Days of Thanksgiving...Days 1&2

I was planning on posting each day of November, even after Thanksgiving, of something that I am thankful for. Becoming a teacher and talking with my students Monday-Friday, I have quickly learned how blessed I am and how I take so many things for granted!

Tuesday, the 1st, was a super busy day- Left home at normal time- 6:45AM- Taught all day, Homebound for a sweet brother and sister for two hours, quick trip to McDonalds for supper, and then to Bible Study. I walked back in my door to the house about 10 PM. I went straight to the bed and slept like a baby. :) That is my excuse for not blogging yesterday.

That is the reason I will be combining Days 1 and 2 together :)

Day 1: Thankful for John Thomas

This one is a no brainer! I am SO thankful that the God sent him to be in my life! I love my husband so very much! I never knew this kind of love and I am so thankful I didn't until I met him. He is a great provider for us. He has so much patience (majority of the time ;) ) with me! When we first were married I had just graduated college, worked a part time retail job, and was studying to take the PRAXIS to get my teaching certificate. He was so wonderful for not making me work a full time job so I could study. August came and no teaching job was in sight. However, we discussed and prayed about what to do. I was able to only work my retail job about two days a week and subbed the rest of the week. It was so important that I kept my name in at schools, I might not have the job I have now if it weren't for subbing so much! I will never be able to repay John Thomas for that. I could go on and on about what all he does for us but I won't.

I am just glad we are so in love with each other!

Thank you for blessing my life babe, I love you!

This is my most favorite picture from our wedding!

Day 2: Thankful for Parents

Where do I start? I love, adore, admire, and on and on my parents! They gave me the best life growing up, and still! My momma and daddy are my rock! There has not been a day that has gone by where I have not talked to at least one of them. They sacrifaced for my brother and myself and made sure we had everything we needed and majority of what we wanted growing up. They are two of the most unselfish people I know. I am eternally thankful for them! I can not imagine life without either of them. I pray daily that when John Thomas and I are blessed to be parents that I can be half the parent that my parents have been to me.

Mom and Dad, I love you bunches! Thank you for everything- you are my world!

This, of course, was at my wedding last May. They made every dream of mine about that day come true. I'm forever thankful!

2 weekends later...

I last left you all with a promise of starting to update more. Whoopsies! John Thomas and I have been SO busy! We had no plans this weekend and it so far has been wonderful!

Our first weekend in Charleston was spent compliments of one of John Thomas's vendors at work, Oki. We had a wonderful weekend away spent walking around downtown Charleston, watching Clemson football, and hanging out with new and old friends! The weather was absolutely perfect!

We then made the drive back up 26 Sunday afternoon only to come back down the following Friday night! This trip was compliments of our wonderful friends, John Robert and Lauren Stanley! We had such a great trip and they are always such great host! They live about 20 minutes from downtown- great location! We spent Saturday at The Citadel tailgating and watching football. The Citadel lost but made a great comeback during the second half. We decided on the drive home Sunday we couldn't be paid to drive down 26 for another few weekends!

This weekend I have spent with my awesome parents! John Thomas has been hunting so Wally and myself packed up and came on over. We've had a great time!

Prior to the Charleston trips, we were camping in Pisgah National Forest one weekend and in Charlotte watching the Panthers place the weekends before. If you are counting, that is FOUR weekends straight we were gone!

The month of October has been a whirlwind of a month! John Thomas and I have stayed so busy and work has been crazy busy as well! Speaking of school...I LOVE it! I told my principal the other day I don't feel like I am coming to work some days. I love the people I work with (especially my awesome team!), my students and I completely love teaching! I know without any hesitation that teaching is one of the purposes that God put me on Earth for! I am not saying everyday is great or I never have discipline problems- of course I do! However, the positives FAR outweigh the negatives! First nine weeks down, three more to go!

I really promise to blog more! I have caught up with all school stuff (thank you teacher work day!) and we only have two more out of town weekends planned until Christmas! Yay! Have a great Saturday!

love-

Weekend Preview

We are so blessed for John Thomas to have a wonderful job where he provides for us! I love the drive and dedication he has to his customers and work. He works for a company where vendors come through the office a good bit and do giveaways. He is just so good he has won us a weekend away to Charleston, all expenses paid! We will be staying here, at this fabulous hotel in Downtown Charleston....

I am so excited! We both have been so busy with work and this is exactly what we need!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

love-

I am alive

So I haven't blogged a lot lately. And I have one word to explain why: SCHOOL!

School is great though! I love all 74 babies but I am so busy constantly planning, grading, and anything else school/work related! I promise to update! Some fun things have been happening around the Gillespie household that I can't wait to share :)

My friend Haley has been doing a Currently blog and I wanted to jump in on the fun! So here we go!

Listening - Steven Tyler on Pandora...random, I know!

Eating - Nothing right now. Just cleaned the kitchen. We had roast (Praise Jesus for crockpots!), Rice and Greenbeans - yum!

Drinking- Nothing

Wearing - Black Yoga Pants and a Mast General Store TShirt

Feeling - Tired and a bit overwhelemd

Weather - today has been sunny and cool, an absolutely beautiful fall day! Recess is looking good the next few weeks at the temperatures we are having!

Wanting - too much!

Needing - to grade quizzes from last week

Thinking - Charleston this weekend can not get here soon enough!

Enjoying- Having a quiet night at home!

September 11, 2001

I remember being in the 8th grade. That morning I had an orthodontist's appointment.

 It was like it was yesterday. I rounded the corner to tell mom I was all good to go that I looked at the small TV in the lobby area and saw the second plane hit. I thought it was movie. I didn't know that something so horrific could happen in real life. Especially not in America where everything is so perfect.

I think that is the moment that I understood the realization that this world is full of evil.

Mom took me on to school and picked me up like normal that day. I really don't remember the stuff that went on at school that day. I guess maybe I was still young and naive. What I do remember is on the way home mom stopping to get a paper from the gas station and seeing it front page, already. Just a few short hours later. I remember not being able to find anything on the radio that was not covering the attack, so we listened to a CD. I remember my dad being home from work early that day and us gathered as a family to see the attacks over and over TV because there was nothing else on, I think we eventually watched a movie. I remember that night we all went to church. The church was packed and many tears were being shed. For weeks and months after I thought how awesome it was that America had grew together (Let me clarify, I did not think what had happened was awesome, but it was awesome to see American stand united in such a trying time in our nation) and the church was full. Then, I sit in church this morning and think where are all of those people now? Why is the church not crowded like it was the months following the attack?

In May of 2009 my mom and I traveled to NYC for a few days, just us girls. (Sidenote- one of the most wonderful trips I have ever been on, such a special time- just my momma and me) I remember walking through the church right there at Ground Zero. Then going to Ground Zero. It was hard to see everything because a giant fence bordered the area. But, it was such an amazing place to stand and just remember what had happen there a few years previous.

Through the small opening that we were allowed to look through at Ground Zero.



I am so proud to be an American. I am so thankful for those people who so unselfishly and unwillingly gave their lives that day. I am also so grateful for our military men and women that give their lives with their families to protect me. I pray for my troops, and I hope that you do the same daily.

 On Friday, I tried my hardest to explain to my students the impact of that day. They looked at me like I was making this story up. We watched Channel One (Student News Channel) from September 12, 2001 and I believe it might have been the first time some of my 8th graders had ever seen the footage. They were in disbelief.

This is my favorite picture from that day. I think that it is a true representation of America.

 I am proud to be an American. God Bless the USA!

I will never forget.

love-

A Few Signs....

I am a summer girl! I love the hot weather, weekend trips to the lake, Pawley's Island, the clothes,

everything single thing about summer I love!

Starting last year I was ready for fall when it finally rolled around but wasn't quiet ready for summer to completely disappear. Well this year I am SO over summer! I do not know what has got into me this year, but I am anxiously awaiting fall!

Fall officially started at the Gillespie house today! I bought a new fall Yankee Candle that smells divine! It is one of their new fall candles, Nature's Paintbrush. I am going to go back soon and smell some more and get another one for my kitchen! I love candles!

Another reason I know fall is getting here is the TV has only been showing football all day long. John Thomas got up this morning before I did and Gameday was already on when I finally got up! I did run out and do a few errands with my momma but made sure I was home in time to watch Georgia/Carolina! Georgia lost but put up a great fight! It was a nail biting game!

I have all of my fall decorations out and we have even put up some windows this evening to let the fresh air in the house! I love it! This design I found on Pinterest and I am going to try and make one similar using fall color ribbon and flowers! I will post whenever I finish!

The biggest sign that fall is right around the corner....

I reached to the top of my closet tonight and pulled out my most favorite old Citadel sweatpants of JTs! I do not plan on putting them up until March or April of 2012! I live in these things all fall and winter! They are so comfy and baggy which makes them ideal!

I hope that you all are having a wonderful September Saturday!!

Love-

House Divided

This is the time of year where the Gillespie house becomes a divided house: Georgia vs. Clemson!

I was born and raised to love the Georgia Bulldogs and that is what I do! Now, I do go to Clemson games and root for the Tigers but Georgia will always have my heart!

Growing up my Papa Fleming had UGA Season Tickets and we would always go, and always stopped by Zebs to get a bite of the BEST BBQ and Brunswick Stew!

My Brother and I with our sweet Papa walking into Sanford Stadium

John Thomas is so excited about the football season finally being here and I am really excited about it, too!

Gooooooooooo Dawgs, Sic' em, Woof Woof Woof!!!!