Family, Farming, and A Kentucky Wedding...

This weekend was wonderful! We left Thursday night for Memaw's and arrived about midnight. We were tired so we headed straight for bed. And this...is what we woke up to:

Gotta love The Eastridge Farm!

After a big breakfast we got out with Memaw and Papa to help with two Mares that just had babies. 

Papa needed to give a shot to the horse because she hadn't released all of the afterbirth. So I stayed in the truck and took pictures while everyone else (who knew what they were doing) had their hand in helping:

We had two babies...and they sure are pretty! One was gray and they other black:

Unfortunately we lost this one late Friday night due to it not feeding. Bless its heart. 

On a lighter note...that afternoon Matt took me on the four wheeler and this is our experience:

Our view was spectacular!

It was such a pretty day! And let me tell you how wonderful my husband is! I didn't get a picture of it, but he knows that there are 27 things I want to do while I am 27. He helped start one of the things to check off my list! He took me out in the field with the farm truck and taught me how to drive a standard! He was extremely patient with me! I did ok...but far from being able to get on the road and feel confident! But how wonderful is that! It's a start all thanks to Matt! 

Then Megan and Justin came in and we got to spend time with them and our 2 sweet nieces and nephew. Then we went to the rehearsal Friday night and came home and went to bed! 

Then the Wedding Festivities began!

This is the Church (I got this picture off the internet so I am not sure who the man is):

Matt did such a wonderful job! He has a gift for speaking and he always speaks from his heart. I could listen to him all day!  I forgot my camera so had to use his phone so I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted but here is what I did get:

This is Uncle Dwayne and Matt before the wedding!

This is me and MeMe. 

And folks...that's it...disappointing, I know! I was disappointed that I didn't have the chance to get more pictures than I did at the wedding but it was a beautiful wedding. Maybe I can get more pics from others and share later!

Later Saturday night Matt and I decided since it was such a wonderful night that we would go sit on the front porch swing...that ended really quick when we were met with this:

Yes...it's cute...but it sure does stink. I was outta there in 2 seconds flat! 

Oh well...it was a good thought!

So we ended up going back inside and going to bed so we could get up and around for church in the morning. We woke up and had a good breakfast and went to Church with Memaw, Paula, Bethany, and Sarah. We said our goodbyes and then headed to Campbellsville to have Lunch with Meme. It's always hard to say goodbye to family but are grateful that we live a lot closer than we did and count that as a blessing! Here is Uncle Matt and our 2 nieces and nephew:

Uncle Matt and Addie Mae

 This is Jade or Jammers as I like to call her!

This is Uncle Matt and Graden. 

We had such a wonderful weekend with our family! We are so blessed to be a part of the family that we had. About the only way this weekend could have been any better is if we could have had Maurice and Donna there! They made it home safely from the Netherlands! Praise God for that! Looking forward to the next visit....

Love You Mean It...

Kentucky Bound...

So Matt and I are super excited about a trip we are taking to Kentucky tomorrow for several reasons. 1) We get to spend time with the family. 2) We get to see our nieces and nephew....i know...that falls under family...but it's a totally different category...just sayin... 3) Matt is officiating his first wedding...and to top it off it's for his cousin Nathan. Matt feels so honored to have been asked to do this. It's an exciting time for all! So of course I will be posting pics of our adventure really soon! Keep us in your prayers as we are traveling. Pray for Nathan and Tori for a very blessed and bright future and also pray for Matt's parents as they are flying back from the Netherlands! We are pretty bummed that we won't get to see them this trip, but hopefully sometime soon! Sure can't wait to see those pics!

Love You Mean It,

Super Luke

This is Luke. I borrowed this picture and put it as my profile picture on facebook for quite some time. Most of you have probably seen it. For those of you that do not know the story of this precious little boy I urge you to take time to read the blog www.prayforluke.com...and start from the beginning. It is an emotional roller coaster and well worth taking the time to read. I have never met this family..although after reading the blog for so long and keeping them in constant prayers I feel as if they are family...isn't God so good in that way? This family, or "unit," as they call themselves, have moved me with their unwavering faith through such a dark time in their lives. I have been reminded that so many times (especially when I am feeling sorry for myself) that Luke and his family are out there and they are pressing on...they are not giving up...and while they have good days and they have bad days, they are still praising God in every way. I thank God for that family. I thank God that my friend, Leann, posted something about Luke on facebook one day and my curiosity got the best of me. It's time that I share it with all of you...

Will your curiosity get the best of you?

I think it should...

Love You Mean It...

Daddy Knows Best!

Happy Father's Day! 

I just love this guy! I have been blessed with one of the best Dad's ever! He always knows what to say and how to make me feel better. Here are my top TEN favorites about my Dad:

1. He loves God deeply and has brought me up to do the same.

2. He watched Willy Wonka with me 2,110 times when I was younger and did not complain about it one bit! (and still would if I asked him!)

3. He said "Yes" when Matt asked his permission to marry me...one of my favorites! He also knew that I was going to marry Matt long before I did! He knows me well!

4. He has called me his baby girl since I can remember...and still reminds me of it everyday!

5. He tells me he loves me and just wants me to know (this will never get old).

6. There is nothing like a Daddy's girl getting a hug from her dad saying that everything's going to be ok, when you feel like the world is going to end...and always knows what to say in these situations too!

7. He picks on the guitar and that is one thing I have always and still love about him to this day...he's good at it too! The popcorn song remains my favorite!

8. He taught me how to drive...he deserves a medal! 

9. He talked to me the whole way down the aisle to give me away at my wedding to calm my nerves! 

10. He tells some good stories...stories that I could here over and over again...which reminds me of our trips to Tennessee we used to take together! Some of my favorite past times!

There's a lot more to my dad and a lot more that I could tell you that I love about him but you would be reading forever! I am so blessed and thankful that God allowed me to grow up in a family with a father. He truly has shown me the way the Father loves us!

I was blessed with a pretty amazing Father-in-Law too! (and mother in law) They have raised a man who is going to be the father of my children some day and I couldn't be happier with the man he is and continues to strive to be. 

I hope all of you had a wonderful Father's day and those of you who were unable to spend time with your fathers, know that prayers were said on your behalf.

Love you Mean It,

Pieces of My Heart...

I have been on a bit of a hiatus from blogging since our move to Arkansas. It's been so busy and filled with so many grown up things to deal with that I have not been able to fully give time and attention to this. But...you are in luck...things are finally starting to settle down and we are getting the hang of life here in Arkansas again...which means more blog posts coming your way! Get excited!

This is on the forefront of our minds:

 Matt is painting at Harding Academy for the summer while he is looking for a youth ministry position. Please continue to pray for us in this search. We can't wait to get back to what we know and love to do. And Matt truly is good at what he does. I learn from him everyday...He makes me want to be a better person! God is so good! I am blessed beyond measure! 

And I got my job back at Hastings...while I search for a teaching position. I had a couple of interviews Friday in Searcy but one didn't pan out...I found that out today...I was truly bummed but my wonderful husband reminded me yet again that God has bigger and better things planned and we have to trust Him completely. Gotta love perspective! So our lives may look like this to us:

But look like this to God:

 We are both going to end up on the other side of things! We are ready to see our journey and just how great he planned our path and the reasons behind it! I really can't wait to see what He has in store! We are ready to do great things in His name!

Thanks for all the prayers on our behalf. We feel blessed beyond measure to have our friends and family beside us every step of the way! Near or far, you all hold pieces of our hearts....

Love you Mean It,