Embrace change

Time flies when you're having fun - ain't that the dang truth?! Christmas has come and gone like the cold fronts here in Florida. Here one day, gone the next.

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Now we're staring down the start of 2015 and I'm excited and ready for this new year. 2014 was a year full of just so much. In December, my only goal was to praise Jesus for He is our King. I think I did a pretty good job of that. I was mindful of the reason for Christmas, focused my attention on celebrating His birth, and even spent Christmas morning giving to others.

 

For January, I have a couple of goals I want to set up for myself:

 

+ Get back into walking/running. And if that doesn't work, do exercises in the comfort of my home for at least 30 minutes, 3x per week. I'm starting slow here...

 

+ January is full of birthdays! Hunter kicks the month off with his birthday, and then shortly thereafter, several of our friends will be celebrating their's as well (hi Mike P., Brooke, Erin!). My goal? Celebrate the lives of these amazing people!

 

I'll be the first to admit, I'm never the one to set New Year's Resolutions. I just don't do them. I forget about them about mid-January (yes, that quickly), and they just set me up for failure. BUT! I'm turning over a new leaf this year. I am setting a New Year's Resolution with my husband.

 

Become debt-free.

 

Now, we won't be able to pay off all our debts within 2015. But we are dang sure going to knock a few of it's teeth out. Have ya'll met Sallie & Perkins? Seriously, their determination to face their debt head-on, and win, is so encouraging to Hunter and I.

 

With that being said, we will be taking measures to cut back unnecessary spending, paying for things up front with cash (like our Disney trip in November), and learning how to manage with so little money while still having so much fun. It's going to be really hard for us but we know we can do it. Just yesterday, Hunter and I were reminded of God's faithfulness during our trying times. Because of some extra money that we had no idea was coming, we were able to set up an emergency savings account and pay off Hunter's credit card. God had my tear ducts working in overdrive yesterday.

 

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Fun fact: By changing Hunter's relationship status to married with his truck insurance company, it saved him $29/month. I'm jumping onto his insurance policy with my car come February and we'll be saving $80/month. That's $960/year that we're saving!! Great things are already in motion.

 

Whatever your New Year's Resolution is, and wherever you are in your life, know that God's faithfulness and timing are always right, and just, and holy. Happy New Year friends! See ya'll next week!

 



Uhmm...

Can we just talk about how fast Christmas passed us?

 

Or how 2015 is just a mere few days away?

 

Or how the pups and I tried to boycott getting out of the bed this morning??

 

I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas! Tell me, how was it?? Ours was wonderful! The family time was amazing, the food to die for, and just the fact that it was Jesus' birthday was pretty awesome. But can I tell ya'll the one thing that really made this Christmas utterly magical for me?

 

 

 

Our cookie mission! A couple months ago, I adopted an idea from my childhood church in the form of delivering cookies and other yummy baked goods to folks on Christmas day that are having to work, or just sitting in front of gas stations, and aren't able to spend the day with family or friends.

 

The reaction that people gave us was nothing short of heartwarming. They typically were very shocked and more than appreciative of the love. When asked why, our response was just because. Just because we want to thank you for being here; just because we want you to know we care about you; and just because you are loved by your community members.

 

I'm not sharing this with ya'll for a pat on the back or for the sweet words that I know ya'll will share. I'm simply sharing this because I want to remind Christ-followers that being a missionary doesn't require you to travel to the utmost other side of the world to share God's love. Being a missionary for God also means loving your community right there. When we're called to take up our cross, it's not a light command my friends.

 

I challenge ya'll today, and every day, to take up your cross daily. Even if that means piling your butt into the back of a hot SUV with 8 other people (shhh.... don't tell the law), with over 25 tins and plates of yummy goods, on Christmas morning. Take up your cross with gladness in your heart.

 

I can honestly say that Hunter and I do plan on continuing this Christmas cookie mission every year. To our friends and family members that helped us bake, deliver, sent sweet words of grace to us, thank you for supporting our ministry. The glory be to God.

Merry Christmas Eve!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas! See ya'll next week!

 



The Reception

Hunter and I cannot say it enough - we had so much fun at our reception!! And we are so glad that we made the difficult decision to make our reception dry. People had so much fun, danced their little hearts out, and chowed down on some good, southern cooking.

 

Ya'll, my brothers and husband even danced. They don't dance...

 

And that's it folks! I have absolutely loved sharing these photos and memories with ya'll.

Livin' On Love

You get 2 candy canes if you can guess who sings the title of this post.

 

Guys... It's Friday! And it's a beautiful Friday at that! Except all my work peeps are droppin' like flies over here due to the flu, strep throat, colds. #lonesurvivor

 

Today, I'm all about the things I'm loving right now and I wanted to share some of this joy in your lives...

 

 

I love love love cuddles with this big baby! Just about every morning, both of my fur baby boys are snuggled up next to their mama. It's moments like these that make them super sweet and I can forgive them for chewing on my shoes and peeing on my favorite rug.

 

This coffee mug that my sweet boss gave me for Christmas! She knows how much I love my iced coffee in the mornings.

 

**Next picture contains dead animal. Skip over it if you can't handle it.**

 

 

This guy right here. This deer he shot on Sunday will feed our family for weeks and weeks. And for all you nay sayers against hunting... It's in the bible. Read Genesis and then come back and talk to me.

 

 

Is this not the prettiest thing ever?! Thursday night, Hunter, my in laws, and I all met with a family friend over dinner and he brought us this beautiful handmade, clay sunflower that his wife made. I cannot wait to find this beauty a place in our home!

 

Happy weekending friends! This weekend consists of tacky Christmas sweater parties, egg nog, friends, and family. God is so good to me!