The Real Me

Tonight I met with two of my favorite people to iron out a few details of the upcoming Women's Renewal at our church (April 24-25, mark your calendars).

What is a Women's Renewal you ask? It's a Friday Evening, Saturday conference for women to renew their minds in Christ, fellowship with the chicks and eat good (not so healthy) food.

Every year I walk away with a deeper understanding of God's word and I feel refreshed from the inside out. This year I know it is going to be no different. I have this whatcha gonna do, God feeling bubbling deep inside of me. I can't wait to watch His plan unfold.

I have a little inside scoop for those of you who read the blog. If you attend you will hear a part of my testimony. I was asked tonight by Margaret to share my story. I am scared to death. No that's not true, I am actually very excited about how God is going to use my story to bless others. Even when I was in the midst of living out my testimony, I knew one day I would be standing in front of a group of people sharing my story. I also found this song a few months back and felt it summed up my feelings for the positive plus sign journey. After talking it over with Margaret tonight, she asked me to share this song as well.

So that means I will be singing and sharing my testimony. Gulp. Maybe that whatcha gonna do, God? feeling is actually indigestion for singing a personal song and sharing personal history with the ladies. Oh who am I kidding! God designed me to be an open book not a closed one so share and sing I shall. Especially if one ladies life can be changed from hearing about my story and how God has blessed me in the good days and bad.

If you live in the DFW area and would like to attend (not because of me but because Margaret Ashmore is AWESOME) please shoot me an email and I will happy to forward you the information. Enjoy the song and no, I don't think I will sing like Natalie Grant although wouldn't that be lovely if I did?

My Birthday Surprise

It's no surprise that my favorite song is Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield. It also should be no surprise that I have a little bit of a crush on Rick.

He's hot and plays the guitar and sings Jessie's Girl.

Jeff has known that I am a huge fan for quite sometime. Last year I begged Jeff to fly us to LA to hear Rick in concert. I had it all planned out and thought it would be a fun way to get Jeff back to his hometown for the weekend. He said no. I was bummed but took it like a big girl because Rick was coming to Billy Bob's on our anniversary weekend. Again he said no. I did not pout but I thought to myself somehow, someway I am going to see Rick if it's the last thing I do.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago...

Jeff told me he had a surprise for the weekend of February 28Th. He cleared my schedule and gave me strict orders to not add anything else to our calendar. I was fine with that and very proud that I allowed myself to be surprised.

The only hint that he gave me is that we had to be there at 10:30 p.m Saturday and that I would probably want to dress hip.

Hip? What?!?

Saturday afternoon we were running errands when the curiosity got the better of me.

Me-Dallas or Fort Worth?

Jeff- Fort Worth.

Me-Cowtown or Downtown

Jeff-Cowtown.

Me- Billy Bob's?!?!?!

Jeff- Yes, how did you know?

Me- I was born and raised in Fort Worth and there is only one place that starts a concert at 10:30 p.m.

Jeff- Do you want to know who it is we are seeing?

Me- Sure. Is it Rick Springfield?

Jeff- How the heck did you guess that?

Me- Just lucky I guess.

Then I gave him a big hug and proceeded to tell him why he was the greatest.

Poor Guy was surrounded by a bunch of 40 plus year old women and one 31 year old screaming our heads off. When we left the concert he said, "That is the gayest thing I have done in a long time." He's right it was but it was worth hearing Jessie's Girl played live by Rick Springfield.

I told him don't worry I will never make you do that again.

He then gave me a hug and proceeded to tell me why I was the greatest.

P.S. Why yes, I did dance my tail off during Jessie's Girl. Sadly that is really the only song that I knew word for word...I guess I am not the biggest fan after all. The girl next to me knew all the words and his life history including but not limited to, his birthday and birthplace.

Keeping It Simple This Birthday

On Friday my co-worker called and while were talking she asked what my plans were for the weekend. "Well, tomorrow is my birthday...."

To which she replied, "Oh s&*t! I totally forgot!"


I died laughing because she did not try to cover up the fact that she forgot but came right out with a whoops, we forgot. For the record, I did get flowers and this is the first time in 3 years that they have not gone all out. I don't think most jobs treat their employees as good as they treat me on my birthday so I can't complain.

On Saturday, my actual birthday my mom and I spent the day shopping. We hit up Home Goods for the first time and fell in love rather quickly with this store. I bought a few plates to use in our new home. Seriously, this place is a part of TJ Maxx so it's nice stuff for a great price. Check it out, you will be happy you did.

Later that night Jeff took me to my favorite restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory.

The next night we headed over to my in-laws house for Chocolate Cake and a game of Phase 10. Jacob was my partner but he didn't last through first round. Notice the death grip he has on my shirt.

This next weekend is the BIG SURPRISE and dinner at my mom's. And nope, I still don't know what we are doing.

This year has been a great year because it was a very simple and very low key birthday.

Here is one last picture of the littlest nephew. Isn't he adorable?

Almost a Year Later

This picture is so funny to me! Check out my cake...

It was a joke between Jeff and I. He wanted the cake to be tacky, I just wanted the cake to be tasty.

So I wasn't surprised when we were in Sam's and he told me to hang out here (here being the magazine ailse) and off he went. A few minutes went by and I got curious and my little warning light went on alerting me that Jeff was up to something. I found him at the bakery laughing to himself as he filled out the card. When he said, "I got your cake!" I asked to see what he picked out. I knew before I even saw what he chose that it was going to be good.

A bass pro fish with a pink icing is every girl's dream cake, right? Well it really wasn't mine but I embraced it for a good laugh.

Tomorrow is my birthday, another year-another cake and Jeff has something up his sleeve.

I was told the other night that Jeff was clearing my schedule for next weekend. He said that I would not be singing at church because we would not be getting home in time.

I thought about doing a Sydney Bristow mission to find out where we were going but decided that would spoil the fun. Instead I am sitting back and enjoying my time until he spills the beans. And if I know Jeff like I do, he can't keep a secret either so I will know in a day or two.

:)

At my last appointment my doctor said two things that left me knowing God is fully in control.

1) There is nothing medically wrong with me keeping us from getting pregnant. This just proves to me that God's timing is perfect and His timing has not yet come.

2) My doctor told me that I was the most peaceful patient she has ever had who has been where I am today. She said most women in my shoes come in saying "What the hell? What's wrong with me?" Little does she know that I have said those same words many times on my knees crying out to the Lord. Looking back I kick myself for not using her comment as a transition to talking about all the Lord is doing within me. Maybe one day that door will be opened again.

And another tidbit that was just funny to me.

3) Jeff and I have a unspoken agreement between us that these next six months are going to not be about a baby; we want to live each day to the fullest in the present moment. But the other night, I broke that little agreement to tell him about a friend I know who works for an adoption agency.

"So and so works for an adoption agency...we should talk to her to get direction from her if that day comes."

Jeff-"Does she handle Swedish adoptions?"

It took me a minute but then I started laughing and said, "I am not sure I am going to allow you to do a Swedish adoption."

Jeff says, "Why don't you want a hot 18 year old Swedish girl for a daughter?"

"No, I want a baby."

To which Jeff says "I want a baby too."

Then I just had to hold up my hand and say "Whatever Jeff."

:)

I love this man and could not imagine anyone else walking this journey with me.

And let me close with what I write in my journal almost everyday.

I wait with hope.
I live in peace.
I serve with love.

In The Kitchen: Herbed Beef Stew

The following recipe is from one of my favorite crock pot meal cookbooks, Fix It & Forget It. If you own this book it's on page 72, if you don't own it, you should.

What you need:

1 lb beef round, cubed

4 Tbsp seasoned flour (see below)

1 1/2 cups beef broth (I use two cans)

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 garlic clove (or I use 2 tbsp of minced garlic)

4 carrots sliced (I buy a bag of frozen crinkle cut carrots)

3 potatoes, cubed

2 onions, diced

1 rounded tsp fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp of dried thyme

1 rounded tsp chopped fresh basil or 1/2 tsp dried thyme

1 Tbsp fresh parsley or 1 tsp. dried parsley

1 rounded tsp fresh marjoram or 1 tsp dried marjoram (I have no clue what this is so I omitted)

Put meat in slow cooker. Add seasoned flour. Toss with Meat. Stir in all other ingredients. Mix Well. Cover. Cook on high 4-6 hours or low 10-12 hours.

*Seasoned Flour

1 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

I serve this with fresh bread from the Kroger deli and or make a batch of cornbread. Very yummy and very simple to make.

And would anyone like to enlighten me on what the heck marjoram is? I will be your best friend for life.

A New Beginning

I have started this post off and on and can't seem to find the words to begin writing what is on my heart. I guess I will jump in with both feet.

After six months of infertility treatments we have now reached the stage where the doctor has said my body needs to rest. When I started the medication I had no idea what would happen but I never thought we come out of these past months without a bun in the oven. Last month I was almost nine days late. I didn't get my hopes up too much because I never got a positive pregnancy test. I told only one friend about the possibility that I was pregnant from the beginning. She suggested that I go see the doctor to get blood work after I the third "not pregnant" flashed on the stick. I did and as I was waiting that night for the results-I got my answer without even having to hear the doctor say "Not pregnant." (I tried not to be graphic for my handful of men readers)

Would you believe me if I told you that Jeff didn't even know that I was that late? Yes I kept that quiet this go round. But later when I told him about how my emotions were all over the place he grabbed me and said, "You are not in this alone. I am here." See why I love him to pieces? He also continues to tell me repeatedly how much he loves me and that he didn't marry me for kids. He married me because he couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life without me. Again, do you see why I love him?

A few months ago, I decided that I would no longer share this journey on the blog. I was afraid that I was starting to sound like Debbie Downer on SNL. But over the last two weeks, I have found a community of women in blog land who have or are going through the same journey. I have become a huge fan of Kelly's blog and cried like a baby when I read this post. That post sums up exactly how I am feeling today. And as many of you know, Psalms 37 is the verse I am clinging to right now. But by Kelly sharing her story in such a real way people are leaving comments about how their faith has changed and some have even said that they gave their life to Christ because of experiencing all the things God has done for them.

To me that in itself is the main reason I started this blog-to show God all the things He has been doing for us. I am not sure why I got away from that, maybe I lost myself a bit or maybe I was just too tired of talking about it all. And at this point, I don't know how much of those details I want to share anymore because that is really not where my focus is today. All I know is that over the past few weeks God has been tugging at my heart for me to start writing again and sharing a few things He has been showing me in scripture.

And that dear friends is me, jumping in with both feet.

God bless your journey-He is blessing mine daily!

Boy was I Bummed

The picture above is what I found when I walked into the kitchen this morning. Someone had themselves a pancake feast while I was sound asleep. Boy was I bummed!

But to be fair, he did try to wake me up but I wasn't having it.

I guess that is what I get for taking a sleeping pill close to midnight last night. It was either take a sleeping pill or be up at 4 am wide awake. I think sleeping through the night was the better of the two.

I hate that I missed out Jeff's pancakes but was so happy that he cleaned up after himself. Isn't he thoughtful! I think I will keep him.

It's the Simple Things That Make Me Happy

1. A quiet weekend at home
2. Snuggling close to hubs while we watched Fox News Friday night
3. Woke up Saturday morning and chatted with hubs while drinking coffee
4. Cleaning out the closet and throwing things away for the big move
5. Taking two large bags of stuff to a resale shop that helps abused women get back on thier feet
6. Lunch with good friends Sunday afternoon
7. Sunday afternoon naps-a sacred thing at our house
8. deep theological discussions with the small group at church (my head is still spinning)
9. finishing up the weekend sitting next to hubs and reading a good book

Sometimes you just need a list to remember the simple things that make you happy.

Have a great Monday-I am off to make a buck for the furniture company

A Cardinal In My Window

Yesterday I saw a cardinal sitting on a branch outside our window at the new house. Why is this important? Well let me tell you.

You see the past few months I have been playing a little game with God over the past few months each time I visit the house. As I have been praying for God's leading on where He was leading us I have also prayed for a sign. The sign? A red cardinal.

For the past six months every time I have been at the house I start looking for my cardinal. In fact, on the drive over, I usually ask God if today is going to be the day I see my cardinal. I guess I should also mention that I am prone to talking out loud to God while driving.

Yesterday as we were getting ready to sign our name on the dotted line, I happened to look out the kitchen window. Do you know what I saw? Yes! That's right, a cardinal. I got so excited that I cried out "My cardinal! I have seen my cardinal!" Which lead to me getting that look from Jeff saying you better explain yourself rather quickly or they will think you are nuts. After I explained myself my friend June said, "Isn't God good?" Yep. God is good.

How cool is it that as we were signing the contract that I see a cardinal outside the kitchen window? God's timing is perfect and I feel so blessed that He brought us the cardinal at just that moment.

Plus with a view like that washing dishes sure will be a sweet time!

Girls Night!

Last night my mom, Missy and new friend Amy snuck away for a live taping of Life Today. Kari Jobe was there promoting her new album. I heart Kari!

We received a copy of her CD for attending and when I got home I pulled out my old school Walkman, threw on my comfy pj's, crawled under the covers and listened all the way through. I felt like I was back in high school enjoying my new CD.

The CD will be released on February 10Th and I strongly suggest that you add it to your music library. It is full of worshipful songs that everyone can relate to.

In less than 60 days this will be our home. The home that Jeff and I have prayed over and waited for God to show us which way to go. To say I am excited would be the understatement of the year.

I am still under strict orders not to show any portion of the outside of the house that could cause stranger danger. Fortunately many of you already know where this house is located and with a few clues you will know exactly the house we are buying.

1. The name of the street is a tree.

2. The house is two blocks from the Home of the Fighting Cardinals.

3. If you keep going three more blocks you will be at the street where I grew up.

4. My neighbors are great friends of many of us. In fact our group from the high school youth group spent most Wednesday nights hanging at there house.

Still don't know? Don't worry, we will be sending an email in the next few months with our new address and phone number. Stop by anytime!

Do you want to hear the funny part about this whole process? For years, YEARS, Jeff and I have been praying for God to open doors for us to move. As we waited, we continued to save money and get out of debt but I was starting to get very restless. Let's just say working for a huge furniture company in the middle of my one bedroom apartment has been a real challenge.

During this time I prayed for three specific things. 1) an older home that we could remodel. 2) A house with lots of trees. 3) a house with a separate space for an office

In late June, I had lunch with my soon to be neighbor. We were sitting in her living room talking about how I would love to live on this street. She and I have been keeping our eye out since the day Jeff and I got married for a house to come on the market in their neighborhood but nothing was happening. In July, after the Disney Trip of 08, Jeff and I decided it was time to start the house hunt. I continued to secretly wish for God to open a house for us next to our friends but was happy to go anywhere as long as Jeff and I were together. :) Less than two weeks after we started looking, I received a call from my friend telling me about a house across the street. "Are you serious?" It was more than I could hope or imagine. When I hung up the phone I immediately started to pray that God would either open or close the door if we were to move-His will be done and all that. I waited two days to tell Jeff, mostly because he was working crazy hours (more so than usual) and I really didn't think he would go for it. I was so nervous to hear the word no.

Jeff as usual was very cautious about what direction we would take but was open to the idea although he need to sleep on it a bit. And thanks be to God, I kept my mouth shut as he mulled it over. Somewhere deep inside I knew that this would be the house we would be buying one day. The first day we went to look at the house-our friends we were buying the house from, left us alone in the house to talk it over. As we were standing in the kitchen debating this and that, I had a moment where I felt at home. This was home but Jeff was still not there yet. I think the foundation being slanted and bricks cracked was a large part of his hesitation. Fast forward, after months of waiting for the foundation to be repaired we were pleasantly surprised to see that the house had been fixed. Christmas morning instead of opening presents, we sat and discussed paint colors and which color of hardwood floors we were going to put down. It was one of my favorite Christmas mornings.

This past Saturday night, we went over to our soon to be neighbors house and had dinner. When we left our neighbors house that night, Jeff and I walked across the street and walked through our new home for a bit. Yes, we do have a key to a house that we have yet to sign a contract for but that's what happens when you buy a house from great family friends. A perk I guess.

Come March 31st we will be home owners-praise be to God. Stay tuned, I look forward to sharing the adventures of homeownership.

For All The Bachelor Fans Out There

Chris Harrison has a blog that he writes about each episode. I find it very entertaining. In fact, one of the reason I started watching this season is because of Chris's take on things.

So if you love Bachelor and or Chris-then have fun reading.

Now I am off to get my electric tooth brush and french kiss my dog. (said by one of the girls exiting the show last night. How gross do you have to be to want to use an electric tooth brush...I mean french kiss a dog)

Today I

• I slept until 10 a.m
• Decided not to be mad at myself for sleeping late and embrace it
• realized that my body probably needed those extra 4 hours
• am still in my pajamas at 1 p.m
• am glad that the office is slow today because I don't know if I could handle a busy day today
• left a status on Facebook that I am moving at a snails pace
• am looking forward to another biblical counseling class tonight-very thought provoking
• am happy that Jeff said he was going to make dinner tonight
• was told by hubs that he loved me to pieces this morning
• realized how blessed I am to have him in my life
• am thankful for my mom's new tradition of having all of us over for dinner once a month
• am remembering Elijah as he ran into my mother's bathroom and said "Whoops! Too Late!"
• realized that potty training is funny when you are the Aunt, not sure how it will be when I am the mother
• put a tentative moving date of March 31st on my calendar
• am trying to get all the paper work together so that we can move ahead.
• trusting in the Lord with all my heart and leaning not on my own understanding
• am going to make it a great day, even thought I am very tired and a tad bit cranky

This Still Excites Me-God is Good

The Lil Miss Bookworm Syndrome

Every once in awhile I will go through a season I like to call The Lil Miss Bookworm Syndrome. It's during this time where I check out multiple books and read all of them in rapid succession. Then there are times where I rent the same amount of books and have to recheck them out two or three times because I am just not reading much.

The past few weeks I have been reading nonstop. I read Mary Poppins, Walt Disney's Biography and Peace Like a River (actually I have a few more chapters in this book). I went to the library this past week and checked out a few biographies to read. That's another thing I should tell you about-I am going through a biography phase. I have never read someones biography for fun until I read the story of Walt Disney. His life fascinated me so much that I thought I should read about others lives that seem fascinating.

I rented the following biographies to read: Ruth Bell Graham, Laura Bush, Kirk Cameron and Amy Grant. You may think of me as a total nut when I tell you how much I am looking forward to reading Kirk's story. I think there is a little bit of a crush left over from my teen years. I had multiple BBop pics of him taped to my walls back in the day.

So let me close by sharing with you my current books marked to read in Good Reads.

The Great Esape Pictures

I think everyone should get away from time to time. This weekend my friend Andrea and I decided to take a mini-vacation in Beaver Bend, OK. We did nothing but read, watch movies, talk and eat junk food. We even had a few spiritual moments thrown in the mix for good measure.

I didn't even take any scrapbooking stuff with me this trip, I simply rested. It was fabulous.

Thanks Andrea for trusting me enough to travel with me 4 hours to a place neither one of us had every seen before. I had a blast and can't wait until our next get away. How 'bout this weekend? Just kidding, Jeff would be so sad if I left him alone two weekends in a row. :)

The Great Escape of 09 Is Here!

Tomorrow I leave with a gal pal and head to a little cabin in the woods.

The plan is to do nothing but....

listen to a few tunes
watch chick flicks
nap
read
eat junk food
watch more chick flicks
eat a few smores
chat
spend sometime in the Word
take a light stroll in the woods
laugh
and a little more junk food on the way home


Other than that we have no other plans.

I know one thing, I am going to soak up this time while I can.

Because when I come home, life is kicking up a notch.

AI Watch Party

Boo Mama and Shannon at Rocks and My Dryer were asked to write up AI summaries for Season 8 at Culture 11. Click here to read. It will entertain you, promise.

And if you have never read Boo Mama, you should especially if you are a southern girl with a love for fried foods. She was the first blog I started to follow when I first started blogging and one of the few that I have actually kept following the past 3 years.

Let me just say one more thing before I go, I love the new judge. I think she is a breath of fresh air and can hold her own. I can't wait to hear how she judges the final 12. I think she will do much better than the other chick who usually just repeats what Randy said or comments on how great and cute the contestants look that night.

"You're a star! And I love your hair-keep up the great work!" ~Your Friend Paula

Love That Alli Rogers

Have you heard of Alli Rogers? If not, she is a Christian artist that's music is classified as Folk music in my ITunes. I recently stumbled across this artist while on a search for new music.



It was love at first listen.



Let me share with you the lyrics to the song that touched me most (it sums up my feelings about the journey Jeff and I are on these days quite nicely)



the day of small things
I am afraid of beginning‘cause I don’t know how to end
But you told me that the mountain before us would become a plain in our eyes
So I won’t despise
I won’t despise the day
I won’t despise the day of small things


Even when you tell me…oh, even then I’m shaking
‘Cause I am afraid of believing
The plans that we make seem so big
But you’ve shown me that we’re never alone and your spirit will stay by our side

So I won’t despise
I won’t despise the day
I won’t despise the day of small things


To hear more of her music, click here. Let me know if you become a fan too or already are a fan of Alli Rogers. I know I am!

Sixteen Things

I am joining in the fun with Andrea and posting 16 things you may or may not know about me.


1. I can touch my nose with my tongue. I try not to show this talent anymore, although back in the day it was very entertaining.

2. I tried out for Texas Girls Choir in 3rd grade and made it to the last round but never went ahead with it. My parents didn't want me away from home and the yearly dues were very expensive. I don't really feel like I missed anything either.

3. I hate running but I am training for a 10K. Go figure

4. I am memorizing Psalms 37.

5. I hope to memorize 12 Psalms this year, one a month. I am praying that I can do this.

6. I am a creature of habit.

7. I don't like change yet I am praying for big changes right now. God be with me when those changes come. :)

8. I have been having dreams the past few weeks regarding my great grandmother, I miss her greatly.

9. I aspire to be like my great grandmother. She read her bible everyday, walked two miles before 7 am and came home to eat a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits and bacon. She lived to be 97 years old and was sharp as a take. It must have been the sausage or bacon.

10. I can still remember the table numbers of the restaurant that I worked at in college. Sometimes when I can't sleep I count the tables.

11. I now can only fall asleep with a sleep mask.

12. Every time I bake I have to scrub my kitchen when done. I am a messy baker.

13. I used to play the piano but I can only remember one song.

14. When we move, we are buying a piano first thing and I am going to try to reteach myself. I never thought I would say this but I miss it.

15. I like to clean because it relaxes me but I hate folding and putting away laundry. Despise it!

16. I am counting down until I leave on a little trip next weekend with a good friend. I really, really need a break from the real world. We are going to do nothing but veg out....can't wait!

This is my 600th Post...Oh My!

Last night I made cookies while Jeff was at work to surprise him.

Seeing as how the last time I made homemade chocolate chip cookies was when we were still newlyweds (5 years ago) he was very surprised. So surprised, in fact, that he woke me up at 6 this morning to tell me how happy he was that I made cookies. "You made homeade cookies? YUM!" (The fact that he said yum still makes me giggle)

I rolled over and went back to sleep, happy I made my husband happy.

Let me ask you, what is your husband's favorite thing you make or bake? And when was the last time that you surprised him with it? Come on ladies, tie on your aprons and get a cookin'.

Bless your husband today! :)

Edited to add: I make killer break and bake cookies but sometimes it's nice to kick it old school and make cookies the old fashioned way!

In The Kitchen: Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup, a favorite in our house. This is one of the soups that we used to feed our small group. It feeds up to 10 people so when I cook it for just the two of us, we have it for many nights. Not really the most healthy thing on the block but it is super yummy. And who doesn't love a recipe where you just open a can and toss it in?

1-Can of Rotel

2-Can of Cream of Chicken Soup

1-Can of Chicken Broth

1-Can of Fiesta Nacho Soup

2-Cans of Black Beans (drained)

2-Cans of Pinto Beans (drained)

1-Can of Fiesta Corn (drained)

1-8 oz package of pre-cooked chicken strips. Southwestern style preferred.

Mix all ingredients together in a crock pot and heat on low for approximately 90 minutes. Or the fast way, throw in a big ole pot and cook on high for 30 minutes, don't let it boil though

Serve with tortilla chips and grated cheese.

Huh...

I was going through my blog archives to see what word I chose for last year's one word choice.

I stumbled on this post where I talked about the things I wanted in a house.

Two things Jeff promised me when we bought a house:

1. A Red Door
2. A Portable Office in the Back

Guess what two things the new house has? That's right, a red door and a portable building in the back for my office. The portable building looks like a barn but is now painted blue, I bet you can't guess what color I plan to paint it?

That right, red. Like a barn

And since I am on strick orders not to post any pictures of the house or give away any other information on the house unil we move, you will just have to trust me on this.

I promise one day very soon, I will post pictures.

Oh and last year's word was authentic.

One Little Word 2009

Every year Ali Edward's chooses a word that she and her family will focus on during the year. I love this and so I have chosen to join in again this year.

This year my word is delight.

What does it mean to delight? And how does this to apply to my everyday life?

Delight
Main Entry: 1de·light
Pronunciation: \di-ˈlīt, dē-\
Function: noun
Date: 13th century
1: a high degree of gratification : joy ; also : extreme satisfaction
2: something that gives great pleasure
3archaic : the power of affording pleasure

One of my goals for this year is to memorize more scripture. I found one verse constantly coming into my daily life, Psalms 37. As I started to look at Psalms 37, one word seemed to stand out. That word was Delight.

Two key verses I have tried to apply to my life this past year.

1. Psalms 37: 4

"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires."

2. Psalms 37: 23

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."

In 2009, I am choosing to delight in the Lord. I believe that by doing this I will also be more trusting of where He is leading us. And by knowing that God is leading, I will gratified, filled with joy and at peace.

My goals for 2009 are simple, I want to delight in the everyday joys of life.

Delight in God and His plans for us.

Delight in the blessings He is sending to us on a daily basis.

Delight in our story being written in every single moment of our lives.

2008- Our Year In Pictures

Movies

(Edited to add: Click on the picture above and hit play next to the word slideshow to see the video)

This video started out as a simple project and quickly turned into a two day ordeal. The pictures became a bit grainy after I posted it to google albums but it will do. Even though it took longer than I hoped, it was a fun way to look back on 2008.

I think Jack Johnson's words, "It's always better when were together" could be Jeff and my theme song for this year. Even though this year was full of ups and downs, we found great joy in being together. I am thankful that God has brought us to the same page. I know that many of the things we had to go through this past year served to unify us and strengthen our marriage. This past year we had many ministry opportunities together. I will never forget the joy that came the day Jeff and I prayed with Maudie to become a believer. What a joy it was to share in that moment together! I am also thankful for Jeff's words of encouragement when month after month nothing was happening. I had a friend ask me one time how I was able to be joyful in the waiting. I quickly answered, Jeff. Apart from my prayer time with God, Jeff has been my rock and constant encourager. He is a blessing! I am thankful for this past year that has brought us closer together.

I am also thankful for the time I have spent in the Word this past year. I am happy to report that I actually finished the Daily Chronological Bible. I encourage each and everyone of you to do something like this in 2009. What a blessing it has been to realize that no matter where I was in the Bible, God was able to use those scriptures to touch my heart. Even when I was reading Numbers and The Chronicles.


2009 goals to be posted soon, along with my word that I am going to cultivate in my life. But I must hurry on because I have a day off with my husband and want to soak up the downtime with him.

Happy New Year!

Being With The Kids On Christmas Day

I loved Christmas this year because I was able to spend quality time with all FIVE of my nieces and nephewS. Uncle Jeff and I were talking the next day about how everyone of the kids has a unique personality. What a joy to watch them grow and change over the years.

One of the things Jeff and I love, is our time with the kids. It is what has kept us going this past two years as we have continued to trust God's timing for positive plus sign. I won't lie, the last few weeks have been the hardest yet but we aren't ready to give up either. Nor do we allow Satan to steal our joy, although I feel like he has been working overtime on me the past few days....cried all the way home the other night, scared Jeff to death. God bless him for not asking me to "talk it out" since it was one of those times that my tears really could not be explained but I couldn't stop them from falling either.

God continues to bless me through His word. I read in 1 John 5: 14-15 on Christmas day it says, "And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for." This was soothing words to my restless spirit. As hard as it can be sometimes, I am trusting that He does hear our prayers and will answer us.

A big thanks to everyone of you who have prayed for us this past year. We truly are blessed to be surrounded by a community of prayer warriors. No words can express the gratitude in my hearts for each one of you. God is faithful. God's word is true. God is alive and active in each one of our lives.

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish each and everyone of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I also would like to apologize yet again to the many friends and family members who did not receive a card this year. I miscalculated and by the time I realized it I said, "Oh well, screw it." Which means the last 15 address stickers were left without cards. I know I could have ordered more and should have but things have been very busy the last few weeks. You know buying a house, welcoming a nephew and such.

Oh and unfortunately it looks like we aren't moving until February. Agh!!! I am chanting this verse and spending much of my free time making a decorating plan and budget. I guess you can say it is the interior designer/spreadsheet lover in me. I know, I know I need help.

Again have a merry Christmas and don't forget to take time to worship Him.

See you after the holidays!

Elijah's 3rd Birthday

I finally got my cord for my camera and will now be playing catch up with the pictures. We had a family party at Chuckie Cheese for Elijah's 3rd birthday. He had a blast running around playing the games, eating the cake and opening his presents.

It's hard to believe that he is 3! Seems like yesterday we were welcoming the little one into the world. Time flies when you are having fun!

Happy Birthday Eli! May you grow in wisdom and stature and follow the plans that God has for you.

Aunt Sue Sue loves you to pieces!

Thanks Lord, I Needed That

I won't go into the details of all that is going on this side of the screen these days. I will say though, that God is faithful and constantly encouraging me through His word, my friends, family, Jeff and even the blogging land.

Last night I had a moment where I layed it all out before the Lord. Let's just say I needed Him to calm a few fears of where God is leading us. Everything I have prayed for has happened except one thing. And well that one thing has been the hardest to let go and trust God.

Through His word, God continues to show me that He is faithful and that He hears my prayers.

For example last night, I read in Psalms 17 that God will answer me and hear my prayers. I also read in Psalms 21 about God's strength and His joy to bless those who believe in Him. Don't get me wrong, I know I am blessed. I have a wonderful husband who is willing to walk this path with me and who keeps me laughing even when the days seem dark. I am blessed with a job that allows me to stay at home and every once in awhile allows me to dapple in the interior design side of the business. I am blessed with a wonderful support system, friends who out of the blue will call and say "I prayed for you today." And I am blessed to be just a few weeks away from moving to a house that only the Lord could have orchestrated. Even though I know I am blessed I am still human with real longings and desires.

I am really getting off the point of the post.

The point is this, I woke up asking the Lord to show me His way and to encourage me through this day today. Some days I think you just know you are going to need an extra measure of umph and today was that day for me.

When I came to log into my computer I did what I always do first, check google reader. I found this post and my heart soared. Thanks Lord for letting me see that first thing this morning, I needed that.

I pray that if you need to hear a good word from the Lord today that you too will receive it. Believe in Him.
He will do more than we can ask, hope or imagine.

The Smell Of Christmas

One of my all time favorite recipes and memories from growing up.

Peel of 1 Orange
Peel of 1 Lemon
2 cinnamon sticks
1 bay leaf
several whole cloves

Simmer all ingredients in a small pan. Add water as needed.

Thanks Donna Willbanks for this wonderful Christmas tradition and recipe! I have done this almost every Christmas season since becoming a wife and homemaker.

Today Is Not Going According to Plan

The plan was for me to wake up early and get a few things done at work so that I could do a bit of grocery shopping and christmas shopping. I have bought only one present.

Instead my day has gone something like this:

• woke up an hour and half later than normal
• recieved a phone call from my co-worker telling me her house was broken into last night and could I contact a few dealers on her behalf. I feel so sorry for her talk about a Bah-hum-bug experience
• and since I woke up late, I just now took a shower during my lunch hour
• I am having to wear my old, and I mean old glasses, because my contact was found next to my contact case dried up and my newer glasses are on vacation somewhere around my bed. I think I know right where they are but hubs is sleeping and I don't want to wake him

Needless to say, I am not sure if I will be able to leave the house today to get groceries and shopping done. Honestly, I am not going to sweat it either. Life's to short to be allow myself to come unglued.

I will be watching this later tonight. It's the last year the Bush's will decorate the White House. Sniff, sniff! Why do I have the Boys to Men song "It's so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" playing in my head?

Merry Christmas everyone!

Santa is coming! Santa is coming!

Bargain Decorating

I have been entertaining myself the past few nights by doing a bit of bargain decorating. I love to buy nice things for my house knowing that I am paying a fraction of the original cost. One thing I have learned from my years as a furniture buyer is that you can always find a store that sells the same look you like for half the price. It may take a bit of creativity and hunting down but it can happen.

Bedroom Light

In the house we are buying the master bedroom is pretty small. After living in a one bedroom apartment with wall to wall furniture, I just can't seem to bring myself to do this in our new home. I have always like the Pottery Barn lamps that can be hung on the wall.

I found these online at pottery barn for $139, set of two.

And with a little bit of searching on the Internet, I found a similar look at IKEA for $34, set of two. And with a little bit of spray paint I can get the same color as the PB lamps if I choose.

Bathroom Sink

Our plan is to update the bathroom sink in the spare bathroom with a larger vanity. I just wanted a little more counter space than the original sink offers. Again I found one that I liked at PB but didn't want to spend as much as they were asking. Thanks to Lowe's I will be able to get one for $1000 less than PB.

Home Office

Can you guess where I got my inspiration for the home office? Yes! PB again.

Now I must say that I got my next idea from my Dad. In my office now I have two file cabinets with a door on top. I bought all of this for less than $500. PB was asking $1500-$2000, that just seems crazy to me to spend that much. I asked Jeff if we could add on another side to the desk when we moved and he said "Sure, eventually." Which is code for, "Give me a year or two and consider it done!" I do plan on repainting the door though as soon as I can after the move.

Dining Room Table

I would love to have a larger table that seats more than 4 people but at this point not a priority. The table we have is just fine for now until we get some other things purchased. Even though it is not a priority, you can't stop a girl for shopping. I found the table above at Stacy's Furniture. (Shh...don't tell my coworkers!) Sunday, while waiting for the nephew to come to town, Jeff and I went to see the table at the store. I liked it but hated spending full price. So my solution will be to find a rectangle table at a flea market or Craig's List and paint it the color I want. I then will probably order two more chairs that match the 4 I already have. My goal is to spend no more than $150 dollars on this. I will keep you posted as this little adventure unfolds.

New Dishes

We eventually will need to buy a new set of dishes since the ones we bought when we got married have started to get heat cracks in the center. Yet again, Jeff and I don't feel it is really a priority at this point but I can dream can't I? I found a set that I like at PB (can you tell this is my favorite store for inspiration?) I found the exact same dishes at IKEA, Target and Wal-Mart for half the price of PB.

Here is a bit of information for the inquiring minds who want to know:

The foundation is fixed but we have to wait 30-60 days to make sure it is good to go once it settles a bit. Jeff and I are fine with waiting. I am trusting God to move us when the time is right and best for us. I also can't wait to tell those of you who have known me for many years the exact location of the house and how this house came to us. God's hand has been all over the process of this move. But our new neighbors suggested that we have a bit of fun with everyone out there in blogland so you are going to have to wait. It will be fun to see if you guys can guess, I promise!

Meet the Newest Member to the Aunt Sue Sue Nest

Our nephew Jacob Matthew was born yesterday at 8:08 p.m. weighing 7 lb 8 oz, 19 1/2 inches long and we love him.

Yesterday after church Jeff and I headed home to start our traditional pancake dinner and Sunday afternoon nap. One phone call changed the whole course our day. We spent the next 7 hours, cheering and pacing until we were able to see that sweet boy.

Meredith did a fantastic job and while everyone was watching Jacob get bathed and weighed, I snuck off to have a few minutes alone with my sweet sister in law. Poor girl was sitting all by herself staring at the ceiling and reflecting on her accomplishment. I will always stand in awe of how well she did yesterday. She was a champ and 85% of the time was all smiles. She did a GREAT job!

Matt, Jeff's little brother did a great job supporting his wife too. I loved watching his face when they wheeled Jacob down to the nursery. His smile stretched all the way across his face.

I will never forget the look on Jeff's face when he asked his brother "Well, how was it?" The brothers have been keeping us girls in stitches as they talked about the dynamics of bringing a baby into the world the past nine months. Matt's response, "It was AWESOME and not scary at all!" Jeff, now can you be a little less of a worry wort when our time comes?

And I think Jacob's cousin Hayley is a bit smitten with the new addition (a huge answer to prayer). After she held him, she came up close to me and whispered, "I love him and he is perfect!" I almost cried tears of joy because that is exactly what Jeff and I have been praying for that sweet girl for the last few weeks.

God is faithful. God is good. God's timing is perfect. Today I am thankful for all that God is doing and all that God is going to do. I also can't wait to go back to the hospital and love on my sweet nephew!

What Happened To The Weekly Tradtion Jeff?

Today I have spent the day going through the scrapbook closet trying to clear out the things not making the move. The children's home is going to love me when I bring them my box of "craft crap" (thanks J for the name!) Anywho, I stumbled on this little diddy from Jeff a few years ago and had a good laugh.




A few thing worth pointing out:

(a) this is the only letter I recieved in the new Young Family love letter tradtion (b) we were watching the Three Amigos and basically he just wrote every word that he heard in the movie and or a commercial break.

Jeff wants to know when I am going to do doll up a scrapbook page for this letter.
I want to know why he only wrote one when it was going to be a "weekly" tradition?

Oh, it doesn't really matter...he's funny, I think I will keep him.

Christmas Fun!

Here is a picture of Jeff and I last year at Matt & Meredith's wedding. I still have no camera cord and decided to pull up an oldie but goodie.

My friend Susan (no another Susan not just me talking to myself) sent this to me today and I am too lazy to come up with my own topic for today's Christmas fun so here you go, a forwarded email turned blogpost.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper for me, gift bags for Jeff b/c he doesn't like to wrap but I love to unwrap my gifts
2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? the weekend after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? week after New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? no
6. Favorite gift received as a child? cabbage patch doll

7. Hardest person to buy for? JEFF! He refuses to give a list but will tell you "I want a Jaguar XJR!" Yeah and I want a millionaire for a husband
8. Easiest person to buy for? my mom, she does give a list
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No! But I want one! This one to be exact
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail! This is my favorite thing about Christmas, all the fun mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Stetson for Women

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life and Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping? let's just say I haven't started yet
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no but I have thought about it

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? peppermint bark

16. Lights on the tree? yes (who doesn't do lights on a tree?)
17. Favorite Christmas song? Hmm, I have a lot

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? I wish we stayed home and everyone came to us...maybe next year
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Donner, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blixen and RUDOLPH (I just sang the song)
20.Angel on the tree top or a star? depends on what tree I am using that year, this year it's a star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? people who don't give lists but insist on doing a gift exchange

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Red Santas!
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? green bean casserole and Maudie's sweet yam recipe
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? peace and joy in order to enjoy the journey God is leading us on.

Soaking It All In

I realize that in the next few weeks it is going to be very crazy around here. I look forward to the craziness, it means that changes are coming and after 6 years of the same ole, same ole-change is good.

Earlier this month Jeff and I decided to scale down Christmas for the two of us. Usually we go all out and buy those things that we have added to the list since the last Christmas season. This year we are buying a house and have big plans for our little place so the money is staying put.

I have also not accepted every Christmas party invitation this year. Jeff's work schedule is so busy this time of the year that when it comes to the weekends, all he wants to do is stay home, in his pj's, doing absolutely nothing but flipping the channels over and over again.

I have yet to hit the mall. I think I am avoiding that place because last year I almost got run over by a lady who wanted a parking spot I was walking by. So yes, I am little afraid of the big ole mall this year.

I haven't even shopped at Wal-Mart for groceries this year because I just can't handle it the chaos right now. Instead I have shopped at the old run down Kroger up the street where the average age customer is 75 years old. And well, the checkers are all retired too so things run at a much slower pace. A pace I find I prefer these days.

I guess you can say that I am soaking it all in this year.

And that to me is the best way to spend the Christmas season

Jodi's Blog Info

I received a few emails from my earlier post telling me they could not access Jodi's blog, if you look to the left of my blog, her blog is listed under MY FELLOW DEER RUNNERS, and click on David and Jodi. Now you can keep up with Brooklyn too.

Tomorrow is surgery day so please continue to pray. I must say I have enjoyed seeing the numerous emails pop up in my inbox letting me know someone has signed up to pray for the Beavers. If you haven't signed up, that's okay, God knows you don't have to have a sign up to talk to God. But since I know it means the world to David and Jodi to click on the prayer chain and see the different people praying please do not be afraid to list your name too. It will be a blessing to them, promise!

And don't forget to leave a comment on her blog, if you go there now you can see pictures of beautiful Brooklyn

Thanks for praying! You are awesome!

Sorry I Have Been Busy

I am praying for Baby Brooklyn, who was born today with spina bifida.

You can too by clicking on this link and enter in passcode: brooklyn (all lowercase)

http://www.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=brooklynhope

And to keep up to date with the latest news at www.ourbeaverdam.blogspot.com

I will be back later with fun stuff but for now my heart is elsewhere today.

A-Z Homemaking-A Fun Lil Meme

I borrowed this from my friend who rocks because she let me raid her house for a pair of scissors on my way to the "Ornament making smack down 08"


A is for Aprons - yes/no? I love aprons. I inherited most of my great grandmothers and picked up a black and white toile looking one in New Orleans, the first ever family Road Trip.

B is for Baking - favourite thing to bake? chocolate chip cookies especially the kind that you break apart and cook. I love to bake actually and am looking forward to a slightly bigger kitchen when we move.

C is for Clothesline - do you have one? No since I currently live in an apartment not in the ghetto-I don't think my neighbors would enjoy that very much. My new house may end up having one b/c I love to dry sheets outside (It reminds me ofCousin Gay!)

D is for Donuts - have you ever made them? Thanks to my days at CDR, I do know how to make them. Maybe I should buy a FryDaddy so I can make the indoor version.

E is for Every Day - one homemaking task you do every day.

Laundry! Wash-Dry-Fold-Put away=my least favorite household chore


F is for Freezer - do you have a separate deep freeze? I will in oh, 60 days

G is for Garbage Disposal Unit - do you have one? Yes.

H is for Handbook - what’s your favourite homemaking resource? Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson (using A's answer-I love this book) but my all time favorite resource is (can you guess?) FLYLADY

I is for Ironing - love or hate it? indifferent, I only iron on Sundays for church

J is for Junk Draw - yes/no? How about re-naming them Messy Drawers with a Purpose (again A's answer!)

K is for Kitchen - colour and decorating scheme? umm, hello apartment life but don't worry I will show you the new kitchen when it is done

L is for Love - what’s your favourite part of homemaking? the feeling of calm that comes from my daily routines and decorating, oh how I love to put my stamp on things

M is for Mop - do you have one? Yes

N is for Nylons - machine or hand wash? never, ever wear them! I do have some unopened in my dresser that my mom insisted I buy an extra pair for my wedding day. I can't seem to throw them out since they were going to be worn at my wedding.

O is for Oven - do you use a window or open the oven door to check? yes

P is for Pizza - what do you put on yours? Pepperoni with a side of ranch to dip it in. (I picked up this habit when I babysat regularly for the Barrow's. I had never done this until Bre and Katie taught me the joy of ranch dressing and pizza!)

Q is for quiet - what do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? I cherish it because I realize that this season will pass one day and I will not have as many quiet moments.

R is for Recipe Card Box - yes/no? Yes. I have a few recipe cards that I wrote when I was in a cooking class at FWC in the 7Th grade. I wrote really large and bubbly like back then

S is Style of House - what style is your house? Pottery Barn meets Southern Living magazine mix


T is for Tablecloths - do you use them? No. Do I have a few? Yes, one more thing I have inherited from my great grandmother

U is for Under The Kitchen Sink - organised or toxic wasteland? um, what do you think? It's organized

V is for Vacuum - how many times a week? Once a week. Vacuuming is Jeff's favorite thing to come home to, he would love it if I did it daily. Maybe one day I will do it everyday but right now, it's a weekly thing

W is for Wash - how many loads of washing do you do each week? 6 loads, Mon-Sat, one a day. I don't do laundry on Sundays, it's against my religion

Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off? Yes. To Do lists and I are BFF's

Y is for Yard - who does what? Praise God for my amigos who take care of the apartment grounds. They really do a great job and I love it when they change out the flower beds to match the seasons. And yes, I have told them how much I enjoy it. Seriously, after living here for 7 years, you become one with the grounds people. Especially back in the day when I worked away from home, they would blow leaves on me as I walked to my car and just laugh. These are the times I am thankful for my days working with all Spanish speaking cooks, I could tell them to cut it out and joke around with them. It was all in good fun, I didn't sweat it.

Zzzz’s - what’s the last homemaking task you do before bed in the evening? Get my coffee ready for the morning, brush teeth, take vitamins and head to bed.

Yesterday Went Something Like This

Woke up had a cup of coffee (Dunkin Donuts, thank you very much) while reading the book of Lamentations (skipped the month of August in my DCB, now I am playing catch up)

I worked hard for my money for a few hours and then took a nap.

Later I did Day 3 of my training for a 10K workout. Jeff and I decided this first week was in order to get our brain wrapped around the idea of running without stopping. It sucked but I did it. Yeah Me!

For dinner I popped in a frozen pizza after promising hubs I would cook a real meal tomorrow.

I sat back and watched a bit of Fox New with hubs before he went to work.

When he left, I began reading the final book in the Yada Yada Prayer Group Series. I like it because it is set during a holiday season and talking lots about the true meaning of Christmas. If you haven't read this series and are looking for a good book to sink your teeth into, try these. They are very sweet and down to earth.

Finally I ended my night with another great episode of The Office. The Dwight and Angela storyline cracked me up, smooth move Dwight.
And winded down while watching The Santa Clause. I forgot how cute this movie was.

It was a good day.

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I just got a call from the friend we are buying the house from and if we choose to we can move in to the house in 30 days.

Foundation will be done next week.
Plumber will come out the following week

And the we can move in or as June suggested start putting my decorating touch on the house.

But since Jeff is playing Santa Clause right now, we will probably wait until January to move.

Friends please give a hearty HALLELUJAH for us.

I told June when she called that I was crying out to the Lord yesterday asking Him why we are in a waiting period and then today, during my quiet time she called and told us the good news.

I am thankful for this news.

God's timing is perfect.

Now let's see what God is going to do with the other part of my prayer request...

December Daily: Trying to Stay Focused

I love all things Christmas. The tree, decor, cards, giving and receiving presents, Christmas lights to look at when I drive at night, good food, the story of Santa and the overall holiday spirit.

But one thing, above all else, that I want to cherish most this year is the birth of Jesus. Over the past year I have been reading the Daily Chronological Bible, oh how I encourage everyone to make this their New Year's Resolution. No matter where I have been this past year, my daily readings have been faithful to meet me where I am. For example today I was reading the story of Paul's imprisonment in Jerusalem; I found a little story that made me stop and think. You see the Jews did not like the fact that Paul was preaching about Jesus. They made up bogus claims like he was speaking against the Jews and starting riots. These lies are what lead to Paul's imprisonment. King Agrippa arrives in Caesarea to visit Festus. Festus brings the situation before Agrippa.

The words that Festus said to Agrippa jumped out at me this morning.

"But the accusations made against him (Paul) weren't any of the crimes I expected. Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive." Acts 25:18-19

I am not really sure what caught me the most. The fact that they called Jesus a dead man or the fact that they were expecting Paul to be some kind of hardened criminal based on what the Jews had said about Him. Actually what fascinated me the most, is that through all of the years Paul spent in prison, His faith never wavered-if anything it grew stronger. He was beaten, falsely accused, ship wrecked among many other things, yet he kept going. He kept preaching the Good News of Jesus. Jesus the risen Lord, not a dead man. Jesus who was born as a baby to a virgin girl. Jesus whose main goal in life was to seek and save the lost and who later would die for my sins. Jesus who not only died for my sins but for yours as well. And because of Jesus' death we have eternal life if we believe in Him and if we admit we are nothing without Him in our lives.

I admit that I enjoy the holiday festivities like the everyone else but most of all, I enjoy the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus' birth. My goal this holiday season is to take time out to reflect on Him. To spend less time shopping and more time reflecting. I also want to be more like Paul. Even though he faced many hardships for his ministry he never wavered from the truth, in all things he continued his quest to spread his message about Jesus. His life and testimony are an inspiration to me. No matter where the path lead him he remained faithful and he remained steadfast.

Truly amazing isn't it?

Oh and one last thing totally not relevant to what I just wrote...

Jodi, do you want to ride a donkey in the next few days so you can say you truly know how Mary must have felt when she rode to town 9 months pregnant? Just a thought, don't throw anything at me, I'm only kidding

Christmas Card Fun

One of my favorite things about the holidays is Christmas cards. I love to give and receive them. In fact, I have a Christmas card scrapbook that I will show you as soon as I get the correct USB cable.

In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to show you a few of our card rejects. Hubs and I decided that while we were on THE ROAD TRIP 08, we would snap our card photo. He really wanted one of us on the beach but forgot to tell me this until I sat down next to him after playing a game of volleyball on the beach (no I wasn't playing volleyball, I was sleeping on the beach with my preggo sister in law...seriously!) I did not bring a cover up for my swimsuit or take time to look at a mirror before brother in law snapped the photo. I knew there was no way I would be sending this photo out for all to see. Maybe next year, if we go to the beach, I will plan for us to look better and not so redneck.

And would you like a time saving tip?

1). Order your prints from somewhere that allows you to upload your picture online. This year I used Sam's Club and was able to pick up the same day, not to mention buy my stamps in bulk.

2). Buy 8460 Avery White mailing labels and type in your card list addresses. I saved them on my computer and have found this document very handy as a quick reference to find people's addresses throughout the year. A box of 3000 is what the link will send you and you can buy less to save money.

I will upload the actual Christmas card this year on Christmas day but didn't want to ruin the fun for anyone who may be receiving a copy in the mail in a few days. I can't wait to start getting Christmas cards in the mail either. :)