Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 Year in Review


2010 was a great year for the Pollards. I wouldn't say it was any more wonderful than any other year but we were blessed. We remained healthy, our families have been healthy, and we were able to spend time with our families and friends.
January

We started our year at the CottonBowl for the second year in a row. It was a blast to get to see the new Dallas Stadium and was fun to experience it with good friends.

February

It flew by-Cullen turned 27, & went to the doctor for the first time since we have been together. My grandmother celebrated her 86th birthday.

March
March was most likely the most stressful month of my year. The problem of my procrastination came to an end. I spent the week of Spring Break beginning & finishing my National Boards. At the end of the month I mailed it off and I really don't remember anything else from that month, except that Pontotoc lost two really wonderful men Coach Kno & Mr. Jimmy Munn. Both were great Christian models.

April
Our sweet niece celebrated her first birthday. She had an Elmo party and we enjoyed watching her play in her sand/water table, swing, and blow kisses to everyone.

May

Meagan graduated high school at the end of May and the month was filled with parties, brunches, and other fun events.

June
We were able to travel 13 states this summer and to see some pretty great parts of the west. We celebrated our 3rd anniversary.

July

Our friends Kala and Preston welcomed their sweet baby girl into the world. I chaperoned the church youth group to the beach for Student Life. I went to another art workshop with my dear friend, Ms. Jenna. I celebrated my 25th birthday again.
August

August brought the start of school along with the Mississippi heat. We celebrated the first ever Jimmy Weatherly day and I was able to hostess the dinner held to honor him.

September
September brought a tragedy to our extended family with the loss of my sister/friend's dad. Our dear Rebels began their struggle through the football season and I worked another Emmaus walk. God is so good to his children in their times of need.
October

November
November was a crazy month. I began bus monitoring in November and the added time to the school day left me with some adjusting to do. Football season continued and Thanksgiving brought family from far and near to our home to celebrate. We celebrated togetherness, our blessings and the gift of friendship. We hosted a Thanksgiving meal for our close friends and hope for this to be an annual tradition. Most monumental moment of the month was finding out that my dear friend, Leslie and I had both certified in earning our National Boards.
December

December brought a whirlwind of activities that kept us busy from the first weekend's Christmas Bazaar, to Cullen's sister's Christmas Shower at our house, shopping, decorating, cooking, entertaining and lots of events along the way. We saw our first 'White Christmas' in our lifetimes, too. Leslie and I also both received Teacher of the Year at our individual schools. It was a magical year filled with great opportunities, many blessings, and left us with anticipation for the year to come.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Wings

Redbull may give you wings- but this week it allows me to hang with kids 10 years my juniors! My 8:30 bedtime is an after thought- and so to cope with the very present fatigue I brought my Redbull- Brother Jaysen our youth guy likes Five Hour Energy better and so here we are double fisting caffeine! Pray for our youth& safe travel home tomorrow!
- I'm Tired in Tennessee

Be Jealous

I was able to hear MercyMe in concert last night! Two thing I know-- they could sing me to sleep daily,-- I need there album when it comes out! In Pigeon Forge at the Xtreme winter conference with out youth- God is so Good!

Guess what!

This is when the girls on the youth trip found out I was about to drive the church bus!!! In Knoxville no less---- these faces are priceless

Winter Wonder

It is no secret I LOVE my church! I have attended it since I was born! I love the stainglass windows, the people that fill the pews, the smell of the old fellowship hall, the red roof, the memories of all the Sunday nights in youth choir, summer days of Vbs, and the Saturday my very special uncle gave me away to my wonderful hubby! This picture honestly moves my soul when I look at it! I pause when it comes up on my phone just in awe of the surpriSe of snow on Christmas morn, and that this place could look even more magical than most days! Enjoy! While this is the view of the church from my front walk photo credits belong to our pastor Ken Hester! Hope it warms your heart and makes you smile!

Young at Heart?

Delirious is more like it-- yes even after the redbull-- I was so tired and still am that I'm about to make a confession--- not only did I don these silly glasses-- I Felicia Pollard put in earplugs and sat and slept through a Skillet concert! ( ok so if you are confused because you thought I was on a youth trip not a kitchen convention- let me clue you in--Skillet is a hard rock group that sings/yells Christian music! ). Oh yes I sat straight up feet propped up and nodded off! I might be trying to get chaperone of the year! Even better than this I along with my dear friend Jenna managed to be the first in line at every restaurant! No, we didn't pull the seniority card because we are ten and thirty years older we earned our place in line-- we flat out ran off the buses and pushes if need be! But to make up for those two things we bought pizza, cleaned the bus, and sang them bible verses to Christmas tunes! Young at heart- well I am between the hours of 6 am and 8 pm--- does that count?

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Girls' Night Out



GIRLS' Night Out
a.k.a-Molly's in town
It is not often that more than two or three of our highschool friends get together. Most of the time it is the same group that get together, so when one of the girls from far off comes home for the holidays we all start planning our time together.
Back in October Molly came home and it was such a quick trip we didn't get to hang out.
So instantly we facebooked and planned her Christmas homecoming and our night together. We had great plans of a spend the night at her house like old times, but with husbands and the holidays our plans changed a little.
This past week we were able to get together for dinner at Kyoto's. Leslie, Molly, Amber and myself met up with some Tupelo girls and had a fun night of catching up.
I was so excited Roxie, my college roomate was there. I was not expecting to see her and when I walked in it was like God knew we needed some quality time together. She has been living in D.C. for the last two years and is teaching dance at a private school along with working on her own pieces.
We laughed, ate, and enjoyed just catching up with the who, what, and where of everyone.


Mrs. Busby


Mrs. Busby was my second grade teacher. I remember few things about the second grade.
-We brought earthquake supplies to school
-We collected and mounted bugs for a science project
-She was a stickler about hand writing
-I began to hate math in second grade because of mad minutes
-the assistant always threatened to put me in the Ko-Ner...you know the corner but she said it really southern...
-my favorite outfit was my Watermelon outfit made by my mom and several Bubble Suits
-Mrs. Busby loved me--I just knew it! ;)

I now teach down the hall from Mrs. Busby. I was in youth group with her son and was able to student teach with her years ago. I have been poolside and beachside with her and love her to death. She is hilarious! She has a certain way to do everything from weeding her plants, to teaching about shapes. She lives on coffee, loves to iron, and gives the best hugs.
In the picture above she is modeling a scarf that I gave her 20 years ago when she taught me second grade. I can remember my mom making it and proudly giving it to her just before Christmas break. She has kept it all these years, it still looks pristine which is almost as amazing to me as her still having it. She says she will retire in May, I'm holding out for her to teach a few more years...and if that isn't the case...then I'm holding out for the retirement trip to the beach this summer.

Willie



So I have always loved country music...old/new doesn't matter. Once in college I got a discount on a new muffler because the mechanic said he never got in cars in Oxford that had country playing...random I know...truth be told the next song on the cd might have been rap, christian, or something from the 70's you just never know...
Well, in May my uncle bought my aunt tickets to see Willie Nelson. I made the comment that I would love to see him...he said he had bought four tickets and that my cousin was going and the fourth ticket could be mine...I took him up on the offer and steadily waited for the concert to be cancelled...Willie is known for not showing up for his gigs...Well in true form...he didn't...the concert was postponed and on December 8th...I carpooled with the family up to Corinth to enjoy a night with Willie. He opened the show up with Whiskey River and played every other song I associated with him...Crazy, On the Road Again, Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain, Don't let Your Babies Grow up to be Cowboys, Beer for my Horses, Always on My Mind...and many more.
We had third row seats and were really close...close enough a good zoom could get a great picture...but about that great picture...Willie is old...really old. And in my mind I knew him as a Legend...but good gracious...he walked out and I was taken aback by just how old he looked...he work New Balance shoes...for comfort I'm sure, his knuckles were big probably due to a little bit of arthritis, and his hair gray...But in his sleeveless shirt his old arms just kinda grossed me out. I mean don't get me wrong...he is WILLIE...and he put on a solid hour and a half of music...no talking ...just picking and singing... but age has not been good to our dear friend...of course his habits may have also taken a toll on Mr. Willie, too. Regardless of his habits, his wrinkles, or his New Balance shoes, he was great...and I can mark seeing Willie Live on stage off my Bucket List.
Doesn't Jason look so happy...he really was...the picture just doesn't show it...Cullen was even happier not being at the concert...as he is NOT a Willie fan---bless his heart!

Ellie-phant

Is she not growing into such a big girl. I love love love this picture of her...saw it today in my photos and instantly showed it to Cullen with both sat and said AWE... she is growing up before our eyes----and we wish we could see her more...I thought she was the cutest elephant ever!

Thanksgiving Week


First pic of the newly National Board Certified Teachers
Thanksgiving week seems like a lifetime ago. It started off with me finding out that I passed my National Boards and celebrating with my mom and Leslie that first Friday night. Cullen was in Baton Rouge that weekend for the Ole Miss/LSU game. He called to tell me he was standing by the tiger...I was like OKAY you see the tiger...thinking like the sidelines mascot...oh no it was like Mike, a real tiger...zoo.alive. breathing. eat your face off your skull tiger. Had I known that...I would have been much more caring and then I would have said....Cullen go stand somewhere else....but like I said I was still celebrating my pass....

I also took a trip to see Mr. McCarty in Merigold. Doesn't this picture make it look like we are old friends. Well, technically we are...I have loved him for years and I have more than paid for our friendship over and over again..

Left to Right (Bill Pollard-Mr. Jimmy's older brother, Will Pollard-the youngest Pollard grandchild, Jimmy Pollard, Marvin Pollard, Cullen Pollard-the oldest Pollard grandchild)
I spent most of the week cleaning and cooking...I thought it would be fun to host our close friends for a Thanksgiving dinner...non traditional of course and just enjoy fellowship...It was a fun night with great friends...but I didn't think it through...hosting 12 on Tuesday...cook and clean again Wednesday to host 30 on Thursday for Thanksgiving. It was a long day but one that was filled with lots of precious memories. We were able to host the Pollard Patriarch this year. Cullen's dad, Mr. Jimmy or JP as I have come to nickname him, lost his dad, James Everett Pollard to a heart attack when Mr. Jimmy was in highschool, leaving Marvin Pollard James Everett's younger brother the patriarch of the Pollard people. He lives in Kosiuscko and when I found out his daughter and her husband were coming into town and would be eating just the three of them I had Ms. Debi invite them to the Pollard/Carter Thanksgiving. It was a lot of fun to have everyone together. Marvin (called Uncle Bubba by most of the family) even entertained the family with a few Gaither classics. That opened up the floor for my Aunt B to do a stand up comedy routine. Next year I have decided that post dinner we will have a variety hour. I might even give prizes for the best performances. Since I'll be the judge and the prize giver I may give extra points for creativity. All family that reads this be warned...you better bring your A Game because Cullen has some great impersonations.
I was truly thankful for the family and friends that could gather together, the family I've known my whole life and the ones that came along as a package deal with the cute boy I decided to marry.


This picture is hilarious to me...after most of the extended family left we sat around and watched the little ones play. This is my brother and I keeping an eye on the baby...can't you see how interested we were....yeah we both were tired and full...my mom says this is the only time we are nice to each other is when we are asleep...

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