Nat & Leo's Going Away Party

Last night I hosted a Going Away Party for my friend Nat. We have worked together for almost 5 years and have been very good friends. Her husband, Leo, got a job transfer to Clearlake, FL and even though they aren't leaving until mid February, we had a little party last night. I rented out the clubhouse in their neighborhood and we had about 30 people come to wish them well.

We had a red, black & white theme since Nat got her masters at NC State.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

This is the Sanchez family. Nat, Leo & Nicolas. Nic really didn't want to sit still for this shot so it was a little hard to take.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nat, Laci & myself have kinda been the 3 musketeers at work. We have always enjoyed hanging out with each other and have done a ton of stuff together over the years. Its gonna be weird to have one of the musketeers not with us in NC.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nicolas REALLY enjoyed the black icing on the cake. He liked it so much that he decided he wanted to share with Mrs. Candice.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

I had enlisted the help of Leo's friends to create a slide show. We watched over 6 years of pictures during 15 minutes and it was awesome. When it gets uploaded, I'll include it here. Nat & Leo have done a lot, learned a lot and lived a lot in NC. I will surely miss them as well as the rest of the crew.

This is not a goodbye wave, its a so-long wave!

From Nat & Leo Going Away

p.s. Who let Mike in the front anyways?????

Hope you had fun Nat!
Love ya,
Candice

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My new 4 letter word

I FINALLY started my photography class last night at Wake Tech. Gotta admit that I was a bit nervous parking & walking up to class. I haven't taken a college class since 2004 so I was a nervous wreck. Don't know why. Just was. It was fine and I had nothing to worry about other than the fact that I didn't fit in the desk (class is held in a High School). I think I will learn alot about photography and I hope to share what I learn on this blog. The one thing that I took from last night's class was my new 4 letter word. Apparently "AUTO" is a 4 letter word in a photography class. You can never use it or say it. We'll be turning off the "auto" mode and going manual. So bye bye AUTO, you little 4 letter word!


What's a post without a picture? Here's a picture of the sun setting from the window of my office. Its not great but it was pretty (even though the window was filthy dirty).

From Drop Box

Here's another one of the sunset in Destin, FL. I took this from the window of a moving car. Pretty good right??

From Christmas 2010

I hope you'll see some improvement over the next 8 weeks in my photography. Thanks for joining me on my journey!
Candice

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You never know

Yesterday I got the SWEETEST email from Kelsey Williamson. Kelsey is a high school student that use to serve with me in Kid City. She is only 16 years old but she is SO wise beyond her years. She is also great with kids. We needed someone reliable to watch my niece & newphew at our wedding last year and I knew Kelsey & her sister Camille would be the perfect fit. Kelsey & Camille did a great job and loved on the kids. This past summer Kelsey's dad got a job transfer to Charlotte and they moved. I keep up with Kelsey on her blog http://kdwdancerslife.blogspot.com/

From Blog Pics

Yesterday she sent me one of the sweetest emails I have ever received. She told me that she missed me and my smiling face. She went on to thank me for being a positive role model in her life as a woman of faith. As I read this email, I looked around as if she were talking about someone else! Could this be right? Could I be a role model for this wise young woman of 16 years old? Did I really smile??? Had my serving with her once every 7 days really made an impact? I had no clue. Who knew? Guess God did. Made me almost feel guilty for not pouring more into Kelsey. And also reminded me that what we do matters and that people watch!

Thank you Kelsey for such a sweet email. It literally made my day. You are such a special young lady & a joy to all you know! If only every high school student just had an ounce of your wisdom, maturity and love for Christ this world would be a different place. Thank you for being you. And thank you for the reminder that we need to tell people who had a positive impact on our lives what they mean to us. We miss you here in Raleigh!

Much Love,
Candice

P.S. This was a funny from last week that keeps me humble. While in Kid City, Julia sits down next to me with a serious face and says "Mrs. Candice, you are the perfect teacher". Oh yea, I say. Why is that? And she says "Because you're not too nice and you're not too mean".
Thanks Julia!

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New Years PJ Party

I'm stuck at home today because my driveway is an entire sheet of ICE! We didn't get the pretty snow like surrounding areas, we got ICE! Anyhoo, I've got some time on my hands so thought I'd show you pictures of the New Years PJ Party we had this year. Yes, I said PJ's. Last year we had a New Years party and Todd had the idea of a PJ party. I told him that was silly. You have to dress up for New Years. So I got my way last year but he got his way this year. Can I just say that its a GREAT idea?! Do you know how awesome it is to get ready for a New Years party and just put on your comfy PJ's. Genius! There may be more PJ parties in our future.

If you've been around the Craigs at all, then you know that Todd loves to make signs for any get together we have. Working hard on the sign.

From New Years

The end result was pretty good.

From New Years

We set up the table with lots of goodies.

From New Years

Victoria brought yummy Pigs in the blanket. I like this picture. Can't wait to really learn how to use my new camera. Too bad my 1st photography class got cancelled last night.

From New Years

Our neighbor Marjorie came over too and brought Christmas PJ's that her mother made over 60 years ago! They were fun and super warm.

From New Years

I love that face and that smile!

From New Years

Our night consisted of board games. Wits N Wagers & Whats yours Like. Wits N Wagers is a great game but Whats your Like is a waste of money. Don't buy it and don't play it sober because it won't make sense)

From New Years

We had Kevin & Victoria

From New Years

Jim & Kari

From New Years

Jessica

From New Years

TJ & Claudia- This wasn't a picture from New Years b/c the one I have TJ's eyes were shut. But this is a picture from a few days ago when we had a surprise birthday party for TJ. They're cute together right???

From New Years

And I can't forget Todd's remote controlled trachela that made his way on the scene. Cause whats a New Years party without scaring some folks right???

From New Years

We had a great time hanging out with our friends & playing games. I hope you had a Happy New Years. Come over next year! I gotta feeling we'll do a PJ party again!

See ya,
Candice

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What a MIGHTY God we serve!!!

I have to share this HUGE praise with everyone! Todd has had constant pain in his mouth for over a year now and we have been praying for the doctors to find the solution. Todd had exploratory surgery over a year ago and they didn't see anything. We held a prayer conference last night and really lifted this up and prayed that they would find the solution once and for all. Well, today they pulled a tooth and found a FRACTURED ROOT TIP. So basically he's had a broken bone in his mouth for 1.5 years and that was the source of the pain. This is a HUGE praise and answers to our prayers for the last year and a half. I can't tell you how relieved I am. Can't imagine how excited Todd is. I just keep singing the old hymm "What a Mighty God we Serve" in my head.

What a mighty God we serve
What a mighty God we serve
Angels bow before Him
Heaven and earth adore Him
What a mighty God we serve

I couldn't say it better. AMEN and Halleluiah for answered prayers!
Thank you all who have ever prayed for my husband! You are such a blessing to us.

Love,
Candice

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