"V" is for.....

I can't believe that I am almost through the alphabet...This ABC challenge has been fun...Well, "V" is a letter that I had to put some thought into..and I didn't come up with much...So, here is what came to my mind....James(myhusband) has been working alot of overtime lately...I say lately, but really for the past 2-3 years....I feel like I am by myself, with the kids often..to put it nicely....but this weekend has been extra difficult...James has had to work the weekend too...so I have been feeling sorry for myself, I guess...after working night shifts, no sleep, I think I am just a little emotional...moody...whatever you want to call it...so my letter "V" is ....

Are you ready?

This is creative (not).....

I am "V"ery tired....I am "V"ery ready for James to come home....I am "V"ery ready for "Vacation"!!!!!! Wow, if you had been sitting here next to me and my laptop-you would have observed the expression on my face!! I was, and I do say WAS going to let the letter "V" stand for Very...but as I was typing.....VACATION!!!!!!! starts with "V"...Yeah...I love a good vacation...but it must involve sand, surf, sun and lots of it....We are going to be visiting the coastal area 2 times this summer and I cannot wait!!! Tybee Island is one of the places we will be vacationing to...I love lighthouses, and we have never been to this one before...So should be fun...

But I still am "V"ery tired of all the overtime....I don't want to be a single mom....I miss you honey....

Beach Party

I am participating in the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 minutes for Mom.....Considering it is freezing cold here in Tennessee....What better type of party to host than a BEACH Party!!!!! I am sitting here in my den, under my snowman blanket, freezing...and snow is falling outside....So, grab yourself a chair, and sit down and visit for a while...You can have the chair, because I think I am going to spread out the ole' beach towel and take in some rays...A girl can dream, can't she?My name is Cassie, and I am a happily married mother of three...We are a very busy family...running to ballgames, theatre practices, school functions, ect. all of the time....I married my high school sweetheart and we have been blessed by this crew that we are sharing our lives with...Thanks for stopping by my blog!! I have been blogging for almost a year now, I started to help my family keep up with the "going's on" of the Allen's...and it has turned into an obsession, therapy, and an ongoing list of many other things.....

I heart photography...my Nikon is my best friend...so be sure to check out my photography site also...Still Moments Photography....I am a Registered Nurse, with a small photography business on the side....Dreaming big...Hoping, one day, to quit the work force and only take pictures...But for now, I am doing both....=(

Thanks for stopping by my blog...Be sure to stay and visit a while...I look forward to meeting you....(for those of you who knew all of this 'stuff' about me, sorry...just ignore this post) Have a great day at the BEACH party!!!!

A Must Read....

I was brought to tears as I read the following blog...Audrey Caroline, Bring the Rain...It is a young mother's journey as she is facing a devastating diagnosis of her unborn child, and the faith that she has while facing this challenge....Her husband is Tim Smith, who sings with the group Selah...a phenomenal Christian group...Please remember this family in your prayers as the face such a difficult time...

"U" is for....

Us...it is a word that I use all the time, and haven't really thought much about until now....I was trying to think of something to post for the letter "U"...and came up with the word US...Our "us" has changed tremendously over the years....It used to be "just us", and then there was "just us 3", then "just us 4", I think you get the idea....So I did a little search around the house...to find a few pics to share about our "US"....

James and I --this is our engagement picture....We sure have changed!This is our family picture that we had taken on Ian's first birthday....Little cutie!!!

This was a snapshot that we took at Macey's first birthday party....Notice, we have changed from the "studio" shots...the more kids you have the more pictures you learn to take yourself...I honestly searched for a "posed" family picture of "us" before Cade, and after Macey...and there isn't any....kind of sad, huh? That's ok..there are plenty of snapshots...and I like those better anyway.....=) And last but not least....Here is a shot of "us" now....that includes Mr. Cade....I love this bunch so very much...Who would have thought, back when James and I were having that engagement photo taken, that our "us" would turn into such a wonderful, precious, Family....Love you guys.....

100 Acre Personality Quiz

This cracks me up....A few friends and I used to discuss what character we "were" in Winnie the Pooh...I know, I must have some serious time on my hands...Hee hee..So when I saw this quiz...I HAD to blog it...Be sure to take the quiz...I am Kanga...and I always thought I was Rabbit...Interesting.....

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

"T" is for....

I am not a country music fan per say...but I was watching Ellen yesterday...Yes, I am an Ellen fan...She cracks me up...anyway....that subject could be another post altogether....There was a country music artist on the show, named Taylor Swift....she sang this song called "Our Song" which I immediately fell in love with....Already downloaded it, and decided it would be what I would post about for the letter "T"...I have listened to it this morning over and over...almost know all the words already!! But I had to share....It is a very simple song...but it reminds me of me and James back in high school...when "things" didn't matter....no bills, no job, no commitments--except to one another....Those were the good days...(sort of makes me sound old, doesn't it?) I think we need to get back to this way of thinking every once in a while-if only for an hour or 2....Put one another at the top of our list of priorities....and remember the fun things we used to do...before our lives got so complicated....here's the song....i LOVE it!!! I love you James.

My Life Verse

I saw this on Tanja's blog....and I think it is so neat....After my little venting this morning...how perfect this verse is for my life right now...God never ceases to amaze me.....

1 Corinthians 7:17 NIV Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called.

"S" is for.....

Right now I am sleep deprived...so I am thinking that is a good word for the letter "S"...Sleep deprived....sleepy....sleeplessness...All of the above...Working a straight night shift job has it's advantages and it's disadvantages....James or I are the only ones that ever watch our children...That is the reason I work the way I do....But so much of the time, I am tired, grumpy, have a headache, ect....The things that happen to your body when you don't get the sleep that it requires....I know that this way of life is just going to be for a season...but sometimes, I wonder how much longer? Sometimes, I dream about being "normal" and going to bed when all of the other people I know go to bed....instead I am leaving to go to work....My kiddos are so worth it though...I get to go to the class parties...the field trips...the ball games...the school programs...just show up for lunch with them one day....Maybe I am tired and have a hard time getting myself to get to these functions, due to the lack of sleep...but I do get to go...so I don't want to sound like I am complaining...but I just think that the sleeplessness gets to you....I know I could have to work full time, 5 days a week, and I am thankful for being blessed with my job, and my schedule that couldn't better fit my needs....James and I have set some big goals...One is to become Debt Free, which we are on our way....and the second goal I have is to stay at home....I would love to devote 100% of my time to my family...I think just writing this post made me feel better about this situation....I have said before Blogging is therapy for me...Helps to get your thoughts on paper....

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

My God is big...He knows what my life holds, and the lives of my precious family....So for now, this Steven Curtis Chapman song comes to mind....

Saddle up your Horses....

Started out this morning in the usual way

Chasing thoughts inside my head of all I had to do today

Another time around the circle try to make it better than the last

I opened up the Bible and I read about me

Said I'd been a prisoner and God's grace had set me free

And somewhere between the pages it hit me like a lightning bolt

I saw a big frontier in front of me and I heard somebody say "let's go"!

[Chorus:]Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze

Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace

Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown

This is a life like no other - this is The Great Adventure

Brett Favre Retiring

No, I am not a Green Bay Packers fan....but I am a Brett Favre fan...I just saw on the news that he has made the decision to retire....Here is a little news article....

"After flirting with retirement for years, Brett Favre means it this time. The Green Bay Packers quarterback retired after a 17-season career in which he dazzled fans with his grit, heart and rocket of an arm.
"I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired," Favre told ESPN's Chris Mortensen in a voice mail message.
Tuesday's surprise move comes after the 38-year-old three-time MVP set several league records, including most career touchdown passes, in one of his most successful seasons"

Not only will we be losing one of the best quarterbacks ever...we will be missing his beautiful smile....--Cassie, Confessions of a Football Mom =) (James, I know you are smiling over this one!)

Check it out...

Macey and I did a photo session on Sunday afternoon at an old deserted bowling alley in town...It had some really cool architecture that I thought would make for some really good pictures...which it did....so be sure to check them out on my Still Moments site....I think they turned out great....if I do say so myself....=) Well, the rain has already started here...so since I worked last night...it's gonna be a great day for sleeping....have a good one....