My Writings

I love to write stories. I have never in my life finished one though. Part of that probably comes from lack of planning at the beginning stages. I'm going to post the first typed page of two different story ideas, and my dear readers can help me decide which one to pursue. :)

Option 1: (The formatting and grammar have not been checked or changed, please forgive in advance)

Cassidy didn’t know her mother. Her father, Jack Leighton, an ER doctor, worked 12 hour shifts, mainly at night, so she never saw him. Her grandparents, though they tried to hide it, couldn’t stand the fact that she was the daughter of “that woman.” The only family Cassidy felt she had was her aunt, Misty. Misty was a free spirit, completely different from her by-the-book parents and brother. Her dad wasn’t always by-the-book, from what Misty had told her, and that’s why Cassidy even existed.

During his second year in college, Jack met and fell completely in love with Cassidy’s mom. She had a rough life and had to work two jobs to be able to afford to go to school, unlike Jack whose dad was a famed surgeon. To say his life was better than hers was a huge understatement. Jack’s parents had his college paid for before Jack was out of diapers. After a year of dating, Jack took her home to meet his parents and to inform them that they would soon be grandparents.

The day after Cassidy was born, Jack left his love in the hospital room to attend a new daddy’s class. When he returned an hour later, his girlfriend was gone. Frantic, Jack grabbed the first nurse he saw; she told him to calm down and asked if he was Jack. He managed to nod his head, and she handed him an envelop. He ripped it open, and all it said was, “I can’t live your life. Take care of Cassidy for me.” She hadn’t even signed it. He was crushed but determined to raise Cassidy and to take care of her. Jack was grateful too for his parents who, though they weren’t happy about finding out about the pregnancy, offered to help Jack raise her while he finished school. His older sister, Misty, moved back to town, and helped as well. 

After med school, Jack accepted the position in the ER where his dad worked, bought a house in the same neighborhood, and stayed a single dad for seventeen years. His baby would be a senior in high school; she had already started filling out college application although she hadn’t decided on a major. Although her grades were always top notch, Cassidy seemed indecisive about many things Jack saw as extremely important. He blamed that on his sister.

Misty, even though should could have been a doctor, decided to drop out of medical school and travel. She lived in Africa for years as a freelance photographer. She was there when Jack fell in love and became a father, so she never knew Cassidy’s mom, and Jack would never tell her anything. He loved his sister, but knew she would not be able to keep something from Cassidy. The two were like sisters; Misty was the one she went to for advice on dating, clothes, music, and art, but for school, she went to her dad.It was the last week of summer vacation, Cassidy and Misty were lying by the pool. Misty moved in soon after Jack bought the house to “help take care of Cass and to make sure Mom and Dad don’t brainwash her.”

“Dad wants me to declare a major,” Cassidy said out of the blue.

“Does he realize you will be a senior in high school? Just because he knew what he wanted to do from the womb doesn’t mean you have to.

“Thank you! Now will you please explain that to him?”


“Baby, I have tried. I think he just wants to keep you focused.”“Can we please find him a woman? All he has is work and me. If we got him a woman, maybe he’d leave me alone.”

Misty laughed, “I have tried that too, but he says he just isn’t interested.”

“Cassidy!” Jack called from the back door, “You got your schedule today.”

“Did you know he was home?” Cassidy asked Misty as she stood and walked to the house.

The packet from the high school contained her schedule, her required class materials, information on the new dress code (it was practically a uniform: khakis or jeans with a school-color polo with Fridays as a free day following the rules of the previous dress code), a list of scholarships for seniors, an entire calendar of important events, and an invitation to the open house on Friday.

“Let me guess, you have to work,” Cassidy said holding up the invitation so her dad could see it.

“Yes, but Misty can go with you this year. I’m sorry I have had to work so much lately, but we have had three doctors retire in the past two months, and we’re still training the newbies. I have already asked off for October to go visit Duke with you. I just can’t make open house. Do you even need to go?”

“For being so by-the-book, you sure do dislike these things,” Misty sat in one of the barstools by the counter.

“It’s just a formality. The teachers don’t even like these things. So, Cass, what’s your schedule?”

She knew what was coming: death to her social life, not that she had much of one to begin with, “Calc, Bio, English, Psychology, Econ, and Government, all AP, and Art IV and Spanish IV. Luckily the AP classes are split between the two semesters. If I survive, I’ll have my first semester of college finished.”

“You’ll be great, hun. Plus, Jack can help you with Bio and Math, and I’ll help you with English and art.”

“What is first semester?” Jack asked. Cassidy’s school was on a 4X4 schedule, so they took four classes in the fall and four in the spring.

“Bio, Calc, Econ, and Spanish. So I guess I’ll just go see those teachers Friday.”

“Can’t wait,” Misty faked a yawn. “You should pay me.”

“You have lived here rent free for 13 years…”

“Okay, okay, no lecture,” she rushed from the kitchen.

Cassidy laughed, “I should try that with my teachers this year.”

Jack smiled at his daughter. She looked so much like her mother, long blond hair, green eyes, perfect teeth (no braces needed). Sometimes the pain of losing her hit him straight in the gut when he looked at Cassidy. “I have the night off. I thought I’d take you and Misty out to eat."

“Hibachi!” Misty yelled from the den.

“I guess that help in deciding where to eat.”


Option 2

If it could go wrong, it did. It rained. The limo was lost. The caterer started a yelling match with the wedding planner. The best man lost the wedding ring, and the bride locked herself in the bathroom. I’m sure something else could have happened, but I can’t think of anything.

Being the only one in the wedding party over the age of 24, I received the job of “straightening everything out before Maggie found out.” I never understood why age automatically makes someone responsible. I had never been married; I was from out of town, yet it became my responsibility. Isn’t this why she hired a wedding planner? Oh, but that’s the other thing. After her little run-in with the caterer, the wedding planner took off. No one had been able to get a hold of her. However, one of my dear friends was about to get married, and I was going to do whatever I could to make that day go smoothly.

“Do you have the number for the limo service?” I asked Maggie’s mother, Anna. That woman, always the picture of perfection, looked at me frantically. 

“Oh, Gabrielle, thank you for helping. I have a black binder in my room with all the numbers, and all the information for the wedding. Here’s my key. I’m going to go work on Maggie.” She handed me the key and turned back into Maggie’s room. I hurried down the hall to the opposite side of the hotel. 

All the guests were staying in the same beautiful (way too expensive for my pocketbook) hotel. “Daddy” paid for it all. Now, that would be Maggie’s Mom’s Daddy, not Maggie’s daddy. Maggie’s daddy, that’s a whole other story, and part of the reason Maggie locked herself in the bathroom. Anyway, we were all staying in this gorgeous hotel, but Maggie insisted that her mother be as far away from her room as possible. Anna wasn’t a bad lady, just a little overbearing at times, and just a little too perfect. 

I reached her room quicker than I thought I could in a form fitting dress and three inch heels. Just like she said, the black book had everything. I called the limo service, and they directed my call to their lost driver. 

“Hello,” the voice answered.

“Hello, sir? I’m calling on behalf of the Marcellus and Morgan wedding.”

“Oh! Thank goodness!” I could barely hear him over the noise in the background.

“Sir, where are you?” 

“Oh, I’m sorry, darlin, I went into this here store to get directions. You gonna tell me how to find y’all?”

I sighed. We were definitely in the South. “Okay, I’m going to try.” I told him where the hotel was located and the landmarks near the hotel. “There is an old war plane museum across the stree…”

“Okay, I know where y’all are. My daddy flew in one of those planes they got there at that there museum.”

“That’s wonderful, sir, so are you on your way?”

“Yes ma’am, I will be there directly.”

“Thank you.” I said and shut my cell phone. One problem solved. I couldn’t do anything about the rain, so I headed to the bachelor’s suite. 

I tapped on the door; no answer. I could hear music and way too much laughter for men that were not supposed to be drinking before the ceremony. I banged on the door. “Y’all hear that?” I heard someone say from inside. I banged again. “I think someone’s at the door.” A minute later a very attractive, sandy blonde haired hunk of a man appeared at the door, shirt unbuttoned. I had a brief lapse of memory and stood there gawking at the poor guy for at least half a minute.

“You must be one of the lovelies from the other side of the party,” he said in a thick southern drawl. My memory returned quickly. For some reason all things southern were not appealing to me. 

“Yes, I guess you can say that I am. I’m looking for the irresponsible best man. I am assuming that is you, since I don’t remember you being at the rehearsal dinner last night, and I do recall a very upset friend of mine say that her soon-to-be-husband’s best friend was going to ruin her wedding.”

“Wow, well, you’re right on one part. I am the best man. Now for all that irresponsibility; I’m not sure you got the right fella. I had misplaced the ring, but it is now found. And as for last night, my baby sister turned 16, and what kind of big brother would I be if I missed her sweet sixteen birthday party?” He winked at me, and I felt my heart melt a little.

“Well, I do apologize. Do you mind if I see the ring?”

“You don’t trust me?”

“It’s not about trust; it’s about piece of mind. The ring?”

He reached into the tuxedo pants and pulled out the diamond-laden band. “Now, will I be escorting your loveliness down the aisle in a few hours?”

“Oh, no, I am afraid you will not. It’s a good thing you had practice with the sixteen-year olds last night. You’ll be escorting Maggie’s little sister, Chelsea. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m trying to save my friend’s wedding.” I turned abruptly and walked down the hall. The door hadn’t closed yet, so I knew he was still watching me. I silently thanked Maggie for letting me pick out the bridesmaid dresses. I stopped at the elevator, pressed the up arrow, and stole a glance back down the hall.

“Ah, I was right; I knew you’d look back. See ya soon, sweetie,” he hollered then shut the door. My cheeks burned for a second, and I stepped quickly into the elevator. 

“Where have you been?” I jumped. I was so distracted by the best man that I didn’t notice there was anyone else in the elevator. The wedding planner, Kara, was standing in front of the buttons.

“Where have I been? Everyone has been looking for you! I have been putting out all the fires around the hotel.”

“I,” she glanced away for a second, “I just needed some time to cool off.”

“Well, don’t worry about it right now. You have a job to do, and for your sake, I hope the rest of the day goes a little smoother than this morning has. Mrs. Marcellus is not someone you want to have angry at you.” I almost felt sorry for the lady. I had known Anna my whole life, and there were still times when she scared me. 

“Don’t I know that? That woman has--”

“--Been impossible to please, always in your business, always ‘making suggestions,’” I interrupted.

Kara seemed to relax a little. She smiled and nodded, “But, I believe we have everything in order now. Except for one tiny little detail.”

“Hmm, let me guess,” I said as the doors opened on the 10th floor, “Maggie is still in the bathroom.”

Blown away

I seriously have some of the best friends in the world. I cannot even count (well, I bet I could if I tried) the amount of people who have told me they are praying for me or excited for me since I announced that I would be getting my Zumba certification at the end of the month. I have paid the dues, have babysitters lined up for the kiddos, and am currently working on my rhythm by practicing my Zumba wii game every day. :)

New Adventure

Whew...well, I quit teaching a year and a half ago, so I could stay at home with my daughter and pursue Thirty-One as a full time job. Both of those things, I love. I love teaching my daughter, and I love being able to share the awesomeness of Thirty-One with other women. But I have been feeling lately that I am missing something. I need something else in my life, something that I can do that would truly benefit other people.

Ever since I graduated college, I have been interested in fitness. (Sometimes, looking at me, you'd have no idea that was true.) But I LOVE running, I LOVE exercising. I really have never done an exercise that I do not like. While I am not at the physical peak of my fitness, I feel like I have a lot to offer other people. Encouragement, understanding, knowledge. So, I have decided to pursue fitness in the capacity of instruction. I looked at countless sites about personal training, where to work, which tests to take, which certifications are best, and it really looked exhausting. I started thinking about the different types of exercise I really love, and the main two were running and Zumba. I couldn't really figure out how to teach people how to run. I guess I could start a running group, and we could all meet at 4am with headlight headbands and go run in the snow together. Let me see your hands, who is in? I also thought about the fact that running has always been me time. I don't think I can share that with anyone.
That left me with Zumba. Oh man, when I think about leading a Zumba class. HA! that seems like the biggest  joke. I am completely uncoordinated, and I am definitely not the size or fitness level of the girls you see shaking their hips on the videos. But after talking to some dear friends, and really thinking about it, I have decided to give it a go! I'm signing up tonight to do the ALL DAY training on the 25th. Yes, ALL DAY. I'm sure some of it will be logistics, paperwork, but from what I have heard from another Zumba instructor is the training is about 6 hours of actually dancing and learning the routines. Say what? Okay, okay, I'm going to do it. Luckily, I have Zumba on the Wii, my back is starting to feel a little better, and I will definitely be practicing over the next 20 days! (Pray for me!)

I'm so excited to be taking this next step in my life!!! Nervous, scared, but so excited!

Friendship, part 1

I've been out of college now for ten years. I spent about two years after that in the restaurant business. During college and those next two years, I was never without something to do or someone to talk to. I had friends, a lot of friends, many of whom I still keep in contact through social media. But there came a point in December of 2004 that I lost most of those friends. The circumstances surrounding that time of my life will have to be saved for a later post because my point tonight is to really talk about friendship.
From January of 2005-June of 2011, I can say I felt extremely alone. Yes, I had my husband, Matt, but I had very few friends. Nothing like I had in college. There were people I worked with, people I went to church with, but when it came down to wanting to hang out, eat dinner, or go to the movies with a girlfriend, I just didn't have it.
But since last year, God has blessed me with some amazing people. I think I may take the next couple days to just focus on one person at a time.
The first person I want to gush on is my friend, Cynthia. I don't know really when it was that we decided we were going to be friends. We were in the same small group together for a while, so that's how it started. But somewhere along the line we went from "small group friends" to just friends.
Cynthia is an amazing woman. She takes care of her family, she is an awesome mother, and she goes above and beyond in her relationships...with really everyone. She is a great photographer, and spends time volunteering at one of the local animal shelters, taking pictures of the dogs so people can look at them online, and they (the dogs) can hopefully find homes. Her heart is so large. She is passionate about her friendships. She is passionate about helping those who can't help themselves. She is passionate about her relationship with God. I am so beyond blessed to have her in my life. I feel like God just knew that I needed a friend like her. I needed friends. period. but Cynthia definitely brightens my life. I wish I could express it in better words than that. Take for instance today, I'm pretty much stranded at home because we have a little bit of a spastic dog. I needed an item, she bought the item, and went out of her way to bring it by my house tonight...in the cold and rain. She helped me chase down the aforementioned spastic dog on Sunday when he escaped out of the house. She really is there whenever I need her! Thank you, Cynthia! I LOOOOOOOVE you!

New Year's Resolution...a little early

Something that I love, that I have always loved, is writing. Am I the best writer in the world? Not even close. Do I make grand, thought-provoking statements that encourage everyone to live life differently or better? Rarely. So, why should I write? And why should you read it?
Good questions. I don't know if you should read it or not, but I think I do know why I should write.

I don't think that I have had the love for as long as I have because I'm just supposed to sit on it and keep it to myself. As pretentious as it may sound, I believe that writing is the gift that God has given me. It would be wrong of me never to use that gift or to keep it to myself.
So, my early new year's resolution is to write every day. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I may work on one of my many "stories" I've started over the years, I may hand write a letter to a friend, I may write down my struggles with weight loss, my frustration with the crazy kiddos that invade my house each day, my love for those same crazy kiddos, my back and forth desire (or lack of desire) to expand our family. I don't know what it will be, but I will be writing, and I will be sharing. Here. On my blog I have had for well over a year that has very few posts, and very few followers. :) You all are so lucky to embark on this journey with me.
Who knows, maybe you will read here the ideas for my first published novel??? :)

Pinterest Creation

Matt gives me a hard time for pinning too many pins on pinterest that I'll never get to actually do, so I decided to prove him wrong and get to creating.
Today, Charis and I attempted this recipe: Cake Mix Cookies
We had a great time:

It's a pretty simple recipe: cake mix, cool whip, 1 egg, then dip the batter into powder sugar. (We used egg beaters and lite whipped cream and for this time, we did Devil's food cake mix). The cookies and nice a gooey, and pretty delicious. I think next time, we'll try a lemon cake mix.
It may be good with peanut butter chips in them and the chocolate cake mix....hmmmm...ideas!!!!

Charis got a lot more on her face and the table than on the batter. :)

I love watching her learn how to do things independently. She's growing up into such a sweet, caring, and loving little girl. Can't wait to continue creating with her!

Grocery Getter Duo

I've been debating against posting this for a couple weeks. For one, when I started in direct selling, it was my greatest fear to come across as pushy. I know far too many direct sales people who I have blocked from my news feed or just avoid all together because all they can ever talk about is their company, and please have a party for me. The second reason is that it is actually against 31's policy to sell products on public forums like blogs. So, I want to make it clear, that I am not asking you to buy these. You can, of course, but that is not my intent with this post.
My main attraction to 31 was the functionality of the products. The purses are cute, the accessories are fun, but the actual use-a-bilty of the products were what sold me, especially what I lovingly refer to as the Grocery Getter Duo. This duo consists of a Market Thermal Tote (on the left) and a Large Utility Tote (on the right). AH! I can't get over how much these two products have simplified grocery shopping for us, especially when going to Aldi or Sam's...places that don't give you bags. We can get about two weeks worth of groceries (for a family of 3) in these two bags. The fact that the Market is a THERMAL tote helps to keep all the cold stuff from melting in the hot summer sun before we can get home. I love these two bags!!!! (Can you tell???) Plus, they are super cute! A lot better than those big blue reusable walmart bags! :)



*If this is something you'd like to have, make sure you contact your Thirty-One consultant. If you don't have a consultant, you can locate one by going to: www.thirtyonegifts.com