House Divided....IRON BOWL 2010- Tuscaloosa

We always have been and always will be a true house divided. I love BAMA and he loves AUBURN. Period. End of story. No matter what anyone tells us, we will NOT change. I am not changing for him and he is not changing for me. I was born and raised a BAMA fan and nothing's gonna change that! I love him and put up with his "Auburnness", but I will still say ROLL TIDE!
This year we headed down to T-Town on Friday, November 26th with Michael and Crysta for the Iron Bowl. To say it was cold that day is a complete understatement. It was FREEZING! The first half Alabama was unstoppable and it was looking like a very promising night for me! However, our luck soon ended and Auburn ended up winning by 1 point. It was a bummer. The rest of my crew was happy though! Even though we lost, it was a great day with good friends!




Pre-game. Why do I have so many Auburn fan friends?!?



Finally in our seats inside the stadium....FREEZING! Oh and by this time its starting to drizzle!

The view from our seats in Bryant Denny Stadium!

Rio Secreto-The Amazing Secret River

The coolest part of our cruise would definitely be the day we landed in Calica. Nathan, mom, dad, and I decided to do the "Rio Secreto" (Secret River) expedition. In the expedition, you got to go caving where there was a river flowing. Some parts of the journey, you could walk and other parts you had to swim.
We got off the boat and were driven on a VERY bumpy ride into the jungle in the middle of Calica. It was about a 45 minute ride there. We got there and had to get on our gear--wetsuits, swim shoes, helmets with lights, and life jackets. When we first got into the water...it was FREEZING! But we all quickly got used to the temperature. It was the neatest experience. Nathan and I kept saying how awesome of a field trip this would be! The journey took over an hour and was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! We were lucky that there was a professional photographer following us and we were able to buy a CD of the pictures. This is the 2nd coolest thing I've ever done in my life---only 2nd to swimming with the dolphins on our honeymoon. :-)


Our tour group with our guide Victor

Victor is preparing us for what we're about to do!

Starting our journey....

Cruising...on the Carnival Elation

Since we were afraid this might be our last one week fall vacation, we wanted to do something extremely fun this year! So me, Nathan, mom, dad, and Nathan's mom and dad went on a cruise! We left from Mobile and sailed to Cozumel, Mexico and then to Calica, Mexico. We enjoyed laying out, EATING (what felt like ALL the time!), watching the shows, and exploring Mexico. I have hundreds of pictures, but only picked a few to share with you! (**Please read the next entry about one adventure in particular in Calica!**)


Shopping at the outside market in Cozumel!


Beautiful beach in Cozumel!

Our parents at the Family Feud show on the cruise!

At Calica (along with some of dad's finger)

Formal night on the Elation---I had a hot date!

Cozumel, Mexico
We had the BEST time and definitely plan on going on another cruise SOON---hopefully next year!

College REUNION

On the weekend of July 24, all us girls from the good ole UNA college days, finally reunited! We'd been able to get together each time someone got married, but hadn't spent a weekend together since college. They all came from different directions: Lindsey-from Birmingham, Dana-from Florence, Megan- from Selmer, TN, and Kristina-from Atlanta! So we spent a few days together at my house catching up on our lives, marriage, teaching jobs, etc. It's like we just picked up where we left off! I am so thankful that after all this time (we graduated college 3 years ago!) we still make time to get together!

Kristina, Lindsey, and me at Cheddars!

Dana and Megan at Cheddars!

Great weekend with GREAT friends! Love all you girls! Looking forward to getting together at baby showers in the future! :-) LOL

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Nathan and I decided we better enjoy the last few weeks before school started back! So we went to Atlanta for a weekend for the Braves game! We had awesome seats and it was a nice getaway. And the Braves even WON!

Two Years of Martial Bliss

We have been married 2 years now! It's flown by! To celebrate, we left on Monday, July 5th and went to the Blue Spring Manor Bed and Breakfast for 2 nights. Its a bed & breakfast about 45 minutes outside Birmingham. Our friends, Lindsey and John, suggested this place and it was AWESOME! We laid around the pool,enjoyed the wonderful BREAKFAST, walked around the grounds, practiced our putting and played games. It was a very relaxing mini-vacay! Here are some pictures of this great place.



This was our bedroom: the Willow Oak Room.



This was my favorite place--the swing on the big back porch!


The pool!


Day 1 of yummy breakfast!

Our attempt to get a picture together. Happy 2 Year Anniversary, I love you Nathan!

June and her Boys

Last night, Nathan and I went to Coach June Seals induction into the Madison County Sports Hall of Fame. Nathan coaches under June at Sparkman-varsity girls. This was his first year to coach and I guess that says something when the woman you coach under is getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was at the VBC and they have a fancy dinner. I loved the chance to dress up and get out---even on a school night.


June and her boys- Jimmy, Patrick, Nathan, and Danny





Blurry but June, her boys, and her girls

Coaches Wives

Me and Coach Wilson

The WONDERFUL "T" Word

Today during school, Mr. Hughes appeared at my door. He asked to see me in the hallway. Then, he reached in next door and asked to see Lindsey. Then he proceeded to tell us that he did NOT have to lose any units next year. Which means---TENURE! He said that technically its not official yet. He has submitted our name to the Board and first they have to sign off on it. But he's never known the Board to not approve it if a principal has submitted it. So FINALLY after many scary, unknowing moments last year and this year, I'm safe! I have job security!! Thank you Lord!! It also means a nice RAISE! I am sooo EXCITED! Michelle & Staci are buying me and Lindsey lunch tomorrow to celebrate--we're having a TENURE party! WOO-HOO!

American Red Cross

On Friday, April 2nd my students wore red and hats. All throughout the week, they made $1 donations to the American Red Cross. Also, we all wore red on Friday as a rememberance of the Red Cross. Here are a few pictures of my class!





You can barely see me to the left. I blend in with my girls :-)

Blessed Beyond Belief

Since around October/November I have been going to events at our church with a new group of women called Cheap Chicks. Tonight, we had a "date night". We had a couple come and share about their lives and how they manage to save and be good stewards. This has really got me to thinking again. And all I can think is WOW.

Nathan and I both have jobs. We have a roof over our head. We have cars that work. In fact, we have no car payment at all right now. We are able to pay all our bills, save some each month, and have plenty of spending money. We are so incredibly blessed. We never have to worry about if we can pay this bill or what if something crazy happens and we need emergency money.

I hate that I'm an OCD person who worries about some things I can't control. I pray that God changes that in me. I pray that I can put more faith in Him. God always provides for us. Never once have we been without food. So why am I so petty and not trusting Him enough? This is definitely something that God is showing me right now.
Sometimes I think if God had an audible voice that I could hear, that he would say "shut Up Randi and trust me more." That's what I intend on doing.

Thank you Lord for everything you do and provide for us. May we never take that for granted. :-)

GREAT STRIDES for Lyla

I need your help! The baby that was born to my friend Julie has been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. We are walking in a Great Strides walk at Bridgestreet on May 2nd to raise money and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I am registered as a walker and trying to raise as much money for this cause as I possibly can! Please go to my website below to donate and help us raise money for CFF! Thanks ahead of time for your generosity!!


http://www.cff.org/great_strides/dsp_donationPage.cfm?registeringwalkid=6434&idUser=368241

Rascal Flatts & Darius Rucker!!

So have I mentioned that my husband is amazing--b/c he is! He somehow managed to land us 7th row seats at the Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker concert in Huntsville on March 4th. AMAZING!! The pictures speak for themselves! I think going to concerts is basically our favorite pasttime.

Basketball and Birthdays!

Well, as a couple we embarked on a new phase of life this school year---BASKETBALL. Nathan has always wanted to coach basketball. He tried to get in coaching at my high school Buckhorn but that didn't work out. Then, he was going to coach at Madison County High School, but then their coach left and didn't tell him. Needless to say, its been a lot of ups and downs as far as trying to find a job. Well, thanks to Amy Delay-he found one. Amy teaches with Nathan at Riverton and her husband is a teacher and coach at Sparkman High School. They needed an assistant for the varsity girls. Nathan had always said and I quote, "I DO NOT want to coach girls." But seeing as how this was the only real offer--he took it! So this meant a lot of late afternoons/nights as practice started up. I knew he was loving it, you could just see it on his face! This has been the MOST INCREDIBLE season for the Sparkman team. Nathan has really bonded (whether he'll admit it or not) with these girls. HE learned a lot of new things that he'd never considered--for example, ask him what "things" they must carry around in bag 39? I'll give you a hint--its types of feminine products...haha. And this year's team is very young! No seniors!

Now you would think as a coach's wife, I would get tired of the late nights, Sunday evening/Saturday morning practices, HARD wooden bleachers, and concession stand food. However, I LOVED IT! I sooo looked forward to the games each week! I would find myself giving the ref crap over a bad call. I believe it was perfect timing--it was just us--we have no babies---and we got to do it together. The real reason I enjoyed it so was to see the look of fulfillment and enjoyment and pride on Nathan's face. That's why I loved it. He was really doing something that HE LOVED and that made me LOVE IT. I'm so proud of him in so many ways. I always want him to do what makes him happy.

The girls did extremely well this year!! They won the Area Championship by beating Bob Jones with 2 last second shots! And I cannot even express the amount of hatred/competitiveness that goes on between Sparkman and Bob Jones. Wow, you can cut the tension with a knife. I was a Buckhorn girl so I didn't figure that rivalry would effect me but boy was I wrong. Cocky, little rich kids...ok, sorry I'll stop before I get really rowled up! But with winning the area, they went on to play at Wallace State in Hanceville for the state playoffs. They won the first round and then lost the second round against BOB JONES...ugh. Only lost by 1 stinkin point. Basketball is so emotional--for everyone---girls, coaches, and coaches wives. ha!
But its really sad now that it's over. What will we do with all this time?!

Below are some pictures I took the night Sparkman beat Bob Jones in the Area Championship. Nathan was ECSTATIC!! He was jumping up and down on the court with the girls! That's how much we hate Bob Jones. LOL
















OH YEAH!! And February was full of birthdays---Nathan turned the BIG 30 on February 25! A bunch of his friends all met us at PJ Changs. HOwever, I'm a bad wife and did not take pictures of that! And Mom's birthday was February 26th! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM & NATHAN!!