progress.

Nearly a week has gone by since my last post. I've been living. I make no apologies for that. :). I had a fantastic non-stressful weekend. I was able to accomplish several things that weren't on any to-do lists but that needed to be done. I got ALL of my clothes washed, folded, and put away/hung-up. For that reason alone, I'm giving myself a peach milkshake from Chick-fil-A tonight. (and all God's people should be saying AMEN.).

Last week, I bought Lysa Terkeurst's book Unglued. Granted, I don't have kids, but having kids is not a prerequisite for having poor reactions. This season of my life is heavily focused on how I react to things, and (more important than that) how others react to my reaction. I think I'm level headed until I'm in the proverbial hot seat, and then I'm as human as they come. I want my faith and my love for God, and His love for me (and you) to show in ways that my temper doesn't allow. I want to be a better example for me! Lysa spends time in the book talking about progress, and the baby steps of life. Sometimes, it really it just moving forward, regardless of the pace. And I like that. I want that to bleed over into other areas of my life so that I can fully give God the control of my life that He wants and I need.

I generally don't speak to those who read this blog directly, but today I pray that you are making progress too... in whatever area in your life is most burdensome! And that your Tuesday is fabulous.

xoxo,
Jenn

thankful things...

1. For the love of God Almighty
2. for grace that I know I don't deserve
3. A fabulous funny mother who is my best and loudest cheerleader.
4. Dr. Pepper.
5. Monday night dinners with my girlfriends.
6. A heater in my office that keeps me from freezing.
7. Barrettes for when I'm too lazy to dry my hair!
8. Chocolate covered marshmallows.
9. The best brother I could ask for!
10. Sorority sisters that are some of my best friends, even 11 years later!
11. Red comfy couches.
12. Being able to coupon for my extended family.
13. My favorite arab.

I hope you are thankful today! God is good!!

xoxo,
Jenn

Love is...

Performing a choreographed routine for your wedding guests.

A grooms cake in the shape of an armadillo.

Kissing your beloved for the first time in front of God and 100 of your friends and family.

Best wishes and blessings to Brad and his beautiful bride PJ!!!

Hurricane Isaac needs to slow his roll...

This weekend I'm heading out of town to attend my friend Brad's wedding. He's the third in a litany of births, weddings, engagements, and showers that have filled up my calendar!

I am so excited for my friend because I can see what God is doing in his life and in his bride's life too!

6,000 miles from home to find your best friend and bride is pretty cool! After they've officially tied the knot, I'll try to share they're love story. So sweet!

Hope your weekend finds you blessed and busy with people you love!

Mine will be at the beach!
xoxo,
Jenn

rose-colored glasses

I've had a busy few weeks!

apparently I needed a reminder of a few things. I have always struggled with how I view me. I really am my own worst enemy. But lately (and by lately, I have to be real vague!) I've been forced to reevaluate how I view me so as not to skew others view of me.

Case in point: I found this photo today. This was half my lifetime ago. I was a baby.

I thought I was ugly.
I thought I was fat.
I thought I was unlovable.
I thought I would never be good enough.

I was dumb!

I cannot go back and impart wisdom into that girl. But the grown woman in me needs to remember where beauty comes from and that an overly critical nature of one's self is a personal disservice as well as dishonors God.

I will say that I would give a great deal of money to have my 16-year old neck. Lucky girl. :)

picture time

Just thought I'd share some photographic proof of the last few months...

the literal icing on the cake.

Because I’m not completely back in my niche of writing again, I’m still struggling with titles.  Y’all are just gonna have to bear with me until I can get myself together again. 

I am continually thankful for the friends that God has placed in my life.  This was one of those weekends to celebrate my friends!  Friday night was low-key as some friends and I headed to Chatty to buy decorations for a second grade class.

Saturday, I woke up with the cleaning bug.  Four hours, two garbage bags, and 7 target organizers later, my bathroom looked like a brand new place!  As a sidenote, thanks to Pinterest and a few too many episodes of hoarders, I reorganize my cabinets with some frequency.  I never cease to be amazed at how often things expire.  Also, I need people to stop pinning highly coordinated, perfectly organized cabinets/pantries/spaces on Pinterest because I can’t make myself stop trying to recreate them in my home!  Sadly, I have no photographic proof, but I will say that I’ve enjoyed an immaculately clean bathroom countertop for approximately 36+ hours.  Hoorah.

Saturday afternoon, I headed up to Cleveland for a birthday party, specifically the ninth birthday part of my sweet Riley Jo.  I cannot believe she is nine!  Nine.  365 days from TEN.  I love this sweet girl and her funny heart.  The way she squishes up a smile on her face when she’s being mischievous.  The way she draws in her shoulders and purses her lips when she gets shy.  She is such a talented softball player too.  To her mom’s credit, I’ve been to a lot of birthday parties, but this was the best turnout I’d ever seen.  Seriously like thirty-five kids showed up.  I hope she racked up with some fun stuff.  As her Mom’s best friend, my gift was cash.  Praise God and pass the Alexander Hamiltons.

Saturday night (I know, shouldn’t I be done with this day already??), I drove back to town to have dinner with some friends.   All of my close Dalton friends are teachers.  Ashley was kind enough to let me get my “I wish I’d been a second grade teacher” fix this weekend.  There is something deep within me that gets very excited when I see laminated sheets that need to be cut out.  Accountants aren’t really known for their arts and crafts skills as you can imagine.  After church yesterday, we worked hard and finished up Ashley’s classroom.  I have always loved handwriting and was that nerdy little girl who practiced her a lot!  Yesterday, I was able to write the names of her twenty-one students several times, on paw prints and owls and helper sheets, and the like.  I couldn’t help but say a small prayer over each little student, praying that God uses my friend to touch their little lives.  This was a good weekend for my “love tank” to get filled up.  Lots of friends, a lot of quality time, and cake.

Let’s be honest, icing has a way of making things a little bit better. Or at least a little bit sweeter to swallow.

Jenn