Honestly...

So I said I'm going to be more honest with myself...

These are my favorite fall food.

My BFF loves them too.

That's the reason she's my BFF.

Well, not the only reason, but a really good reason.

I lie to myself about "punkins".

They're only sold during Halloween season(which Wal-Mart seems to think is August-October)They are my favorite fall color.

They taste AMAZING! Sugary, mallowy, sweetness.

Did I mention, you can only get them for 3 months out of the year?

So...I lie.

I tell myself it's ok to eat an entire bag.

I hoard them like a squirrel.

I don't hibernate or have to save up all of my food until winter....but I eat them like I do.

I tell myself lies. I make myself believe that its ok to binge on "punkins".

While "punkins" may not seem like that big of a deal, it's still a lie.

The real reason I ate the whole bag is....I have no self control.

I have no self control in other areas of my life, as well.
Eating candy is just one of those areas.

If I lie to myself about my lack of candy eating self control...

what bigger lies am I making myself believe?

Just being honest.

Really???

Let's be honest....

I'm a liar.

Not so much to other people, but to myself.

I lie to myself every. single. day.

I tell myself lies so often, I start to believe they are true.



This past Sunday, Andy Stanley started a new series at Buckhead. It kicked my butt.

The series is entitled, "Your Move". It's all about making the tough decisions that we have to make in life, and how do you decide what to do.

Part 1 was titled, "Really?"



Are we really honest with ourselves when we do things? Do we lie to ourself about our reasons? Do we lie to ourselves and to others to cover up the real reason we make a decision to do something?

Why did you really break up?

Why did you really not want to go out again?

Why did you really not call?

Why did you really want to lose weight?

Why did you really buy that house? that car? that new low-cut shirt?

Why did you really???



If we're honest with ourselves...

If I'm honest with myself....

It's all about me.

It's all about what makes me feel good.

It's all about making people like me, whether its who I really am or not.

It's all about getting people to notice me...to compliment me...to envy me.



I do things not because I need to.

I didn't need new clothes.

I didn't need a new car.

I didn't need to not answer his call.



I wanted new clothes...to keep up with what was "fashionable"

I wanted a new car....so I could say, "Look at me!"

I didn't answer his call because I was worried what my friends would think about him...and about me.



It's hard to be completely honest, not so much with other people, but with myself.

As Andy said, "we're experts at selling ourselves on what we want."

We believe our made up reasons for our bad decisions.



I make bad decisions because I want to be happy.

They may not be the best decision...the right decision...the thought out decision...

they are the decisions that will make me happy.



Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

My heart is deceitful, and I "listen to my heart" all the time.



So, I'm hoping that I can become more honest with myself.

It takes work for sure.



Look in a mirror....no really, go look in a mirror.

Say it out loud....no really, say it out loud.

Ask yourself....

I'm asking myself...

Why am I doing this REALLY???


The real reason I'm....

I'm in love...

with these photographers.

This is Amanda....

Although she looks like a famous supermodel, she's one of my favorite people in real life. She's in my amazing small group. Amanda looks amazing here...and I want them to make me look that way on my wedding day. All of their photos are done without using photoshop...they're just that good.

So...Amanda got married....

Her wedding was so fun and the pictures totally captured the day. I hope my wedding is that much fun too....and that my photographers are this good. Now I just have to find someone to marry me...and save about a bazillion dollars to afford it all...

Check out their other stuff...

www.grayphotograph.com

God is great, beer is good, people are crazy...

Two things I love...

and

What could be better than fried everything, funnel cakes, rides, AND Billy Currington?



He's playing the North Georgia Sate Fair (Marietta, GA) next Thursday. Now I just have to convince my friends that we're redneck enough to go.

It's Fall Y'all!

Fall is by far my favorite season. I love all things fall. Fall clothes, fall smells, fall foods, fall colors, fall activities....I love fall.

Here are a few fall things I'm loving right now...

I love these new cords from Old Navy.

They're only $15 right now. Run out and get a pair. I have them in Camel and Chocolate. I love the trouser fit, but they have bootcut, too. And for only $15!

I love Halloween candy...who cares if Halloween is a month away. Candy tastes better in the shape of a pumpkin.

Two of my favorites...

And I used to be a huge Bath & Body Works fan. Not so much anymore. Except for in the fall. I LOVE this...

What are your fall favorites? Maybe I should add them to mine...

Want to Help?

If you live in the Atlanta area, I'm sure you don't need the news to tell you that it rained...a lot. If you're not in the Atlanta area...it rained...A LOT!

The creeks and rivers overflowed too quickly for many people to even know what was happening before it was too late. Many neighborhoods were under water, houses flooded, roads washed away...and a school under water.

This is Clarkdale Elementary School. It is in Cobb County...the county where I teach. Our county is divided by areas. It's an Area 1 school and so is mine. It is only a few miles from my school, and I've spent many a day in meetings and workshops with their teachers. Clarkdale was flooded on Tuesday. Like the mobile unit I teach in, their mobile units were destroyed too....they floated off their bricks!

School started back for us today, but the Clarkdale students and staff won't be going back there any time soon. They are relocating to two other elementary schools in our Area, Compton and Austell Intermediate.

I talked with a few of the teachers yesterday, trying to find out what they needed from us. They were still in shock. School supplies, student records, and personal items...all lost.

If you'd like to help the students or teachers of Clarkdale Elementary as they settle in to their new, dryer, home....

Monetary donations for the Clarkdale Elementary School Relief Fund may be made through the Cobb Schools Foundation. The foundation’s secure donation Web site accepts credit/debit cards. Cash, check or gift card donations may be mailed to: Cobb Schools Foundation, 514 Glover St. Marietta, GA 30060. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Donations of school supplies and teacher instructional supplies can be made at your local Cobb County school. The warehouse staff will pick up donations at your school and take them to the warehouse for distribution to Clarkdale students and teachers.

WXIA-TV (11 Alive) and The School Box have volunteered to take donations of school and instructional supplies at Atlanta-area School Box locations. The stores will receive donations through the weekend of Sept. 26-27.

Stop waiting...ask me out!

Stumbled upon the best challenge ever. I was reading my friend Camisha's bloghttp://sassyflipflop.blogspot.com and loved this.

It's a challege to guys to stop waiting and just ask a girl out. We're not getting any younger so what are you waiting for? Just ask...most girls will say yes.