A Great birthday week !!!!

Last Sunday was my birthday ! I had an amazing birthday that lasted several days.First of all,the day before my birthday my family went to the zoo with my nieces.It was soooo much fun :) I haven't been in ages and of course it was great to experience it with my nieces.We then ate at Joe's Crab Shack which was sooooo good !!! I got many calls on Sunday from people saying happy birthday.Then,2 of my bible study girls surprised me with gifts on monday night.One gave me a mug with HOPE on it and Jeremiah 29:11 at the bottom of it.I love it :) Ann made chocolate pie too and it was YUMMY !!! They were so thoughtful to remember me on my birthday.Then wednesday at work we went out for lunch to celebrate mine and stephanie's birthdays.We went to one of my favorite restaurants and it was SOOOO good.I even tried something new and loved it.I got to keep a yellow rose from the table and got a free "chocolate majesty" dessert. I felt so loved and had fun. So thanks to all of you who helped me celebrate !!!!
I'll leave you with some pics from the trip to the zoo :)

A long overdue update !!!!!

hello everyone ! I just realized in looking back at my blogs that I haven't posted about the everday "goings on" in my life in a while. I forget to do this because I feel like I don't do much exciting stuff.however,I do more than I realize AND I know you care about what's going on with me no matter what it is :) So,here's an update.
I'm still working for the state of TN as a social worker and still overstressed and underpaid.But,I really do like what I do and my clients.There's just so much of it.
I host a monday night's girls bible study and look forward to that EVERY week.The ladies in that group are soooo precious to me and I've enjoyed studying the Word with them.We also "come beside each other" and "do life" with each other.I always love the body of Christ in action.I also have to say quickly that God' Word has come alive to me again lately like never before and i'm so loving reading it.
I've been spending alot of time with my sister and nieces. I'm having a BLAST too.My sister and I have had some talks like never before in our lives and I'm so thankful for her :) And of course I love being Aunt Alicia more than anything else in the world. Madelyn will be 3 in June and Anna is 8 months.I heard Anna say "momma" for the first time last night.She also is making faces when she eats :) Madelyn used to do that too but it was a different face.Anna still the cutest baby face with the cutest BIG blue eyes that make you smile just looking at her. Madelyn is very active,quite verbal and somewhat demanding.She's very sweet though too and I have to say obeys pretty well.We all still say she's just like me and she is :) Weird since I didn't give birth to her though. We're all going to the zoo on saturday so i'm sure I'll have some pics to share this weekend :)
A couple of weekends ago on Sunday I had such a fun day.I went to an art show in Trenton Tn where a friend of mine was showing a couple of pieces.I really enjoyed getting to see her,support her and see all the art on display. There were some amazing peices and my friend was voted "people's choice". So it waa a hit all around.Her sister is my best friend and she had just bought a Toyota Prius.I got to ride in it !!!! I loved it :) It's a beautiful red and has so many cool features.You push a button to turn it on and you can barely hear it running.On the dashboard there's a screen that has multiple purposes.One screen shows you how much gas you're using and how much batter power you're using.the Prius is a hybrid in case you didn't know.So that was soooo cool to see.Then the screen shows you behind your car when you back up in reverse.Then it serves as the cd player and radio player (if I remember right).It was just a cool car with a smooth ride.I enjoyed the drive to Trenton with her and it was a beautiful day for a ride. Then,we hung out at their parents house for a while.i always love being around their family and especially being out in the backyard of their house.I've included a pic of it and you'll understand why. That same weekend madelyn and I were picking dandelions out in the yard as it was the first warm weekend here.It was so fun to watch spring come alive through her eyes.I've included a pic I took of her with the dandelion.
I'm thinking about gettin a new cell phone since it's time to upgrade my plan.I'm looking at the Verion Invy (I think that's how you spell it).My friend Rhonda has one and she loves it.I'll post a pic of it as soon as I get it.
I've been sick quite a bit this winter too and that's another reason i haven't been up to much other than work.i'm hoping that since spring has arrived maybe all this nasty stuff that's been going around will be gone.
Last thing to share is that i'm beginning to write a bible study.i've got the name and a temporary table of contents for the chapters.This should be interesting as I'm no english major or biblical scholar.However,i feel that i have something to share so i'm just going to see what happens with it.
Well,that's all I know to share for now. Check back this weekend for some zoo and birthday pics :)

Loves and Hugs,
Alicia

The devil REALLY does wear Prada : )

I realize some of you all have not talked to me lately.So you don't really know what's going on in my life.To be completely honest,I've been battling depression a little and just overall been in a state of mind questioning alot of things in my life.I think I might be having my mid-life crisis early :) I don't enjoy my job,I'm not able to do many things I enjoy doing for various reasons and just overall don't feel like i'm enjoying life.Work keeps me busy and has weighed on me ALOT more than I realized.BUT,i've begun to do some things to try to help.I know my God wants me to live life to the full.One of the hard things about this is that most of my friends seem to be enjoying life and getting to do what they want.So,envy can creep up on me pretty quickly.I'm pretty good about recognizing it though and remembering that they also have struggles and God has me exactly where I need to be.I say all that so that you can know my frame of mind in the story i'm about to share.
Last weekend I got to spend some time with some DEAR and PRECIOUS friends of mine.They are always so encouraging to me because they are so fun,compassionate and just love life !!! They help me to remember to have fun,work hard and play harder :) One of them is self employed and just always seems to have things going her way.She seems to have no cares in the world (even though I know she does).She doesn't have a boss she answers too and can sleep in any time she wants (ok,so we're all hating her right about now right? haha).Just FYI,she knows how blessed she is and doesn't take it for granted. I noticed she had the CUTEST purse with her.And what did my eyes see? Did it really say PRADA ??????? No way!!!! I instantly thought someone had bought it for her and thought "how nice to have someone who would do that for you".All my envious thoughts staring going haywire.I'll spare you some of them :) Later on that afternoon,I asked her about the purse.SHe smiled and said "yes I got it at a market in rome for $10.It isn't even real PRADA".I was shocked. It's still one of the CUTEST purses ever but my thoughts just automatically shifted.She went on to say "yeah,I started not to get it because I didn't want people thinking I'd spend that much on a purse but decided that I knew it was only $10 and I just loved it". Talk about a slap in the face :) Here I was letting all these envious thoughts run wild in my head and God was using that as a teachable moment.He reminded me of 2 things. 1)things are never as they seem and 2)we can think people have it all together or seem to have all the luck but we may not know the whole story.Just think what I'd be thinking right now if I hadn't mentioned the purse to my friend.I would've never known the real truth. I titled this blog "the devil really does wear prada" because I think the devil does look for any opportunity or emotion within us to doubt God,doubt His goodness,provision or sovreignty. I don't think it was coincidence at all this was what Satan threw at me knowing my recent struggles.I've been reminded lately of a little chorus I used to sing at church camp growing up "The greatest thing in all my life is LOVING you,the greatest thing in all my life is LOVING you,I want to LOVE you more,I want to LOVE you more,the greatest thing in all my life is LOVING you !!!!" I also came across this verse today as I was having my quiet time

Psalm 73:28 (New King James Version)

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.