It's S'MORE fun when we're together!! --- (Winter Photo Session 2014)

 

Our first official picture on our land!

The view from our land! So blessed! Can't wait to be out here in quite a few years down the road.

A Hodgepodge of Happenings - Full of New Beginnings

There is just something wonderful about having something NEW! I am not just talking about material items, but having a fresh start, a new chapter, a new experience to add to our lives. While vintage items are also a favorite of mine, I just can't help but think about the excitement that comes with something NEW! 

This is exactly what Paul and I were privileged to experience a few weeks ago as two of our sweet Inner City girls excitedly asked us if we would stay after tutoring to watch their baptism. There is not a fiber within either one of us that could have turned down such an opportunity. We were so excited! We have been able to watch these sweet girls begin to grow into precious young ladies, and we wouldn't have missed this moment for anything!! We celebrated with them as they began their NEW life in Christ!!

Then, as that week progressed, I had to take on a NEW experience of my own. As I have been reminded several times, I am now a QUARTER OF A CENTURY OLD. Twenty-five has actually been great, though!! I am finally starting to feel like an adult, and others have seemingly started to treat me like one, now. Granted, the NEW hair to go along with the NEW age might have had something to do with it. I am told that I look older now, and I will take it!! Yay for no longer being mistaken as a student! (You have my permission to remind me of this when I start complaining of how old I look in the future, haha).

In celebration of my birthday, my cousin sent me this picture. I had never seen
it before, so that was a fun surprise! Looking back, 25 years sure goes by fast!

NEW hairstyle! My hairstylist is AWESOME!!

As the weather has become colder, I also tried my FIRST ( or I think it was my first) smore! Regardless, it was the first one I have ever had that I actually remember liking. This NEW discovery is probably not going to be good for my waist or jeans, though.

This past week our NEW squad for this year had their first basketball game! They brought home two trophies from camp this summer for their dance and cheer, and their hard work once again showed off as they had the crowd exciting and cheering at the game! (If you've ever been a cheerleader, you know what kind of daunting task that can be to actually get the crowd to participate at basketball games.) They did awesome, and I could not be more proud of them!

Then, we had a NEW funny at Tuesday night Bible class this past week. Paul was teaching the kindergarteners about Moses and how he told the Pharaoh that God said to let His people (the slaves) go. At the end of the class, Paul was asking questions about the lesson and giving away candy/prizes for those who knew the answers. When he asked what God told Moses to say to Pharaoh, this one little girl's hand shot up, and she was so excited to answer:

  "LET MY SLUGS GO!"

(She got a little confused between slaves/slugs, but it was a precious, funny moment nonetheless.)

Finally, last night Paul handed out candy to at least 250+ children as they braved the cold and wind to trick-or-treat. Everyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan AT ALL of Halloween or its festivities, but we have a NEW tool that made this year pretty funny. We now have security cameras around our house that we can monitor from inside our home - one of those cameras being at the front door. Paul also has a jumping spider decoration that jumps out at people as they walk up to our front door. In years past, we have always waited for the screams and doorbell to know when to open the door; this year, however, we were able to watch their priceless reactions as they were startled over and over again by this jumping spider (which is the least scary prop on our porch, by the way).  Many laughs were had, and I am very proud to report that Paul even effectively scared the terrifying 3 ft. clown that showed up for candy. (I despise clowns, and short ones are even worse!) 

Now, the scary decorations are going back in the box for another year (Hallelujah!!), and the Christmas decorations are slowly making their way out! Yay! The big stuff won't make it up until closer to Thanksgiving, but stay tuned because Paul has some very exciting and NEW features to show this year! I'll post pics and videos of those once we enter into the Christmas season. Now, I've got to start working on ideas for our Christmas cards! Man, I love this time of year!

We've had a hodgepodge of happenings lately, and I am sure that more are sure to come! We hope your days/weeks have been just as exciting, NEW, and fun as ours have been!

Until next time...

FALLing more in love BREAK

picture from school.discoveryeducation.com

Fall Break. 

This was not a privilege I had growing up, but my what a wonderful idea it is! Now back from my week-long hiatus from  everyday life, I feel so much more refreshed.

I kicked off the week by finishing another grad school course (only 3 left, yay!). Then, I enjoyed a lovely luncheon with my mother-in-law. A real life tea party was so much fun! Tea with Thee in Madison is such a quaint little place with the best hot tea, scones, finger sandwiches,  soup, and desserts. 

 

Then, Paul and I took off for a little trip away to have some fun and relax away from the hustle and hustle of life. I don't think we slowed down any, but it was a different kind of busy. 

We began with a more relaxing day at Virginia Beach. Beautiful sunsets on the beach, romantic walks on the boardwalk, and glorious sunrises over the ocean were a great way to kick start our trip. We also enjoyed some fresh seafood at Tautogs - a candelit dinner followed by bread pudding for dessert made for a perfect night.

Then, we took off the next day for Williamsburg, VA. We enjoyed seeing the old town and visiting the Yankee Candle store, the 2nd largest in the nation with a candle section, home section, candy and food section, and a Christmas village. We even got to have a conversation with Santa. :) We followed that up with a little retail therapy for my upcoming birthday and a nice southern dinner at Golden Corral.

(I just wish that the sign from Virginia Beach had followed us to Williamsburg - the language was ridiculous. They needed a bar of soap and a good mouth washing.)

Finally, we spent our last two days riding some more coasters. We went to Kings Dominion  near Richmond, VA the first day and enjoyed some tall rides, steep drops, speed, and twists and turns through mock volcanos. Lots of thrill! However, I was not too crazy about the scare night for Halloween. Creepy clowns, dolls, zombies, and nursery rhyme music playing made for an interesting night as we tried to find alternative routes and pretend to be brave so they would leave me alone. 

We dominated that coaster!

Our intimidation faces look more fun than scary!

We have so many coaster pics that we have to start having fun with it!

 The next day we headed to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for another fun time. We enjoyed even steeper drops, as one ride actually stops and suspends you at the top of the drop to build anticipation. There was also a German named ride that slingshots you through dark tunnels, through the night woods, and even has a freefall/elevator style drop in the middle of it. 

Then, I had fun in the aviary as the birds hopped on my arms, back, and head. Who needs overpriced nectar when you have a shiny ring? They come right to you! Too bad we missed the photo op when I had several birds on my shoulder, back, and head at once! We also enjoyed seeing a trainer work with a wolf. Neat animals!

Excuse scary lady behind me. It was scary night at the park for Halloween, and I was NOT a fan of that!

 

Then, we began our 10+ hour commute back home, stopping in Lynchburg to check out my online stomping grounds for grad school. Liberty University has a beautiful campus, and I was able to find a couple shirts to add to my college collection.

Aside from having our belongings rummaged through in our room at our hotel in Williamsburg and a few rain showers here and there, I definitely cannot complain. We had a marvelous trip and are so blessed to have had this time together to grow even closer and fall more in love! 

God is so good, and we continue to be amazed by the truth that you cannot out-give God We are truly living and loving our Happily Ever After!

Until next time...

ARISE and EAT!!

ARISE and EAT -- two words that describe my morning routine. While I may not like to arise first thing in the morning, I sure like to eat (and my husband can vouch for that). Knowing that the second part is coming can make it so much easier to do the first, or at least for me that is the case.

So, what does this talk of arising and eating have to do with anything? 

EVERYTHING!

A few weeks ago I heard a sermon titled "Get Up and Eat" by Josh Davis, a man from my hometown church. The source of the sermon came from 1 Kings 19:7 when the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."

You see, throughout Elijah's life God had shown his power and greatness time and time again as Elijah witnessed many miracles: Raven brought Elijah food when he had nothing to eat; God multiplied the oil and flour to make bread for the widow that Elijah had encountered; God worked through Elijah when Elijah laid hands on the widow woman's son and raised him from the dead; and God sent fire from Heaven to light a wet altar.  Yet, after witnessing and taking part in all of these divine miracles, Elijah still became fearful and upset when someone (Jezebel) came against him and wanted him dead.  

So, of all the encouraging words that the angel could have said to Elijah during this hard time, why in the world did the angel simply tell him to get up and eat?

Simple - we've all heard the saying that what we feed grows and what we starve dies, right? Elijah was feeding his worry rather than his body; Elijah was starving his faith in God while feeding himself with the lies of the enemy. It was time for Elijah to get up and eat, to nourish himself both physically and spiritually, if he was going to be able to face his journey ahead.

So, let's fast forward a couple thousand years to us.

I don't know about you, but when someone tells me to get up and eat, they do not have to tell me twice. I love food, and that is no mystery to anyone who has been around me longer than five minutes. Yet, what we feed grows. When we grow physically, we can tell and so can others. The pants don't fit quite right anymore; the scale keeps rising; and other begin to notice the transition over time. 

But what about the rest of us?

Are we growing in knowledge, faith, trust, etc.? Can anybody tell? Are we feeding these things, or are we choking the life out of them? Now, don't get me wrong - I believe that there are certain things that God calls us to starve:

 "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." - Ephesians 4:31, NIV

 "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." - Colossians 3:8, NIV

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow." - Matthew 6:34, NIV

" Do not be anxious about anything." - Philippians 4:6, NIV

Yet, if you are anything like me, we often tend to feed some of these traits that God commands us to starve. Then, by the time we get through feeding our bitterness, worry, anxiety, anger, and jealousy, there is no time left in our day to nourish ourselves as God commands.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Phillipians 4:8

 But how do we learn, receive, and hear of these things? We have to feed on them.  Below, I've listed a few ways that I have found to really help myself feed the right things and starve the wrong:

1. FEED YOUR SOUL - We have to study God's word to know what's in there, not just what an adult, parent, preacher, or trust friend told us. If you are not studying yourself, you are living on someone else's leftovers. Leftovers don't get you into heaven. You can't borrow someone's spirituality or their relationship with God. It's all you. Most of us aren't simply satisfied watching a friend's marriage; we want our own. So, why do we do that with Christ? You need to know what you believe and why and form your own relationship with the Father.
   
   Lately, I have been reading a book titled Muscle and a Shovel by Michael Shank. You may or may not agree with everything in the book, and that is not my place to say, but I can tell you that this book will challenge you and help you delve much deeper into the Word to study and find out what exactly you believe and why. If you are struggling to find a devotion type book that will help you get excited about studying the Word, this is it. It has truly helped me, and I hope it will you, too.
   
   
2.  FEED YOUR MIND - Try to focus on the positives instead of worrying about the negatives. No matter how bad your day is, someone is having a worse one. I can promise you that. Your team may have lost the game or you lost your job, but someone else may have lost a loved one. You may have received a bad report from the doctor, but someone else may already be living their last days. You may be the one living your last days and not ready to die, but someone else may be doing the same without the assurance of their salvation. Worrying will not add one single moment to our lives or make any situation better - that's proven. The best way to feed our minds is to fix our minds on things above... revert back to step #1. The more we are full of God the less room Satan has to come in.
   
   As some of my students wrote tabloids this past week (those far-fetched news articles that you find at the checkout counter at the grocery story), I was amazed by how many of my other classes actually believed some of the stories they read. Why? If you read or hear a lie long enough, you may even start to believe it. Don't fill your mind with the tabloids of Satan; instead, focus on the GOOD NEWS, the truth, of Christ!

   

   Don't believe Satan's Tabloids....

   
   

   
   

   

   Believe God's Truths! (just as these sweet babies do!)

   
   
3. FEED YOUR BODY - Now, I'm not about to give you a health lecture by any means; however, if all we eat is junk, that is exactly what we are going to feel like. Don't get me wrong, I eat Oreos and milk just about every day, and I sure do love a burger and fries. While I do mean to feed your body with healthy food, I also mean to feed your body with physical activity. Doing so really does help clear the mind, reduce toxins in ones' body, and alleviate stress. I'm not saying to go run a marathon or become the next Crossfit junkie, but let us do remember that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and we should treat them as such.
   
   To show that I really do practice what I preach, I can happily say that I am now up to running 5.5 miles at a time. A year ago, a mile was a joke. It didn't happen overnight or even over a few months, but I have found that I feel so much better after doing so. And to say that you do not have time -- haha, I laugh. If you only knew what my schedule looks like on a daily basis. I do not have time, either, but I make time. Why? Because it's important, and it helps me get in the right state of mind for step #2 so that I can truly delve into step #1. I'm telling you, it works!
   
   



4. FEED YOUR RELATIONSHIPS - You might have been thinking that emotions were coming next, but really relationships have a direct correlation to your emotions. Did you know that studies have shown that those who suffer from chronic depression and have the most health problems are often those who have weak relationships with others? It's true. If you find yourself in that category, try one thing that will help you meet one new person. Maybe you go to an event that you wouldn't normally go to just to see new faces. Maybe you take that awkward step to introduce yourself to someone new in the supermarket, at work, at church, or elsewhere. Maybe you call up an old friend that you haven't spoken to in awhile. Maybe (and I know this may seem like a shocker), but you actually work on your relationship with your spouse. When is the last time you put your spouse before your kids, the way God ordained it? Or, maybe you simply begin by working on your relationship with yourself - being happy in your current place in life and finding joy in just being you. :)
   
   Paul and I had become so busy serving everyone else (which we love) that we had really neglected to feed our relationship with each other. Yes, we were serving together, ate dinner together, talked about our day together, and occupied the same house, but we weren't really feeding our relationship. We were squeezing it in and giving our marriage the leftovers of our day - you know that little time we had left after completing everything else on our "to-do" list. Leftover are good - for awhile. Then, you want the real deal. Paul and I are perfectionist and we had to work hard at putting our stresses, to-do lists, and anxieties aside to make sure that we were giving each other the proper food in our marriage and not just our day's leftovers. It has been so much fun, too. We've enjoyed hiking, taking walks, building and painting decorations, riding coasters, and laughing at funny shows just to name a few. That may sound small, but it means so much when those sweet slices of heaven come in amongst a chaotic day or week.

   

   Paul and I hiking through some trails and caves.

   
   

You may find that you need to do the same with your spouse, family, or friends; or, maybe you realize that you are giving your leftovers, if anything, in your relationship with God. I don't claim to have all the answers or even most of them, but I do know that these four things are truly helping me slowly become the person that I want to be and that I feel God desires me to be.

Are you starving the right things while really feeding the others?
The journey ahead will be long....so ARISE AND EAT!! 

and find your joy, hope, and strength for the journey in knowing that God is bigger and He is surely NOT DEAD!  (Just as one of my sweet cheerleaders sent me that blessed reminder yesterday...)

Until next time...

Surprise Getaway!

School has been back in session for a few weeks now; Paul and I are in the midst of our grad school classes (we both finish with the class portion of our degrees by May, woo-hoo!); and volunteer opportunities are back in full swing! I can't wait to see how God moves through all of these avenues this school year!

While Paul and I wouldn't trade our extremely busy, blessed life for anything, we do enjoy those moments where we get to get away for a bit to just spend time with each other away from all the schedules. And Paul made sure we did just that this past weekend. 

Over a couple months in the making, Paul told me a week ago that I needed to have any grad school work that was due completed before the weekend and to leave my weekend open. I was immediately excited because I just love surprises, especially when they come from my best friend! As the weekend approached,  he wouldn't tell me anything other than that I would need to pack for a couple days and to take outfits for being outdoors. He emphasized that I wanted CUTE clothes not just workout clothes. (He knows that my attire has to fit the activity, or I get frustrated. I would ALWAYS rather be overdressed than underdressed.)

I had been thinking all week about what we could be doing, but I had not figured anything out. Saturday morning we loaded up the car and started driving. Paul took a slightly longer route to throw me off, and it worked. I was convinced we were headed to Gatlinburg, TN. Wrong. We were headed to Atlanta, just like every other Alabama and comics fan. Yet, we were neither going to the Bama game nor Dragon-Con. Thank goodness! lol

We were indeed retracing many of our steps from our very first trip together over four years ago! (The hubs has a soft spot that he let's show every blue moon.) He had planned the perfect weekend, and I couldn't have been more excited!!

Surprise Getaway - Day 1

We arrived in Atlanta, checked into the hotel, and headed for Stone Mountain. We had a fun day together exploring the top of the mountain, taking in the breathtaking views, and enjoying each other's company on the train ride around the park. A downpour showed itself for about 30 minutes, but the rain simply provided a short refreshing break before we took on the fun of mini-golf. I'm pretty sure Paul technically won, but we didn't even keep score. It was all about just taking in the time together. As the day winded down, we laid out a blanket on the lawn and set up some chairs to enjoy the laser light show, music, and fireworks. Wonderful day!!!

Surprise Getaway - Day 2

Paul told me to open the glove box in the car if I wanted to know what we were doing on Day 2. I waited a little while, but then I just had to see. I pulled out two tickets to Faith night at the Braves stadium followed by a Newsboys concert (one of my favorite Christian groups). The first part of the day was open, so Paul took me for a little retail therapy (sorry, he's taken) and a late lunch at our favorite place in Atlanta - Papsitas.  Then, we headed over to see the Braves v. Marlins. It was a great game, complete with way overpriced ice-cream in a mini Braves cap. It was so cute, though. :) The Braves won 1-0, and then the stage was set up on second base for the Newsboys concert. As the sky darkened, and the lights on the stage began to set the atmosphere, the Newsboys came out to put on a wonderful show. My favorite part, however, was when the entire Braves stadium erupted and proclaimed that GOD'S NOT DEAD, as the Newsboys sang along. That was an awesome moment that I will never forget. Such a fun and blessed night!!

Surprise Getaway - Day 3

As we began to wrap up our long weekend, we couldn't head back home without doing one of our favorite things - riding some coasters! We headed over to Six Flags to ride a few rides before heading home. Labor Day was the day to go. In less that 4 hours, we were able to ride 8 different rides, some of them as many as four times. It was a more relaxing time as the rides seem so calm compared to others that we have been on, but it was fun nonetheless. We also picked up our gold season passes for 2015. It gets us in all Six Flags parks in the nation, as well as parking, from now until October of next year. Woo-hoo!  We have a few coaster trips in the near future. ;) Then, we hopped in the car and started trekking back home, refreshed and ready to get at it again.

This was one of the best weekends we've had in a bit. It was filled with lots of smiles, lots of laughs, and lots of joy.

Just the right medicine to gear us up for upcoming adventures with the Inner City kiddos, the freshman group at church, continuous grad school, and more! 

We are truly blessed. GOD IS SO GOOD!!
My cup overflows...all glory to God.

I pray your week is just as joy-filled. :)

Until next time...

BACK TO SCHOOL

Well, I just survived my first week back teaching middle school! The first week went better than I could have asked for, and I am really excited to have a great group of students to teach this year!

I am definitely blessed to be working at Central, and I am so glad that God led me there. During our teacher in-service week, our awesome PTO treated us to a Subway lunch and a frozen yogurt treat at the Chill Factory! We are a little spoiled! :)

I have also spent a little time getting my classroom website up and going, and I am really excited about being able to use this tool to keep in touch with students and parents (if they use it).  If you want to check it out, visit: MY CLASSROOM WEBSITE

With the new school year also came the new nerves and tension headaches, so I have found some new little friends. I was taking too much pain medicine for headaches, so I am now trying to use essential oils whenever possible. They do not take away my headaches completely, but they sure do decrease the pain level and make them more tolerable without having to use "as much" medicine. :) Plus, the soothing sensation is worth it. Right now, I am just trying the Peppermint and Lavender, but I may eventually try some more. So far, I really like them, though.

To go alongside my apparently aging body that seems to be falling apart, I recently received the results of the MRI that I had on my knee. It turns out that I do, indeed, have a torn lateral miniscus and will be having a "minor" procedure done over the Christmas holidays to hopefully correct it. It has been keeping me from working out as I would like, as my knee can get quite painful, so I am excited, and nervous, to have this simple procedure done. The doc says that it is easy peasy, only on crutches for 2 days, driving within 24 hrs, and has an 85% success rate. :)
 
On a more positive note, I also just finished my second summer course of grad school. I spent eight weeks studying interpersonal communication and ways to improve my own communication skills with others, as well as utilizing communication in counseling. Since this is a short post, as I am crunched for time right now getting back into the full-swing of school, I thought I would share my final project with you. (For those who do not find any interest in looking at this project, no worries. Keep going about your day, and I will have a more interesting posts coming soon!) haha

The video lecture goes along with the PowerPoint presentation but can be viewed separately.

Interpersonal Communication PowerPoint

I will have a week off from grad school, and I will pick back up with my next class in one week. I am starting to see the light. I only have four more classes and hopefully will graduate in May!! yay!!

As the school year starts back up, I am gearing up for full swing. I am very excited to say that Paul and I have been offered the opportunity to be Huddle leaders (Bible study leaders/mentors) for the youth group at our church. We will be studying with a group of freshmen, alongside a few other couples that will be working with them also. This is a new blessing for us, and I am really excited to get to know these young people. That will not start up until about September, so in the meantime we will start back up with tutoring at the Inner City this Wednesday. I needed a little break, but now I am ready to get back and see my Inner City kiddos! They mean the world to me.

Below is a little interview the news did about the Inner City Christian Learning Center, which is where we tutor:

Inner City News Report 

Well, as usual, I am back to having a busy but beyond blessed week, so I've got to scoot. 

I hope this post finds you well, and I will hopefully be posting more updates and blog posts soon!

Stay tuned!

Until next time...