6 years of bliss

Six years ago, today, Daniel and I started dating. Wow, how time goes by so FAST! It's hard to believe we've been together that long. It feels like we just started dating last year. Married 1 1/2 and together for 6- wow! I could not have asked for a better man to spend my life with. We have been through a lot in these past 6 years, and we sure have grown up a lot!

Before becoming "official", we were friends for 4 months and spent a week praying and fasting about our relationship. We knew we wanted our relationship to be centered around Christ. Though we're not always where we want to be in our walk, Christ is still the head of our relationship. Thank you, Jesus for giving me six years of bliss. Six years of tough times, but good times too! Here's to many more years together....

Some of the earliest pictures I have on my computer. Enjoy a good laugh!

My man with green hair. (4/04)

BYX Banquet with some green still present (5/04)

I love you, D!

Please Pray!

I just read this post last night and it broke my heart.

Matt Chandler, a pastor up in Dallas, has a mass or something (they're not sure) in his brain. I have read the Chandler's blog for several years now and though I don't know them personally, I can guarantee they are one amazing, beautiful (it's obvious in pictures), and godly family. My hurt just aches for this precious family. Matt Chandler is such an amazing man, godly, godly man. If you've never listened to any of his sermons, you need to download his

right now! Seriously! Right now!

I just want to lift this family up in prayer right now. Would you join me?

Jesus, I just lift up the Chandlers to you right now. I pray you would give them an overwhelming peace. I pray that you would let them know sooner than later what is going on with Matt. I ask that whatever it is-it is nothing serious and that you would heal him. Father, wrap your arms around them like a winter fog. We know You work all things out for Your glory- so we know You will be glorified through this. Have mercy on this precious family and give them grace where they need it. Give them peace and comfort and this very moment, Jesus. I praise you for the Chandler's faith through out this scary time- continue to bless them with faith in You. I love you, Lord and ask all of these requests in Jesus' name. Amen.

Praying without ceasing,

Thanksgiving

Caramel Apple Pie in the oven, table set, Mom here and making her famous dressing, cool weather, thankful heart, house full of crazy dogs, other family members en route- it is the eve of Thanksgiving and I am at peace!

Thanksgiving- a prayer expressing gratitude. I am so very thankful and grateful for all of God's blessings. I sometimes don't always see His provision or understand it, but I know He has my best interest. Thank God for sending Jesus for me. Thank God for my family-especially my husband Daniel. Thank you God for good, godly friends, and friends that you've put in my life to minister to. Thank you for a roof over my head, clothes on back, and food in my belly. Thank you Jesus for being so much better than Edward Cullen; you are everything, Jesus! I love you, Lord and praise you! Thank you now and forever!

I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! I pray we will all have a heart of thanksgiving every day, not just tomorrow!

Grace and Peace,

Team Edward vs. Team Jacob!

I am literally walking out the door right now to the midnight showing of "New Moon". I am SO pumped right now!!

I joined Team Edward fall 2007 when I was in Methods block. I was teaching 7th grade English and some of the students (and teacher) were obsessed with the Twilight saga. I decided to give it a shot and couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see how "New Moon" the movie, compares to the book; hopefully it will be better than "Twilight" was.

I am joining three other teachers for this special occasion. Well, I better go join the crazy teenagers! Here's to hoping it's better than "Twilight"....

Edward, here I come!!

Daniel's 25th Halloween Birthday Bash

Last Thursday Daniel turned the big 2-5! So in honor of his big day, I threw him a party on Halloween night. It was a night full of laughter, good and cute food, time with old friends, and fun, of course!

My sweet bestie Amanda and her boyfriend came down Friday night to help get everything ready. That night we had a lovely Italian dinner complete with a piece of chocolate cake!

Saturday, all day, Amanda and I ran around getting everything ready for the party. We baked, cooked, shopped, stood in long lines, cleaned, and somehow had time to get ready.

Some items on our menu included:

Witch's Brew (Paula Deen's punch with Rum and dry ice for effects)

Popcorn Madness

Mummy Wraps (Precious. Wieners cut in half with crescent roll dough cut thinly and wrapped around)

Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Peanut Butter Eyeballs

Witches' Wands

Pimento Cheese "finger" sandwiches

Amanda and I went as the witches from Wicked. Amanda was Elphaba (the bad witch) and I was Ga-linda (the good witch); although I ended up looking more like a prom queen or something. :(

Here are some pictures from the night and night before (my camera is dead to the world, so these are Amanda's):

25 years old?!?!

Our inspiration

Pretty good?

Aren't these SO cute?!?!

How was your Halloween,

Fun-filled, Fall weekend

My weekend was full of fun and the enjoyment of the fall weather!

It all started on Friday when Daniel and I celebrated our friend, JoLyn's 25th bithday at Howl at the Moon. We enjoyed ourselves. I was a bit sad that we weren't able to try Cyclone Anayas. Oh well, next time!

Me and Miss Jenny

Me and the birthday girl!

Saturday evening was a complete blast! We meet our Sunday school class at Dewberry Farm for some good, Fall fun! We had a pit fire complete with hot dogs, s'mores, and other junk food. After our bellies were full, we headed to the corn maze with our flashlights and our guides (the men). We got lost. It took us an hour-but it was well worth it! After that, we decided to check out some Jack O'Lanterns. Sad to say, the pumpkins were fake, but still very cool and took some talent. All in all, Daniel and I had a great weekend!

Daniel was excited to break out the flannel!

Are y'all enjoying this weather or what?!?!

Secrets I have hid

Because of an old friend's really, really (x 10) bad choice, I am reminded of the fact that we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We all screw up and make bad decisions; our decisions/sins just aren’t on the 10 o’clock news. I am no different than my friend, I have sin in my life. If you got inside my head, you would be shocked.

I am reminded of this Sufjan Stevens’ song that to many is probably very disturbing, but to me it’s powerful. It reminds me daily of how I am no different than Charles Mason or Hitler, expect I have the blood of Christ! Praise God for that! The fact is, we all deserve hell, but because of God’s grace and mercy, we, the believers, are not going to hell. Sorry, I am not trying to be preachy or anything. I just want to remind myself that I am NO DIFFERENT, even on my best days.

In this song, “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” it speaks about the serial killer, John Wayne Gacy, Jr. He did many horrible things. But what Sufjan wants us to know is that if you look “underneath the floorboards” you will find secrets we have hid. We all have sin (secerts), but we have a loving God that forgives us. I will let the lyrics speak for themselves.

His father was a drinker
And his mother cried in bed
Folding John Wayne's T-shirts
When the swing set hit his head
The neighbors they adored him
For his humor and his conversation
Look underneath the house there
Find the few living things
Rotting fast in their sleep of the dead
Twenty-seven people, even more
They were boys with their cars, summer jobs
Oh my God

Are you one of them?

He dressed up like a clown for them
With his face paint white and red
And on his best behavior
In a dark room on the bed he kissed them all
He'd kill ten thousand people
With a sleight of his hand
Running far, running fast to the dead
He took off all their clothes for them
He put a cloth on their lips
Quiet hands, quiet kiss
On the mouth

And in my best behavior
I am really just like him
Look beneath the floorboards
For the secrets I have hid