Friends

I truly believe certain people are put into our lives for a reason and a season. Stephanie Harrison Chudley was my roommate at Troy when I was a sophomore. The story of how we ended up being roommates goes like this. I was randomly assigned a roommate and after a week or two of that not going so well, I asked my RA (resident assistant) if there was something, anything that could be done. Thankfully, she had a great solution! There was a girl on the third floor of our dorm that was not getting along with her suite mates, well my dorm room didn't join to anyone elses' so that would lessen the problem of having to get along with more people. So, my roommate agreed to move upstairs and Stephanie agreed to move downstairs with me! Let's just say it was the best move ever. Stephanie and I were instant friends and have been since that fall day in 2004. Sadly, Stephanie moved back home to Florida in the spring but the two of us have always stayed in touch. A few years ago she met and married her wonderful husband, Dave, who happens to be from Canada. After getting married, Stephanie and Dave moved back to Canada and that's where they reside today. Back in March, two days after my second trip to New Orleans, Stephanie and Dave took a week long vacation to Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Thankfully, I was able to go and spend two nights with them and best of all, I got to see Stephanie and her cute baby belly. That's right baby boy Chudley is due in a few months! I am so excited for my friends and can't wait to meet their sweet baby one day. While we were at the beach we ate a lot of wonderful fresh seafood and I got good and sun burned laying out on the beach. We ventured into the picturesque town of Seaside one evening and walked through all the cute shops and even enjoyed a good old fashioned coke float! This was a great idea by Stephanie. Afterwards, we grabbed a coffee (it was chilly at night) and walked on the beach back in Santa Rosa and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset. It was such a wonderful trip and I was so excited to see Stephanie, who I hadn't seen by the way in nearly six years. We are planning a trip to Arizona next year, so hopefully it will not be so long before we get to see each other again. Remember to always be thankful for your friends. Even the ones you don't get to see very often. They're your friends for a reason and we are truly blessed to have friends in our lives.

Ashleigh (Steph's sister), Stephanie, Me



Coke Float :)

The beautiful sunset
at Santa Rosa Beach

Me & Steph

This pic was taken of Stephanie,
me, and Landie at a Troy
Football game in fall 2005.

New Orleans...Round 2



Harrah's Casino/Hotel



Back in March I was lucky enough to get to visit New Orleans again! This time on a work conference and luckily Leon got to go with me. We left on Saturday, March 19 and headed to Biloxi first. We spent the night at The Beau Rivage Casino/Hotel because one of the ladies in my department who went had several free nights and allowed us to use them. Of course we gambled a little and I shopped a little at the near by outlet mall before leaving again Sunday morning and heading on over to New Orleans. Our conference started that afternoon and we made it just in time to see the opening session, complete with a marching band. It was amazing! Now, I won't bore you with all of the classes and sessions I went to during the conference, I'll cut straight to everything else.

  

Inside the Court Yard at Pat O's



For starters, we stayed at Harrah's, which was gorgeous. Yes, I know, this is a pretty pricey place, but once again, it was free like our stay in Biloxi! Trust me, my work would NOT pay those kinds of prices, but they don't mind paying for free. The first two nights we ate at this delicious restaurant attached to Harrah's call Gordon Biersch. The food was delicious and they brew their own beer as well. Which, Leon and I found out, we can buy in Publix, too.  Of course we did venture over to Bourbon Street one afternoon. It is much quieter and less smelly during the day time. We ate lunch at pat O'Brien's and just took in the scenary and all that is New Orleans.

   

Beignets!



We also walked through the Riverwalk, which is this neat indoor mall, and walked all around New Orlea's Business District, river area and more. To say the least, we walked, A LOT! The best part of the entire trip was the last day, which was my birthday!!! I the ONLY thing I wanted to do for my birthday was eat at Cafe Du Monde. So, after checking out Wednesday morning, we walked to the French Quarter and found a place to sit at Cafe Du Monde. We ordered beignets and frozen cafe au laits. OH. MY. GOSH. Sugar overload, but it was so delicious! If you have never eaten fresh beignets, you're definitely missing out. I highly recommned trying some the next time you're in New Orleans. Once we finished eating our yummy beignets and walking around the French Market, we rode the trolley back to Harrah's and headed on home.



Entrance to the River Walk

 


Trolley!



Overall, it was a GREAT trip and even better because my wonderful husband was able to go with me and it was my birthday too! However, the trip got even better when we stopped on our way home in Mobile, I got to see Ms. Lynn, my Mobile mother, as I like to refer to her. When I was in school in Mobile I lived with Ms. Lynn and her wonderful family for a little while. They are the nicest, most caring family I have ever met and love them so much! 



Ms. Lynn & Me



Trying to take our own pic

A Reason and a Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...



Brittany & Shep.
(This picture is from Brittany's
facebok page)

This verse has been on my mind a lot over the past few months. I have realized that life is all about what you make of it and our days are truly numbered. In March, one of my sorority sisters, Brittany Shepard Pugh and her 15 month old son, Shep, were tragically killed in a car wreck on their way home one afternoon on Highway 231, just outside of Troy. It was one of the most shocking phone calls I've ever received. Even though she and I were not close friends, just the fact of knowing that someone so close in age passed away in an instance, was and still is overwhelming. Brittany was one of the kindest, sweetest and most beautiful girls I had ever met and to see someone like her pass away seems unfair. But just like everything else, we are not promised one more day here on this Earth. When it is our time, it is our time. The out-pouring over Brittany and Shep was overwhelming to see on her Facebook page. She was such a genuine person and truly loved by everyone she came in contact with.  She will never be forgotten and her impact here on Earth as a Godly and kind-hearted person will always be remembered.


I thought I was going to include more on this posting, but for some reason I feel this is all that needs to written for now.