Not slowing down....

WOW!!! What a week we had last week!! I don't think a day went by that we didn't have somewhere to go besides our usual work days. We school ending and summer beginning we had tons of kids with special programs and things going on.

Monday: Jaci Thurman had 5th grade Awards Day. So we headed out to Hidden Lake Elementary where we watched her receive several awards...among them highest AR score in her class! We also walked the school with her to say good bye to her past teachers. It was so much fun to watch. I never had the privilege of staying in one school for more than 2 or 3 years.


Tuesday: Jerry Dean had 5th grade Awards Day. So we headed over to Selma Street Elementary. We listened to quite an interesting speaker whom we could barely here or understand. Jerry received several awards that were unexpected. Among them were Most Improved in several subjects and Technology Achievement award! We are so proud of the progress he has made these last couple months.


Wednesday: Braden Watson graduated from Kindergarten. We headed on out to Rehobeth High School. Braden's class is the future Senior class of 2022. It was so much to sit and watch him make faces from the gym floor while we sat in the stands. It was also a lot of fun to watch four of my students from work, Makayla, Katie, Parker, & Brandon.


Thursday: Kinley Armstrong sang in the Headland Elementary Annual Spring Sing. So we took off to Headland for the evening and watched the Kindergarten class sing 22 songs about the good ole USA! It was so cute. Each student had their own speaking part and they were all dressed up in different costumes.

Friday: Johnathon Martin and Chris Martin graduated from high school. We were unable to attend the ceremonies, but we made it to the party afterwords. I know that both of these families are very proud of their boys. And the decisions they have made to serve our country! Sorry no pics of the big boys!

Saturday: Braden had his 6th birthday party and Chuck enjoyed a morning of swimming with all kids. He got a little beat up in the water. But it was fun to watch them have so much fun!!
That was pretty much our week in a nutshell. I caught myself telling Chuck that I was ready for things to slow down, but then quickly realized that it's just getting started! Summer is going to be busy busy! Tomorrow will be a nice relaxing holiday. Then it's time to hit the ground running. Work will be busy with field trips and cooking days. Chuck will have his hands full getting ready for VBS and Kids Camp! But he loves every minute of it!!!

Oh and this Tuesday June 1st will be an exciting day!! We will be having our Kids Camp fundraiser at Cheeburger Cheeburger, So be sure to grab a flyer and go up there and chow down, and our kids will receive 15% of you bill!
And Tuesday June 1st we will be welcoming my niece Milly-Clare into the world!!! I will post pictures as soon as I get some!!!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!!!

LIVE~LOVE~LAUGH

Fear....

"It's better to fear what the future holds, then to live in fear of your past." This is a paraphrase of a quote I heard the other night. It made me think long and hard. I don't have a horrible past, as I've already let you know a little bit about. But some days I do fear what the future holds for me. I'm in the midst of making some changes in the way I live my life. And they are all for the better. I'm working on loosing some weight, me and Chuck are looking forward to having children (in the future...) and I'm changing some habits that will help live a better lifestyle.

I've begun new eating habits. I'm not exactly eating 100% healthy but I am watching what I allow myself to eat and how much of it I eat. I'm drinking nothing but water. Which isn't as bad as you would think but sometimes it is annoying. I caught myself last night telling Chuck that I really wanted a glass of Sweet Tea. I mean I literally decided all of this and quit it cold turkey. One day I was eating whatever and whenever I wished, and the next I changed it all.

I'm walking every morning now. I began a week ago tomorrow. The first 3 days my legs would be hurting within the first 20 minutes and after 1 1/2 laps I was ready to quit. But I kept going. The pain began to go away and even today, there was none until I was almost done. And the past 2 days I have even added almost a whole lap. My brother Seth is joining me on these walks. He runs or rides his bike from his house and walks with me, then returns home. He has helped me so much and I'm so blessed to have him in life. He has been so encouraging and uplifting. He even told me today that my speed has gotten quicker. Everyday before he leaves he tells me how proud he is of me and to keep it goin!

I've also decided to begin reading a couple chapters from Psalms each day. I've decided that I have so much to be thankful for and so many blessing from God, that I wanted to read a prayer of praise each day. Chuck and I are truly blessed to be where we are today. God continuously shows how mighty and powerful he his!!

I know that not many people really take the time to read this. But I like to use this as a place to write about stuff on my mind. But of course I only post stuff that I don't mind people knowing. But if you do happen to be reading this, I ask you to lift a prayer for me up to the Lord. Just asking that he continue to give me the strength and confidence and the faith that he has already placed inside of me! Thank you in advance!

I'm pretty sure that most of you already know that my husband and I have a great love for young children. I can't really explain it, but it's almost like we view these children as some of our own. We love and care for each and every one of them. And one day...awhile from now, I want a child of my own. This is why I am so dedicated to make these changes. So that I can be healthy and prepare myself to have a healthy little baby. But like I said...no one get your hopes up...it's still going to be a little while!!!

Learning....

So lately I've been doing a lot of thinking. And sometimes that can hurt...haha jk...but seriously. I'm in a position now where I'm grown up, married, and in a full time ministry position with my husband. I'm no longer a child who can ride along on my parent's coat tails and depend on them to get me through life. I have to make my own decisions, pay for my own consequences, and deal with crazy things that I never even realized where out there.

I grew up in a very God centered home. My father has been a minister all of my life. And my mother has stood beside him every step of the way. Whether ministering to youth or senior adults or being the pastor, he has always been in a full time ministry position. Sometimes I was your typical minister's kid and thought I knew it all. But above anything, I knew the reality of my salvation and I knew what God had planned for my life. My parents raised me on biblical morals and understanding of life. I knew right and wrong, and I lived a pretty normal easy life. I never had to deal with any type of abuse or neglect and I always knew that I was very loved and cared for. My parents instilled in me at a very young age who I was and what I was to stand for. I know that I don't tell my parents thank you enough for the amazing upbringing God blessed me with through them. I modeled my life after the way they raised me. That's why I am who I am today.

My husband and I are very blessed to be in the position we are today. God has blessed us with an amazing church family who continuously show their love and support to us. We have learned so much over this first year of ministry. And not to anyone's surprise, I have learned stuff that I thought I already knew when really I had no clue. I have a new appreciation for minsters and their wives. It's a tough job. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I love having this opportunity to stand BESIDE my husband and do what God has called us to do! It's challenging and exciting and emotional and stressful....and the list could go on and on...but these kids make it totally worth it! We love each and everyone so much and it's so much to watch them learn and grow.

Well that was just some random thought for you!!!!!

Can I have this Dance...

Take my hand, take a breath
Pull me close and take one step
Keep your eyes locked on mine,
And let the music be your guide.

Won't you promise me (now won't you promise me, that you'll never forget)
We'll keep dancing (to keep dancing) wherever we go next

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Take my hand, I'll take the lead
And every turn will be safe with me
Don't be afraid, afraid to fall
You know I'll catch you threw it all

And you can't keep us apart (even a thousand miles, can't keep us apart)
'Cause my heart is (cause my heart is) wherever you are

It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Oh no mountains too high enough, oceans too wide
'Cause together or not, our dance won't stop
Let it rain, let it pour
What we have is worth fighting for
You know I believe, that we were meant to be

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you (like you)
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do (way we do)
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Can I have this dance
Can I have this dance


Life is a dance and we learn it was we go...
I'm so glad that I have Chuck by my side for this dance...
Some days are hard and some days are easy...
Some days are a slow dance...
Some days are a fast paced dance...
Some days are a line dance...
Some days are a waltz...
Some days are a jive...
But everyday is an adventure...

Happy Mother's Day...

Today is the day to celebrate all those wonderful mother's out there!! I wanted to type up a little bit about my wonderful mother. She is such a blessing to me and has been a major part of making me who I am today!!!!
I wanted to share a song with ya'll that is very dear to my heart.


I'm five years old, it's getting cold, I've got my big coat on
I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you, I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides, look now, the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
But I know you're not scared of anything at all
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day with you today

I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean
I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys
And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away
And we talk and window shop 'til I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school
But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day with you today

I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother, inside and out, he's better than I am
I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

There is a video I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me
It's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs
And Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

And now I know why the all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
For staying back and watching me shine
And I didn't know if you knew, so I'm takin' this chance to say
That I had the best day with you today

We are all just a tree in life....

Interesting title to my post I know...but lately that has been on my mind. I can not go into full detail as to why I've been thinking this. But I have discovered that it seems to me that we are all some type of tree. There are short trees, tall trees, fat trees, skinny trees. Trees that can protect you in event of sunshine, but then there are trees that can destroy you in event of weather conditions. There are trees that can give you fruit to survive on and then there are trees that can be a pain in the butt and drop crap all over your yard.

As human being we can be like all those types of trees. There are short people, tall people, fat people, skinny people. People who protect us from anything that comes our way, people who look out to tear you down at any moment you mess up. There are people who look to provide for you and be there for you no matter what, and then there are people who just keep you from being you and pollute your mind and life with crap. I know this all sound stupid and even a little pointless. But it's what is on my mind.

I had a dream about some trees and that's all I'm going to say of why this is on my mind. But my bestest friend came into town this weekend. She is the most amazing blessing of a friend that God has placed in my life. If you were to look at us we have several things that are totally different and some my wonder why we are so close. I met Alicia my first semester of college and she scared me. She's not the friendliest person. Not that she is mean, she's just shy and very keep to herself type of person. She lived right across the hall from me and she hardly spoke unless she had to. Well it was the night of the Casting Crown concert and me and my roommate invited her and her roommate to go to dinner afterward and that's where our journey began. It's almost like God opened the heavens and said "ok girls....i have a plan for you 2" We talked and talked and talked and haven't stopped talking yet. We grew closer over the next semester and upon return in fall of 2006 we became roommates. I only lived with here that one semester because I returned home to follow a different school path. But that didn't end us. I visited every weekend of course to see Chuck and basically still lived in her room. We "broke" the rules and I kept my dorm key and I even left stuff there. It was almost like I had never moved. But anywho... that was just a little history of how we met and blah blah blah...I could go on and on of all the stories and good times but that would take forever. Since she has graduated and moved to Tampa, we still keep in touch and that will never change. Sometimes we don't talk as much as we would like (since I got married) but we never go more than a week a few days without talking. And nothing ever changes. God has blessed me with that sister I never had. Well so now since she lives so far away, once a year she comes for a visit. We have a little tradition 2 years running now. We pick one day and leave early in the morning. We head out to Destin. Lay on the beach for a couple hours then do some shopping (window shopping mostly) at the outlets and have lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise. It's not much but it's so much fun.
I thank God for the amazing friendship he has blessed me with through Alicia. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!!!

God has also blessed me with many other friendships. Some that are truly amazing and I wouldn't trade them for anything either. And then there are some that I haven't been able to develop quite the way I wish and that's all about change. I have many different "trees" in my life and it's time I properly take care of them. I have neglected some and then there are some that I've put too much time into when they're not doing what I had hoped. So it's time to get the pruning shears out to develop those that I've neglected and also time to get the chainsaw out and get rid of some things in my life!