Road trip

A couple of weekends ago, Sean & I did a secret road trip to Alabama.  One of my best friends got engaged & part of the engagement was to have all of her close friends & family together to celebrate with her & her now fiancé.

What I loved more than anything was being in cooler weather and seeing the leaves change colors.  Fall is one of my favorite seasons & to come home to see some of the changes makes my heart happy. 

On this trip I got to see one of my best childhood friends and meet her SON!  It's so weird that we are now old enough to have children.  I don't know if I can get over that.  It was so good to catch up with Bethany & meet little Sawyer. 

The crazy part of this particular weekend was that I told Hunter (the fiancé) to keep my friend out of a certain shopping center because that is where we would be & it turned out that my best friend was next door shopping for an outfit while we were eating outside of the restaurant!  I was so thankful she didn't see me because it would have ruined everything that was planned. 

Everything did go as planned & now my best friend, Bethany (2 friends named Bethany.. Just thought I would clarify that) & Hunter are now engaged!

I could not be more excited for them! Being there from the beginning; watching this relationship blossom & being there for her through it all has been such an honor.  Going to try on rings to just to see what she likes and get the one she thought she would hate!  Hunter is getting one of the greatest girls I know and Bethany is getting one of the most giving men I have ever met.  They both live to serve each other & it's been so much fun to watch how God has slowly brought everything together for His glory.

This was the best surprise I have ever done & it was so worth the 12 hour drive!! 

My favorite is the video of her seeing all of us together waiting to celebrate them! 

Love you Bethany & Hunter!

2 years

Yesterday was our 2 year anniversary! I seriously can't believe that we have been married for two years already.  It feels like a lifetime and yet, it doesn't feel like that long at all!  I seriously don't know where I would be without Sean in my life.  I know I would probably be fine single but I do know I would miserable too.  Sean is the best thing that has happened to me.  Marriage isn't always fun or easy but it's a great journey to be on with the person God designs for you.  Sean challenges me all the time.  He helps me get out of my comfort zone & encourages me in everything. Even if I don't want to be encouraged, he still does it.  He's definitely my creative half.  I'm thankful that he dreams BIG so I can I can dream BIGGER.  I really do love this man more than words can say.

Happy Anniversary, my husband! 

update soon!

Hey Everyone!!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while... so much has been going on!  Hope to update soon!  In the meantime go check out this new (to me) website that helps Chinese special needs orphans get adopted!  it's a great organization!  Check out this little girl who needs a home fast!!

Meet Tula

One Year Anniversary in SWFL

Well, it's been one year, today, that Sean and I packed up our home and moved to Florida.  I can honestly say that it has been the hardest year for me, personally, but the best year for our marriage.  I remember announcing the news to our friends back in Alabama that we were moving to Southwest Florida.  We got a bunch of concerned comments and happy yet sad comments.  Most of the concerns were because it was a leap of faith and that Sean and I had not been married for a year yet.  Some thought it was so quick.  In some ways it was quick but we waited for seven months to leave Alabama to prepare for the day we moved.  It was a long wait process and yet it came so quickly.  I remember the day we left, it was so exciting and so hard.  I left part of my heart in my hometown along with my best friends.

We knew God wanted us here in Florida and it was evident right away.  Trying to get into our apartment to move in was a horrific experience in itself and we knew that Satan was trying to attack us.  After we settled in and after being here for a few months, I did get homesick.  I believe I dealt with a little depression from it but not much (the homesickness would come and go, which is normal).  I felt so bad for Sean... I can't count how many times I had cried and wanted to go back home to Birmingham.  However, the one thing I did know during this time and still know is that I did not want to go backwards.  Sean and I were growing stronger in our marriage and still growing.  It's been incredible to see how much we have grown as a couple.

As I look back on this year, I am in awe of what God has done.  He is so good to His children.  I am thankful that Sean and I are His children.

You Make me Brave

One of Bethel Music's latest albums has basically been on repeat for the last few weeks.  It is so encouraging and it has helped me to break some strongholds that I have been dealing with.  If you have not listened to it yet then you really need too! You can watch the videos from the recording on YouTube. Although, the entire album is absolutely amazing, hear are my two favorites: 

I hope you enjoyed them!  Let the words be written on your heart and that a new song will come from you.  

Be blessed!

Titan is 2!

Titan is 2 years old today!! So, naturally, I had to dedicate a blog post to him.. even though he doesn't care.
 

The day we got him at 6 weeks.  ^

He's definitely our child.  I have so many more pictures I could post!  Love this dog.

Bridge the Gap

This is from my daily devotion on my phone. I follow Billy Graham's 1 year devotion.  I love reading it 

This particular devotion was about bridging the gap between generations.  I think Mr Graham hit it on the spot; if the older generation or my generation want to see change the kids we are around today, then we have to see if we need to change anything in ourselves before we even mention it to them!  They follow by example.

This also goes with leadership in the church.  If a pastor wants to see change then he needs to find what he needs to change in himself (depending on what the situation is, of course) and be consistent in that so that the leadership can follow him.  

I believe this is crucial. It's a simple solution but the task is hard.  We must be willing to fight the enemy in ourselves with Jesus by our side in order to succeed.  We MUST be humble and honest during this time with God.  If not, then we will not succeed, the devil will win and no one will benefit from it.  We also need accountability partners to join in prayer with us.  I, myself, struggle with this because I don't like being completely open with people unless it's my best friends (it's a work in process).  

God has been revealing so much to me lately about leadership and being His servant.  It's an honor to serve the King of Kings.  I'm learning it takes more humility and a true servant's heart to be a successful leader in the natural, alone.  But I'm not here for that and I have to remind myself that I am not here to build my life up in this world but for Heaven.  Don't get me wrong, I want to succeed in this world too but that's not my ultimate goal.  I'm around wealthy people where I work & live (SWFL is one of the top places to retire).  I see all these beautiful homes & luxurious cars, & yet, i just want a home that fits us comfortably & my dream car is still a white, 4-door, Jeep Wrangler (gas sucker, I know).  

If we want change, then we must change the wrongs in our life first.  

Lord, please convict our hearts and show us what we need to change that we may be able to serve You better and expand Your kingdom.  Show us Your heart's desire so that we can be more like You.

 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 

I Timothy 4:16 NKJV