Here Lately...

Here's just a little update on my life "Here Lately" :

Jared and I are making some pretty big plans (unspoken to most of the world so far) and we need some pray in that. (I'll expound on at a later date) Just know these plans do involve us having more money coming into our family. Pray that God opens the right doors at the right times for this to be possible. (sooner than later if preferable) *And no I'm NOT talking about the "pitter patter of little feet"*

We are also making plans on traveling during the Thanksgiving season to Birmingham to do Thanksgiving with my side of the family. This is setting up to be the craziness trip between here and there we have ever made. Seriously, now that I (FINALLY) have a job (at Pier One Imports) our plans might be kinked...we were planning on Jared possibly being off work the Friday after Thanksgiving (eliminating any rushing)...leaving here Wednesday after Jared gets off work and coming back late Friday. But now that I have a job (unless I can get a late shift on Friday) the "rush" as been throwing back into the equation. :-/ Oh well...(I can finally say again) at least I have a job!

I did a super deep cleaning of our room yesterday and now my back in killing me! (little random add-in...no worries...free of charge)

Please be keeping Coastline Community Church (the church we moved down here to help plant) and everyone helping in your prayers. Allen and Stephanie Drew (the pastors of the church) are starting our meetings tomorrow to introduce the vision of the church and to take those helping out throw the growth track and introducing them to the "Highlands DNA." We are super excited and KNOW that God has a ginormous plan in store for the Eastern Shore...and it just makes me giddy to know we get to be apart of the huge move that is going to take place for His Kingdom!

And that is all for "Here Lately"

Absence...

To all you blog readers out there...
Sorry for my long extended absence. I've been going through a lot lately. Extreme sickness (Flu-ish with a temp of 102.5) for a week, a lot of emotional things are coming back up and I've been having to think...think...think! Sorry for being gone so long...

Projects...,

I was wanting to post on here, but really didn't know what to post...so I decided to post randomly about projects that are in the middle of my mind (not front and not pushed into the back...but middle because I do think semi-regularly about them). I have more than too much time on my hands lately, with no extra money so these projects are pretty much staying ideas for right now.
(in no particular order)

Project #1:
Project Throw Pillow-
I love to sew...so I've have decided that I want to make some throw pillows for our bed. We don't really have ANY extra money to put towards this project so all I pretty much have is a few fabric swatches. Some of them I like; some of them I don't...some of them match the colors; most of them don't. I have realized that there are just too many shades of green in this world (don't get me wrong green is one of my most favorite colors)I have had a whirlwind of a time find a green that matches. But I have more than enough time to find one because as I stated before we don't have the extra money at the time to put towards this project (heads-up: this is a factor in most if not all my projects)

Project #2:
Project Birthday Presents-
So once again I love to sew...and birthdays are coming up. I have been gathering ideas here and there of birthday presents for friends and family. ::Insert on going factor here::
But soon hopefully we will have some extra money flow into the Budlong family!
I can't go into too much deal in this project because they are birthday presents and I'd hate to ruin surprises.

Project #3
Project Get Elisha a Job-
This has also sadly been an on going project, that has lasted about 2 months now. Thankfully I think I might have found a solution. It might be a little tough starting out but thankfully I learn quickly! For the past three years I've been all kids all the time, and maybe God is just wanting me to get a change of scenery for a few months before diving into this church plant where I'll be handling the nursery and preschool (which is where my heart is). But I can see God's hand in this telling me to take a break for a bit...try something new...thirst yourself for teaching children...redevelop your passion in that area so you will give it your all. So I hope this job opportunity works out and I can get a change of scenery for a bit, so when the church plant finally happens I can and will give it my all and then some. I'm going to apply for a job at JCPenney next Monday...please be praying I get the job!

Project #4
Project Find a Friend (on the Eastern Shore)-
So going from Birmingham, where I had more friends then I knew what to do with, to here on the Eastern Shore, where honestly it's been hard finding just one, has kinda been throwing me for a loop. For some reason it was more than easy for me to make loads and loads of friends in Birmingham, but here on the Eastern Shore it's been 2 full months and yeah I'm getting closer to people but MAN is this friend making business hard! I sometimes feel like everyone had their nice little friend group all set up and here I come and bust into everything and honestly at times (not all the time but sometimes) I feel like there were this imaginary blinking signs that say NO VACANCY!

*welcome to my inner self...enjoy your stay...be forewarned it can sometimes get little scary weird*

I am getting closer though. Jared and I are apart of this wonderful small group. The people are genuine and all around nice. It has taken a bit of time but it is starting to get more comfortable. ::Secret about me:: for those who know me might not believe it unless you've been around when it has happened, but for those who don't might...when I'm in a new group of people I tend to be super shy. I don't know why but I do...and sadly sometimes my shyness comes off as snobbish. Again...I don't know why and I don't mean for it too...it just does. So, I'm praying the shyness finally leaves me to just be me all the time.

Project #5
Project Sew Jared's shorts-
I'M SUCH A PROCRASTINATOR!

Project #6
Project Jewelry Maker-
I always have so many creative ideas rounding around in my head and very few of them ever get past that stage mainly because of the ::insert on going factor here::
But...I love jewelry and have for a while wanted to make jewelry, so once we get some extra money flowing in I'm going to try and jump on that because like I said I have for a while wanted to do this.

This pretty much for now sums up my project ideas...I'm sure more will come along because I have too much time on my hands..thus ideas are always popping up left and right. :-)

My Nightly Struggle...

Here lately it seems I've had the same struggle every night when it comes to actually falling asleep. I can be EXTREMELY exhausted, but I will have a devil of atime falling asleep...my brain will just NOT shut down. I will just lay there and think of the strangest most random things in the world...such as 'What I want for Christmas' 'Are we going to be pregnant when we attend Jared's 10 year class reunion in 3 years' 'What might Jared want for breakfast inthe morning' 'I wonder when I'm actually going to find a friend in Fairhope' 'I've got some much to sew...and when am I ever going to start that' 'When am I going get job...when is this hiring freeze going to end' 'I wonder if I'm going to be good mom when we do start having children'. And these are just a few of the many many random things go through my head at the most untimely moments i.e. when I'm trying to go to sleep,and I really wish they didn't bc at that moment I'm really wanting to go to sleep. I pray one day sooner than later this insanity will end and I can peacefully fall asleep when I lay down at night...