Another time waster...

As if I needed something else to keep me from being productive... I found Pinterest.

I love it b/c its essentially scrap booking all your favorite recipes, decorative ideas, etc. and then you have the ability to constantly find new ones. Ok so people use it for other reasons but mine are obviously for the recipes and decorative ideas.

So thank you Rhonda and Brandy for introducing me to this terribly awesome thing called Pinterest.

Try It Tuesday

I found my new favorite milkshake... yes of course it's ww friendly (cough.) Ok, so thats a total lie. However, this milkshake is to die for!

A friend of mine told me about it and she doesn't even like peaches... which is weird b/c it def. tastes like peaches. Regardless, its worth trying, but I'm warning you now... you're going to fall in love.

*If you're curious how healthy it is... a large one of these bad boys is 19 points. I only get 29 points a day.*

Settle for a small so you get the splurge but don't look like an obese cow... although its well worth it. Let 'em judge.

Weekend Fun

My weekend started off by going to a sweet friend's wedding Friday night. Lauren was gorgeous. Too bad I forgot to actually take a picture of her instead of just the front of Hillwood!

It was great to see a couple of old friends and catch up.

Saturday morning came bright and early as I went and ran in a 5k for LeBonheur. It was held over by First Evan... the course was fun and the weather couldn't have been any better! Here's me and allie before....

...and here we are 34 minutes later.

I know, I know I am a slow runner... I'm working on it! We're preparing for our "graduation 5k" that will be held in a couple of weeks. We heard about this and thought why not!


I spent the rest of the morning laying by the pool. I can't remember the last time I had that kind of opportunity. It was wonderful. D had to mow his parents house so I thought I'd join him there and relax while he worked. :)

Later that afternoon we met up with a student and went to Jerry's... I found a great combo for all of you Jerry's fans.... raspberry and pineapple. Delicious!

Before we knew it, it time to head to Somerville for our softball games. These guys games are crazy! The teams out there take softball way to seriously. It's hilarious to watch... great, free entertainment if you're bored one Saturday night. The games were behind so his 9:00 ballgame became a 10:00 one. So we finally left the ball fields at 11:30p.m.! You can imagine how fun it was to try and get up Sunday morning.

I was only able to attend our youth small group time.... d speaks and then we break up into small groups: our version of SS school. Then I had to head to Macon Road's church service where they recognize all the staff. Back in the day if you taught at MRBS you had to attend church there. Now we are only "made" to attend one Sunday a year and that's Back to School Sunday which was yesterday. It's always fun to get to see my friends who work at the other campuses as well as see some of my students who also were invited. The only problem is the service is normally long and we had to head to MS to eat at grandmomma's for lunch...

You know what that means don't you?

Weight Watchers what??!!!

Yea, you can forget about counting points when you eat at grandmomma's. The food is too good to say no and you want seconds anyway so you might as well call it a lost cause. I had more food than I'd care to admit. But I was one happy girl and slept all the way home.... I even got to snuggle with this little guy for a little bit.

Is it just me or does it seem that you blink on Friday and before you know it it's Sunday night? Ready or not...hello new week.

Slip N Slide

One youth adventure that D was dying to do was create a slip n slide into a lake.

He got his adventure.

We all met for lazer tag which our kids love more than anything... its so weird to me, but they love it so whatever. Then the guys went and spent the night at the LaGrone's (thank you Rhonda for taking care of our boys!) and the girls spent the night at the Cotners'. The next morning the guys met us over at the Cotner's. They have a great set up for youth events...lots of land, pool, lake.... perfect for a slip n slide. :)

I think D and I had just as much fun as they did! The combination of baby shampoo and baby oil made the slip n slide the perfect amount of slippery... plus we smelled amazing.

This is def. at the top of my favorite things we've ever done in youth ministry list!

Waiting on the boys...

Not only did we have a sprinkler hooked up but Mr. Cotner had a high powered hose!

Happt Birthday, Hallie Claire!

Today we celebrate our sweet Halsie! I can't believe you're already 2! We've learned you like to be independent and do things yourself, but love doing whatever your sisters are doing. You don't like being left out.You, just like your sisters, called me Kacie for the longest time. I sure love the sweet smile and, "Hi Candace" when you see me now. I always respond, "Hi Baby." You're not a baby though. You are big stuff. There's no doubt about it though... you love your D. I love the sweet relationship you 2 have. I guess since its him I don't mind taking a backseat... although you be sure and remind your mom and dad that it was him who taught you bad things like how to stick your tongue out and blow. Not aunt candy.

You're sweet, but most def. silly. You add so much joy and laughter to our lives!
We love you so much Hallie Claire!!!

How Great is Your Faithfulness

I heard this song earlier today and fell in love. It's by Matt Redman. If you've never heard of him then you've 1. been living under a rock or 2. never heard good, Christian music.

I love this song because its' so relevant to our lives whether life is wonderful or we're going through a difficult time. He is faithful.

"How Great Is Your Faithfulness"


Now unto the king who reigns over all,
and never changes or turns
Unfailing justice, unfading grace,
Whose promises remain,
Yes, Your promises remain.

[Chorus]
The heavens ring, the saints all sing,
Great is your faithfulness
From age to age we will proclaim
Great is your faithfulness,
How great is your faithfulness. Yes


Everything changes, but your stay the same;
your word and kingdom endure
we lean on the promise of all that you are,
and trust forevermore
we will trust forevermore


From generation to generation
you never fail us oh God
Yesterday and today and tomorrow
until the day you return


How great is your faithfulness

Forgiveness

Forgive
1.To excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon.

2. To renounce anger or resentment against.

3. To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).

I am finishing up Susan Hunt's book, Spiritual Mothering. I'm in the chapter on forgiveness...

One of many things I'm learning about forgiveness is how greatly it affects our lives. Susan says, "many believers are blocked from experiencing the joy of their salvation and from being encouragers to others because of an unforgiving spirit." I'd be willing to be bet there are more of use walking around like this than we'd dare admit.

One lady shared her story about forgiving her abusive father.... "My healing came when I finally understood the price, extent, and power of God's forgiveness. No matter what my daddy did to me, it was not as offensive nor did it cost as much as my sin offended and cost my heavenly father."

Stephen is another great example of forgiveness. As he was being dragged out of the city and stoned to death....he cried out for the Lord to forgive the men.

What?!

I can not even imagine!


"Stephen's ability to forgive was the direct result of his glimpse of the glory of God. His view of his offenders was obliterated by his view of God's glory."

Wonder why you're not growing spiritually when you're doing everything right? "Nothing will strifle spiritual growth and development more than an unforgiving spirit... Forgiveness means releasing- giving up- turning loose, but forgiveness has a positive pay-back; unforgiveness keeps on costing."

I literally got chills when I read this next story. I'm sure many have heard it before. Its when Corrie ten Boom saw the former guard from her concentration camp. The one who mocked them and made life miserable for her, her sister Bessie (who ended up dying there) and others. She was face to face with him after a church service she had just spoken at. He was blown away that Christ could wash his sin away. He reached out his hand to shake hers. She couldn't do it. She couldn't shake his hand and forgive him. As she stood there, she saw his sin. She realized that Christ had died for even his sins. She prayed for God to help her forgive, yet she still couldn't raise her hand to grab his. Again she silently prayed. She said a current passed from her shoulder down her arm and into her hand and then into his. Not only could she shake his hand, but love for the man sprang in her heart. She said, " And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His."

"Forgiveness is more of a lifestyle of grace than a one time act." We are stupid if we think that our hurts can be healed overnight. That's an unreal expectation we've placed on ourselves! It will take time. It will take daily choosing to offer grace... maybe minute by minute depending on the depth of your hurt. So now what do we do with our hurts? We have 2 options...

1. allow them to immobilize us
2. turn them into valuable resources to encourage and equip others to forgive

So... what's your choice?