BACK HOME AGAIN

The pager makes it’s beeping noise, The scanner comes to life.
You see excitement on his face As he goes off to fight.

No matter what you’re doing Or whatever the current plan,
All you can say is “Later Hon” As he gets those keys in hand.

You say a little prayer That God will keep him safe,
That with all the pride and bravery No one will make a mistake.

You know those men are Brothers And fiercely will protect
The lives of each other and others– They will truly give their best!

You and your “man’s best friend” Are both loyal and true.
You keep each other company Waiting for him to return to you.

And when that front door opens With “Honey I’m home” again,
You thank the Lord he’s back OK, Your brave and strong Fireman.

Firefighter's Wife!

Chasing flames and saving lives is a firefighters thrill;
And I’ll do this job, the best I can, with the Lords grace and will.
But even though I love the flames, the excitement, and the roar;
There’s someone waiting back home for me, that I love even more.

My best friend, my soul mate, she is the love of my life.
I am so very grateful that she is my wife.
She understands the job I do, but how she hates it so.
I hear her cries, and see her tears, each time I have to go.

As I race to the fire, to battle the beast, I wonder how she is;
And pray to God, to let me return, to feel her tender kiss.
I know she won’t sleep, with her heart filled with strife,
She knows why I must leave her, to go and risk my life.

She would only have to say the word and I would walk away;
And never fight another fire, or keep the beast at bay.
But I know that’s something she’ll never do, she loves the man I am.
She’s proud of me for the lives I save and for my helping hand.

Though someday soon, the Lord may say, this job will take my life;
And I must leave this happiness, of my family and my wife.
Deep down inside I truly doubt that she would change a thing,
As long as we’re together and wearing her fireman’s wedding ring.

–Author Unknown

New Year's Resolutions.

I havent posted mine yet! I feel like such a slacker, since every other blog I read has. Oh well, I havet had much time lately.

1. Stay ahead with my homework. I always wait until the very last minute to get an assignment done and I hate that!! I have got to do better...starting Thursday!

2. Run at least twice a week. I miss running, even though I'm not planning any 5k's or anything like that right now, I just miss that alone time and time to clear my head! Running also makes me skinny..haha!

3. Do a daily devotion again. I have gotten so out of schedule with life & this is most missed.

4. Eat dinner out less. So far this one is the hardest one! I just hate cooking anymore. It's awful. I'm out of inspiration and ideas of new things for dinner. I need some ideas. Send me your favorite recipes!!


*Well, today was the first day back & boy was it a rough one! Lots going on and major stuff coming up...so send some prayers my way!*

Lighten Up Your Life

Starting on January 1st 2010, a group of us women at work are joining up with Mission Hospital's Lighten Up Your Life program. It's sorta like a biggest loser type challenge, without the weighing in in front of 17090560403023 people!! (Thank the good Lord!!)

So I've been reading some Running blogs, and weightloss blogs to get myself mentally prepared. I refuse to be the dead weight on our team, I refuse to buy larger clothes anymore & I'm tired of being unhealthy!!! I was running/walking quite a bit this summer and actually managed to lose quite a bit of weight...then school started & I quit. Just one day didnt go & never looked back. It's sad. I feel miserable, look miserable and just overall miss it!




I'll leave you with a picture of me!
(Hahaha..please dont contact Epic Fail & nominate me :P)

Wow, its been awhile.

I havent really had alot to post about, or at least anything worthwhile.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Josh & I celebrated our 6th anniversary yesterday!

My classes are coming to a close,last assignment is due today! Yay for no more till January! A much needed break. My next semester is loaded pretty heavily and i'm really dreading it, but I'm ready to be done!


Bryson is in the church Christmas program tonight and then one at school on the 17th. I will try to get some pictures up soon :)

It's been crazy lately!

I havent had time to breathe much less post. We had our Fall Festival at school Saturday & so we've been working hard on that lately. We all had a blast & the kids loved loved loved it! I'm so glad its over though! Cookie Dough will be delivered Wednesday, so I will be unloading 3,000 tubs that day. Luckily I love all the girls we have helping, so we will find away to make it fun, I'm sure!

I've been really swamped with homework lately & I'm trying to pull up my GPA a bit, from my last math class...ugh! So that's been keeping me busy busy!

I'll try to post something worthwhile soon..I've not been really upbeat and just dont have too much to say lately.

Recipe for Today

Recipe For Life:

MIX TOGETHER:
1 C. good thoughts
1 C. kind deeds
1 C. consideration
2 C. sacrifice for others
3 C. forgiveness
Then add 2 C. of well beaten faults

This is to be mixed thoroughly with tears of joy and sorrow, as well as plenty of sympathy. Flavor the mixture well with little gifts of love and kindness. Use 4 cups of prayer and faith to lighten the other ingredients and raise the texture to great heights in daily living. Bake well in the heat of human kindness and serve with a smile.

Childhood Toys

On a website I'm on, some friends were talking about favorite toys from our childhood. It brought back such fun memories,I decided to share some with you all.

With eyes wide open..

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind, from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do."
Psalm 33:13-15

These verses give me comfort, He is watching down on us all. Not watching us, waiting on us to mess up..but watching over us, as a new mother would watch over her sleeping newborn. Not that He overlooks sin but He sees us through His amazing love, grace and mercy. I hope that visual of Him watching over you, knowing you intimately, and considering everything you do is a comforting reminder to you today. It was to me!

Blast from the Past

I was digging through an old photobucket account and found some really old pictures, I had forgotten about actually. SO glad I did. It was so neat to look back. SO here's a few. I know the grandparents will really like these!

Whew what a ride!

This past week has been crazy, I swear! (If I was a swearing kind of gal, but I'm not.)

Monday, I found out I had gotten a job. Yipee! I start Monday, and I'm very excited. It's nice to see all these classes, that I'm killing myself with, are paying off. I also took a nice long look at what I left left, and wow, its flying by. I'm thrilled with that too! Then it will be on to figure out where I'm going to get my bachelors at. Decisions, Decisions!

On the PTO front, cookie dough has been sent off! Whew, its out of my hands for a few weeks. I'm sure that sorting and delivering will be fun as well. We had a great success though.

Family Pictures

We recently had some family pictures taken and I just wanted to share a sneak peek! Ashley Greene was our photographer and she rocked!

It's that time of the year...

My favorite time of the year! FALL!! I love FALL!

One of my favorite things about fall, is Starbucks brings their Pumpkin Spice Latte's back!

Heaven in a cup, I swear!



Here's my cute little Starbucks Junkie!

Labor Day Weekend

How sad that summer is officially over :( But we had a great weekend! The hubby spend most of his getting ready for Hunting, which started yesterday!

Friday night we went to Texas Roadhouse, our usual restaurant with a family friend and did a bit of shopping. Had to run to Dick's Sporting Goods for some last minute hunting gear. (All I can say is that Josh cant ever complain about how much I spend on purses and shoes...hunting stuff is MUCHO expensive!)

Saturday I spent some time with my momma and hit a few yard sales and had chinese!

Sunday was the best! Some of the girlies in my Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World went to Applachian State for the Praise Festival. Performing were Josh Wilson, 7 Miles, Meredith Andrews & BRANDON HEATH! They all rocked and the speaker was the preacher at Cornerstone in Boone and he had a very powerful message. Many gave their life to Christ and it was a very moving evening. After the concert, our group headed over to Macado's and met up with 7 Miles, who are awesome! They took pictures and hung out with us. Benton Blount is such a good guy. He didnt act he minded us crazy 15 women who all wanted pictures with him :)




The fellowship and friendship our group shared was amazing. We were full of giggles and laughter on the ride to Boone and back. We had such a great time.

Monday, the sister and I shared some quality time and hit the mall and one of our favorite little meals..Firehouse Subs..which just have the most amazing subs ever!

Pink..is my favorite color..

My hubby was lauging at me the other day because I seem to want everything in the color pink. Maybe its living in a house full of boys, or maybe I just really enjoy the color pink. Who knows? So after noticing in one of his hunting magazines that you could now purchase pink bows and pink arrows and womens figure flattering camo. (HAHA! I feel as if I should be saing GIT-ER-Done or something equally as redneck here!) I decided to google pink things and show you some of my favorite finds!














( Has bArbie pink taken over the world?? )



And there my friends is the pink bow..which by the way, I wouldnt be getting if i wanted it. It's double the price of my hubby's bow..which would buy alot of shoes, sigh.

Friendships..

I have been thinking alot about Friendships and how God chooses who we need as friends in our lives. We, as Christians are to love one another, but I personally dont feel we are all meant to be friends. Some people we just dont mesh well with, and sometimes our "energy" is just not the same.

I also think that our friends help "form" and "create" our personalities. I have always heard that he who walks with wise people will become wise himself and he who keeps company with foold whill himself be destroyed. The Bible tells us that we arent to be unequally yokes with unbelievers, that we are to withdraw from every brother who walks disordely.

This doesnt mean that we cannot work with the lost, and the ones that need to find God.

I think when you give your life to Christ, you surrender your life to his plans. He has a plan of what job you should have, whom you chose as your spouse, your friends,etc. I think God decides who yout TRUe friends will be and who will not.He might take people out of your life so you do not have negative influences. They may not be open to growing and maturing with him and could hold you back. YOu dont need anyone in your life stunting your growth in the Lord. It's alot like parents who dont want their child hanging out with certain people, so they wont have that influences. He IS the GREATEST dad we could ever have.

When he prunes out the the people you dont need in your lives, he replaces them. These people are your GOD-friends. They will be Godly spirited friends who are walking with him and living a Christian lifestyle.Together you can teach each other and help encourage each other.

Here are some verses I found extremely helpful with understanding GOd-Friends..

The righteous should CHOOSE HIS FRIENDS CAREFULLY, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 12:26)

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17)
This one really struck home with me. As one of my GOD-friends really has sharpened me. She is always honest and straight forward with me.She always has wonderful advice and lifts me up in prayer when needed. She has sharpened me and my christian walk so many times. I am so thankful for her. She keeps me on the straight and narrow path, even when we take a wrong way street.. together we laugh at our mistake and fix it! :P


When Jesus sent out the 12 apostles, he sent them two-by-two. I feel that he did this as we are all supposed to have a friend by our side. If you currently dont have a GOD-friend, please pray to him that he will bring you one.

Faith like...me?

I have been struggling this summer with some very personal struggles. Most include some people in my life I'm having to deal with. It's a tough and messy situation that has gone from bad to worse very quickly. I have been struggling with how to handle it in a christian manner but also not being a "doormat for the devil". I have tried the whole keep my distance and keep my mouth shut, but for some strange reason that fueled the fire even harder.

A good friend of mine told me I was thinking about the situation too much & letting it get the best of me. I realized that I was spending every moment of my day thinking and worrying about this. (And yes, I realize writing this is making me think of it). I realized I was letting this situation come between me and my husband, me and my whole life....but most importantly me & GOD. I have given him my problems and I refuse to think another thought about it.


So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2: 5

ABC..easy as 1,2,3

Today was Carson's first day of Kindergarten & Bryson's first day of First Grade. Here is a picture of my two BIG boys! I cant believe they have grown up so quickly. Dont blink mommas, your babies will be grown in NO time!!



**Yes, Carson makes cheesy silly faces in every picture!!**

Happy Birthday to my Sweet 5 year old!!

It seems like just yesterday you were born. You are the "baby" and always will be. We love you so much Carson & you have brought more joy than we could ever imagine to our family.


HAPPY 5th Birthday!

Forget the Diet..Baked Potato Casserole

Yummy!!! This can be made ahead, so its a favorite for working people! (My family omits the green onion!)

•5 pounds Red Potatoes, Cut Into 1 Inch Pieces
•1 pound Bacon, Cooked & Crumbled
•4 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
•1 cup Green Onions, Sliced
•1 cup Mayonnaise
•1 cup Sour Cream
•1 teaspoon Salt
•½ teaspoons Black Pepper

Preparation Instructions
Peel, cube and cook potatoes until just tender. Drain and place in a large bowl to cool slightly if making the casserole right away. If you are going to make this to reheat later, let the potaotes cool thoroughly. Combine the remaining ingredients and mix into the potatoes. Transfer to a 4-1/2 quart baking dish. Bake, uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes at 325°F or until browned and heated through. Add 15 minutes to the cooking time if the casserole has been refrigerated.