Thankful Thursday

There are so many things that I am thankful for...Today I am especially thankful for my Husband. I know that I have said it before, but I am so thankful for him and all that he does!

 Drew-I could never thank you enough for all that you have done for me!  You have such a loving and caring spirit and you are so patient with me!  I am so glad that I said "yes" to you twice-once almost 9 years ago in August (while you were at Camp and I was laying on the floor in Rachael's room) and then again almost 4 years later at Lakeshore when you asked me to marry you.  You have brought me so much joy and happiness and I couldn't begin to thank you enough.  I know that I don't always show my love and appreciation in a way that a wife should-but please know that I do love you with all of my being! 

Wordless Wednesday

OK-so not totally wordless Wednesday--I am just so excited about what this picture is that I can't just post it with nothing more...These are watercolor pages that are almost done for a worship for Camp Agape this summer!!  I am so excited about this camp!!! 

Tuesday...

Is it really Tuesday again??
For me, Tuesdays are almost as bad-or worse than Mondays...
Tuesdays are LONG days for me-I walk out of the door at (or before) 6:40 and don't walk back in the door until 9:00 if not later!  I teach all day, then drive to Martin for class-sit in class for over 2 hours and then drive back to Jackson from Martin!  I am working on my Master's degree in Special Education and have a class on campus this semester.  It's not a bad class, but it just makes for a very long day!!  
 

Favorite PIcture Ideas

If you are here from Kelly's Blog-welcome!

Even though Drew and I got married 3 1/2 years ago I still LOVE our engagement and wedding pictures!!!! Thanks Starla!

Drew and I met at a Christian summer camp called Lakeshore UMA and is Holy Ground.  We got engaged at Lakeshore and decided to have our engagement pictures there.  These are probably 3 of my favorite pictures from the entire session.  The camp is on the banks of the TN River and Kentucky Lake.  Our "feet" picture is one of my favorites because we are both known for walking everywhere barefoot!

 
 The story behind the grill picture is that even though Drew and I were on Summer Staff at different times, we both did the same job that required us to cook meals on that grill...It just hold so many memories and funny stories (One being how one of Drew's friends put a dead fish inside that grill one day when Drew was supposed to cook that night...)

 
These are 2 of the hundreds of FUN pictures we took on our wedding day with the same photographer!  Obviously, we weren't traditional with our choices for footwear (I actually went barefoot for ceremony-put these on for reception) and we wanted to document the shoes and our personalities!!

 

  

 http://starlaphotography.com/

Lisa Harper

Last night I had the wonderful opportuinty to attend the Yada Sisterhood at church. It's a monthly gathering for women of all faiths and walks of life. The motto is "bring a dish, bring a friend", Hope Hall is filled with decorated tables just waiting for women to come walking in! There is a HUGE potluck dinner, entertainment by leader Lisa Clemets, music, and then the featured speaker. 

 Last night it was Lisa Harper. Below is part of the bio from her website, 

 Rarely are the terms hilarious storyteller and theological scholar used in the same sentence, much less used to describe the same person... but then again, Lisa Harper is anything but stereotypical! She has been lauded as a gifted communicator, whose writing and speaking overflows with colorful pop culture references that connect the dots between the Bible era and modern life. Her style combines sound scriptural exposition with easy-to-relate to anecdotes and comedic wit. 

She was absolutely AMAZING-I wasn't able to be there for the dinner and visiting portion but came in as they were starting the after dinner stuff and was seated at her table with some of my friends who were saving me a seat.  After only sitting with her for a few moments I knew it was going to be a GREAT evening!  

Some of the stories she told were amazing!  Below are some snip its from her talk...

Agnes-the 80-something year old woman who sat next to Lisa on a late night flight from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Chicago.  She was heading to India for a mission trip-her 50-something mission trip since she was in her 40's.  WONDERFUL story about stepping out of our comfort zone and taking that leap of faith for Christ.
Cricket-the homeless man from Nashivlle who lives off Elliston Pike near Centennial park.  He lives outside of an old abandoned building.  Lisa served him Thanksgiving meal that was prepared by some women who are recovering addicts (who Lisa had been helping and mentoring). 

It was truly a blessing to get to listen to Lisa and her story of being an almost 50 year old, never married, soon-to be adoptive mother who has traveled 40 out of 47 days so far this year.  If you get a chance, check out her website, I am going to order some of her stuff-just LOVE IT!!!!!


 

Thankful

I am thankful for so many things-I don't always show it or express it, but I truly and thankful for all that God has blessed me with. I am thankful for my loving and patient husband-I know I can be difficult and a pain in the butt, but he loves me unconditionally! I am thankful for my family-they are my rock and my inspiration (that sounds really cheesy but it's true). I am thankful for my job-as much as I don't really don't always like it and I complain-but I am thankful for a job when so many don't have one!! I am so thankful for my family of friends-I have so many that I hold dear and love! I am thankful for technology that allows me to keep in touch with my family and friends. 

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

Psalm 107:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

 

Wordless Wednesday

It's Official!!!

It's Official! My sister-in-law and her husband are expecting their first child this fall!! I am beyond excited for them, they have prayed and hoped for so long that God would bless them with a child and he has taken the first steps!! She has had an ultra sound and will have her next appointment next month-hopefully we will find out if it's a little Ginger or a little Kevin! Couldn't be happier for the two of them!!

 

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a difficult concept for many people-me included! There are countless Bible verses about forgiveness and how we must forgive others because our Father forgave us. It's just a very difficult concept. Over the last 2 years there has been one instance where I need to be the one to forgive-something was done to me and it's my responsibility as a Christian and a Child of God, to forgive this person and move on. When I was not rehired at East in Jackson I was DEVASTATED and CRUSHED! I knew that there were things that I needed to change and improve on and I know that I made mistakes but overall I thought I had improved greatly and thought that I had done more than enough to secure my teaching position for another year...apparently I was wrong and God had other plans. That's how I have to get myself to look at it-GOD had different plans-different than my own!! I was so ANGRY for days, weeks, and months. I searched for a new job but just had the door shut in my face...until God's timing was right and the door opened up for me. This leads me to where I am today-teaching in Crockett County in a position that allows me to work full time and work on getting my Master's degree. God has provided and has fulfilled HIS plan when mine didn't go how I wanted it. I still feel that I was wrongly let go by that one person, but as a non-tenured teacher, he didn't have to have any kind of good reason or proof-and I truly believe that he just did not like me. I cannot change that-I cannot let it continue to bug me or bother me, I can't let the fact that he now works at Central Office in a supervisory position, I just can't let it control me-I have to forgive and forget. I have to Let Go and Let God, because it was all His plan to begin with. Forgiveness is something that is a constant battle and a constant issue that I have to work on.