Say it ain't so.... I'm 30 years old??????

Oh my.... where does time go?  I can't believe that I am thirty years old.  I feel like I should be about 20.  I guess it is really time to grow up now.  Well, I had a great birthday.  I started my day off with a nervous feeling.  I had to have my first mammogram on my birthday. What a present?? I had my physical and my doctor felt "something".  She told me not to worry, but she still wanted to have it checked especially since my grandfather had breast cancer. Well, I survived and turns out everything was fine.  Thank goodness and it only got better after that.  I spent the evening with my parent's house.  Matt's family and Justin's family all came over to enjoy Low Country Boil.  I got a lot of great presents this year!!  If you know me, you know my love/obsession with platters.  Marcie got me a new Nora Fleming napkin holder.  Then I got a new jacket from Alison. My mom got me some new chargers and burlap bows (silverware holders) for my dining room.  I can't wait for Jillian to monogram them.  Matt's mom got me a new Mark Roberts elf. She also gets me a new ornament each year.  Matt got me a new wallet and a facial (YAY). I got some other little things.  I felt like a kid.  It was fun.  Anyways- I look forward to a great year.  The morning of my birthday, this is the scripture that I read- I love it!!!  "There is wonderful joy ahead even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while".  I am looking forward to that wonderful Joy!

 

 

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!!!

Well~ I am moving on.  Two posts in one day!!! I'm improving by leaps and bounds!  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  As I said earlier, Matt's grandmother passed away the weekend before Thanksgiving so the Charleston crew didn't come back.  So this Thanksgiving, we started our day at Matt's mom and dad's.  We enjoyed a feast, had a little time for that to digest, and then on to the Reid's we went.  WoW~  I shouldn't have eaten for days.  I do love Thanksgiving!!!  We have so much to be thankful for and I wouldn't want to spend it any other way than with BOTH of our families.  It made me a little sad to see people camped out in lines shopping, shopping, and more shopping on Thanksgiving.  I am not into that.  I did go out for a while on black Friday.  I started at about 7:00.  I went to Blossom, my most favorite store.  I don't get to go there often, but when I can get 30% off and my birthday is just days away, I set out to buy something.  Then I met Mama and Marcie.  It was amazing at how normal it was.  I guess everyone was sleeping because the hustle and bustle took place all night.  Anyway- I love to get my decorations up the day after Thanksgiving.  I LOVE decorating for Christmas.  That afternoon, I helped Mama put up her tree.  It turned out really cute.  We used burlap on her tree.  Here is a picture. 

Then I came home to finish my decorating.  Matt and I went to get a tree.  We have one artificial tree and one real one.  I love a real tree!  The tree in my dining room is fancy.  I wanted our tree in the den to be fun and whimsical.  I found the perfect tree topper for it.  I love turning it on, it makes our house SO cozy.  I turn it on first thing in the morning and it is the last thing to be turned off at night.  Did I mention that I LOVE Christmas???  Here are some pictures.  I even decorated my bedroom this year.  Did I mention I LOVE Christmas??



 

 

 

 

 We ended our Thanksgiving with our annual Hanging of the Greens service.  Last year, we were Mary and Joseph!  This year our role was a little easier, Matt and I just had to hang a wreath and position the poinsettias at the front of the church.  The theme this year was Reclaiming Christmas.  It is my prayer that we will reclaim Christmas as the day God sent his son to this Earth to save my life! ~Not presents, Santa, elf on the shelf, decorations, and the list goes on and on. As fun as that stuff is- WOW!!! what a gift we were given that is so undeserving.  Thank you Jesus for leaving glory to face the cross to rescue me! I pray that I will be bold and tell others this season of the wonderful gift that awaits them!!! So for now... Merry CHRISTmas!!! 

My life over the last few months

Well- I've done it again... I have gone way too long without posting.  I guess this is the life of my blog!  I am going all the way back to our fall trip to the mountains.  I love the leaves in the fall and for the last several years I have wanted to go to the mountains and we have never made it.  This year, we took off one Sunday to Chimney Rock. It was beautiful.  I absolutely love being outside during the fall.  We walked up to the "Chimney" and then hiked onto the top of the mountain.  We had such a fun time together.  I love a planned trip or event, but I also love a spur of the moment trip with Matt.  We should take advantage of the ability to just go.... because when we finally get "the call", it won't be that easy. 

Matt and I also got to keep Emma and Evan for their first night away from Marcie and Justin.  Marcie and Justin went to a concert and weren't going to get home until late so I asked her if they could just spend the night with us.  She was worried about them sleeping...... but they did fine.  We went to Connie Maxwell and saw all the animals and played on the swing set.  We saw a "Llamee"  as Evan would say it.  We also saw goats.  They were unsure of the goat when it practically stuck his entire neck through the fence to get to them.  After Connie Maxwell, we went over to the train yard for them to see the trains.  It was getting dark, so we just sat in the car and watched one of the trains leave out.  I'm not sure if Evan or Matt enjoyed it more. Then we went to Chick-fil-a and headed home.  We put them in our room in the pack-n-plays and Emma cried for just a little while.  Evan ended up sleeping with Matt in one bed and Emma slept with me in the other.  They did good and we had fun.  Hope we can have another spend the night party soon!! 

Until we get our own baby- we will spend our days spoiling and loving on these sweet babies (not that we will stop when we get our own baby :)!! They crack me up, I am thankful that God placed them in our lives!!  As far as the baby front... we haven't heard anything.  If you are following our blog, chances are you are a friend of ours!  Please join us in prayer as we wait for God's plan to unfold in our lives.  We know he is working on our behalf.  I pray that we will not grow weary during "the wait".  We have been waiting 8 months now.  The time has flown.  In my bible study over the last several weeks, I have been reminded that God has the perfect timing for everything.  We have been studying John in Sunday School, so I have been in John during my quiet time.  As I read about Jesus' days on Earth and his ministry, it stuck out how many times it said, The leaders tried/wanted to arrest him, but his time had not yet come.  It was just a reminder that God's timing is perfect and who am I to question or want it any other way?  He knows best, I just have to trust that!  So I will leave you with a verse to ponder.  It means so much to me!
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day." Habakkuk 2: 3

We have so much to look forward to.  As I watched Matt's 95 year old grandmother pass from this life to the next, I was quickly reminded that while there are trials in this life, we have an indescribable inheritance awaiting us in heaven.  Thank goodness for that hope as well!