Thanksgiving Break In Pictures...Maybe a few words!

First of all, I am thankful for breaks. Yes, most of these pictures will be of the cutest little girl you've ever seen....but my break was spent playing with her and I loved every second of it.

Every morning after breakfast we were sure to hear...."Ahh...WEEE!!!!" This let us know that she was ready to go out and swing! She could stay out here all day long!

Hey Uncle Brett!

Beautiful little girl

Look at that face... :)

She loved stacking these up and knocking them down...

Hey sweet girl!

We also had a little visit from Addison Tew..

Addison is Makenzi's little girl and getting a picture of them together was about impossible! They played sweet together and Virginia loved meeting her new friend!

LiLi feeding V her breakfast....

I mean....she is constantly in a good mood! :)

Silly Uncle Sam......

Loves her Aunt AAAAMMMYYY!!

Oh Mommy! You are so funny!

Behold our turkey carver....

Beautiful table...

So much food....

My contribution....haha....isn't it a cute little turkey?

Hey Ms. V!!

Just my brother in-law....

Lovin' her LiLi!

Trying to get a decent Christmas card picture.....what a precious family!

So, in all reality my break was great. We had a fabulous thanksgiving and I am so grateful for each face that you saw in these pictures. I have the most precious family in the world. We love each other and have the best time when we are together. Mostly, I am thankful for the fact that the Lord chose to save me and call me His own. I am thankful for the love and blessings that He pours all over my life each day. I am so undeserving. Hope your week was as good as mine!

Thank you Thanksgiving Break!

Well, today I started Thanksgiving break and it has started out just wonderful! Unfortunately, this was my last night with Brett before he goes home for a few days but we definitely had a fun night together. Go ahead and get out the wine cause it's about to get cheesy. We got up on the roof of my house to star gaze. Haha. Cheesy? Yes. Do we do this often? Absolutely not. So is it okay? Well, I think so.

It was a bit cloudy but a beautiful moon!

Sweet boy set it all up for us!

Such a fun last night together!

What a lovely evening! I am also anxiously awaiting the arrival of Eric, Lindsey, and Virginia!! Ahh....I cannot wait to squeeze that little girl and take a million pictures of her!

Hopefully we will have more blogging over the next couple of days!

I hope your Thanksgiving break is starting out as great as mine!

Just the Two of Us

Maybe I'm just really pumped that I get to blog on a school night and don't have anything stressing me out or maybe I'm just lame but I saw this on someone else's blog and decided to do it. My family will say I am so gay but whatever....

Here are 30 questions about just the two of us :)

1. What are your middle names?

Anne and Brett. His first name is Joel which I love!

 2. How long have you been together?

Over two and a half years. Woo.... :)

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We knew each other about 9 months before we started dating....We have a crazy story.. haha

4. Who asked who out?

Come on now....him of course!

5. How old are each of you?

I am 22 and he is 21. I know...robbing the cradle! We're only about 6 months apart

6. Did you go to the same school?

College? Yes. 

7. Are you from the same home town?

No....it is unfortunate.

8. Who is the smartest?

That boy is so smart. Seriously.....one of the smartest people I know. He knows something about EVERYTHING!

9. Who majored in what?

He is a physical education major and will graduate in May. I am an elementary education major and graduate in December.

10. Who is the most sensitive?haha. Me fo sho!

11. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

Belo Horizonte, Brazil on a mission trip! Yeah...far. haha

12. Who has the worst temper?

Eh....depends. Probably him but with me he really doesn't use his temper much but in competitive situations...watch out.

13. How many children do you want?

hmm....long ways away but I would guess 2 or 3. But, as I have learned....the Lord will decide that :) 

14. Who does the cooking?

My mom. HAHA. I mean....me more than him and I definitely will more when we get married but.....he likes to help!

15. Who is more social?

We are both fairly social. Brett has never met a stranger but I am more of a "Let's have a party" kinda girl.

16. Who is the neat freak?

Oh me. Boy oh boy....the fights that are to come. :) 

17. Who is the most stubborn?
Well........me? Yeah...probably me.

18. Who wakes up earlier?

Umm...ME. Always!

19. Where was your first date?
Our first official date was when I went to Phenix City to see him and meet his family for the first time. We went to Country's Barbecue (I know...so appropriate if you know Brett) and then went to his house and watched a movie.

20. Who has the bigger family?
That would be me..

21. Do you get flowers often?

Not often but that makes it all the more special when it happens!

22. How do you spend the holidays?

Haha. For now....separately. I'll be excited when we can spend them together!

23. Who is more jealous?

Definitely me. I'm not crazy jealous but I have had my moments...

24. How long did it take to get serious?
Gosh....not long at all. I mean it was well over a year before "I love you's" were exchanged but we both knew pretty early on.

25. Who eats more?

I'll just be honest....probably me. Dang it.

26. What do you do for a living?

Both still in school but I will be teaching soon!!!

27. Who does the laundry?
Well, he always does his own and now that I'm at home....my mom. Spoiled much? But I will do it when we get married.

28. Who's better with the computer?

Probably pretty even I would guess..

29. Who drives when you are together?

Most of the time it's Brett but usually in my car.

30. What is your song?

No song.......lame.

What A Day!

Mmm.....A day off in the middle of the week. Sounds good. Thank you Veteran's Day. I had the best day yesterday. I slept in....and by that I of course mean I slept till 7:30ish. But hey, 7:30 is better than 5! I got up and hung around the house in my PAJAMAS! I got ready and was so blessed to go to BSF yesterday morning. I know I have blogged about BSF before because basically my family is obsessed. haha. BSF is Bible Study Fellowship. It is a wonderful Bible study and you can probably find a class near you. Check out their website for more information. Anyways, I was able to go. I am not involved in a class because I cannot go on Thursday mornings. It is unfortunate but I was thankful for the opportunity this morning. In BSF they are going through the book of Isaiah and let me tell you that hearing a lecture definitely helps Isaiah to come alive and I was able to understand more of what was going on. It was so encouraging.

During the lecture, Pam talked about the Holy Spirit because in this portion of Isaiah that she lectured on, there is a clear picture of the trinity. She reminded us that although we are not able to physically walk with Jesus every single day as the disciples are, we have something much better. We have His Spirit which NEVER leaves us. She explained that we should never be jealous of someone else's relationship with the Lord because, "His faithfulness to others will NEVER interrupt His faithfulness to me." What comforting knowledge. A couple of principles from her lecture and I'll be done....(sorry)

"King Jesus has left believers His Spirit and His Word until He returns in glory!"

and

"When King Jesus reigns, unity and praise will characterize His people."

Sorry for the preaching....Bottom line: I wish I worked at a school that would let me have Thursday mornings off. :) Thankfully, an evening women's class is coming SOON!!

After BSF I got to meet this boy for lunch and spend some time with him. Breath of fresh air. It is interesting because Pam also talked about anxiety at BSF. While I don't consider myself to be extremely anxious there are times when it just hits me. Well, of course, today it did. I just had a lot on my mind and was basically over-stressing and having a "girl/dramatic" moment. This boy always knows just what to say to calm me down. Bless his patient heart.

We ate, talked, ran some errands, and spent some much needed quality time together. Brett's parents came into town and I went with his family to watch Brett coach the first varsity basketball game of the season. The lost but played hard. It was a tough game. We wrapped up the day with the last South Alabama football season. What what. STILL undefeated ladies and gents. STILL. :) All in all....days off in the middle of the week have my vote. It is early and no I did not type this post....this early in the morning. I had started it yesterday and it got late so I thought I'd finish it. I know you are all dying for my next post. haha. Just kidding. I am off to see my first graders shortly.

Have a happy Friday!!!

"I could never lose You. And this life will pass away,

but You will never change."

-Eternal, Sanctus Real

Take a Drive With Me....

Every morning I make the early drive to my school to embrace a group of fifteen adorable first graders. Every morning I have about 25 minutes to spend with my Father on that drive. He knew that I needed that drive every morning. He has given me the privilege to spend these few minutes with Him before I enter the fun, hectic, intimidating, frustrating, overwhelming, exhausting, and loving community I call my classroom.

I have found that in the years that I have walked with the Lord I have had mountain tops and valleys. Through it all, I have struggled through the tough times and learned so much through the ups and downs. There are times that I am consistently in His Word and learning so much and there are times when my prayer life is great. I feel like the two never exist at the same time. As of late, God has really been showing my the power of prayer. I love being able to talk to Him on my drive to school. I love being able to tell Him how good He is, confess my sin (which takes almost the entire drive...let's just be honest) and thank Him for all that He is showing me and teaching me. I love that I am able to pray for each of my students by name and pray for my school. I get to pray for my family and for Brett. I have the privilege to pray for the laborers and the laboring that is being done around the world and in our own city. Yes, the Lord knew that I needed that drive. He has answered prayer after prayer that I have prayed on that drive to school. I am thankful that I am able to go straight to Him every single day at anytime during the day.

I will say that lately I have been struggling. Last night a friend of mine blogged about how much she felt like she sucked lately and it was basically my thoughts exactly. We all know that Romans 3:23 says: "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" I fall short of His glory and His perfection everyday. Even in the midst of those feelings of missing the mark, doing everything wrong, or failure, He always reminds me that I am His and He has forgiven me of every sin I have committed and ever will commit.

"No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand"

This has been so encouraging. I am thankful to know that nothing can take me out of His hands! I am forever His.

My friend who wrote an encouraging blog last night also reminded me of a great quote by John Newton and I will leave you with that:

"My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things--that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour."

I pray I will never forget this. Have a great week!