family visits!

I am so excited about my Dad and brother, Chris, coming to visit us this weekend and for having tickets to take them to the Alabama game vs. Tennessee! My dad's 50th birthday is this year on Halloween and this is our chance to get together and celebrate his 50 years. He is a huge football lover and, though we didn't grow up as Bama fans, he loves the tradition that the football program is known for.

I am trying to think of ideas for decorations and presents for the "over the hill" mark for this weekend. Any suggestions are welcomed!

Have a wonderful, beautiful, fall week and praise God for the awesome creation that HE surrounds us with :)

Wedding Bells and Busy weeks

One of my best friends from home got married this weekend. I was lucky to have the opportunity to make the trip up to NC for the wedding. Cindy Lou, if you read this, you were a gorgeous bride. I love how weddings remind those of us who are already married about the vows we made and how we should cherish the ones we've chosen to spend our lives with :)

I drove 9 hours there on Tuesday and 9 hours back to T-Town today. I am exhausted, and already looking into buying a plane ticket for my class in VA in June. (So I don't have to drive that is!) Tomorrow we go for our final walk through on the house and close Tuesday. I can't wait for them to give us our keys so we can FINALLY get out of this apt. If the neighbors beat on their floor (our ceiling) one more time...I don't think I'll hold Aaron back this time!

I hope to post some pics of the house with OUR furniture in it very soon ;)

If you fail to plan...

So...I have not updated in awhile. I am excited to say that I finally have a plan to finish my Master's degree. Whew! It has been a rough road since we moved trying to find work, but I know that it's exactly what needed to happen because God has taught me so much through this time. I decided to go to Liberty this June 8-12 to take my last on-campus class and I will start another class online on June 22nd that lasts until August 14th. Then...my only class left is student teaching and there are a few options open at this time...just have to have my paperwork in by Sept. 15th! Man it feels good to have a plan!

Also...I am planning a trip to NC next week to see my good friend, CindyLou, get married on the 16th. I also get to visit with my Mom, Stepmom, and Grandmothers for Mother's day...a tad late, but still great nonetheless.

And...we are planning to close on our house in about a week and a half (May 19th). Did I mention I am excited about this? Time has crept by but it is almost here and I could not be happier.

Passion

I just finished re-watching the Passion of the Christ. I was wanting to watch it again during this week just as a reminder of what Jesus did for me. And for you. The movie contains many theatrical elements that are not necessarily Biblical, including Satan's presence at Gethsemane. In the gospel accounts, it tells of Jesus praying and finding the disciples asleep. In the movie, Satan is tempting Jesus to believe that He can't do the will of the Father, that no one man could bear the burden of all sin. While I am no Bible scholar, I believe this could have happened, though the writer may not have known. Christ himself would have been the only one to know of Satan's presence there while He was praying.

I have felt the attack of the enemy for the last couple of months. I have allowed myself to feel insignificant, worthless, and unworthy. I feel the need to go out and work to help with our financial situation and the door has not yet been opened for me to find a job in my field. So, I have blamed myself and have taken on the spirit of doubt even to the point of feeling inadequate.

Today, I am reminded that Satan is real, but that he has no power over me because I can claim the name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Satan trembles when he sees even the weakest saint on her knees! Praise God! However painful it was, Jesus died on the cross for the remission of my sins so that I might live an abundant life claiming the promises that He has made me.

Jeremiah 29:11 He has a purpose and perfect will for my life through which He intends to prosper me!

John 10:10 While the enemy desires to take our lives from us, Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full!

2 Timothy 1:7 The spirit God gives us is power, love, and self-discipline.

If anyone has ever felt or is feeling attacked by the enemy, remember: the battle has already been won. At the name of Jesus, Satan trembles because he knows he has already been defeated. Don't let him have power over you that is not his!! Jesus died so that you might have life!

Aaron's sermon - Defining Moments

This past Sunday, Aaron preached his first sermon before an entire church congregation. Over the past 7 months since we've been at North River, I have watched him progress in his speaking skills. He is a very good speaker and I can see his comfort level growing as he is more at ease speaking in front of a large group of people. I just wanted to take this chance to brag on him! I am so proud of him for what he does... not just his career but his passion. He truly has a heart for young people and seeing them understand God's word in a way that compels them into action. It is also such a blessing to have a husband who gets to do what he loves for a living. A lot of people dread their work and are in it for the paycheck. Aaron gets up each morning with a smile on his face ready to spend another day preparing to teach our youth and to make a difference in our community! I could go on and on, but I just wanted to share with you all how proud I am of my husband and how blessed I feel to be married to a man of God!

If you'd like to hear Aaron's sermon, you can go to our church's website:

http://www.northriveronline.com/

Click on about us, then current teachings. His sermon is titled: Defining Moments

Home-owners!

I have been hesitant to write this blog...but I'm just too excited :)

Aaron and I found a house that we absolutely love and it's in a great area, closer to church, good schools, etc. We made an offer on the house and it has been accepted...finally! So, as of right now we are buying this home and closing on it May 19th. I can't believe it...I don't think it has set in yet that we finally have something that is our own with all the features that we wanted. I cannot wait...but we are still in the process of working out the details so I'm praying that things will continue to go smoothly! Praise God for answering prayer!

The Rescue

A few weeks ago, Jennifer Mitchell and I went to see a movie that I had heard people talking about, but had not seen. The prequel to this film is called Invisible Children, depicting 3 young guys who took a trip over to South Africa expecting an adventure but not knowing what they'd find. The movie we saw, The Rescue, is a continuation of what these guys found...3000 children soldiers taken captive and made to fight and kill under the name of Joseph Kony. The next film, the one we actually just viewed, is called The Rescue, which outlines a course of action for all those who are interested in seeing justice served. I could tell you about it, but I wouldn't really do it justice (it's a really bad pun, I know). It is a really cool idea and it's worth hearing. And, even if you're like me and don't think you could do what they're suggesting...there are other ways to help, and it starts with what I'm doing now...raising awareness. If you don't do anything else, just go to their website and watch the short film on The rescue plan. I promise it'll compel you to do at least what I'm doing :)

www.invisiblechildren.com
therescue.invisiblechildren.com

From their website:
Invisible Children is a social, political and global movement using the
transformative power of story to change lives. By inspiring youth culture to
value creativity, idealism and sacrifice, the movement fuels the most
effective, adaptable and innovative programs in the world.