Thank you....

Sadly, I woke up this morning and it didn't even dawn on me until about 10, after watching the news for an hour that today is Veteran's day. To be honest, it's one of those holidays that has more often than I'd like to admit, passed me by with out that much thought. But today is different after what happened at Fort Hood last week. I still don't understand why people do these kinds of things...and in the name of "God"? Well, can I just say that my God, the God of Israel, is the Prince of Peace, and Author of Life, not an advocator of cold-blooded massacres. What's even worse to me is that our country has stooped to being so "politically correct" these days they can't even call this what it is: terrorism, period. Not PTSD, or PRE-PTSD, or "I was picked on as an adult" syndrome, (grrrrh, the sound of sheer annoyance). Can we please be sensical adults here and call it what it is, as aweful as it is, and not let it happen again.

I am so thankful for parents who have taught me to appreciate our soldiers, and for my mom, who never lets one out her sight without very intentionally thanking them for their service to our country. I remember several years ago thinking, "Mom, can you stop walking up to strangers...you're kind of embarrassing me." Now, I can't sit close to a solider, or even be in the same room with them without thanking them for their service. It's crazy the joy I get out of just thanking them, and they are so kind in their responses, "Ma'am it's an honor, thank you."

So, thank you to all those brave men and women who put their lives on the line so that we can live freely and safely, and even express our thoughts on little blogs like these. You are the true heroes.

raman noodles & market

Apparently I missed the memo about raman noodles. yeah...my sister's been eating them for years, Sam's been eating them for years

and I just started eating them about a month ago. They are FABULOUS, i mean, fabulous for what you're getting. I love the "beef" flavor, it's

my favorite, but I can't really judge because I've only had the "beef."

Well...i'm off to Atlanta tonight to visit this wonderful, peaceful place called the merchandise mart....haha. I wish it was wonderful and

peaceful. It's about the most overwhelming thing you could possibly do in the realm of shopping. Take a normal mall, and magnify it by like 10 times

and then add about 100 people every 25 sq feet. Yeah I think that's pretty close to market... but hey, it's just 3 days. ha

I'm also floating whether to do a half marathon in april?....hhmmm. I have a theory about why I hesitate to do new things...

I shall explain later. off to Atlanta now.

we actually forgot....

I was sitting outside last night writing in my journal, thinking about the all the things that have been going on lately...and it dawned on me that Sam and I totally forgot about our 10 month anniversary on Tuesday. I know that it might not seem like a big deal compared to someone celebrating 10 years, but for us newly weds, the months are still what I count and they are big deal to me. thank you. Anyway, I was a little sad because it was the first time that I actually skipped an entire day and half before remembering. As long we don't forget the big 1 year, I think i'll be ok. haha.

Pictures were promised from the fun weekend with the family. So here are some...I can't believe we had so many people in our small little place at one time!

Talking with the Brown's and Allie and Bjorn. There were also 4 dogs in the apartment too!

The night before, Sam and I joined my parents for Austin's football game outside of B'ham.
They are just so cute!....

Mom, let's be twins for Halloween? haha

The crazy birthday cake I had made for Sam, Dad, and Mark. It was a laugh.

I don't know how, but I snapped a picture of all 4 dogs napping. Sadie is in the couch somewhere. Rudy maned his perch on the chair the whole weekend. It was a site to see.

the whirlwind is over...

I didn't think this weekend would be over so fast but it is....My family and Sam's family came up to visit this weekend to celebrate my dad's birthday, Sam's dad's birthday, and Sam's birthday, all within a few days of each other next weekend. So, I thought to myself...why not make a party out of it! And we did...my parents and brothers were coming up to b'ham anyway because Austin had a football game (which might I add, he played amazing!) on Friday night. Then Allie, Bjorn, Mark, Lynette, and Eileen came down on Saturday and stayed until this morning. We had so much fun just hanging out as a family all together... and it was so neat to see (almost) everyone together again since the wedding back in December. I'm still amazed at how fast the time has flown by!

Another special thing that we celebrated this weekend was Sam's Baptism this morning. Even though he was "baptized" as a baby, our church takes a big stand on encouraging every believer to follow through in "believer's baptism." The way that Brookhills does baptism is so special, as they invited family and friends to gather around the baptismal pool and have a close up look at the significance of what is being said and done. I'm so proud of Sam.... to see and learn more of the Lord is working and changing his life in the last few years is really amazing to me, and challenges me to want to live more the glory of God. (I have to admit, I've had to remind myself that "getting baptized" doesn't make the Lord loves us anymore than He already does. And it doesn't make us more "holy" either, but I know that God is so blessed by our obedience to follow him in public acknowledgement of who he is in our lives, by following the example set by His own Son.)

Needless to say, after all the family and dogs ( we had four dogs at one time our tiny apartment) had left this afternoon, I was about to pass out.... 3 hours later, we woke up and realized we had slept the afternoon away. But I'm not complaining.... sometimes you just need a little sleep!

So, the weekend overall was such an enjoyment, and the last month or so of working hard to get the new apartment in shape really paid off.... I'll have pictures soon.

All for now!

unto the least...

I haven't been updating this blog in a while....Life has been a little crazy the last few weeks, and in between moving, traveling and more traveling, it's been hard to find a few minutes to write a little bit...I know. That's sad on my part.

Sam and I celebrated our 9 month anniversary on Sunday! We can't believe that it's gone by this fast! We've learned so much over the past year, just about each other and how it really takes team work to keep a marriage going. More than anything, we can see how the Lord has blessed us over the last 9 months, in the jobs he's giving us, and in the people He has placed in our lives.

This past Sunday, our Pastor David Platt was teaching out James 1 and 2, and about what "true and faultless" religion is: caring for orphans and widows in their distress. The past couple of days since then I've really been thinking about, and what that would look like in our lives.

Last night, Sam told me we where going to a park to help a small group feed the homeless....and even though on the outside I didn't protest, inside I was a little more than nervous. Not because I didn't want too, but because I was reminded of just how far I really never get out of my "comfort zone." And putting me in a park with a bunch of people I don't know and that could potentially be a little cooky is very much "out of my comfort zone."

But....we went anyway.... And after I got past the awkwardness (and the cops that pulled up on the grass to make sure no one was causing problems), I found that each of these people, as dirty and smelly as they are, is just like each of us. They are loved infinitely by the Living God just as much as us. And they have stories...and some are very sad to hear. We met some old men and woman by the names, of "Willie," "Mr. R," "Dale," "Faith," and "Tony."

They are real people, sadly in a very tough situation, and for an hour or so, we were able to just sit and listen to them.

I'm still trying to take in everything that I think God is trying to show me through this..... But needless to say, it was something that you walk away from a little bit different than

when you got there.

packing & birthdays!

After two weeks away from my nest, I finally got back on Friday to an apartment full of boxes, and very large dog. My sweet husband was still at work, which was a little disappointing, but he made it back pretty fast. We had a such a good weekend, even though all we did really was pack our place and paint the walls we mistakenly decided to paint when we first moved in....

We went to the real movie theaters and saw "The Time Travelor's Wife," which let me say was very good! I thought it might be a little cheasy, and then be terribly embarassed that I dragged my husband to such a chic flick, but he said that he enjoyed it too!

My mom asked if we were going to miss the place. To be honest, i'm a little sad, but more ready to move on and have a washer and dryer, and a dishwasher! I think Sam and I have really learned that those little modern conveniences are really worth it. I mean our laundry piles up for weeks at time, because we don't have a full 3-4 hours to spend at the laundry mat watching our clothes wash. So, washer and dryer here we come!

I'm so thankful also for how the Lord just up and provided this new place for us. At first I was a little disappointed that we would not be getting a house, but I feel confident that renting for now is what we need to do. But, this place is considerably cheaper than where we are now, and it has a w & d connections, and a dishwasher! Plus new carpets and new laminate hardwood floors....I have to mention that b/c the kitchen is definitely not updated, but I'll take it anyway.

Anyway...back to work. Oh! I almost forgot! Samson's 3 years old today! Actually, to be honest, Sam and I completely made his birthday up b/c we technically don't know when the big guy was born....but we don't care! Happy Birthday Samson!

Can I get some rest please?

Don't you just wish sometimes that you could just check out, and like take a day or two off for no reason at all, other than just to spend your time sleeping and recouping from life, or in my case, four weekends of traveling non-stop? I know most people go on vacations, but it doesn't seem like that will be happening anytime soon, so, can I please just take a break?....

(for example it's taken me a two weeks to just write this post.)

I'm done complaining....I know that the Lord provides rest for those who come to Him and allow Him to provide it. I think that's been a struggle of mine lately....really allowing myself to rest in the Lord. Why? I honestly don't know....but it's been frustrating, and I'm beginning to understand that my lack of heart rest has resulted in more unrest. Does anybody feel the same way?

I know there'll be these times in life where the days are a blur and you shuffle through to make it the next day just to repeat it over again. But I long for those other days, when it seems that time stands a little more still, and you can actually take things in.

So, I guess i'm telling myself, cheer up? and to all of you who might feel the same....be encouraged. Our God is much bigger than our little tired bodies.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

-Matt. 11:28