weekend and life.

I am so ready for this weekend! Tomorrow we get to see my awesome brother and sisters. We're meeting them halfway for dinner and I can't wait! We all had such a good time over Spring break but it was much to short so this will a nice! We're also going hiking with wonderful friends at my aunt and uncles ranch on Saturday. I'm excited to get out there in the (hopefully) beautiful weather! I am really hoping to get out there and put good use to my camera as well! Sunday brings great joy as well! I have absolutely fallen in love with children's church! It has been so great to get to know these children and learning about another aspect of children's ministry has been a huge blessing too! I've never really been a part of children's church or seen it run so it's all new to me but going really well! Sunday afternoon I am meeting Chris to go fishing and then head to Bolivar to celebrate a wonderful man! One of the ministers at FBC is retiring and I can't wait to catch up with all of the dear people that I miss! Spending the afternoon and evening with Chris is going to be fabulous, we don't even have to wait 2 weeks this time! :) Wahoo! I cant wait! Hopefully, there will be lots of pictures taken on Sunday too! (Chris, I'm sorry in advance but I really want pictures of us)


I feel like I've really grown up over the last few months and definitely over the last year. Maybe that sounds silly to say but I believe its true. I'm not sure when I went from feeling like a college student to a somewhat adult but it's kinda nice and a bit strange all at once. I've gone through a lot of different situations, been through/going through different relationship, and making decisions that can change my future. But guess what, I have such a peace about it all. I was just reminded that worry is a sin and I'm so thankful for the comfort I have in my Savior! I want to make the right choices in life to be pleasing to Him but how great is it that even when I mess up (because "life happens" remember?), He is there to get me back on track. 


~~Thank you Lord for your constant comfort. No matter what comes my way I can turn to you, my friend, my Wonderful Counselor. Thank you for Your guidance through scripture and the ease we have to talk to You through prayer. 

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:2-3 ESV

boyfriend :)

I have wanted to write a post about my sweet, boyfriend for a while and well, now I am. I could tell you "our story" but its taken almost four years to get where we are today and I'm not a good enough writer to keep you interested for that long. Isn't it really great to know that God's timing is perfect and no matter how much we may want something to happen in our own time frame, His plan is so much better. 

I have to admit, when he and I first started talking again I even told him that I wasn't interested in a relationship and especially not a serious one but I'm so glad my mind and heart can think two different things and come back together to work as one. I remember asking him one night why it would be different this time, I didn't want to fall for something that wasn't real. Luckily, his response of "let me prove it to you" has completely come true. Have I mentioned I'm thankful for God's plan and timing in our relationship and our lives? ;)

Chris and I have started this fun journey through dating again and how wonderful it is! From the time I first went to hang out with him in January to now I have been so happy to have him back in my life in this way. Chris is an absolutely great guy. He's so handsome, makes me laugh (a lot), treats me like a lady, encourages me, stays positive when I'm a grouch, and the list goes on... 

Chris and I always have a great time together. Seriously, all the time. We both enjoy going fishing and I'm hoping that Spring and Summer will be filled with afternoons by a lake, any lake will do. When I say we both enjoy it I really mean that he really enjoys it and I do until I get bored. :) He's also a serious Cardinals fan so I'm sure we'll go see a few games too. I never really mind what we do as long as I'm near him its typically okay by me!

I'm so ready to spend the weekend with him! It cannot get here soon enough!

So to sum it all up...

I'm very happy.

I'm very thankful.

Chris is awesome.

:)

Heres a few photos of us all but the last one were taken the summer of 2008. Enjoy!

At the Sports Crusader day at the Cardinals Stadium

I've always kinda loved this picture

On the tram at Grant's Farm with his nephew Sammy.
(On a completely different note.. I can't wait to be tan again!)

Hanging out when he came to visit last week :)

beautiful weekend

My weekend was truly beautiful! It was beautiful weather and filled with beautiful people. It was Boonville's Spring Break so I had lots of time off. Alayna was home all week and it was great to spend time with her! It started out just getting stuff done around the house. Friday afternoon we got to meet up with a friend of my mom's, he was her youth pastor growing up, and his wife. After hearing stories about "John Bush" all my life it was nice to get to know him. He and his wife are an absolutely amazing couple!  Then my wonderful brother and sister-in-law came in to town. We had so much fun just sitting around laughing with them! On Saturday, we all got up and went to my Aunt and Uncle's to go for a hike on their land and spend some much needed time with them! Saturday afternoon, Heather had a skating birthday party for a boy in her class so I took her and we had fun! She was a trooper on the skates and really picked it up by the time we were done! Then Chris came! <3 We had such a good time together! My family kinda picked on him with a revamped version of "Boxers and Briefs" but thankfully he didn't seem to mind to much! We all went to church in Sedalia on Sunday! I am loving Kids Worship more and more each time I'm there! The kids are so great! Leading them in songs like "God of Wonders" is such a blessing to me! That afternoon Chris and I laid around for a while and then went fishing, well he did, it was to cold for me! I wrapped up in a towel (over my clothes, I forgot my jacket) and walked around with him. Then we came home ordered a pizza and cuddled up while watching Star Wars (ok, so the Star Wars part wasn't so exciting but Chris's arm was around me so I didn't exactly care). Doesn't all of it just sound like a beautiful weekend!  Here are a few of my favorite photos:

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What'd you do this weekend? Did you get any of that crazy snow? 6 inches in Boonville! Looking forward to the warm weather later this week! :)

some pictures, finally.

Here are a few photos that I recently took of my little chicken pud... :)

And yep, that is what I call her, unfortunately I don't know where it came from or have a funny story. 

unorganized me.

It's probably a good thing that I didn't stick to my original major in college: management. I'm realizing lately that I can't seem to manage anything well lately. I have always struggled with time management and procrastination. No matter how much I wish it wasn't so.. I. Am. Lazy. I have a lot on my plate right now, but that is NOT a complaint. I am really thankful for each thing that I am involved in and/or responsible for. However, I feel like everything is being done halfway.. I'm really going to try to start planning better.


A couple years ago I was talking to my cheer coach at SBU and she suggested planning everything that needs to be done and putting a time frame on it. My vision for this is to plan my evenings in 15 minute increments or so and put everything that needs to be done in to a time slot. I'm hoping if I plan everything out then maybe the laziness will be conquered and so will my to-do list. Just like my post from yesterday said I really want to enjoy Springtime and fill it with things that I love to do (or think I would love to do if I had the time).


I've started teaching/helping coordinate Kids Worship on Sundays (what a FUN experience!!). This is something that I really want to dive in to and do well with! Stay tuned for more posts about this because I leave feeling so encouraged from those precious kiddos (mixed with a bit of exhaustion as well!) and there are usually a few funny quotes too!

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School has become very time consuming lately as well. I'm taking Children's Literature and Administration in Early Childhood. They are intense! I'v never read so much in my life! I'm really enjoying all of these classic children's books though! My administration class is really cool too! I'm basically drawing up plans for childcare facility from the ground up, all the way from floor plans to enrollment forms. This isn't exactly a goal in my life but I am enjoying learning about the process of it all. The really fun part is that we can dream as big as we want and have the facility of our dreams! The funding for the plans can be a dream too... I haven't come up with a plan yet but I'm sure I'll come up with something, any ideas?


I hope you're staying more organized in life than me! How do you stay organized and find time to do the things you have to do plus the things you love to do? I'd love to hear about it!

spring things.

Remember my first post? It was a list of things I want to do in general. I want to revamp that list in the next couple days but today its all about Spring baby! I want to it to be Spring so badly! I want to drive with my windows down, wear flip flops and sundresses, and go on walks late in the evening! I have also been making a mental list of things I want to do this Spring. Who knows if it'll happen but here goes...


(click the photo to enlarge it)

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• I want to keep a garden! My sister and I started one last summer but we were both gone more than we were home and it didn't get kept up. Maybe this is the year to do it!

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• Decorate Heather's room. She moved in to Alayna's old room and the walls are already blue. We're going to paint clouds on the ceiling and walls and decorate with flowers and cute little bugs. I love the simplicity of this in the photo above. 

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• I want to be crafty! I love this camera strap! I have enlisted my momma for help on this, now we just need to find time to do it! I found this on kevinandamanda.com. I have always loved craft projects but I find myself wanting to do them and not having the time or money so I'm going to pick a few at a time and try to get them done, even if it is a slow process. 

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• I want to run! Actually, I want to want to run. I dislike running so much! I am hoping to start the Couch to 5k again and actually stick with it this time around. If you are wanting to slowly work up to running a 5k this is an awesome plan!

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• Baking and cooking is the next item! When I lived in my apartment I would cook all the time. I loved fixing dinner for my sweet roommate and I but I also loved fixing meals when all of our girls would come over. I'm fixing dinner tonight, we're having polynesian pork with pineapple rice. I think it sounds delicious! We'll see how it goes! These pancakes (above) look delicious! I'm going to try them sometime soon!

Photo by me :)

• I am so ready to get back in to riding! We went a few times this Fall at Shands Ranch, which is my aunt and uncles ranch that is close by. We love going out there! It is so nice to get away! I can't get enough of horseback riding! 

What are you hoping to do this Spring? 

Did I mention I only work three days this week? ;) And then my family will all be together for the weekend and Chris will be here for the weekend! Can't wait for time together with all of them! :)

Be a blessing! :)

baby sister.

Heather AKA "H-ee Poo"

I often hear the question, "aw, is she really your little sister?" For a long time my answer was something like this, "well... she's my parents God-daughter and we've helped take care of her since she was 14 months old so we just claim her as a sister." That is all still true but I have changed that answer to a simple, "yes." This sweet little baby girl is my sister. I can't thank God enough for her. She is precious to me. I could write this whole blog about her and write every day for hours. But, I wont.


This past weekend she has moved in with us and started school in Boonville this morning. I thought I would have a hard time taking her and dropping her off but it wasn't bad at all. Her teacher seems so great! Heather was a trooper! She's been so excited all weekend so that definitely helped when she was getting up and ready this morning. I'm a little nervous about getting the two of us ready each morning (I have a hard enough time getting my self ready) but hopefully we will get in to a routine and it will all go well.


I have always dreamed of being a stay at home mom. I realize this probably isn't a realistic goal but I have thought about it for years. I have tons of little ideas crammed in to my head (maybe thats why there wasn't room for so much information that I should have learned a long the time) of fun activities to do. I am hoping to be able to do this fun stuff with H-ee at home in the evenings. I really want to get away from watching TV and surfing the web so much.


Here's a fun idea that I have found that I'm going to do next week for St. Patricks Day. So excited! :)


Have a wonderful week! It's a 3 day week for me! Wahoo!

life happens.

Good morning! A lot of people have picked a "word for the year" that they are going to focus on or work on. I first heard about this from K Love the first of the year. Well I hadn't really planned on doing this or thought about what I would use if I did but I realized that I kind of picked one without planning. My phrase is "life happens." Boy, have I learned this in the last few weeks!

I first remember saying this when I was talking with one of my cheerleaders last fall. She was really struggling to make good choices and was dealing with a lot outside of cheerleading and school that I didn't really even know about. I remember telling her that "life happens" and it gets hard but we have to keep going and work to make choices that are going to help us and those around us get through tough situations.

With the medical issues in my family the last couple weeks, learning to balance two jobs, school, family, friends, and my sweet boyfriend, and trying to plan for the future.. life has been happening and I didn't have time to take it all in! How awesome is it that we serve a God who walks with us through those tough times and the wonderful times when "life happens!"

The LORD is good,
  a stronghold in the day of trouble;
 he knows those who take refuge in him.
Nahum 1:7 ESV

I was so excited when I came across this verse and read  a little bit about it from my beautiful new Bible. How cool is it this?! God is so good to his people and He blesses the ones who trust in him.  He is our absolute protector and never fails in that! God knows us and shows us love and affection.

This makes me think of the song "Everlasting God" by Chris Tomlin. Check out the link to watch a video of it!

I hope this has been encouraging to you! I have been so encouraged the last few days thinking through this and have been so excited thinking about the many ways God has blessed me!

I woke up to the sounds of birds singing this morning! How wonderful! Today is going to be a great day for me! Make it a good one for you too!

Be a blessing to someone today!