30 Days of Thankfulness

I love Thanksgiving. It's a shame that I start to realize around this time every year how much I truly have to be thankful and grateful for--I really should remember that all year long.

Now that November is here (CRAZY), I have jumped on the whole Facebook bandwagon of "30 Days of Thankfulness." The Lord has really put on my heart this last week that even though I get frustrated or depressed with life circumstances and situations, I really do have a lot to be thankful for! I have a nice apartment that has air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter, I have nice clothes, I have enough food to eat so I don't go hungry, I have good health, I have an amazing church and church family, my husband is able to learn more about Jesus every day of the week, I have a great job that is full-time and in my field, I have a car to get me places around town and traveling home...I mean the list could just go on and on!! 

Aside from all these material things, most importantly, I am thankful that Jesus chose to save my sinful, selfish self and make me a child of God. How humbling is that?? What a blessing to say that Jesus loved me so much, despite my sin, that He died on a cross so that I might be saved and live with Him eternally one day in the Presence of God. Whoa! Y'all, the Gospel is so powerful!

Not only did He save me, but He blessed me with an amazing family here on Earth whom I love SO dearly! I totally took them all for granted when I lived 30 minutes away, but now that we are states apart, I cherish each moment I spend with them (and thank you FaceTime for allowing me to actually see their face 500 miles away!!!). They are all so precious and I miss them OH SO MUCH! 

Last, but not least, the Lord blessed me with my soul mate. Like it says in Song of Solomon, "I have found the one that my soul loves." This man is so perfect for me---funny how my weaknesses are his strengths and vice versa. We balance each other so well and I will love him til the day I die. Four years ago this month, he asked me out on our first date--thank goodness I said yes! 

What do you have to be thankful for?

No Place Like Home

There truly is no place like home! This past weekend, my hubby traveled to Washington D.C. (he is an intern this year at our church, so our associate pastor and one of our elders took them to the 9Marks conference at Mark Dever's church on Capitol Hill). Once we found out when he was going, my parents felt sorry for me to be home by myself for 5 days and decided to fly me home! :) Sweet of them right?! Equally sweet, my boss let me off work Friday so I could fly out Thursday night.

Friday morning, Mom and I headed to Mimi's house where she got up early to cook me my favorite pancakes (blueberry w/ granola sprinkled in) and bacon. Then we headed to Gran's house to spend time with her and my aunt Virgie before we played Bunko with the rest of my mom's Bunko group. I have the sweetest grandmother's ever! Friday night, Hannah came over and us girls had a sleepover---watching girl shows like "I Found the Gown" and eating brownies. :) I love Girl Time!!

Saturday morning, mom and dad and I headed up to Fayetteville to support our Razorbacks as they took on Alabama. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good game, but it was fun to be back up there and enjoy the atmosphere and time with my family.

Sunday came way too fast, and all too soon I found myself back at the airport headed to Louisville. I'm back in my apartment safe and sound, but I'm ready for my husband to be back home, and I'm even more ready for it to be time for holidays so we can go back home together. Even after being in Louisville for 15 months, in my heart, Arkansas is still home.

Thanks mom and dad! It was a great weekend!

Florida 2012

I NEVER tire of this view. EVER. The beach is unquestionably my favorite place on earth. Praise the Lord my parents take us every year. :) This year was our second time to go since we have been married and I'm not quite sure who was more excited about going--me or Daniel. We had such a wonderful time! Of course it went by WAY too fast---I feel like I blinked and the week was completely over! We got some much needed "recharging" time with mom and dad and Hannah, ate some great food, watched the Olympics while eating cake and ice cream (like every night), enjoyed the sand and the ocean, and OH YEAH...and we had a flat tire! Apparently, it's our goal to do something every year to make it more memorable---last year Daniel lost his wedding ring in the ocean (and by a miracle, found it) and this year we had to get a new tire. Lol. Things happen. All in all, it was an absolutely fantastic week and we can't wait til next year!

Here is some documentation of the memories we made :)