A Pony, A Goat, A Guinea Pig, Oh My!

This weekend has been jam-packed with excitement! The weekend started off with Shrek Ever After on Friday night with the College Ministry that Josh and I used to work with. We "crashed" their movie night so that we could see everyone. And what a fun evening it was... lounging outside on the grass with a large movie screen set up, popcorn maker, lots of candy and drinks... and lots and LOTS of laughter!


Saturday was an adventure! We traveled to Fort Mill, SC for the birthday party of Scott and Luke, the children of our good friends, Megan and Truman. This party had it all... a petting zoo, games, prizes, a pinata and lots of kids and laughter! Josh and I have known Scott since he was still in diapers! We were around when Luke was born! The boys were at our wedding, and we has watched them grow into handsome, curious, Christ-loving and honoring boys! We adore them! I was thrilled when given the job of photographing the party. I used Megan's camera, but downloaded a few of my favorites to my own computer. So, here are a few..Saturday night we went to dinner with friends on our way home from the party. I was so excited when Julianne called. I had been wanting to go out on a double date with the Sissines for a while. Luckily, Julianne called! So, we detoured from our route home and went to their house to meet them and another couple for dinner. I look forward to more time spent with Julianne and Sam, the Lord has truly blessed us by placing them in our lives.


On Sunday we joined Josh's parents and brother at his Grandparent's Farm for lunch celebrating Mother's Day and Grandmommy's birthday. We were not there too long, but I just wanted to post a picture of the DELICIOUS cheesecake my MIL made!

Sunday night we went to movie night with our friends... which is always a blast! Of course, it was a late night... much later than a typical "school" night for us. I am still exhausted, but looking forward to all the adventures that this week and next weekend will bring!

Mother's Day Snuggles

Today was a very special day for my sister and my mom. Today was my sister's first Mother's day and my Mom's first as a Grandma. It was also a big day because it was the twin's first trip to Grandma's!! What a fun-filled day!

Sweet Moments captured on camera. A beautiful new Mom, a proud Grumpa and a cute shirt!


Uncle Josh's first snuggle time with K, my cuddle time with K and Grandma with R. Thank you to my sister for sharing her first Mother's Day with us! I may not be their Mom, but I sure thankful and blessed to be their Auntie!

Taco Salad and Thoughts..

I have not posted since our anniversary, so I thought that I would post just a little something. Easter was a fun even for Josh and I this year. We dressed up for church....it was fun to buy a new dress and shoes for Easter, something that I have not done in a very long time. Josh even decided that since I was dressed up, that he would wear a tie. It was really cute! After church, we went over to our friends' house to eat lunch with some of the couples in our Sunday school class... it was such a good time of laughter and getting to know more great couples!







Life has been relatively quiet, but I have been spending as much time with my sister and her twins as I possibly can! I spent almost the whole week of Spring break with them and have seen them about once a week since then. I am constantly shock and amazed at how much they grow and change from week to week. And I am ever thankful that my sister and bro-in-law allow me to come and crash their constant "twin-party." Being able to be there, snuggle them, change diapers, play during tummy-time and just enjoy stolen moments are truly a blessing. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed our family, and especially my sister and bro-in-law with these two gorgeous babies! What a joy the past 8 weeks has been!




Taco Salad anyone? Josh and I have a love for mexican food, but we love to make taco salad together. I am always in charge of the salad part.. chopping the veggies, making the salads pretty and getting the shells ready. Josh handles the meat and the baking of the shells. We make it a team effort, which always makes cooking more fun! We do tend to cheat when it come to the guacamole... but you can't skimp when it comes to the salsa and sour cream!!! What is not to love about the fresh veggies, hot taco meat, tasty guac, spicy salsa and creamy sour cream!!??!!

Now, go and enjoy a yummy, tasty, taco salad for yourself! :)

Three years and counting..

Yesterday, Josh and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary. I cannot believe that its been three years already. We have had some incredible journeys along the way and have some new things that have been going on recently...

A few months ago, Josh and I decided to leave the college ministry that we had been serving in. We had both been feeling a tug from the Lord to seek out a class with married adults that we could relate to and grow with. We joined a class about a month or so ago and have been blessed because of it! It is amazing how following the Spirit's urgings can bless you in incredible ways! Thank you, Lord for our class and new friends!


Josh and I also have some fun news.. we are now an Aunt and Uncle! My sister had twins on March 13th, a beautiful girl and a handsome boy. I am completely smitten with them. I think about and pray for them daily. I am so thankful for these two little ones. They are the closest thing Josh and I have to children, and they will be for a while. I never expected to feel my heart swell when thinking about a niece or nephew... but I think my heart is expanding to fit all the love I have for them both. My darling niece, Katherine, makes the sweetest faces when she sleeps... she smiles, quivers her lip and frowns. My precious nephew, Robert, is a wiggly sleeper, he is fun to hold and feel him twitch and make little noises. I could watch them sleep all day.. I am amazed by them both. And my heart aches to snuggle them and know all the little coos and moments of their days. Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be an Aunt to these little miracles.

Thoughts?

Do Not Grieve the Spirit.. Ephesians 4: 25-32
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:%2025-32&version=NKJV

Today, I was reading in my quiet time about not grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:25-32). I began to think about my idea of grieving and if that is what we do to the Holy Spirit when we speak unkindly to or about a fellow believer. The only thing I could think of was grieving over a lost loved one, and so.. I had to do a search for the meanings of grieve.

grieve
[greev] verb, grieved, griev·ing.
–verb (used without object)
1. to feel grief or great sorrow: She has grieved over his death for nearly three years.
–verb (used with object)
2. to distress mentally; cause to feel grief or sorrow: It grieves me to see you so unhappy.
3. Archaic . to oppress or wrong.

And, as I read through the passage, I reached another verse that got my mind wondering..

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." -Ephesians 4:29


The bit about "impart grace to the hearers".. which definition of grace is being referenced?

grace
/greɪs/ noun, verb, graced, grac·ing.
–noun
1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
3. favor or good will.
4. a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.
5. mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
6. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
7. an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied: The life insurance premium is due today, but we have 31 days' grace before the policy lapses. Compare grace period.
8. Theology .
a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of god.
b. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
c. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
d. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
9. moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.
10. a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given.
11. ( usually initial capital letter ) a formal title used in addressing or mentioning a duke, duchess, or archbishop, and formerly also a sovereign (usually prec. by your, his, etc.).
12. Graces, Classical Mythology . the goddesses of beauty, daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, worshiped in Greece as the Charities and in Rome as the Gratiae. 13. Music . grace note.
–verb (used with object)
14. to lend or add grace to; adorn: Many fine paintings graced the rooms of the house.
15. to favor or honor: to grace an occasion with one's presence.


Which definition do you think they were referencing?

Walk in Love..

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." -Ephesians 5:2



Praying that I might learn to love the way Christ loves.

Welcome to 2011

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and days of old lang syne ?
For old lang syne, my dear,
for old lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for old lang syne....



Happy New Year to you all!