It's getting me through...

I am super excited. In February, Marc and I made the decision to take one last trip before we grow our family. We have the awesome opportunity to go here in September. I'm really excited about seeing clear water and white sand beaches. I can't wait!

So, we're heading down to Jamaica to the Ochos Rios Sandals Resort. We're going with 4 other couples. We've been to the beach, and had vacations since we got married. But we haven't seen Caribbean waters since our honeymoon. I'm a little anxious about one thing, though - hurricane season.

I can't wait! We got a great deal on the stay, and it's gonna be great. I imagine I'll be hanging out under the umbrella, while everyone else enjoys the sun. I'm okay with that, though!

I hope you have some great plans for the summer, amidst all of the economy troubles, where you can enjoy yourself! Have a great day! I'll be using this trip to get me through my work weeks this summer! =.)


"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

Wordless Wednesday

I've been kind of in a writing slump this week, so I apologize for the lack of content. I've become addicted to my Google Reader, and after reading the ramblings of others, mine seem pretty bland. So, I leave you with pictures today, in a semi-wordless Wednesday. Take into account, that I love my nieces, and most of my pictures revolve around Allie and Ava, or my dogs! =.)

A snow day in February

Allie loves her books!
Such a happy baby!

Brock with Ava

Allie with Sugarfoot

Sisters in their Easter dresses

Ava

And Ava, again

Hope you've enjoyed! Have a wonderful afternoon!

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.”- Job 19:25

Weekend Recap

Yesterday was wonderful! Marc played in a benefit softball tournament - he ended up playing almost all day because they kept winning. I went and watched 'em play until it was time for Allie's birthday party. Allie wanted a Pony Party, so she could rider her pony, Sugarfoot. There were tons of kids there, it was a beautiful day, and so fun to watch. I got to hang out with Miss Ava, and I got a great picture of her on Sugarfoot with my Daddy helping her. So precious! I'll post pictures later this week - I'm too lazy, right now! It was such a great day spent outside! I, of course, got too much sun on my shoulders, so I'll be constantly applying aloe lotion in hopes that I avoid peeling. =.)

I am so excited about the series we're doing at church. It's called, "It's time to grow up!" It's all taken from the book of James, and how there are so many people who attend church, and have for years, but are still in their infant stages of their relationship with Christ. If we look at a growth chart (line graph) of our relationship with Jesus since the day we were saved, then it should be, overall, a line that goes up. Of course, it'll have some dips, but generally, it should go up. Pastor Ken challenged us to journal for the next 10 weeks each day - and not just about our day, but about our relationship with Christ. We're supposed to write down some of our goals, and then just journal about how we are in regards to our goals. I'm excited about this. I feel like I really need some depth to my spiritual relationship with God, and I hope this will help me with that. And, along with that, I really want to do a more involved daily devotional. I do one at night, but it's not what I'm looking for. Hopefully, I'll find what it is that God's pointing me towards.

I am so blessed! I got to spend my afternoon with 2 of my favorite women - my Mama and my grandma. I love when I get to spend time with them - no time limit, no agenda, no plans. It was so much fun! We just hung out at Mama's house. I miss that so much! When I was in college and would come home for the weekend, I would meet them for lunch on Friday's. I was reminded of those times today, and I really miss that I don't have as much time to do that anymore.

One of my goals for the next few months is to slow down. I'm really tired of being on the go so much. I feel like we always have something to do, and I'm ready to just hang out at the house this summer. So, my blog might get boring if that actually happens, but I'll be happier! =.)

I'm working on my Mother's Day gifts. I'm really excited about them. When I get them done, I'll be sure to update.

Sorry for the randomness of today's post! It's not really what I planned to write, but oh, well.

Hope you've had a fabulous Sunday! Enjoy the summer like weather! =.)


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3

Allie's Birthday =.)

Last night, we went over to Brock and Wendy's to celebrate Allie's birthday. I'm so silly! I forgot to take a picture of her "Big Girl" Barbie Bike that's pink and purple. It's awesome - Allie was riding it around on the patio. Allie's favorite color is purple, so you can check our her beautiful new hat (because she has to wear one, like her Daddy), with a rainbow on it! So cute! I couldn't get a good picture of her holding up her shirt, but it's a Life is Good shirt that says "Hold your Horses." My Mama has one, too, and Allie loves to dress like her Grandma Cathy (cowboy boots, and all!). So precious!

Purple hat, purple boots, red shirt...awesome color coordination!

How funny is this face?!

She wouldn't let me take a new one where she wasn't squinting

Still good, though! =.)

And speaking of precious...look at this doll baby! Ava turns One in June, and she's soooooo close to walking! I just love having nieces! =.)

She's not even One, and she has the innocent look down!

This life I love...

As some of you may know, yesterday was Administrative Professionals Day. And while I am more than just an administrative professional, according to my favorite Realtors, I got this awesome gift yesterday:

It's a super awesome Vera Bradley Beach Towel (here)

And I love that it's green! Can't wait to use it up at the lake this summer!

And guess what today is!?!?

It's Allie's 4th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Allie! =.) I love you!

What's not to love about this precious little girl?!?!

Have a wonderful day! =.)

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." Roman 12:10

Yay! I have followers!

So excited! I have some followers! I love you girls! =.)

Financial Peace University

So excited! Tomorrow, our Life Group will be celebrating our Graduation from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. We're all bringing food, and we'll be piggin' out on some yummy pizza! We will be bringing a dessert, and I've been dying to try this:

Butter Pecan cake with Whipped Cream Cheese Icing

Doesn't that just sound delicious?!?

So, I'll be cooking tonight, and responding to some of my snail mail blogger friends (and some of my real life friends, as well)!

Have a geat day!

Weekend Recap

Oh, my goodness...it was such a wonderful weekend! The weather was gorgeous, and it was great to be outside in the sunshine!

Friday night, we went out with 2 other couples to our favorite local pub, The Wooden Nickel. We enjoyed a great dinner, and then just hung out for a bit before heading home kind of early, for us anyways.

On Saturday, I went to a baby shower for a friend who used to work with me. She's having a little boy, and she is just so cute! I'm really envious of cute pregnant women, because I imagine I'm not going to be one of them! =.) She actually might be going a little early, and have a new little one this week! I wish her the best, she deserves it! =.)

After the baby shower, Marc and I went over to our friend's house, and hung out with the dogs by the pond all afternoon. Paisley and Ace had a blast with Mason. Ace even went swimming for a little bit - I really think it's the first time he's ever voluntarily gotten wet! Paisley, on the other hand, is just a little water baby. She LOVES the water! She went out in the boat with Marc, and then jumped in, from the boat, to swim back to shore. You can see her in the boat, and then the splash from when she jumped in! Grant, Katie, Marc, and I enjoyed the best pizza ever for dinner, then we headed home early, again. Paisley and Ace really enjoyed their evening, and were completely exhausted when we got home. I really think they were still tired Sunday morning! =.)

Marc & Paisley in the boat

The splash at the front of the boat is where jumped in

I love this picture of Ace!

Mason, Paisley's boyfriend

Paisley, the pup

Marc and Ace

Sunday was great! Crosslink celebrated 3 years yesterday! It was an awesome service with a guest paster, the pastor from our "mother" church. Then we enjoyed dinner on the grounds. I just love our church, and our church family! I'm so blessed to be a part of this church, and I can't wait to see what else God will be doing through the church, and the people in the church.

After church, Marc and some of the guys spent the afternoon on their 4-wheelers. I got some good pictures of them before it started drizzling. Such daredevils!

This is Brock, doing a heel clicker

Marc

Marc's on the left, Brock's in the center

Marc, again

Marc's in the front, and Brock's closing in on him

Hope you had a wonderful weekend, as well!


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3

Pictures!! =.)

Marc in the Mountains Spring of 2008

Jackson, my Mama's horse last week

My view every day on the way home

Another view from my car window

A little background - Marc and I took our niece Karleigh to our church's Easter Egg Hunt last weekend. This was her 3rd hunt this year, so she was quite the veteran at this. As soon as we walked up, Karleigh saw the eggs that were "hidden," and was ready to GO. We had to distract her for about an hour, because it just wasn't time for the hunt yet!

She had played a bean bag toss game, and she was pickin' her prize!

As you can see from her basket on the ground, the girl racked up. She had a ball opening all of her eggs to get her goodies out!

We had SUCH a fun time babysitting Karleigh on Saturday! Thanks, Matt and Tammy, for letting us borrow your precious little one! =.)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

I love giveaways!

Yay, my Snail Mail buddy over at Sweet Tea Diaries is hosting another wonderful birthday giveaway! Make sure you stop by and look at all the adorable things you could win! You can also click the button on my sidebar to get to her blog!

So excited that it's Thursday! =.)


"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Slump

I'm not really sure why I feel this way (isn't that usually the case, though?), but I'm in a bit of a slump. Not a full-blown slump, but more like a mini-slump, I guess. I think it has a lot to do with work.

Since I work in a real estate office, and I'm sure everyone has heard how 'terrible' the housing market is doing, I am so bored at work!

Okay, let me back up a minute and clarify. The housing market is not NEARLY as bad as the media is making it out to be. I get so frustrated with them! And then people really do believe them, and it makes the market worse. So, if you want to know how your market is doing, please, talk to a real estate agent, as they'll know what your market looks like, as all markets are different! =.)

So, our market has finally slowed down in the past 3 months or so, and I'm trying to find work to do around my office. I've even volunteered to teach a class this month, and the only things that I "teach" are devotions while on camping trips with the young adult group at church. And that's not even teaching! That's more like sharing what I'm giong through in hopes that it will help someone else who might be going through something similar to what I was/am going through. Big difference in that and teaching a class in my office. It's a bit SCARY for me! I'm definitely stepping out of my comfort zone for this!

Basically, I'm bored at work. I'm not bored with work, which is different from being bored at work. I just need business to pick back up a bit so I can do something productive, and not write on my blog when I should be doing work stuff. =.)

Hope you have a wonderful day!! =.)


“He has been raised from the dead… Come, see where his body was lying.” Matthew 28:6
**I love Max Lucado, and he always just says stuff that makes sense to me, and helps me better understand some scripture. I love hearing his view on scriptures. Today's excerpt features the verse above. Go here to check it out!

Easter

At today's church service, Pastor Ken said something that really made me think. It was something along these lines...

Yes, the cross is very important to us, as Christians. It is a symbol of all of the pain Jesus Christ suffered upon taking all of our sin as he was nailed to the cross. So, if you have jewelry, that's what that jewelry - that cross - is supposed to remind you of as you wear it.

However - many people died on a cross, two others with Jesus. That is not the best part of Jesus' life! The best part is this: while he died on a Friday, he rose from the dead on Sunday! For had Jesus not risen, we would not have HOPE in an everlasting life!

How awesome is that?!? I know that these are things that some people just know, and I'm amont those people. But sometimes, you hear something in a different way, and it just opens your eyes and your heart to God's word.

So, on this Easter, be thankful for the cross, but rest in the HOPE that was given to us in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On a side note - Pastor Ken set a goal of having 500 people attend the services today, and guess what?!?! We had over 630 people come to church today! I just pray that everyone took something away from today's service, and I hope that they have a renewed HOPE in their lives for what they heard today. Praise God for all He does! =.)


"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (Amen!!)

Thursday is the new Friday

Yay!

There are 2 things that have gotten me through this week.
1. The office is closed on Friday! =.) Woo hoo!
2. I have a lunch date with my girls tomorrow!

It's been forever since we've had dinner - like a month and a half - and I miss my girls! I can't wait for lunch tomorrow. So excited! =.)

***

I've noticed before, but I noticed again this week when I was writing a letter - when I write/type letters/emails, I talk in exclamation points (!). Honestly, every sentence ends in one. I have to make a conscious effort to use regular punctuation. And I use smiley faces (=.)) ALL THE TIME. In all honesty, though, I'm actually smiling when I use a smiley symbol! I don't know...just a random thought. =.)

***

Tiff, my Bible verse is for you, today! =.) I love you!


"An anxious hear weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:25

Blogging

Do you ever have a "moment" when you're like, 'Hmmm...I should write about that!'

I do that all the time, now!

And, I usually end up forgetting what it is I was going to write about!

Have a great day! =.)



“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”- 1 John 3:16

Sunshine =.)

Yay! For the first time in what feels like forever, we have SUN! I love looking outside and seeing the sun shining with a bit of a breeze (even if there are some gusts around 30 mph)!

You see, this week has been very dreary outside (and inside my office, as well). I work at a real estate office, and I do all of the processing and check writing (basic accounting duties), as well as some office managing. Each month, an invoice goes out to each agent in our office for monthly fees that are incurred, and the office pays for them in advance. There are some agents in my office that never, NEVER, NEVER pay their invoices. When I submit my monthly financials to our international office, I get 'dinged' for having an accounts receivable balance (sorry if this is too technical for some of y'all, but this is my every day jargon).

So, for as long as I've been with this office (4 years in June), there has been this particular agent, her daugter as her assistant, and her other daughter as an agent, who have consistently paid their invoices only when they've been producing, and have a closing - the office just retains their outstanding bill as payment from their commission. Well - that only works when an agent actually has a closing. Needless to say, this group hasn't had a closing or made any money off of real estate in probably 6 months or more. That means that I have to beg for a payment. And let's just be clear - I can take a credit card. I'm not a bank, you can't borrow from me/my office, which is, in essence, what they're doing.

Finally, this week, I've just been really frustrated with this situation because, honestly, it's been 3 years, they don't have the money to pay the bills, and I'm not expecting a payment. The best thing to do in this situation is to "fire" them. As an independent contractor, you can't necessarily fire them, but you can ask them to leave, and release them from the real estate commission, and the company. And, wait for it....




MY OFFICE OWNER IS FINALLY GOING TO RELEASE THEM!

This is SPECTACULAR news for me, because I no longer have to chase after them like a bill collector!!!!! So, after being in a very bad mood at work for the last week, I actually have a smile on my face! =.)

I'll be bouncing around the office in a super great mood next week as they are moving out of their office! =.) I know that sounds mean, y'all, and I'm not like that, but these are just NOT nice people! They're rude, disrespectful, messy, and mean. No one in our office likes them because they're just not nice!

Therefore, besides the fact that it's Friday, and that UNC plays basketball in the Final Four this weekend, next week is actually looking pretty stellar, as well!

Have a great weekend, everyone! =.)



“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”- Hebrews 12:2