Learning, Falling, Failing, and Being Forgiven

It's Friday. That statement alone should put you in a good mood. :) This has been a pretty stress free week luckily. My weekend started Wednesday afternoon which has been quite nice. I have been relaxing a good bit and laying by the pool....Have I mentioned I love this weather? Even when it rains I love it because it is warm out. My favorite.

On Wednesday I finished my book of choice for April. Yes, I am sticking to at least one of my new years resolutions! The book for this month was actually my very first Nicholas Sparks book. Brett got it for me as part of my Valentine's gift because I had said that I wanted to read a couple of books during this next year that weren't necessarily "Christian" books. I read

The Choice.

I have to say....I loved The Notebook (the movie...I haven't read the book) and this book was pretty similar in that it was a good love story. I mean...I'll admit it, I am a bit of a hopeless romantic so I am all about a good love song, story, etc. It thrills me to hear engagement stories, go to weddings, and all that jazz. It was the typical love story....girl meets boy....they eventually fall in love....a tragedy occurs....but in the end, a happy ending. Girls swoon over books and stories like these. I won't lie, I liked it. I was able to picture the story and put myself in the girls shoes.

But...As I was reading I kept asking myself, "why are you reading this?" While the overall story line was good I can honestly say it felt pointless to read it. I mean, there were sweet things in the book, things that the guy said to the girl that every girl wants to hear. But, there was also so much of the world in that book. There was cheating and sex before marriage and things that I am trying to keep myself from. By the end of the book I felt like I was fed a worldly love story that made my heart stir. Bottom line...I don't want the world to ever make my heart to stir. I know that it does and it does everyday but I choose what I put into my mind and my heart most of the time.

I am learning a lot about what it means to pursue holiness. I am also seeing how, so many times, I struggle to pursue it. I am grateful for a Savior who, I am confident, has forgiven me of every sin I have ever committed and every sin I ever will commit. That is a tough pill to swallow and one that I struggle to understand. I know all that He has done for me and I know all that He suffered. It is tough to understand how He doesn't look at me and think, "Seriously...you screwed up again? You have done this before and you know it's not fulfilling. What is wrong with you?" But, I know He doesn't. I am thankful. I am happy that He chooses to show His never-ending faithfulness, grace, forgiveness, and love.

What an awesome God we serve!

On that note, I hope your weekend is wonderful! :)

It's Not My Fault

So......my lack of posting as of late is not because of me. Seriously....I mean, I have been busy and been working on a million projects but I have had time to blog and wanted to blog. Here is the problem....Okay, about four years ago I received the best graduation present, my mac. I L-O-V-E it! However, this mac is four years old and is running on fumes. After four years of college it is full of pictures, music, and about a million documents, powerpoints, etc. Bless its heart. I'm sure it is thinking...."I am done." Or maybe that is just what I am thinking...Because seriously...I am done. It has been good to me but it is time for an upgrade. This will have to wait until sometime this summer and I am going to do my best to be patient. Basically, my computer is struggling to upload pictures and is really just acting old. Oh technology!

Anyways, I could update you on the past 2 weeks but I'll just go with this weekend. It was oozeball weekend. Some of my greatest memories have been made playing oozeball! It is volleyball played in 18 inches (give or take) of mud and it is so much fun! I have played every year except last year (not by choice :) ). Here are some pictures from these three fun years!

Some sweet friends at oozeball 2007!

:) oozeball 2008...back before we were dating but can't you just see

the admiration all over his face? :)

Our team in 2008

The Sticks in the Mud--2009 oozeball team!

Sweet boy..

After our domination. haha. Jk. We lost but had so much fun!

Well...that is all I got for now. Hopefully, we will have more luck with this computer soon! Macs really are amazing.....mine is just a bit ancient. :)

I hope everyone has a great week! I am hoping it goes by quickly because Saturday is a very special day.

I will be celebrating 2 great years with this guy. I am so thankful!

Happy Monday!

Opportunities and Expectations

So, as the semester is winding down I have been anticipating the arrival of summer! As I thought about it I realized it was the first summer that I made a decision to really do nothing. I don't mean nothing really....I just mean that I wouldn't be leaving for the entire summer. My first two college summer's were spent in Panama City Beach for Summer Beach Project and last summer I had the amazing opportunity to spend 2 months in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Because I have had such crazy summer's, the idea of spending a summer at home sounded nice and relaxing. I prayed about it for a while and decided it was really what the Lord wanted me to do.

About a month ago my mom, brother and I began talking about the possibility of Sam and I going to Africa for a couple of weeks. We have friends who are missionaries in Kenya and knew they would LOVE to have visitors. So....in literally a matter of about a week we decided that we were going to go!

We will be spending two weeks in Kenya and I could not be more thrilled!

We are going to visit this sweet couple, Michael and Lesley. They will graciously be opening up their home to us for those two weeks and showing us where they live and what they do. They have been in Kenya together for about a year. Michael teaches school and Lesley has a ministry where she teaches AIDS victims how to grow and cook vegetables for themselves. I am excited to see all that the Lord is going to teach both Sam and I as we travel. I am praying that we will be stretched and also that we will be able to be an encouragement to Michael and Lesley! I am so thankful for this unbelievable opportunity!

I have also been presented with another possible opportunity for when I return from Africa. At school, our professors presented us with an opportunity to participate in a summer enrichment program. If chosen, I would be working with 3rd-5th grade students. I would get lots of experience in my very own classroom but there would be no pressure. I would also get paid which is really just an added bonus and there is a possibility of a scholarship. I have applied but don't know if I will be accepted. I know that it would be a great opportunity and a great experience before I enter student teaching in the fall.

That is the update on a couple of my summer plans. Only 3 more weeks! Woo! Almost there! Have a happy Friday!

Hello Hello

Okay...so I have pretty much slacked the past couple of weeks. I'm going to be honest...there hasn't been much to say. My weeks in school have gotten pretty light which is awesome. I have been learning a lot which I promise I will share later. Right now I am watching GLEE!! Mmm...love it! Also, I have exciting news which again..I promise to share with all of those who don't know but it will be in another post. Right now, I have to go. Glee is calling my name. Also, I made 5 minute mousse today. Delish. Let me know if you want the recipe. Sorry so short and boring. A better post will be here soon. I suck. Sorry!

A Lovely Getaway

So..when you hear LaGrange, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama....you may not be thinking of lovely vacations spots. However, for me, it was just what I needed this weekend. As soon as I got done with a long and completely stressful day with my fourth graders, I headed home and packed up to head to LaGrange, Georgia with Brett.

Why?

Because of this angel right here. Brett and I went to spend the night with Eric, Lindsey, and Virginia. We were already planning to spend Easter weekend with Brett's family so we decided to make the trip there first. I am so thankful we did. I have missed this peanut and it was so good to visit with Eric and Linds and see their house.

Sorry its blurry...

Daddy teaching Virginia how to play the guitar.. :)

She moves those hands...A LOT which is why it's so blurry! She loved Brett!

I could eat her! She is the sweetest, most adorable baby and I love her!

We then headed to Phenix City to be with Brett's parents. We came for Easter but also for one of Brett's friends weddings. It was such a relaxing weekend and so good to spend some time with the Kittrell's.

Before the wedding...

Easter Sunday....There are better pictures but they are not on my camera!

This morning when I woke up I was able to spend some time in the Word and obviously, I thought a good bit about my Savior and the sacrifice He made for me. Last night, Brett and I were talking and he looked at me and said, "2,000 years ago someone died for us. Why'd He do it Lou?" We talked about how much love our Father has for us to send His only Son to die for a bunch of sinners who are so unworthy. I am so thankful for the life that He lived and the death he bore for me.

"In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee. The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" -Luke 24:5-7

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes through a man." -1 Corinthians 15:20-21

"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 15:54-57

He is RISEN and I am THANKFUL!

I also wanted to let you know.... My book to read for March was a book that was given to me over a year ago. My parents read it and then Brett read it and several other friends I know. I tried to read it when I got it but after a couple of chapters, gave up. I began reading it at the beginning of March and pretty much the same thing happened. Remembering my New Years Resolution.....I kept trying and trying. Well, let me tell you...it was tough for me to get into. I got down to the last 3 days of March and as I forced my way through the first few chapters...I could not put it down. I would say it is one of the best books I have ever read. I am going to be honest....I finished the book on April 1st so hopefully, you will have some grace even though I missed my deadline by a day. :) I would highly recommend it. I was in tears as I got to the end of this book.

I hope you all have had a wonderful, relaxing weekend and a great Sabbath!

He is risen indeed!