Life Lately...

Life lately...

January was busy with work, but we managed to take some time to relax...

 Hiking Mt. Cheaha... 

 Seeing God's beautiful creation...

 and experiencing life...

with my man! 

February was full of surprises and spending time with family and friends...

Seeing smiles like this...

 and this...

 can brighten anyone's day...

 especially when they are surprised with a night of circus fun!

Hanging with family visiting from far away...

Game nights with friends with a little card playing in the "man cave"...

 and a little dancing in the living room...

 makes for great memories....

 and lots of smiles all around!

 February also brings time to celebrate the people we love most...

 like a four year old and a 23 year old!

And we cannot forget about that special holiday called Valentine's Day too!

March brings springtime and smiles...

and seeing some of your favorite people...

 who want to make a certain day...

 the best ever...

 and that makes turning a year older a little easier!

 So thankful for the people...

 that God has brought into my life...

 to make life a little sweeter!

So that's my life lately...

Thankfulness in Pictures

As Americans, we have so much to be thankful for.  We sometimes feel like we have it hard, but compared to people in other countries, we have it made.  I have had a great 2010 and have so much to be thankful for...so on the eve of Thanksgiving, here are some things (people) I am thankful for (and in no particular order).

my sweet mom who is always there for me and will do anything in her power to make my life better

My cousins - Lori and Jennifer (Nin), who are not only family, but great friends!

Jason and Jamie Durant - Jason has been my guy friend I go to for advice and who calls me out when I need it and I gained another great friend when he married Jamie!  So excited that they will be parents in 2011.

My best girlfriends of the past 10-13 years!  Mandy, April, Stephanie, and Brownie.
We laugh together, we cry together and we do life together.  They are not only my friends, but my sisters.

Ms. Gail and Tami - I am so thankful that I get to work with these two.
So much wisdom comes from them and I am a better person because of them in my life.

Aunt Judy and Uncle Murl - they have watched me grow up and have always been there for me

The Handley siblings!  Love my aunt and uncles and their families. 

My siblings!  Gosh I cannot imagine life without them.
So lucky to have my sisters and my brother (in law).
We laugh, fight and cry together!
Love love love them!

My dad and Kay - always there, always providing, and always loving!
So thankful for another year with them!

Michael Mayfield
Excited about how the Lord has brought us together the past year and thankful that he is in my life

My best friends - Karen and Cindy
Love love these girls and the fun we have.
Great listeners, great advice givers and great accountability partners!

My precious girls - Caitlyn, Kelsey, Haley and Hannah.
I have watched them grow up into beautiful, Godly young women.
So thankful for our monthly Bible study.

My trip to South Africa
Life Changing!

My SA team - Joey, Scott L, Mike and Scott D
Loved experiencing SA with them !

My favorite SA moment - seeing this young man's life changed when he accepted Christ in his life.
A moment I will never forget.

My sweet Ella - oh how I love this one.  She is so full of life and bring smiles to my face.

My little bud Brandon, gosh I cannot believe how big is he.
So proud of him and the little guy he is growing up to be,  Can't imagine life without him.

Kim and Kasey (pictured with Tami)
Two more women I have the privilege to work with.
Love how we get to do life together on a daily basis.

These only touch the surface...there are so many moments, people and things I am thankful for.  I could go on and on...but will leave it at this.  This Thanksgiving, take time to reflect on what the Lord has done in your life - the good times and the hard times - as we are commanded to be thankful for ALL things!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Heading Out!!!!!!

So, tomorrow is the day - I have been so excited about this for months and it is finally here.  I cannot believe it!  I'm packed (for the most part), started taking my malaria meds (blah - they make me a little nauseous, please pray that goes away - I have to take it for 47 days), have a ton of books to read, have my cameras charged and ready and downloaded some music and movies for my journey.

I had a great weekend - spent time with my family on Sunday celebrating my dad's birthday and today hanging with my sister & brother-in-law and getting hugs from my parents before I leave (please pray for my parents - I know they are worried about me - as most parents would be - I guess you never get too old for your parents to worry about you and I love that about them).  I also had a fun weekend with my friends too - went to our usual hot spot - the $1 movies to see "Knight and Day" (here is your Monday movie review - blah - stupid - don't waste your time), rented "Bounty Hunter" (just ok) and went to my friend, Mayfield's parents to hear about his sister's experiences as an english teacher in China (she is doing great work for the Kingdom there - pray for her as she goes back to China to teach English on Sunday).  And tonight my some of my sweet girl friends from church met me for dinner for my final Alabama meal for awhile - we hit my favorite hot spot - Wing's.  So, it was a great final weekend with everyone for a few weeks!

Ok - here are some last minute details for you before I head out... :)
I will be updating my blog (as long as I have wi-fi) and my facebook. I will have my sdea email and my bellsouth email as well (so if you have my email address - email away). I can receive text messages for free (so text away - I'd love to hear from you) but it costs me .50 to send - so please do not be offended if I do not respond to your text. If you have it, message me and I will give you my skype name and my aol instant messenger name. There is an 8 hour time difference but I have a feeling I will be up some nights late (late in Africa, early for Alabama) trying to get used to the time). You can track my flights and see where we are (if you are that bored) on flightaware.com - just type in the airline and flight # - its pretty cool (my itinerary is below).

I'm super excited and I know its going to be a once in a lifetime trip. I know God is going to do huge things in the lives of the people AND in my life too!! Know I'll be praying for you back home. I can't wait to tell you all about it on the blog and show you pictures!! 

Thanks for the prayers!
Gina :)


Here is my flight info (all times are local to the city I will be in)...

Depart
Delta 4957 Birmingham 8/17 - 10:00 a.m.
Arrive
Atlanta 8/17 - 12:04 p.m.
Depart
Delta 238 Atlanta 8/17 - 5:20 p.m.
Arrive
Amsterdam 8/18 - 8:15 a.m.
Depart
Delta 9600 Amsterdam 8/18 - 10:30 a.m.
Arrive
Johannesburg 8/18 - 9:25 p.m.
Depart
SAA 8827 Johannesburg 8/19 - 9:30 a.m.
Arrive
Nelspruit 8/19 - 10:25 a.m.

Depart
SAA 8842 Nelspruit 8/31 - 1:35 p.m. (13:35)
Arrive
Johannesburg 8/31 - 2:30 p.m. (14:30)
Depart
Delta 8513 Johannesburg 8/31 - 7:30 p.m.
Arrive
Paris-De Gaulle 9/01 - 6:05 a.m.
Depart
Delta 8504 Paris-De Gaulle 9/01 - 10:40 a.m.
Arrive
Atlanta 9/01 - 2:05 p.m.
Depart
Delta 5493 Atlanta 9/01 - 3:30 p.m.
Arrive
Birmingham 9/01 - 3:24 p.m.

Birthday Catch Up Part 4...

In May we celebrate the birth of Tracy (she turned 31 - crazy that my sister is 31)...I have not seen any photos from her birthday yet (I stink taking photos these days)...

We did have our annual Handley family dinner though...here are some photos from that....

on the way to dinner

Kay

Brandon and Ella had the camera the entire night...all of these photos were taken by them - its amazing how people will pose for little kids

my cousin, Angie

Ella and Tracy

Uncle Bobby and Aunt Sandy smiling at the end of the table

my cousin, Kristy and Cole

Ronald and Nicole

my cousin Jennifer - AKA Nin and her friend Jim

Aunt Judy