27 Things At 27!

This is me...Friday morning...the morning of my 27th Birthday. The morning I realized that I am 3 years from being 30 and there are so many things I want to accomplish while I am still considered young!! So, I made a list...a list of 27 things I want to accomplish at 27. Here goes:

1. I want to be a better wife, daughter, sister, and friend!

2. I want to get out of debt!

3. I want to run a 5K.

4.  I want to grow in my relationship with Christ by reading through Shannon Ethridge's Completely Series.

5. I want to spend more time outside.

6. I want to spend more time with my family in all regions of the U.S.A.

7. I want to grow my business with Arbonne and be well on my way to Regional Vice President and my Mercedes Benz.

8. I want to eat healthier.

9. I want to learn to sew more things.

10. I want to find the place where we are going to settle down.

11. I want to look like I did on my wedding day!

12. I want time freedom!

13. I want to grow a garden.

14. I want to be more intentional in everything I do.

15. I want to keep a plant alive.

16. I want to paint more often.

17. I want to go camping more often.

18. I want to learn to sing and play guitar!

19. I want to spoil my nieces and nephew!

20. I want to donate time and money to important issues.

21. I want to lead someone to Christ.

22. I want buy another hammock (one that squirrels won't chew down!)

23. I want to slow down and take it all in.

24. I want to learn to drive a standard.

25. I want to wear a swim suit (that's a huge step for me!)

26. I want to be more confident!

27. I want to show love to everyone around me!

What would you put on your list?

Rants and Wishes....

So it's been a couple weeks and there has been too many things on my mind to try to put them into a post. It's been so busy trying to get everything together over the past couple of months. I am not an everyday blogger, but I do blog when I feel I really want to share or say something to my family and friends and well...I suppose it is time for an update! 

RANTS AND WISHES (depending how you look at it!):

1. I really wish I could make parents care about their child's future. Apparently in the school district I work in, it doesn't matter how much the child needs to be retained the parent can throw a big enough fit about it that downtown will place them in the next grade. This, to a teacher, is the MOST frustrating thing. What happened to if they don't make the grades they don't pass! Most teachers hate having to retain a child. BUT when the child will truly benefit from it, we know it's the right thing to do. UGH...parents please understand that we do not have a vendetta against your child, we actually do want them to succeed so we have their best interest at heart.

2. I am ready to know what we are going to do in 5 weeks. I am stressing about life right now and it has taken a toll on my health. It's ridiculous...I know that God is in control and I know He already has everything in place. I also know that as soon as I am on the other side of things I will see just why things have happened they way they have happened and I will be a stronger person for it...I am just ready to be on the other side!!! I am so thankful for all the support. I have full faith that God will provide...the human instinct in me still stresses. I am tired of some people telling me that if I truly believed that...then I wouldn't stress. That is just not the case! I am telling you now...the reason I am stressing is because I am being selfish...I want things to work out the way I have them in my head! (How's that for honesty?) But the way I see things may very not be the best thing for us so I pray everyday for strength, peace, and for God to show us soon just what direction we need to go in. It's hard not to be selfish and think I have everything planned out the right way! So leaning on God is the only thing I have right now! 

In all, these 2 things have been on my mind the most...and it is not my typical post, but felt I needed to share that with you for two reasons...so you will know a little more about what's really going on in my head...and so you will know that I obviously need a lot of prayers! ha! But seriously...I am so thankful to have everyone of you in my life. I wouldn't be able to make it through this journey without my husband, family, and friends....but most importantly God. 

Love You Mean It,

What a Taxing week....

 Matt is home and I am so excited! He came back last week and sent me these at school: 

 I was super excited! The card said "Not Long Now" which is totally sweet! My husband is wonderful to me...and I cherish the sweet things he does for me! I love that he is back! 

On another note...I found my new favorite manicure...SHELLAC! I love this stuff! It's super durable and it's better for your nails than the acrylic. It lasts up to 2 weeks and does not chip!

Don't they look great? I am lovin' it!

Meanwhile....

It is I.T.B.S. testing for the kids at school....UGH...that pretty much explains it...no further details needed...just ask any elementary teacher that has to administer it!

But it's not so bad...as long as your children sit still, don't talk, have all the common sense and life experience in the world, and can listen to directions carefully without getting distracted...

AND...

Is it really 2 days before taxes are due and we still don't have them done yet?....

 I am just slightly stressing about money...especially come June when our paychecks end and I can't even think about if our house doesn't sell! God has proven to us that He provides time and time again so I continually lean on that! We have some pretty cool possibilities so pray for that! We would greatly appreciate it!

Love You Mean It,

Love is Like a Painting...

I have to say that I absolutely LOVE my husband...and you might say...ok, and? You know that saying, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder?" Well...it's been 2 weeks since I've seen my husband and I am telling you that statement rings true. My husband is my very best friend. I have a handful of girls that I consider my best friends but that's different...they understand me in a way that only girls can...and Matt understands me in a way that only he can. I am missing him so much! It's been a lonely 2 weeks and I am ready for him to be back! I have been through a roller coaster of emotions and I didn't realize just how much he keeps me sane and emotionally stable! haha! Anyway...my friend Marley has been great this past week at keeping me busy! She invited me to go to a girls night out at a place called Painting with a Twist. It was SO much fun!

 This is Marley, Melissa, and I before we began our fun filled night!

Here is how it works:

 You get your paint...

 Then they set up your canvas...

 Then the instructor shows you what you need to do and compliments your efforts....this was the beginning.

 Time to do the bottom!

 Then we started on our whimsical tree!

 Adding Flourishes!

 Marley hard at work on her bottom half!

Working on the balls! My friend is so fun and beautiful!

And this is how mine ended up! Love it...so therapeutic and super fun!!

Thanks Marley for such a fun night!

This is our finished products!

What a fun filled night! So glad I got to go! I am truly blessed to have the friends that I do and I do not take them for granted (on purpose)!! I am so thankful that God has provided me with lots of friends that love me in spite of myself and a husband that loves me unconditionally. About the only way I can describe the way I feel about my friends and family is LOVE. And love is like a painting...leaving our impressions and making beautiful memories on this open canvas called Life.

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

What an interesting week! We Celebrated Dr. Seuss's Birthday (late) at school. We had a door decorating contest and my wonderful husband helped me out:

I asked him 9:30pm the night before if he could draw Thing 1!

Didn't he do a fantastic job! 

While Matt worked on Thing 1's face, I worked on the sweatshirt for me and the t-shirt for one of my students, Dakoyta! Here is how they turned out:

If you guys knew Dakoyta, him being my Thing 2 would definitely make sense! We walked in the school parade and and our door didn't win...but I thought it was awesome! So did everyone else! It was overall a fun day....here is the door and Thing 1 and Thing 2!

He was so funny all day! He loved being my Thing 2...if only he knew the reason I picked him! haha! 

 SUBJECT CHANGE: Let's TALK HOUSE!!

The House is on the market and here are the pictures of it:

 Entry Way

Living Room off the entry way

 And now the Den (which is the official Living Room)...

Kitchen:

Dining Room

Office

Main Bathroom

Guest Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

And the backyard:

These are the pictures taken for the online realtor page...so we are missing ones of the half bath and the "exercise" room....but you get the gist! I love this house! It was a beautiful first home and we feel so very blessed to have it! I wish I could take it with me...but since I can't I will cherish the photos and the memories! I truly will miss this place...but it's time for someone else to make special memories and enjoy this home as much as we have.