Twisted Bliss!

So... it all began a little over a month ago when my wonderful sister, Jennifer, came down to help me decorate my wonderful house (see previous blog to see my beautiful house:)) And as we were getting out of the car to go to one of my favorite antique shops she goes, "Do you know of any good Italian ice places around here?"...


Who would have thought that one sentence would change my summer snack experience!


It was only a week later, I was back at my same stomping ground, and I turn around and there is this place called Twisted Bliss .


It is this amazing Italian ice place that instead of just having shaved ice and then they pour flavored juice over it, ice that has all natural juice in it. They have flavors like pomegranate, black raspberry, mango all made with real fruit. They also have flavors like Avatar, which is colored just like an avatar creature, and when I commented about how it tasted sweet like cotton candy, the Italian ice lady said, "it has cotton candy flavored in the mix." AMAZING!! So, needless to say, its healthy ice, guilt-free amazing (and refreshing) summer dessert right down from our new home.


When you visit we will go.


Pictures posted below of our shaved ices!







Just so you know, mine was the smaller on in a "momma" size called Avatar, and Tim's is the one in the "poppa" size called cream sickle! (Yes, they both taste amazing:))

so, that is what is new in our life right now, shaved ice!

It's been awhile...

Since I have blogged, I realize this. I guess, I kind of went into a slump after my last post, I guess you can read I wasn't really at the top of my game. But honestly, what does the top of "the game" really look like. I guess, all this to say, I took a break because I didn't want to use the internet as a place to dump my feelings about life, yes, I want to share, but sharing and dumping are different...

So, to catch you up, at the end of May, Tim's sister, Katie Harper, married her high school sweetheart at a beautiful ceremony in Maine. I had an amazing time, this was Tim and I's (Jenn is that proper English???) second wedding where we were both honored to be in the wedding parties, me as a bridesmaid and Tim as a groomsman, too much fun. Do I have good pic's? Nope, I don't, but I will order some, and when I do, I will post.

Almost immediately after coming back, Tim and I then went on a cruise. It was beautiful and I took SO MANY PICTURES!! So many, that it is too much to put on a blog, if you would like to see them, I will put an album on Snapfish and send to you, no prob, just let me know...

And then, on my birthday (June 23rd:)) God gave me one of the coolest birthday gifts ever, he blessed Tim and I by showing us our new house! That is right, we are no longer apartment dwellers!! Now, we have not purchased the house, mostly because renting does offer you that freedom to move in a year if you want/need to. So right now we are keeping our options open. So, the pic's are below of the house and if you would like to come and stay with you so you can see our wonderful house in person, please come down! We love to have guests!!





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The Present: Part 2

So, I'm not going to lie, that last post I did was literally inspired. I came home from my ladies Wed. night Bible study, and God had just blessed me so much, I really feel as if He pulled me to the computer and typed the last one. If you enjoyed it, I take no credit, you can thank Jesus for his love, really...

So what do you do when you cranked out a masterpiece that so many love and yo want to ride the success wave? You make a sequel.

Just kidding, I am not trying to do that, I just thought I would try to not be so vague and tell you where I am presently. So I'll be honest.

Presently, I am not doing so well as a person. I failed today at my job, by fail I mean: I fought with a 16 year old, and I forgot an appointment that I said I would cover for a co-worker... I'm not proud about this, and its not really funny, but its true. Tomorrow work does not look much more promising, but I cannot focus on that it is not the present.

Presently, I have not had my quiet time yet, I will do so tonight, and I wish I could wake-up in the morning and get a really good one in, but every time I wake-up at 7:00 (again) I feel like a failure, because to be honest I chose to sleep instead of hang out with Jesus (again).

Presently, I don't know how I'm doing as a wife, a friend, or a follower of Christ. I can't really honestly say I tried to do well at any of those.

My prayer is that I will make an honest attempt at being better at D. all of the above. Presently. And not wait for tomorrow, but to actively trust God and draw close to Him better presently.

The Present

There is a saying that I have heard for a long time that goes something like, "Today is a gift, that is why it is called the present." It is a very cute saying, just something to remember and reinforce what God wants us to practice in our life, to just live and breathe Him, presently and today. To depend on Him moment by moment to make it through the day. Jesus spoke in the Bible about letting tomorrow worry about itself as tomorrow has its own troubles. We learn "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." Prov. 3:5-6. This is one of the first verses I learned after John 3:16. These lessons, to constantly lean on the Lord and live in the present have been taught to me since I was a young girl...




But what if the present is painful to live in?




What if the job we get up to go to everyday drains our every energy? What if you are taking care of someone who you love who is dying? What if you have lost your job and are continually looking for one? What if the person you gave your life to walked away from you? What if you have children that are making choices you do not agree with? What if you want something to happen so bad, (meeting "that person", marriage, baby, job promotion, healing, etc...) and you cry and beg for God to work in that area, and it does not happen?


I am constantly confronted with the truth as I am doing my devotional every morning. God's desire is for us to literally draw close to Him. To run to His arms, and hide in his shadow. How many psalms are of David crying out to God and stating that he will rest in the shadow of God's wings as He is running for his life from king Saul? I'm sure David was wondering what was going on, God had told David he would be the future king of Israel, and here David was hiding in caves. I'm sure he was mighty frustrated...

But here is the deal, if I look to the future and live in the future, what happens to my present? What happens to my gift of life? I only am living in a state of "If only..." The present can be painful. We all go through tough times. Some people's "presents" seem tougher than others, but pain feels the same to all. So I choose to live in the present, even if the future seems so tempting to dream about. Miracles happen in the present, God works right now. Just like the cross. Jesus died on the cross, but the story does not stop there. He is alive today, and redeems us, even in this moment.

Even though my life may not be where I want it right now, it is my present. I have been given the gift of learning to draw close to God in my present. If I try to weather my condition by myself, the pain is too much of a burden to bear.

Lord, I beg of you to draw me close and keep me in Your company. My present is the opportunity to choose to draw close to you, even when I do not understand why things should not just go how I want them to. Keep me company in my present, Your presence is true Peace.

Spring N Things

Cute title right?? So, just to let you know, I did get a new dress for Easter. I just got it back in the fall last year, and my mom did by it for me, it was on clearance... But it still counts as new cause I didn't wear it until Easter!


Tim's birthday was on April 11th. Tim is an amazing husband and words do not express how grateful I am for Tim's life. So what did we do to celebrate? We went to a place that served a lot of meat. Seriously. It's a restaurant named Texas De Brazil. Behold to photo documentation of the Event.





So my blogger is being weird and I can't see the pictures I am trying to post. But needless to say it was a fun night. Followed by a day at the beach, no pictures were taken because we were pale, and I was wearing a bathing suite for the first time. Yep, no pictures were taken of us (me) at this time. Maybe next beach visit!

Meditation on Easter: Day 4

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

² O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.

³ Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel. ^a]">[a]

⁴ In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.

⁵ They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

⁷ All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

⁸ "He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

⁹ Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.

¹⁰ From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

¹¹ Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

¹² Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

¹³ Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

¹⁴ I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me ^b]">[b] in the dust of death.

¹⁶ Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced ^c]">[c] my hands and my feet.

¹⁷ I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

¹⁸ They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

¹⁹ But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

²⁰ Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

²¹ Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save ^d]">[d] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

²² I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

²³ You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

²⁴ For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

²⁵ From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you ^e]">[e] will I fulfill my vows.

²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

²⁷ All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,

²⁸ for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

²⁹ All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

³⁰ Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.

³¹ They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

I will never forget, when I was in middle school and I was starting my journey of studying the bible through quiet times in the morning, and I read this chapter in Psalms. Immediately, I recognized this as a narative of Christ on the cross. How could it not? Christ recited the first line as he hung on the cross. His heart literally melted inside of him, he could count his bones, all of his joints were out of place (that is how you die on the cross), men were gambling for his garments... So many details in this Psalm make up the Passion of Christ... Funny though, this Psalm was written more than 500 years before Christ was even born. Hmm... I wonder what the likelihood of just one of these details to match Christ's death, but several of them? I will not deny God his glory and omnipotence, the rocks will not have to cry out for me.

As a lasting thought, as you read the psalm or the passion story, I personally watched the Passion of Christ (yes, the one directed by Mel Gibson, let's just say God did not let Mr. Gibson get in the way of HIS story, thankfully!) and it is brutal, it is not accurate in the fact that you could still recognize Jesus even after his beating. This death was not an easy or painless death, Jesus did not get to take a Valium and sleep walk through it, He even denied himself alcohol on the cross because he wanted to experience ALL of the pain. I don't want to preach, or make recommendations for your spiritual life. I watched the movie once, and that reminder, that picture of the true death Christ experienced, it made me not want to take advantage of Grace and cheapen it. What God went through in order for Salvation to come to the world, and ultimately let His Glory be made known to the world is horrifyingly incredible.

Thank you Jesus for Your Salvation, thank you for the suffering and tribulation that you went through, so that we may experience priceless, wondering Amazing Grace. May we never cheapen your gift by living how we want and not relying on You for all things.

Meditation on Easter: Day 3

So, I am writing this late at night and I am tired from a long day and then an amazing Wed. night Bible with the ladies but I do have a good Easter meditation, it is my favorite sermon and one from my childhood I remember the most. Dr. Nelson Price preached it one Easter Sunday, and I feel it was the first time I remember paying attention to this thing called church. Pastor Price preached on the following verse:

Peter, however, go up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away wondering to himself what had happened. Luke 24: 12

Pastor price explained that, in the original Greek text, it states that the linens were folded neatly. In that day the Jewish culture, it was customary for a person who was leaving the table, if they were coming back, to fold their napkin as a sign of their return. I wonder what Peter must have thought as he entered into Christ's tomb that day. As he examined the floor to see if there were any footprints, you would think if someone stole the body the linens would not be present, and if they were they would have been strewn about the tomb. But no, there they were, laying neatly side by side. I wonder if all the things Christ said about his imminent death and Resurrection raced through his mind, maybe all the questions were lining up as he was wondering what was going on. Peter was the first to suggest they go back to Galilee after Christ had Resurrected, the place Christ had said he would be, waiting for them. He remembered, he was listening. Can you remember being so hurt from loosing someone you loved so much, that you would do anything to see that person one more time? I know a lot of people who would go to the moon if one of their deceased loved ones told them they would be there after they died.

So here Peter stands, alone in the Lords empty tomb. And as he gazes at the neatly folded linens, he smiles, thinking about Jesus and all the little things he would do alive, from washing his disciples feet to riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. And he smiles, as he thinks about the many times he had folded his own napkin when excusing himself from the table for a short while before coming back, a small gesture to assure the people at the table he will not be gone for long... And then all the Lord's comments and memories come flying into his head... He is alive, He is risen... I MUST go to Galilee to see my Lord!

Happy Easter all, and remember, the Lord not only folded that napkin for Peter, but for us also, He is risen indeed, and He is coming back for us as well!

Meditation on Easter: Day 2

When I think of Easter growing up the main thing that comes to mind is azalea bushes. It's not that weird if you think about it. Azalea bushes bloom right when it gets warm enough when it is Spring time which is right around the time Easter is celebrated. My granddaddy, who has been with Jesus for many years now, loved azalea bushes, well, at least I think so, he had about 3938494048 around his front yard and on the side of his house as well. And my mother followed suite, I feel like they were the outline of our whole house, at least the front and around our huge wooden deck in our back yard. Every Easter we would line up in front of them in front out our house and take a picture, and then after church we would go to Mema and Granddaddy's house and take a picture in front of their azalea bushes. I don't have any of these pictures, mom does, but I believe these pictures chronicled at least the first ten years of my life if, not more. After my granddaddy went to be with Jesus, which was around my seventh grade year, we moved out of our old house and because of all the care azalea bushes are, without granddaddy caring for them, his ones had to be cut back. But man, you should have seen those suckers in their prime. Beautiful bushes full of white, or pink, or purple, or magenta flowers. Bright as the sun, and they made for the best pictures with our new Easter dresses on. Speaking of Easter dresses...

That was another one of my favorite traditions. Every year for Easter me and my sister, Jennifer, would get to pick out a new Easter dress and a new pair of white sandals. Now, this was a big deal, because growing up in a large family not getting my sister's hand-me-down clothes was HUGE deal, and second it was a new dress (and as I have mentioned before, I have always lived getting new things!) . I feel like getting a new dress for Easter is a southern tradition that goes way back, but I'm not sure. It certainly feels very southern to get a new dress for Easter any way. And getting white sandals is SO very Southern. Because I grew up thinking, and still live by this rule anyway, that you cannot wear white shoes, pants, dresses, etc... until after Easter, and you must never wear white after Labor day. Funny, I know, but to this day, even living in Florida, as much as I want to bust out a pair of my white capri pants, I will not wear them until Monday of next week. Lame? Weird? I happen to like tradition and to me nothing is more traditional than getting a new dress on Easter, and waiting until Easter to wear white. I honestly can't remember the last time I wore a white pair of sandals, I tend to stay away from white because it washes me out a bit (even the color of my wedding dress was "ivory" I think, some kind of "off white" color, I really can't wear the color it washes me out!) I tend to wear some fiercer colored sandals, but maybe one Easter in the future I will by a pair for the sake of it...

All silliness of dresses, azalea bushes, white shoes, and tradition aside. I think Easter is the best time to by something new for ourselves and our children, if you have them. It teaches them (and yourself) the value of getting dressed up to honor God and to celebrate the giving of life and Salvation through his Resurrection. And second, buying yourself and your children something new reminds you of New life and New beginnings. Things that were given to us through our Lord's sacrifice and victory over sin and death.

So, I know some of the women are going to love this, and husbands will sigh, but women, go to the mall and celebrate this Easter by buying yourself a new dress, reminding yourself that just as you are clothed in a beautiful new dress, so Christ has clothed you in His garment of Righteousness making us beautiful to God.

Oh... and don't think I didn't forgot about the men... You see my brother's always got a new dress shirt and tie (the one time of year they had to wear a tie, all other times were optional). And if they happened to grow a lot from one year to the next they got new pants and shoes. So the men can buy something new if they want too! Happy Easter and remembering that God makes all things new!

Meditation on Easter: Day 1

So, this is a very interesting week, I guess for many people who go to a Christian church. This is Easter week. It really began yesterday, Sunday, as Palm Sunday as Jesus road triumphantly into the city, as the Jewish people laid palms down for our Lord, thinking he was going to come into the Jerusalem, take over the Roman government and start His reign as King there. Unfortunately, they missed a key sign of our Savior. He road into the city on a donkey...

You see the reason why I love Jesus is that he was very much into culture, his culture, the Jewish culture. I guess he should be, He was a Jew. But what I mean is, is that everything He did was for a specific reason. No gesture, motion, or word spoken was without key meaning. First of all, it was because He knew all the prophecies He was fulfilling. And second it was because he wanted to make the Jewish nation know He was God. So He knew that He needed to fulfill Zach. 9:9-10, but also there is a very specific meaning, culturally relevant to the people of that day, to a donkey. Warriors who were ready for battle road into cities on horses; Jesus, the Prince of Peace, road into Jerusalem on a donkey, an animal of peace. Very disappointing for the Jews, I think, maybe that's why they made so much noise, because they wanted to overlook the fact Jesus came to bring peace instead of a war, for that time.

Easter is a holy week, it is different than Christmas. Christmas brings cheer and goodwill, for some reason Easter week is a little more sober. I don't know why, this is the triumphant week. For at the end of the week, we celebrate the victory over death, not a natural death, even better. We celebrate Christ's victory over the death of the soul, the ultimate separation from God. So, as the week begins, I want to continue with the celebration this week. Of Easter's past, what I can remember and learned from some very awesome sermons, and thoughts about how God is so awesome to continue to have victory in my life today.

What is exciting???

Not really my life, but that is ok. I haven't posted in awhile because not much has happened. Tim went on a guys trip last weekend, which was super fun and I am so thankful God gives us the finances for us to do special things like this. Tim is an extremely hard worker and an amazing provider for our family, so when he gets to do these special trips I am more than happy to let him go. He did not give me pic's but the ones I saw on his phone are amazing. God fun trip, hopefully next one will not involve my husband flying through the air on a snowmobile thought..

Life right now is pretty much, go to work, come home from work, chores, sleep and play with Riley. We have some trips planned for the future, Atl is coming up, a wedding or two in May, but no real vacation plans anytime soon. This is hard for a person life me because I always want to be doing something, and when life turns dull I really hate it, but I feel, every day that God is teaching me to be content with what is going on. This might be an extremely long year because it is a year of waiting and praying, hopefully for some type of forward movement in the future. But who knows, I am only putting my trust in the Lord and what He says goes. But trust me, when things do get exciting... you will be the first to know, all my lovely internet followers!!! (jk, I know I'm not that popular!)...

New!

So... Do you just love new things? I know that all this life is passing away and I'm not supposed to be materialistic, but I still like new things! I got new glasses! It all started when, Tim went to the eye doctor and got new glasses, which is pretty exciting, and since I have an AMAZING sugar daddy who has an awesome insurance plan (and I haven't been to the eye doctor since 2nd grade) I made an appointment, found out I have a astigmatism, and got new glasses myself!


Here is us sportin our new glasses! Tim looks so cute! I love the new frames. And for all of those who know me and my mom... wow... I look like the brunette Kim Bounds. I like the glasses, I explained it to Tim that the difference is like watching regular tv, then like watching hd tv. The difference is slight but still more clear, and they are a pretty cool fashion accessory!

Be careful what you say...

Because you never know how your words affect people. Let me explain. So, I bought this dress for Jenn's birthday party in March, it is a hot black dress, and it was on sale (that is a sign from God you should by it... just sayin') but the dress needed some alterations because I bought it in a size too big because it was an amazing dress and I knew my alterations lady could alter it to the right size.

So, I go in to see my alteration lady with two other dresses that I need to be re-sized as well, and as she is pinning around me she says this: "Have to give a little more room down here." She says it in her wonderful Hispanic accent as she points to my highs and booty... Nice, the alterations lady notices that my rear-end is twice the proportion it should be...

So, as I am running my little heart out today, all I am thinking about, all I am really capable of focusing on while I am in agony (I HATE running, more than anything really) is the lady pointing to my tush. Mind you, she was not mean when she said it, she smiled and kind of winked like, it happens to all of us. But really?!? Did it really have to have been brought to my attention that she did not need to let in my hip/thigh area as much as, say, my chest area??? So, I have run so far today, and now I will do 1,000,000 lunges. All because of this lady and her innocent comment.

So, here are my words of wisdom, be very careful what you say (trust me, I am TOTALLY preaching to myself, my family knows all to well my foot stays firmly in my mouth for most of my life) Because you never know even the most innocent comment can make someone run til they pass out and do 1,000,000 lunges...

I like...

So, I haven't posted in awhile, and so many things are going through my head, I thought I would steal my sister's idea and post...

I Like....


Smelling Spring (and Fall) coming... (yes they do have a specific smell, Fall makes me happiest)

When I fall back into "school girl" love and get butterflies when I see Tim...

Playing with Riley in the grass, watching him smile...

Feeling Jesus hug me at church...

Crying from the relief of honesty...

God revealing a part of His nature to me...

David Crowder Band...

Planning weddings...

Being around my niece and nephew...

Being around people who can just "let go"...

Dancing, lots and lots of dancing in the living room...

Paying off loans...

Trying a new recipe and it coming out good...

Hoping, believing, praying, experiencing Grace...

Reading a good book, the ones that make me cry (They don't have to be romance novels)...

A good pair of high heels...

Hanging out with my family, oh I miss you guys like crazy!!!...

Writing, blogging, any way of letting you know my opinion...

"Amazing Grace" and "Come Thou Fount"...

A clean house (its only clean when you come to visit)...

Tim's smile, laugh, heart basically anything about him...

Nice warm (not hot) beaches...

Going away, and then coming back...

You reading my blog then commenting!!!!

OK, I think that's long enough, have a wonderful day!!

DCB*

So, as you know, Valentine's Day is coming up. And I basically do not like Valentine's Day for several reasons. The main one being that I do not like that there is a day that tells me I must be romantic with and towards my husband. I will not let a person tell me that (that's probably drastic but...) much less a day. If I read the history of Valentine's Day, I believe there was a St. Valentine and he did good things for people??? Right??? Anyway, now it is just an awkward day for couples to be randomly romantic, as if they need a specific day to set aside to do that, or (and these are my favorite people because up until the year I met Tim, I never had a Valentine) a Day for single people to feel even more.

Second, this is our third Valentine's holiday together as a couple, and without going into details (it would seriously be a whole other blog) The first two have bombed. And it was not either me and Tim's fault, they just bombed. So, we decided to non-celebrate Valentine's day. So Tim did the coolest thing ever, he got us David Crowder Band concert tickets.

For anyone who knows Tim and I, we love this band. The Collision A CD is a CD we fell in love over literally. We both bought the CD's separately we would listen to the music, dissect every song, talk about it. My favorites would change to his, and he would like one of my songs. One night, we had a big hoe down in Tim's apartment with our friends to the song "I saw the light" on the CD. "Come and Listen" was played as the bridesmaids walked in, in our wedding. I mean seriously, sit Tim and I down and ask us about the David Crowder Band, and we could go on, and on and... Like, if God allows the David Crowder Band to lead some worship in a part of Heaven, I am pretty sure that is where you will find me and Tim. It's not just the music (although it is pretty awesome, ecclectic stuff) Its the lyrics. The words stated in the music are so subtle and cool when you are singing it, but when you go back and really listen to what you are singing... man, God uses his lyrics so powerfully to speak to my heart. So, yes, we love their music. It was at a concert of theirs Tim and I decided we go well together and can hang out with each other. They don't even know it, but I feel like they have just been with us since we have been married. Weird??? maybe, but true for me I guess. Anyway, you want to have a fun time, you come to a concert with us. You sing, and shout, and move your body and its all for Jesus.

So tonight we went and even stayed in line to be the last people to see them and talk with them. They are cool folks, really cool. So, I would consider this night a very non-Valentine's day date and ultimately my favorite so far. Tim did good:).

The Band, shreddin...

Us after the concert, I have no voice. Good thing you don't need that for a picture.

The band, patiently talking to everyone who came through in the line and signing autographs, they were awesome.

This is us with David Crowder himself. Very cool guy.

To close, I did actually speak with him, though I will admit I was a little nervous. I mean, God has influenced my life and and used his music in such an awesome way. I know the band are just humans, but still... I told him I loved their music and I even had one of their songs in our wedding. Mr. Crowder asked which one and I classically froze... crap what was the name of that song... I did finally answer with come and listen, but geeze.. how embarrassing to forget the name of their song that I had played at my wedding... oh well. He was so gracious, awesome people, good night!!

January 2010

Well, I have not posted in awhile, and for all of my blogging fans out there who have been anxiously waiting (in baited breath, of course) to know why I have taken such along sabbatical from writing about my life on the Internet, its simple. I have been busy. So busy in fact, with so many amazing adventures I decided to sum them up instead of do a post for each. I know, genius! So here was my amazing fun month:

Weekend #1: The Bellamy's came over!! The Bellamy's our friends who do Campus Outreach at Embry-Riddle. They are quite the fun couple and we had a great time hanging out with them and chillin'. Unfortunately, I stink at life and I did not take any pictures that weekend.

Weekend Highlight: Eating at the IKEA cafeteria then walking around the whole store!

Weekend #2: A trip to New Hampshire to celebrate Katie Harper's (Tim's sister's) upcoming marriage to her high school sweet heart. They are a very cool couple and balance each other out perfectly. The weekend was so much fun and Katie's engagement party was so much fun with lots of good food. And once again, I stink at life and did not bring my camera, however, Tim's mom did take pictures and hopefully I can get her to e-mail a few and then I can post them.

Weekend Highlight: Eating until it hurt, there was so much good food, I think I ate for a whole 48hrs.

Weekend #3: Joey, Jennifer, Savannah, and Weston all came down and fit into our two bedroom apartment for an extended weekend. SO MUCH FUN!! For a really good account of the weekend check out Jen's blog about it. I love it when there are a lot of people cramped into a tiny space (probably cause that is how I grew up, 6 people in a house with 3 1/2 rooms, makes for a bit of a space issue at times!) That weekend we took Savannah to the dog park to chase "Wriley" (our dog riley), the T-Rex restaurant in Downtown Disney, and Lake Eola Park. This weekend, I didn't stink at life and actually took pictures!! They will be below the highlight.

Weekend highlight: Taking a Sunday nap on the fold-out-bed in the living room while my sister was sleeping on the lazy boy chair, my nephew is sleeping in his pack-n-play and my niece is sleeping in our bed. The weather was gorgeous, we had our french doors open letting a nice cool breeze in with the fountain going in the background. A Sunday nap is even the most bestest when you are surrounded by those you love and miss!

Probably my favorite picture to date of me and Savannah:)

Oh priceless photo!

We really got the best seat in the restaurant, right next to Sarah Big Horn!

My main man, Weston, chillin in his convertible... I mean swing:)

Now, it might not look like the best picture, but I think the sunlight makes her look like she has a halo, my sweet angel Savannah! (However, all us girls know the halo is good for hiding those mischievous horns!)

Week #4: This one has just closed out. However, we got the privilege of housing the Cantwell clan with us this weekend. They spent the night with us Friday and Saturday night. And for most people who stay with us, we did the same routine, but it is SO much fun! Friday, I cooked a meal, and we just chilled. Saturday was dog park, hang out til Tim gets home, then Lake Eola! And once again I stink at life and took no pic's. The Cantwells are long time friends and are a part of a group that if Tim and I had our way in life, we would be neighbors forever! Oh well, God's plans are always higher and greater than ours!

Weekend Highlight: Laughing a lot! And then after dinner at Dexter's going over to the Lake Eola playground (yes the same one we took pic's of Savannah and Weston playing on, but there were no kids there at 9:30 at night) and playing on the playground like a five year old kid!

And just so you know, I know January has five weekends in it. The very first one was New Year's weekend. Mom and Dad came down and spent the day at Animal Kingdom at Disney, and me an mom went shoe shopping. Just so mom knows that I love her, a pic is posted below:

Yep, we are wearing matching colors.

So, January was busy, but so much fun! We LOVE visitors, we love to share our life with anyone who wants to come and play, chill, or hang out with us. No one has booked us for February so please come over! Hard to believe that the first month of the year has already passed. I pray that God would continue to grow me and teach me more about Himself and continue to open my heart to Him. Finally, on my last note, I just want to give a shout-out to my friend Emily Blackwell, she blogs too, and her last blog is a lot of what I have been going through down here dealing with loneliness! Here is a link to what she has been writing about, its good stuff!