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12.17.2008

If We Are the Body...

Lately, my life has been a reality rollercoaster. I got laid off from my job, my husband's hours have been cut short at work.... and we just really want to go home. I've been so focused on trying to figure out what I needed to do to make our lives better... but I forgot that the only way things will get better is if I lay them down before the Lord. And then I started thinking... what kind of example am I setting for my friends and family? Freaking out, stressing and complaining isn't showing them that I'm focused on my Father... it's doing nothing but show them that I don't count on him. So what did I do? I pulled out my guitar, sat at the computer and searched for some music. If you don't know by now, but the best way for me to get closer to my Lord is to just praise Him with my voice. Eventually, I found one of my favorite songs... "If We are the Body" by Casting Crowns. It's an AMAZING song. It talks about two individuals who just want to fit in but feel like that the other people in church just won't accept them... and the chorus goes on to say that if we are part of Christ, and if we are part of His body.... why aren't we teaching them what He's all about? Why aren't we treating them like Jesus would have? Wow. What a reality check right? Here are the lyrics:

V1
It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in... trying to fade into the faces
The girls teasing laughter is carrying
Farther than they know
Farther than they know, Lord

Chorus
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way.

V2
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances
are better out on the road

Bridge
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the bo - - -dy of Christ

Chorus
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way.
Jesus is the way.

Let me repeat that..... JESUS IS THE WAY.

11.26.2008

A Time For Thanksgiving

Holy Crow. Can you believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving? I sure can't! This year had FLOWN by! It seems like we were just planning on our big move to TN & we were just moving our stuff into the apartment.... and here we are almost to 2009! I can't believe it! It's amazing how time flies, it's almost bittersweet!

Well, so many things are happening in mine and Justin's lives right now. Obviously, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so the inlaws are coming in to share that with us. I'll be running errands, cleaning, washing the dog & cooking tonight so that there will be less to do tomorrow. BUT I'm VERY stressed.... more than very... COMPLETELY stressed. EEEK!

Tuesday, December 2nd, my amazing husband is turning 22.... seriously?!?!?! How about another... EEEEK! He continues to amaze me - he is such an incredible man and an even more incredible husband. He makes my life just that much more amazing! We will be spending his birthday in North Carolina, hopefully making pit stops to see friends and family. But what I'm excited about is seeing TWILIGHT!!!! YAY!!!!!!! I'm so excited! I've been waiting and waiting and I even reread the Twilight Saga last week (yes, all 4 books in 1 week) so I'd be ready to go! Justin wants to go to our favorite Mexican restaraunt, Las Cazuelas, which is also where we had our first date on 2.14.06.

Other than that.... Christmas is coming soon, and I'm hoping to have a new sewing machine sitting in my home so I can start sewing up a storm! I want to make a lot of the crafts I've seen on Jill's Website, http://www.homemadebyjill.blogspot.com. She has made and found some of the coolest crafts EVER! I don't have any children right now, but eventually I will and she has some CUTE stuff - bibs, burp clothes... all kinds of cuteness! You should totally check it out!

Anyways, I also wanted to ask if you would pray for my mom and her side of the family this week. A year ago, on Thanksgiving Day, my maternal grandfather passed away. He was an AMAZING man, and my mom misses him more then I could ever explain. Please keep everyone in your prayers!

Have a happy Thanksgiving!!!


There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

11.23.2008

Garlic Chicken Pizza

We've made this yummy pizza several times, and so I thought I'd share the recipe! For the crust, I recommend the pillsbury dough, you can find it with the canned biscuits and croissants.





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Ingredients:

Pizza Dough/Crust (we used a premade crust for this pizza)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup garlic powder

1 cup parmesan

1 cup mozzerella

2 tablespoons parsley

2 tablespoons basil

1/2 cup diced tomatoes

1/2 small onion sliced thinly

1/2 green pepper sliced thinly

1 chicken breast, diced

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

First, dice your chicken and toss with 1 tablespoon basil, 1 tablespoon parsley, 1/4 cup garlic powder, and 1/2 cup parmesan. Throw on the grill on low heat. Next, slice your onion & pepper and grill these beside your chicken. Drain your diced tomatoes (we use the canned version) of any excess fluid and toss with your veggies.



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Meanwhile, in a small frying pan, mix your butter, remaining garlic powder, basil, parsley and 1/4 cup parmesan over low heat. There will be enough for your pizza sauce AND to dip your pizza in.

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Once your sauce is melted, pour over your pizza crust (not too much or you'll have a soggy crust).






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Next, add your veggies & chicken - doesn't have to look pretty! LOL

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Then add your mozzerella and the remaining parmesan.

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Cook until your crust is browned (lift the pizza with a spatula to check center) and your cheese is melted. Slice and enjoy :)

11.15.2008

Booooooring.

Seriously. Seriously? I have gotten EXACTLY 12 calls at work today, ALL for Thanksgiving. New flash.... we have 3 cabins left. All are one bedroom, and they all ONLY accommodate 2 people. No we cannot squeeze 3 in, no we cannot guarantee we will have cancellations.... maybe next year you'll book a cabin in September rather then 2 weeks prior to Thanksgiving? It's sooooo boring today. I'm currently watching Dr. Doolittle 2 on ABC Family, texting my amazing husband & reading blogs. I lead SUCH an exciting life!

So yea..... now I'm just wasting time wishing i had something interesting to post about...... nope nothing. Maybe tomorrow will be more interesting!

11.14.2008

Fever

I'm not entirely sure who reads this blog. I know for a fact that my beautiful friend Janelle does and that a few girls from the BBC do. I don't even know how to track how many views I get, but that is FAR beyond the point, lol. I have a fever. Not a temperature fever, but a baby/craft/cleaning/baking fever. Pretty crazy right? I have HORRIBLE baby fever, every where I turn there are babies and pregnant women. EVERYWHERE. I also have craft fever... I have this NEED to cross stitch and sew... HELLO! I'm turning into my mother, what will I do? I also have cleaning fever - you should have seen my house when our families came to see us. ABSOLUTELY spotless. Seriously. I got EVERY nook and cranny. I am NOT a cleaning person, I despise cleaning actually. And right now, sitting at work... the clutter is driving me INSANE! I also have baking fever.... I've been baking like crazy! I made a white cake with sprinkles in the batter, topped with buttercream icing and rainbow sprinkles... YUM. I also recently made cuppy cakes that were absolutely scrumptious. I've made cookies and brownies.... and I bought MORE ingredients to make more cake this weekend. YIKES!

So enough of my multitude of obsessions, I've been feeling pretty yucky lately. As I sit here writing this at my desk I'm feeling nauseus and achy and my head is THROBBING. And I think I should apologize for the multitude of CAPS I've used. So I guess I'll leave you with this... and stop writing for not only my sanity but yours....

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,”
- 1 Peter 3:18

11.06.2008

Love

If you know me well, then you know I'm a HUGE Grey's Anatomy fanatic. I never miss an episode, and if I do, I'm on the computer ASAP to see the episode. The episode tonight is a TEARJERKER. Not only does Izzie start seeing Denny, but there is an elderly couple who are madly in love. The woman has a brain tumor, and has opted to have it surgically removed even though she could live a few more years with the tumor (on bed rest). When she signs the papers, she looks at her husband and says, "Goodbye honey." And he does the same, and they kiss. They explain to Dr. McDreamy and Dr. Bailey that everytime she signs papers for a medical operation, they said goodbye and once she comes out of the anesthesia they say hello. (It sounds better coming from them, then from me). She has the operation and comes through fine, but after being in the ICU she starts coding, but because of her DNR request the doctors do nothing to revive her. Her husband realizes what is happening and starts giving her CPR. He has tears in his eyes and says "I just can't let go". So Dr. Bailey takes over and she can't let her go either, so Dr. McDreamy has the husband sit down and takes over for Dr. Bailey.... and they let her go. And now I'm in tears, and boo hooing... ugh. But wow. I'm gonna have to find the clip on youtube and share, cuz its just not the same without seeing it!


Here are the videos:

Fastforward to 2:30...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2TlG55zH04

Fastforward to 4:25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JivLqrvHItg

10.30.2008

My Precious Grandmother

Lillian is my grandmother, if you could see pictures of her from her teens - twenties, you'd say she was a beautiful woman. She had long, silky black hair and kind caring eyes. She may not be as young as she used to be, but now that she's in her seventies.... I still think she's one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. My Granny has several medical issues, both physical and mentally. My parents believe that she may have had fetal alcohol syndrome, along with most of her brothers and sisters. That sounds horrible, but when "Little Granny" (my grandmother's mother) started having kids, she was 14 and they didn't know anything about the effects of alcohol on a baby. Granny is schizophrenic, she started showing signs of dementia when I was in high school. She has always had short term memory loss, but when the dementia started showing symptoms, it was much more obvious. At one point, I took care of her 3 days a week, I gave her baths, made sure she had EDIBLE food to eat, and that her house was clean. This year, our family decided that it was time to put her in a nursing home because we could no longer be there, by her side, 24/7. My grandmother, being her usual stubborn self, fell last night trying to move from her wheelchair to her bed... in SOCKS. Regular old slippery socks and she fell and bonked her head on the floor. The nurses from the nursing home called 911, because they were worried about her head injury, her speech was slurring and she was disoriented. They ran tests at the hospital and said she was fine, but noticed some tremors in her hands.... so now they suspect she may be in the early stages of Parkinson's. My precious grandmother, my beautiful, amazing Granny who raised 4 amazing people, and is the most loving, generous Christian woman I've ever met. When will she cut a break? Why does she have to suffer so much? I just don't understand it. I can't even be there for her.... I'm sure I've rambled enough... but please pray for her. Lillian Elizabeth deserves better, she gives so much love and she still suffers.

10.21.2008

Cupcake Bites/CuppyCakes!

Bakerella is a new favorite blog of mine, you can see her blog in my "favorites" ------>
I tried out her bakery cuteness.... here are some pictures:






In case you can't tell. These cuppycakes are about an inch tall!

10.18.2008

Crunchy Stuffed Baked Chicken Parmesan!

Yes.... its all of the above and it's DELICIOUS! And I came up with it by myself. OOOOOOOOo yes. Here's what you need:

2 Chicken Breasts (or more..... depending on your family size)
2 cups of Plain Corn Flakes
2 egg whites
1/4 cup milk (buttermilk is best)
Mrs. Dash (I suggest the original)
1 Tspn Chipotle Pepper
2 Tspn Adobe Seasoning (you can find this with the Mexican foods/seasonings)
A pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup of parmesan
2 cups of Mozzerella Cheese (shredded)
1 cup of Spaghetti Sauce (i like traditional)

First, prepare your chicken breasts by taking either a pair of meat scissors or a knife and cutting an opening large enough for 2 fingers (you will stuff mozzerella & seasonings into the chicken breast). Once your chicken is cut & ready, mix 1 cup of mozzerella & some Mrs. Dash (your preference to how much) in a small bowl. Stuff half of the mixture into each Chicken Breast. Set the chicken aside.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare your breading. Crush your cornflakes, you can leave them larger, but I like my cornflakes crushed finely. Mix the cornflakes, a fair amount of Mrs. Dash, the Adobe seasoning, Chipotle Pepper, Cinnamon, & 1/4 parmesan. In another bowl mix the egg whites & milk.

Spray the pan you'll be cooking your chicken in and make an "assembly line". Chicken first, egg white/milk mixture second, Breading mixture third & finally your greased pan. Dip your stuffed chicken into the egg/milk mixture and then roll it around in the breading mixture. Cover your chicken thoroughly. Place on your pan and stick it in the oven. Usually takes 30-45 minutes depending on the size of your chicken breast. My general rule is to slice the largest chicken breast at the 30 minute mark to see how done they are.

Once the chicken is cooked, pull the pan out and smother it with your remaining cheeses & spaghetti sauce. Place back in the oven just long enough for the cheese to melt and the sauce to get hot.

Serve with a salad & breadsticks and you've got a tasty meal!

I'll post pics later (maybe!)

10.11.2008

I Need to Vent

I am so frustrated right now. I finally found this great job that I actually enjoy going to everyday, I love our apartment, I have an amazing husband... I love this place. But guess what. My husband, ya know the guy who started this whole "Let's move to TN" shindig.... he's not happy. He hates his job, he hates this place and he's homesick. I TOLD him this would happen, I TOLD him he would get homesick because the fact of the matter is.... HE'S A MOMMA'S BOY. I love my husband so much, but this is so ridiculous. I don't know what to do. We can't just pick up and leave now. But I want him to be happy... but I want to be happy too.

9.20.2008

Who Am I?

"Who Am I"
by Casting Crowns
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours
Another great song, Who am I that Lord would care to know MY name and to feel MY hurt. Why do I deserve that? Why should HE care? I think we all ask ourselves that now and then. I know I do. It's amazing to think that He took the time to create me and to design every detail of who I am. He created me in HIS image, carefully, lovingly and compassionately. He loves me for who I am. Does that give you chills like it does me?
The end of the song is my favorite... Whom shall I fear? Because I am YOURS. Why should I be afraid when I know God is protecting me? What a powerful statement! I don't have much to say, except this. Remember that God created You, and that He created you with a purpose. You may not know what your purpose is just yet, like me, but He has a plan for you. Do not fear this world and the barricades Satan shoves infront of you. BREAK THROUGH THE BARRICADES and allow God to show you the way :)

9.18.2008

Long Overdue!

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "We live by faith, not by sight."

Jeremy Camp's song entitled, "Walk by Faith" is one of my favorite songs. Here are the lyrics:

Will I believe you when you say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me
Help me to RID my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With the one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, ya
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Because this broken road
Prepares your will for me
Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me
(Repeat)
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me
Hallelujah, hallelu
I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith....
I struggle with that sometimes... we must WALK BY FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT. I have to believe that Jesus is with me everyday, walking this walk with me, taking this journey with me even though I can't see Him. I am long overdue for an update, and I thought this was the perfect oppurtunity to share that song. It's been a little over a month now since I last blogged and since I moved into our new home, to a new state and new town. It's kind of surreal, but its starting to grow on me. I miss my family a lot, but I know this is going to help me grow as a person, in my relationship with my husband, and in my relationship with Christ. I finally found a new job, it's at a local cabin rental company, they have some BEAUTIFUL cabins. If you'd like the link, let me know, I'll be happy to show you some of the cabins we offer :)
Justin is still at Walmart, I'm so glad that I got out of that place. I will NEVER work in retail again! Justin's also been having a lot of problems with his truck, but we got that worked out today and we're taking it to get it fixed tomorrow. God is MIGHTY!
And we also celebrated our first wedding anniversary on September 15th... actually the DAY of our anniversary SUCKED, but the past week in NC was very nice. We hung out with both of our families, spent a day in Asheville just piddling around and went out to eat. We went to the same restaurant Justin took me to on our first date, which was on Valentine's Day of 2006. It's a great little Mexican Restaraunt in our hometown, and we haven't found another one we like better!
I guess that's it for now, a lot more has happened, but if I went back and tried to tell you everything that happened this month you'd be reading an entire book! God Bless!

8.10.2008

Reassurance

Well, I'm finally in TN... and TERRIFIED! I'm excited and overwhelmed, and praying that I get that job at the lawfirm this week. I want a really good job like I had before (even though I really hated my last job, it was a well paying job)... and Walmart just isn't going to cut it. Walmarts NOT a bad place to work, don't get me wrong, because my husband works there. I just don't want to work there, I want to work somewhere that pays A LOT better and that has good benefits sooner than later! Well I've been thinking about this a lot, and Justin's worried to death about the bills we have to pay in the next few weeks and I came across these lyrics in an old songbook of mine... I don't know who the artist is, but whoever they are... thank you for this wisdom.

I Have Decided
[author unknown]
V1
There's a wealth of things that I professed, I said that I believed,
But deep inside I never changed -- I guess I've been deceived
'Cause a voice inside kept telling me that I changed by and by,
But the Spirit made it clear to me: that kind of life's a lie.
Chorus
I have decided: I'm gonna live like a believer,
Turn my back on the Deceiver. I'm gonna live what I believe.
I have decided: being good is just a fable,
I just can't 'cause I'm not able. I'm gonna leave it to the Lord.
V2
So forget the game of being good in your self-righteous pain
'Cause the only good inside your heart is the good that Jesus brings.
When the world begins to see you change, don't expect them to applaud;
Just keep your eyes on Him, and tell yourself, "I've become the work of God!"
And I'm determined to write some music for this song, because I think the lyrics are incredible!
Here's a verse or two about this.... and worrying...
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."
-Matthew 6:19-34 (New Living Translation)
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
I Peter 5:6-7 (New Living Translation)

8.08.2008

Christian One-Liners

-Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember Moses started out as a basket case!

-Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pew!

-Many folks want to serve God, but only as Advisors.

-It is easier to preach ten sermons then it is to live one.

-The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose... but mosquitos come close!

-When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

-People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

-Oppurtunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your door forever.

-Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you wouldn't belong there.

-If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one that it has.

-God, Himself, does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

-Some minds are like concrete. Thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

-Peace starts with a smile.

-I don't know why some peoplechange churches; what difference doesit make which one you stay home from?

-A lot of church members who are singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just sitting on the premises.

-We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

-Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

-Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

-Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

-Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

-Forbidden fruits create many jams.

-God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

-God grades on the cross, not the curve.

-God loves everyone, but probably prefers'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts!'

-God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

-He who angers you, controls you!

-If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

-Prayer: Don't give God instructions-- just report for duty!

-The task ahead of us is never asgreat as the Power behind us.

-The Will of God never takes you towhere the Grace of God will not protect you.

-We don't change the message, the message changes us.

-You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

-The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

8.07.2008

I really gotta start postin more often!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!! Time has FLOWN by! Can you believe it? I have so much to tell, and not enough time! It's August 7th, and I officially only have 12 hours of work left! (1.5 days) I finished up my last day at the childcare last night, and tomorrow night I will be heading to my home in the Smoky Mountains!

Since my last post, a lot has happened! Last Friday I paid the last bills for our apartment in NC and paid our official first month's rent for our new apartment (yay!) and once I got home from the post office and counted my money.... I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO VISIT JUSTIN!!! So, I called my supervisor and asked if I could take the weekend off, and since she is AMAZING and knows how much I missed him, she said, "GO! Do NOT call me until Monday afternoon!" I hit the road, and made it to TN in record time! I got there at about 8:30ish, and on the way there Justin called me, but he didn't know I was on my way, so I had to keep all my joy to myself and pretend like I was miserable without him for another week! I arrived at his job RIGHT after he went off break, so I looked ALL over for him, eventually I lost hope and walked outside and as I went out the doors and glanced behind me... there he was! So I started walking towards him, and when he realized who I was a HUGE grin spread across his face and he said, "What are you doing here!?" He was so excited, and kind of bummed because I had ruined what would have been his suprise of visiting me on that following Wednesday! I beat him to it, lol. I headed back to the apartment until he got off and we had an AMAZING weekend together. I missed him SO much!

I headed home Sunday afternoon, and have been at my inlaws since then. My father in law went to TN on Wednesday and picked Justin up so he could come and see Nanny (suprised her!) and spend some quality time here before we both are officially TN residents! We're going out to dinner tonight with my parents AND having burgers with the inlaws.

I have a job interview at a law firm for a receptionist position on Monday afternoon, I'm nervous and excited, so pray that I get that job! Well, I think that's about it for me, atleast in a summary! I'm sure there will be many new updates in the future!

7.28.2008

Been Awhile!

I haven't posted in a while, but I've been pretty busy. I haven't seen Justin since the 20th and I miss him like CRAZY! He starts his orientation for his job today, and then he'll get to start work in the next couple of days. I can't wait till I get to go home to see him! This week I am staying at my inlaws house while they are on vacation, it's kind of nice to be by myself for a while. I was tired of my brother always having a bipolar attitude with me, and even though he's gone this week, I just needed to get away. I've been working like crazy, I haven't had a day off in well like a week. There's 8 of us on staff, but only a few of us are actually willing to work. What's the point in having a seasonal summer job, if you don't even work? It's so aggravating, I would love to have just one day off this week so I can catch up on my sleep. I'm soooo tired, and I can't stand when people act like they're better than everyone else and don't show up. That makes the rest of us have to work more, and it's tiring.

Well, as of today there are 11 days until my last day at work and 12 days until I move HOME! I have an interview at a law firm on that following Monday for another receptionist job and I'm praying that it's God's will for me to get this job. It would be a great job to start with in TN! I'm praying hard!

That's all I feel like typing today, maybe more will come later in the day. God Bless!

I just love this verse... so I'm gonna share it again.

"The joy of the Lord is my strength!"
-Nehemiah 8:10

7.21.2008

Home Sweet Home!

Well, we finally got moved into our new apartment! We haven't really put everything away yet, but the kitchen and bathroom are DONE! We're still working on the living room and bedrooms... and eventually I'll post pictures of the finished product. YAY! Right now, I'm staying at my parents house in our hometown, and Justin is 2 hours away in our new apartment :(. Pretty much... SUCKS. I'll be at my parents (and possibly my inlaws while they're on vacation) for the next 3 weeks. Anyways, here are some photos of the new apartment:


This is my rubber duckie bathroom.... lol we really need to update it to a more adult theme, lol!
My duckie display shelf... can you tell I like rubber duckies?
This is the spare bedroom... soon to be the guest room/craft room/ and someday when we have kids the nursery!
Our stairs, this is a townhouse apartment so the bedrooms and bathroom are upstairs, while the kitchen and living area are downstairs :)
View looking up the stairs...
Our closet and Snickers' "room", lol
The master bedroom - it's a mess!!!
Part of the master - we basically just threw everything in so we could sleep in our own bed this wknd... eventually it will be moved around.

Our living room and the doorway to the kitchen/dining area


Living area with two of my greatest loves... Justin & Snickers

More living area

Doorway from kitchen into the living area. HUGE windows!!!

Our kitchen table, pots & pans, and storage area

The back door, and Snickers' stuff

Freezer/Kitchen/Snickers' stuff

KITCHEN!!! I LOVE THIS KITCHEN!!! IT'S A REAL FULL SIZED STOVE! In our old apartment the stove was tiny!

Fridge

Kitchen


So there you have it... the new home of Justin & Sarah Massey. YAY!!!






7.16.2008

I WANT TO LEAVE THIS STUPID JOB.

I am so ready to move. So ready to start a new job. So ready to get away from these conceited, selfish people. My job is to transfer calls.... and I do. But when I transfer these calls to other people they ignore calls and get mad at ME for transfering them... then the callers call me again and yell at me because the person I transfered them to didn't answer. What the crap? I'm doing my job. I'm transfering the freakn calls to the people that need to handle them. I can hear these women talking upstairs... I can hear them saying "I can't wait until she moves, all she does is send the calls to me!" Which is also crap, this certain person NEVER gets calls. I'm so fed up. I'm seriously considering quitting my job in Montreat, telling S&C screw you and heading off to TN. I'm tired of this. I'm sick of it. What have I done to make them hate me so much? I do my job well, I do EVERYTHING they ask me to do, no questions asked. I don't get why they have to treat me like I'm nobody. I can't take it anymore. I'm done.

7.15.2008

Sarah's Falling Apart - Oh No!

Technically I'm not falling apart, but boy does it feel like it! I am absolutely sure I have a UTI, and as I'm typing this I'm looking up the number for my doctor to schedule an appt for Thursday morning. Ontop of that, last week/wknd I either just strained the muscles and tendons in my elbow or I actually sprained it. If I move it the wrong way I have an enormous amount of pain... I think it's from sweeping the entire length of the sidewalk at work, we were all in a hurry to get home and I may have overdone it! I also woke up with a painful crick (sp?) in my neck. Ah yes... it would just so happen that the big week of moving I would be falling apart. Fun stuff. Well, I may write some more later but I actually have work to do today.... which is rare! Hope everyone has a wonderful day :)

7.14.2008

UTI Maybe?

I'm pretty sure I'm getting a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). I've had one before, but this isn't nearly as painful as the one I had almost (exactly) 2 years ago! I'm urinating a lot and it's just a tiny bit painful, but not so much that I think I need to see a doctor. I'm drinking lots of water and taking some Vitamen C, if I'm still hurtin Thursday, I'll call for an appt! Anyways, I'm basically just bored so I thought I'd fill you in, later gators!

25 days and counting - Justin's leaving in 4!

WOW. THIS Friday we're moving Justin to TN and leaving him there for 3 weeks while I finish up a few things in our hometown. Is it just me, or was it yesterday that we started talking about moving? INSANE. I'm nervous and excited and terrified all at the same time... kinda strange. Happy Monday readers!

7.12.2008

RIP

I ran over a black snake today and CRIED. I feel SO horrible! I may have killed or put one of God's creations in a great deal of pain. I'm so sorry little snake!

7.11.2008

28 Days and Counting

Well some of our plans have changed. Like I expected to happen, my brother got his way and my parents have decided that we will be leaving Friday afternoon and coming back Saturday instead of Sunday. Basically, Dylan pitched a fit (imagine that from a 16 almost 17 year old) because he has church on Sunday. I'm GLAD he's going to church, but he doesn't need mom & dad to take him, there are several ppl I know personally that would have been happy to pick him up. I guess it's not a big deal that I'm leaving my husband in an entirely different state for close to a month, right? Well it IS a big deal, it's a HUGE deal. So I'm going to be driving my car (completely unneccesary.... we will have 4 cars total - mine, Justin's truck, mom's trailblazer AND the uhaul) and my friend Hannah will be coming so I won't be by myself. I just don't get this at all. Justin is my HUSBAND, he will be living ALONE, I will not SEE him for THREE weeks. Am I being unfair about this? Is it unreasonable for me to be upset? Geez.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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."
-Phillippians 4:4-7

7.10.2008

29 Days and Counting

I don't really have much to say today, I'm getting behind on my daily blogging! Justin and I are busy trying to get all of our stuff packed (with the exception of my clothes, shoes & essentials since I'm staying here for 3 more weeks!) and ready for our big move next wknd! Mom & Dad are going to be helping us out, and I'm praying my brother won't freak out when mom asks if he minds staying until Sunday rather then Saturday when we go. My brother has gotten VERY involved with the youth group at his church, and I'm so excited about that... but at the same time, Sunday the 20th could be the last day I see my husband for almost a month. I don't want to go move in on Friday & have to leave the next day! Please help me pray about this!
Justin and I have been researching churches in Sevierville, and I am excited to say we think we may have found one! It's a First Baptist Church and it's HUGE! Not as huge as the church we've been going to, but from what we've read/seen so far, it looks amazing! I hope to get involved with the youth group, maybe chaperoning trips and such. They go to Xtreme Summer in Florida, which is where I went when I was in school too!
This church has some many wonderful programs for people of every age, such as music camps for the children, a preschool choir, bible school, Monday night worship for teens, Thursday night worship for College Students & Young Adults, luncheons for the Senior Citizens, Study Groups for both men & women, a group for new moms and experienced moms, handbells, an orchestra, and even a group for children/young adults with special needs. I'm SO excited!

Check out the layout for the church, how neat is that? Justin and I saw this church when looking for the apartment we were checking out. So it's just down the road in downtown! Oh geez I'm excited!



7.07.2008

32 days and counting

As of today, Justin will be moving in 10 days. TEN days. In ten days, he will be in TN, and I will still be in NC working my butt off and missing him like crazy! I look forward to spending some quality time with my family, but at the same time, I dread the nights without him to cuddle next too, and the days that all I need is a hug and a kiss to brighten my day. In the 2 1/2 years we've been together, we have seen eachother EVERY DAY except for the 2 days I was out of town. I'm talking EVERY DAY. Even if it was for 5 minutes before one of us had to go to school or work, we ALWAYS managed to squeeze in a few minutes to see eachother. And now, we will be apart for THREE weeks.

I am looking forward to moving Justin into our new apartment though. It's an awesome home, and I look forward to making it our own. It's a two story townhouse apartment, with 2 bedrooms and one bath. You walk in the front door into a quaint, carpeted living area with huge windows in the front. When you walk through you come to a kitchen (a good sized kitchen - with room for a table!). There's a full sized stove & a full sized refridgerator with LOTS of cabinent space and enough room in the cabinents that our dishes will ACTUALLY fit in. (Our current apt has cabinents but they aren't big enough for regular sized dinner plates!) There's also a little nook underneath the stairs in the kitchen where we can store Christmas decorations and such, so that's convenient. At the back of the kitchen is our back door with a small patio & grassy area which will be great for Snickers and for cookouts :). If you go back towards the front door in the living area is where the steps are to the upstairs. You go up the carpeted stairs and directly infront of you is a small closet (which we'll probalby use for towels). Then once you turn, the bathroom is directly across with a full sized tub/shower, cabinents & a cute little sink with storage also. To either side of the bathroom are the two bedrooms. Our bedroom, the master bedroom, is at the front of the apartment w/a covered patio like deck with sliding glass doors. AWESOME. Both bedrooms are carpeted and pretty big. We are SO excited. Snickers will finally get to live with us again, we have a nice apartment, and a new start on life.

Now, I just gotta get through this next month and everything should be in order!

I say this one a lot, but I love it..

"The joy of the Lord is my strength!"
Nehemiah 8:10

7.03.2008

It's About Time!

Go figure. I told the lawyers I was leaving... and they start appreciating the work that I do. I get compliments and thank yous... ha. Like it'll make me stay! It's hilarious how hard they're trying to keep me here... maybe they should have thought of this before I decided to move! For instance... I was putting together an estate planning package for one of the attorneys today. I had to scan in all their documents, make copies, place each individual original into a cover w/label, hole punch all the copies, make labels for the notebooks they would go in, make a table of contents, tabs, letter to the clients, & a receipt. Takes a good 2 hours. Well these were his exact words after reviewing my work, "This package is perfect, I'm really going to miss your work Sarah." Perfect, OFCOURSE it's perfect, I'm a perfectionist, and it's like EVERY other package I've made... and I NEVER got a thank you for those! UGH. Lawyers. I hope I never need one.

7.02.2008

Tired of Drama

As the title says... I'm tired of drama. It seems like everywhere I go I find drama or it finds me. Since high school I have lost a LOT of friends, and I believe the reasoning is this. One, most of my friends went off to school hours away. Two, I had found a guy I loved and planned on marrying someday (and I did). I feel like I made a lot of decisions that most people my age don't plan on making until they've graduated from college and have a career. I got engaged a month before my 19th birthday, and I got married 7 months later. I started a full time job, started paying bills, etc. My priorities changed, and they are a lot different then my peers' priorities. I don't worry about boys anymore, because I married the greatest MAN ever. I worry about how I'm going to pay this bill, I worry about what's for dinner tonight, I worry about when we're going grocery shopping. I can start thinking about children someday, buying a house. I live a different life then the people I graduated with. Not to say that I'm more responsible or know better... I'm still learning, but I have to think about my husband and money BEFORE I think about going out, and hanging out with my friends. That 20 bucks it takes to go out to lunch could have been my phone bill.... that 20 dollars I put in the gas tank to go to town with a friend could've been all the money I had for gas that week. I can't just get up and leave, I have to discuss it with my husband. I can't just invite someone over, it's Justin's home too. I don't think my friends understand that sometimes. i can't always pick up the phone to cancel plans at the last minute, if I'm with my family, I DON'T answer the phone. That's my time to spend with my family, and now that I'm moving, I NEED that time with them! I worry about my grandma, and the fact I won't get to see her as often as I would if I stayed here. I worry about my daddy, he's getting older and with his diabetes he has a lot more health risks. He's the same age my Papaw was when I was born. And to me, that's kind of scary.

I just feel like sometimes my friends don't see the big picture. They get mad if I can't get together and go out with them, or they get mad if I have to cancel at the last minute. All I can say is I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. I realize that they might not understand, but I think they should kind of realize that I have to worry about other things... I'm frustrated. I'm stressed. I'm TIRED of the drama. Ugh.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
-John 16:33

6.30.2008

WE'RE MOVING!!!

We're doing it. On June 18th we are moving my husband and all of our belongings to our new townhouse apartment!!! And yes, I did say my husband, not we... but just my husband. I have to fulfill my obligations at my part time job, it's a contract job so I have to work until August 8th. But I will get to help Justin move and unpack for 2 days. We ended up getting the townhouse, 2 story apartment that doesn't have the W/D hookups... BUT there's a laundry room just a few doors down IN our complex so that's quite handy. It's a very cute apartment, and the first thing we spotted was a FULL SIZED OVEN! Haha, we were so excited! In our current apartment, our stove is one of those tiny ones you can barely fit anything into!

So yes, sometime today Justin will be giving his notice... and I was supposed to do the same but I'm still trying to get my nerve up to do that. I'm TERRIFIED. If you've read my previous blogs, you'll know that my current FT job is pretty ridiculous.

Yesterday, we took Snickers to be groomed at Petsmart, she was starting to look ridiculously like a huge fuzzy puff ball, so it just HAD to be done. So 3 hours and 40 dollars later.... she looks like a real dachshund! LOL The groomer was so sweet, and he was very gentle with her. I'm pretty sure she was terrified, but all ended well!

This week is the 4th of July, time to celebrate our freedom (of some sort) and relax (or pack) on our 3 day wknd! Woohoo!

" 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.' "

-Matthew 5:3-12

6.26.2008

Wowzers! Thursday already?

At the beginning of this week, I thought it was going by SO slow.... but now it's already Thursday! Wow! Tomorrow my wonderful hubby and I will be heading out of town to check out the apartments in my previous post. The manager from the complex called me at SEVEN am this morning, geez! I was pretty grumpy, but I immediately cheered up when she said they were ready for our arrival tomorrow and couldn't wait to show us the open apartments!!!! Yipppeee!!! SO excited!

After tomorrow is over (and we hopefully have a future home) I'll be heading back to hang out with a close friend (Hannah!) who is FINALLY back from Europe! Yay! And finally on Saturday, we're having a big yard sale at Justin's nanny's house! (And then I get to work all wknd.... yay?)

So far, everything is looking great, I really feel like this is what is supposed to happen for us. This month has been GREAT, money has been coming it like it's going out of style, I'm on FIRE for the Lord, and I have an AMAZING husband! Yay!

Ok, enough yays, I have to get back to work!!

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
-John 15:11

6.24.2008

The Search is On.... Or Over?

Well we finally found a few apartments we LOVE, and get to PHYSICALLY see them this Friday! All of them are owned by the same company, but I thought I'd share a little bit about them!





The first one is a townhouse apartment, two stories, two bedrooms, one bath, and we can have Snickers! The downside: no w/d connections, no dishwasher... blah. But we can deal! Lol!


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The second two are garden apartments, they both have two bedrooms, w/d connections, dishwashers, etc. The smaller one's master bath is just a toilet and sink, while the other apartment's master bath is a full bathroom with a walk in shower and the other bath has the tub.



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Justin and I are both wishing this week would go by faster so we can finally see these apartments! Snickers will finally get to stay with us, we'll be away from our families, but close enough they're there if we need them... a real brand new start. I'm terrified and excited all at the same time!