Motivational Monday...

Hey y'all. I know it's been a while, but you'll have to forgive me. I had no idea had swamped I would get with school and everything else that's going on in my life. I absolutely love everything that has been going on, but it definitely has taken a toll on my blogging habits. However, I am going to make an effort to not let it slip by me anymore. So, this is my first of many posts that I want to call "Motivational Monday".  I decided to start this up for a couple of reasons. Mainly, I'm starting these posts because Monday is super hard in every way. It's hard to wake up and get moving. It's hard to make it through the day without nodding off. It's hard to get back in the gym. It's just hard. So, hopefully I'll provide you with a little motivation to make it through the rest of the week. Secondly, I have realized that if there is ever a time when people need spiritual motivation it is now. For those of y'all who have read my past posts you know that an officer was killed in the line of duty in December. Well, it has happened again. Saturday morning. Broad daylight. Our city is hurting, and my heart breaks because this is a clear example of the millions of people who are lost and lonely in this world and do not know where to turn. I hope that somehow I will make an impact by what I do everyday... even with this tiny post. I also hope that I will inspire you to make a difference.

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Here's how I'm going to try my best to make a difference in this world.

Love. It sounds so simple, but how often do we actually do it besides to our family members and closest friends? If God is love and he doesn't hold back from anyone, why should we? If we showed every stranger we saw some form of love, whether it be in a smile or an open door, don't you think we could make a difference? These people that are making these life changing decisions to murder, steal, lie, or cheat could've had their lives changed a long time ago if one person went out of their way to show them love.

Pray. Okay, I'm gonna say it again. Pray. Pray for these people who are lost and looking for answers but don't know where to turn. Pray for communities that are hurting. Pray for those around you who need it most. Pray for our leaders. Pray for strength and peace to sweep over this world. Let's face it. We all need prayer. I keep thinking about that Casting Crowns song "What if His People Prayed?". If we all joined together in prayer, I believe we could change the world. We need prayer to complete cover those who are hurting and lost. The bottom line is just pray.

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I hope this post was not too heavy for my first one in over a week, but I felt like it was necessary. I'll lighten it up as the week goes on, but I hope I motivated y'all on this Monday to try to make a difference. Let me know what you think about my decision to begin Motivational Monday, and please, please, please feel free to drop by with any prayer requests that you are having. I will pray as soon as I receive them.

What I'm Watching...

Hey y'all and Happy Friday! I am so enjoying my first day to be lazy since school started. I actually slept till 10 this morning! It felt pretty darn good. Ok, so there are a ton of good t.v. shows out there that I'm sure ya'll are watching, but let me tell you what's at the top of my list.

I'm so happy that American Idol is back on. I haven't had the chance to watch all of it, but from what I've seen, it's going to be a great season. The try-outs are my favorite part, though.

 Don't judge. I love, love, love Toddlers & Tiaras. The craziness of this show is quite entertaining. Plus, it's a good guide on how not to raise my future children.

In my house, Dance Moms is what we have been watching lately. Even my brother likes it. I think it's hillarious. These women are insane. It's literally like watching a train wreck.

Of course I watch Say Yes to the Dress, and it's gotta be Atlanta. It's the best. What girl doesn't watch this show?

I've been waiting ALL WEEK to find out what happens next on House of Payne. I have been a huge fan of this show since Day 1. No exaggeration. Last week broke my heart. I hope tonight's episode isn't even worse.

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Anyways, that's some of my top shows.

What are yours?



What I'm Loving Wednesday...

It's that time again to link up with Jamie for WILW.

First of all, I'm loving that January will be over soon, and that means two things... soon it will be spring and baseball season is right around the corner. I can't wait to go to another Clemson game, and in my house, baseball season = complete chaos.

I'm loving that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I'm not wanting anything because those Miranda Lambert tickets were enough for the next two years... Did I just say that? But he is always really good at writing me sweet notes. What I'm really excited about is some of the things I can make for Valentine's Day.

I'm really loving that all my classes are education classes now, and that I'm actually in two First Grade classes and one Kindergarten class. It's so much fun, and thanks to Pinterest I have been getting so many great ideas. But trust me, all of my creations that I will share with y'all will not come from there.

I'm loving the book I'm reading that was written by the lead singer of Casting Crowns, one of my favorites. And the most important, I'm loving my God.

I'm loving some of my finds on Pinterest.

Last but not least, I'm loving this boy. He's full of surprises and got me some pretty incredible roses last Thursday. I have to brag so excuse the "mushiness".

2012 Ski Trip...

So, Thursday afternoon we set out on our big adventure to Sugar Mountain. We loaded up, filled the bus with chick-fil-a, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and prayed that we could make it up the mountain with a forecast calling for rain mixed with snow. Thankfully we made it. When we were about fifteen minutes away the fog rolled in, then the snow. Thank the Lord that there was a car in front of us so that we could follow the tail lights around those crazy curves. When we got out of the bus it hit us. That twenty degree weather was more than most of us could handle at the time. However, the snow was gorgeous, and we noticed how much of it had actually come down. I think Benji said we got three inches the first night and one inch the second night...

Our first night there... laying down the law.

 Some of the middle school girls enjoying the snow on our first morning there.

 Crossing our fingers that the bus could make it up to the slopes.

 One of the girls confessed to have never built a snowman the night before during a friendly game of "Never Have I Ever", so the next morning we built one. They wanted to name him Honey Boo Boo after the infamous video of the girl from Toddlers & Tiaras. 

 Snowball fight!

 Then we left for our big adventure. By the way, it was fourteen degrees but felt like negative three. The wind was blowing 30-40 mph. Yeah, it was cold.

 The icy walk up to the lodge.

 Lunch break... well, it was a lunch break for some. For others it was the "I'm done. Can't do no more. Skiing is not for me." sitting area.

 Benji convinced me to get back out there and try it again. Even though I fell down twenty times on the first run, took my skis off, and walked down the side of the mountain. I was glad I went back out there, though. I still fell, but I did get a little bit better.

 This is our youth pastor, Steven, and the Lodge Bear on our way to eat after a long day of skiing. I think the bear was the only one well-adjusted to the cold.

 Here's some of the crazy chaperones. I was rooming with the one on the far left, Mary Beth. I think this picture deserves an explanation. So, we had one major injury on the slopes. A boy broke his shin bone, but left his ice pack in the freezer before going home. Darlynn (center) is always "burning up", so she decided to cool off with this boy's ice pack. As you can see, the men usually just look on with a mixture of disguist and confusion. Fun stuff.

 Youth pastor, Steven, and his wife, Morgan.

 Me and Benji before we left to head home.

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On our way home, we stopped by Frankie's Fun Park, spent an arm and a leg at Johnny Rocket's, and left with only one injury of a chipped tooth due to a seat belt in a go-cart.

I had a great time. I was so glad that Benji and I got asked to chapperone. I can't wait to do it again. We had a great group that really inspired me. I hope I can do the same for them.

Wet but Wonderful Wednesday...

Although I woke up pretty sick this morning, showed up late to class, and managed to sit through it while sipping on a sprite and eating some crackers all with only four hours of sleep I'm still going to enjoy this day that the Lord has given me. So, I'm linking up with Jamie again to tell y'all what I'm loving on this Wednesday.

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I'm loving that Alabama didn't LSU score any points in the National Championship game, and I'm loving that despite all the criticism, Tebow is still glorifying God in all that he does. And for those of us who are believers, we know where his success truly comes from.

 I'm loving that we leave tomorrow for the ski trip, and that the forecast is calling for snow.

I'm loving that I'm about to get in the kitchen and make some cupcakes for everybody on the bus ride up to the mountains tomorrow. I'm combining the Neely's recipe for Devil's Food Cupcakes and Chubby Hubby Cupcakes that I found on Pinterest.

And I'm loving my sweet boyfriend who (as of tomorrow) has put up with me for four years. I'm so thankful for him and all that he does for me.

What are y'all loving today?