up before 6 a.m. on Saturday mornings.

She loves to get her hair curled or her finger nails painted.

So, there is Sydney in a nutshell. She means the world to her daddy and me.

Foundation that I LOVE

2010-03-03T09:02:00.001-08:00

I have tried a lot of foundations...but this one I LOVE!!

Harry Connick Jr.

2010-03-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

Well- I need to apologize for not updating this blog in FOREVER! It certainly wasn't my intention...things just get crazy sometimes and this has been at the bottom of my priority list.

Last week Daniel and I had the opportunity to go the Harry Connick Jr. concert. I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn't know that I would LOVE it! He was incredible. When he wasn't singing, he was playing the piano or trumpet or making me laugh hysterically - who knew he was so funny?? At one point he was about 3 feet from me when he came walking through the audience and I was just going NUTS!!

Gymnastics

2009-11-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

Gosh- one more thing...I keep thinking of other things I should have said in my last post. I don't have any pictures, but Sydney started Gymnastics on thursday night. She had a ball. I think I had just as much fun if not more fun getting to watch her. She was so stinking cute in her little leotard. I will have to take my camera next week to get a picture to post.

Beautiful Day

2009-11-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

It is Saturday and BEEEEEEutiful outside! I am so happy to be feeling much better and looking forward to a really fun Saturday. Finished my grocery shopping for the week (big relief as I dread grocery shopping like the plague every single week) We are having our pictures made today and then watching the football game later tonight. I went to Interior Marketplace this morning to get Sydney some hairbows and let me tell you-- it smells and looks like Christmas in there and it got me so excited. Has anyone put their tree up yet?? I haven't but I would like to in the next week or two. LOVE LOVE LOVE decorating for Christmas.

Oh - one other thing I am super excited about is that the Bible Across America from Zondervan is ready!! I have been waiting for these to come out for a long time. I can't wait to get one!! I thought that was the coolest idea and I think it will be neat to look and see who all contributed a verse. Check out the web site here: http://www.bibleacrossamerica.com/index.php

One more side note, for us girls who struggle with our weight...is it not the most frustrating thing in the world??!! Good grief. I get so tired of thinking about food and feeling guilty and then never feeling good about myself. I think I am going to change this ASAP. I haven't decided what route to go...but I am going to do it. If anyone has advice or something that worked for them...I would love to hear it.

Happy Saturday!!

Walking Pneumonia

2009-11-07T19:14:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling bad - really bad for a little over a week. Not really a high fever or anything but just tired so so tired. Well this morning, Daniel said that I had to go to the doctor because my coughing had been keeping him awake at night. I hate that feeling when you go to the doctor and you know you feel really bad but you are so afraid they are going to come back in the room and say - you have a cold...go home and get some rest. That is always my biggest fear that they won't be able to figure out what is wrong. But today after throat and nose swabs, blood work and a chest x-ray -- I was actually very glad when the doctor said I had walking pneumonia because at least now I know what it is and can start getting better. Please say a little prayer that I will start to feel better soon because I have a little two year old who needs a mommy with a lot of energy!

Poor little Sydney

2009-11-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

What a crazy few weeks we have had. Daniel had the flu earlier this week. Then on Tuesday, Sydney started feeling terrible. We took her to the Doc in the box on Tuesday night and then Wednesday morning when she woke up her eyes were crusted over to where she couldn't open them...it was the saddest thing. She is on antibiotics now and starting to feel better but it has definitely been a hard week at the Shepard house. I'm ready for this sinus/nasty/flu stuff to go away!

Trick or Treat

2009-11-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

We had a great Halloween. Sydney got to go trick or treating with two of her friends from school. She ran from house to house as fast as she possibly could.

This is Sydney trying on Davidson's space helmet.

This was the three of them riding in the wagon.

I thought this little face on Sydney was so cute!

Sydney, Michael and Davidson - hanging out before they got to go trick or treating.

Sydney and Michael sitting on the steps.

Sydney was so pretty as Snow White...

She had her best Halloween yet!

Happy belated birthday Daniel!

2009-10-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

Daniel just had his 31st birthday on October 26th. I just can't believe he is 31. When we met he was 23 and I was 20. It is unbelievable that almost 8 years have come and gone since we first met, and just surreal to consider all that has happened since then.

If you don't know Daniel very well, I want to share with you why he is so special to me.

He is the best daddy any little girl could ever hope for
He has the best heart of anyone I know
He is funny - I mean hilarious funny - If you haven't heard him tell some of his stories from the Navy, you should because they will crack you up
He is opinionated - very opinionated. But that's one of those things I really love about him. He doesn't just sit back and agree just to keep the peace. If he disagrees he will tell you and I like that.
He is passionate about issues that effect people - political issues like healthcare, illegal immigration and socialism
He is a provider - he works so hard to take care of me and Sydney and I appreciate that so much
He LOVES to fish
He is smart - super duper smart
He LOVES Alabama football and when I say love - I mean lives and breathes it
He doesn't give up when things get hard
He makes the best chili EVER!
He let me get a housekeeper-- I am eternally grateful as it has really improved my life!
He believes in me even more than I believe in myself

Happy Birthday Daniel - Can't imagine my life without you in it!

Snow White & the HUGE shoes!

2009-10-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Sydney is totally into the Disney princess right now. She will be Snow White for halloween this year. Check out her trying on the outfit with my size 11 shoes on...this was so funny!

New Ballet Outfit

2009-10-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

I love my new ballet outfit!

Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!

Trip to Silverhill

2009-10-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of little Sydney from our trip to Silverhill a month or two ago. We had such a good time with my Uncle Fred, Aunt Lynn and cousins Josh and Amanda. It was Syd's first trip to the beach since she was a tiny baby. She has the best time.

Roll Tide

2009-10-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

Who's ready for some Alabama Football?

Florida Boy

2009-10-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

I used to notice stories like this before I had my sweet Sydney, but now that I am a mom and have a responsibility to keep her as safe as possible -- these kind of stories really get to me.

There is a little boy in Florida today who is fighting for his life. He is burned over 80% of his body. Five teenagers at his school doused him in rubbing alcohol and literally set him on fire with a lighter. And, it turns out that this was all over a video game and a bike. The youngest of the five boys was 13 and they may charge them as adults.

It really stinks that you can't just send your child to school and assume they will be safe. Apparently, the little boy had been afraid to go to school and had told his mom. She had asked for an appointment with the school and her son never made it to the appointment because he was burned before he ever made it to school that day.

Homeschooling is sounding better and better by the day. Good grief -- these kinds of stories can make a mom crazy. I just don't want my child to go to school scared and it doesn't matter to me how much I have to pay for private school or whatever. I will do what it takes. This is getting ridiculous!

Fox: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,567645,00.html?test=latestnews

Nothingness

2009-10-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal. Life is crazy. 100% pure and total crazy. This week has just been one of those weeks. I don't feel the least bit organized. Everything is total chaos. Sydney has been sick. Daniel has been sick. Work has been crazy busy. My house is a total wreck. I got my first cavity today (ok, so now I am being a little dramatic but it still matters). Laundry piled a mile high, and I have just felt all out of sorts. Lucky for me, tomorrow is Saturday. Glorious glorious Saturday. Oh how I need a Saturday. But not just any Saturday -- a lay at home and do absolutely nothing Saturday. Don't we just need one of those sometimes? I can't believe how busy we are these days -- and I only have one kid. I can't even imagine how it would feel to have 3 kids like a lot of you out there. Ahhhh....all I want to do is bask in a big bowl of nothingness!

Wait & See

2009-10-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but I absolutely LOVE Brandon Heath. The words to his songs seem to always hit me right where I am and speak to me. His latest song "Wait and See" was the inspiration for the name of my blog - Unwrapped Beauty.

Here are a few parts of the song:

There is hope for me yet
Because God won’t forget
All the plans he’s made for me
I have to wait and see
He’s not finished with me yet

Still wondering why I’m here
Still wrestling with my fear
But oh, He’s up to something
And the farther on I go
I’ve seen enough to know
That I’m, not here for nothing
He’s up to something

I have wondered many times what God has planned for my life. Lately it has just been on my heart that God wants to do a work in me. That he has something bigger for me than I know. Unwrapped Beauty is just that...waiting to see what God has planned for me. What beautiful thing he plans to do in me. I know it sounds cliche but he isn't finished with me yet. He is bigger than me and my fears and he is bigger than my hopes and dreams. He can make something out of nothing and I know he can give my life meaning and purpose and beauty that I haven't thought was possible. The God of all knows me by name, he knows my dreams my wishes my disappointments -- and he is up to something. Kind of like a beautiful gift waiting to be unwrapped...

Christmas anyone?

2009-10-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else getting excited for Christmas? I absolutely love Christmas time! I just found these pictures of Sydney from Christmas last year. It is amazing how much she has changed in only one year!

He knows what we need

2009-10-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

My blog is up! I am so excited. A big thank you to my friend Brooke for putting it together for me! I love, love, love it!

For those of you who may not know, my husband served in the U.S. Navy for five years. He was stationed on a submarine and he was gone most of the time for the first 3 years of our marriage. We lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia away from all of our family and friends back home.

During that time, I really had to depend on friends for support. I met this one particular friend totally by chance. I had been calling around looking for a job. I was just out of school and begging anyone to give me a chance in the PR world. One lady gave me that chance and I began working for her out of her home office. In addition to myself, she also employed another girl my age--Star.

Well, God really knows what we need and when we need it. Star invited me to hang out, introduced me to her friends and convinced me that I could do this whole "Navy wife" thing. Since her husband was in the Navy, she could totally relate to what I was going through and it was nice to have a friend like that. She called all the time to see if I was "ok." She invited me to do things all the time so that I would be having fun and it would take my mind off of the fact that I hadn't seen my husband in months and months! I really needed someone like her.

Since then our lives have been rather crazy. She and her husband moved to Italy for awhile, had twins and now are back in Virginia Beach. Around the same time, Daniel and I moved back to Huntsville and had Sydney. Her twins and Sydney are only a few weeks a part in age.

Star has been on my mind a lot lately because she found out 2 weeks ago that her husband will be leaving for Afghanistan next month. Although she is one of the strongest people I know, I can't imagine how she must feel. I wrote this today to ask for your prayers for one of my dearest friends and for their two young kids. I ask that you pray for his safety and for her to have strength, peace and perseverance. Star knows that this is part of being a military family and many many families have had to go through this - but when it is your turn to experience it...I can't imagine how that must feel.