a very special day...

Today is a very special day for the Bumgarner family. Today we celebrate two very important happenings.

First we as a family celebrate the life of my Mother's mom, aka "Nana". It has been four years since she has left this Earth for Heaven, but every day we feel her spirit among us. I have some fabulous memories of my Nana and I will carry those memories with me forever and ever. I learned so much in the 16 years that I knew her. We love you and miss you Nana and know that you are watching over our family each and every day.

The second important thing we as a family are celebrating today is the birth of a very special member of the family. My nephew Bryson Lee Creech was born on this day 8 years ago. I remember holding him on the day he was born. Boy has time just flown by. He is growing up so fast and I love watching him turn into the little man that he is today. I am sure that you have heard the expression, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well I consider myself part of that village. I have lost count the number of bottles I have fed, the number of dirty diapers I have changed, and the number of nights we have stayed up to watch cartoons on TV. I sure do love that kid and he is one awesome little boy. Happy Birthday Bryson!!!!



the city that never sleeps...

This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go with my best friend Katie and some of her family to NYC to see a play and some of the sights. It was so much fun and it was just what I needed after a busy semester at school. I don't get to see Katie that often since she lives 6 hours away in VA, so to get to spend some quality time with her was the best. You know you have a true friendship with somebody when you can go a long time without seeing them and then just pick up right where you left off when you get together. I love her and she is the best!!! 

 The view from our hotel window. We stayed at the Double Tree in Times Square. It was very nice and the beds were amazing. I would totally stay there again. Plus this fantastic view made it even better. This would be a prime place to stay if you were coming to NYC for the new year bash.

Katie and I in Central Park. Did I mention she is the best. Thank you again Katie for inviting me along with you on the NYC adventure. (Oh and take a look at my new hat. It is a Yankee boggin. SO AWESOME!!)

On another note, this Christmas break has been super busy and will continue to be busy until I have to go back to Raleigh to start another semester. Along with the NYC trip, I have been spending good quality time with family and friends that I have not seen in a while, going to Charlotte to watch the Wolfpack play in the Belk Bowl, and doing a two-part internship at the local hospital in the OR. Sometimes the long days on my feet wear me out, but I am learning so much and getting to see so many things. I am so blessed and I thank my Father God and the many people around me that make it all possible.

Another post will come tomorrow to celebrate a special member of the family's birthday. Until then I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas break and I continue to pray that your journey is blessed.

i love this time of year...

       I absolutely love this time of year. Not so much the cold weather (I am a total summer girl), but more of the spirit that comes out in people and all the little traditions that you get to start with both your family and your friends. Yesterday (Thursday), was such a wonderful day and I just had to share a few highlights with you all.

       This week is the last week of classes for the semester. Next week kicks off exams and I soon will be home for the Christmas holidays. To celebrate the end of the semester, and the start of the Christmas season, the girls and I went out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory last night. Thanks to our awesome former roomie who lived with us for a couple of months at the beginning of the semester, we were able to enjoy a great meal with some leftovers to take back home and enjoy later.

        After dinner we did some extra shopping and picked up a few gifts for others (and for ourselves!), and some decorations for our tree in the apartment (more on that later!). I loved hanging out with the girls last night. It is such a blessing to have true Godly women as my friends and that we are able to invest in each other's lives. I am truly blessed.

         The boys came over a little bit later to help us decorate the tree. Thanks to Michele, whose Dad grows trees, we were able to have a fabulous tree in the apartment this year. We originally planned on watching Grey's anatomy last night, however to our surprise it did not come on. Instead it was CMA's Country Christmas. I think that was actually a blessing in disguise because it set the mood perfectly while we were putting the final touches on our tree. Now all that is left to be done is to wrap our presents that we each have in our rooms and place them under the tree. Then the apartment will be officially decorated for the holiday.

      I am so excited about ending the semester and getting home for a while. I can spend some good quality time with my family, catch up with friends that I have not seen in a while, and work at my internship (which I am very excited about). All in all I think this month is going to be simply amazing. Below are some pictures that highlighted the evening yesterday. I hope you enjoy...



Left-over Chicken Tacos and Reese's Cheesecake

Chase and I helping decorate the tree

CMA's Country Christmas. LOVED IT!!

The final product. I think it looks pretty amazing.

       On a side note for just one second, I wanted to update everybody on my Bible reading progress. I only have about 10 books left to read and they are the more shorter books in the Bible. I am so happy to have been able to stick with this goal and finish strong with it. I have learned so much over this past year and I have learned the true importance of setting time aside each day to be with the Lord. The new year is starting soon, maybe you would like to take the Bible reading challenge? Its a big thing to take on, but oh so rewarding. Pray about it and consider it as a new year's resolution or goal.

       I pray that everybody is doing well in this last month of 2011. I hope that the stress of the holidays will not get to you too much and that you will always keep in the back of your mind the real reason for the season.  I love you all and I hope that your journey is blessed!