gifts from the past week

54.  Mental Health Friday --the doctor I work for closed our office on Friday, he called it a mental health day --I love having Friday's off and getting paid for them

55.  Friday was a great day - beautiful weather, lots of sunshine, and an unexpected surprise

56.  On Thursday we received a generous treat from Brian's company

57.  Reconnected with my friend Katie - I love the blogging world!

58.  1/2 Day on Wednesday - I had a really nice work week

59.   My Wonderful Husband (I know I've already included him on this list)- I'm thankful for him on a daily basis.  I'm not only so...in love with him, I really like him.  Even though we've been married over 4 years, I still feel like we're newlyweds.  He has such a good heart and always has a joyful attitude.

60.  Daily Savings Time - I love Spring forward time!! 

61.  Unexpected call from my aunt and uncle -- My Aunt Marion and Uncle Denny were in Lexington for a day and called us.  We ate at Fridays and then went back to their hotel and talked for a few hours.  It was great seeing family!!

62.  Todd - He willingly gave up his Saturday to help Brian dig holes in our backyard for our deck

Flashback Friday

I had so much fun with my last flashback post, I thought I'd do another one.  This will probably be the last flashback post.  I think I'm done embarrassing myself.

This is my only claim to fame.  I think this is the only time I've ever been in the paper --at least I can't think of anything else.  Some of the kids were Indians and some were Pilgrims.  I can't remember how it was decided, but I think a.m. kindergartners were Pilgrims and p.m. kids were Indians -That's me with the awkward arm pose.

6th grade library helpers --- I Loved This Job!  I got to be with all my best buds.  We had such a great time.  I have the really cool checkered shirt on in the back row. 

Cross Country Team 11th grade - we had a pretty good team.  I remember taking this picture - it was so much fun - you can't see it, but I have this sweet little heart necklace that says Jesus in the middle - I still have that necklace - I'm bottom left

Last, but not least- Prom from my Junior year -- So thankful my face has thinned out.  What was I thinking with my hair all slicked back?  I don't know what's with the spots on mine and Katie's faces -  I loved my necklace, it was part of my grandma's costume jewelry collection  - I remember really liking and still liking Abrah and Katie R's dresses

Happy Birthday, Charlotte!

(I started this back in January and saved it as a draft and then forgot about it --so sorry!  Happy Belated Birthday!)

Happy Birthday Dear Charlotte Girl!  

You're 1!   What an amazing blessing you've been to your mommy and daddy, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  It's been pure joy being around you this past year.  I love all of your facial expressions.  You have two wonderful parents - Brian and I consider it an honor to be friends with them.  God was awesome to bring me an Indiana family to Kentucky.  You're going to have so much fun being a big sister.  I can't wait to see you come to know Jesus and walk daily with Him and see what He does in your precious life.

 Here are a few of my favorite pictures 

Love, love, love this picture of her!

 My favorite IU cheerleader (this picture was from our ugly Christmas sweater party -just in case you're wondering about mine and Adam's clothes)

Such a beautiful family!  Adam, Julia and Charlotte

 

Happy Birthday Beautiful Sweet Girl!

Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"

Hosanna

I see the King of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees


Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

I love this song!  I always tear up when I sing this song.  I take time to process the words - King of glory, love and mercy, washing over all our sin, and especially the last verse.  --I pray frequently for my eyes to be open to things unseen and for my heart to be broken for things that break His.  --Hosanna in the highest!!!

ABC's of Brian and Me

I've recently read a few blogs that have done this, so I thought I'd give it a go, too.. 

A - Age : 29 --I'm 2 months away from 30 -yikes!  Where did my 20's go?  Brian's answer:  "34."
B - Bed size:  Queen - hopefully someday we'll upgrade to a king, but Brian built our bed before we even met.  I love that I have such a handy man.   We're in the process of re-doing our bedroom, so excuse the 2 lamps and lack of window treatments and pitiful pillows.  I'll post a before and after once it's all done. 

C - Chore you dislike:  vacuuming - I don't really like loud noises, so it annoys me. --Brian's answer:   "Vacuuming (I was shocked we had the same answer) because it's boring."
D - Dogs:  Peyton and Charlie -- my favorite picture of Peyt

E - Essential start to your day:  Adam and Julia's green smoothie.  I've been addicted for a couple of weeks now.  Brian's answer:  "Coffee!  It wakes me up and I like the warmth." 
F - Favorite color:  Pink!!!!  Brian's answer:  "Blue."

G - Gold or Silver:  Silver usually, but I do like to wear both.  Brian's answer:  "Silver, I guess."
H- Height:  5'6"  Brian's answer:  5'9-10"
I - Instruments you play - None.  I played flute for less than 2 weeks in the 6th grade and then quit.  Brian's answer:  "I was forced to take piano lessons for 2 years when I was younger and did not like it at all.  I played trumpet for a few years and then took guitar lessons out of college.  But, I would really say I can't play anything."
J - Job title - Registered Nurse.  Brian's answer:  "Computer Engineer."
K - Kids  - None, yet.  But hopefully we'll have biological kids, adopted kids, foster kids - we want a bunch!  Brian's answer:  "I thought we agreed on 3."
L - Live - The Bluegrass State - Kentucky.  Never in a million years did I ever think I would live in or even like this state, but I love it!  I love the milder winters and the hot summers.  It has beautiful blue/green grass, rolling hills, mountains in the east, and lots of lakes.  I also love my church and the people!  I am a southern girl at heart.  The next state I want to live in is North Carolina.  --I asked Brian what state he would like to live in next:  "Colorado, Texas, or North Carolina."

M - My mom's name:  Sally.  Love her.  Brian's answer:  "Mary."  Also love her.
N - Nickname:  Ash, Ashes, Ashley Love.  Brian's answer:  "Crawdad.  I know, it's lame."
O - Overnight stay in hospital:  Thankfully, no.  Brian's answer:  "No.  I've never even been in the ER."
P - Pet peeves:  Texting while driving.  Brian's answer:  "Someone not putting stuff in the trashcan, just laying it beside the trashcan."  (I think he was talking about me.) 
Q - Quotes from movies:  I can't really think of anything, so I'll list one of my favorite verses.  Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s craftsmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Brian's answer:  "I can't think of anything."  So I asked him is favorite bible verse.  Philippians 4:6-8  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 
R - Right/Lefty:  Righty.  Brian: Righty.
S - Siblings:  1 brother - Clint.  Brian:  Chris and Melissa.

T - Time you wake up:  6:15 am.  Brian:  6:15
U - Underwear:  Whatever I like that's on-sale.  Brian's answer: "What?"
V - Veggies you dislike:  My answer used to be all veggies, but I have completely changed and like all veggies now, at least I can't think of any that I don't like.  Brian's answer:  "Squash.  Wait, Is that a veggie or a fruit?"
W - What makes you run late:  I can't stand to be late, so I'm usually not.  Brian's answer:  "I don't run late."
X- Xrays you've had:  Ankle bone.  Brian's answer:  "Knee."
Y- Yummy food you make:  I think I'm a pretty good cook, so I think it's all yummy.  Brian's answer:  "I'm a good griller.  Steaks and Porkchops."                        

I didn't cook either of these dishes, but I want to try and re-create them sometime.  This was one of our favorite meals in Italy.

Z- Zoo animal:  Bears, Tigers, and Lions!  Brian's answer:  "Gotta be the monkeys."

gifts from the past week

43.  Crocus' in bloom!  

44.  Seeing lots of green popping out of the ground

45.  Smell of the air before a thunderstorm

46.  Reconnecting with high school friends (Mandy, Megan, Abrah, Brittany, Haley) - one of the things I really like about blogging

47.  Dinner at Puccini's with friends - I loved the company and loved the food

48.  Hannah - such a lovable, happy baby

49.  Getting a letter in the mail from our Compassion child Plaisia, she's so sweet and draws us the cutest pictures- brings me such joy watching her growing in Christ

50.  Getting our firepit out - we had the best evening Friday night sitting outside
51.  Tornado sirens - I was really annoyed Monday morning at 5:15 to be awoken by sirens, but later in the day, I was thankful for them. 
52.  Thankful that I'm not diabetic - I had to poke my finger yesterday morning to get $50 back on our insurance and it was a miserable process.  I have no problem poking other people's fingers at work, but when it comes to myself, I did not tolerate it well.  I would be the worst diabetic ever because there is no way I would poke my finger 4x/day.
53.  Thankful for my husband's hard work - he worked all day Saturday to build me planter boxes for our deck (which he will also start building in the next couple of weeks)

Evening Outside

At 8pm tonight it was still 60 degrees so Brian and I decided to get our firepit out.  We just sat and talked and listened to the frogs and wind blowing in the trees.  It was so nice and peaceful.  I'm so...ready for spring and even summer.  We love being outside.