Fall

I absolutely love fall. Today, for some reason, has felt like fall to me. I took my hoodie to the workshop today because I have froze the past two days. Today was no different. I ended up wearing my hoodie all day and was still a little cold. Driving home, I began to imagine the leaves on the trees as they change color. This particular change always reminds me of the awesomeness that is our God. He could have chose to only use one color for leaves in the fall, but he uses so many. It is absolutely beautiful...one of my most favorite pictures.

Getting up early this week is catching up with me. I'm so sleepy and just feel lazy tonight. I came straight home, didn't turn on any lights, and curled up in bed to watch TV. This made it feel like fall even more. Now I'm snacking on Reese's cups. Yes, somehow Reese's reminds me of fall.

I am so ready for fall. With it comes Razorback football, chicken and dumplings, cool weather, and this year two new nieces to love one. I'm ready to sit on my back porch and enjoy a fire in the outdoor fireplace.

Oh fall... can you come a little quicker this year?

Monday Rambles

1. I have officially become that girl who is constantly checking her makeup and redoing lip gloss. I figure as long as I don't become one of those girls who does this while driving, I'm okay.

2. Back in January I gave up all Pepsi product because I received an email saying that they supported homosexuality. I must admit I'm impressed with the fact that I've done this as easily as I have. But now I wonder.... I know Pepsi is not the only company that supports things I disagree with. But am I really going to research every company that makes something I spend money on? No... just isn't going to happen. So then isn't it contradictory that I don't buy one product, but do another? Does it really matter that I don't buy Pepsi if I'm not willing to research everything else I buy?

3. When my alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, I realized that having my quiet time first thing in the morning is much easier when I can sleep in until 9:30.

Okay so I don't have as much to tell you as I thought. Maybe something more exciting later this week.

Happy Monday!

What Not To Wear with the BEST Husband!!!

I love TLC's What Not To Wear. I keep telling family and friends that I want to go on that show. I won't be offended at all if someone calls them up and says I dress poorly. :) Last night while reading The Power of a Positive Wife, I decided I was going to have my very own What Not To Wear experience. In case you were wondering, it was a chapter on inner beauty. She talked about wrapping a present and by doing a little to our outward appearance, it was like wrapping a present for our husband. She also reminded me that my body is not my own, it is a temple for God. Why wouldn't I want it to look as pretty as possible for my Heavenly Father?

Anyway, I didn't have anyone present me with a $5,000 card like on the show so I knew I had to be creative. I started with my hair. I went to Mastercuts in the mall. I know this mortifies some people, but I just didn't want to spend a ton of money for a haircut. I was feeling brave and didn't care who cut my hair. Well let me just tell you I love my $15 dollar hair cut. She pretty much just trimmed up the back. Andrew wasn't crazy about me cutting it too short. He likes it long so I just made a more dramatic look with the bangs.

Then I went into my favorite store... Forever 21. Jill, I love you for introducing me to this place. It is cute close at a reasonable price. I got both the necklace and the dress for under $20. I love it and think it will be just as cute this fall with my jean jacket.

Then I went to the Clinique counter in Dillards. I just told the woman... I don't wear makeup because I have no clue how. She did up my face teaching me as we went and I wound up buying $60 worth of their makeup. I didn't buy the eye makeup. I went to Wal-Mart afterwards to buy some eye makeup and brushes.

Then we came home and I straightened my hair because they didn't style it at the mall. I put on my dress and necklace and then just pranced around the house.

I love it!! I just want to cry because I'm so happy with all of it. I just hope that I can recreate it in the morning. While Laura was doing my makeup, Andrew asked if she was going to come to the house and do it for me every morning. LOL! I would really love that.

And yes, my sweet sweet husband tagged along for all of this. Who needs Clinton and Stacy's comical comments when you have Andrew along? He was so good walking all over the mall and waiting patiently why people were working on me. Thank you babe for this afternoon!!!

Whether I look any better or not, I don't know, but I sure feel better!!

The before shot...


And the after shot...

Can You Find the 16 Books of the Bible?

From the newsletter of First Baptist Church in Oscola, AR

I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu, kept people looking so hard for facts and for others, it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the name of the books were not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea, so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now for there are really sixteen names of books of the Bible in this story.



Go ahead. Give it a try. Don't share you answers. Let everyone give a try. Plus, there are two that I can't find. It is driving me CRAZY!!!!!

Happy Anniversary!

My parents have been married 28 years today! Am I a blessed kid or what?!? I love you Momma and Daddy!!

Have you praised God today?

20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord;
his faithful love endures forever!”

22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing,[a] and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing,[b] which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.

27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. 28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.

29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. 30 So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

2 Chronicles 20:20-30

I love this story!

The first of many....

projects. I've been a painting fool this week. I will be sharing with you as things are finished. One project is big and is taking many coats of paint. This is what I finished tonight. It is two hall passes for my classroom. They are wood planks that I bought at Wal-Mart in the craft section. I painted them. The husband drilled holes in them for me tonight and then I added the letters and ribbon. The letters are scrapbooking stickers. My original plan was to paint the words, but I decided stickers were safer for me.

Sticky Words

While Andrew and I were in DC over Spring Break, I heard many stories about our country's history for the first time. One particular story came from my ever so brilliant husband as we walked through Arlington Cemetery. It was the story of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination. Kennedy had begun his campaign for presidency and was trying to get elected to the Democratic Party. He was giving a speech at a celebration for his successful campaign. He was to a certain side of the stage after his speech, but at the last minute they changed their minds and he exited the other side of the stage. Behind the stage on that particular side, awaited a man who was not fond of Kennedy. The man shot Kennedy and several of the staff in his rampage. People who were there to hear the speech heard the gunshots, but were unaware of what was going on. A man, I believe one of his bodyguards, ran onto the stage and asked, "Is there a doctor in the house?".

How many times have you heard that line? Writers come up with a short phrase for a speech, a movie, a book, or a television show, never planning for it to be a catch phrase. How many times have you heard the phrase, "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha" or "Run, Forrest, Run"? There are countless phrases like this that have stuck around for years. What is so special about Marsha, Marsha, Marsha? What causes any of these words to stick around? I don't know. I'm not sure the writer knows either.

It does make me wonder though. Is what I say worth sticking around for years? Do I have a catchphrase? And if I do, is it something I will be proud to leave behind? Sticky Words are very powerful. Just like any word, they have the power to tear down or to build up. It makes me very aware of what comes out of my mouth. What is someone repeats what I say? Is what I say even worth repeating? I don't know, but I know that if sticky words come out of my mouth, I want to make sure they are good ones. I want to make sure they are building up and not tearing down.

What I'm Reading...

This has been my nightly read lately... The Power of a Positive Wife by Karol Ladd. I recommend this book to any wife. I consider myself to be a pretty good wife. Not sure what I'm basing that on, and I could be way off, but who wants to think of themselves as a bad wife? Anyway... I bought this book several years ago after attending a conference session on this book. I have read bits and pieces of it over the past few years, but I'm just now reading the whole thing through.

Karol Ladd points out things that seem so simple, but I've never thought of them before. For example, how do you greet your husband when he comes home from work? I must admit that I have never put much though into my greetings. But it makes perfect since, especially this summer since I'm home all day. My husband still goes to work every day to provide for us. How great is he!

There is a chapter in the book devoted to respecting your husband even when they don't deserve. I almost skipped this chapter. I figured it wasn't for me. My husband deserves respect and I respect him. Something told me to read it though and I am so glad I did. The advice she gives to women who feel their husbands don't deserve respect is to respect them simply because they are God's creation. WOW! How have I never thought of my husband in that way before. He is God's beautiful creation. Because my husband is human, he is not perfect. Now when he is having an imperfect moment, I can choose to respect him because he belongs to our Heavenly Father.

I'm only halfway through the book, and God has already changed my perspective on how to be the wife I want to be. I want my legacy to be as a Godly wife. Both my God and my Husband deserve that from me.

A Big Decision Is Made

I must start this post by saying thank you. I have asked you all to pray about a big decision that Andrew and I have been facing.

We have both felt that God was calling us back to the county we live in. Andrew was offered a part time position at ISBC to help them with sound, lighting, video, their website... basically all things technical.

While we both strongly felt that ISBC is what God was telling us, we still struggled with the decision. We are human after all. Moving to ISBC means leaving Journey and that isn't something we are enjoying. Journey is our family in every sense of the word. God is doing amazing things there and we know he will continue to do so. We are going to miss Journey. We are so thankful that our family at Journey wishes us the best in what God has called us to.

This has been particulary hard for me. I am very excited about ISBC. I think God is going to do awesome things for us and through us there. But part of me feels that I need to stifle my excitement. I don't want anyone to take my excitement for ISBC as me loving Journey any less than I do. That isn't the case at all. But anyone who has ever obeyed God knows how exciting that is. And that is what we are doing... obey God. This has definitly been an emotional decision for me. But I have such peace about this move.

So there it is... my big secret. Thank you for your prayers and thank you for letting me share my excitement with you.

Love you all.

Better late than never??

Okay today is now the 13th. I have had a post about the 4th of July weekend sitting in my computer since, well the 4th. For some reason, I just don't seem to want to sit down and get pictures off my camera lately. I would probably just skip this post all together, but I've been promising to get some pics up for my Momma. So... here are some pics from my two days with Kandace, nephew's birthday, and the 4th.


All tuckered out...

Just hanging out

K and Liam Bailey... He only like her the first five minutes and then he was ready to have his Momma back.


PB and his kayak cake

Drew and I laying on our blankets listening to the music. It was such a wonderful afternoon to be doing this.

Two of our favorite people... Stuart and Laura

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra playing as a HUGE flag rose in the background. Brought tears to my eyes.

Trying to take a pic with all four of us... At least it is a good pic of me. :)

And of course you know I had some chicken strips. :) Let me just tell you, these just might be the BEST chicken strips I have ever had. I have been craving them since the 4th, but that little trailer just isn't there anymore. :(

Congratulations, Girls, Kandace, Home Alone

Today my Daddy finished his semester of college. I am so incredibly proud of him. He has worked very hard this semester. His effort and hard work are definitely commendable. Andrew says if he continues to work this hard, he will easily be one of the top students in every class. I absolutely believe he is right. As a nerdy school loving girl, I've enjoyed sitting on the phone with Dad answering questions about prepositional phrases and the rules of commas. Daddy, I'm very proud of you as always!! I love you bunches!


Cary and Sara just found out that they too will be having a little girl!! I'm thrilled for them. Jackson is going to be a great big brother... something tells me he will be a protective brother. I can't wait to see all the girly outfits Sara comes up with for this little girl. Come November the Weaver family is being invaded by beautiful little girls. I can't wait.


Today I have a buddy. Miss Kandace is hanging out with me. She is such a sweetie!! She is so fascinated with Liberty and Liam. Her little head is constantly turning from one dog to the other. She is okay with them as long as they stay out of her face which is hard for Liberty. Liam couldn't care less if she is here or not. Liberty, though, is very curious.

Andrew left early this morning for Louisiana on a work trip. Thankfully he will be back tomorrow afternoon. I hate when he is gone. There is just something about knowing he isn't coming home tonight. I'm glad I have Kandace to distract me for a little while.

Well that is all for now. Kandace is WAY to interested in my computer for me to try and be blogging right now. Pics of my beautiful niece later on today.