Christmas has come and gone oh to quickly!

This Christmas has been a BUSSSSYYY one! And I don't say that lightly!

We moved in to our new home Monday (21st of Dec.) after packing all through the night on Sunday (so basically we didn't sleep at all until the next night). We thankfully had a few friends come and help us, at that point it was so hard for me to function my friend definitely helped me stay organized (Thanks Kristen)!
To add on to the business, I hadn't finished Christmas shopping, so I had to go shopping everyday all the way up to Christmas eve (yeah, definitely not what I would of liked to do). On Wednesday I had to go pick up one of my best friends that I met in school about 3 years ago. Her family lives far away and was unable to spend Christmas with them, so we planned for her to spend Christmas with us and my family! I was extremely excited to see her. However, I had to go pick her up in Macon. My sister went with me and thankfully we were able to go to a few stores (finish Christmas shopping) until she arrived.
Christmas Eve and Christmas day was full of activities, but we had a great time. We were extremely blessed with heaps of stuff (especially for the new house). Christmas came and left oh so quickly and Sunday I had to take my friend back to Macon :( It was a very long day; I spent a total of 8 hours driving of what should have been a 4 1/2 hour trip. ugh!

Last night was our first night that Josh and I spent in our new house alone, of course it was spent unpacking and sorting through stuff. I just can't wait until it's all put away.

So, like I said I had a very busy Christmas, but I enjoyed being able to spend it with my family and my good friend!
Josh surprised me with a tree on Monday, it was quite cute, because he was scared that I would be mad that I didn't get to pick it out with him (something we have always done) but yet he was willing to take the chance because he knew I had my hands tied with unpacking. It was really sweet and he was right, I wouldn't have been able to leave. Unfortunately we didn't get the tree up until Wednesday, and right now it only consist of a string of lights, oh well, we have next year :) At least I don't have a ton of Christmas decor to take down like so many others, which is the last thing I need, more mess!

I was really excited about Josh's present this year! He has talked a few times about a playstation 3, but he knew they were too expensive. I bought him a playstation 2 a few years ago for Christmas. I'm not a big game person, and I have always been real nervous about it because I know so many guys who seriously become glued and addicted to it. I didn't want Josh to be that way, but I knew that he needed down time too, so I prayed that he wouldn't be like that and he would be convicted if spending too much time playing with it instead of spending time with his family I went ahead and bought one and he hardly plays his Playstation 2, but he does like to pull it out once in awhile, or if guys come over they will play Madden (a football game). He is real sweet about it and usually asks if there is anything he can do around the house to help me before he starts playing. So, when he hinted about the Playstation 3 I knew that it wouldn't be a problem and he really does deserve something he wants. I got one of ebay for a super price and it looks brand new! Needless to say I was really excited to see his face when he opened it. It was priceless, but also because everyone (Josh's family) thought I was joking with him and put something else in a Playstation 3 box (c'mon I'm not the cruel) ;)

Well here are a few pictures from our Christmas, and I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that you have a Happy New Year!

This is what my hubby got me for Christmas! Yes, it's real :)

Elisabeth, Christmas day!
Santa and his baby :)

My bestie- Chastina!

London playing with his gift that we bought him - You shoot the deer and turkey on the tv! Pretty neat!

Time flies by when your in love!

This day four years ago I was in a little cabin with all my girlfriends, my family getting ready to walk down the aisle to marry the most amazing, hard working, annoying, loving, stubborn, heart-stopping man I have ever met.
It was a cold and rainy day (yes, yes, it did rain, but that was the last thing on my mind.) I wasn’t nervous to walk down the aisle and to finally me one with this man that God has ordained. The dress was perfect my bridesmaids were gorgeous. Everything was beautiful; we even had umbrellas for everyone to carry that matched. What more could a girl ask for?!
Josh and I planned not to see each other before hand, but we did send our promise rings that we had to each-other (we still have them to this day).
The months before had been a stressful one, not only with the wedding plans, but other situations that had occurred in our lives, I guess a wedding isn’t complete without a little bit of drama…?
I remember walking down the aisle with my father, and all my friends and family watching (enduring the cold weather), it was beautiful! We has communion and my heart couldn’t hold it in anymore I felt God’s presence over us like I’ve never felt before. The stress of the months before just fell off and I started to bawl. I remember looking over at Josh and he was full of tears. We couldn’t help but smile and laugh, continue to shed tears of joy! That is an image I will never forget and honestly one of the best memories of that day. The pastor pronounced us man and wife and my prince charming flipped me over and gave me the first kiss ever. It was our first kiss (and my first kiss ever). To this day we have never regretted it. It was such a great moment for us! Of course sadly our guest had to view us “make up for lost time” haha! We danced the night away and enjoyed a wonderful reception! We enjoyed a beautiful 2 week honeymoon in Gatlinburg, TN. And stopped in a few other placed in between!

So now 4 years later, here we are. I have one more semester in college, Josh has a wonderful, successful business, two dogs, and at this moment I am our new house watching Josh saw away at wood for the beautiful cabinets that he is building for our kitchen.
We have had quite an adventure over the last 4 years; good and bad times. We have endured the lost of a loved one, many disappointments, and many other situations, but look at us baby, we still are going strong!
Today we are spending our 4th anniversary working on our new home (we are moving in Monday). Although that isn’t how we would want to spend it, right now it’s our only choice. Josh sent me a txt at 12am (he was in the bathroom tiling and I was in the other room hanging blinds) that read Happy Anniversary baby, look at us now! We are still going strong! And tons of other mushy stuff that I will spare  The point is I guess isn’t were we are, but that we are together. We will be having a special day once we are moved in, who knows maybe go out of town, or just light a fire and enjoy a special evening in our new home alone.
It feels just like yesterday we were married, but then again I feel like we have been together forever because it just works! Happy 4 year anniversary baby and here’s to Forever!
Our First kiss ever :)

The beginning (warning kind of long)

Josh and I met about 6 years ago. My cousin Luke actually introduced us. Josh and Luke went to school together. Josh had just moved to Thomasville from Marietta, GA.
Luke invited him to church and came with him from what I still remember was D.O.W (Dinner on Wednesdays). When I met him I didn't really think much, besides the typical "he's cute." My focus since I was 16 was God, and only God! I have always wanted to get married, have kids, etc..but I knew that God was in control of that, so I was just going to trust him. I had several commitments that I wanted. 1. No kissing before we got married 2. I didn't really want to date just because. If I was going to start dating someone it was going to be a serious relationship. I guess I'm just not one to "fool" around. Josh and I didn't really talk much. We served together in our Youth Churches internship, and even went on a lot of youth trips. We liked to hang out together, but we weren't super close or anything. I kind of just wrote him of as "bad news." haha! I know that sounds weird, but I knew too many people that liked him, and I just figured he was kind of a player (f.y.i. he knows all about this, because I told him that’s what I thought. About three years had passed and he had moved to Valdosta to go to VSU. He would come back to church every ones in awhile. My sisters always noticed, because they thought he was so cute.
The beginning of 2005 several friends and I would go to the park after church, eat play soccer, baseball, etc. One day Josh showed up (came with some friends), I hadn't seen him in forever and we started talking, tossed a football around (lol).A few days had passed and I randomly received an e-mail from Josh Nealey. He consisted of 4 words, "Are you spoken for?" - Josh Nealey. I about rolled out of my chair with laughter and a little bit of confusion. I called a good friend of mine up and told her, she of coursed laughed and assumed he was probably wondering if I was dating anyone. I waited a day and wrote him back that I wasn't dating anyone, if that was what he meant. He wrote me back explaining that he wasn't sure how Christian families did the whole dating thing or if they picked out our spouse. I once again about peed my pants. He was serious about it all to. I couldn't help but right back that my parents were going to let me pick my own husband. That we didn't follow a Hindu religion. haha! The letters continued for over a month and he shared about how he always had feelings towards me, and of course I shared my commitments to him, and how I wasn't really looking for anyone to date just to have someone to date. I was a little nervous when writing him that because I wasn't sure what his reactions would me. I had told a few other guys and one pretty much argued with me and thought I was stupid, and well the other one pretty much ran. lol! So, when telling him I kind of figured he would run too. He replied how awesome that was and he admired me even more for it. A big sigh of relief came over me and we continued to talk and see each other at church for about two months. Easter Sunday was a first "date"! He came over and had dinner with me and my family. Okay, okay, I know that really isn't a date, but I wanted to see how he was with people, my family and see how my family felt about him. To settle you down a little bit we did end up having a real date about a month later.

In the middle of June, Josh had been gone to Atlanta allot working and visiting his dad. He had come back to Valdosta for a weekend and had asked me if my sister and I would want to go to the beach for the day. Of course I was up for it, but thought it was real sweet he included my sister. Bekah's best friend Sarah came along with us and we headed up to Destin for the day. He had everything packed: Lunches, towels, everything we needed. A little before sunset Josh asked me if I wanted to take a walk. Little did I know this walk was going to be a very, very long walk, but also a walk into a new path of my life!

The sunset was beautiful at the time, but we had walked a pretty far way and I was a little worried about Bekah and Sarah (them two together, you never know what might take place). I suggested we head back and he agreed, but asked if we could sit for a minute. It was strange, but I agreed. We sat and he was just rambiling, about what I am not sure, I did notice he was real nervous. I thought maybe he was going to talk to me about something, but then he stood up and said "okay, you ready to go back?" We headed back and had a long way to go. After about 3 mins, I noticed a girl watching the sunset with a boyfriend I assumed, and she was holding a few yellow rose pedals. I thought "aww, how sweet." Then I noticed the yellow pedals running along the water (where we were walking). Josh didn't say a word, but we just kept walking hand-in-hand. As we kept walking the pathway of rose pedals turned to pink, and a little further they had turned red. I knew something was up because Josh was smiling, but he still didn't say a word. The final path was red roses; they lead up towards the sand that then was an aisle of lit candles in the sand. He walked me up to it and at this point I was so confused, but knew something was definitely up because I saw my sister running up towards the car. He told me to walk to the end of the isle were there was a beautiful small chest I opened it and noticed a ring holder. I immediately was full of confusion, joy, butterflies, I opened it up and there was nothing in it, turned around and found Josh on his knees. Ok, going to be honest now. He said a whole bunch of stuff and I am sure it was all lovely, but my mind was racing a mile a second and I barely remember anything. I did catch why he chose the colors of roses: Yellow= meeting Pink= Friendship Red=Love. He asked me to marry him and of course I said "Yes!" (Just in case you were wondering). I noticed a huge cheer of people, and was a little afraid to turn around to see who actually was all here, then I noticed we were right next to a tiki bar the was real high up and tons of people had been watching us. It was quite hilarious.
We met my sister and Sarah and I called my family. Josh took us out to dinner that night before we headed back home.
This is a moment in my life I will never forget (and just in case my sister actually videotaped the whole thing. You can see us, but you only hear her and Sarah's narrating..Quite funny), little did I know saying Yes was going to be the start of a new and wonderful life for me!

I just sent in...

My last paper for this semester!
Yay!
I can't believe it's already DECEMBER! Christmas is only 2 weeks away! Part of me is super happy, because I am done with school and I can focus on the house instead of focusing on school work, but the other part of me is sad, because I feel like time is going by so fast. This is my favorite time of the year and we don't even have a tree up yet :( It hasn’t felt like its Christmas time to me because school got me somewhat stressed out and I had no time to really focus on anything else. I guess that's why Christmas isn't about feelings, but so many other things! I was enrolled in a Religion and Culture perspective course this semester. We had to write about one of our beliefs, why we believe in it and other religions or cultures that do not. I thought of so many ideas: abortion, corporal punishment, I could go on and on….but I really wanted to do something different! My friend came up with the idea "Church and the State," which lead into the War on Christmas. As I was looking at articles about Christmas and how so many corporations were against the holiday because of they think that Christians are trying to make business practice our religion. The complaints go on and on. Then they created the idea that other people who aren't namely Christians are offended when people say "Merry Christmas," So decided it would be best for business to band from employees saying Merry Christmas.
Anywho, to make a long story short, I realized how so confused our country is. Ok, I've always known how corrupted our country has been, but seriously?!
Okay, well I won’t drag ya'll into exactly what I think. But needless to say it has really reminded me of the meaning of Christmas. Of course we use it to recognize Jesus being born into this world to pay the most costly price = the Cross, for our sins. The biggest part is that "God GAVE His one and only son..." He GAVE! I think that is why we often think about gifts. I love shopping for other people and GIVING them something special from me to show them I love them and care for them. I have anew perspective on just giving gifts, but to really GIVE: My time, my service, my love, whatever I can to possibly show the real meaning of Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone and may you really enjoy and embrace the true meaning of Christmas!

missing my husband...

The last month or so it seems like I never get to see my husband. He works everyday into the late hours at the house. I guess all those nights I had to be away from him have prepared me for this. I am so glad to have a husband who is willing to work so diligently on our home, and I know he is doing it for us, but oh how I miss being able to cuddle up next to him on the couch, and fall asleep with him next to me. I know that soon it will be over and we will be back to our "normal" routine. It’s just getting old.

Thursday I have my last finale and then I am "free"!
I am anxious about it because I am to perform a 2minute piece I choreographed in front of about 6 faculty members, yikes! I love to dance, but I still get nervous every time I have to perform, and sometimes I just can't control those little nerves that creep up…Oh and did I mention I have to be there at 7:30am. Ugh! Maybe the professors will still be asleep when watching me. Needless to say I am NOT looking forward to it, but I am ready for it to come so that I can be over with it and not have to think about it anymore. Then I can focus on our house, Christmas, etc!
Speaking of the house we are almost there. Josh is working on the cabinets this week. We are ordering the doors, mainly because it would take more time for Josh to make them, so instead he is just building the boxes/frame. The tile is suppose to be in this week and with that being Josh's specialty it shouldn’t' take him too long to complete the flooring and shower. Then we just have little things like: cutting into the trim and crown molding, painting the doors, and some paint touch ups. Once we move in we are going to work on the landscaping, because we know that will be a never-ending job.

December 1st

So this week is my last week of regular classes, then I have a one day of finales the next. I can't believe how quickly December has come, I mean I am not complaining December is my favorite time of the year, but it amazes me how quickly time goes as you get older.

Our Thanksgiving weekend was good! Different than normal because we had our annual Girl's Trip on Thanksgiving weekend. So, Wednesday morning my sisters met at my mom's house to cook Thanksgiving dinner (Another Tradition of ours that we call "Wine Wednesday"). The guys came later that night to eat dinner. We played a hilarious card game; something like "India Poker" I can't remember the name. Thursday we ate lunch at Josh's mom's house and then later that afternoon my family met up to head to Orlando. We took the truck in hopes to get a lot of shopping done, and to possibly make some big purchases at IKEA!
We had a fairly good time on our trip, and did a lot of shopping! We actually shopped Black Friday in Orlando; I was kind of nervous because it is much b igger than Valdosta so I wasn't sure how the stores were going to be, but it actually was really nice. They have three walmarts and Targets so really it made it for an easy shop. They carried everything I was looking for and I didn't have to fight anyone over it (haha). Sadly I didn't succeed in getting all my Christmas shopping done, but I did get several people finished; oh the joys of having a big family. Josh's family alone consists of 8 people, and then I have my 6 family members, plus a few friends who I enjoy shopping for, so that equals a lot of gifts!
Speaking of Gifts, I am not sure what I am going to do for Josh this year. I usually end up coming up with something he really wants or had mentioned a long time ago he wanted, but this year he really hasn't said anything that he wanted. Everything he does want is super expensive and everything else he usually just gets himself if he really wants it. So I am kind of lost at what to get him, but I still have a few weeks.
The house is coming along great. While I was away Josh refinished the original wood floors. They look beautiful! I promise to post some pictures when the house is done! Still kind of up in the air about our move in date. We still have the tile to do now and the cabinets to put in. Not much to do, but it’s hard when you see everyone’s Christmas décor up now. We usually get our tree up right after Thanksgiving, oh well. I have been super busy with school, so I guess in away it’s a good thing, because I don’t have to take time out to decorate in Christmas décor.
But today was a chilly first day of December, and I am so excited for what comes along with this month! It definitely is my favorite time of the year!

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving only a few days away I wanted to share a little bit out of much that I am thankful for.

Of course my husband is on the top of this list. I’m so thankful that he is the guy he is. I feel so secure in him in all areas: safety, financially, and physically. The last four years of our marriage I have never had to worry about were our next food is coming from, or if we will be able to afford rent, etc…and yes I give more of that gratitude to God, because HE always provides- us, his children have never had to worry, but I believe heartily that one must not sit back and expect God to do everything, man also has to do his part; Josh does. He has never complained about having to work, but instead does it with a joyous attitude. I love how safe I feel with him. I know he will never allow harm to come to me without a fight ;) There are so many areas I am thankful for that my husband is. He is concerned about my feelings, and if I express how I feel or something I don’t like that he does, he will honestly take it in consideration and do his best to change. With that he is also so encouraging when it comes to my goals I want to achieve. I’m so thankful that at the end of the day, I have such a wonderful man to lie next to (more like cuddle up next to).
I am so grateful for our new house. This is a dream come true to finally own my own house. We would have owned a house sooner, but we didn’t feel like it was time, plus we weren’t sure if we would be staying here in Valdosta, so we decided to wait. I’m so glad we did! God’s timing is always perfect.
I am thankful that I have the opportunity to go to school. Now about 5 years ago I wouldn’t have said this or even thought this way. The last few years I realized I am so blessed to be in a program that I LOVE! I am able to go to school and not having to work. I feel so blessed to be able to say I will have a BFA, because there are so many out there who can’t afford to go to college, or just can’t because of other situations.
My family- I am extremely thankful for them. Friends come and go, but my family is always here. Yes, we butt-head’s sometimes, but in the end they are always there for me. I am so privileged to have close sisters and parents in my life. Someone that I can go to and who I know will always be there for Josh and I if we need them. I’m also grateful to have the in-laws that I do. After only 4 years I feel a part of his family and considered one of the “children.” I see even now so many grown adults who are still seeking approval from there in-laws, and I am so glad that I already have that (or at least I think I do).
I am thankful I get to go on a lot of out of town adventures :) My family has always loved to go to new places and experience new things. I’ve always been the one to need time to get away from the “same old” and rejuvenate. Josh and I together get at least two- three vacations a year together. Then several times my mom takes us girls either to the beach or on a fun-filled shopping trip somewhere different. I’m slowly turning into a “home body,” but still enjoy and feel extremely blessed for each and every times get to get away.

Nasty weather and hideous colors

Today is has been so awefully dreary...This weather just makes me feel so fatigue and lazy. Unfortunaly I don't have the time to sit and do nothing. With school coming to an end I have loads, and load of homework; including about 4 papers, tests, etc...plus a new house we aren't far from moving into & I have yet to pack anything up. I want to go through things we are going to keep and things we are either going to throw out or possibly sell at our yard sale (I've been wanting to have a yard sale for awhile because I know we will have some much stuff we wont need in the new house and I figured we coudl at least make a little something off of them). So needless to say I don't have time to chill, unless I am sitting with homework in my hand.

Yesterday we got all the paint for the house. I went to a family dinner and Josh stayed and worked on the house. When I got back at about 10:00 he had half of the house painted. I was in love with all of the colors, except...the main one we were going to use for the hall and living room. It just wasn't what I imagined. I was upset because I knew how much Josh had worked, but the color just wasn't working for me. We decided to leave it for the night and see if it would appear different in daylight, but I still wasn't feeling it when we went this morning. Josh doesn't really see what I am seeing. He's the kind of guy that thinks we should have the same color throughout the whole house. So, he didn't think anything was wrong with the color, he was more conscerned about the money we spent. It made it hard, but I told him I just deal with this color. He was very sweet about it and told me I could do whatever I wanted, and to just go to Lowes and look for another color. That made it easier and this time I bought a few tester samples and we tried it on the walls before we spent more money. We are both very excited to have color in the house now. For a long time the walls have been white so it's nice to see a liveness when you walk in. It is starting to look like a home inside :)

I'm hoping we will be moving in still in the next few weeks. We still have to re-do the hard wood floor, put tile in the bathrooms and get the cabinates in..then we have all the lanscaping to do, but if we are pressed for time we will probably deal with that after we move in. This may sound weird, but I want to get in the house so I can get my tree up! We usually get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Obviously that wont be the case this year, we will have to wait until we move in.

little suprises

So, I'm always one for surprises. I love surprises, well good ones :)
When Josh and I first got married (well even before) we always had hidden stuff around the house that we would find. Whether I would leave him a note on his car window, or he would write something on the mirror like, "How I love my princess." so that I would always view myself as a princess, better yet his princess.

We still do that every once in awhile...but I'm learning that affirmations may not be much of Josh's love language. I mean I know he needs them, everyone does..but writing a letter or note to him every day I don't know if it really makes him feel loved. Or maybe he is just expects it, so it get's kind of old.
So I was praying the other day and asking God how to really show my love to Josh. I decided that once a week I was going to do something special for him. Whether it is a note, acts of service, a gift, etc... I would do it every day, but I don't want him to expect it.
I don't have any ideas what I'm going to do, which is strange for me, because I'm a big planner. I normally sit down and will make a list, but I really had no clue...so I prayed...I felt like this week I was suppose to show him love through his stomach..haha! I know sounds strange. I went to the grocery store last night and got stuff to make blueberry muffins (his all time favorite) and a card (just had too). I made them and hid them in the fridge for the morning. I woke up at about 6am and pulled them out to have them on the counter with the card for when he left in the morning for work. Not sure his reaction, because I was kind of asleep..but I was awaken by a big kiss and "I Love you!"
I figured it made him smile :)
I am not sure what I will do next week..but I pray God gives me something good and different.
If you have any good ideas, feel free to post them..

Hard Working man!

I seriously haven’t met a harder working man than Josh. I wouldn’t label him a workaholic, instead a man who loves the feel of accomplishment J He has been working so hard on our home, without complaining once! Only once has he said he was a little bit stressed out about it, but the rest of the time he just works hard with a smile on his face!
He has stayed over all night about three-four times now, just to finish some things. Of course I don’t like him staying that long, but he seriously get’s in a zone and will finish it until it’s done; there is no stopping him. We had the inspector for the electric and plumbing and they were shocked on how well done & clean it looked. This week he has worked hard on getting all the sheet rock up and mudding, hopefully we will get paint on the walls the middle of next week. Which means I had to finalize all my paint colors…I never thought it would be so hard. Our place now is very neutral colors. Green and browns. I tend to lean towards the earthy colors and Josh likes those too. I didn’t want to change it all up too drastically when we moved into the new house, because there are some things I want to keep. We still are going “earthy,” but adding more color in some rooms! Josh likes the colors I picked out, but if it was up to him all the rooms in the house would be the same color, and I cannot stand that, haha! I have to have someone of a different color in each room. The only rooms I am iffy about are the guest bedroom and the office. I seriously have no clue what I want to do, but I have to pick colors out so they can paint so that then we can re-finish the hard wood floors. I’ve been trying to find a piece of art, or bedspread that I want to help, but I’m having the hardest time..ugh, oh well…I know it will come together! We are hoping to move in the beginning of December. Not bad, only a month past our desired date.
We both are ready for the day that we can look at all these hard work and feel so proud and a since of accomplishment!

My heart aches to know you. Teach my heart to beat in rhythm with yours. Intertwine thy heart with mine; let it spill over with your incessant love. Let it be so tightly knit that nothing can come between them. Like one song; yours singing the melody and mine so deeply in tune. Your love; what a beautiful essence that fills me. How can I be worthy to be filled with such beautiful aroma? For I have only insisted on living with such sordid ways. The scent of evil is intriguing to my mind, but it leaves me with a stench that I cannot get rid of. I try to cover it up with more and more filth, and then I look in the mirror and see myself, not with the eyes of who made me, but the way the humanity sees’s me: too thin, too heavy, too short or too tall; never perfect enough, so unworthy of their love. I believe their truth, their lies. Continuing to please this human kind that constantly changes, it’s never the same. Popularity & fame; one minute your “it” and next debarred and no one knows your name. Why do we keep tormenting ourselves, searching for love and approval by the same people who are unsure in their very being?
Oh my creator, I hear you calling for me; Singing a love song over me. Oh how the words are filled with acceptance and passion you contain for me. Why does it seem so hard to get to you, when you stand right before me? Oh, my love, you sing to me the sweetest song I’ve ever heard; I’ve heard it all my life, it’s never changing, always the same, yet still as engaging as the first time you sang the world into being. Oh the entanglement down deep within me; fighting my flesh against my spirit man. Will this battle ever be over? My heart beats intensely over the worry of my next move. But there you are again, covering me with a blanket. The blanket of comfort; its warmth is filled with your promise to keep me safe and warm, full of reassurance by the softness smoothness that you have my future in your hand. Oh how I could stay wrapped in this warmth forever. But you are a God with no strings or force to keep us foolish human kinds in the middle of your comfort, safety and love. Oh how your heart must quiver with sadness to know your heart’s one desire is blocking the sweet aroma of your love and closing the door that allows the two hearts to become one and removes the warmth and comfort of the steps into the future.
This song I sing of sorrow is raining down my cheek. Wondering where I am and who I am.
But, I am not alone - My lover sings again- Carrying a jar full of all my wet songs, ready to once again wipe away the regret that has become my melody. I cover myself in his comfort, receiving the love that he brings, and allowing my heart to once again beat with the one who made me.

This week

....has felt like the slowest week we've had in a long time. Josh and I both agree that, normally, our weeks are Monday, Wednesday and then Sunday. haha! The other days just fly by so quickly. This week, for some reason has felt longer to me.

Josh had the electrical and plumbing inspection done on the house yesterday. Josh has been working hard on putting new wires throughout the whole house, putting in new boxes, etc...
The inspector passed the plumbing, with a few things that just need to be finished before the final inspection (before we move in), but not the electrical, because we didn't have fire alarms in every single room, who would of thought that you have to have one in every room? Hopefully we can get the inspector back over here on Friday and then we can start putting sheet rock up, yay!!! Once that is done we should be rolling down hill.
We are planning for the beginning of December to move in, I just want to be in before Christmas!

School is going good; however, I am ready for a break.

Oakley (our puppy) is doing well. The first few days we had him he slept real good, but now he wakes up at least once, maybe twice during the night. It's so hard to get up with him at 3 am, when both Josh and I have to get up early in the morning to go either to school or work.
Thankfully Josh knows this was more of his idea (to get a new pup) so he gets up most of the time with him. Hopefully, soon, he will learn to hold it all night!
I don't really see much of Sabian or Oakley during the days. They are with Josh all day, and I see all three of them at about 7:30 every night.

Okay, is it just me, or has this time change thrown everyone out of whack?! I use to be pretty good at handling it, but this time, not so much. I am up every morning by 7am now, no alarm clock nothing; wide awake! Which is fine, but come 9:30p.m. I am wiped out ready for bed. If I'm not doing anything (just sitting watching t.v. with Josh) I can probably make it to 10:30-11p.m. but since the time change Josh and I haven't stayed up past 11p.m. It's nice, but also not so great, because I can't finish homework at night, because I am too tired, but on the other end it's nice because I don't wake up so tired!

Well, time for class, I just thought I would write a little bit
Until next time!

Pumpkins!

Our young marries couple group had a carving pumpkin night! Everyone brought a pumpkin and we carved the pumpkins and then we baked the seeds. I've never done that before, and they were pretty interesting tasting; tasted kind of like sunflower seeds.

Our groups pumpkin family! haha!

I did one like this last year and I really liked it..so decided to do it again!

This is Josh's : Asian hillbilly pumpkin!

Josh and I carving away! f.y.i: those are not our dogs

He talked me into it...

Before we got Sabian, Josh wanted a lab real bad..but he knew I wanted a Siberian Husky. He decided that our first dog would be whatever I really wanted. So, we got Sabian. Josh really wanted to get both dogs at the same time, so that they would be able to grow up together, but our living situations couldn't handle two big dogs in the house right now.
Well the other day, I guy that is working for Josh, new of people that had pure bred labs for sale. They were a great price and where almost ready to go. We drove over and looked at them Wednesday. There were five puppies and the only had one chocolate male left, and one yellow female left. As much as we loved the yellow lab, we wanted another male. Not sure how husky/labs would look. lol!
We gave them a deposit and he was ready to be picked up a week later!
We got him last night. The cool thing is, my mom bought the female yellow lab. She was telling me she wanted a big guard dog, and when I told her they had one left she immedietly knew she wanted her! It all worked out great!

Even though Sabian is 8 months old, Josh wanted him to have another "brother" to play with and run around the yard with. Since we are so close to getting into the new house I figured might as well, on the plus side we can go ahead and house train him before we move into the new house.

We don't have a set name yet...however, we are thinking about Oakley!
Sabian looooooovvvvvvvvvessss him. He wants him to play with him, but the little guy isn't quite sure about it...not sure if I would be too cool about playing with something more than triple my size...It won't be long until he is Sabi's size though!
Anywho, here are some pictures! They aren't that great, but the only one's I have right now.

He will be the last puppy we get for a VEEERRRRYYYY Long time!

Fall is here, now I hope the cool air stays for awhile.

The other day I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out flowers and such for my fall wreath. My mom always had a wreath for ever season: spring, fall, Christmas time. She got me started on my first wreath when I got married. Ever since then I have always had a wreath of some sort on my door. Last fall I really desired to make my own, so I went to the craft store and got my own stuff to make on. I have made a spring/summer one, and Christmas, and one fall. So I decided I was going to make a new fall one. I would just save the old ones, but with the weather and the sum always on them they end up looking old & they just need to be replaced; besides I enjoy doing it.
Well my wreath from last fall was actually in fare condition, so I indeed up just taking some of the broken stuff off & replacing them with some of the newer ones I bought.

The pictures aren't that great cause it's dark outside.


So the cool weather finally made me eager to get my fall clothes out of storage. Last night Josh went with me to storage and loaded up the few containers of my clothes. Then he left me to the room by myself while he watched football in the living room. Like I said, he knows better to come in when I am switching over, it looks like a tornado went through the mall, in the clothing department; clothes are everywhere! I enjoy the “new” clothes I have to chose from now, and it all looks neat and clean (the closet that is). Now I’m hoping this cool stays and it doesn’t suddenly go back to 90 degrees again.
Josh is currently at the new house. He is trying to finish wiring all the new electrical, because we have guys this week coming over and they’re going to connect it all. So, hopefully we can put the sheet rock up next week, yippy!

come on cooler weather!

I'm debating going to storage and getting my fall/winter clothing out. I don't have a lot of closet space right now so I've had to put my summer and winter clothes away when the seasons come around. I'm pretty use to it because my mother always put our seasonal clothing’s in boxes and then would put them in the attack until we needed them, so it pretty much became a rotating thing, and I always enjoyed it because we would spend almost a whole day trying on the clothes in the box to see if they still fit and then if they did we would hang them up, it felt like we had new clothes, because they had been gone for almost 6 months. Now it's a little more tiring, and more work. Josh knows to stay out of the room when I'm going through the clothes because it looks like a tornado came through a shopping mall and stung clothing all over the place. The weather man said it was going to be cooling down this week, but I want it to get cold & stay cold because I always tend to change over too soon and then we go through a week where it's dreadfully hot & then I have nothing to wear.

So a few new things going on in our household:
The house is coming along great! Josh has done sooooo much this week. Last weekend we spend two days building the deck. I told him I wanted to help him so I can say I have built a deck before; maybe I spoke a little too soon. The next thing I knew I was cutting wood with the radial saw & using the nail gun (which was really heavy) putting them down. It was hard work, but in two days we managed to get the whole deck done & it looks beautiful! I was so thrilled to say, "I have my own deck!" I love grilling out and spending time outside, so to actually have my own deck to do that on really made my day! Josh also mentioned a spot for a hot tub :)

Our goal to move in was the end of October, but we may be a few weeks after that. I'm amazed how much we have done in the last three months & most of it has been just Josh & I working on it. So I feel like we have accomplished a lot!

Sabian goes with daddy everyday to work. He is really getting fuller..not growing up much, but I think his fur weighs about 20 pounds..haha! He is doing really good and would stay outside all day digging in the dirt if he could. He really likes to dig holes, and we aren't quite sure how to stop that because we don't want him digging up the yard (any advice we will take).
We usually lock him in his kennel at night, just because we have tried before to let him roam at night, and well it wasn't that great. He used the bathroom in the house a few times & then got in a few trash cans, so we went back into putting him in the kennel at night. We a few nights ago we figured we would try again; he normally goes into his kennel when he is tired anyways. He did really good, tried a few times to come and wake up Josh in the early morning, but after Josh's stern "no" he knew not do bother him until he was up.

Here's our sweet boy at 8 months

all before noon.

Today is the first day of my Fall Break. In the other colleges I went to we had a whole week off of fall break, but VSU only gives us two days off, and then 3 for Thanksgiving, which would make up a whole week, lame I know! However today I usually have class and rehearsal, but the professor was out of town and our rehearsal was cancelled, so in a way I get an extra day. I decided to write a "To Do List" for the break of things I really need to get done!
I awoke pretty early today (natural because I am use to getting up for class) and relaxed & played with Sabian for a little bit, then I started tackling the kitchen. I really needed to go through there and throw away old stuff, etc..We have a white cabinet and sinks (I hate) and so they all needed to be bleached and wiped down thoroughly. Then I swept and mopped the kitchen. I moved on to dusting the house & then vacuuming it! It only 11am and I feel like I have done a lot so far. Hoping to get the laundry done and then let that be hit as far as house chores for today. Tomorrow I hope to tackle the bathroom!
I've had mixed feelings about really cleaning the house, because I know we won’t be here much longer. So for awhile I've just been keeping up with the normal laundry, dishes and vacuuming, but I couldn't stand it much loner so I decided that I at least needed to do one more deep cleaning until we move! It makes me feel better knowing I have a clean house :)

way's he shows he cares

So by husband hasn’t done so well in the romance department the last few months, but then again, my idea of romance is different than his. When we first got married like every week he brought home red roses (my favorite type of flower & it's special to us because it's the way he proposed to me. He used dozens & dozens of roses..okay another story for a different time). So the roses have come a little farther apart these days. He has kept up other ways though. He takes me out every weekend and We either go spend money on a nice dinner and then come home and do something less expensive, but fun :) or we go somewhere cheaper to eat, go spend money on a movie & dessert. Each weekend is ALWAYS different. It just depends on our mood!
He knows I need a weekend that I don't have to worry about dinner & can get dressed up & go out. We both feel that is very important...Also he has been working SOOOO hard on making my dream of owning our own home come to past. He works over there EVER single day from early in the AM until about 8 or later. 7 days a week. He wants’ it to be as perfect as it can be for the next three years we live there. It also will be the house our first child will be in, so he is trying to pretty much turn an old house into a new home! He has done a wonderful job! It makes me smile and feel so loved inside when I really think about this, "he is doing this for me, and for our family!" I mean isn't that sweet? Everything to the last detail is perfect, until we have our dream home! He could have been like, "no, we bought the house we will move in it the way it is." Or not of considered that I have always wanted a Jacuzzi tub that I can come home in at night and just relax..I know it may sound cheesy, but it's nice to know he cares about that.
So last night, he came home at 9pm after working all day. It was just a normal Monday night for us. About an hour later he said," I noticed the dryer was still on when I got home, have you checked on it (f.y.i we've had trouble with our dryer not shutting off when the timer is done". So he suggested I go check it. I went out back (another FYI our washer and dryer is right outside our bedroom because in apartment/duplexes they don't want washer & dryers inside b/c of leakage) and there where a dozen red roses sitting there on the dryer. It made me grin from ear to ear! It's nice to know he still thinks about it, and knows I still need surprises here and there :) I'm so blessed to have Josheua has my husband, and I am so proud to be his wife <3

working together.

My husband has been so amazing; with me in school my life is stressful & very busy and consumed with school. He has really stepped in the last few weeks with helping take some of the extra “stress off of me,” he does the dishes every morning and night, he cooks dinner on the nights that he notices that I haven’t made it already, or helps out when I am cooking.
I would love to be able to stay home and have dinner prepared for when he gets home, and have time to do all the house chores, but right now it’s pretty much impossible for me to live that life. I'm pretty much gone all day except maybe an hour during my school breaks, then I am right back to class or teaching or and rehearsals until about 8:30 p.m. He hasn't had normal hours either. He is actually still working on the new house right now as I write.
We have learned as a couple that we just have to work together at the house chores, etc...With us being gone equal hours of the day we just both have to take responsibility for the house work. Of course it doesn't bother him as much as it may me when the laundry isn't done, or the bed not made, etc...but he understands and does what he can to help me have to do less when I get home. Or even if he notices I’m stress he will make me a hot bath (my favorite thing to do when I just need a break).
The other day I had to go buy a new vacuum and he offered to put it together for me. I was thrilled! Little did I know it was gonna' get even better...He ended up vacuuming the whole house twice through. That was one less thing I had to do the next day, so it definitely made my night!
It’s nice to know we can work well together, I can ask him to do something and he usually will jump right too it or if he notices something that needs to be done he will just go ahead and do it. I’m just so thankful for him, and thankful to Jesus for giving me such an understanding, compassionate man!

where has my weekend gone?

I feel like my weekdays have been going by pretty fast, but my weekends are like a flash that came and left :(
With the house and school I don't really have a weekend that I am doing nothing. I realize how much I miss those weekends when I have nothing to do, and I can sit at home all day in my p.j's watching movies. It won’t be long before that happens.
I can't believe we only have one week left until September 2009 leaves us and October comes. I am excited for a new month, because of several things: fall break and should be getting close to moving into our home. So speaking of our home, we have, okay more like Josh has gotten A LOT done! He framed up the new laundry room, the hall bath and is about is half way done framing the master bath up all in one week. Then we have to run the new electric. I finished putting the first coat on the outside windows (that took me two weekends). Now I am priming the inside windows and trim, that should keep me busy for a several weekends. God has been really good at providing us with some great deals! We of course are putting a Jacuzzi in the master bath, and I happened to find a new one that some guy was selling on craigslist, still in the box for $150.00! Josh talked to him and to make a long story short he was selling it for his friend who has having financial problems and had to get rid of it. It was in Tampa and it to give even more praise to God, we had a friend who was coming down the same day from Tampa to come this way, so he just ran by and picked it up for us, amazing, huh?! Well I'm not finished! Josh decided he wanted us to get new front loaders for our laundry room. It isn't a huge laundry room so he thought if we could get a washer & dryer we could stack then we would have a lot more space to have shelves, etc...So of course I started looking on craigslist, and found one in Jacksonville, FL for $600. They were BRAND NEW, they still have them at Home Depot! The couple still had a warranty on them. They were selling them because they are moving pretty far away and they had to pretty much get rid of everything they own to make this move. My mom went with me to pick them up Saturday (Josh stayed home to work on the house) and we got them loaded up great! Of course did a little bit of shopping where I also found a few other small items for a great deal! It's so awesome how God cares about the little things, like getting good deals!

Hubby took me to see Surrogates on Friday night. It was actually pretty interesting, I would recommend it. Except, is it me or do trailers seem to give way to much information? I feel like when I go see the movie I have already watched half of it because the trailer has already shown it or given the plot away, so we are pretty much just watching the in-between stuff..I don't know, but it really drives me crazy!

I was able to go by the library last week and pick up a new book.
"Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks. I'm a big fan of all the movies, and read "A walk to remember" when I was young, so I figured I would go ahead and pick it up. I am only on the 5th chapter so I don't really have much of an opinion on it, yet.

excuse me God, do you mind stopping time for a little bit?

I guess It would be easier if there where more time in our days, but then again I think I would be too tired to go any longer than how full my days already are. Last night I really started to feel that overwhelming feeling coming on. Between school all day long with a few breaks in between, homework, rehearsals,teaching it feels as though I have no time for anything anymore. Mean while my new house has a lot of work to do, every day chores are begging for my attention..Then coming home to make dinner..ugh! Thank fully my husband doesn't mind having pizza or "easy" meals for the last few weeks, but I hate eating like that. I have to have a good well balanced meal!
Some times I wonder "what have I signed up for?" It feels like it would be so much easier to quite this all. I'm exhausted and have no time for myself or even to relax. Not to mention I'm dealing with a twisted ankle and have been sick for two weeks now. I know that there are many people out there who do this too, some just different requirements than me. I don't like to be a complainer, but its hard to become overwhelmed and emotional.
It's comforting to know this will all be over soon enough, and I will have a new set of craziness! I'm trying to enjoy my life where I am now and live in the moment. Easier said then done!

I know I can't stress over these issues, and I am learning to just give them to God, and take every day as it comes.

Meanwhile- I'm gonna' go drink that cup of coffee and head of to teach and then class :)
Thank You Lord for always being there to carry me through these rough times and thank you for those times of rest I get, I really like when I can do that :)

rambling...

I decided to sit and take some time to blog a little bit. These last few weeks have just came and gone! I was telling a friend of mine that it seems like one second I'm waking up and getting out of bed, and the next I’m laying down to go to sleep; just to do it all over again. It's sad sometimes, because I feel like the same things occur every day. I wonder what I am doing to make an impact on this world I live in..but unfortunately I feel as though I’m not. I know God works in little ways and even just the person I see down the hall, I can’t impact them, whether that be a negative or positive way, that's up to me.
Ok so enough about how quickly my life feels like it's moving..

The house is coming along really good! My husband is so AMAZING! I just don't understand how he knows all this stuff. He never went to school for any of it, it's just stuff he has picked up working with other people. He is really one of a kind! I've been telling him that he will soon be the next Ty Pennington! He seriously needs his own show, or something!
Anywho - So the outside is somewhat finished. The last few weeks we have managed to get all new fascia and soffit (sp) up. The front porch is almost completely done. Josh has been working on burning old paint off the windows and sanding them all down. So once those are done they all have to be re-painted, etc...It seems so easy when you just talk about what needs to be done, but when you go into detail about all the steps that have to happen first, it becomes a much longer and harder task!
We are hoping to get some of the inside framed up this week, so we can get an electrician come do some stuff before we move further.
You don't know how ready I am though to move in! My sister and her family just bought a house and they just moved in. I am so happy for them, but was so envious they are already in a settled..I'm so excited for it though. However, I know it all has to come to an end and we will be moved in soon enough. We still are hoping to move in- the end of October!
So you can see my life is pretty crazy. Between school, homework, and then the weekends I'm at the house all day working, not to mention the daily chores need to be done (which have been neglected some this past month) my life is pretty chaotic!
Well I’m going to try and relax some (or do laundry) before I have to teach.. 
Oh one more thing – I just finished the book “The Shack.” Amazing book! I would definitely recommend it to anyone!!! God’s Love is so amazing. It continues to blow me out of the water.

I am on my third week of school. It's going pretty well and the homework has lightened up, some.

I'm excited though; because Josh is back working on the house. He has a big job he took and he had to stop at the house for about two weeks. I guess it was good he had work, but it did mean our house was on stand still for awhile; but now he is back at it! I wish I could go help me like I did during the summer, but now that I have school and homework on top of the regular stuff (housework, making dinner, etc...) it isn't going to be easy. I'm suppose to start teaching again at the after school program, which will be good I can make a little extra money :)

The weekend was nice. Josh and I went out Saturday night to dinner and a movie. Then Sunday he went fishing with my dad and brother in law. I went to my mom's house and us girls plus London spent the day together. My mom has a kiddy pool for London and we filled that up and we all sat around and enjoyed some sun-rays (I haven't done that since I went to the beach) and drank some mojito's! Then we grilled (yes, us Strickland girls love to grill) and watched a movie. It was a nice relaxing day!

Here are some new pictures I took of Sabian. He is getting bigger and bigger everyday! I am not sure how much he weights since last time...I need to get Josh to weigh him again!

These are pics of Atlanta from two weekends ago for my friends birthday bash! (you can click it to enlarge it)

Sabian, 6 months old


I love this picture! It's so funny to me!

School, wekend and more!

I survived my first week of classes & now into the 2nd day of my second week. So far I am really enjoying it. Last semester was kind of rough on me and I just was waiting for the summer to be here. I think the spring semester is always really hard, because you only have a month off. But for me the month of December is full of vacations, Christmas shopping, Christmas parties, our anniversary, etc...so then the time I am finally "not busy" it's time to start another full load of classes. So needless to say Fall semester's always are easier on me...Plus I have decided to take a different view on it..Trying to stay positive when things are stressful! I read this story in my daily encouragement that talked about how this lady was with her son and she was watching the news. Her child was right by the T.V. with her playing and the Weather Man came on and said, “Today we will have partly cloudy skies." and the little boy looked up at his mom and said, "It's not partly cloudy mom, it's partly sunny." I thought that was an awesome view to look at. When we are having a hard time, day, whatever it may be. Not to look at all the mess, but to look at the positive things in life!
So there is my little encouragement for today! haha!

On with my week.....Friday night was mine and Josh's "date night." We aim to take time out of our busy schedule and do something different. Sometimes we go out to eat, go see a movie. One night we went to this new donut shop and sat and ate donuts and milk! Well this time it was up to him to decide what to do. So he came home from work and said he was going to cook dinner. I had something’s I really needed to get done, so while I did that he cooked dinner! Then we played a few games of poker...and well we won’t go in to any more detail about how the game ended up! haha! We had a blast and it was nice and relaxing!
Saturday, me, my mom and my little sister headed to Atlanta to surprise one of my best friends for her birthday. She was having a big get together with some of her friends there and she had wanted us to come. I told her it was going to be really hard for me to make it… to make a long story short she had no idea I was coming. The party wasn’t until that night, so we went to IKEA and spent pretty much the whole afternoon there! I was able to get several things for the new house! I know I will want to go back once time gets a little closer to moving into the new house! We had a great night that night and actually went dancing in a club in Atlanta! Sunday we managed to go into the American Mart (Atlanta Market). They had their apparel showings. That was fun, and I managed to snag a few deals!
Sunday night when we got home I was wiped out! My husband offered to go to the grocery store to get somethings for us (I usually do weekly shopping and get all the meals for a week) He came back with the whole weeks grocery's and planned all the meals. I know, he is wonderful!!!!
So here we are in a new week!
I could go on and on, but I’m gonna’ stop and do some homework! I will blog again soon!

You live and you learn

So my summer is almost over :( The 17th I start school back with a full schedule. I am not really sure what this semester will hold for me as far as performance opportunity goes. My professor asked me last semester about possibly going to perform in D.C. at an improv festival. I of course jumped to the offer. However, I haven't heard anymore about it, so I am not sure if it's still on for this fall. So besides about being to start school we still are working on the house. I'd say we are about half way done (or maybe not quite half way, but close). We have almost of the demolition done, so it's not to the re-framing.
We had a little set back, a very long story, but Friday night some of Josh's VERY expensive tools were stolen. We believe we know who took them, however we don't know them and don't know where they took off too, but it a couple of guys had stopped by the day before and sold Josh some tools. They gave Josh a real convincing story that they needed to get rid of these tools they had just bought because a job fell through, and they didn't have the receipt to return them, and they needed the money really bad, blah, blah, blah...So Josh being the nice guy he was bought them for half of what he would of paid at Lowes and was real excited about them...He also showed the guys the house....Well the tools he bought were also stolen, so we just have a good feeling that they had another plan...It's sad that people are so pathetic. Josh was upset, but I guess you live and you learn.
I'm not really worried about people breaking in when we live there, because right now the house is obviously not lived in, but we do have an alarm system the home that will be hooked up when we move in.
Other than that, we are still pretty much on track and working hard every day to get the house done :)

Sabian is getting big..Speaking of robbers, etc...I know he is kind of learning that we are his owners and when things are un-natural. Anytime anyone comes to the door he gets on edge and barks real deep at the door. Definitely a different bark then when he his playing; tonight Josh was working late and it was just me and Sabian at home. Someone drove up and honked their horn. Sabian knew that was natural and he started barking a lot. He knew it kind of scared me because one why would someone at 10pm be at my front door honking their horn. I took my phone and went to the back room. Sabian stayed right there and barked at the door and then came to the room to "check on me" and went back to the door, it was nice to know he was so protective over me. However I am sure if I opened the door he would of just covered them with kisses..haha! It's nice though that he is finally in that protective stage. I think a deep dog bark just makes me feel safe, because I know that can scare a lot of people away.

Being a women I often find myself longing to be swoon, and sometimes I expect my husband to do something, and when it doesn't happen it often leaves me let down. My husband it definitely the love of my life, and is my other half, but I often find myself longing for more.
I am reading this book by Angela Thomas called" Do you think I'm Beautiful." I'm not quite done with it, but in one of the chapters entitled "The other lover" really spoke to me.

"The women are a mystery that the man can't unlock. Her desires seem to him like a moving target. He can't ever seem to get it right. He can't figure out how to be enough to please her...to make her happy...to keep her heart swooning. It's not that he shouldn't try. It's just that you and I must understand: the man will never be all that you need.
The man that you love is just a man. He may be your soul mate. He is possibly your best friend. He may be hunky and funny and surprising and strong, but he will never- not in a million years, not if he goes to relationship therapy twice a week and keeps every promise ever written-be enough to fill your soul...he will never make you whole.
He wasn't made to be enough. He could not be even if he tried. He is just a man, and he can give only as a man and interact as a man and love as a man. He wasn't designed to full the depth of a woman's longing, anticipate every need, and jump through ever hoop. He can't. Those deep places inside you were made for God. The man is simply a vessel. God uses him to give you a part of the filling of His holy love. But he is not the only vessel, nor is he able to fill you from his own strength, not is he the only thing you will ever need. Are you hearing this? There will never be a man on the face of the earth who can make you whole. Being filled in the depths of you souls is only about the love of God...knowing Him..hearing His voice...believing that He's wild about you...dancing in His arms. The man's responsibility is to be the vessel and to be a good one. He is called to listen to God and if you realize that the vessel us just a man, there can be an amazing exchange of healthy love. Through the man you can taste a part of the love that God has for you. Your responsibility with the man is to let him be just that. He is not your girlfriend. He is not perfect, and he never will be. He is not your Savior. He is not your fillings, nor is he the answer to all your longings. You must let him be fallen and forgiven and in process. You must mistake his opinions for the opinions of God. No matter what the man says or doesn't say, God is still wild about you. We must realize that there will never be healthy love between a woman and a man until she comes to rest and find her being in the great love of God. God's love gives wisdom in discerning the man. God's love gives direction and patience and hope. God's love lets us smile at the man's quirks, just as God smiles at ours.
I hope that you have learned that a good man can be wonderful, but he can never be enough, and he can never make you whole. You and I were made for even more. We were made for God."


Maybe I am alone in this, but I have a feeling I'm not. I think that has something to do with a lot of the divorce rate in our country. Not 100% , but some of it. Women desire to be loved, romanced and so much more, and we expect men to do so...but they are only man, they are destine to fail. And when they do, we women lose hope. This saying also in the same book really shows how women long for this love. "Women can lust for relationship with the same intensity that men lust for sex. We can take what was intended for good and make it an idol."
The only thing that will give us hope is God. He is the only thing that can make us whole and fulfill ALL the needs we have and long for. "You have been made by God, for God, and apart from Him there will always be emptiness in your soul."

I have been guilty of many of this. Putting my husband in the role of the romancer, the lover, and filling my every need and to be honest he has failed, and that has left me feel empty. It isn't his fault, it's mine, he is only man! Like the book said he is a vessel to show the love of God to me, but he is only man, and will fail many times. But God never does. I am learning everyday to allow God to fill those areas my husband can't. I know it will make a much happier me, and my husband will be much happier too :)

House progress and soem Pictures

For the last week I have spent all day everyday at the new house working pretty hard.
Destroying the bathrooms, taking out drywall, removing wallpaper, and much, much more!

I thought at first it would be easy to do demolition work. You just go at it with a hammer, right? Wrong..there is a technique to destroying things..haha! It was a lot of work. I have gotten the hang of taking down dry wall, but the destroying tile in the bathrooms is quite hard.

Josh has been working on the front porch this weekend. It already looks 100% better! He also worked on some pluming, moving the water heater, and stuff and capping those off.

The lawn is already needing to be mowed again. It's strange because I don't know the last time I have mowed...Probably about 4 years (I use to love to get out and mow the lawn at my parents house. Put the ear phones on and ride away). I am hoping he will let me get out and do some of it! Our goal is to get the walls framed up in the next three weeks so we can get all the new electrical lines ran throughout the house.

It has definitely been a hard job, but I know things might be a little easier once we get all the "old" stuff out and start putting the new in! I am excited for the shopping time :)

Here are some pictures of our hard labor thus far.







Josh working on the porch

Me taking off the horrible pink/and wallpaper

It looked like bubblegum

Look at him working hard

Sabian at the house playing

Almost 40 pounds at 5 months old

This is harder then I thought it was gonna be :(
Ripping out sheet rock

Chastina came and helped me! She's the best!

Vacations and more!

I'm home from another great week at the beach! This time I went with my Parents, sister and nephew! The weeks always go by so much fast when you are on vacation. Josh wasn't able to come up, because he had a lot of work to do. It was hard being away from him, but I knew I couldn't let that come in the way of having fun and a relaxing time, especially because I start school back up again very soon.
With my family we do a lot of shopping, shopping and more shopping.
It's funny how different families are, yet they are so much alike. I am pertaining to mine and Josh's family. The week before, we spent a whole week with his family at the beach. We went to the beach about every day, all day, except the day it was raining we headed out to shop. With my family we went to the beach or pool for about two hours each day...and we worked out every morning..haha! Yeah I know who works out on vacation? Well my family does..haha! It was actually nice to be able to work out with someone else (I always work out alone) and carry on a conversation (which always makes time go by faster). However, compared to most families I think our families are really alike, which is nice to be apart of. They are both family oriented, very talkative, into each others business..haha! Josh's side has more kids, so it makes it easier to go to the beach all day. Plus you don't really have to spend a lot of money. My side only has London right now, so one it gets kind of boring to see there all day everyday, and two it probably isn't good to have a 2 year old in the sun every day all day..So it was definitely nice to have both vacations!
We took my nephew to the zoo in Gulf Breeze, FL. It was very interesting and very hot! He had never been to a zoo and he LOVES animals. Besides the heat, and it being slightly ghetto, it was actually fun. We got to feed a giraffe and see MANY animals up close. My nephew came home with a new vocabulary of words and animal sounds!
Sunday (our return home date) came to fast; however I was REALLY excited to see my hubby and Sabian. He picked me up from my mom's and he wanted to take me by the house to see what he had done....OH BOY, he had done so much. The tacky screen porch was taken down, the kitchen cabinets were all removed and the wall that separates the kitchen and "dining room" was taken down (we are putting a bar up). The bushes were all trimmed..There was so much more, I can barely remember it all. I was very pleased with all of it and all the hard work he has put into the house already. He really enjoys that kind of labor. I am so blessed to have a handyman that can do things, and so we don't have to spend loads of money paying other people to do it for us. I'm still unsure about interior house colors. This usually comes pretty easy for me, but I am so wishy washy now. I guess want to try something new, bold, unique, but then my comfort colors are always pulling me one way..haha!
We will see.....


Here are some beach pictures : Feeding the giraffe

Josh's family (Most of these are Jamies, Josh's step dad's family)

He is so faithful!

It has finally come to pass....we closed on our home! I was a little nervous, just waiting for anything to fall through, but it didn't! God was faithful and we now own a three bedroom, brick home with two lots! Yes, the house came with the lot next to it(which possibly means we will build on that lot too). The house isn't too big, but it will get us through the next few years. I just LOVE the area though. It's in such a great neighborhood. Very spacious and quite..We have neighbors, but we have our space where no one can see through our house when they look out their widow.

When those words came out of the lawyers mouth “Congratulations you own a house" I wanted to cry with excitement! Everyone there was excited for us!! Our realtor handed us a gift card to a restaurant to go celebrate!
It ended up Josh was pretty much done working for the day (I think he was just so excited) so we decided to grab some lunch and then go head to the house and start the work! and I do mean work! We have a lot of work ahead of us! We are remodeling the kitchen, adding a master bath and closet, an extra bathroom, re-finishing the hard wood floors, and that's just some of it! We are designating our weekends here on out to it. I will probably be over there during the week days until school starts just doing things that I can accomplish alone.

Friday morning Josh and I actually got up at 7am to go to Lowes to buy something’s, they were having a big clearance on lightings, etc...We actually were able to take part on some of the sale! We are continuing to pray for good deals to come our way!
Friday night we decided to celebrate at the new house. I bought some Champaign and my parents came over (they had never seen the inside). We ended up working in the house tearing things apart until about 1am. I think this is going to keep up busy for awhile :)

We had a good beach vacation last week. We played beach volleyball about everyday..,I figured that counts as good exercise since I didn't really have the access to do anything else while I was there.
Now I am at the beach with my family this week. So I think I will get my beach fix for the summer. I have about 5 weeks until the fall semester starts up again :/

I feel so blessed this past week. God is so good and so faithful!