Love's Journey.

Planning meeting...on staff...what! Wow!

2012-01-03T19:07:00.001-06:00

Had a great planning meeting with the church staff today.
I cannot believe that I am on staff at a church!
I am truly living my dream! Wow!
Another Promise from my Heavenly Father come true! Boy what a feeling that is! I'm blown away yet again!
My God is good & Faithful all of the time!

I Desire Wisdom.

2012-01-02T14:46:00.000-06:00

James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

*Wisdom = the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances.

*1) Practical: The wisdom from God relates to life even during the most trying times.

*2) Divine: God’s wisdom goes beyond common sense. It begins with respect for God, leads to living by God’s direction, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong.

*3) Christlike: Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like Christ.

Solomon’s Wisdom:

1 Kings 1:5-10 – “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and up right in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.”

*When given a chance to have anything in the world, Solomon asked for wisdom – “a discerning heart” – in order to lead well and make right decisions.

*We can ask God for this same wisdom

*We should not ask God to do for us what he wants to do through us.

*Instead we should ask God to give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to follow through on it.

New Year!

2012-01-01T20:41:00.001-06:00

We spent the first day of this new year pouring our hearts out in our very first children's church service as the new children's pastors at Praise Assembly.

Our first pastor job.

It was a great first day of the new year!

We are excited to see what God has in store for this new year.

We seek to honor Him and bring Him glory in all we do!

We welcome 2012 as 2011 was a very difficult year for us!

Welcome 2012!!
Happy New Year!

Thankful 2011

2011-11-27T17:36:00.001-06:00

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!!!

2011-11-22T20:38:00.001-06:00

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...

2011-11-06T20:04:00.003-06:00

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

2011-10-18T07:55:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-17T08:27:00.003-05:00

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..

2011-10-06T16:51:00.001-05:00

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

2011-10-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

Octoberis my very favorite month...so here are some of my favs about my favmonth!

<3It's the beginning of Fall

<3Weather is perfect

<3It's our anniversary month

<3Pumpkins

<3Beautiful trees

<3Bike riding

<3Fall scented candles

<3Oranges, reds, & golds

<3Hot Tea

<3Long sleeves

<3Hoodies

<3Leaves on the ground

<3Doors & Windows open

<3Pumpkin Spice coffees

<3Pumpkin cupcakes

<3Chili

<3Alabama Football

<3Fall festivals

<3Leggins

<3Clogs

<3Scarves

<3Jackets

<3Hot Apple Cider

<3Pumpkins

<3Decorating Pumpkins

<3Nostalgia

<3Getting pumped up for Christmas

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

Update

2011-09-27T21:28:00.000-05:00

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.

2011-09-01T16:50:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-08-27T08:59:00.005-05:00

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...

2011-08-14T22:01:00.003-05:00

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...

2011-08-08T20:07:00.002-05:00

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 :-)

2011-08-02T15:53:00.004-05:00

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

2011-07-30T22:36:00.003-05:00

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...

2011-07-30T22:26:00.006-05:00

Our Love Story...

Hurt

2011-07-30T22:22:00.003-05:00

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

2011-07-30T11:31:00.004-05:00

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...

2011-07-29T13:42:00.003-05:00

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..

2011-07-29T02:16:00.002-05:00

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...

2011-07-23T00:27:00.003-05:00

...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...

2011-07-08T12:54:00.002-05:00

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...

2011-07-06T17:58:00.003-05:00

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:

2011-07-03T14:53:00.002-05:00

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...

2011-06-30T15:37:00.001-05:00

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

2011-06-24T20:05:00.001-05:00

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.

2011-06-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

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…

2011-06-14T08:27:00.000-05:00

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…

2011-06-11T14:39:00.001-05:00

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!!

2011-06-03T12:59:00.001-05:00

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

2011-05-27T13:06:00.001-05:00

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.

Where we are

2011-05-27T12:50:00.001-05:00

We are holding tightly to each other, love, God, and family.

Last week we received a call no one EVER wants to receive. Hubby’s mom called. She has been fighting cancer for a while now. The doctors had told her there is nothing more they can do. She however is not done fighting. I have been completely blown away at the strength my precious mother in law has shown since I have known her but mostly in these last few months. She is absolutely incredible and precious. We are all praying for a miracle and for peace. We know that even though we do not understand and this hurts more than anything we have ever faced that God is still God and that nothing is impossible for Him.

My heartbreaks again everyday thinking about our sweet family and how strong everyone is being and how beautiful this family is. My heartbreaks thinking about what everyone is feeling and facing right now. We are thankful for every single day. We are praying every single day.

This is where we are and this does not surprise God and He has not for one second left any of us. He is here holding us. “This is what it means to be held and know that the promise was when everything fails, we’d be HELD.” God promises never to leave us or forsake us. He never promises hardship and heartache will not be part of our lives but He promises to be here with us EVERY step of the way.

This is where we are and if you would pray with us for healing, miracles, faith, strength, hope, peace, and God’s will, we would be grateful.

Where Love Lives…

2011-05-27T12:38:00.000-05:00

In the good

In the hard

In the unbelievable

In the moments that shake you to your core

In the moments of awe

In the moments of flooding tears

In the moments when you cannot draw a breath

In the times it seems to be too much

In the TRUTH

In Jesus Christ

In hope

In disbelief

In the hour of darkness

In the new morning brimming with new mercies

In the desperate on your face prayers

In the frustrations

In the whispers of encouragement

In the strength that blows you away

In the PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING

In the moments when there is NO understanding

In every step you continue to take forward

In the moments when you stop and fall to your knees

In the new

In the old

In the unknown

In the murmurings that only your heart knows

LOVE LIVES

JESUS LIVES

GOD IS GOOD AT ALL TIMES

GOD IS TRUTH

GOD IS LOVE

LOVE LIVES

Radio Silence...

2011-05-18T00:45:00.002-05:00

I just don't have words.

Times are tough.

But...

God is faithful and good and trustworthy.

More to come when I can put it into words.

2011-04-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

It’s been a year and a half…

Wow I can hardly believe that hubby and I have been married for a year and a half. Incredible.

It seems like time has passed by so quickly since we got married.

A lot has happened in the last year and a half…

>we moved nine hours away from our friends and family

>we set up residence in a brand new city

>we got new jobs

>we began living in a much lower tax bracket

>we started back to school

>we found a new church home

>we made new friends

>we began working in a new ministry

>we changed our direction slightly for ministry

>God is birthing a vision for children’s and family ministry

>we bought a scooter

>Most importantly GOD HAS BEEN SO FAITHFUL AND WONDERFUL

I look forward to all that God has for us and the rest of our lives!

We are currently talking about a possible anniversary trip in October.

2011-04-12T23:37:00.003-05:00

Goings On…

Lots going on…

Moving

Our move date has been pushed up a whole month and I am both excited and scared!!

I am ready and excited to be in the new apartment closer to school and church, but slightly scared because I have no idea how we are going to pull off a move in the middle of finals week and work!! It will work out somehow though, it always does.

Home

We are making a trip home this weekend for a wedding and quick visit with my family and my best friend. Hubby is looking forward to seeing his college buddies again and hanging out with them. I am dreading putting on a dress for the occasion as I have gained so much weight and do not feel proud of the way I look. But it will be alright. I am looking forward to time with my momma and Neesie and Dad. We will be celebrating my 30^th birthday early while we are there so that will be fun. Then we will stop by my best friend’s new house briefly before heading back home on Sunday. I can’t wait to see her as she is pregnant with her second child and I can’t wait to hug her so big and see her new house and my nephew!!

Easter

We have a busy weekend planned for Easter. We will be having several practices for our Kids Service that we are doing Saturday night. We will spend lots of time prepping children’s church for Saturday night as well as packets to hand out Sunday morning. We will be heading to our pastors house for lunch after church on Sunday and then afterward we will celebrate my 30^th birthday with dinner and a trip to “The Cup” a cupcake place downtown that I have been dying to try!! Very exciting weekend!!

Semester Ends

Then finally the semester ends at the end of this month. I have several projects I hope to get finished on the road this weekend or first thing next week and then only two finals and a move sandwiched in between!!

Summer Begins

Summer will begin with a break from school during the month of May :) (big grin here).

My sweet sister in law will be coming to stay with us for a week at the beginning of June. When we take her home we will spend a weekend with Hubby’s family in south Alabama. And I am begging for a day at the beach during this trip.

I will begin my internship with our children’s pastors in May I believe.

I will open my availability up at work and be working more hours at Old Navy.

I will also be getting back to teaching (hopefully Stars) on Wednesday nights, which I am completely stoked about!!

Hubby and I will both be going to kid’s camp for a week in July! And then we will both start back to school, Hubby possibly sometime in July and me in August.

Busy Busy but we truly love every minute of once again being busy. Last summer was so different, as we had no friends, no connections; we were just attending a brand new church.

Then next year of our life will be CRAZY busy and hard but it will be more than worth it when we graduate and move into full-time ministry somewhere!! I am not convinced I am ready, it sounds so scary but God knows what He is doing and we will follow him.

Even with all of the busyness we will be having some fun…there will be pool time

with my (hopefully) new kindle,

trips to Silver Dollar City,

...and just relaxing any chance we get!!

So here’s to a great finish to the semester and a great summer!!

2011-04-06T18:50:00.001-05:00

It’s the little things...

>When I worship so freely I feel like I could float away

>When God uses me to really touch someone’s heart

>When my hubby takes me out for a fun day just because

>When my family just gets me and loves me

>When something I am so nervous about ends up going well

>When something I am confident in doesn’t go so well but I can learn from it

>When I can just sit on the sidewalk in the sunshine with pure happiness in my heart

>Hearing God whisper in my ear that He is in control and loves to blow me away

>When pieces of the puzzle of life just fall right into place and I had nothing to do with putting them there

>When I can plan but then take my hand off and let God really have his way instead

>When I am appreciated

>When I am not appreciated

>When I see glimpses of who I really am

>When a plan finally comes together and we can rest in them

>Dreaming of our future

>Understanding something new about the Bible that I never knew before and then going back to read it with this new understanding

>Using commentaries (love them)

>Reading fiction by my favorite author

>Hot Baths & Face Masks

>Snuggling

>Hugs from kids at church (overwhelming joy)

>Peace that transcends all understanding that comes only from my Heavenly Father

>A deep worship song

>Pandora internet radio – Kari Jobe station

>Texts from special people telling me that I can do it

>Hearing that someone is proud of us

>When someone completely loves and accepts my husband

>When someone from home randomly thinks of us

>A hubby who is off to church to work with lil boys in Royal Rangers

Father, Your love is one of the most Beautiful things that I have ever experienced. Thank You. I have no other words, but Thank You. You alone Father are worthy to be praised. Thank you for making us better and better. Thank you for your leading and your conviction. Thank you Father for all of the little and not so little things as many of the things I listed are not so little really. Thank you Father for this life! In Jesus precious name, Amen.

2011-04-02T15:26:00.000-05:00

Birthday Wishlist…

Kindle & Cute cover

Netbook

My fav candles

My fav shoes

Pretty scarves

That’s all :) Hey a girl only turns 30 once!

2011-04-01T14:59:00.006-05:00

The Girly Side of me loves…

The beautiful bouquet of pink tulips my hubby gave me the other day.

A good long hot bubble bath.

Sparkling Grape Juice.

A good at home facial.

My new purple nail polish.

Dove Chocolates.

2011-03-31T16:31:00.001-05:00

Thankful…

Today I just feel Thankful. Thankful for my Heavenly Father & Savior, Thankful for my Hubby, Thankful for our Families, Thankful for our Friends, & so very Thankful for all that God is doing in us!! I am very humbled and very Thankful!

2011-03-28T22:12:00.001-05:00

Crazyness Ahead

Hubby and I registered for my fall classes today and WHOA!!

The next year of my life is going to be absolutely insanely crazy. But if I can pull it off (& I am determined to) then I will graduate in just TWO more semesters!! That would be amazing and it would save us a lot of money!! So lots of prayers are WELCOME!!!

I will be taking a FULL load for the next two semesters as well as interning, working, and being a wife. It is going to be intense but I know that God will get me through!!

Let’s Do This!!

2011-03-26T15:31:00.000-05:00

A Rainy Saturday...

The Rainy Saturday before Spring Break officially ends! I am almost depressed that Spring Break is ending! But there are only five weeks of the semester left and for that I am very thankful!!

We have just arrived back home from work at Old Navy. We stopped off at Hubby’s other job (Nearly Famous Deli) to grab sandwiches for lunch. Then dropped by the grocery store for steaks and potatoes for “Din Din”, Hubby is grilling!! We are now nestled in our lil apartment away from the rain with full bellies!!

I am going to venture out to Walmart in a lil bit for Purple finger nail polish and the next book in the series I am reading by Karen Kingsbury. I plan to spend the remainder of the day and weekend while not at church in my pajamas on my sofa with my nose in a book.

This is our life today. It is bliss. We will be discussing games for service tomorrow later and Hubby will be watching lots of basketball.

I intend to drain the last bit of fun out of this Spring Break before it officially ends at 8:30 am Monday morning.

Just Sayin.

I fully plan to psych myself up about finishing the next five weeks STRONG!!

2011-03-22T23:04:00.001-05:00

Today was a first…

It was the first day I received an allowance from my hubby.

It was at my suggestion and I think I am going to like it. I think it will help me control my spending and not ask for so much all the time. I didn’t even really want to spend my money on Starbucks coffee tonight (thought I did but only because I was ready to pass out at work), otherwise I would not have spent the money.

So we will definitely see how this goes. I am excited!!

2011-03-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Things I Love about Spring!

So in honor of how Beautiful it has been lately…a post of my favorite things about spring…

1. Spring Break

2. Spring Cleaning

3. McDonald’s ice cream cones (okay so maybe I love these year round!!)

4. Green grass

5. Daffodils

I Love Spring A lot!!

Happy Spring!!

2011-03-21T20:56:00.001-05:00

Weekend Review

Friday: Friday began SPRING BREAK!!! Promptly at 12:30pm to be exact, and I could not have been more ready or excited!! I relaxed the rest of the afternoon until time for work that night. After work Hubby and I stopped off at Fuddruckers to try some wild game burgers. I ordered the Buffalo Burger and Hubby ordered the Wild Boar burger. We cut them in half, swapped a half, and ate them at the same time and then rated them. We gave the Buffalo Burger a 6.5 and the Wild Boar Burger a 4. It was a fun new experience.

Saturday: We were up early for work. I had to work at Old Navy and Hubby had to go do his stores. I worked until 2:45 and couldn’t wait to get off and hang out with my Hubby. It was rainy and stormy and we hung out at home. Hubby napped and I worked on some school work to get a head start on the projects that I needed to get done over Spring Break! Hubby had to work that night at the deli and I got a lot of work done on my project that night! I bombarded poor Hubby when he got home from work with what I had gotten done on my project because I was so excited!! I am working on a training session for children’s church workers. So it’s not just a project to me, this is something I am pouring my heart into because we will be using this in our ministry one day!! I am very excited about it and I am very proud of it!! We spent the evening finishing up making our plans for the games we were doing the next morning in children’s church before heading off to sleepyland!

Sunday: We were up early to make a quick stop by Walmart to grab some things for our games before early service. We enjoyed the word Pastor Fent shared, he is just such a wonderful preacher!!! Then it was on to children’s church to run through the skit and get everything set up and ready. Children’s church went well, I had a great time getting to know more names and praying with the kids, and watching Hubby shine while leading games and welcoming visitors. We are a great team and I love seeing him do so well at what he does! After church we got to take our children’s pastor’s kids to lunch and bowling. We had such a good time with the boys!! They sure have a lot of energy, so we were tired after our time with them but we really enjoyed it soo very much!!! After that it was home again. My brother Daniel came over to work on school work and Hubby took a nap, I finished our laundry and finished up the training session project and am just so happy about how it turned out, Daniel napped some and we chatted a good bit and he finished his laundry and then we all had chili and watched “Coming Home”, a tear jerker!!! It was good to just chill with my boys at home!!

It was a nice weekend and I feel great about what I got accomplished!!!

2011-03-19T18:12:00.002-05:00

Spring Break!!!

Yes it is Finally here and I could not be more thankful. Though I will be getting up early and working hard on school work it will be so nice to have a break from going to school for a week!! My plan is actually to work hard Sunday – Wednesday on projects and assignments and then take Thursday – Sunday off. We will see how that goes. I have decided that I am open to working more on school work next Saturday and Sunday too because it is more important to get caught up than to rest at this point.

However Thursday is officially PLAY DAY!!! Hubby and I are going to Silver Dollar City when he gets off work to ride roller coasters and walk around holding hands and taking pictures!! I cannot wait!!! We bought season passes so I am looking forward to a summer full of Theme Park Fun!!!

So Spring Break has begun!! Let the catching up and Fun begin!!

We have a plan...

2011-03-19T01:25:00.002-05:00

We have a plan...and it feels really really good!!

God is doing so so much!!!

I am so excited!!!

Hubby has applied for the Fall Term of Degree Completion at CBC. His degree will be in Church Leadership. God has begun to birth in us (especially my Hubby) a vision for our future as a TEAM in ministry TOGETHER. I am continuing to study as hard as ever and will take on two more full semesters and hopefully graduate Spring of 2012 with Hubby graduating hopefully only a semester after!!

We have a plan...Our plan is to FOLLOW THE LORD and RUN THIS RACE with ALL OF OUR HEARTS!!

Father we have a plan and it is to follow You Lead us!! We love you!

Constant Fight

2011-03-17T00:12:00.002-05:00

with...MY STINKING ATTITUDE

I am more than disappointed in myself and my attitude and behaviors at work lately.

It's is really ridiculous actually and there is absolutely NO excuse for it!!

On the way home tonight I just prayed and asked God to forgive me.

I have not been different as I should be as a "Little Christ" I have not been set apart.

I am ashamed and very upset at myself.

But the amazing thing is, My Heavenly Father is forgiving and loves me unconditionally!!

I am so thankful for that!

I also asked a friend at work to be my accountability partner with my actions and attitude!!!

It is time to change...it is never too late to change!!!

Day Eleven

2011-03-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

Day 11 - What's in your makeup bag?

Inside: A lil bit of everything.

Covergirl, MaryKay, Almay, Carmex, but I rarely ever wear any of it!

Day Ten

2011-03-14T10:00:00.002-05:00

Day 10 - A photo of your favorite place to eat

Favorite place: Olive Garden

I just love it!! A lot!

Day Nine

2011-03-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

Day 9 - A photo of the last item you purchased

Purchase: Sandals from work (Old Navy)

I can wear them to work! We can’t wear sandals without a ankle or back strap. These are perfect. Simple with a touch of glam.

Day Eight

2011-03-12T10:00:00.000-06:00

Day 8 - A song to match your mood

Song: Kari Jobe - Beautiful

Here before Your alter
I am letting go of all I've held
Of every motive, every burden
Everything that's of myself

And I just wanna wait on You, my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are

Beautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You're beautiful to me

Here in Your presence
I am not afraid of brokenness
To wash Your feet with humble tears
I would be poured out till nothing's left

And I just wanna wait on You, my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are

Beautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You're beautiful to me

Beautiful
You're beautiful, oh You're beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful

Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are

Beautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You're beautiful to me

You're beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful

Day Seven

2011-03-11T10:00:00.000-06:00

Day 7 - Your dream wedding

Dream wedding: OURS!!!

I loved our wedding! It was beautiful and perfect and absolutely my dream wedding!!

Day Six

2011-03-10T10:00:00.000-06:00

Day 6 - A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet.

This is: Tater!

He is already our pet and we love him and want no other!! I think we’ll keep him!! :)

Day Five

2011-03-09T10:00:00.000-06:00

Day 5 - A photo of yourself two years ago

Me two years ago: WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING!!

Okay first, I cannot believe it has been two years since I bought my wedding dress!! Yikes, time is sure flying by!!

Second, I still LOVE this dress!!

Day Four

2011-03-08T10:10:00.000-06:00

Day 4 - Your favorite photograph of your best friend

My best friend: Misty

This is a picture of Misty at my wedding rehearsal. I do not know what I would have done without my amazing Matron of Honor!! She was Incredible!!

We have been best friends since sixth grade (with a several year gap after high school). God brought us back together and we are closer than ever!! I would not want to do life without her!

Day Three

2011-03-07T11:56:00.003-06:00

Day 3 - Your idea of the perfect date.

One on one time with my wonderful Hubby!!!

We had a perfect date Friday night.

We walked around some book stores together.

Tried a new sushi place that had individual semi-private booths and we love it and had a great time together!!

Came home and snuggled up on the couch together and did some crossword puzzles together.

Day Two

2011-03-06T11:26:00.001-06:00

Day 2 - A photo of something you ate today.

What I ate: Sushi :)

(Soup)

(Jalapeno Bomb)

(Glenstone Rolls & Eel Rolls)

Day One

2011-03-05T10:48:00.003-06:00

Day 1 - A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

(iPhone Pic)

My Day:

~ In one word…Wonderful!

~ I got to school early to continue reading and studying for the exam I had in my New Testament class.

~ Had time to get coffee and a muffin before my first class :)

~ I felt Great about the exam! Which I made a 93 on!!! I got an A!! Woot Woot!

~ Chapel was great – worship was so good & the speaker was so funny and genuine!

~ Work went great too!! I worked on checks for Ms. Rhoda and at the end of my shift Ms. Mary brought us both a really Yummy cupcake!!!! So fun and So good!

~ Hubby picked me up and took me home to get a nap :)

~ Napped :)

~ Woke up to get ready to meet with the Children’s Pastors we are working with & go skating with the kids.

~ Came out to Flowers from my sweet Hubby! (Just because flowers ARE MY FAVORITE!!) (Hence the pic for the day)

~ Met with pastors (they treated us to dinner).

~ Went skating with the kids & had a GREAT GREAT time!! I got to know some of the kids so much better and hope we really made some connections!!

~ After skating it was still early so hubby and I had a lil date night.

~ We went to Borders and bought a crossword puzzle book to do together, then to Barnes & Noble to look at their Nook (I am trying to decide between the Nook & the Kindle to get for my birthday), then we decided to go get some sushi & found this great lil place & fell in love! (Pics of our sushi come tomorrow.) Then we headed home to get into our comfy clothes and do crossword puzzles together (no TV or Media just us) & then off to bed early because we were both just exhausted from the week!!!

~ It was a really great day!

30 Day Blog Challenge

2011-03-04T00:57:00.002-06:00

I will be starting the 30 day blog challenge tomorrow.

To get me back in the habit of blogging.

Because I love doing things like this and think it will be fun!

Day 1 - A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

Stay tuned...

Faithful.

2011-03-03T00:18:00.001-06:00

Faithful.

That is what my precious Lord is.

I do not deserve His faithfulness but He sure provides freely!

I have a story to share:

I have been praying for this precious young girl at work. She absolutely breaks my heart!

She is incredibly intelligent, absolutely beautiful, and very strong-willed. The first time she broke my heart I began to pray and fast for her. She wanted to leave work so that she could go and drink her night away. Broke my heart into a million tiny little pieces.

The second time she broke my heart, she attacked me and accused me of thinking I was better than everyone. (Honestly, I immediately knew that it stemmed soley from her insecurity within herself.) But it broke my heart so much. There have been multiple times that she has broken my heart.

She did not like me when we first started working together. And honestly I feel like that stems from the conviction that being around me brings. I am okay with that and was okay with her not liking me, I am not here for others to like me, I am here to LOVE PEOPLE.

From the moment I first met her, I purposed to love her completely & that I have! Even when the girl hit me in the head with a football…oh how I wanted to wring her neck that night. But instead I encouraged her.

Well all that to say that last week I got the first glimpse that I was making an impact on her life when she told me I was her favorite because she never has to worry if I am going to like her or not. (Uuumm yes she did Break my Heart yet again in that moment!) I am far from her favorite and that is the honest truth, but that was the only way she could express the relief that she feels knowing that no matter what I am going to like her…or really it that I love her.

Tonight I was given another glimpse that God is using me to impact her life. She told another employee that she wished she could be like me. But really it is that she wishes that she could be like Jesus. That is what she is seeing in me and He is what she is drawn to in me & I am so humbled and thankful. I am so thankful that He would use me. I am honored really.

I am going to continue to lift her up to my Faithful Heavenly Father and believe for her salvation and healing. I am going to pray that He supernaturally protects her as He did me when I was walking the path that she is currently walking. And I will most certainly continue to love her with love from Jesus Christ!!!

I am just so blessed to be used but Him and so humbled that He choose to use this cracked pot.

Thank you Father!

Random things...

2011-03-01T23:50:00.002-06:00

I absolutely love my jesus

Had such a joyful worship today

I am so very proud of my husband

I love my hubby more today that ever

I miss my best friend & I love that god brought us back into each other’s lives to share life together

I so love being at home…it’s just so wonderful

I could possible graduate in 2 more semesters…wha!?!?!

I cannot wait to start having children

I have so many questions about going into ministry…not the questioning if we are supposed to…but questions about what it is going to be like and how we should handle things

I cannot stop watching the Bachelor…I am totally pulled in…I am routing for EMILY!!!

I have the cutest Husband in the WHOLE world

I seriously hate being this chunky…but there have been so many emotional things going on that I have NOT done well staying away from food…Which makes me realize…

I hate being an emotional eater…ugh

Shockingly I am surviving Public Speaking…this said the day before my first major speech

I am going to survive this semester actually…in spite of all of the hard things that we have faced so far this year

I am still VERY EXCITED to turn THIRTY this year on EASTER

I am excited about being back in ministry…Loving it and I am learning so many different things

I am BEYOND EXCITED about what God is doing in my Hubby and the vision HE is birthing in him for OUR ministry...

I am so excited about what God has in store for US!

I am now working an hour a day at the school answering phone for the cashier’s lunch and I am really enjoying it

I am thankful that my office skills are benefiting me

Occassionally I think back on my last job and Thank My Heavenly Father that I survived that job and am no longer there…

I remember vividly the anxiety attacks I had and the horrible feeling I had EVERY Sunday when I realized I had to start another work week there

“I’ve decided that the key to being a good singer is having a big ole mouth” ~ My Hubby :-)

“Hey fire trucks, You can’t put out the Holy Ghost Fire!” ~ My Hubby :-) (as we passed a church with several fire trucks out front)

I am going to end on that note because my Husband is funny, hard working, unbelievably patient, supportive, cute, WONDERFUL, and my precious gift from God!!

Weekend Update

2011-02-27T20:13:00.001-06:00

Friday:

Worked late in the office at CBC.

CBC Basketball Game!!

Work at Old Navy

Saturday:

Slept in.

Froze at the Driving Range.

Lunch at Red Robin.

Work at Old Navy.

Made Pasta Salad for Hubby.

Read through a cook book and plan to make some new stuff.

Sunday:

Early Service.

Children’s Church Fun!

Afternoon of Organizing and planning.

Sale Shopping w/ my Hubby. Shoes from Target. Toiletries from CVS. Groceries from Dillons. Saved lots of money :)

Fried Fish, Garlic Cheese Biscuits, & Broccoli & Cheese potatoes.

Worked on Speech.

Oscars.

Door open all afternoon and evening.

We have a full week ahead but I feel ready for it. I have a speech and exam this week and lots of other projects to work on. Lots of hours at Old Navy too.

Hubby is working A lot!! He now has four jobs. Old Navy, Nearly Famous Deli, Lami, & UPS @ the Airport.

Father, I give you our week and all the pieces and parts to is. I pray for strength, peace, and calmness this week. I pray for no emotional break downs or hormonal outbursts. I pray for Joy Joy Joy!! In Jesus name. Amen.

I HEART...

2011-02-24T23:41:00.001-06:00

My oh so Faithful Heavenly Father

My oh so Incredible Husband

My oh so Wonderful Family

My oh so True Friends

I am Blessed & Thankful!!

Lies...

2011-02-22T23:02:00.002-06:00

There are times when I just feel so completely unworthy!!

When I can only see my flaws and they are so loud and big!!!

When I can't see good no matter how hard I try!!!

I feel like that today and I know that it is LIES!!! LIES!!! LIES!!!

I know that some of what I see is truth but the Lies come in when I can't see the good with the bad.

I feel like I am not lovable because I am emotional, have been frustrated, moody, angry, whinny, negative, ugly, snappy, rude, unkind, don't read my bible enough, don't worship deeply enough, etc.

I know in my head that I am lovable but it is so hard to see past all of these ugly things I see in myself.

Today it is hard to find the good. But today I choose to believe that even with all of these things and the many more that I am worthy to be loved and I have a Heavenly Father that loves me, and a husband that loves me and family and friends that love me in spite of these flaws that are sometimes so vivid within me!

Father, help me to see myself as YOU see me, and help me hear YOUR voice louder than I hear my own or anything else!! I need you Father and I want you!! In Jesus name. Amen!

What a month!!! (This is Long and Real!)

2011-02-20T20:56:00.013-06:00

What a month!

Have I mentioned that IT HAS BEEN A MONTH!

The month started off with us finding out that my Incredible Mother-In-Law is once again fighting cancer. It was a hard day, a really hard day, and several hard days to follow as we rallied and began to pray and seek God!!

A couple days later she went into the hospital with pneumonia. It was so hard being so far away and not being able to be there with her. She came home from the hospital on a Thursday I think and on Friday night we were on our way to Alabama in the middle of a stupid snow storm to see her. We had a free weekend for a change and I wanted my husband to have some time with his mother!! I felt like they both needed to see each other, so snow storm or not we were going to Alabama!!

The snow storm was actually a surprise to us!! But it didn't stop us. It did slow us down by several hours!!! Quite frankly IT SUCKED driving through that storm through the Ozark Mountains. I have not been that scared in a very long time. But my husband is a great driver and a very caring man and took great care of me and my fears!! I will admit I cried and got a bit hysterical for a bit...but in my defense the road was covered in snow and ice, very narrow, very mountainous, and the visibility was ZILCH!! It was scary!! Once we made it through the Ozarks though it was a little better. After that we just kept swapping drivers so each of us could get a bit of sleep. We did pull over once and sleep for an hour at a rest area. But we made it!! We left Friday night after work at 9:30pm and arrived at my mother-in-law's Saturday at 11:00am. It was THE LONGEST NIGHT!!

We had a great weekend with the family though. Mr. Wonderful sat right next to her on the couch all weekend, it was the sweetest thing!!! We spent time just being together!!! Monday we got to take her to the doctor and gave her a willow tree and card before we left for home. I believe it was good for both of them to have the time with each other. We were also able to spend time with his sister and well it was just all around a great weekend for everyone!! God is so faithful!

I had an interview that Tuesday for a job on campus answering phone for an hour a day for the cashier. The interview went well. I found out that Thursday that I got the job and would start the following Monday!!! God is so faithful!!

At the end of the week after we got home I got SICK!! Thankfully it was only for a couple of hours and then I was able to go to sleep but it was awful!!! I haven't been sick like that in a very very long time!! I had spent the day that Friday after school at the church working with Brianna the intern to put together the backdrop for the new curriculum that we were starting that Sunday and was fighting a headache but other than that felt alright. That is until I got into the car to go home and get dressed for work that night. I began to feel very sick to my stomach and my headache got much much worse!! On the way to work I stopped several times to get sick. I ended up not working and letting Hubby drive me back home. I was sick for several hours after that and then finally went to sleep.

The next day was the Saturday before Valentine's Day and Hubby took my shift so that I could spend the day getting caught up on schoolwork and getting things ready for the date I had planned for him for V-day. I slept in until noon and felt pretty puny most of the day but I had big plans for Hubby and I wanted to have a great date with him.

I planned lots of favorites for my favorite and we had a great time!! He got lots of special attention!!! I was glad he liked it and had a good time. God is so faithful!!

Sunday Hubby worked an overnight.

Monday I woke up to a VERY sweet card from Hubby that made my day cause he wasn't supposed to do anything. The card said was so perfect and wonderful!! God is so faithful!!

I started the new job, and caught on very easily. God is so faithful!!

That night while watching The Bachelor and texting a play by play to Hubby while he worked another over night, I got a call from my mom that my grandmother was in the hospital in Texas dying. Mom was very distraught as she did not have any money to get to Texas. I prayed with her and once again felt helpless. This began a very LONG week of heartache!! Mom borrowed money and left for Texas early early Wednesday morning around 6:00am, with only $100 to go on. The doctor's called and told her that granny had listed her as the only one who could terminate life support and off she went. Can't say that I blame her even under the circumstances of her and her mom's relationship. She is such a good daughter!! Such a strong woman. She went by herself. Alone. I had no way of going and being with her. Once again I felt so helpless. I wanted to be there with her so so bad!! I did not want my mom facing this alone. But I couldn't miss class and didn't have the money to go. It was so hard!

Around 1:30pm the doctor called and told her that they took granny off life support and said granny had about 4 hours to live. I do not know where the communication got twisted but somewhere it did. Well mom still being 5ish hours away from the hospital, must have punched it, because she actually made it to the hospital around 3:00pm and granny was alive and awake. Sometime that night they moved granny into her own room and also rolled in a bed for mom. What a blessing that was as mom had no where to stay and would not have left the hospital anyway. Granny was awake through the evening and night and mom was able to spend time talking to her and praying with her and reading her scripture. God is so faithful!

By the next morning granny was unresponsive. Mom called me very upset. This was all so hard on her and she was facing it all ALONE. It broke my heart not to be there with her!! Mom spent the whole day watching her mother die and awful death. I called her repeatedly throughout the day to check on her and let her get out some of her tears and pain and to pray with her.

Hubby sent me a text while I was studying for an exam with a friend to tell me that he had found another job!!! He had been looking for one for a while!!! God is so faithful!!!

Hubby had been dealing with my tears all week and we planned a date to escape from it all and have a little fun and spend some time together without tears. He made shepherd’s pie for dinner and then we went for buy one get one free ice cream at Cold Stone (the place we frequented while we were dating) and then to the dollar movies. I had vowed NOT to come home crying or cry in his presence that day and I was successful and needed the fun in the middle of such an awful month!

I called mom after the movie and she said she felt like it wouldn't be long before granny passed. She was being so strong and I was so proud of her!!! I wanted to be there with her so bad!! Granny passed away at 9:50pm that night, peacefully and with mom reading scripture to her. That's when more terror began for my mom. Not only had she just lost her mother, but there was NO MONEY to bury her. No insurance and no money. I had spent time on the phone earlier in the day trying to figure out what was going to happen in hopes that my mom would not have to deal with that stress when my granny did pass, but that was not the case. No more than mere minutes after my grandmother passed away, the nurse was in my mom's face asking what she was going to do. RUDE!! OH THIS MAKES ME SO VERY MAD AND HAD I BEEN THERE THAT NURSE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE THAN A PIECE OF MY MIND!!! Guess it is a good thing I was not there!!! All mom could tell her is that there is no money. My poor mom did not even have time to grieve. She signed some papers for indegent burial and left. There was absolutely nothing else she could do. IT WAS AWFUL!! She got in her truck around midnight, racked with sobs and realized that she had no place to sleep, so she headed home. Exhausted, Broken, Hurt, Terrorized, and ALONE, she headed back toward Bama.

I called to check on her after dropping Hubby off at work early Friday morning and she was asleep at a truck stop a few miles outside of Shreveport, LA. I told her to go back to sleep for a few more hours and I would call her and wake her when I got back up to go to school. By the time I got up and called her she was already on the road again. God love her she was just so exhausted and wanted to be home. She had begun the grieving process as well. I called to check on her all throughout the day and she finally made it home around 4:00pm that afternoon!!

She has spent several days just feeling lonely and lost and thinking about how horrible things ended at the hospital. She is struggling to find closure and to heal from all of this. I talked to her on the phone tonight for about hour and a half and just listened and let her relive it all. She didn't have time to feel the feelings while she was there because she was being strong for my granny and herself so she could just get through. Now she is feeling those feelings and now the healing can begin. It is going to be a long road for her. I am so proud of her though. I cannot imagine having to do that and do it alone!! It is unfathomable!!! But God is so faithful!!

And to top it all off...last night I started my cycle for the first time in TWO years!! I had been on birth control that kept me from having one and I loved it!! We made the decision to come off the birth control when they changed the plan and raised the price of it. We will save money without it and will be fine. However, this first cycle is really kicking my butt!!! I have been in much pain and quite sick at my stomach with it. I have been lying down in a ball since early this afternoon!!

SERIOUSLY FEBRUARY...WILL YOU PLEASE END!! AND MARCH WILL YOU PLEASE BEEN GOOD TO US!!!

I am ready for things to be simple once again and for spring to be here!!!

We are praying daily over our mother's. Healing for both of them!! Physical and Emotional Healing are much needed!! We know this is where we are supposed to be, here so far away from our families, and I am sure glad that we both have that peace otherwise going through the month that we just have would have been near impossible because being so far away when those we love go through such hard times is REALLY REALLY hard!!! But God is so very very faithful!!

Through it all WE KNOW THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL AND LOVING!! HE HAS US ALL IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND AND NOTHING IS TOO BIG FOR HIM!! WE KNOW THAT EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND, WE CAN STILL TRUST HIM AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF US.

Father, we trust YOU and we lay these needs at your feet. You are the Healer and Comforter and the giver of Peace!!! Heal our mothers and meet their every need!! Thank you for what you are already doing in them and through these difficult circumstances!! Thank you for loving us and for being so faithful to us ALWAYS ALWAYS!!! We love you and trust you!! In Jesus precious name, AMEN!!!

Things I l~o~v~e...these days

2011-02-14T16:54:00.001-06:00

> my wonderful hubby

> my precious kitty

> packages from my parents :)

> sunshine

> the sound of melting snow down my gutter

> NCIS

> Children’s Church @ Praise Assembly

> the thought of SPRING!

> talking to my best friend on the phone

> the loving look in my husband’s eyes

> getting schoolwork done and over with

> the thought of being THIRTY in a few months (yes really really!)

Valentiens 2010

2011-02-13T15:16:00.006-06:00

Early in our relationship I decided that I would like to turn Valentine's into a holiday that I do for my hubby.

I wanted to do this for a few reasons:

1) Hubby takes care of our anniversary, & my birthday

2) I do NOT like the traditional V-day; I prefer thoughtful gifts vs. chocolates and flowers like everyone gets on that day. I like flowers when I least expect, they mean more that way!

Anyway so I have been thinking for months about what I wanted to do for my wonderful hubby.

The Theme: FAVORITES for my FAVORITE

We decided to do it on Saturday instead of Monday as hubby is working an overnight that night and I don't get finished with my day until around 4:00pm. So Saturday it was!!

My plan was thwarted a bit because I got really sick Friday night and allowed myself to sleep in a good bit on Saturday (I cannot remember the last time I felt so bad, it was terrible!). I did not get the house as clean as I had wanted but I did get it picked up at least. Ok so on to the date...

I picked Hubby up from work @ 5:00 and we headed home to shower and get ready for dinner.

Dinner: I took him to Chili's! Several reasons...I had a coupon for FREE Chips and Queso(Chili's Chips and Salsa are His FAVORITE!!) and he had been wanting to go to Chili's for a while to try their black bean burger and it is budget friendly!

So off to dinner we went. We thought the wait would be close to an hour but ended up getting a seat in the bar area (which now is NO SMOKING!!) and that is where I really wanted to sit anyway because they have TV's. This was my hubby's Man Date and I wanted him to get to watch sports while he enjoyed his dinner.

The chips and queso were awesome and did I mention FREE!!! I ordered Sirloin and potatoes and Hubby ended up getting the Buffalo Chicken Fajitas!! It was a great dinner and we both ate too much!! (We are not used to eating portion sizes that big lately!)

Next we headed to Best Buy. I wanted my Favorite to get to take in all of the big screen TV and such. We enjoy just going and walking around places like that. We had so much fun at Best Buy as we set of many alarms (the first was not intentional and the second...well it was partially not intentional) but it was hilarious and we had fun!!

Then we headed home for more FAVORITES for my FAVORITE!

I sent hubby to the bedroom to get in comfy clothes while I set up his surprise in the living room. Hubby spent the evening soaking his feet, drinking coke out of a glass bottle, and watching NCIS season two, and later I made him a snack tray out of some of his favorite things (Chips, Cheddar cheese, & jalapeno - baked & Beef jerky on the side!!).

After his feet soaked a while I gave him a good foot massage, which he greatly enjoyed!! Who doesn't love foot massages!!!

It turned out to be a really great evening and I think he felt Favored and Loved!!!

It felt so good to have him enjoy all of his favorite things and get to sit back and relax and enjoy being loved on!! I had a great time pulling it all together for him!!!!

I am blessed by him all the time and I enjoyed blessing him...MY FAVORITE, MY VALENTINE!!

Father, I am truly thankful to You for sharing such a wonderful man with me!! I am excited by all the things that You are doing in our life and I am excited for the future ahead!!

---------------Edited--------------

I woke up this morning to a Super Sweet card from my wonderful hubby this morning! It was so beautiful and so sweet and so unexpected!! Hubby picked it up when he got off work at 4:00am this morning!! Love that man!!! It made my day and I intend to read it again and again :)

I don't even know...

2011-02-09T23:03:00.001-06:00

...what to even say

Lately I have been…STRUGGLING!

I have been emotional, exhausted, stressed, angry, frustrated, unmotivated…

I have acted out in my anger

Given in to my tears

I have panicked

I have been completely unmotivated to do my school work

I have disappointed myself

And I honestly have no idea what is going on with me and how to get control of this. I have to get a handle on myself.

Even still with all of this…I have been…

Happy, Loved, Encouraged, Excited…

Ultimately I am okay, completely okay but my behavior has not been okay, in fact some of my behavior is downright unacceptable.

I have some praying to do and some battling to do, but rest assured…I WILL WIN!!

I will win because Jesus is on my side and He is my victor.

You know life is not always easy or fun but in the process there are many things to learn from the places we are in and I am thankful to be learning these lessons. I know who my Heavenly Father is and that no matter how I feel at any given time He has got me and that I am okay.

One last thing…I am so very proud of my wonderful husband. He has been dealing with A LOT and he is holding on to our Heavenly Father and not letting go and he is seeking after God and I am just so very proud of him and I cannot wait to see what God has in store!! I know that God is at work, I can see it and I can hear it in the things my hubby is saying and I am just excited to share this life with such a wonderful, hard working man. I am blessed!!! Completely blessed!!!

Learning

2011-01-23T17:40:00.003-06:00

What I just understood tonight while getting ready for church was this....

It is easy to be confident and sure of yourself when you are always surrounded by people who love you and accept you.

I just realized that it is not so easy to just be confident when you are always surrounded by new people and new things. It is then that you get your confidence not from those around you who are cheering you on constantly, but from searching out who you are in the Lord. It is a lot harder.

I have been struggling with walking into a room of strangers with as much confidence as I had back home. It is not that I am completely without confidence but there is a significant difference in my level of confidence these days. And what I realized tonight is that back home EVERYWHERE I went...church, work, anywhere really, even Walmart...I was surrounded by people who loved me and built me up and supported me, so I was constantly being filled with love and support and encouragement. But here I am surrounded by strangers, people who just don't really know me at all and are not vested in me.

Understanding this, I think will help me to run to my Father for any confidence that I need. It also makes me miss the wonderful people I was surrounded by back home. It also makes me eager to have those kinds of relationships and that kind of love and acceptance again. That only comes with time though and lots of time. It sure doesn't happen over night but neither does it happen in six months or a year. It takes a lot of time.

Relationships take time to build and cultivate. It absolutely takes a long time to be in a place where you are surrounded by people who love you and support you as well.

I am thankful to have gotten this understanding, it makes me feel less like there is something broken in me. I understand now that it is simply that things, the atmosphere, is different and it takes time to adjust to.

I am adjusting. Slowly.

I am learning to make friends very slowly because so easily you can move someone into the friend bucket only to be surprised when they are unable to fulfill that role and your heart gets broken. I am learning how to truly rely on the Lord in so many different ways that I never had to before.

I understand that this is how we learn...we experience different things...things that take us out of our comfort zones completely...like moving to a new state NINE hours away from all those loving supportive people, going back to school after eleven years, starting a new kind of job with new people on a completely new pay scale (one I have been on since I was EIGHTEEN years old), and starting over at a new church and slowly making this new place with all of these new things and new people your home, for at this point it is your HOME.

I am learning...it seems at a snail's pace...but learning all the same...and I know that I could not learn these things without having experienced them like this.

Thank You Father for all of the things that you are teaching us, thank You for this time of sowing for I know that one day we will indeed reap the benefits of our sowing!!! I love You and I trust YOU Father!!!

Weekly Recap with Photos (1/16-1/22)

2011-01-22T20:32:00.019-06:00

This week I wanted to do a spin on the project 365 I see all over the blogsphere...so here goes...

Sunday: I totally meant to get a pic of Children's Church but I forgot :( Fail! We woke up too late to go to the 8:30 service but we made it to Children's Church and had a GREAT time!! We both weeped as we watched the kids pray for the kids around the world, it was very moving. After church we spent a relaxing day at home and rented some movies that evening. Hubby surprised me with my favorite treat from Mickey D's!!

Monday: MLK day so I was out of school and both Hubby and I were both off work so we both got to sleep in! I woke up first and spent some time in the Word (so thankful for this time as you just never know what each day holds...gotta be ready!!). Hubby got up later and called his mom who had a Dr. apt and we found out that the cancer has spread in her body again and she will begin Chemo again on Monday. It was a rough day for us. We cried and prayed a lot. We spent the afternoon doing some exchanging and shopping things we received for Christmas and then we lounged around the house taking it easy, and at the end of the day we enjoyed our new Foot Spa we bought earlier in the day with a gift card (we have been wanting one of these for a while)!!

Tuesday: Hubby worked 6-12 and I had classes until 2, came home spent some time praying and reading my bible while enjoying some yummy coffee, then I worked 5-10.

Wednesday: Hubby took me to class and hung out at the library until time for Chapel, while I was in my afternoon class Hubby grocery shopped, we came home made a lil lunch and then I headed off to work from 4-10.

Thursday: I took hubby to work since it was freezing and it had snowed (Hubby worked from 6-12), I came back home and slept until leaving for class at 9, it had snowed even more! All afternoon classes were cancelled because of the snow and temp dropping so I went to pick Hubby up from work and took him to donate plasma, afterward we came home (I had the night off of work) and spent the rest of the evening making dinner (Fajitas) and watching a movie (complete with popcorn)! As you can see from the pics below it was a cold snowy day!!

Friday: I had two classes in the morning then came home and studied a bit (I love Fridays because I get home by 10:45 am!!), Hubby had to work from 2-6, and then I worked from 4-10!

Saturday: I worked 9-12:30 and Hubby worked 12:00-4. After work we debated a while on what to do for dinner and while on the way to Ruby Tuesday we decided to go to Golden Corral instead. We CHEATED big time on our diets but enjoyed it very much!! We spent the rest of the evening on the sofa watching NCIS & HGTV (and me working on this post).

It has been quite a week! Full of prayer and trusting God!! Full of snow and learning to function in it!! Full of time at home which I am so thankful for!! Unfortunately NOT full of reading and school work...I have got to get on the ball and get motivated!!! Maybe tomorrow!!!

I really enjoyed taking pics each day and thinking about making this post. As you can tell some days I got carried away and some days it was an afterthought and I had to scramble to get a pic or pics for the day!! I plan to do this again for as long as I can keep it up!! I think it will be fun to look back on how we spent our days in this incredible time in our lives!!

What we know is GOD IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE!! We are trusting him completely and following His lead!!! We do not always understand things but we choose to trust our creator!!!

Snow

2011-01-20T06:15:00.004-06:00

Today I...
*Walked on Fresh Powder

*Left footprints in the snow

*Drove on un-plowed roads...well

*Drove like a grandma

*Left tire tracks in the snow

*Donned my Rain/Snow Boots, Two pairs of pants, two shirts, two hoodies, and a hat

*Brushed off my Snow Boots before entering my home

*Recognized the beauty of God's creation covered in a soft blanket of pure white

Today I functioned in the Snow, saw it as beautiful and it wasn't so bad.

God is Good!!

I choose

2011-01-18T14:38:00.001-06:00

TO BELIEVE IN YOU JESUS EVEN WHEN THINGS ARE HARD AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I CHOOSE

MORE OF YOU JESUS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS FATHER AND FOR YOUR LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AND FOR ALL YOU ARE AND ALL YOU DO!!

Random things...

2011-01-11T10:00:00.001-06:00

I am...A STUDENT :)  
I think...ABOUT THE FUTURE
I know...MY GOD IS FAITHFUL
I want...TO GET BACK TO ME
I have...ALOT OF WORK TO DO
I wish...THINGS WERE A BIT EASIER SOMETIMES
I hate...THAT I LOSE MY WAY SO EASILY
I miss...MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY BACK HOME
I fear...GETTING LOST 
I feel...HOPE
I hear...THE BOYS WATCHING THE FOOTBALL GAME
I smell...GRILLED BURGERS
I search...FOR MORE OF JESUS
I wonder...WHAT OUR FUTURE WILL BE LIKE
I regret...NOTHING…I’M LEARNING FROM THINGS INSTEAD
I love...LOVE
I care...ABOUT PEOPLE
I always...FORGET
I am not...FINISHED YET
I believe...IN JESUS
I dance...LIKE A FOOL AND LOVE IT
I sing...FOR MY LORD
I don't always...CONTAIN MY EMOTIONS
I write...RANDOMLY LATELY
I win...YES I DO WIN!
I lose...MY RIGHTS ON PURPOSE
I never...GIVE ENOUGH
I listen...LESS THAN I SHOULD
I can usually be found...STUDYING OR WORKING
I'm scared of...FAILING
I read...ALOT
I forget...ALOT
I just...LOVE LIFE
I am happy about...WHERE WE ARE & FOLLOWING GOD

2011

2011-01-10T20:11:00.001-06:00

We have deemed 2011 as our "Year of Sowing"

On the way home from our visit to Alabama, Hubby and I had a wonderful conversation about what we want out of 2011.

We set goals and talked about where we are in life.

We understand where we are.

We are okay where we are.

Where are we???

We are poor college students on the search for the path God has for us. We are in the throngs of sowing the tough seeds that we know we will reap the benefits of later. We are unsure of exactly what the future holds but we KNOW that GOD HAS US SAFELY IN HIS ARMS.

You know it's is sometimes quite amazing to me that life can be so tough and so wonderful all at the same time.

2011...here we come...armed with Jesus, Our Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit...seeking HIS WILL & HIS WAY...here we come!

I love planning especially when my Hubby gets involved too!!

Our life together is precious and I have said it before and I will say it again prolly forever...I never could have imagine life this wonderful.

Perfect...No.

Wonderful...Yes.

The ONLY one who deserves credit, glory, and honor for that is my precious Heavenly Father!!!

I remember the waiting...the hurting...the wondering...the planning...the dreaming...the disappointments...the long nights...the lonely moments...the HOPE...the amazing INTIMATE TIME WITH MY SAVIOR...the praying...the seeking...the WAITING...and...EVERY SECOND OF IT WAS MORE THAN WORTH IT.

I am who I am now because of it...and we are who we are now because of God's plan and His hand in our relationship.

We want to strive all the days of our lives to keep Him at the center and forefront of our lives!! We want to strive to grow grow grow in Him!!! We want to be in the center of His will and on His path!!!

Oh what a journey!!

Oh what a year 2010 was!!

We look forward to what 2011 holds!! Pray for us as we sow...financially, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and wholly!!

Things I am Loving Lately

2011-01-09T21:58:00.001-06:00

>Mobile websites
>The New Testament's practical application
>Getting to be home with family for a bit
>New Clothes
>That I am feeling very ready to loose weight again
>The sound of my precious hubby snoring next to me-seriously I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
>My iPhone
>Getting my books for the semester early
>Sharing the driving with my hubby
>Growing
>That we are getting started in a new Children's Ministry
>That God did what was necessary to bring me to a place where I can finally open my heart up to our new church by changing the way it feels to be at our church at home
>Amazing Godly friends
>Future Girl's nights
>New worship music
>Sunshine
>Salad
>Fridays
>Houndstooth

2010 What a Year!

2011-01-05T11:21:00.000-06:00

2010 – Wow what a year!! What a Wonderful, challenging, hard, journeyful year. I sure am glad that God has us in the palm of His hand and that He speaks to us in so many ways otherwise I believe I would just feel CRAZY!!

2010 brought a HUGE move…at the end of May we moved from Alabama to Missouri to go back to school. It was a huge move. It was a hard move. IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE.

We spent the summer getting acclimated to the new city and finding jobs. Hubby got a job as a cook at a Bar B Que place called the Rib Crib. I eventually was offered a job at the Dress Barn which I promptly turned down as it did not feel right at all. I soon after got a job at Old Navy. Hubby got a second job as a cook at a pizza place on the other end of town called Old Chicago Pizza. He works so very hard for us!! He also started a third job doing what he did back home a much smaller scale (four stores).

We quickly found a church home at Prasie Assembly! We felt like home the first Sunday we visited and it was only the third church that we visited!! God answered our prayers to find a home church quickly!!! We are excited to being working in their Children’s Ministry next Sunday (January 9, 2011).

In August we both started back to school. I poured myself into studying and working. I literally studied and worked and slept. My poor hubby was very neglected during this time of adjustment. I soon learned better how to balance my time and gave my studies over to God in prayer. He absolutely honored every second I committed to study after that as well as every second I was able to spend with my wonderful supportive hubby. I learned a lot about balance during this first semester.

In October we celebrated our ONE YEAR Wedding Anniversary by going on a Couples Retreat with our new church. We had a great time with some great couples and were greatly challenged in a great way!!!

My brother began dating and unfortunately it was not a very pleasant experience as I feel I reached out to build relationship with his girlfriend and received very little response in return.

My parents came up for a visit just before Thanksgiving and it was so great to have family with us for the first time since May. We had a great time and just soaked up their presence.

Hubby’s job at the Rib Crib cut him down to one day a week shortly after our anniversary trip and then right after my parents visit Old Chicago let him go as well. But God was so very faithful and in a passing conversation with my boss at Old Navy I mentioned that my husband’s jobs had cut him back and Old Navy was our only income just about. She (who never really listens when others speak) heard what I said and replied that they needed a good worker for Shipment and within days Hubby was an official Old Navy employee. He quickly gained favor and they have currently offered him a key holder position. We are both happy at Old Navy and happy to be working together again.

We WORKED hard through Thanksgiving and was actually able to have Thanksgiving dinner with my brother Daniel while it Snowed for the first time!! It was a great day!!

Finals week came and I was stressed to the max trying to get all of my papers, projects, and exams completed. I finished the semester Strong with Four A’s and One C!!!! Incredible I tell ya, all GOD!!! He is so Faithful!!!

We WORKED hard through Christmas getting any extra hours possible in preparation of going home for Ten days at New Years!! We loved being home for the first time in EIGHT LONG LONG months!!! We just soaked up the LOVE like sponges to get us through until our next visit!!!

While home I received a great push from the Lord that I really needed. I went home to our home church expecting it to be comfortable, home, and a refuge. It was NONE of those things. Truthfully it was weird. It was great to see everyone and again soak up the love everyone passed out!!! But I realized that is no longer my home and that I no longer have a place there…I am not supposed to have a place there. It is not due to anyone making me feel like I do not have a place…it is simply that I am not supposed to have a place there any longer. I drove through my home town and loved it and missed it but realized very quickly that it is just not where we are supposed to be. We are supposed to be in Missouri, we are supposed to be at Praise Assembly.

I truly needed that push! I needed it to open my heart to Praise and allow it to become my home church. I had not allowed that at all. It is no accident that we came home when we did and that we will be starting in ministry at Praise NEXT SUNDAY and this Sunday I realized all of this. God is so very faithful and that doesn’t even cover half of it!!

In Sunday school we touched on a few things that I feel like spoke to us and the place we are in. Hubby has made the decision to sit this semester out and seek God to find out what he is supposed to be doing as he now realizes that teaching is not what he is supposed to be doing. I am BEYOND proud of my husband. For making it through a semester so well in the process of realizing his path was shifting. For making the hard decision to stop and seek the Lord for direction. I am just so very proud of Him every single day. He blows me away.

I am blown away that God placed such a man in my life and allows me to be apart of his journey and him apart of mine. I know that God has GREAT and INCREDIBLE things in store for the both of us!!

I cannot wait to see what 2011 holds for us and I cannot wait to see what our ministry looks like when we get to that point!!
I am so Thankful for a Faithful Heavenly Father that NEVER leaves us or forsakes us!!!

2010 was a year of Adventure and Change. Wonder what 2011 has in store for us!!

We have decided to adopt the motto that Pastor Tim presented to KOR this morning…

LOVE God

GROW in Christ

SERVE others

…we have many goals for the new year and we are adopting this as our motto as well and pray to live it our to the best of our abilities and ALWAYS WITH GOD’S HELP!! As we cannot do this without HIM!!

Struggle

2010-12-23T15:23:00.002-06:00

I am struggling...

It barely feels like Christmas and it's two days away...

I am struggling to find the Christmas feeling so far away from family and friends and all the parties, activities, plans, and shopping.

I miss home and our family and friends. I miss being so surrounded with everyone who loves us!

I just can't wait for the day we get back home!!! I am ready to be there!! I know the trip home will be too short but I am thankful for every little second we will once again be surrounded by those we love and who love us!!!

I wish I wasn't struggling so much but this is the place that I am in.

Even with the struggle I know the reason for the season...I am more thankful than EVER for Jesus in our lives. We would not make it without Him. I am so very excited to spend our lives serving Him. I am praying that we do that better and better every year. I know I have much much much to improve on!!!

I am looking forward to January. To the ending of this year and the beginning of another. Who knows what lies ahead in 2011!!

Father, Thank You for You and for sending Your Son to die for our sins and to make a way to have relationship with You. You are truly amazing and I am so Thankful for You in our lives. I give you all the days left in this year and I give all the days for the rest of our lives. May we serve YOU all the days of our lives!!! In Jesus name. Amen.

A new obsession

2010-12-19T00:24:00.003-06:00

HOUNDSTOOTH

I have loved houndstooth for a while but it has become somewhat of an obsession. I just think it is so classy and classic! If I had money I would have a lot of it around!! Here are a few of my current loves...

Ok so who wouldn't love houndstooth nails...so classy

I would love to find bedding for our bed preferably just sheets

Love these...

Love Love Love This!!

Love this!! It's a MUST have!

Yep love these!!

These are on my list of things to get SOON!!! Love them!

These are so classy...love them!

Our tree next year is going in this direction...can't wait!!!

So a peek into my new obsession...and this post just proved that I am indeed obsessed!!

Amazed

2010-12-10T10:01:00.002-06:00

I am continually amazed by my INCREDIBLE HEAVENLY FATHER!!

As the semester draws to an end and stress is released from me as each exam is done I find myself reflecting on the past several month. It is with complete awe in my Heavenly Father!! I am blown away!!

>I have just about completed (only one more exam to go on Monday) my FIRST SEMESTER IN BIBLE COLLEGE!!

>I have not completely failed...in fact I have done QUITE WELL...in all of my classes!! God has been SO FAITHFUL TO HELP ME THROUGH!!

>I have learned so much about my God, myself, my husband, and academically!! It is truly incredible!!

>I have successfully transitioned into living in a brand new place, with brand new people, and brand new EVERYTHING!! And we are doing really great!!

>This truly has been one of the most incredible years!!

So here I sit in AWE of my Heavenly Father and all of the Incredible things He has done, IS DOING, and I know that He has SO much more in store!!!

Wow I am blown away and excited and happy and in awe and thankful and BLESSED!!

Now to ACE my last final and bring up that darn C and then to RELAX and enjoy our Christmas as best we can without family. I plan to ready some fun books, gaze at our Christmas tree, snuggle with my hubby, clean, RELAX, pack for home, sleep late, work happily, snuggle with our Tater kitty, bake some cookies, pray for our loved ones, dream about the future, plan for next semester, long to be home, did I mention gazing at our Christmas tree...I JUST LOVE LOVE LOVE IT'S GLOW IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY, think about our Lord Jesus and His amazing birth and purpose, pray for our new adventures into ministry at the beginning of the year, head home for ten blissful days to love love love on our families, sing, watch Hallmark Christmas movies, maybe even go to the movies, cut my hair!!!, hold my hubby's hand, drink hot chocolate, wear pj's often (I get to wear them to work today and tomorrow for a promotion WOOT WOOT!!!)...ah I am excited for the break!!!!!

FATHER GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD TO US AND YOU BLOW ME AWAY OFTEN. THANK YOU FOR LOVING US AND FOR BEING LORD OF OUR LIVES. THANK YOU FOR LEADING US HERE AND PROVIDING ALL THAT WE NEED AND MORE. I LOVE YOU AND TRUST YOU AND CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR THE NEW YEAR AND NEW SEMESTER!!!! THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

Not your "Typical" I'm Thankful for list..

2010-11-25T16:37:00.002-06:00

Saw this on another blog (McMommy) and wanted to give it a whirl...

1) Jim Carrey in The Grinch!

2) Silly Dancing and those who are brave enough to do it in the middle of Old Navy so I don't have to and so we can be entertained while working!!

3) My wonderful iPhone!

4) Frosted Windows - so dreamy!

5) My awesome rain boots that helped me trek through the ice/snow/frozen slush while taking pics today. (YEP IT SNOWED ON THANKSGIVING HERE!! OUR FIRST THANKSGIVING IN MO!!!)

6)Chapstick as my lips stay incredible chapped these days

7)Hot Chocolate!

Ok now for a more serious Thankful list:

1)Amazing Heavenly Father

2)Amazing Husband

3)Loving and Supportive Family and Friends

4)Our Job

5)The school Semester is coming to an end

6)Salvation, Forgiveness, Faith, Love, Hope, & Joy

We have had a great Thanksgiving Day full of Joy, Fun, Food, Ice/Snow, and Love...Thank YOU Heavenly Father for all of it!

2010 Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T11:51:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving & Holidays in general will be drastically different for us this year as we will be here in Missouri far from home, family, and friends.

There are many emotions that come along with this. I know this is where we are supposed to be and that it takes sacrifice and that we will get to see our family and friends shortly after the holidays. But the thought of not seeing our family on the holidays is very saddening. I see all around us those who are excited about this time of year because they are getting to spend time with their families and be apart of their life long traditions and it makes it a bit harder for me.

However, I have given it over to God. I know this is where we are supposed to be and that it helps us to appreciate our times with families so much more. So when the day comes that we get to head home a few days after Christmas I will be beyond excited!! I have not seen my mom in over 6 months and I have never been this far away or spent this much time away from her.

I am excited that we will get to spend Thanksgiving Day with my brother Daniel. I am glad that we are here so that he is not alone on the holiday. I am also excited to have Christmas morning to ourselves this year as well. I think we will definitely be making that a tradition when we have children! (Which will be in a few years after we graduate!!)

So our Thanksgiving this year will consist of:

Thanksgiving Day:

Work from 6am-11am

Thanksgiving meal with Daniel (Turkey & Dressing from Cracker Barrel, Mac & Cheese, Green bean casserole, & I am not sure what else yet)

Work from 8pm-6am Friday morning

Black Friday:

Get off work at 6am

Sleep

Chili/Iron Bowl Game @ 1:00 with Daniel and his girlfriend Chelsea

Back to work @ 11pm-7am Saturday morning

Saturday:

Get off work at 7am

Sleep & Relax the rest of the day

Maybe the Harry Potter movie & some School work!!

Sunday:

Worship service

Nap

Youth service

Back to school on Monday...ugh!! I am so so so ready for this semester to be DONE!!!

So that is our Thanksgiving this year. It will be different but it is where we are at and I really am okay about it!!

You know life changes, it doesn't stay the same, and God has us right where He wants us and that is the most incredible, Peaceful feeling.

Thank You Father for our lives that are submitted to You, Thank you for providing all things for us!! We love you and are most Thankful for YOU!!

Our life these days..

2010-11-21T22:11:00.004-06:00

Work work and more work...

We are both working at Old Navy and next week (Thanksgiving week) we both are scheduled to work around 40 hours and many of those will be over night hours. It should be an interesting week!!!

Studying...the semester is nearing it's end...PRAISE THE LORD!!! However, with the end of a semester comes lots of projects, papers, and reading to finish as well as lots of studying for exams. I honestly have no idea how I am going to find time to get everything done!! I cannot wait for Christmas break!!! I am looking forward to next semester thought because I should have less reading to complete!!

Church...we have made steps to become more involved and I think it makes both of us feel much better. We have turned in our forms for joining the Children's Ministry team for January, Hubby has been asked to be on the security team, and we went to our first youth service tonight. We do not plan to over commit, we know our limitations, unfortunately work will limit us the most, but it sure does feel good to be getting involved again. We do not do well to just sit on the pew. Although we have truly enjoyed this time of rest and being in the Word together in the sanctuary!!

We had a visit from my parents and two precious youth girls from our home church (Tay & Val) last weekend and that was really really wonderful!! It was so wonderful to be surrounded by those who love us!! It has been around six months since we have been surrounded by people who loves us. We will get to see Hubby's dad and family in a few weekend as we travel a few hours south to Tennessee to attend his cousin's wedding. It will be so good to see them, I know it have been really hard for Hubby not to get to see his dad!! We can't wait to get home around New Year's to see all of our family and friends too!!! The time is getting closer and the closer it gets the more excited I get!! It will be completely refreshing and rejuvenating for us I know!!

I am ready to get the house decorated for Christmas but Hubby wants to wait until after Thanksgiving. So I am honoring that and waiting patiently. That will be our tradition to put up Christmas the day or weekend after Thanksgiving!! The holidays will be hard for us this year, being away from our families will be truly tough, the many hours at work will however help to keep our minds off of it!! I do feel sad though that Neesie and Mom both will have no children home for Thanksgiving. I know that will be very difficult for them. I am praying that not only will God cover our hearts during the holidays aways but that He will also cover their hearts and all of our families hearts as we are away for the holidays!! We love and miss everyone so much and truly are excited to get home to visit!!

So I have been growing my hair out and let me just say that...IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY...I do not like having long hair it is too much work and I do not like it sitting on my neck. I cannot wait to cut it!! I hope to be able to do that soon!! I will have to post before and after pictures!

I have been drawing nearer to God again and that feels incredible!! It's all about making the time to spend with Him, in His presence and in His Word!! I just want to be consistent in that!!

I have also been spending a bit more time at the gym as well as many times that is the only way I can stay awake to read. So I go to the gym and get on the elliptical and read my school books or my bible. I am thankful for the double motivation to read and work out. I need both!! This is the heaviest I have ever been and it truly is getting very out of control, I need to get a handle on it now before I have to get myself on the biggest loser show to lose weight!! I do not want to see the scale at 200lbs and I am too close to that for comfort!! Speaking of comfort, nothing is comfortable at this weight except pj's and lounge wear!! And none of my dressier clothes fit so I live in jeans and t-shirts while out and pj's while at home. I know my sweet hubby gets tired of seeing the sloppy loungy me!! So I need to loose weight so that I can fit into some of my nicer outfits!!!

That is all of the catching up I have for now. I am going to go and snuggle with my Hubby and watch Narnia Prince Caspian.

Likes/Dislikes

2010-11-14T17:44:00.004-06:00

Current Likes:

~The weekend with my family

~Coffee

~My fleece sweatpants and over sized hoodie

~The way my hubby looks at me with such love

~Christmas music

~Christmas decorations going up around town

Current Dislikes:

~My weight

~My lack of clothes that fit

~The way I look in pictures

~Wearing anything other than my fleece sweatpants and over sized hoodie

~ My hair

Update

2010-11-13T22:31:00.001-06:00

Completely and utterly enjoying our time with my parents. So So Thankful for them, their love for us, and their support of us!!!