i said YES. we said LOVE.

as a little girl, you dream of this day. the proposal. you can't help but imagine all the details and hope/wish for a fantasy. well, last night was even more than i could have ever imagined. i said yes, in someway, somehow. i'm not quite clear on all the details. everything was so blurry and exciting but, by the end of the night, i had a fiance and a dream had come true! i'm gonna be marrying my best friend within the next 5-6 months. more than anything, i am overwhelmed at the love and affection i am being sweetly bombarded with by my friends and family. their love and support around us during this time is more than we could have ever asked for, and their contribution to last night's celebration was beyond special, it was truly amazing.

last night marked a special day because not only was there an engagement, but preceeding the engagement were the words 'i love you'. we have been saving that for this moment. and i have never heard them spoken with more love, excitement, and anticipation. it is surreal that i now can say 'i love you' to my best friend. the words echo bliss. pure bliss.

thanksgiving will be a little more special this year. family and soon-to-be-family are uniting for the first time. man, i have so much more to be thankful for this year. i'm overwhelmed and blessed. abundantly blessed.

happy thanksgiving to all friends and family who read this blog. i love you so much and appreciate your support and love towards us as we celebrate this time together. i am thankful for a journey that has now, just begun.

meredith lynn larson. i LOVE it. sigh.

p.s. i find it also fascinating that the song i posted on my blog yesterday actually played a huge factor in blake's proposal. pictures to come. :) he did good. very good.

WE ARE

It's all too common to forget who we are and why we're here. I know this because I do it much to often, it's shameful. I put myself in a box and neglect anything that's going on around me. Why? To protect myself from being hurt, mostly. And then I think back on my trip to Africa and realize those I laid my eyes on and touched and loved on are neglected and hurting are because they have never known anything better. I have Jesus. They've never even heard His name. It happens much too much, that I have to ask God to take me out of my own box, and put me in unknown places. It's there I find so much more fulfilling joy anyway. The song below is a reminder to me and to you, believer, of who we are and why we're here. Take my hand, let's step out of this box together, oh brother and sister in Christ.



parker



We Are The Body Of Christ

by Mandi Mapes, Jim Watkins

We are the body of the most High
We are the bride of a Savior
And we fall for the King of the kingdom

As we sing the songs of salvation

And we stand for those who cannot stand for themselves
And we love the loveless

And we go where Your light’s not shining

We are the body of Christ

We shine like a city on a hilltop
We boast in the Spirit living in us

And we march on a road leading to freedom

As we reach out our hands to the fallen

And we bring living water to the thirsty and
We live for the One who was and is and is to come


So our life counts for something greater than ourselves

We are the body of Christ

And our anthem will be a song of praise to the King
“He is worthy, He is worthy”
With one voice we will sing,
“Where oh death is your sting”

He is mighty, He is mighty

home for the holidays



matt pearson

 i can't believe christmas is right around the corner. loving this short week. determined not to overlook thanksgiving. i'm anxiously awaiting the much needed upcoming holiday. already dreaming about how much food i'll eat. yesterday while leading my high school girls small group at church, i was reminded, by them, that at their age, you don't like 'thanksgiving food'. or that's the trend these days- to only eat junk food. gross. i'll be eating my plate as well as a plate in honour of the ones who refuse turkey and sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie this year. and am trying to figure out when in the last 5-8 years taste buds decided to immature rather than mature with age.  

today is blake's dear momma's birthday! happy happy birthday harriet!

i'm wishing it was as cool/cold outside as this picture appears. for those of you holding out on going to see harry potter...you have no idea what you're missing. and now that you have time over the holidays treat yourself to a great movie. :) 

during small group yesterday morning, we were encouraged to use our time wisely over the holidays. don't let Christ get the back burner. afterall, He is the only one we really have to thank for anything. So give thanks. And amidst all the eating and socializing this holiday season, give thanks to the one who gave it all, literally.

be blessed.

a celebratory day

HAPPY HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY ANDREW BLAKE!



via {...psst}



Happy birthday to the boyfriend I never dreamed of having, but somehow was given anyway. Looking forward to taking him out on a dinner date followed by a yummy 2-layer yellow cake with chocolate frosting (his favorite). If you happen to see him around town today, give him a warm happy birthday hug, high five, or slap on the butt (make that 25 times). i know he'd appreciate it!



11.11.10

a day early. who cares. i'm already devoted to kicking off b's birthday a tad early. besides, everyone loves a birthday that lasts more than 24 hours. tomorrow b turns a quarter of a century old. and i'm that girl who gets to spend it with him- and carry it on into the weekend. we're travelling up to little rock to have a little party and just enjoy being with family. because he's turning the big 2-5, here's 25 reasons why i can't live without this guy- reasons why he is so amazing. so, happy birthday b! you're the biggest blessing ever to come into my life [excluding grace given to me by God] :) cheers.

in no particular order:

1] he can recite ANY line in jurassic park, and will do so willingly
2] he likes/loves grey's anatomy
3] he's utterly the most handsome man in the world
4] he strives to be a godly man, daily
5] he has good taste in music
6] he has good taste in women :)
7] b loves when i cook for him and will eat anything i make (i hope that's a good thing)
8] he is my world traveller
9] he adores lu just as much if not more than i do! and that's pretty hard to do!
10] he has the most adorable smile/teeth/crows feet
11] he's studly
12] his birthday is one day after meredith greys (i know he planned it that way..)
13] i feel most protected and provided for when he is around
14] he likes talking about the future- or just does a good job of putting up with my rants and dreams
15] his favorite food is a good steak. 
16] he likes a good beer. 
17] eehhh... he eats taco bell
18] it makes his day when i break down and eat fast food with him. its like i'm speaking his love language or something
19] he watches college football and dislikes watching nfl (excluding playoffs)
20] he's really good at reading me
21] he's honest
22] he is the funniest guy i know. makes me laugh all the time.
23] he takes care of me
24] yet he gives me up to the lord
25] he prefers me when im decked out in my casual attire and my hair's in a ponytail.

i could go on- it didn't take me very long to make this list! maybe more for next year! happy birthday darling! i'm so completely thankful for you!

hello today

i finally got to break out the wool coat today before leaving my house for work. its almost friday- that means blake and i along with a handful of other church folk will be leaving lunchtime tomorrow for a quick trip to birmingham. we're attending secret church. i'm stoked. #scriptureoverloadinagoodway

loving the *cold weather*sweaters*wool*thursday=grey's*time with su*london fog*leaves falling*blankets*pottery barn christmas catalogue*pumpkin spice everything