Lucky Number 7...

Well friends, it's been 7 years! I cannot believe it...it just seems like yesterday I was walking down the aisle to say "I Do." We have been through a lot in the past 7 years...some good, some not...but all worth it.  We were able to do something special this year...first time in 7 years that we went away together! 

Here is a glimpse of where we went:

We stayed in the White River Tree House in Mountain View, Arkansas.

It was nothing short of amazing! (even in the winter!)

And here is the inside:

 Isn't it just perfect? I was so excited going through the cabin looking at all the fun things it had to offer...when I got upstairs to look down from the loft I nearly screamed...

 Can you see what I may have screamed about? 

When I realized my little friend was stuffed...I felt a lot more comfortable about my stay! 

And if this wasn't just wonderful we also got tickets to Caroling in the Caves! (I couldn't take pictures because they asked us not to...so selfish...I think! ;) ) So I found this one on a website to try to capture our view:

This doesn't even begin to describe it. I have been before but I didn't remember it being so breathtaking! And the acoustics of the Carolers was absolutely perfect! 

After, we went to dinner at Jo Jo's on the River:

We also:

Took advantage of the day and night the city had to offer!

And to end our trip we went to the Springs and this is what we found:

What a blast! We feel so blessed to have been able to share this time together! We can't wait to go back!

OH! And I almost forgot!! Guess what I found???

MARTHA!!! This was my very first baby doll I got on my first Christmas. (Mine was lost in the fire as some of you know.) The lady in the shop wouldn't sell it to me though...I was so disappointed! But so happy to have found the exact doll that I once had. Sure hope I can find her again from someone willing to give her up!! 

What a weekend full of blessings and celebrations! I love the life that God has laid before me!

I don't deserve it, but so thankful he finds me worth it! Have a Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy your friends and family...

Love You Mean It,

Retrospect...

Looking back over the last few months I have learned a lot of things...some things which are indescribable and unexplainable...most of which were God.

We have been through various ups and downs through the past few months and we just celebrated a big moment in closing a chapter of our life.

WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!! PRAISE GOD!!

I cannot even begin to tell you how much God has shown us His Awesomeness these past few months. He has laid a clear path and I can now say that I am finally on the other side, looking at the beauty that He is and looking at the greatness that He has put before us. Thank you to all my prayer warriors out there. Without you our prayers wouldn't have been heard and answered. Here is a glimpse of what I mean:

Received a notice in the mail 09/30/11 that our car insurance will lapse on 9/28/2011 (yes...2 days before we got the letter) and our house insurance would lapse on 11/3/11. We were in panic mode...wondering what costs we were going to have to worry about. It took 2 days to get car insurance and then Matt called our Realtor, Dayna Simmons...who is awesome...and told her what was going to happen to the insurance. She then proceeded to tell Matt, "Well, I think I have an offer on your house. I will know in the next 48 hours." Folks, if that is not God, I don't know what is. And to top it off...we were going to have to pay a huge chunk at closing just to get it sold and it ended up being a lot less than we expected, and we have that exact amount coming to us in the mail. I am telling you now, I knew God was in control, but I am in awe at just how in control He is. He had that planned out so perfectly and I cannot even begin to tell you how amazed I am with His perfect Plan. We feel so blessed.

Speaking of blessed, I have the best friends. Seriously. I have tried to come up with the right words to express my gratitude and love for my friends that helped us move this past weekend. There are no words....except... my cup runneth over. I have so much Joy in my heart for these people. God knew what I needed and He blessed me with Lora, Michael, Elizabeth, Marley, Jennifer, Kara, and Hally. We woudln't have made it without them this weekend...and that's the plain truth. So from the bottom of my heart....

So if you have been wondering why you haven't heard from me, this would be the reason. I have so much to be thankful for. I am just stuck with how to begin to describe this feeling...it's like all this joy, love, gratitude, etc. is about to burst and slap someone in the face! ha! That's how overwhelmed I am and so thankful for all that God has given us over these past few months.

I have a lot to celebrate this Thanksgiving...how about you?

Love You Mean It,



Make a Wish....

So this weekend was Stefanie's birthday...my friend of 16 years! WOW...I cannot believe I am old enough to say that I have had a friend for that many years...and it's only going to get bigger! Yikes!

Onto less depressing things...We had a blast celebrating her birthday! Here is a glimpse of our night:

We had a delicious meal at On The Border! 

 Me, Ruba, Stef, and Sandy

Then we went to Stef's house and had birthday cake and opened presents...

Stef with her birthday cake that I made.

 The inside was a surprise!

Before opening presents!

 The birthday girl crown from Erica!

more presents...

It was a fabulous time...we even learned the Wobble. It was fun! So glad to have had the time to spend with all the ladies that went! Thank you for making our friend's birthday even better!

I have said this once and I will say it again...Stef, I am looking forward to 16 more birthdays...and many more beyond that...

we just won't tell how many years we have been friends...ha!

Love You Mean It,

Cause I Want to...

I am at the end of week 2 with Eating Clean and my Arbonne Fit Essentials! This is one of my favorite things:

I LOVE it! I feel great and I am losing the weight. I am down 7lbs! Woohoo! Go Me! I am usually not so boastful, but I am proud of myself for sticking with it so I can't contain my excitement! The only hard part about it is really planning out my meals. It takes time to Eat Clean and make healthy choices. But it is working and I feel SO much better. My mind feels clearer, I have more energy than I did before, and somewhere I found self-control (thank you God for that answered prayer! He is so awesome!) Anyway...now I just need to tackle running...God, I am going to need some help with this one as well...thanks in advance!! 

 On a different note...

I have been thinking a lot lately about how I can make a difference...and thanks to my dear friends

Alex and Sandy (thanks facebook for this picture!),

I have figured out a way I can give back. Alex invited me to join Team Jennye for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Community Walk November 5th.

Donate Here: My Donation Page

See, Alex and I have both had people very close to us take their lives. And while we grieve and mourn them, we also want to help others from having the same fate. Alex has been doing this for a while and I am so thankful that he asked me to join his team. I feel like I can finally do something that can make a difference and it makes it even more special to me because it hits so close to home. I feel very blessed to be a part of it. Thank you, Alex and Sandy for our friendship and your allowing me to be a part of this cause with you. I am praying for our team and hoping through our fundraising we can save some lives...

and even find some healing along the way...

Love You Mean It,

If Only I Were A Stay at Home Wife...

I have had on my mind lately how much fun life would be as a stay at home wife. You may think that is a bit selfish, but you are totally....right. Ok, I know how that sounds...but I would totally love it. I used to think I wouldn't...but now, I think I really would. I would be so lazy productive! I think I have been feeling this way lately because I have had no time or energy to do anything at all...except come home eat dinner with the family and then go to bed. Seriously...that's all I do these days. I am so exhausted. I haven't been on here in ages which totally bums me out because what used to be a once a week thing has turned into a once a month thing. So, reason number 1 why I think it would be fun to stay home: I can blog whenever  I want. And then reason number 2: there would be way more fun things to blog about because I could do some super fun, crafty things...which brings me to reason number 3: I could do super fun, crafty things. And you may ask, "What super fun, crafty things could you make?" And my reply, "Have you seen pinterest?" Reason number 4: I can finally start my to do list on pinterest. Oh the life of a stay at home wife...

I married a man in the wrong career field for that! But I would take him over all the super fun, crafty things anyway. He's the best. I mean who couldn't love a guy like this:

 or this...

especially this...

Ah yes! I am blessed! God knew exactly what I needed in this life! And that is all I need! Although it would be fun to get to do all the fun things a stay at home wife gets to do! I am sure it is a prettier picture in my head! Because when it comes down to it... I hate to deep clean and fold laundry, but most importantly, I cannot cook. Poor Matt! 

Yay me though! Matt is an excellent cook! I am beginning to think he got the short end of the stick! ha! He would never say that! Just kidding....I think.

Alas, my dreams of becoming a stay at home wife are going to have to wait...

On a totally different note...I started this:

I love it! The first few days I didn't feel well at all...but that's because my body was detoxing itself from all the nasty things I put in it everyday. I seriously feel a lot better. I started it last wednesday and have already lost 5lbs! I seriously have never felt better. Something I am even more excited about that is going to help me with this:

The Arbonne 30 Day Getting Fit Kit! It has so many yummy things! And it is totally Clean! It has the protein shakes that I have tons of yummy recipes for, detox tea, fizz tabs for energy, fit chews to curb appetite, cleanse to help my body really get rid of all the yuck, and so much more! It is everything I need to help in my journey towards a better me! And it is super affordable! I am in love! If you are looking to jump start your weight loss, I am telling you, this stuff is amazing! If nothing else, the shakes are awesome and filling and there are tons of recipes that can be made with the powder! 

I could go on and on...Updates will be frequent..and by frequent I mean once a week. I wish I had the time to get on here more often, but I just don't. Maybe one day...

Until then, 

Love You Mean It,

P.S. Matt and I are excited about some job possibilities...please keep us in your prayers!