Merry Christmas!!!

*Click to view larger!

***Special thanks to Ashlee at Image Advertising for the amazing design and awesome customer service and Lindsey at Mustard.Seed.Photography for taking the mediocre pictures I had and editing them in to something worth using! :)

Beauty Will Rise

Anyone who knows me and/or has been reading my blog for a while knows that I love Steven Curtis Chapman, his music, and especially his heart for adoption. I, like so many other SCC fans, was brokenhearted over the tragic loss of his sweet China Princess Maria Sue. That is why I was SO anticipating the release of his new album. I knew it would be an outpouring of truth as SCC and his family worked through the grief.

It. Is. Amazing.

End of discussion.

Buy it. Love it. Cry while you listen to it.

It is haunting. humbling. challenging. heartfelt. full of despair. full of hope. full of truth.

God is faithful. His promises never fail. His way is perfect. We don't always understand it, but He is in control. This album proclaims those truths over and over..

Quit reading my blog. Buy the CD.

You'll thank me.

Recent Reasons I Love My Life

Sweet hubs and silly girl

Precious best friend's baby boy

Sweet nieces and little lady

Former students who make me laugh!

Super super silly little girl!

Sweet Students who love my baby girl

Gorgeous sis/awesome aunt

Being a part of an AWESOME school (Homecoming)

Sweet students! Coop!

D'Shea

William

Corey

Being a part of something bigger than myself. Love. Life. Students. Family. Friends. Blessed. Thankful. Undeserving. Amazed.

The Cross

Last night was the first night our community group combined with another group for guys/girls night. We had the incredible blessing of being "paired" with Brandon Hays & Amy Imel's group. Not only was it extremely nice just to see the hearts of some more amazing women, it was just a great night of truth and challenges.

But one statement stuck with me more than anything else. Here's a quote from my lovely friend Leslie that has just pierced my heart today....

"We need to focus on the Cross-- the REALITY of the cross, not the "pretty" cross.

Think about that. I know I will be....

Stream of consciousness...

I. Am. Tired. This week is dragging on.

I love my students. They make me laugh. Smile. Want to pull my hair out. Stifle laughter when I really SHOULDNT let them know I think they're funny. Cry. Sad. Disappointed. Proud of their success. Have a better day. Have a worse day. Want to be a better person. See the good in the small things. See potential in the unlikely. Exhausted.

Parker pretty much cracks me up. She is an absolutely hilarious little girl. She had so much energy, joy, and zest for life. She makes me want to be a better person/mom/friend/etc. She is so smart and loving and sensitive. She's pretty much the best kid ever.

Community group tonight. I love them so much. They are an amazing group of people to walk through life with! And I'm super pumped because tonight is Cohen's first night at cgroup!! It's the first newborn baby for the LP group and I am thrilled!

I'm watching CSI and blogging from my iPhone. By the way, my iPhone doesn't have a name (like several people I know) but if it did... I think it would be Ellie. Ha. Gonna go do something more productive now.

Crazy Love?

I am a reader. I love, love books. But I'm more of a "fiction book" fan because I love a good STORY. But I'm about to read Crazy Love by Francis Chan. A little nervous. Slightly intimidated. Ready to be challenged. Anything that is subtitled "Overwhelmed By a Relentless God" is bound to instill a little... shall we say... holy hesitation? I'm already a bit overwhelmed after reading these lines in the Preface: "This book is... for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do." and "Come with me on this journey. I don't promise it will be painless." YIKES. We'll see how this goes.

Here's to reading nonfiction. Truth. Challenges.

Football and Blessings

New pics of Parker posted on the family blog...

We went to the Central-Catholic game tonight, but insanely huge crowd + Parker wanting to run around + fear of my car getting stuck as more and more people put ruts in the extremely, extremely muddy parking area= totally stressed out Janee. I love my Cats, but I really, really didn't want to deal with a stuck car at the end of the game when Parker was exhausted and ready to go home. That rain this morning completely destroyed the field where people park at Wildcat Stadium, and I really believe that the longer I stayed, the less likely it would've been for me to get out! So I'm listening to the boys totally run over Catholic High... 53-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter!!! I remember the days where Central simply could. not. beat. Catholic High.

I love teaching at "my" school. Everything is just so much more exciting for me! I am so, so blessed to be in a place where I feel "at home." I love my coworkers, bosses, students... it's such a great place for me to be! I mean, come on, I'm even excited about FOOTBALL! I'm so proud of the football players I taught last year and the ones I'm teaching now. Not only are they great athletes, they are incredible kids! I'm so glad they're doing so well!

So go check out pics of mini-cheerleader Parker on the other blog!

Baby Cohen

My precious, precious friend Jessica had her sweet baby boy on Monday, and I am so excited! It has been a while since one of my good friends had a baby!! We got to go see Cohen at the hospital the day he was born, and I thought I'd share a few pics of this tiny little man! (He was 5lb 13oz!)

I am so proud of Jess- she is such a great mom already!! I can't wait to watch sweet little Cohen grow up!!

Joy

Last week in community group, we discussed JOY... We looked at several scriptures that talk specifically about how God is joyful. One of those verses is Zephaniah 3:17-- "the Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." I have always really liked this verse, but then we took it a step further. Basically, the summary of our discussion was this..

We, as Christians, are designed to reflect that joy back to Him and to the world. That joy isn't something we can create on our own, it is something that requires our dependence on Him! He commands us to be joyful ("rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again, rejoice!"). So if we are commanded to be joyful, it is a sin NOT to be joyful???? God has joy in ME! how could I possibly NOT have joy in HIM??!

So, this is tough. Basically, joy exceeds my circumstances. It surpasses just surface happiness. So my motto for now is "Today, I will choose joy!"

Where I've Been.... And Where I WANT to Be...

So I've obviously been the biggest blog slacker EVER lately, both here and on Parker's blog. I've been... well.. working! Ha. And letting life take over and staying too "busy" with things that don't really matter. (As well as things that DO matter, don't get me wrong!) Tonight's Community Group really challenged me, which I will blog about SOON (I promise!), but then I got in my car, plugged in my iPhone, and opened Pandora. And THIS hit me...

Shane and Shane- "In You"

I sing for joy
In my remorse
A well within prosperity’s curse
That drowns the mighty oak of pride
But feeds the root of God inside.

In You
I find my rest
In You
I find my death
In You
I find my all and my emptiness
Somehow it all makes sense

In You I’m rich
When I’ve been made poor
Comfort found when I mourn
The prideful one You see from afar
Drawing near to low, broken hearts.

In You
I find my rest
In You
I find my death
In You
I find my all and my emptiness
But it all makes sense

Obviously God works in many ways, including the Pandora app on the iPhone. More later... but in summary.

Where I've Been: Busy-ness

Where I WANT to Be: In HIM

Music Monday-The Power of Your Name

We recently started singing this song at church, and I LOVE it. If you have time, watch the video behind the song too.... it makes the song way cooler! : )

Surely children weren't made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be
Let Your Kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can't be what You saw
Let Your Kingdom come
Here in my heart

I will live
To carry Your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be Your hands and feet
I will give
With the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion

To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name

Surely life wasn't made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart

Your name
Is a shelter for the hurting
Jesus Your name
Is a refuge for the weak
Only Your name
Can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
Holds everything I need

Wordless Wednesday- Wildcat Fan Edition

(Will Briscoe is the Wildcat quarterback and my former student!)

A Most Special Lady

My senior year of high school, I had the joy and privilege of getting to know one of the most amazing people I would probably ever meet. To me, a 17-year-old high school student, Whitney Taylor was simply one of the most joyful people I had ever met. She did pretty much everything with a smile on her face and the joy of the Lord in her heart. As I got to know her better over the years to follow, I saw that her life and everything about her pointed others to the joy of Christ. Whitney, even with the struggles she faced living with cerebral palsy, knew the meaning of trusting in the Lord far better than I did; probably far better than I do even now. It is with great sadness that I learned that her battle with an aggressive brain tumor is now complete, but it is with overwhelming joy that I rejoice in the fact that she is now dancing in the streets of Heaven. Whitney's life reflected Christ in so many ways, and she and her family have been such a blessing to so many people. Her favorite hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul," is both a challenge and an encouragement....

(Two of my favorite verses)
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.


Whatever my lot.... Whitney knew how to embrace that line. WHATEVER life gave her, it was well with her soul because of the precious Savior she loved so dearly. Thank you, Taylor family, for giving us the honor of knowing and loving Whitney.

It is well with my soul.

I know, I know...

It's been a super long time since I blogged... But to my defense, I did go back to work two weeks go! School is now in full swing and I haven't quite adjusted back to the schedule yet! A new, real post complete with pics will be up in the next few days!!

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful for

time with my co-workers... they make coming back to work so much fun!

planning ahead... so I'm not stressed about the first day on Monday.

Parker

Trent

Big Brother (Yes, I know this is silly)

Not Me Monday

Each week, I thoroughly enjoy MckMama's Not Me Monday. I also love to read Ashlee's installment each week. So, this time I decided to join in the fun, and tell you about the things I most certainly DID NOT do this week!

I did NOT wear my two year old's hot pink polka dot sunglasses to drive to Walmart because I left mine on the kitchen counter. Not me!! I would never ever tell my child that I didn't have any glasses for her to wear, knowing hers were being stretched out to fit my head.

I most certainly did not wake up one morning this week to find that my always clean, always perfect 2-year-old had taken off her diaper, and there was *poop* on her bedroom floor. An hour after cleaning up said poop, I did not return to her bedroom to find that my totally house trained, well behaved 3 year old Yorkie had peed on the carpet. Nope, that most certainly did not happen at MY house this week.

I did NOT un-evenly space bulletin boards in my classroom, only to have a group of students tell me I could create a "pattern" from the mistake. I also most certainly did not actually heed their advice and turn the "mistake" into a nicely "patterned" display.

I also did NOT velcro a framed poster to my classroom wall with industrial strength velcro. That would be absolutely ridiculous. So if you ever enter my classroom, you certainly won't find multiple things attached by velcro.

I did NOT buy notebooks I don't need just so I could re-cover them with scrapbook paper to make them "cute." I would NEVER do such a thing!

I may alternate Not Me Monday with Music Monday from now on! : )

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Running from Poppa with the water hose

Music Monday- Parker style

Parker's version of "Jesus Loves Me"

Jesus.. I know..

For da Bible ah ah SO

YEEEESSSSSS.....

Jesus... I know....

(repeat until distracted)

Parker's version of the Alphabet song

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, ala- lala P. A, B, C, D, X

Parker's version of "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed"

Monkeys jump on da bed

Ah fell off a bah a head.

Mommy doctor said

Ah Ah Monkeys jump da bed.

Real Words... for those of you who don't know.

Five little monkeys jumpin' on the bed.

One fell off and bonked his head.

Momma called the doctor and the doctor said

NO MORE MONKEYS jumpin' on the bed.

Ah, Sunday!

So I'm pretty sure that it hasn't hit me that I go back to work in a week and a half. I am excited, but I have SO MUCH TO DO and I'm running out of time to get it done!! I really need to finish working in my classroom (putting up the new bulletin boards I wanted to do, cleaning off my desk that still has last year's junk on/in it, organizing the textbooks in the front of my room to make textbook distribution go smoother). Then I also want to go ahead and start making copies of things for the first week of school, since I know there will be a MAD rush for the copier on in-service days. Blah.

Then there are the projects "at home" that I want to do that I know won't happen once I'm back at work... painting, sewing, scrapbooking, making bows, etc.

I think the thing I'm most sad about "giving up" once I go back to work (other than the obvious- Parker!) is the Stay at Home Mom's Bible study I've been going to with the ladies from our wonderful church. I have so enjoyed their friendship, fellowship, encouragement, prayer support... the list could go on and on. Sad.

Amazingly, Parker is STILL ASLEEP and it's 8:40! Of course, I am wide awake because Trent got up to do yardwork. I should've started painting, but I had no idea when she'd wake up. Oh well.

Forgot to Tell You Friday

I went to Corks N Canvas with Tiff yesterday and painted a fleur de lis. It's now hanging up in our bedroom! We had SO MUCH FUN. I'd love to do this again, but instead of going to the place to do it, just getting together with some friends for a girls night and finding something online to try to "model" a painting after.... that, or I'm pretty sure there are a few artsy people out there that I'm friends with who could EASILY "lead" a "class" like they do at C-n-C. Definitely something I want to do again, though.

Work starts in a week and a half. While I am really excited about getting back in to my "routine" and meeting all of my new students, I'm also dreading waking up at 5:20 and also leaving Parker.

We're going swimming tonight with Tiff and Bryan. I can't wait! Other than vacation, Parker has not been in a "big pool" all summer!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Ben Brown, particularly his wife Ragan. I don't know either one of them, but I have some friends who know Ragan pretty well. I'm just praying for God's peace that passes all understanding to pour into her life during this awful time.

Tell Me About It... a day late..

Ok, so I'm totally just copying it from my Facebook, but here's a new post!

1. I cannot go to Hobby Lobby without buying a bag of Old Fashioned Creme Drops candy. I used to eat them at my grandparents' house as a child, so it's a sentimental thing.

2. Target is one of my favorite places to buy clothes for myself and for Parker. I got a pair of shoes there this morning.

3. I have two tattoos- a pink fleur de lis on my left hip, and a dove with an olive branch on my left foot. I want one more... but I'm not sure where I want to put it yet.

4. I gave up drinking caffeine *AGAIN*. I hope it sticks this time.

5. I am completely obsessed with Sweet Tea. Seriously. I love it.

6. Trent and I saw the movie "In Good Company" on our first date, after a dinner at J. Alexander's.

7. My favorite restaurant (currently) is Islamorada (in the Bass Pro). I order the same thing every time- Islamorada Portofino.

8. I have never worked in food service or retail. Even in high school/college, my jobs were office-based.

9. I have taught English I, English III, and English IV-AP. English III is by far my favorite. It's totally not the subject, but the kids are a great age!

10. I actually started to like football after Central High's great season last year.

11. If I had to choose one sport as a "favorite" to watch, it would totally be Olympic diving. Ok... normal sport? Baseball.

12. Parker's middle name, Ann, was my Aunt Deborah's middle name. Unfortunately, she never got to meet Parker, but when Parker is old enough, she will definitely hear ALL about her namesake.

13. Trent wants my next vehicle (in the future) to be a mid-sized SUV. I am terrified of driving anything bigger than my Camry.

14. Parker just hit me in the head with an alligator puzzle piece. She wants to type. Ha!

15. My yorkie, Jackson, is named after former LSU baseball & football player Chris Jackson.

16. I have never owned "expensive sunglasses" because I would probably break or lose them within the first week.

17. I love to read, and even though I fought the Twilight series for about 2 years, I totally gave in and am slightly obsessed. Is there a Team Emmett? If so, I'm totally on it. If not, I guess I'll settle for Team Jacob.

18. The last movie I saw in the theater was The Proposal. I completely loved it.

19. I used to have a total celebrity crush on Matthew Mcconaughey. Recently, Ryan Reynolds has taken over his place in my heart. I mean, have you SEEN his abs???

20. I totally love the fact that Trent has a shaved head and tattoos.

21. I just got an iPhone earlier this month, and it's pretty much my favorite "gadget" ever.

22. If I were going to be on a reality t.v. show, I would COMPLETELY love to be on Big Brother. Unfortunately, my life is way too boring to ever be chosen.

23. If I were ever going to audition for American Idol (which I'm not- but thanks for asking!), I would sing "Feels Like Home" by Chantal Kreviazuk. It's on the "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" soundtrack.

24. I bought a sewing machine earlier this summer, and I love to sew. I wish I knew how to do more.

25. I really, really wish I had more artistic talent. I want to start painting.

Simple Saturday

Oh how Parker makes me laugh!! My new favorite... When she's upset, but not upset enough to cry, she says "I cryin'! I cryin'!" in this whiny little voice! So funny!

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am mostly thankful for two things:

• Great friends, especially other "mom" friends
• Naps

Wordless Wednesday

Tell Me About It...

So here's my first shot at "Tell Me About it Tuesday"....

School starts in 3 weeks. Yuck! But as much as I dread it, I'm also a little bit excited! I spent a good part of Monday working on getting things ready. My co-worker Abby helped me hang fabric for my bulletin boards, now I've just got to actually put something ON the fabric. I also want to paint part of my wall with chalkboard paint... there are currently two chalkboard panels, but they are that hideously nasty green color- you know, like baby poop green- so they need help! I also did a lot of paperwork- re-vamping my syllabus, working on new vocabulary stuff, and trying to find/re-do/organize handouts for the first few weeks of school. I really want to make some copies and beat the copier rush that I know will take place during our in-service days.

I am really enjoying this season of Big Brother, but I find myself believing sometimes that the houseguests really ARE in high school. Yikes. Ronnie, you have got to chill! And Laura... wow. Just wow. So far, Casey is my definite front-runner favorite, and I like Lydia a lot as well. Jordan is cute, but... I just don't know.

I watched The Bachelorette- The Men Tell All. OMG.. these guys are RIDICULOUS. I'm a little puzzled about why they needed two hours of that madness.

This week is a busy week. Monday was "school stuff day"... my parents had Parker for most of the morning/early afternoon. Tuesday (today!) is our lunch date with some of my ZHS coworkers!! I am so pumped! Wednesday is SAHM Bible Study (hooray!), Thursday is our Whitty Playdate! WOOHOO! Lots of fun things!

Music Monday- "No Not One"

This weekend, Trent bought me Christy Nockels' latest CD, Life Light Up. I listened to it for the first time this morning. Not only does it have some great songs we sing at The Ring, like "Hosanna" and "Marvelous Light", there's also this one... "No Not One"....

No better word than from Your lips
No perfect life than what You lived
No greater gift, no not one

No brighter star has ever shined
No better hope for all mankind
No higher mind, no not one

No one has ever known
This kind of love You've shown

There has never been a greater love
Than Your son
No, Not one
And there will never be a name above
No, Not one

With His life You have forgiven us
Hope has come
Hope has come
And there will never be a greater love
No, Not one

No image true or sweeter frame
No simple word can match Your name
No greater fame
No not one

No one has ever seen
The depth of Your majesty

No greater call - You gave us all a reason to live
No greater love - You gave us all a reason to give
No greater life - You gave us all a reason to shine
No greater love - forever mine!

I wish that I could say that these lyrics are always my focus and at the forefront of my mind. Sadly, life gets in the way sometimes and I tend to be more cynical. But, oh, how my heart desires to ALWAYS say "No, not one. There is not ONE thing more important than YOU in my life."

"Blog Schedule"

In an attempt to try to post (almost) every day, I'm giving myself some "Guidelines" to post by...

Music Mondays- posting lyrics to a favorite song/something that has been speaking to me

Tell Me About it Tuesdays- Whatever I feel like "telling you about"

Wordless Wednesdays- Just a picture... and maybe a caption

Thankful Thursdays- Things I have to be thankful for that week

Forgot to tell you Fridays- random tidbits of info

Simple Saturdays- a one-liner or single thought post

Say What? Sundays- again, whatever I feel like saying! : )

Starting.... NOW!

I'd Need a Savior

So I was listening to KLOVE this afternoon while we were driving home from Chik-Fil-A (I'd say that requires a double "shout out" to Jess! haha), and they played this song I'd never heard (or maybe never paid attention to) before. I really love what the lyrics said, so I wanted to post them!

I'd Need a Savior- by Among the Thirsty

How many names can I use to explain the love of my Jesus,
the life that he gave and so many times will I praise you today.
I lift up my life ‘cause you’re always the same
And my offering to you I bring

Chorus:
Your name is Jesus. Your name is Jesus.
You’re the Wonderful, Counselor, my Friend.
You’re what I hold on to; I know that you brought me through
All the days of loss, to the cross you knew
I’d need a Savior.

How many songs can I sing to proclaim your wondrous love and beauty so great?
What would I say if you brought down the rain and everyday
I walk through the pain my heart would still say…

Chorus:

You’re what I hold on to; I know that you brought me through
All the days of loss, to the cross you knew
I’d need a Savior.
I’d need a Savior
I need you, Savior

Big Brother

I'll admit it. I am obsessed with Big Brother. I watched it with my mom starting from Season 1, and it's one of my favorite summer guilty pleasures! I even got Trent to start watching it with me while we were dating. But I must say, this season already intrigues me the most!

High school can either be the BEST time of your life, or the WORST. So I think it's really interesting that they're basing this season around the high school clique idea. I almost feel sorry for the poor people in the house!

But I must say, it really wouldn't surprise me if the "Brains" and the "Off Beat" decide to band together and get rid of the "Popular" and the "Athletes"... and I think Jessie from last season better cool it with his "I'm so amazing, my arms are so huge, look at how gorgeous and strong I am" business or he's gonna find his (incredible fit, I'm sure) butt walking out the door early!!

Moms' Bible Study

So this summer, I have had the amazing privilege to meet weekly with some of the other moms from our church. We are about to start a new Bible study called "Shepherding a Child's Heart" and I'm super pumped about it. Yesterday, Meg, who leads the study, gave us these six points to remember... I know a lot of the people who read my blog are actually IN the Bible study, but for those moms who read this who weren't there, I want to share these things! Great wisdom to remember...

1. My children are a gift from God and should be considered a blessing!

-James 1:16-18; Psalm 127

2. I am called by God to raise my children!

-Ephesians 2:10

3. I have been given everything I need to do this... I just have to use it!

-2 Peter 1:3

4. My labor, no matter how seemingly tedious and fruitless, is not in vain!

-1 Corinthians 15:58; Proverbs 22:6

5. Even when I'm weary, His empowerment is available!

-2 Corinthians 9:8; Jude 24-25

6. I cannot do this apart from Him.

I'm trying to encourage myself in these things. Even though Parker isn't really at the age where I have to discipline her a WHOLE lot (I mean, yes, we do get timeouts for throwing dog food or climbing on Jackson's kennel in an attempt to get on the kitchen counter), I know that it is never to early to start preparing MY heart for the "tougher" parenting as she grows and develops her personality even more. I can't wait to see what God teaches me through this study and the women who are walking through it with me!

Do We Look Alike?

Parker at 23 months

Me at 25 months

To Do List...of Un-Fun Stuff

Anyone wanna help??

• Clean out desk in the bedroom and throw away anything that hasn't been used in the last 6 months and isn't an "important document"
• Clean out closet in the office (same criteria as desk)
• Clean out junk in Parker's closet that isn't hers and has been there since before she was born
• Clean "craft corner" in the office/consolidate storage containers
• Find a mattress for our futon (Anyone know where I can find one for a good deal?)
• Clean out the kitchen junk drawer

Needed a Laugh...

Okay, so I've totally seen things from the Cake Wrecks blog before, but tonight, I really took the time to browse the sight... and have laughed my behind off! Seriously, I probably look like a fool sitting in our office by myself laughing hysterically! So if you need a laugh, check it out. It won't disappoint!

Favorite things...

Ok, so I know I did a "summer favorite things" earlier in the summer, but I have so much to add!

• LSU BASEBALL!! WOOHOO!!
• manicures/pedicures- I totally got my first one today since last fall.
• working air conditioners- thanks to my amazing bro-in-law Chris, mine now falls back in that category
• justice- I'm so thankful for the man who SAW the woman who hit my car in the parking lot, since she didn't stop.
• adoption- particularly cindy foote's blog of Gracie-Lu's adoption
• etsy- i can't wait to show everyone pics of my new necklace, ring, and purse i bought. the ring and necklace both shipped yesterday, and the girl making the purse emailed me and said the fabric came in and she's working on it, so it should ship this weekend!
• rain. enough said.
• the bachelorette- so, I mentioned this the last time, but i'm both loving and hating this season. so fun.
• big brother- it comes on SOON!
• army wives- agh! so glad michael holden came back home, joan may not deploy, and roxy isn't gonna lose the bar.
• Karen Kingsbury books- the new one is out! barnes and noble or lifeway, i am coming to visit you ASAP!
• swimming pools- particularly of the "kid" variety... keeping parker entertained! woo!
• sahm Bible study- i love, love, love the women of the ring and their selflessness and transparency. each of these ladies has been SUCH a blessing this summer (well, beyond that, but especially this summer)
• our church- what more can i say?
• Jesus- for teaching me so many things i've been running from for a long time... and for staying faithful even as i've run
• restored friendships
• my marriage and my daughter
• life

Beach Trip

We're at the beach. We come home tomorrow, and I'll try to post more pics then, but here's one!

Etsy

So I'm now pretty much obsessed with Etsy.com I recently purchased a precious customized necklace from The Vintage Pearl (see button on my sidebar) and am in the process of coming up with an order from Knitty Bitties. If you are on Etsy, PLEASE check both of them out, because they are incredibly, adorably, too stinkin' awesome. Also- I'm so excited for our friend Jenny from The Ring, who now has her own Etsy store... Jen and Ink. Check her out too, if you're looking for precious custom invitations, cute gifts, etc. Maybe I should open an Etsy for cards, bows, etc......

Coldplay

Amber and Justin

Me and Trent

Becca Hill... next to us!

At the concert

Coldplay!!

Chris Martin with his crazy curly fro.... I like him better bald!

"Yellow"

Screen shots..

Smaller stage

Piano hands!

Crazy Confetti!

Viva la Vida

We saw Kayla, Keith, Kevin and Bryan after the concert

So... Tuesday night, Trent took me to my very first "real" concert. Not that Steven Curtis Chapman, Shane & Shane, Phil Wickham, etc. aren't "real" concerts... but they aren't "big venue" concerts. I had no idea what to expect; I only knew that I like Coldplay's music, and that it's always fun to hang out with our friends. I was completely blown away. The concert was absolutely incredible, and I'm so glad that I got to go. We had a great time with Amber and Justin (and Cody and Brittany for dinner!). There were, of course, a few random experiences, like running in to Faith Hardee (one of my sis's friends from middle school) in the hole-in-the-wall restaurant we ate at.... and the fact that Becca Hill was sitting RIGHT next to Justin and we didn't realize it til the opening band finished playing...

It was a great night!

Things I'm Excited About...

• my summer craft projects
• Coldplay concert tomorrow
• beach trip with the Mayers fam next week
• Army Wives being back on
• Parker's bday next month
• being able to go to the SAHM Bible Study this summer
• seeing the pics Kaylynn took of the fam

Arts and Crafts

Parker has way too many bows, and they keep getting lost! So... I made her this bow-hanger!

Also, I'm working on a set of canvases for her bedroom... here's the first one I'm working on...

Videos

Check out Parker's blog for new pics AND video!!

Summer's Guilty Pleasures

Sleeping past 5:30

My scrapbook/craft corner of the office

Nap time

This sweet face

Family Feud

The Bachelorette

Flip Flops

Shorts from Old Navy

Cute cotton dresses