Monday, December 29, 2014

Nice Stalkin to ya Kenny Chesney

I have had many bizarre events in my life related to stalking Kenny Chesney. I LOVED Kenny Cheney in the early 2000's. So much that it brought about weird circumstances. I thought I would take an inventory of these moments to share.

1. When I got my first checking account, I thought it was so cool to get to order any design I wanted on my checks. So I ordered the "Kenny Chesney style" which featured Kenny at the beach. I thought I was super cool until I actually had to write these checks and give them to people. First weird look was from the cashier at the grocery store (thank goodness for debit cards now) she actually laughed about my checks. Next, was from one of my friends at school. I should probably explain why I was writing him a check...I paid him $15 to catch a fish for me for bonus points in Biology. No way was I catching my own fish to bring into school! My brother was completely annoyed and thought it was the biggest waste of money ever.

2. Next up, Kyle and I went to a Kenny Chesney concert. I was so excited and we were on the second row. I literally took of my seashell style necklace and walked up to the stage and gave it to Kenny. He held my hand and sang "The Good Stuff." I'm sure Kenny still remembers.  It was a great moment don't get me wrong, but a little bit embarrassing.

3. One day I was sitting in a lab class and started looking at the news. The headline was "Kenny Chesney married Renee Zellweger!" WHAT???? I might have had a panick attack in the middle of the class that everyone was aware of.  Renee?!? Really, Kenny, is that the best you can do??? Sadly, or happily, the marriage was dissolved shorty after leading to much speculation about why "fraud" was claimed on the annulment.

4. Stories started developing about Faith Hill banning Tim from hanging out with Kenny. And that is when I was officially over Tim and Faith. I LOVED Faith and Tim in the 90's early 2000's, but they have both changed. They kind of left their country roots and became stereotypical hollywood.

5. Last year, I was in Nashville visiting PBQS. She had just started dating her boyfriend and we were meeting his sweet family for the first time. T (the boyfriend) revealed at some point that the rumor around town was that Kenny led an alternative lifestyle. And I might have had a nervous breakdown. Did the hand holding at the concert mean nothing to him? Did he really not remember me?  My breakdown was so severe, T felt bad for bringing it up. He still to this day feels bad for bursting my Kenny Chesney bubble.

I guess now Kenny and I will have to just be friends. I have moved onto stalking Justin Timberlake, but continue to let Kenny hold a special place in my heart.

As for Kyle, my husband, he continues to shake his head and accept me for my celebrity stalking. He just wishes I would stop referring to them casually as if I really know them.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas

Tonight my little family and I have celebrated a wonderful Christmas Eve! We stayed home all day (Kyle worked part of the day) and made reindeer food, Christmas cookies, homemade chocolate ice cream, and a roast dinner. We attended our church Candlelight service and opened a few gifts afterwards. We finished our evening with some hot chocolate and board games. I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and remember the reason for the season. I know so many people are sick or in need of prayer right now and I hope this Christmas can give you peace and comfort. Thanks be to God for sending Jesus to this earth!



Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Jariel The Sequel

I told all five of you faithful blog readers I would keep you posted on the Jariel situation and I just so happen to have an update. For all of you hearing of this for the first time, please let me explain. Jariel was a friend of my grandmothers when my grandparents lived in Louisiana back in the 90s. Jariel always sent grandmother a Christmas card along with a VERY detailed letter every single year. Jariel sent Grandmother a Christmas card last year. And there lies the problem.

Grandmother died 3 years ago and we bought her house last year. So Fanny Pack Mom received the Christmas card on behalf of Grandmother.

Fast forward to this weekend and I was excited to open my mailbox that was full of beautiful Christmas cards! And then I saw it....another card/letter from Jariel once again addresses to my grandmother.


There are three different possible scenarios:

1. Jariel just doesn't know she died.

2. Jariel has lost her marbles.

3. Jariel has made an honest mistake two years in a row.


And I see it as having two different options:

1. Keep waiting each year to see if I receive a card.

2. Write back and let her know about Grandmother.


Option one is the easy road, but shouldn't I let her know? Option two is a little more complicated because I hate to be the bearer of bad news and upset her or even embarrass her for having sent it. AND what if she has just lost her marbles and it confuses her even more?

Quite the delimma here in fanny pack land. What do you all think? Two of grandmothers close friends encouraged me to write her a letter and include one of my family Christmas cards and just send one to her each year. I never actually knew Jariel myself, but I'm sure she knew of me considering I was the favorite grand child. (All of my cousins will appreciate that....Except Scott who really was and knows it ;) I just don't know so all ideas are appreciated.


P.S.---How rude of me....I didn't even tell you what Jariel had been up to according to her letter. She took a 3 week bucket list trip to Istanbul. Maybe I should become closer to Jariel.


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

LIFE! (The Email Version)

I must tell you all I have spent the better part of this week being stalked. Yes, I said stalked. It all started when I had to talk to a man about getting a project done for work. I had been warned that he was a little different, but I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. First, he called me 15 times at work. Everyone tapes messages to my door and when I walked up my door appeared to be a paper mâché project. This is only the start of it.


So I called him and he seemed nervous but I told him what I needed to order and he said he would email me an invoice. Mistake #1 was calling him back on my cell phone, which he proceeded to call 3 times in a row to inform me I gave him the wrong email address. Because apparently it's my fault he thought Floyd is spelled "Sloyd."

I was then called again and he said "Well......"

"Well what?"

"Well did you get my invoice I just sent you?"

WELL, sir, we literally just got off the phone and I have not had time to check my email as you are acting like this is an emergency. (I didn't really say that, but it was in my thoughts.)

He then proceeded to tell me to get a check for the full amount and take it to his bank and deposit it. By this point, I was completely confused. Never has a complete stranger asked me to take a check to the bank for him. He then started giving me all of his checking account information along with a power of attorney.

Ok, maybe not the power of attorney, but seriously gave me all the checking AND savings information. By this point, I just told him I would call him when I had a check ready. Fast forward maybe 4 minutes later and I have an email titled "LIFE!" It said, "Maybe I am asking too much of you. I will come get the check myself so you don't have to deposit it for me."

I was too exhausted to deal with him anymore at this point and told our office manager to just get me a check whenever it was convenient for her considering I knew how much she had going on this week and the rest of the month with it being the end of the year.

And since then I have received approximately 14 calls, voicemails, emails, and calls to work. A sweet girl from the ad agency we work with text me to say he even called them looking for me. The funny part is I am not even ignoring him. He is simply that anxious to get a check for work he hasn't even done yet and had to expend any energy working for yet....I take that back he has expended a lot of energy, but simply in his stalking. He is probably sitting outside of my window right now and has probably researched me enough to be reading this post.


Just saying if anyone is looking for Fanny Pack Mom, I will be on the down low until I have that check in the bank for him.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

3 years of Christmas in Heaven

Today marks 3 years since my Grandmother passed away. Time marches on. I will never forget that first Christmas season without her and how much seemed to be missing. No cookies to be made with her, no major decorations, no Christmas dinner that was a feast for kings with the table set perfectly.


Every December 4th is sad and I'm sure always will be for our family. But today was very special for me. I hosted a Junior Auxiliary Christmas party for our life and associate members. When we originally planned it I just planned for the first Thursday in December and didn't think about what day it would fall on. I was nervous and nostalgic when it fell on December 4th. My grandmother was a life Junior Auxiliary member and it was something special we shared. So I did just what my grandmother would have done...I painted my nails bright red and had my house  (which was her house) as decorated as she would have had it for such an event. And all of her sweet friends came to the party. It was so bittersweet, as my ideal situation would have been her right there with them. However, I was just so happy to see them and have them in the house for the first time since it has been my house. I have been so careful not to change things too much, yet make the house my own. When we first bought her house, I worried it would be sad for me. It has been such the opposite though. This house brings me so much joy, just as it did for her and my grandfather. I feel comfortable in this house and love the connection it gives me to my grandparents. Sometimes I feel a cool breeze beside me in the house and I always feel like it is grandmother or grandfather. It is not a scary feeling, it is actually really neat. (Kyle thinks I am CRAY CRAY.) (Kyle also jokes that grandmother will haunt me when I do something to her house she doesn't like.) There is a corner of my closet that smells just like my grandmother and when I walk inside the house sometimes it even smells just like it used to when they lived here.


Three years ago I was left devestated to lose my grandmother. Today, though I am still sad and miss her greatly, I feel like I am making the best of it and doing just what she would want me to. I will continue to try to make Christmas as grand as she did, but I know in my heart it doesn't compare to the Christmas season she has in heaven with Jesus.

I see the countless Christmas trees
Around the world below,
With tiny lights, like heaven’s stars,
Reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular,
Please wipe away that tear.
For I’m spending Christmas
With Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs,
That people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can’t compare,
With the Christmas choir up here.
For I have no words to tell you,
The joy their voices bring.
For it is beyond description,
To hear an angel sing.
I can’t tell you of the splendor,
Or the peace here in this place.
Can you just imagine Christmas,
With our Savior, face to face?
I’ll ask Him to light your spirit,
As I tell Him of your love;
So then pray for one another,
As you lift your eyes above.
Please let your heart be joyful,
And let your spirit sing.
For I’m spending Christmas in Heaven,
And I’m walking with the King!
I know how much you miss me;
I see the pain inside your heart.
But I’m not so far away,
We really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear,
And be glad I’m spending Christmas
With Jesus Christ this year.
I send you each a special gift
From my heavenly home above.
I send you each a memory
Of my undying love.
After all “love” is the gift,
More precious than pure gold.
It was always most important
In the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other
As my Father said to do,
For I can’t count the blessings
Or the love He has for you.
So have a Merry Christmas and
Wipe away that tear.
Remember I’m spending Christmas
With Jesus Christ this year!
-Author Unknown


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Movie Review Monday

Kyle and I rarely go to see movies when they are out in theaters. That is unless we are talking about kids movies that we take the boys to see. Recently we have gone to see not just one, but two movies I have been dying to see!

First up...Gone Girl

I read the book and loved it! The author has to be a creative genius to think up the things she did in this book. The only thing that made it hard to read was the language. I cringe every time I read or hear the Lord's name taken in vain. Plus it was a little dark, but still interesting.

I have heard mixed reviews about the movie, but ultimately I really liked it. I felt like it stuck to the book closely which made it wonderful. Same issues with the language and too many "physical" scenes, but still very creative. The actors were amazing! I wasn't as impressed with Ben Affleck as I was the girl who played Amy. She was incredible! And as always I love Neil Patrick Harris!

A lot of people are unhappy with the ending, but I think it made so much sense to the story and character's personalities. I need to read another Gillian Flynn book ASAP!

Oh and in case you are wondering....Kyle's review was that Amy was crazy and it was a little weird, but overall good.

Next...The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Oh The Hunger games! Another trend Kyle and I were late to get into. We randomly rented the first movie late last year and loved it! It was a little disturbing, but that is apparently the way movies are going these days. We quickly rented the second movie as well and have been counting down the days to go see the third movie in theaters. So we headed to the theater with PBQS, her boyfriend, and my dad. Yes, my dad, who knew nothing about The Hunger Games and has not seen the two previous movies. He still for some unknown reason wanted to go, so he went with us.

I knew exactly how this scenario would play out...he would be asking questions the entire time. You know who else likes to ask questions during movies...PBQS. You know who doesnt like to speak or answer questions during movies...ME. So I specifically sat on the end seat on the opposite side of my dad and Abby. I actually didn't hear a peep out of them aside from seeing my dad throw up the mockingjay hand symbol when other characters in the movie did it to support Katniss. At least he was enjoying it.

So back to the movie, I did enjoy it. I felt like  a nervous wreck the entire time. It was great, but I think it was kind of like a really long preview of Part 2. I am so ready for Part 2! I could read the book, but I just adore Jennifer Lawrence and like watching her play Katniss. She is a great actress and keeps it real!

As a bonus we rented Divergent on Sunday night. I wasn't sure if I would like it as much as The Hunger Games, but I loved it!! It was similar to Hunger Games, yet so different! And yay for the second movie in the series coming out in March!


Next up...a bunch of my favorite Christmas movies and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with my boys!