Thankful 2011

Tis the season for Thankfulness...

Hubby and I had a great Thanksgiving an uneventful Black Friday work experience...and we have much to be thankful for.  We ate and slept and worked.  I made chess pie (twice because I burned the first one - ugh) and two casseroles my classic green bean casserole and my Father-in-law's hashbrown casserole! We ordered turkey and dressing from Cracker Barrel to save time and energy.  It was a yummy feast!!

There is stress and there is extreme busyness, and there are things we wish were very different, but more than that...there is love, our Savior, blessings, God's will, and very exciting things happening.

In a few short weeks the semester will be over leaving only one semester left before I graduate from Bible College, and we are fairly confident that we are about to embark on a new journey as well.  That announcement will come as soon as it is official...and no I am not pregnant ;-)!

We have family who love us and friends who love us and we have these amazing people lifting us up in prayer and that is one of the most incredible blessings of all.

So Happy season of Thankfulness!! We here in the Trotter household are very Thankful and Excited about what's ahead!!

Father I surrender ALL to you and I TRUST YOU!!!  Help us to walk whatever journey you put before us!  We love you and TRUST you!

Screaaammmm!!!

Oh my goodness sometimes I just wanna scream so bad!!
Stress Stress & more Stress

Church Stress...some exciting news coming soon here!

School Stress...end of the semester will be here all too soon.

Family  Stress...teenagers, drama, holidays

I don't even know what would help at this point.

I am at a breaking point.  I am on the edge!!  I feel like I am falling off the edge!!!

However I am Thankful for this journey and all the stresses that it sometimes brings! There are many good things...in fact there are more good things that bad!!

The difference it makes...

Tonight I am absolutely astounded at the difference it makes in young ladies to be consistently told of their worth from a young age and that it is not found in others.

Absolutely astounded.

Parents, Leaders, Friends...please understand that it makes such a difference to talk to the young ladies in your life and continually tell them that they have worth and that it is not found in others!  Their worth is found in Jesus alone.

In one instance my heart hurts more than I have words to even express.  I am praying and continually pouring in the affirmations as I have opportunity, but it is somewhat new information for this young lady and she has yet to see it lived out before her in the people that she has been surrounded by most in her life.  Sad, hard, and it is so very frustrating because I SEE HER WORTH and she does not understand it at all.

I the other instance my heart is filled with such pride that I can't express fully.  I have seen this young lady reach out for the wisdom of those around her, take it into serious and heartfelt consideration, and then act on what she has learned from that wisdom.  I have seen her stand up for herself because she understands and knows that she is worth more and that she does not have to settle for what she can have right now because she is desperate to have that kind of acceptance.  It is not about acceptance from a guy or people for her.

Two very different young ladies.  Two very different circumstances growing up.  Two very different results.

My heart truly breaks and soars tonight.  I am thankful to have the opportunity to pour into both of these young ladies the wisdom that others have poured into me.  I am thankful for a God who never gives up on His daughters & who gives opportunities for them to hear their worth.

Father please let your wisdom and love permeate these precious hearts of your daughters.  Please bring understanding of worth and your purpose and plan into their lives and hearts.  Father I know that what you can do in the life of a daughter who has never heard of their worth or never been taught where to find their worth, You have worked that miracle in my life and I ask you to work that miracle in this life of this young lady who is headed down the wrong path quickly.  I pray for opportunities to speak into her life and that you would soften her heart to hear and understand what You have for her. I know you have a purpose and a plan for her life.  I ask you to protect her and change her heart and I pray that you would pour out your wisdom into her life as you have mine and beyond.  I thank you Father for the wisdom you poured into my life and I thank you for the privilege to share that wisdom with others.  In Jesus name. Amen

HIS Protection

I am recognizing God's hand of protection in my life right now, where as I could not recognize it previously.  I am thankful.  I know that He knows so much better than me the things that are best and that I do not always get to understand the whys usually.  He, however, has a plan for everything and as I continue to learn to trust Him he continues to be faithful even when I do not understand. What a great great Father!!  


In a particular situation where I have given my heart in new ways that I never expected to give, God is protecting me and up until now I did not understand certain things.  I see just a bit more clearly and God get's the glory for that.


God gets the glory for allowing me to give my heart in such a way, God gets the glory for His protection in my life, God gets the glory for the bit of understanding that my heart experienced these past few days, God gets ALL of the Glory!!

TWO YEARS!! :-D

Happy Two Year Anniversary to my Hubby!!

I thought I would take you all on a quick two year journey!! Enjoy!!

Wedding Day! October 17th 2009.

 Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Trotter!!

 We moved to Missouri

 Big Move

 Studying Begins

 Here to Study about God

 FIRST Anniversary

 We celebrated ONE Year

We jumped into Ministry:

Bobby Rockit

 Girls lost

 Marshall the Martian

 Boys lost

 Studying!!

 We have LOVED each other through it all!!

I am beyond blessed to have this man as my Husband!!  I give all Glory to God for this journey we are on!! God is so faithful and has brought us through a lot already!!  We are trusting HIM completely for our future!! These past two years have been adventurous and wonderful, scary and hard, but I would not trade this life or this journey with my God and my Husband for anything!!!  I am more in love with both my God and my Husband than ever before!! God is Good!!

Happy Anniversary to my amazing husband!!  You still make me feel like I felt in this picture!!!  I love you with all of my heart and I believe in you like I have never believed in anyone before!!  I am honored to share this journey with you!! You make my live wonderful!! You are truly a wonderful Hubby!! I am so thankful for you everyday!!  Thank You Heavenly Father for sharing this man with me!!  I pray that we honor YOU in all we do!! Continue to lead us and guide us on this journey of love!!  We trust YOU and we will follow You!!  

Who you are is wonderful..

This statement helped change my life.

Now I tell others so that they can experience that same kind of change in their life.

This is real and true.  The bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  

Does God make mistakes?  No.  Then believing less about ourselves is telling God that He is a liar and that what He made is not good.  Being Less Than This is turning your back on God and what He created you to be.  Ouch Right!!  

This is an Ouch WE NEED!!  Who are we to tell our Creator that we are less than this or not enough of that or not good enough here or there.  Who are we to give up and throw our hands in the air and decide we just can't because we are not good enough.

I believe that I am Wonderful because someone told me this consistently and would not let me believe otherwise. 

Now I long to challenge others in that very same way.

I believe that WE ARE ALL fearfully and wonderfully made.  Not just a few of us or those that we look at and think that they are so much better than us here or there or I'm not outgoing like her, or pretty like her, or I can't sing like her, or I don't parent like her.  YOU ARE RIGHT YOU AREN'T AND YOU DON'T - BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT MADE TO BE HER!  

YOU WERE MADE TO BE YOU.  WONDERFUL YOU.  

WHO YOU ARE IS WONDERFUL.

Who YOU are is wonderful.

Who you are IS wonderful.

Who you are is WONDERFUL.

WHO YOU ARE IS WONDERFUL.

Listen to me ladies.  Comparing is dangerous and it robs us of what we have to offer and share with the world.  It also robs those around us of what we have to offer and share, of what they could learn from us.  

This is so strong on my heart today.  Men and Women alike...WHO YOU ARE IS WONDERFUL.

I tell my husband this all of the time.  I believe this about him to my core.  I will tell my children this all of the time because I want them to reach their full potential.  I tell this to those that I minister to as well because this was told to me and IT CHANGED MY LIFE.  Because I began to believe it and live it.  Not that I live it every single day, but I live it more now than I did before and I hope to live it more tomorrow than I did yesterday.

Readers I will leave you with this...

WHO YOU ARE IS WONDERFUL.

Psalm 139:14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.

Favs for October

October is my very favorite month...so here are some of my favs about my fav month!

<3 It's the beginning of Fall

<3 Weather is perfect

<3 It's our anniversary month

<3 Pumpkins

<3 Beautiful trees

<3 Bike riding

<3 Fall scented candles

<3 Oranges, reds, & golds

<3 Hot Tea

<3 Long sleeves

<3 Hoodies

<3 Leaves on the ground

<3 Doors & Windows open

<3 Pumpkin Spice coffees

<3 Pumpkin cupcakes

<3 Chili

<3 Alabama Football

<3 Fall festivals

<3 Leggins

<3 Clogs

<3 Scarves

<3 Jackets

<3 Hot Apple Cider

<3 Pumpkins

<3 Decorating Pumpkins

<3 Nostalgia

<3 Getting pumped up for Christmas

<3 & BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH (Ladies get checked!! I want LESS cancer and MORE birthdays!!) 

Update

We have been enjoying a really lovely Fall!! We have had a month of BEAUTIFUL fall weather and have had our door and window open almost everyday!!!

We bought bikes last week and have gone one two rides and have loved it!! I love being outside with my Hubby!!

I dropped Physical Science & Lab after much praying and fretting and have picked up Church Ed. to independent study!

Looks like I may not be returning to Old Navy to work for the Holidays.  I hope that I can just keep plugging away at school during break and finish strong.

Next month is going to be an extremely busy month for school, I need to stay busy and organized!

My husband is amazing.

My family are amazing and wonderfully loving.

Lil Ronni is doing well, her freshman year is going much better than expected.  I know God is among us and working in this.  Mr. Ronnie had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will be having surgery soon.  I know this will work out!

I still do not understand the timing of all of this, with us being so far away, but I know that God has a plan and a purpose for everything and I am simply trusting in Him and not trying to understand it all because I know that I cannot.

I have been so unbearably grumpy and moody lately and I hate it.  I do not want to be this moody person!!  I just want to be joyful and have my emotions well balanced.

Work is going well for Hubby and he is plugging away at school!!  I think we are just both so ready to be done with this schooling part of life.  He has been studying for so much longer than me so I know he must be ready to be done.  But we are so excited about what we are learning in this time in life and I know God will get us through and we will have more of the skills and knowledge we will need to minister full-time for HIM.

Church is going great!!  Learning and experiencing SO much!!!

I was nominated to be a part of a mentoring group called Seasons and I am excited to be mentored and be surrounded my incredible peers the next two semesters!!  God is faithful!!

That is all for now as I am going to go cook din din for Hubby and me!!  

Life these days.

School:
    My second week of my last semester is almost over!!  This is going to be a long but rewarding semester!!  I am exhausted but excited about what I get to learn and that graduation is getting closer and closer everyday.  I am loving Chapel and just diving into worship these days!  I have three classes with my brother and I love love love that.  He is growing up and fast and I am loving our time here together preparing for ministry!!!  I love that kid!


    Hubby finished his first term with an 'A'!!!  I am so very very proud of him. His next term is going to be a tough one but I know that he is going to do wonderful!!!  I love this man, he is just amazing and I am happy to share life with him!!!




Church:
     I am done with my informal internship and had a great summer doing it over the summer.  I am still heavily involved but won't be going to the church twice a week to meet.  Right now I am getting to work really hard training up the crew members and just praying for lots and lots of wisdom there!!  I am also getting to co-teach the Girl's Only club.  So excited about this adventure and being used by God to pour into these precious precious girl's lives!!!




Friends:
     Before leaving Alabama I began praying that God would provide friends.  It has been a long lonely road here for me, until recently that is.  I have connected with a wonderful lady and I know she is an answer to prayer for me.  I am still being cautious because I have just fooled myself too many times, but I believe that this lovely lady (Stacy is her name) is going to be one of those real friends.  She has three beautiful daughters and a very kind husband.  I am thankful for the time that I get to spend with her.  This week we took a new step and began praying for each other, I love that in friendship.  I fully believe that friends should sharpen each other and challenge each other.  So I am still walking cautious but I just have  a feeling about this one.  I hope my feeling is right!!!  


Those are the goings on here lately.  I am about to go do a little shopping for myself and then grocery shopping while hubby is at work and then come home and cook some din din and study study study!!! 

Birthday...

And the day dawns BEAUTIFUL

And at first I can't understand why it's not cloudy, rainy, and gloomy...

So that my emotions my tears and the clouds in my heart and eyes blend into the background...

And then I remember...

A fact that I have hated since June 19^th...

Life moves on.

Life moves on...

In spite of You being gone.

In spite of Our lives changing FOREVER.

In spite of The Heartache we ALL feel.

Life moves on...

The sun comes out to push away the moon as a new day dawns...

The days pass by over and over again...

The hurt remains...Missing You remains...but time passes...

Days turn to weeks & weeks to months...

Until...

It is Your birthday

And once again I just want time to stop for a moment...

Stop so that we can remember vividly...

Stop so that we can feel you close...

Stop so that no more time passes making it more and more real...

Stop so that maybe just maybe we can All wake up from this bad dream...

But...

It isn't a dream.

And time doesn't Stop.

Yet...

We do remember vividly.

We do feel you close.

We are okay.

But...

We miss You.

We want to celebrate You.

We want Another Birthday.

We want this to be different.

Tonight Your birthday will have passed but the moon will come back out to remind us that...

YOU LOVE(D) US TO THE MOON AND BACK......................

Happy Birthday my sweet Mom-in-law. Miss You and Love YOU to the moon and back.

Heavy heart...

Tonight I come with mixed emotions.

Today I spent all day at the church celebrating incredible young ladies in Girl's Ministries and their amazing accomplishments. It was a beautiful day of celebrating and loving on amazing girls!!! I am very proud of them and very honored to be joining them on a peace of their life's journey.

Yet my heart is very heavy this evening as well. As tomorrow our girl (my lil sister in law) begins her first day of high school. She does so without her mama. She'll wake up without her mom's help, get ready, leave, experience her first day of high school, the high school her mom graduated from, and she'll come home...and her mama won't be sitting on the porch waiting for her when she gets off the bus and she won't get to sit and share her day with her mom. My heart is breaking all over again. I hurts so bad for her. I want so badly to take the pain away or at least to ease it some. But truly there is no way to do that. All I can do right now is just lift her before the Lord and beg Him to hold her so tight and protect her and love her and lead her and guide her and bring her whatever comfort and peace He can. This hurts and I hate it so much. Another first without my precious mother in law...but worse than that, another first without her mama. Another first that my Hubby and his brother and her daddy and all our family do everything they possibly can to ease the pain we all feel so deeply.

Mama Darlene, we miss you so much. I know that you are with us and watching over us. I know how incredibly proud you would be of all of us...YOUR First Born as he started Bible College two weeks ago, Your Second Born as he adopted our niece, YOUR Baby Girl as she begins high school, even me as I begin my second year of Bible College. You loved us all so very much and not having you here and not having your love and support so deeply impacts our lives. Oh how we miss you so so much.

Father I give it all to you. Everything that I cannot fix and all the pain that I cannot take away. All the moments that re-break my heart and deeply move me to seek you with all of my heart on behalf of those I love with the heart YOU have given me to love them with. Oh Father we need you. Father we need you so much and we want you in our lives. Father I ask you for protection, YOUR Supernatural protection, for you grace, mercy, favor, and PEACE, YOUR comfort, understanding, and for You to reveal your purpose and calling for our lives. Oh Father I love you so much and I know you love us all with and everlasting love and I am so Thankful and grateful for that love!!! I am so Thankful to YOU for our families, they are truly precious and dear to us. Thank YOU for their love and support. Thank YOU mostly for YOUR love and support for YOUR plan and purpose. In Jesus name. Amen.

Precious Messages...

This morning I woke early...around Five am.

I began thinking about my precious mother in law. We just miss her so so much.

I looked the facebook messages that we shared. I had forgotten just how much she really loved me. As I read through those messages I was once again blessed entirely. I felt connected to her once again.

I remembered when she shared with me the song she wanted to dance to with Hubby at the reception. She called herself my “New Mom”. Which told me that she just pulled me right into the family with no hesitation.

I remembered how strong and encouraging she was when the cancer came back and how glad she was that Seth had me to help him through. I was glad too. She would tell me what she needed me to pray for most and I would pray specifically for those things.

I sent her a pink fluffy house coat and some bible verses and she thanked me for them and said she was going to take the bible verses to every treatment. It was nice to get to do something to bless her.

She encouraged me one time when I was having a rough time...”Take it from me LIFE is to short to dwell on bad thoughts So have faith in the good ones and in the Lord God Almighty and the bad ones don't seem so bad Love you MOM.” Yes this was her encouragement to me in the middle of her battling cancer. She was so amazing.

I was reminded when she took me to the Mardi Gras parade. The first one I had ever been too. It was cold but she took us anyway and made sure we had a great time. She was precious. I miss her.

She checked on me after I passed out while running and told me not take care of myself and not to push it.

When work got really really bad she said...”it will all come together , stressing will not do u no good, you are a good person and things will come to u in 3 fold, faith and prayer my daughter is what it takes ..love you”

On our first anniversary she said...”. I know this year has really passed us by...But it seems that you have been apart of us for a looooong time...I am so very thankful for you and all you do for my son... I cant imagine life with out you...I love you...MOM” And I couldn't imagine my life without her, but now we have to and it makes me so sad.

I took so much for granted even when she got sick and we tried so hard not to take anything for granted. I miss her so much. It was wonderful to read through the messages and remember the connection that we did have. It felt so good to feel connected to her again.

Thank you Father for letting me find these messages. I cherish them.

I am planning to print out these messages so that I can read them and remember her and feel connected with her and share her love with our children one day.

Date Day :-)

Hubby and I had a Date Day today. I just LOVE making memories with this man!! Hubby planned it on his own and kept it all a surprise...I love when he does that!! Today was perfect timing for several reasons...

1. I have been moody lately and have ruined our last two attempts at having some fun together.

2. Hubby starts his first day of class today and I start back in three weeks.

3. As a stay at home wife I don't get out of the house quite as much as I used to so it was nice just to be out.

Enjoy some pictures from our day.

It was a very fun day and now Hubby is in his first class at Bible College!! I am beyond excited and happy!! It feels like a beautiful beginning and like my dreams are coming true before my eyes!

Fight like a Girl...Fight like my Mother in law

She was strength like I had never known
She was hope like I had never known
She was beauty like I had never known
She was acceptance
She was love
She was so incredible



We miss her so so so much!! She has changed my life forever!!



Wish I had more time with her. To learn from her, get to know her heart, thank her for how she loved and accepted me, for so freely sharing her son with me.
She lives on in our hearts FOREVER.

We love YOU to the moon and back.

Love story...

Our Love Story...

Hurt

Father help me to stand. I ask continually for Your wisdom and Your love!! I can't do this without you. Father I give it all to you once again!! I love you and I trust You!!

I was reminded tonight that You never change. Praise You for that! Lots of other things do change. A lot of it makes me so sad and makes my heart hurt so much!!

I will stand where you have called me to stand. Father I ask that you would pick up the pieces when I make mistakes. Forgive me, help me to forgive as well.

I release my burdens to you Heavenly Father!! In Jesus name. Amen

Picture Collages from this Summer

The Trotter's :-D

My Amazing Hubby :-*

Tater Trotter

Me :)

Our Girl <3
We love her with all of our Hearts.

Our Niece
Macie Layne TROTTER
:-D

Love...

I don't love to be popular, because popularity last only as long as the one we love is pleased. We can't always please them especially when loving them selflessly.

Today I felt first hand what it feels like to do what you feel is right based out of love and it not be popular. Today I felt the hurt as the decision I made also caused temporary hurt in someone I love so dearly. Today I fell from popularity. I believe I am getting a taste of what it is going to be like to be a parent.

Those we love do not and cannot always understand why we do the things we do out of love. But it sure does hurt to the core to all of a sudden be the bad guy and the cause of their hurt.

However I do NOT love in order to be popular. I love because it is what I am called to do and by loving that means that I am thinking of the BEST interest of the person I love. The decision I made today I feel is based out of the best interest of the person I love. It caused her hurt toward me as she doesn't fully understand and I quickly became the bad guy and the unpopular one and she quickly began to replace me. Yes that hurts. Hurts so so bad.

But I will stand in my decision because I feel like it is the best thing and the healthy thing. I will stand here even though it hurts and even though I want to please and even though it feels good to be popular. I am not here to be popular or to please I am here to love and that is what I shall do.

Father I am trusting You. I know I cannot trust myself and or the other person to make the best decision but I/we can trust YOU. I feel like YOU are with me in this decision even though it is a had decision. I am choosing right now to refuse the enemies lies and attacks and to STAND on YOUR TRUTH!! I trust in YOU and I believe that you have a purpose and a plan and that YOU Father are in control!! I have asked for your wisdom and you have given me your Word to stand on as well!!

Father I give this entirely over to YOU!! In Jesus name. Amen!!

In this moment..

I sit on my sofa awake in the middle of the night (because I napped too long today). I am downloading free books to my kindle and both my precious boys are snoring.

What a comforting wonderful sound that is to my ears and heart.

Tater kitty is curled up on a blanket that fell onto the floor in between the green chair and black ottoman, when I moved from the chair to the sofa to give my back some relief. He is snoring and grunting away all curled up. So so cute!! I love that kitty so much. He is my baby boy!

Hubby has been asleep since 10:30pm pooped from his long day at work. He faces another long and early day at work tomorrow. I am so thankful for this man who works so hard for us and supports me completely in the things that I do. Wow!!

This is my moment. Blessed. Heart is full. Happy. THANKFUL!!

Stopping to Thank...

...My Heavenly Father...

Thank you Heavenly Father...

for you infinite Love and Faithfulness

for my wonderful supportive and hard working husband

for the relationship and connection with my precious sister in law who is facing the hardest time of her life

for this opportunity to be at Bible College to learn more about YOU and ministry

for the opportunities to do ministry while we are here

for the friendships that are lasting and for those that are just beginning

for our family who loves and supports us so much even though it is so hard for them to have us so far away

for the promises and plans that you have for us

that we can count on you no matter what

for your Word that is water for our souls

for continually speaking into our lives and pushing us to be better and better

for being willing to use us just as we are

for providing for us always

for the sunshine and the rain in our lives

for subtle reminders when I need them most

Thank You Heavenly Father for so much more than I could ever put in this post. Thank You from my heart! I love you and am so thankful and in awe of YOU.

Breathless...

There are just simply moments in life that take my breath away...


It's the simple things...

A long hug from my hubby
Hearing him tell me I am beautiful or that I have done something good
Hearing him laugh
Watching him love on our kitty
Seeing him excited about ministry
Watching how God moves and works in, through, and for us

This life is a gift and a blessing and I am soaking it up.

No, things aren't perfect and we are not rich...but we are so so rich in the things that matter. I am experiencing true joy!!

Thank you Father!!

Life...

There are moments when I just cannot understand myself and the things and people around me. When it all seems so loud and seems to be closing in on me all at once.


There are moments of wondering can I love someone enough to make a difference, to change an outcome.


There are moments when I take too much from those around me and it seems that I am powerless to stop it.


There are times when I want to give all I have but it is not allowed. Some of this may be because I have taken too much already from them.


Life is hard, complicated, sometimes so tragic that I can't fully feel the impact of the tragedy before me.


There are moments when I feel as though I have no feeling at all. This scares me.


There are moments when everything I feel comes bursting out of me and there are not gates that could hold it back.


I am understanding new ways of giving your heart away and yet being completely out of control.


I am being reminded in this season what God taught me a long time ago. People do NOT belong to us, they belong to Him and we much continually give them back to Him. We cannot NOT do what HE can do and it is not our job. It is simply our job to love them and share them with HIM and take care of them as much as we earthly humans can.

I am sad, hurt, scared, excited, hopeful, PRAYERFUL, and full of expectation.

Life. It's Hard. It's complicated. It's GOOD. IT IS HIS, ALL HIS.

Father I trust you. I trust You.

Week Review 6/26/11-7/2/11:

Sunday: We said bye to my mom, had breakfast with my parents, church at New Life, saw our friends new house and hit the road to home.

Monday: Hubby went back to work and I don't even remember what I did.

Tuesday: We began talk of me not going back to work. Hubby worked. I worked at the church planning for Sunday services.

Wednesday: I cleaned the house and made dinner, Hubby worked, We spent our evening at church loving on kiddos, hubby went over the finances and decided that we would give me not working a try.

Thursday: My first official day as a stay at home wife, I rode the scooter by myself to our pastor's house, worked on more planning for Sunday's BGMC service, I cleaned, cooked, and worked on stuff for Sunday's service, Hubby worked. I also started getting sick that afternoon.

Friday: I was sick, but I cleaned and made dinner, Hubby worked, I went to bed early.

Saturday: I was sick all day and layed on the couch and slept most of the day, Hubby worked (love that hard workin man!!), when Hubby got home we grilled steaks while I prepared sides and we had a feast of steaks, real mashed potatoes, pasta salad, garlic bread, and sweet tea. We spent the evening watching TV and reading. I went to bed early. Hubby started getting sick.

This has been a very productive week. I have enjoyed my time at home cleaning and cooking and paying bills. I am going to work hard during this season of my life to incorporate good routines and changes in my life. I am more than thankful for this opportunity to be a stay at home wife. I love making sure the house is clean when my hard working Husband comes home and I love making dinner for him. So far I have done very well keeping up with the house and laundry and I have enjoyed doing it. I hope I continue to enjoy it for a long long time!!

I am proud of my Husband for being the hard working, godly man that he is. I am prouder than words can say of who he is and all he does. He is a wonderful husband and I am beyond blessed...I am quite blown away actually.

We continue to take things one day at a time since loosing his mom. We stay in touch with his siblings loving them through this difficult time. We still love and miss her very much.

Hubby is doing GREAT at his job (never doubted), though he finds it a bit more boring than his last position as he doesn't get to do as much when he is leading the team. I think he is and is going to continue to be a wonderful and balanced leader and touch lives at Old Navy. I am planning to stop by next week to have lunch with him and visit the friends that I miss!!

This coming week I will begin working on our next lesson for Kid's Church as well as continuing planning with Pastor Lori for camp (which is the week after) and I will begin my binder for a class that I will take Independent Study next semester. I hope to actually finish the binder before the semester starts and work on tweaking it through out the semester. I am actually excited to get started as the goal is to plan an entire year of children's ministry and this will actually be fun for me and very very beneficial for our ministry!!! We are getting closer everyday!!

More Change...

So yesterday Hubby and I decided that I do not have to go back to work. Recently Hubby got a promotion at Old Nave which meant that I had to leave. I was happy to see my awesome Hubby excel and gladly left Old Navy with the expectation of getting another job in the mall at Justice. I even interviewed. But then we began the discussion about me not having to go back to work.

I began to get both excited and nervous. (Here's where I get really transparent). I was excited about the prospect of getting to be at home but I was more nervous about the taking care of the home part. The stipulations of me staying home were of course that I will be responsible for all of the household duties...dishes, laundry, cooking, etc., natrually. I have just never been consistent at keeping those things done and well. Hubby's mom kept a beautiful, pristine house and so I just feel nervous about being a failure at that. Nervous about possibly disappointing not only myself but my husband as well. To be honest I am still nervous about it.

However I have moved on to being thankful for the opportunity to work on it and try and get better and more consistent, especially now before we have children. (Which will not be anytime soon).

So...so far so good...I have the laundry caught up, the house cleaned, and several projects done (organizing our shoes in the closet, organizing the computer area).

We will see how this goes. I am hoping that we will not end up in a financial bind with a dirty house and laundry piled to the ceiling.

Wish me luck. And if you know of any seriously easy and yummy meals then send them my way please!!!

Moments

In life there are moments that you wish you could freze forever and go back to them and live them live over and over. I have several of those moments but would like to share only a few...

The moment when Hubby & I were just dating & we went south to visit his family & we went out to eat with his mom & stepdad at a mexican restaraunt & hubby & his mom belly laughed for a solid half hour because our waitress was ditzy.

The morning all our moms, lil Ronni, & I went to buy my wedding dress & I sat with my mama in law while she had her coffee and chatted.

Everytime she hugged me and told me she loved me.

The time she made fun of me and told me I was unAmerican because I didnt like watermelon.

The way she loved me unconditionally from the very moment hubby brought me home to meet them and loved me strong until the end.

The way she let me love her first born without hesitation.

I love you Mrs. Darlene so much and miss you so bad it hurts. My heart hurts so much for the loss this family is experiencing for the gaping hole that is here because you are gone & because nothing will ever be the same again.

I'll take care of your baby for you always & take care of lil Ronni as much as I can too. Love you.

Today we lost a truly amazing and precious part of our family.

My husbands mom passed away this morning. She had a long and hard fight against cancer!!

She beat it as today she is in Heaven with Jesus, cancer free!!!!

We will miss her until we see her again in heaven!!

Keep our family in your prayers!!

God is at work & moving in and through this!!! We can see Him & feel Him!! But there are some tough days ahead!!

Berfday…

Today is my hubby’s berfday & my heart is happy because today he is here at his mom’s side for his birthday.

My heart is thankful.

Yesterday I looked over to see them holding hands and it just filled my heart to the brim.

They are so much alike. She doesn’t like to be fussed over, she just needed him to sit by her and hold her hand. I know it made her day. Just to know and feel loved and that is all.

In all the loudness and chaos that was around at that moment there was quiet strength and love being transferred and that was all that mattered in that moment.
My heart is full and thankful.

I am thankful that my hubby got to wake up in his mama’s house on his birthday and sit next to her and take care of whatever she may need today.

I am thankful beyond words that this beautiful woman raised such a wonderful man that God chose to share with me.

I am thankful for all she has taught him and shown him and for all of the memories they share together. I am thankful that she loves him so much and tells him often. I am thankful for the strength she has shown and continues to show. It truly blows me away.

I am thankful that she took me into this family so readily and has loved me too. My heart is thankful.

Today I just want to let my heart be thankful for what we have and not focus so much on the petty things we may not have. This is what we have right here and right now and it is what matters at this moment. It is precious and priceless. We have time with her today.

God has blessed me so, with such an incredible husband that works hard, loves openly, and worships and seeks Him, one who is not afraid to follow God call no matter how hard or far away it is, one who loves me and cherishes me.

Thank YOU Father for blessing me so!
Thank you for this sweet man that you share with me.
Thank you for being with me everyday I waited for
The One YOU created for me to come along.
Thank you for your faithfulness always.
Thank you for what you teach us and for how you lead us
And for giving us strength to stand even in HARD times.
Thank YOU Father for so so so many blessings.
Thank You that my hubby gets time today with his precious mama.
Thank You that we know that we can trust you no matter what.
Thank you mostly for sending YOU own Son to die so that we can know trust and know YOU.
Life is precious. Help us not to take one single day for granted.
Thank you for our families far and near.
Thank you for your discipline and teaching and Word.
Thank you Father for so so many things.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Another chapter ends…another begins…

So today was my last day at Old Navy. A place I have spent just short of a year learning and building relationships.

I have learned that change makes me cry even when it is good change. I was weepy when I found out I was leaving and a lil weepy today as well.

I am leaving Old Navy for a great great reason!!! My wonderful Hubby who began working at Old Navy four months after me got a promotion!! I am so proud of him. He is such a great leader and Old Navy is very blessed to have him and we are blessed to have Old Navy as well!! Unfortunately because we are married and he is now a manager I had to leave as we could no longer work together. I truly am so proud of him and so excited to see him excel.

I believe this will also be such great experience for us to use in our future as pastors!!!

I will likely be moving to another store in the mall called Justice which I also think will be great experience in the world of tween girls for me!!

So as one chapter ends another will most certainly begin. We are excited to see what this next year will hold for us.

Excited!!

My precious lil sis-in-law is coming to visit us for a week!! We pick her up on Monday!! I cannot wait to have her here!!

She needs the break from taking care of her incredible mother and I have so much planned for our time with her!!

Monday: We pick her up in St. Louis from the airport. We will be exploring the city and taking in the zoo!

Tuesday: Pool Day!!! We will be sunbathing and splashing all day!!

Wednesday: We are taking her to Silver Dollar City in Branson!! Roller coasters and water rides galore!!

Thursday: Pool/Pamper/Picture day!! We will be doing at home mani’s & pedi’s and I want to do a photo shoot with her!! She is a beautiful girl!! I want pictures to hang!!

Friday: Shopping!!! We are going back to Branson for some outlet shopping and more girl time!!!

Saturday: She’ll get some down time while we work the morning and then we are all three going to a baseball game!!!

Sunday: We are all going to church and then driving to Mobile!!

We will be in Mobile until late Wednesday visiting Hubby’s family and while there we will be celebrating his birthday!! I am glad he gets to be with his mom on his birthday!! I think that will be wonderful for the both of them!

We are all looking forward to this time together and I am praying that it is beautiful, fun, deep, fun, and everything it needs to be for all of us!!

God has placed her in a special place in my heart since hearing the doctor’s report about the road we are on. She is on my heart and in my thoughts EVERYDAY. I can’t wait to have her here with us for a while and take care of her and have fun with her and talk with her and hold her.

Thankful beyond words to get this time with her and to get to love her through this. Humbled and thankful!

One Year Ago

We packed up our life as we knew it and moved away to follow God’s calling on our lives.

We left our home, family, friends, comforts, and salaries.

We took a leap of faith.

When not everyone could or would understand we followed God.

We were supported and questioned. We questioned ourselves at times.

That was the scariest thing I had EVER done in my life. It was hard. It hurt. It was exciting. It felt good. It was God’s will.

All I can say is WOW!

We have been blown away by God time and time again. He has been faithful and so very very good to us.

We have been here a year and God has completely transformed everything we thought we knew. He has blessed us above and beyond and He has shed His light on our path.

Incredible. Our God is truly Incredible.

Currently I have completed my freshman year at Central Bible College. I have a 3.6 GPA. I have approximately one year left and will hopefully graduate with my brother May of next year with a few classes left to complete the summer after graduation. Hubby has changed his course from teaching to Church Leadership. He has been accepted to Central Bible College and will be starting their degree completion in August. He will graduate approximately the December after I do. God is birthing a vision in us for Children’s/Family Ministry. We want to work together to see the Families and Children of this world touched and changed and welcomed into the Kingdom of God. We are both currently working at Old Navy. Hubby works on the shipment team in the mornings and is up for a great promotion if I can find another job. Since we are married I have to leave for him to be promoted. I hope to be offered a job at Cato closer to our new lil apt. We have moved to the North side of the city and are approximately 3 minutes away from the church that we both love and where we work weekly in the Kid’s church and with Wednesday night classes and where I am currently interning and 4 minutes away from our school. Hubby also works at a deli and he loves the people there.

We are thankful and grateful and humbled and blown away at this last year. We look forward to what God has for us ahead.