New Dishes

I got this new dish along with a set of others for Christmas. Sadly, I just used them for the first time last week.  They came with an adorable little hot plate and stand.  I fell in love with them this summer when we were on vacation in Myrtle Beach.  My mom snuck them back to Missouri and gave them to me for Christmas.  They don't match anything in my red kitchen, but I don't really care.  That's how much I love them.

God's Faithful Reminders

Money has been tight lately.  Kevin still hasn't found a part time job and has hardly had any leads on jobs at that.  I sat down to redo our budget over the weekend and was just in shock of how 90%  of my paycheck was going to bills and that there was little left over for other essentials.  I was very upset about this shocking news and was letting my frustration get the best of me. But I knew in the back of my head that somehow we would get through.   I was reminded very soon of God's faithfulness.  Kevin and I were blessed with a gift certificate to a local restaurant today by one of my students' families.  I am sitting here on my couch tonight smiling and rejoicing.  "I know my God saves the day!" I hope you are rejoicing with me for His faithfulness!!!

This is my prayer today...



"Heal my heart and make me clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to LOVE like YOU have LOVED ME

Break my heart for what break yours
Everything I am for your kindgom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity"

"Hosanna" by Hillsong

My Love Story

I know this is a day late but I wanted to share anyway...

Kevin and I went to school together beginning in 7th grade when I moved to Richmond, MO.  I do not recall any memories of Kevin before our sophomore year of high school though.  (Even though he did sign my 8th grade yearbook.) It was our sophomore year of high school that Kevin asked me to come sit by him in history class.  Me, being as shy as I am, said no.  Now let's fast forward to the summer before our senior year, 2004,... This summer my brother and Kevin's sister began dating causing Kevin and I to be around each other every once in a while.  I remember both of us discussing our college plans and wondering if it was only coincidence that he was planning on attending Missouri State University in Springfield and I was planning on attending Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.  Only a 30 minute drive away.  It didn't take long for me to fall for him.  The following summer, 2005, we become an official "item."

Kevin and I when we were dating.

It wasn't long before we began discussing marriage.  We both knew that we wanted to be with each other for a lifetime.  We were freshmen in college though so we didn't have the money to afford a ring or a life together for that matter.  So we began to save our money.  We even filled a cup with any spare change we could scrounge up. 



One night, I remember talking to Kevin on the phone and he told me not to worry but something had been worked out and we would be able to be married sooner than we thought.  December 2005 we were engaged. (Yes, only after 6 months of dating and yes we were only freshman in college.  Looking back, it's crazy to me that we were engaged at such a young age. But I wouldn't change anything!)  It wouldn't have worked out without the gracious hearts of my in-laws.  My mother-in-law took the stone out of her ring to give to Kevin and I so that we could get engaged.  I don't think there is any other gesture that would have welcomed me more into their family.  We planned to be married June 2007.


We had a year and a half engagement... which seemed to last a lifetime... but June 2 finally came around.  The wedding was the best a girl could ask for!  Without the help of all of our family and friends, it would not have been a success.  We have now been married for almost four years and I can't believe how quickly time as flown by! Has it been great? YES!! Has it been easy?  NO!! Without the presence of God in our marriage, things would have been much more difficult.  Life throws curve balls but we have had Jesus and we have had each other.  I am not afraid of the future because this promise is true... "Never will I leave, never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b

"Give Me Your Eyes"

A couple of months ago, I realized that I had no compassion for others.  I would hear devastating stories and my heart would not be stirred.  I started praying that God would change me and that I would start having compassion for others.  I wanted to see others the way He sees them.  I would say that this is one of the fastest prayers that God has answered in my life :)  I started looking at my students, especially, in a different light.  "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath is what I want my prayer to consistently be.  The real test is what I do when God stirs my heart for others.

Breaking Bad Habits

So losing weight was not one of my New Year's Resolutions but I have not been feeling happy with my size lately and have just felt really unhealthy.  Sweets are my weakness and so I have decided to only eat sweets on the weekend or special occasions.  I tried this a few months before Christmas and it was going really well for me, but you know everything is thrown out the window when the holidays roll around.  Since I love sweets so much I also thought that I would eat fruit when I feel like I need a dessert.  It has to be a good substitute for that sweet tooth of mine!

So what are your secrets to being healthy or losing a few pounds?

Things That Make Me Smile

Nicki and her family

This week's post is dedicated to my best friend, Nicki, and her family.  They have been a God-send to me.   Yesterday, we spent all day together and it was such a blessing to me.  We didn't do much... we cleaned out her son, Noah's room, painted her daughter, Bella's fingernails, made some appetizers and of course talked!!  It is such a blessing to have a friend that rejoices when you are rejoicing and weeps when you are weeping.  I am very thankful for Nicki and hope that our friendship lasts a lifetime!!


 Here are some photos from yesterday:

Bella's painted nails

Bella

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.   If one falls down,
   his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up."  - Ecclesiastes 4:9

Birthday Festivities

This past weekend was my grandmother's, dad's and sister's birthday!  That's right... 3 generations on the same day!  (Don't get me started on the rest of my family's days of birth!)  Anyways... we had a lot of fun celebrating!  On Friday night, we ate at the Mexican restaurant.  Here is what came of  that...

 And then on Saturday, my sister got to celebrate her birthday by attending Courtwarming with her boyfriend.

Colton and Hannah

It was a great weekend but as always... too short!

Valentine's Day Goodness

Who doesn't love Valentine's Day? 
While shopping this weekend at one of my favorite stores, Target, I picked up this adorable bowl!  Not only is it cute, but it only cost $2.50!!  I couldn't pass up such a deal! So I need your help!  What creative ideas do you have for this bowl?  I know it is destined for something great!