Gettin' into the Christmas Spirit

Last night Jason and I decorated our apartment for our first married Christmas. Although we realized after about two hours of putting up decorations and our tree that neither of our families (except for my sister Carlee, yay!) will get to see our decorated apartment. But, that's okay...it just gives us more incentive to have friends over and to enjoy the beautiful twinkly lights ourselves.

Our tree before the ornaments went on.

Putting on the first ornament...our brand new Micky ears!

Jason with our honeymoon ornaments.

The finished product.

Our version of a Christmas village.

Front door.

Mr. & Mrs. Claus hanging out by the TV.

Our coffee station has a nice "glow" to it now.

Jason and I have a tradition that is derived from a Sansom Family tradition. We buy an ornament in each place we visit on vacation. So far we have an ornament from Chicago, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Disney World. We were also successful in recycling some wedding decorations. It sure does work out that I consistently like red.

Anyway, we really enjoyed getting everything ready for Christmas. Now we just have to do our Christmas shopping!! I think I'm probably a lot more excited about that than Jason.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

A Bit on Marriage

So, I failed at the 30 Days of Thankfulness - I'll just admit it. I am a very bad traveling blogger...and weekend blogger too.

While we were in Daytona Beach last week, we had the awesome opportunity to catch up with one of Jason's really good friends from high school and his fiance. They're getting married in about six months and we met this at a cool little restaurant for dinner after our Disney adventure. We thought we'd grab some food, catch up a bit, and be on our way, but we actually ended up staying and talking for hours.

I was reminded during our visit about something that the Lord has been consistently teaching me over the past 66 days of marriage - transparency.

I'm not good at being transparent...in fact, I'm really bad at it. Growing up in the south (or maybe just in America), we ask "How are y'all doin'?" and respond, "Great", "Fine", or "Good". That's it. Those are the answers to choose from. If I had a nickle for every time Jason and/or I have been asked, "How is married life," we probably could pay cash for a starter home tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong, I love that people ask how things are going. But, if you're one of those people, from now on you may want to expect a little longer of an answer from me.

I'm learning that transparency and honesty are valuable things.

Marriage is work. Marriage is fun. Marriage is hard. Marriage is wonderful. Marriage is difficult. Marriage is beautiful. Marriage is crazy.

I recently listened to a sermon by Matt Chandler from The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX about Marriage and Oaths. Here are a couple of quotes from this sermon that resonated with me:

"So I want to point something out to you, and then I want to challenge you, whether you're single or married. We as Christians love and delight in God's unfailing, sacrificing, patient love for us. We love it.
Like we start talking about the idea that God delights in us despite us, that God gives and grants to us when we cannot give back to him what's due his name… We love it. It makes us sing, makes us lift our hands, makes us feel like a whole person, challenges us in the deep, deep parts of our souls to rejoice in him, and yet this reveals our wickedness. You take that idea and lay it upon other relationships, and it seems absurd.
The one thing we delight in as believers in Christ, when you lay it on other relationships, even well-meaning believers will think it's absurd. That it would be absurd for God to ask you to look at your spouse, to engage your spouse, to look at your church, to look at your home group like Christ looks at you, loves you. Are you going to be able to do that perfectly? I wouldn't even give you a quarter of a percent, but there would be the pursuit. So let me challenge you in a couple of ways. 

If you're single…
1. How well are you doing at covenant keeping? Now the good news on your relationship with God is he's the one holding down the covenant. All right? But are you serious about your relationship with the Lord, or is it an outlier?
2. How serious are you about the covenant you've made to The Village [or your home church], if you're a member here? Are you serious about your home group, or is that, again, just one thing among many? Are you serious about the other believers you're doing life deeply with? That's covenant issue stuff.

Now my married couples. Some of you are in here and you're just in a dry spot, just in a rough patch. I've already said that happens in marriage. Nobody's marriage is always on a scale of 1-10, a 10+ on the romance, giddy, love thing. All right? So maybe you're in just a rough stretch. Maybe you're not connected.

Here's what I want to invite you to do. Say it out loud to your spouse, and then come and let us pray for you. Say it out loud, "I just don't feel connected. I just don't feel like we're synced up." If that surprises you, don't go, "Really? Well, I feel completely connected. What's wrong with you?" This doesn't need to turn into security getting involved today. So just say it, and come let us pray for you."


Then they showed this video:

Marriage Reconciliation from The Village Church on Vimeo.

This is the part that really got me - the transparency of this just astonished me:

“Just so you know, I could be on this video. First few years of my marriage were just an absolute nightmare. In fact, on multiple occasions I laid in bed, stared at my ceiling, and thought to myself, "Is this my life? Is this the next 30-40 years of my life? Is this what it's going to be like?" I would get in these arguments with God, "How can you expect me and how you can you ask me to do these things over here and work this hard over here, and then come home to this? Like this… I will not make it 30-40 years if this is what you have for me," lying right next to another godly Christian woman in our bed at night and just not imagining that I would make it until the end. Listen, just so I don't paint this in a way it couldn't… You don't think she was feeling the same thing?

So can you imagine all the things you might like about me, Lauren might hate about me? Like my passion, my zeal, my quick mouth, my argumentation… How do you think that plays out at home? Do you think Lauren… "Man, I love how quick-witted you are. I just love how you always have an answer." Right? "I love getting in an argument with you, Matt. You're so good at listening, so good at…" Right? I mean, I guarantee, she'd stand up here and say the same thing, that she was lying in bed wondering if this was our life.”

I want to be a woman who is not afraid to tell the truth; who is not afraid of transparency in my life an in others' lives. I believe that all of us struggle. We all have wonderful, triumphant times, and we all have times that are hard, and hard work. I'm learning that marriage is the same way - and it's not wrong to admit it!

I feel like for newlyweds, or even people who are engaged and nearing their wedding, it's almost taboo to admit that it's hard or that you might argue.

But seriously, let's think about this...you're taking two sinful people and putting them together in a holy covenant - that is a recipe for conflict. At it's core, biblical marriage is the complete opposite of everything about our natural, sinful nature. But by God's grace, marriage is beautiful, wonderful, and fun. Transparency about that journey, in my opinion, in of the utmost importance.

Sorry for the long blog today.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 22

Today I am thankful for marriage.

Jason and I are celebrating two months of marriage today. I am so incredibly blessed to get to spend every day with my best friend. I can't wait to see how God uses us!

Also, Happy Thanksgiving!

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 19

Today I am thankful for travel.

I have been to some pretty incredible places in my life. While I'm very thankful for all of those travels, there's something about just going home - or in this case, going to Jason's home.

I am thankful that we both have such incredible families to travel to. Although there are many times I wish we all lived closer together, there is something fun about visiting home becoming a little vacation.

So here we go - 8 hours in the car today and 2 more hours tomorrow!

Let's go!

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 18

Today I am thankful for friendship.

I was honored to be a part of hosting a dear friend's wedding shower today. In about a 4 hour span, I was reminded about 600 times how blessed I am to have such incredible friends.

The friends I have show what real friendship truly is. Since we've been married, Jason and I haven't been the best at keeping up with people like we know we should. But the friendships that we have here in Birmingham (and beyond) are not swayed or altered by a lack of time together. They are true and deep friendships.

I am thankful for the reminder of how blessed I am and how amazing the friends that I have are. I just hope and pray that I'm as good of a friend to them as they are to me.

Welp, we are headed out of town for Thanksgiving in about 8 hours. I'll try my hardest to keep up with the blog :)

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 17

Today I am thankful for my home.

I spent a good portion of today cleaning our apartment - or as we lovingly call it - The Morales Palace. I spend a lot of time complaining about where I live and wishing for something better. But today I was reminded of how thankful I am for this apartment I call home.

When I moved in with my former roommate, I'd been out of college for a day. I had a part-time job and a summer internship lined up. Other than that, I had no additional income, savings, or help from my parents. I was an adult and on my own. Thankfully, God was faithful and provided for me during a very uncertain season.

Now, my husband and I live in the very same apartment. I am thankful that he was able to move-in to this place once we got married. I'm thankful that together, we don't stress about making rent payments, and that we live within our means. I'm thankful that we're able to dream about what our next home will be like, where it will be, and when that will be.

But I am glad that God has reminded me today to be thankful for what I've been given...and never forget how far He's carried me.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

French Braids

So, it's taken almost my entire life, but I think I've figured out how to French Braid.

Braids are so trendy these days.

Whether it's an awesome updo...

...or a classic Katniss...

...everybody's braidin' it.

So today I was sitting at work and I thought to myself, "Self, you've learned how to do so many thing by googling...why don't you google how to French braid." So in spit of what my media law professor taught me about using "google" as a verb, I googed it. 

What I found is a tutorial by Real Simple...and it is really simple!

I would try to attempt being super cool like all those other bloggers who try to create their own video tutorial, but A) I'm at work (shhhhh...don't tell) and B) I'm not that cool.

So here you go - for all of you out there who are braid-ily challenged, here's a "real simple" tutorial by Real Simple. 

Learn how to French braid by clicking here!

Maybe I'll teach Jason how to French braid...that would make life so much easier. It's times like these that I miss living with my braid-talented mommy.

Also, I apologize at how scattered and kind of strange the tone of this blog is. There's about 44 minutes standing between me and a week off of work...I'm a little slap happy. 

I've blogged to you...

Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfunless - Day 16

Today I am thankful for my job.

I am thankful that I have a job in the field that I love. I am thankful for the people that I work with and the company for that I work for.

And right now...I'm thankful for the ability to use the rest of my vacation days over the next week...WHOOHOO!!!

Alright, I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 15

Today I am thankful for podcast sermons.

If we missed church one Sunday when I was a little kid, it was unlikely that we'd ever hear the sermon. When I was a teenager, it was possible for us to get a CD or a sermon or sermon series, which I thought was pretty cool. But now...oh but now...we can listen to just about any sermon from any Sunday from any church from the convenience of our iPhone.

I love listening to sermons. I never really downloaded podcast sermons until about two years ago. I remember flying home from college in November a few years ago and listening to a sermon that I'd downloaded while I was waiting to board the plane.

I love that I get to hear pastors from all over. There are many churches that I'd love to attend someday, and the convenience of podcast sermons almost makes that possible! It means that a sermon about any topic or passage of scripture is readily available at our fingertips.

I just think that's pretty awesome and it's definitely something that I'm thankful for!

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 14

Today I am thankful for orphan care.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you already know that I am quite passionate about adoption and orphan care.

In fact, the month of November is Orphan Care Awareness month.

Last night, Jason and I were invited to attend a banquet for Lifeline Children's Services. Throughout the evening I was constantly reminded why orphan care and adoption is so important.

So today, and everyday, let us be thankful for adoptive families, foster families, orphan care volunteers and workers, and ministries such as Lifeline and Alabama Baptist Children's Homes who provide hope to the fatherless.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 13

Today I am thankful for coffee.

I really love coffee.

I am thankful for coffee because not only does it taste good, it also wakes me up in the morning (and afternoon). I am thankful for its many flavors. I am thankful for its many shops. I am thankful that it brings people together.

If you're a coffee drinker, think about how many times coffee has been there for special things. It's always there for holiday - right after we've digested our food enough for dessert. It's there for get-togethers. It's there for a lot of first dates. It's there waiting for you every morning.

I just really love coffee. And today, I'm thankful for it.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogabacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 12

Today I am thankful for opportunities.

I think this goes without a lot of explaining, but I am just so blessed by the opportunities that I've been presented with in my life thus far. I am thankful for past opportunities that have worked out and also those that have not. I'm thankful for future opportunities and I look forward to finding out what those may be.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 11

Today I am thankful for time.

I was reminded yesterday of how limited our time is. Whether that's time with family, time with friends, time to relax, or even time to live - it's limited.

Yesterday, November 11th, I had the unique opportunity to spend 4.5 hours in the car with my sister Carlee and Jason. Since I've been working, I haven't had the opportunity to travel with my family. I've missed the days of road trips - I've missed the music, the singalongs, the conversations, and the time together. Yesterday I was reminded that the chapter of my life where we take road trips as a family isn't over, it just looks different. To me, driving back to Birmingham from Destin with one of my sisters and my husband was a true blessing. I'm thankful for that time.

I'm also thankful for the time that the Lord allows us to be a shining light for Him in this world. Our days are numbered, and I was reminded of that yesterday through a couple of phone calls that Jason and I received. My prayer is that I use my time on this Earth in a way that is meaningful and that glorifies my Savior.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 10

Today I am thankful for generations.

This past Saturday, November 10th, my parents hosted my grandma's 90th birthday party. Cousins, aunts, and uncles came from all over to join in the festivities. For the majority of the night, there were four generations of "Raimey's" in one room. Pretty cool, huh?

The highlight of the night was probably when my cousin Jeremy and I used our iPads to FaceTime our two cousins that could not make the event.

Now, you have to think - my grandma was born in 1922. In 1922, insulin was discovered, the first Reader's Digest was published, and the tomb of King Tut was discovered. The next year talking movies were invented and the first Time Magazine was published. When my grandma was 10-years-old, air conditioning was invented. The year my grandma turned 20-years-old, Anne Frank went into hiding and the t-shirt was introduced. The year she and my grandfather got married (1945) was the year the FDR passed away, the Germans surrendered, the UN was founded, and best of all, the slinky toy hit the retail shelves.

As you can see, my grandparents have seen many many things in their lifetime. I remember showing them my first iPod that I got for Christmas my senior year of high school. They couldn't believe that "all that music" could fit into a "tiny box machine". I don't think my grandparents could have ever imagined being able to talk to a person face-to-face (who lives across the country) through a tablet in real time. To them, that's the unimaginable.

But - here we are at my grandma's birthday party in 2012 holding up a "machine" with a "video player" of two of my cousins. I think that at first they thought we were showing them a prerecorded video. Then, my grandma waved and my cousin waved back. She got really close to the screen, pointed at my cousin and said, "She can TALK!"She also pointed out that my cousin Chloe's "friend" (husband) was with her. Man, I love my grandma a lot. She's seriously so cute.

And, technology is incredible.

 

But today I am thankful for the life, legacy, and wisdom of each generation that filled my parent's house on Saturday night. It's amazing what we can learn from each other when we all gather together. It's incredible the stories, testimonies, encouragement, and love that generations of family can share.

Welp, happy rainy Monday, y'all.
I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 9

Today I am thankful for laughter.

People always say that laughter is contagious. But today, someone described laughter to me as powerful. I've never heard laughter described that way before - but it is so accurate.

So today, on this beautiful Friday afternoon, I'm thankful for laughter and praying for it's power.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 8

Today I am thankful for Compassion International.

To be clear, I'm actually thankful for all organizations like Compassion International. I sponsor a child, Beatrice, through Compassion, and I try to keep up-to-date on all the amazing work they're doing across the globe.

For the last two years, Jason and I have forgone "big" Christmas gifts for each other and we have donated money to Compassion and World Vision instead. It just hurts my heart to think about families and children all over the world who have so little while I have so much.

I have to have this kid.

So, on this beautiful Thursday (well, it's actually Friday but I'm catching up), I am thankful for the ministries out there who provide to children and families who are in need. I am also thankful that these organizations meet their physical needs while also nourishing their spiritual needs.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 7

Today I am thankful for music.

I am thankful that a really great song can completely alter my attitude and lift my spirits. I am thankful that music gives me hope. I am thankful music can express things that I want to say in a much more creative and eloquent way than I would ever be able to.

My current inspiration.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome.

Entries

Two nights ago I came across an old sermon note/prayer journal. I was looking to see if we had an almost-empty journal on our bookshelf because I want to start recording what I'm praying for again, as well as writing little notes to Jason. For some reason, among all of the books on the shelf, this journal popped out at me.

I opened it up and immediately tears filled my eyes. This was my journal from the two months leading up to when I gave my life to Christ and the entire summer after.

When I found it, I was in the middle of making dinner. I really wasn't planning on a special Monday night, but as I sat down and started reading these entries, I knew I had to share them with my husband. We didn't know each other then, but it is evident throughout each entry that the Lord was miraculously preparing my heart for Jason.

I began rushing around. I lit candles on our little dining room table. I cleaned up the kitchen after I finished cooking. I set out cups, plates, and silverware (which is much different from the usual "grab as you go" approach we normally take to dinner). Instead of throwing on PJ pants and a sweatshirt (like normal), I stayed in my work clothes and left my shoes on so I'd look nice when Jason arrived home.

I listened for Jason's car outside as I read through each entry of my old journal. I cried...hard...as I remember the painful process of sanctification the Lord took me through that Spring/Summer. As I read over things I'd prayed for then, I prayed for them again. I marked the pages with sticky notes where I'd prayed for/about my future husband.

Source

Jason had to work late, but he finally arrived home. I think he knew that something was up because the apartment was dark except for the candles on the table. We didn't really talk much as I fixed our plates and sat down next to him. Then, I explained what I'd come across and I told him that after we finished eating, I wanted to open up my world pre-Jason to him.

I have to admit that I was a little nervous. Although I know how much Jason loves me and although I know how caring he is, I was nervous that this would turn into a simulated poetry reading - and I didn't want that. I wanted him to participate, to communicate, to appreciate, and to understand.

I showed Jason the sticky notes that stuck out from the pages that expressed prayers for him. He looked amazed. As I read the first date aloud, he grabbed his phone and looked at his calendar from that date. I've never been happier that he keeps past events on his calendar. As I continued to read, he asked me what was going on in my life that day...what I'd been up to that lead me to praying for this thing or that thing. What were my struggles? What was painful? What made me smile? All the while, he followed along in his calendar, letting me know specifically how my prayers were for him. It was exactly what I wanted out of this little exercise.

When I finished, he told me that he wished he had kept something like that. The last few entries were from the beginning of my junior year of college - the year that Jason and I met.

It is an incredible blessing to be able to look back on my life as a new believer - how thirsty I was for the Word and how vulnerable I was in my prayers. I was reminded how unafraid I was to pour out my heart into those pages, and I long for that vulnerability to return.

Since we've been married, I haven't shared much about life post-wedding on this blog - and I'm not going to bore you with that. But I will say, I am thankful for the Lord's sovereignty in allowing me to find that specific journal. I truly believe that God knew that Jason needed to understand my life before I met him in a way that he has not been able to before.

I don't have a really good point or hook to this story. All I have to tell you is that it is good to have people in my life that truly know me - the good, the bad, the celebrations, and the trials. Outside my family, I've never really had that before. I am thankful that God gave me a husband who is also my best friend and who can be that person for me.

I also know that it is good to remember. Sometimes it's really hard to think about the past. It's painful and it hurts. And sometimes it's difficult because the present is painful, and looking back at "good times" makes life seem all the worse. But the good, the bad, the celebrations, and the trials make up our testimony; they make up our life.

Don't be afraid to look back.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 6

Today I am thankful for freedom.

First, I'm thankful that through Christ, I am free.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - 2 Corinthians 3:17

Second, I am thankful for freedom in this nation. On this day, Election Day, I am thankful that I was able to go to Homewood Library and place my vote without fear for my life. I'm thankful that each Sunday I am able to walk into church in broad daylight and let me intention to worship be known to everyone around.

I know that there is a debate going on in this country (okay okay, there are many debates going on in this country, but I'm just talking about one) regarding if our first amendment - freedom of religion. But here's my take on this whole debacle...

God promises His people that they will endure suffering and persecution.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:18-19

In fact, in the bible Paul even says that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)!

So, I'm not saying that persecution of the church is okay or right, but let us not complain about it - let us show God's love through it!

There are many other reasons that I am thankful for freedom, but instead of going on and on and rambling about what those things are, I want to encourage each of you to respect others' freedom. Respect others' votes, beliefs, and opinions. If you're an American, we have a duty to be united - we are the United States of America...so let us respect each other. If you are a believer, we have a duty to love one another - we are the body of Christ.

If you want to read more about my thoughts on today's election, please click here. 

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 5

Today I am thankful for worship.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night,

to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
    at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

 How great are your works, O Lord!
    Your thoughts are very deep! 

{Psalm 92:1-5}

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    and the sheep of his hand.

{Psalm 95:1-7}

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

{Psalm 100}

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 4

Today I am thankful for beauty.

I am thankful for the beauty of nature. I am thankful for the beauty of sunsets. I am thankful for the beauty of the ocean. I am thankful for the beauty of autumn leaves, winter snow, spring flowers, and summer rain. I a thankful for the beauty of new life.

I am thankful for the beauty of redemption. I am thankful for the beauty of kindness. I am thankful for the beauty of helpfulness. I am thankful for the beauty of love.

I am thankful for the beauty of marriage. I am thankful for the beauty of family. I am thankful for the beauty of friendship. I am thankful for the beauty of adoption. I am thankful for the beauty of life.

I am thankful for beauty that resides in our beings. I am thankful for the beauty of worship. I am thankful that God cleanses us to make us beautiful. I am thankful for the beauty of the gospel. I am thankful for the beauty of forgiveness. I am thankful for the beauty of salvation.

Most of all, I am thankful that apart from the Lord, we are not beautiful - but in Him, we are pure, spotless, and beautiful.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

- Ecclesiastes 3:11

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 3

Today I am thankful for my grandparents.

My grandma turns 90 today. I am thankful that she has lived a long and beautiful life.

I am so blessed to have grown up within close proximity to all of my grandparents. My dad's parents and my mom's parents always lived about 10 minutes away from each other. That means that at every big event, birthday party, holiday, and recital, I had four additional people surrounding me with love.

My dad's mom, Grandma Sansom, passed away when I was six. She was the grandmother of twenty-one and her legacy lives on within each of them, as well as within five children.

My dad's dad, Papa, dedicated his life to the church and to serving the community. Between his five children, twenty-one grandchildren, and twenty-something great-grandchildren, he's always on the go. We have all learned so much about dedicating our life to ministry through him.

My mom's parents, Grandma and Grandpa, have lived to see so many incredible things. Grandpa was born in 1921 in Lansing, MI. His life was affect by the great depression and he was forced to drive his father to work each week at the age of thirteen. He knows so much about hard work and perseverance, and I admire him so much for those lessons. My grandmother was born in 1922 in Monroe, LA. She is one of ten children and grew up on a farm. She is number seven in the line of children, and she tells hilarious stories about what life was life back then with such a large family. She has taught me so much about the value of family. Her dad passed away when she was a teenager, and she has given me so much wisdom when it comes to understanding that every day is precious with the people we love.

So, on this third day of November, I would like to wish my grandmother a very happy birthday. I am so thankful for her, and for all four of my amazing grandparents.

I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 2

Today I am thankful for Jason.

You had to know it was coming. Yes, I am thankful for my husband.

Whatever you may or many not know about my story, I will tell you that it's a story of redemption - especially when it comes to dating.

Before Jason and I officially even started dating he made me a promise - he promised he'd be different. I knew when he said that, he meant it. Jason doesn't say things he doesn't mean.

God knew I needed him and he's been a blessing to me each and every day.

I'm thankful for our friendship. I'm thankful for the way he takes care of me. I'm thankful for the way he leads. I'm thankful for the way he loves the Lord. I'm thankful how hard he works. I'm thankful for how he makes me laugh. I'm thankful for how he makes me the best version of myself. I'm thankful for his sense of humor. I'm thankful for his serious side too. I'm thankful for how he makes me see things in a new way. I'm thankful for how he loves me. I'm thankful that he chose me.

Most of all, I'm thankful that God chose Jason to show me what redemption looks like each and every day.

Hope that was sappy enough for you.
I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 1

A little preface here:

I am going to attempt to blog about what I'm thankful for each day of this month. I'm not really great about blogging everyday, and some days I have way too much to write about. I'm going to try to write each day, even if it's just a few sentences, though. I may blog twice a day sometimes if I have something else I was planning on sharing. Anyway, this is my attempt at showing how thankful I am for things to the interwebs.

So...here it goes - Day #1

------------------

Today I am thankful for my childhood. 

Along with the theme of #throwbackthursday, I believe it is appropriate to express my gratitude for how I was raised.

My parents and I have always had a really special connection, although I'm sure that's true for most people. I am a complete mix of my parents - in the way I look and in my personality. I've always loved that about myself because I feel like I've always been able to relate to both of my parents equally.

My parents and I when I was 3-years-old.

As a child, they showered me with so much love - and most importantly the love of Christ. My mom quit working to stay home with me when I was two, and that was a decision that has bound us for a lifetime. She was always there at every party, first day of school, holiday, field trip, everything. She volunteered in my classroom every year in elementary school. She truly invested her entire life into mine. That's impacted me more and more the older I get. This is probably because the older I get, the closer to having a family I get (not anytime soon people), therefore the more I appreciate all of her self-sacrificing love and dedication to raising me. Over the years, our mother/daughter bond has turned into a really beautiful friendship. I don't know where I'd be or who I'd be without my mom - she's molded me into the woman/wife/sister/daughter/friend/employee I am today.

My dad was always the provider and he's such a hard worker. I have really fond memories of "Take Your Daughter to Work" days where I'd sit at a little kid table in my dad's office and color for hours and hours. I have memories of walking neighborhoods to campaign with him. I have memories of him coming home at night and all of us jumping on him immediately because we were so excited to see him. I also have really great memories of fun vacations and trips that we were able to take as a family due to his hard work. My dad and I also had a really special friendship that has evolved over the years. Our interests in politics, football, and Samford have created kind of a quirky friendship that I truly adore. He is everything I looked for the man I would marry - and thankfully I have found someone with the same kind of character that my dad possesses.

My parents and I at my college graduation.

I can't talk about my childhood without my sisters being part of it too! Even though I'm five and six years older than my sisters, we've always been super close. From running around in our PJs dancing (more like jumping) around to Carman and 4Him on Sunday mornings, to phone calls, tears, and laughter that we share more recently in our geographical distance, my sisters have always been my best friends.  We've had our arguments and our freak outs, but our love for each other has always heavily outweighed any sibling disagreement that we've had. Something that I've learned over the years, especially being five hours from my hometown, is that sibling friendships don't just happen - they take a lot of intentional work. I hope and pray that as we grow older, and maybe even farther apart geographically, we grow closer together in our friendship and in our love for one another.

My sisters and I two Christmas's ago.

My sisters and I at Carlee's high school graduation last June.

So there we have it, day one!
I've blogged to you...
Now you can blogbacktome.