gifts from the past week

33.  Three Day Weekend ~ I can't even tell you how thankful I am when I have 3 days in a row off.
34.  Soup ~  I love soup from fall through winter --Chili, Beef Stew, Pasta Fagioli, Zuppa Toscana, Chicken 'n Noodle
35.  Dinner with friends ~ It was our first time eating at Saul Good and it was so yummy.  We love going on double dates with other couples.  We had a great time!
36.  Adam and Julia's infamous Green Smoothie ~ We've started trying to eat healthier and exercise more.  The smoothie is amazing!  It has 2 servings of vegetables and 3 servings of fruit.  It's a great way to start the day. 
37.  My Mom ~  She just had a birthday.  So thankful for her.  Miss her. 
38.   Sheri ~  She also just had a birthday.  So thankful for her.  Miss her, too.
39.  Amanda ~ She also had a birthday.  So thankful for her and happy I don't have to miss her.
40.  Favorite books ~  I love reading and re-reading and re-reading my favorite books.  Some of my favorites are:  The Purpose Driven Life (read it in college and still love it), Crazy Love, When Calls the Heart (author Janette Oke- you've probably not heard of her, but the whole series always makes me feel good)
41.  Having some free time ~  Last year we were too busy!  From January to August we had a lot going on, but from August through December we had something every day.  Thankfully January and February have been "down" months for us.  We've purposely decreased our schedule to take time to do nothing.
42.  Thunderstorms ~  We had a nice little thunderstorm yesterday.  It was great!  I love watching lightning and listening to thunder.  I think Spring is right around the corner.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!  I hope you have a great birthday.  I wish we could be up there this weekend.  Thanks for all your love and support. 

 Love you!  Happy Birthday! 

two little shadows

I have two cute little shadows who follow me everywhere in the house.  When I work out I have to shut them out of our exercise room because they both try and jump up on the treadmill with me, and then I have to turn my music up loud so I don't have to listen to their pitiful whining outside the door.  They both want to be EVERYWHERE we are.  I pulled the sheets off our bed and dropped it on the floor of our laundry room so I could add detergent and when I turned around, this is what I saw:

 

Charlie (excuse the poor boy, he needs a haircut so bad) had crawled up and made himself a little bed and Peyton  was trying to sit, but sliding on our floor. ~I couldn't ask for two more adorable shadows. 

~So thankful I had my camera in my pocket.

Two Special Birthdays

Today I am celebrating two dear beautiful friends birthdays.  You both are very special to me. 

Happy Birthday, Amanda!  This is going to be an amazing year for you!  I can't wait to meet your little man.   You're going to be such a loving, caring mommy.   I'm so thankful for your friendship ~ We've had a great couple of years, from Gatlinburg to girls group to our life group  to your birthday last year to our Lake Cumberland getaway.   I can't wait to make some more memories.  I hope you have an awesome day and can take some time to enjoy it.    

Halloween for our dogs 2009

 

The end product of me driving our pontoon

 

Ryan and Erin's going away party

 

Ugly Christmas sweater party

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

Happy Birthday Pretty Sheri Mommy Girl!  I hope you have an awesome day!  You know how special you are to me.  You're the sweetest and most optimistic person I know.  You've been such a huge blessing to me.  You're an amazing mother and have two of the greatest kids.  I miss you, but am thankful we talk often and pick up right where we left off.  I can't even tell you how excited I am to see you next month- I'm counting down the days. 

My first real memory of you - skiing 2004

 

Matt and Summer's wedding 200?

 

Weekend at my house 2007

 

Nikki's wedding 2010

Happy Birthday, Girls!  Love you both! 

Ephesians 3 :17-20 "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

gifts from the past week

23.  Valentine's Day - Brian had pretty flowers delivered to my office --Love Him!

24.  My Job - I love pregnant women and working with them!  I work with such kind and loving people -from the other nurses to the sonographers to our receptionists to the doctor I work for -it's a great family atmosphere.

25.   Friday -I love Fridays!  I'm usually off every third Friday, but thankfully, even the ones I do work are only 1/2 days.  This past Friday was a great day at work and when I left, it was 66 and sunny!

26.  Gym Membership - The doctor I work for has paid for a membership for Brian and me at Urban Active

27.  Windows Open - It has been warm enough to get some fresh air in the house

28.  For the past week, our furnace has not been on much.

29.  Saturday night dates - we went to church on Saturday night and then went out to eat.  I have been craving Mexican.  It was so good!  

30.  Sunsets - I love watching the sunset.  I love seeing all the colors -red, pink, orange.  Hopefully someday we'll build a house with a big front porch that we can sit on our rockers, drink sweet tea or lemonade and watch the sunset.
31.  Grilling -  We love using our grill!  We grill several days a week in the summer and then in the winter we still grill every couple of weeks.  
32.  Full Moon - the moon has been gorgeous the past couple of days.  It's been warm enough that we've been able to go out and look at it for a while.  It starts out big and orange, then turns yellow, then white.

My Valentine

I'm so thankful for my husband - thankful that I waited on him, thankful that God gave me someone even better than I prayed for, thankful for his loving, kind, patient, joyful, and generous spirit, and thankful for his commitment to us. 

Brian had these pretty flowers delivered to my office today.  I love the pink and white flowers, and the cute vase! 

Thanks Babe!  Love you so much!

Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day!

gifts from the past week

16.   Great dinner at The Melting Pot

17.   Great weekend with my husband -loved hanging out with him and lots of great food

18.   Beautiful Saturday and Sunday --it's amazing how warm weather and sun refreshes you - we had our windows open for a little while 

19.  Loved Bible Study with my girls last Tuesday night- there were only 7 of us, but we had great conversation

20.  Loved church -reminded me to be on guard against Satan's schemes and to put on the full armor of God

21.  We spring cleaned our house this weekend - that is not a blessing, but I love the effect, there's something that makes me happy about having a really clean and organized house
22.  Legacy Trail - we had the best time walking and taking in nature - it reminds me that new life is right around the corner 

Legacy Trail

Since the weather has been great, we took the dogs to Lexington's Legacy Trail.  We only walked for about 3 miles, but we had so much fun.  We walked along a big pond, then a creek, and then got to see some horses.  We really enjoyed the peace and quiet and the beauty.  Also, everyone on the trail was so friendly -a lot of people were out.  I look like I am dressed as if it were 30 degrees instead of 55. 

 

 The trail is 12 miles long.  It starts downtown and ends up at the horse park outside of town.  We started at the horse park and  worked our way towards the city.  I can't wait to get back this spring, it will be gorgeous with all the daffodils, azaleas, rhododendrons, cherry blossoms, dogwoods, and pear trees.

Valentine's Dinner

Brian and I chose to go out tonight for Valentine's Day instead of Monday.  We knew we'd be able to enjoy ourselves more since we don't have to work tomorrow.  We had a great evening!  We shopped for a little bit and then went to The Melting Pot.  Our reservation was for 8:30, so we were absolutely starving by the time we got there.  We really like going there because we're always there for a couple hours, so it's a really good time to just sit and talk without any interruptions (television, computer, phones). 

Brian and Charlie before we left --Charlie loves looking out the window

 

I wish I had gotten a picture of my dress -I really love it, it's my favorite dress - it's cute and comfortable --I had heels on but knew we were going to shop so I changed into flats.  I'm glad I did -not the cutest with the outfit, but oh, well. --Oh, and I'm really happy with my bargain coat.  I got it at Nordstrom's in December for $44. 

 

Cheddar Bacon Cheese Fondue with different types of bread, vegetables and apples to dip

 

Meat entree - Filet, New York Strip, Chicken, Shrimp, Vegetables

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fondue with strawberries, bananas, brownies, rice krispie treats, cheesecake, and pound cake --Delicious!

Great Friday Night!

Happy Anniversary

The day is almost over, but I wanted to make a quick post.  Today is Brian's grandparents 64th wedding anniversary.  That's awesome!  They're such a cute couple.  Unfortunately, we don't get to see them very often because they live most of the year in Florida, but thankfully they still have their home in Indiana that they come back to for a few months in the summer.  I love hearing Brian talk about all the great memories he has of his grandmother and grandfather.  They are so loving, supportive and kind - when I first met them, I got a nice big hug from both of them and they could not wait to brag about their grandson. 

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa C!

They're on the far right - it's pitiful - I only have a few pictures of them

one thousand gifts

My friend Brittany turned me onto the book one thousand gifts by Ann Voskamp.  It encourages everyone to write down 1000 gifts/blessings.  It really takes the focus off some of the not-so-great things in your life and opens you to blessings you just weren't paying attention to.  I've been purposely looking for little blessings and taking the time to say, "Thank you, Lord."   I'm excited to look back and see what all I've documented. 

one thousand gifts

1.  Salvation-the best gift

2.  My husband -  I love him more daily

3.  Peyton - our sweet girl/dog

4.  Charlie - our cuddly little man/dog

5.  Our house - I love coming home to it everyday

6.  Our church - I love going to church and am excited for every message

7.  My pillow - it cost $70, but has been worth every penny - I sleep better and wake up without a sore neck

8.  Sunshine - my day is better all around when the sun is shining

9.  Mexican food - mmm...makes my mouth water just thinking about it

10.  Books - I really enjoy sitting down and reading a good book

11.  Cooking -it's a simple joy, but I really enjoy making a great meal
12.  Mail - I love getting the mail, especially when there's something in it for me
13.  Superbowl - I love hanging out with people watching the game, eating snack food and pizza
14.  Saturdays - the joy of doing whatever you want
15.  iPod - makes working out more tolerable