Bridal Showers

Two of my BFFs is getting married this summer! It's so exciting to be a part of this huge part of their lives. To clarify, they're not marrying each other... I've got two weddings to be a part of this summer. The first (Brett) in June & the second (Samantha) in August.

I've known Sam since the fourth grade (1997). We used to live across the street from each other and instantly became great friends. It's wonderful because we know each other so well that even when we have to go a long time without seeing each other

(like when we went to different high schools for four years) we can pick back up without missing a beat. And now she's met the love of her life so she gets to join the old married couples club.

But first, I'm hosting a shower for her in May. And this is what I've got so far. Because of several different factors I'm hosting it at my house. The theme will be sunshine because that is her nickname for Jeremy. I'm planning to incorporate a ton of yellow. Here are just a few ideas:

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I think it will be pretty easy to incorporate yellow into my decorations & food. I will also swap out a lot of my everyday stuff for things specific to Sam & Jeremy. Mostly I can only think of pictures. But I would also like to make a large "P" to hang above my fireplace.... We'll see. I have a lot of ideas, but limited finances & time. Still I hope to make it a great shower because that's what she deserves.

Dear Monday

A Day Late...

I would have linked up with Megan, but it's Tuesday & I never published this post yesterday... In fact I don't even feel like looking through it for typos, links, or to add anything to it. Here's yesterday's post:

Linking up with Megan again.

Dear Monday, You started off a little rocky with a weird wakeup from a nightmare that wasn't really a nightmare at all. Here's to hoping you get better.

Dear Zumba, I'm pretty sure today is the day I make my triumphant return... followed by a lot of sweating, red face, panting & sore muscles.

Dear Weekend, He is risen indeed! It was our first time to host Easter lunch at our house. I'd say it was pretty successful. Except I forgot to take actual pictures. I only have a few that I snapped on my phone of the boys playing bocci ball & my stepmother on our tire swing.

Dear Publix, You are amazing. Between hooking me up with a fully cooked spiral sliced ham at a pretty decent price (so glad I didn't have to worry about cooking that on top of everything else) and introducing me to your (on sale) fat free light blackberry yogurt, I may never go to another grocery store again. Repeat: You are awesome.

He is Risen

Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.

Luke 1:5&6 NIV

And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised Him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 1:4 NLT

Now if we died with Christ we believe that we also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:8-11

Dear Monday

Linking up with Megan today.

Dear Monday, Here we go again... except this time it's April! Wow. This year is flying. Seems like last week we were hit by the tornado, but here we are over two months since then still cleaning still rebuilding still putting our lives back together.

Dear Body, please cooperate with me and make me a baby. I spent so many years avoiding pregnancy & now all I want is to become a mother...

Dear Weekend, you were awesome. I loved getting to spend so much time with J shopping, watching plays, going out to eat, and generally doing a lot of nothing. Can you happen more often?

Dear Bangs, You were a great decision.

Dear Self Control/Motivation, where have you been lately?

New Years Resolution: March & Saying Goodbye

I really dropped the ball on my New Year's Resolution this month. I didn't force myself to experience anything new. But I did force myself to say goodbye to some of my favorite people in the world.

Jenise & Fran have worked so hard for the last decade or so training to be missionaries. When I first met them, they were living in Spokane while Fran was attending Aviation school. Since then, he has graduated, they have started a family, moved across the country (back home to us), moved across the state (twice), said goodbye to Jordan & Hannah & Soly & Grace, took a few support raising road trips, raised the support they needed to go on the mission field, attended workshops on aviation missions and living in a different culture, got assigned to work in Cameroon Africa, and moved to France for language school. They ha

ve been an inspiration to me (& I'm sure to J as well). Through every single experience they have demonstrated amazing faith. I am so proud to be able to call them family. They will be missed while they are in France, but I know everything they do is for the glory of God. And that is definitely consolation for losing some of my friends for a few years.

I wish you the best. Y'all are in my thoughts and prayers. And I cannot

wait to see what amazing things you guys do.

Waiting for their flight. Ready to start the next step of their adventure.

Taxes

We got our tax refund today. This is probably the last year we'll get a refund because I no longer get an education credit. :(

I'm trying to decide how to "spend" it right now.... I can pay off one of our larger credit cards ($1275.00, but it is no interest for the next 2 years) completely, but that leaves us super broke (like getting to work on gas fumes) until we get paid again next week. Or I can pay off a smaller debt (J's overdraft account: $675ish, but accrues interest each month) & put the rest toward the first card, while holding on to enough that we can put gas in the car etc until we get paid again... I really think paying off the smaller one that accrues interest would be more beneficial... J doesn't care as long as we use the money towards debt payoff & manage to pay the no interest card off before the grace period is over & we get slammed with all the old interest... Decisions.

New Years Resolution: February

I know February is only halfway over, but I wanted to go ahead & write about this months "new experience" & let me tell you it has been great. Completely freeing. In February, I choose not to worry. Simple as that. I will not worry about anything. I still prepare & make lists for things (groceries, bills, dinners, chores, etc), but I simply choose not to worry about anything. The funny thing is that this is super easy. Much easier than I thought it would be. For as long as I can remember I've been a worrier. In every situation my mind automatically jumps to the worst case scenario & I begin to fret about it. So much so that I have actually made myself physically ill from worry. And that's just not healthy, y'all. Besides, it's not Biblical to be such a worry wart. The Bible says:

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Phillipians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I'm not sure what made me decide to focus on this, but I am thankful for it. Normally, in the circumstances I am in, I would be paralyzed with worry/fear. But not this time. I know that God will take care of me.