The (Almost) End

Well, here we are folks. It's the end of another semester here on the Hill at Western. Actually, it's my last semester here on the Hill at Western. No, I do not graduate until May, but starting in January, I will be student teaching in a school a little closer to home, and I will be living at home! No more little bathrooms or heaters that blow cold air. 

But it's bittersweet.

I'm going to miss living with my sister Rebekah. I'm going to miss having Chic-fil-a at my fingertips, and I'm going to miss having class with my friends who encourage me and complain about assignments with me. But man oh man, I'm gonna love eating real vegetables every now and then and having my wardrobe all in one closet and getting to see my mama and daddy everyday. Plus, how nice will it be to live 30 minutes away from Joseph rather than an hour and 15? 

Recently I attended a show at the planetarium here at school about doomsday. During this show I learned that the Mayans never said the world would end on December 20, 2012. That is simply where they're calendar ended. Their calendar operated like the odometer on our cars, when the numbers all maxed out, they just started over again. It was just a cycle. 

I think God created us to live our lives in cycles. Every few years one thing ends, but something new always begins. You may have heard the saying, "When God closes one door, he opens another." Well its true! When I graduated high school, it was a major transition. It was kind of sad, but I couldn't be sad for long because I was going to college! Now here I am, four years later, in the same position. It's happening again. I am coming to a close on one chapter of my life, and it's kind of sad except that I'm getting married! I can't be sad when I'm looking forward to getting married! I know it doesn't happen like that for everyone, but I believe God intends for us to move on from the old and embark on new adventures, that's just the way he designed it! And I think that is so cool!

So every time we think it's the end, it's really just the beginning.

50 Things I am Thankful for

1. The precious love of Jesus
2. My fiance
3. A good family
4. A place to sleep
5. My black boots
6. An education
7. A great church family
8. Wonderful parents
9. Three awesome sisters
10. Days without homework
11. My laptop
12. My job
13. Elementary schools
14. McDonalds
15. A safe community
16. Sunglasses
17. Godly Grandparents
18. Scarves
19. My one and only niece
20. My future home
21. Chick fil a
22. Camp Mulberry
23. New Episodes of Duck Dynasty
24. Christmas
25. My cell phone
26. Stores that sell things for $1
27. Food in the refridgerator
28. Music
29. Ink Pens
30. My truck
31. Scholarships
32. Chapstick
33. Books
34. Paper Towels
35. Blankets
36. E-mail
37. Sweater Dresses
38. Online storage
39. The Bible
40. Answered prayers
41. Good in-laws
42. UPS tracking
43. Paperclips
44. Coca Cola!
45. My parents' jobs
46. My cousins
47. The interstate
48. The Ocean
49. Facebook
50. Leggings

What do I do with what God has given me?

Hannah prayed for a child; it was the greatest desire of her heart. After years without bearing children and constant taunting from a woman who could bear her husband sons, Hannah was desperate. The enduring love of her husband was not enough. Her deepest desire could not be quenched by any love other than the love of a child. When Hannah went to the Temple to pray, she prayed so long and so hard for a child that the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk, he even asked her to leave, but Hannah knew though Eli may not understand, though her husband may not understand, God had heard her prayer. Before Hannah would return to the temple the next year, she would bear a son, his name would be Samuel. 

However, there was a catch. Hannah, in her desperate, drunken prayer had promised God that if He would give her a son, she would give the son back to Him, and the next year, when the time came to make her annual trip to the Temple, Hannah took Samuel and left him there. The only thing we ever hear about Hannah after that point is that she got to see her son once a year and brought him new clothes each time.

What was it about having a son that Hannah was so desperate for, if she knew she would not keep him? Hannah's desire was for a child that she would only see once a year! Why? Wouldn't having a son and never seeing him be just as bad as never having a son? How did Hannah feel when God gave her a son and she remembered her promise to give him away? Was she heart broken? Was she mad? Did she think God would hold her to her word? Did she beg God to be able to keep her son? Or did she have peace and willingly take him to the Temple and leave him?

I think Hannah knew something that I, at times, do not want to know. Hannah knew that anything God gives us is for His glory, and His glory alone. We can hold onto it, and let it become something that God never intended for it to be, or we can take what God has given us and give it back to Him and give our gift the opportunity to become exactly what God intended it to be. Something great, like Samuel. Hannah could have kept Samuel at home, but he may have turned out to be a bratty kid and a foul sheep farmer, but she gave him to God and he became a great prophet for God. 

Hannah didn't want a son so that she could feel love. She wanted a son so that she could love him. 

and the best way to love the gift that God had given her was to give him back to God. As a mother, she had done the best possible thing she could have done for her child. I want to take the gifts that God has given me and give them back to him, because keeping them would be selfish and keeping them would ruin them. 

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is this one, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 and so many times we want the desires of our heart and not to delight ourselves in the Lord, or we forget that is part of the deal. I had the revelation though, that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, His desires become our desires. But it is so easy to receive and forget that it's His desire. That He has plans for our desires. 

 

Sharpen the Saw

I promise this isn't a school post, but it's got some school background so stick with me! Schools all over the U.S. have adopted the Leader in Me program, which is based on Sean Covey's book Seven Habits of Happy Kids. Sean's book is based on his dad, Steven Covey's book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. They are the same habits, but one in adult language and one in kid language. 

Okay, here we go:

These are the seven habits:

1. Be Proactive

2. Begin with the End in Mind

3. Put first things first

4. Think Win-Win

5.Seek first to understand, then to be understood

6. Synergize

7. Sharpen the Saw

I LOVE these habits. I think I usually do pretty good about being proactive, trying to understand others, and most of the rest of them. However, as my class went over the last habit, "Sharpen the Saw," on Monday, I realized I have a problem. Habit 7 is the habit of self-renewal. The students had three questions to answer: 

1. What are some things you like to do to sharpen the saw?

Okay, that's easy. I want to answer these questions here for myself. I like to sing, play piano, write, and paint (or make crafts... whatever). I also like to read and cook. I'm starting to sew, not very good yet. I also like to spend quality time with all my people. Okay. That's enough.

2. What is something new you would like to try?

OH. MY. WORD. This is where I had a problem. This is where I need serious help. I cannot think of a single thing I would like to try. Is that bad? All the kids were saying, "I'd like to try playing golf" or "I'd like to play an instrument." And I couldn't think of a single thing I would like to try. Okay. I hate sports, don't want to try any of those. I have pretty much tried all the food I care to try, I know how to play piano. I've tried to play other instruments... It's probably not going to happen. What else is there? I know there are the big things: Ride in a hot air balloon, Hike to a waterfall, and Skydive (I don't want to skydive), but I'm talking about trying something in my everyday life. I'm coming up with nothing. How am I supposed to sharpen my saw without trying new things?

Oh, here's one. Could getting married count as trying something new? Hahaha I don't think so because it's not really something you try, it's something you do. Period.

Anyways. Someone, help me. 

3. What is something you could do better?

So simple: manage my time better. Obviously. I'm blogging while I should be doing homework.

A Lot to Learn

I have been very blessed in my time as a pre-service teacher to do my field work in what have to be some of the greatest schools ever... or have I? In just two hours on a Thursday morning, I was reminded of what a good school really is. Previously, and now as well in Block II, I have been placed in schools where the students come from well-off families, whose parents work in places like law-firms and doctor's offices (and their not the secretaries... or the janitors). I was impressed when the parents were all at the morning assemblies to take pictures of their kids every day and I was impressed when every student in a kindergarten classroom could read, and some of them were on their first chapter books. I don't want to belittle those kinds of schools at all, but when parental involvement is so strong, it makes things A LOT easier. 

I say all this to say, those schools are tremendous, and the students are brilliant, but they have a lot to learn. Let me explain. I am in two schools this semester, and they are as different from one another as dark is from light. The first school is brand new. I am in a fifth grade classroom and the students use big words that I didn't know until high school. They are amazing. They don't make a peep while the teacher is talking and they say "yes ma'am" and "no sir." My first day blew me away. However, something else that struck me on the first day. This brand new school also has a brand new playground donated by the PTO. It's one of the nicest playgrounds I've ever seen; I know the parents donated thousands of dollars so that their students would have somewhere to have recess when school began, but on the day I was there, the students sat on the sidewalks and played with their iPhones and Nintendo DS instead of the playground. I was almost angry. Mostly because when I was in school, our playground consisted of two seesaws, a few swings, and a basketball court. We played with pine cones and jump ropes. I couldn't help but think that these students, as smart as they are, still have a lot to learn. 

The school I was in on Thursday morning was a completely different story. The students were rambunctious, I didn't see any parents, and in the first grade class I observed, the three kids that were supposed to read to me, couldn't read. In my classroom, there were only four white kids. FOUR! The school was so diverse it was unbelievable. Many of the kids couldn't speak English that well, English is their second language. For the first time in my field experience, I really felt needed. It was so refreshing. I can't help but think that we all have a lot to learn when it comes to determining what makes a great school.

I am NOT a goat farmer

Over the weekend, my family got two goats. According to my dad, that means we are now goat farmers.

On Saturday, my sisters, my mom and I went to visit mine and Joseph's brand new niece (she is perfect). My dad stayed home to work on the electric fence where we keep the goats, so I should have seen this coming. Joseph and I went to an antique store and mama and the girls headed on home. On my way home, I received a quite urgent phone call that I needed to pick up two goat collars and some goat feed... apparently something had been going on at home. While I was out, this is what I missed (as told according to my mom):

My dad went with my two youngest sisters to pick up the goats that we had been preparing for. Apparently, we weren't quite ready for the goats, but you know, we got them anyways. So Christina held a goat and Jessica held a goat (they brought them home in the van). When they got back to the house, daddy put the goats in the electric fence, and they ran right out. Who cares if you get electrocuted?! It's freedom! So there goes my dad, running after the goats, sweat dripping off of his nose. Rebekah runs after the goats, not really intending to catch one. Christina runs after the goats, probably intending to catch one, but not quite sure how. Jessica... runs and screams when she gets near a goat... but she wasn't scared ;) Mama stood on the porch.

When Joseph and I got to the house with the collars, my dad had tied the goats to a tree with a rope. Literally as soon as I got out of the truck one of the goats jumped straight up in the air and passed out. Why? Who knows? It's a dumb goat. We (okay, not me) finally got the goats settled in and went in for the night. We sat around the table with Grandmama and Grandad and talked about their goat stories, we discussed goat names. We acted like goat farmers. All the goat farmers got their showers and all that good stuff, until my dad went to check on the animals only to find they had escaped once again. Jessica ran into the house, "the goats got out!" she said. We all kept talking, then it hit us. We sat in silence. Joseph laughed. Then we all got up like we were going to do something about it. Okay, they did do something about it. Mama and I sat on the porch. It was ridiculous.

When I got in the van to go to church on Sunday I got goat hair all over me. I am not a goat farmer.

Daddy said on Monday that he posted on facebook that I was a goat farmer. I am not a goat farmer.

Here I am, blogging about goats. Maybe I am a goat farmer.

Good Days and Bad Days

Life is full of choices, big and small. We often think entirely too much about the big ones, and rarely consider the small ones. Nonetheless, we make them. Perhaps the most important choice we make is one that we rarely consider, or don't see as a choice at all. That is the choice to have a good day or a bad day.

 

Some people have said, "I woke up this morning and knew it was going to be a bad/good day." I don't think that way. My first thought in the morning is usually, "how much longer can I sleep without getting in trouble?" However, all throughout the day, things happen, life happens, and I decide whether or not they will impact my attitude towards the day.

 

Right before I came back to school my dad said, "Rarely ever will you have good days or bad days. Most days will just be average." I will say that I agree with this sentiment; however, I must add that we always, always have a choice. Everyday has the potential to be a good day. There is always a silver lining.

 

I must admit, though, that I am not a "silver lining" kind of person. On Tuesday, it was raining and I didn't have an umbrella, I had a lot of homework, I was sick, and I dropped a glass bowl and cut my finger trying to pick up the pieces. I had a night class, I had to buy textbooks for class, and through it all, my mind was full of things to worry about. You know what my attitude was? I wanted to have a pity party, and I did. However, at the end of the day, I realized all of the good things that had happened and I was so frustrated with myself because I felt as though I had wasted a day wallowing in self-pity.

 

I think about a story I have heard my whole life, one that Joseph used several months ago in a sermon that has stuck with me ever since. The story is about the Apostle Paul, who had been imprisoned, and yet he said "I think myself happy." Honestly, if he could do it, so can I!

 

It all starts with making small changes. This year at the General Conference in Arkansas, Bro. Quinn, from California preached about getting an attitude adjustment. I laughed as I told myself that he was definitely preaching to me. The thing is, my tendency is sometimes to be negative. I'm often harsh, and not just to others, but especially on myself. I think the best way to change this about myself is to start small. Everytime I am discouraged, or worried, I need to turn it around and look for the positive.

 

My favorite thing to ask people is, "are you okay?" Honestly, I probably ask that question 100 times a day, because I worry about people. I want everyone to be okay, all the time. However, what if instead of asking people if they are okay, I encourage them that everything is going to be okay. That takes a chance to dwell on the negative and have a "bad day" and turns it into something positive, something that will motivate a "good day." I have to tell myself the same thing. Everything is going to be okay.

 

Everything is going to be okay.

 

Have a good day. :)

The Engaged Life

With the wedding a little over ten months away... Okay 316 days away, I must admit that the wedding planning is still going slowly. Joseph and I started the summer off with our engagement party, but from there we haven't gotten far. Things will come together though, that is for sure. I know just today my grandmama practiced making a coconut cake, and ordered burlap for our decorations. So there are works in progress. The next to-do item on my list is buying the wedding dress. That, though, must remain a secret. ;)

Even if the wedding planning is slowly creeping along, life is running by us at a fast pace. This past week was Joseph's first week living in the new townhouse that we will call home after we are married. It was crazy moving him in in the 110 degree weather we're having around here, but it turned out great. I think he is going to LOVE living there. It's kind of hard for me though, because I want to be there so badly, but I'm having enough fun with helping him buy and set up stuff.

We also just got done with our jobs as Junior Camp directors for Camp Mulberry, which I wrote about in my last post. Man, if we aren't working on the wedding, we are definitely working on our teamwork. Joseph was amazing with the kids. They loved him, probably because he is just so stinking fun. It was so awesome to see him go from playing kickball with the boys to praying for them in the altars. I'm so psyched I get to marry this guy!!!

Not only all of that, but I see him growing in God every single day. I mean everyday he is doing something that makes me just stop and thank God for Joseph and for what He is doing in his life, and most of all that God sent him to me! I am the most blessed girl in the world.

Hannah

I have been going to Camp Mulberry since I was nine years old. That makes this year my 13th year as a Camp Mulberry fanatic (if you've read my blog at all you know this to be true). This year at Mulberry, Joseph and I were given not only the honor, but the absolutley awesome opportunity of being junior camp directors. We were over all activities (games, devotions, praise and worship, etc.) concerning campers ages 8-11. We were pumped. We were BUSY. We started planning for the week back in March and just a few weeks ago, during the week that followed Father's Day, our work paid off.

I'll have to admit, from planning water balloon dodgeball, to which lessons would be taught, to how we would keep the kids happy and safe, it was easy to lose focus in the weeks that led up to Camp. However, when I set foot on that campground in good ol' Hot Springs, AR on Sunday night, I knew that everything was going to be worth it.

Several of the kids knew who I was because, well besides the fact that I've been at camp forever, I was the day camp director last year. One of the first kids I ran into was Hannah. Hannah is from a church in Arkansas and she is a doll. Something changed over the past year though. When I had her in day camp, she never made a peep. This year she and I were practically attached at the hip and she had plenty to say.

I'm getting misty-eyed just thinking about my sweet girl. On the first night, before camp had even started she asked me if I would come to her bunk before bed to help her pray for her daddy. My heart absolutely melted. That was just the beginning of the week.

From that point on, every child that I met, that I taught, that I threw a water balloon at, touched my heart. They told me about their lives, why they were  good kids (because they liked vegetables), and they taught me how to come before God with a childlike heart. We were so priveleged to have Jumpin' Josh Combs as the children's evangelist once again this year, and I watched 15 kids get the Holy Ghost during that week. I walked around all week just saying "Thank you Jesus." On Monday night, my cousin Lauren received the Holy Ghost and I cannot even begin to describe the transformation I saw in her life from day one to day five. It was nothing short of miraculous. On Thursday night I watched as the most rambuctious boy on camp received the Holy Ghost and became a little angel for the rest of the week... well, almost.

But back to Hannah. Hannah told me on Monday night that she didn't have the Holy Ghost. We talked about what it was a little and how to get it. The next three nights I watched her just stand in the altar and cry as she talked to Jesus. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Even though Hannah didn't receive the Holy Ghost at camp, I know she grew closer to the Lord. One night she slept in my bunk with me and she told me all about her home life and after that, all I could do was cry when I watched her pray, and pray myself that God would place a hedge of protection around her.

So maybe I am a Camp Mulberry Fanatic, Joseph said that he knew I was crazy when I pulled out my Mulberry scrapbook the first time he came to my house... but this is why: Because of Hannah. Because, for some kids, a church camp is the only place where children find a refuge or are able to go to the altar and talk to the Lord, and because Camp does something for me too. When I was a camper it was the experience I received in the services that changed me, but now its watching, working with the kids that changes me. Never before have I felt so right, so in the will of God as when I was lying in the bed with Hannah talking about life, or playing "This is a Fork" or, most of all, sharing God's love and His word, that will hopefully change their lives forever.

Tonight

Tonight I am going to write.

Hellooooo Summer

Here we are again! It's June 1st! I absolutely cannot believe it. School has been out for a few weeks, my mama and sisters are home for the summer, and we have been busy busy busy. Just in the past few weeks we have been doing things like having engagement parties, swimming, shopping, preparing for Camp Mulberry, going to church, celebrating birthdays and graduations, and basically just enjoying the craziness that is our lives.

The last time I wrote, I was busy turning in homework and freaking out over finals. You will be happy to know I made it through the semester with good grades and a mostly good attitude :) I was also busy in the wedding department, having taken engagement pictures and preparing for the engagement party. Both were a huge success and I am proud to share with you this fabulous picture by Joseph's mom, who took our engagement pictures for us. She did a wonderful job:

This is just one of the (literally) hundreds of pictures she took; I think it turned out quite well.

As I speak, preparations are being made for Camp Mulberry, Christina is practicing the guitar, clothes are being washed, and I am... well, there is a huge stack of supplies in the corner of my room for Junior Camp. Last night, we tested the giant slingshot Joseph made for our life-size Angry Birds activity for Jr. Camp. It is going to be a blast. We are also preparing for the HUGE church yardsale tomorrow. Though there are several frightening clouds out right now, I am hoping we will make good money tomorrow.... I think the storms will pass *fingers crossed.*

Anyways, I know this isn't much of a post, especially considering how long it has been since I last wrote, but there is definitely a theme here. While God is doing SO many wonderful things, right now is certainly a time of preparation in my life. If greath things are happening now, I know so much greater things are coming, especially for those who serve the Lord.

I can't help but mention that while we prepare for the things that are coming up, we must all the more prepare for Jesus coming to get his church. We are living in an absolutely CRAZY world. It gets worse and worse everyday, which is just another sign that this thing is wrapping up. So lets all be prepared, not only for ourselves, but in helping others to prepare as well.

The Rundown

Just because I know you all are interested in every little thing that I do... ;)
Just kidding, but seriously here's what been going on, what's going on, and what is coming up!

Last weekend, Joseph and I took engagement pictures!!! I think I failed to mention that in my past few posts. It was so fun. Joseph's mom took the pictures and she did an incredible job. I'm not allowed to post them yet though... but maybe a sneak peek will be coming your way soon.

This past weekend, my family and I went to a fellowship meeting in Millersville, TN. It was very encouraging and fun and funny. It's always good to be with God's people.

On the way home, Joseph's side-view mirror broke off. It was scary. We heard a loud BOOM! then saw that the mirror was gone. We turned around to find it, and couldn't. There wasn't even any damage to the surrounding mailboxes. So we went home, put on our raincoats and grabbed our flashlights, and went on a midnight search for the mirror and whatever caused the damage. We found the mirror, but that was it. The cause is still a mystery.... ooooooohhhhhhhh (making ghost-like noises).

Saturday I sat on the couch all day and watched movies with Joseph. It was phenomenal.

Sunday-AWESOMEST DAY EVER! (I'm aware awesomest isn't a word). Read the post under this one to hear all about that great day.

Today I turned in SO much homework, I thought it would feel great, but I just got more homework. Oh well, only one more week after this one!!! Ahhhh!!!

This weekend we are going to Michigan!!! Whoo hoo! Road Trip. I'm so ready. So So ready.

Monday Madness... Again

Monday Madness... If I wrote this tomorrow it would be Testimony Tuesday. But today is Monday, so we're going to stick with madness. 

"I have been young and now I am old, but I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread." Psalm 37:25

That's a scripture to shout about. God truly takes care of his children. I could list story after story after story about how He provides for us, but I will share with you the most recent one.. the one I am SUPER pumped about right now. Last week Joseph started his new job (he loves it, by the way). And on Thursday he found out that the department he just left is being shut down, and everyone is being laid off. Whoa. So yeah, first and foremost, let's pray for those people who are losing their jobs. They are moms and dads and husbands and wives, and they need our prayers. But then lets praise the Lord that He provides for us and takes care of us and constantly has a hedge of protection around us! Joseph didn't know when he left the other job that he would have been out of a job had he stayed, but God directed his footsteps and absolutely should be given the credit for what happened here! It was a miracle and a sure sign of God's grace and love towards Joseph (and me hehe ;) )

Okay, another story. One equally as awesome. Last Thursday (I think), my sister Christina had the opportunity to make a speech in front of about... well, we thought it was just sixty students, but it turns out the students from alternative school were in the room, and so were the lunch ladies, and some teachers, and other staff.. and well, people are just coming out of the woodwork who heard what she said. Christina was elected president of the school's branch of FCCLA, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America. She wasn't going to give a speech, but then she did. To make a long story short, she told the students that where much is given, much is required, and that she had the truth and she was going to share it with them. She proceeded to ask the students if they wanted to go to heaven. They all raise their hands. Then she dropped truth on them like an atomic bomb I tell you! She gave it all to them: Jesus name baptism and being filled with the Holy Ghost. Her teachers were getting antsy, you could have heard a pin drop. However, the results have been phenomenal. Already two girls want to be baptized in Jesus name, and more and more students are coming to her, asking questions, or just letting her know that they heard what she said. And that is the most important part: that they heard the truth.

So this is my shout out to all young people: YOU CAN WIN SOULS!!! Just do it! Yeah, it's scary, but it's so worth it. 

Final story. Yesterday we had two awesome services at church. Sunday morning the presence of God just filled the sanctuary, people were in the altars crying before God and I know they touched the throne with their prayers. Sunday night we had a visiting evangelist. There is a man who has been coming to our church for several weeks and he has been baptized and was seeking the Holy Ghost. After the evangelist preached, he made and altar call. The man went straight to the altar. He said he wanted to be filled with the Holy Ghost. The entire church came up to pray for him, and I PROMISE before everyone could even get up there (I was playing piano and singing so I saw the whole thing) he was speaking in tongues. He had so much faith and he was so ready to receive, it was just that easy. I was pumped. It was absolute madness.

People, these are the last days and revival is here. However, every day people are falling away from the Lord. Don't be one of those people, just go ahead and join us. It will be worth it after all!

Monday Madness

What a clever title for this post. I should have thought of it a million Mondays ago and I would have used it every single Monday since then. The truth is, madness is exactly the word that fits with my Mondays. I was sure that if I lived through last week, I would live forever. I was wrong. If I live through this week, I will live forever. 

Oh but I'm not here to complain. If I'm not careful, "A Lovely History" will become "A Not-So-Lovely History" with all of my rants and whining about school and life in general. So here is what I am going to do. I believe there are three types of madness. One type of madness deals with rage (which is the one I am really leaning towards, since I just looked at my grades... but we won't go there). The other type of madness is insanity (which is the one I will be when this semester is over and my brain has been fried for good... but we won't go there). The final type of madness, the one I want to talk about is a madness that has to do with ecstasy, or enthusiasm. Something that gets you so PUMPED it's just plain madness. 

What in the world am I talking about? I'm talking about what I taught in Sunday School to the teenagers at church, but ultimately to myself as well. Here is what I have learned:

The phrase "fear not" is mentioned 365 times in the Bible, once for everyday of the year, if you will. 

That's not the madness part. That's the part you find when you google "Fear Not." 

Here is the madness part... Maybe you have questioned, "Why does the phrase, "fear not" mean so much?" Okay, maybe you haven't, but I like to make things a little difficult. This is me: Joseph tells me all the time, "just don't worry about... whatever." And every single time I get frustrated because, you know what? It's not like I want to worry! It just happens. I know the Bible tells me not to worry, but that doesn't make it any easier! I feel the same way sometimes about "fear not" because yeah, I hear ya, but it's not like I want to be fearful, it just happens. I know the Bible tells me to fear not, but does that make it any easier?

 Actually yes....

This is why the phrase "fear not" is so comforting: it represents a promise. Every single time that God tells us not to fear, he gives us a reason why we shouldn't. Do not fear because "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." Fear not because "I will hold your hand." Fear not because "I am with you." Fear not because "I will fight this battle for you." 

That's madness.

Easter

What I can do...

I know you all are SO interested in what is going on here at school, and by school I mean classes and homework and stuff like that. WELL, have I got an update for you today! With only three weeks left of school, plus finals, after this week (you like how I should really say I have five weeks left, but I made it sound so much better?) they are trying to kill us, which is why, of course, I am blogging. If you're not an elementary education major, or a teacher yourself, then you probably won't be able to grasp what I am about to say, but believe me when I do say that it is outrageous. 

Today is Monday. On Wednesday I have a whole standard-based unit due (tasks I-V), my completed collaboration project, an evaluating an author paper (five pages) and a summary of my teaching tolerance lesson. Tomorrow I am teaching P.E. and on Thursday I have a math test. All of this homework is not helping me with my "I'm over school and I don't care anymore" attitude. It's making me care much more than I want to. Oh well.

I CAN DO IT!!!

You know why? Because today, like just ten minutes ago I decided that I was going to start a personal study on women in the Bible. I was originally going to read the book of Judges because I haven't read it before and I know it has some good old testament stories in there; However, I started to read about Deborah and decided that I would go with the women study. So I'm sitting here thinking about my homework and I am reminded that Deborah was a judge, Jael killed the leader of the enemy's army, Ruth left her family, and Esther saved her people, and all of them did this in a time when women were looked down upon! They were told they couldn't do anything. So by all means I can do my homework!

It's still waiting

I have been searching my blog like crazy for the past five minutes looking for lyrics that I know I posted on here sometime around... last April, but I cannot find them. So here I am posting them again, because I would always like to be able to find them here.

Love is waiting
In the autumn on the ground,
between the traffic and the ordinary sounds
I am thinking signs and seasons while a north wind blows through
I watch as lovers pass me by
Walking stories - whos and hows and whys
Musing lazily on love
Pondering you
I'll give it time, give it space and be still for a spell
When it's time to walk that way we wanna walk it well

I'll be waiting for you baby
I'll be holding back the darkest night
Love is waiting til we're ready, til it's right
Love is waiting

It's my caution not the cold
there's no other hand that i would rather hold
the climate changes, I'm singing for the strangers about you
don't keep time, slow the pace
Honey hold on if you can
the bets are getting surer now that you're my man

I could write a million songs about the way you say my name
I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again
and like I can't force the sun to rise or hasten summer's start,
neither should I rush my way into your heart 

Why are these lyrics so important? This is a song I heard on Pandora before Joseph and I started dating. I posted the lyrics on my blog, and he saw them and "hoped" they were about him, and they were. That's super sweet, but they are also important to me because these words have stuck with me for the past year because, even though I am in love, there are still things in life I have to wait on, such as the wedding, or answers to my questions about the future. I have found though, that waiting isn't that bad when one knows she is waiting on great things. Yeah, I'm anxious to get things rolling, to know where I'm going, but it's easier to wait when I know that love is waiting on me. 

Ice Skating

Also, this weekend Joseph and I went ice skating. Here are some pictures of our adventure. He fell, I didn't :)

... but I am, by no means a good skater, just for clarification.

Hope Again

I have been doing homework for two days straight! I'm kidding, I'm kidding... sort of. I took a break today to eat lunch and watch an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Really though, I have about 12 assignments due next Monday and none of them are easy. 

But that's not what I am here to write about. 

I haven't really been blogging here lately like I used to. I'm afraid, also, that the posts I have been making have just been... blah. I'll be honest with you. I have been down in the dumps! and I am not really that good at telling people I'm down in the dumps, especially you. I want to cheer you up and encourage you and always be positive. But you know what? That's just not the way life is all the time. I mean lately, it's been one thing right after another and I have had a really hard time keeping up the positive attitude. 

So what do I do? Well I've just been throwing a big ol' pity party for myself for the past couple of weeks, and you know where that has gotten me? Even more down in the dumps! And you know what else I've been doing? I've been dragging others down with me, because that's what happens! So I started thinking (oh no!) about everything that is going on and how I have been reacting to it. First of all, school. Yuck. I have had SUCH a negative attitude about school. I go around all the time saying "I hate school, I never want to go back, I don't even want to be a teacher, I don't even like kids..." and you know what? I started to convince myself that it was true. Then, I started feeling sorry for myself because some of my friends have disappointed me lately. So I go around whining about what horrible people they are. And you know what happens? I convince myself that they're all wrong and I'm all right. Then, when I have exhausted all the complaints about the grief that everyone else is causing me, I turn on God and I start questioning what He is doing and why He is making me wait so long and why why why why why.

All of this pity partying led to one BIG pity party that Joseph and I had together (I'm ratting him out now) and after our pity party I didn't feel better. Actually, I felt silly. Who am I to complain about... anything? And I promise you, right as I started thinking about how God probably isn't too pleased with the way I've been acting and with the condition of my heart, He confirmed it. Every time I have turned around since Saturday night I have been preached on! My own Sunday School lesson hit home for me and I didn't even know it was going to. I taught about how we have redefined what it means to be a temple of the Holy Ghost, how we need to seek after a heart that is pure, prayerful, powerful, and praising. Then, Sunday morning my Grandad preached about failures. That's me! I have never felt more like a failure than over the past few weeks, and there Grandad goes talking about being a failure, but picking ourselves us and going on. Then Sunday Night, Bro. Aaron preached that "Excuses won't cut it anymore." WELL EXCUSE ME! and then today, I read about Asaph, and how he looked at the world and he was mad, he was frustrated that people in the world have it SO easy, but people who live for God are barely scraping by. Well, Asaph found out that people who serve God really have it the best. When we have a pure heart and seek correction in God's Word, we figure that out.

However, Joseph summed it up the best. He said, "It feels like there's hope again." And that hit me right between the eyes, because in the middle of my pity party I forgot to hope. But today, I feel like there is hope, again.

It's Friday!

When I was in elementary school we used to sing "The Friday Song." It went something like this:

Today is Friday, HEY! Today is Friday, HEY!

Happy happy happy happy Friday!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

I think the song could be changed so that we could sing it on any day, but my sisters (and my mama, when she started working at the school) LOVED the Friday song. Why? Because Friday means the weekend!!! Throughout the years, we (my sisters and mom and I) put our own variations on the song. For instance,  when my dad found out that he was going to get to move from third shift to day shift, we would sing:

It's Friday! Daddy's going to days! It's Friday! Daddy's going to days!

It's really a totally different song. Haha. Anyways, today I am singing the Friday song (Note: MY Friday song should not be confused with the Rebecca Black version of the Friday song, which is a disgrace to all Friday songs ever written). I'm not just singing the Friday song because it's the weekend either; it's even better: IT'S SPRING BREAK!!!!

So, I'm only here at work until 12:00, after which I have to take a math test, but then, around 1:15 p.m. I will be hitting the road for... Home. Ahhhhhh. I've never been so excited to see Spring Break come around. While I don't have any road trip/beach plans (though that would be nice) I still plan to spend my time at home wisely. Here are my plans:

• Tonight: Party with the youth group (they are really celebrating me being on spring break, they just don't know it).
• Tomorrow: Goodwill Saturday (everything is half off!!!)
• Sunday: Church, Church, Church
• Monday: Joseph and I are going to Grand Rivers, KY to sit by the lake and eat lunch at Miss Patti's.
• Tuesday: Sleep
• Wednesday: Sleep
• Thursday: Sleep and MAYBE read a book, we'll see if my brain has recovered by then.
• Friday: Probably sleep.

Whew, that's one packed Spring break. I'm going to be BUSY! :)

Courageous, by Rachel

This post was written by my sixth-grade cousin, Rachel. I think she has tremendous insight and a great story to share. Please enjoy this post, or go read her whole blog! Click here to read it!

Lately, I've been going to a bible study every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The lessons that are being taught are really good, mostly like honoring your parents, spending time with family, obeying, faith, and kindness.

       But, yesterday the entire middle school got called into a private little assembly/meeting thing because for the past two days people had been coming to our principal and saying stuff like, "He said this about this person" "She said this, this, this, and this about me", stuff like that. So our principal decided he didn't want to hear about "Middle School Drama", and the next time he heard about it, if you're the person who came and told him that, you would go to I.S.S (a.k.a In School Suspension).

      The very next day, today, we had a bible study in which we talked about having a pure mouth. Ryan, our bible study leader, showed us the verses Proverbs 21:19, Philippians 4:8, 1 John 4:19, Colossians 3:9. After we talked about how to keep a pure mouth and how to be a leader to all the other kids in our school who haven't kept a pure mouth. After we were done talking we listened to the song "Courageous" by Casting Crowns. In the first verse it said " We were made to be courageous, We were made to lead the way, We could be the generation that could finally break the chains. We were made to be courageous! Lord make us courageous!" And for the whole year that I've listened to this song and sang the words while starring out a car window, I never once thought about how it could possibly apply to me. Until today, when I listened to it for the 4 millionth time and really truly paid attention to the words that i was singing under my breath in a crowded math room. Surrounded by 40 other people who don't even believe what I do. I finally looked passed the catchy lyrics and saw what  it really meant. That my generation could finally be the generation that can lead people to the Lord and away for sins, addictions, and temptations.

THANK YOU CASTING CROWNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Phillipians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever thing are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

       Proverbs 12:19
The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

       1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.

      Colossians 3:9
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.

A Little Sunshine

 I don't know who said this, but someone in my family did. It might have been my dad... but I might have made this up in my own head: "It feels like we've been living under a curse." Yeah, it's been that bad. We (my family) always joke around New Years/ January that something bad is going to happen. Well, we made it through January, but February hasn't been that great.

*I was going to say February hasn't been that hot, but it has. Today is Tuesday, February 27, 2012, and it is seventy degrees outside. WHAT?!*

Let me take back my last statement that February hasn't been that great. Yes, my dad may have said it feels like we've been living under a curse, but as I was talk to my mom on the phone yesterday, she asked "how can things be SO good and SO bad at the same time?"

I won't make the big long list of horrible things that have happened. The message my Grandad brought to us months ago at church keeps rolling over and over in my mind: "Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses." So I won't. But I will tell you just what happened this past weekend. We had to take my sister Christina to the ER. My "never-gets-sick-and-has-definitely-never-been-to-the-ER-before" sister Christina. It was scary. Evidently she had a couple of virus/infection kind of things going on inside of her... and it got ugly. But at the same time, I was at the Predators game and they were going nuts being awesome and it was so much fun! And I had just spent all day with my family at a bridal show, having SO much fun! Again, so good and so bad at the same time. It seems to be a pattern. 

So, I'm sitting here thinking (and lately I've been thinking a lot of things) about how awesome God is, and how much he loves us. You see, the thing is, we HAVE to go through trials, through tough times, through storms, to become the people he wants us to be. To fulfill the purpose we need to fulfill. Just think about every sermon you have ever heard about the alabaster box. It was a beautiful box, but it had to be broken for what was inside to be used. We have to be broken to be used.

But God must know that we couldn't handle all the brokenness without some happiness. Moreover, He WANTS us to be happy, it pains him when we suffer, so he gives us good things too, like a win for the Predators and sunshine in February. You know what? That makes me proud to call him my God. I don't think there are any other gods like that out there. I know there aren't. 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

A Positive Attitude

I am working on a new attitude, one that looks for the positive in each day. I have found that it is so easy to start out a day positively, but it is much more difficult to end the day with the same attitude. Yesterday, February 23, 2012, I woke up to sixty degree, my class was canceled and I went shopping with my sister. Joseph came to visit me last night. I knew it was going to be a good day; I woke up smiling. By 5:00 pm, the storm clouds had rolled in, my allergies were stirred up, and I had a headache. I went to bed not in the best mood.

Over the past few months I've had a motto or two that I have tried to keep. At first, I said "Just rise above" and then I said "Just let go." But I have found that there are some things (like storms and allergies, among other things) that I just can't rise above, things I just can't let go of. So what do I do? Of course, I pray and I seek God to take care of these things. I find peace in his Word. I also find correction in the Word. Hebrews 4:2 says the Word of God is living and active... it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Word gives me an attitude adjustment.

I don't even have to read to know what it says about feeling sorry for myself and having a negative attitude. It pretty much says "DON'T." However, I have found that the Word doesn't give me an attitude adjustment by scolding me or condemning me, I do that to myself. Rather, the Word of God encourages me. It gives me a more positive perspective. Romans 8:18 says "Don't you know that the suffering of this present time is nothing to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in you?" 1 Peter tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds. It tells us to be positive. I think it's in Thessalonians that Paul tells us to put our thoughts on things above, whatever is pure and true and lovely. Think about those things.

Dedication, Discipline, and Integrity

Well, it's been seventeen long days since I last blogged... and my fans are starting to wonder what has happened (mainly just my mom and Joseph). So to keep riots from breaking out and my dorm room from being burned to the ground... ;) just kidding. Anyways, here I am, once again, and I'm afraid this time I have a lot to say.

There have been so many events happening in my life lately, none of which I want to blog about. However, in every situation, I have found myself learning A LOT about myself and just life in general. Recently, on facebook, I posted a status with five short rants describing (almost) every frustration I am dealing with right now. They were things like, "If you're in a relationship with someone who brings you down or takes you away from God, GET OUT!" and "Be dedicated to something, and for heaven's sake let it be something meaningful!" Really though, the gist of all of them come down to three characteristics that I just can't get off my mind: Dedication, Discipline, and Integrity.

This is my soap box for the day. If no one else cares about what I have to say, overall it's a lesson for myself. I've just been so frustrated because I look around and see people who don't necessarily quit or give up, but people who do not give 110%. Dedication is not about sticking with something until its finished; that's only a small part of it. I was raised by parents who taught me that I was to do my best work all the time. Recently my dad has been quoting Mother Theresa by saying "Wake up smiling, go to bed exhausted." Dedication means giving your all, all the time. Be organized, be prompt, have a plan, get off your butt and work hard. To do this, you must be disciplined, the second characteristic. That's what is wrong with people today: they have no discipline. I admit, I'm the worst at times. I hate doing homework, but I do it! I turn it in on time. I wake up in the mornings and I work hard all day. If you want to succeed, work hard. Be disciplined.

And then, there is integrity. I think integrity has a lot to do with dedication and discipline. I was recently at a church service and one of the ministers spoke about integrity and it has stuck with me ever since. You know, leaders should be people of integrity. If you want people to follow you, prove that your someone worth following. I've seen people in ministry who choose dinner dates and junk over showing up for Sunday services. That is not dedication, that is not discipline, and that is not integrity. However, integrity doesn't just apply to leaders, it applies to everyone. I saw a quote once, and I think I have mentioned it here before: "If everyone would sweep in front of their own door, the whole world would be clean." I think that is the biggest lesson I have learned here. I can't change anyone, but I can change myself. So I will. I've learned that people disappoint us, and there is nothing we can do, but we can determine for ourselves not to disappoint other people. 

 

Week Two. Done.

It's the end of week two of the spring semester here at WKU! Whoo hoo! I am counting down the weeks. I must admit though. This week was SO much better than last week. Here is why:
1. Work started this week!!! I thought it would stress me out and be entirely too much since I have so much homework and all of that good stuff. However, work has been a blessing in disguise! It has been absolutely wonderful! This semester I am working on Mondays for five hours, Tuesday for five hours, and Fridays for five hours. On Monday I had three appointments and I still managed to get all of my homework done (through next week!) and spend a generous amount of time on pinterest. Confession: I'm addicted.
2.The weather this week was amazing. I think it stormed like crazy one night, but most of the days have been sunny and up into the sixties. It has been amazing. Last night, Joseph came to see me and we went to the park and walked and sat on a bench to read our new book. It was so nice. Plus, in my walking class we have gotten to walk outside both days. It was wooooonderful.
3. As I just mentioned, we walked both days for my walking class this week, it was amazing. Let me explain this class to you so that you don't think I'm a baby when I complain about my legs hurting or when (after it is over) I talk about how much more in shape I am. We power walk. No, power walking is an understatement. Yesterday we walked two miles in a little under thirty minutes. I think that's good. Plus I get to talk to the most interesting people when I walk.... And when I'm not talking to interesting people, then I get to just be with myself, and that never happens.
4. Joseph came to see me!!! And he does that every week, but it was just so much fun this week. Like I said, we went to the park, and we went to dinner, and then we looked at wedding-y things and listened to music and read our book and it was so. much. fun.

There are more things, but I just had this thought. Joseph and I are reading a book (a marriage book) and in the book it talks about how God made Adam and then said that he shouldn't be alone, so God created Eve. Then the book asks the question: Why did God say it wasn't good for Adam to be alone?

Just think about that.


This song has been in my head all morning, enjoy!

Let the countdown begin!

I'll be honest... the countdown did not just "begin" as my title may have misinformed you. I've actually had this countdown going on my phone since 503 days until the wedding. Seriously, I'm so excited and the days are flying by.

There's really not that much planning to be done just yet because, well we have a whole year and four months! There is only so much we can do this far in advance. Still, God's blessings are overwhelming. Its not even wedding shower time yet, and God is already "showering" us with gifts (haha). Since being engaged (a whole month and 16 days) Joseph and I have been given a bedroom suit, a set of dishes, and we've had our save-the-dates and invitations paid for. Now that's what I call God taking care of his children. AHHHH!!! Hallelujah!!!!

Besides that, we're still blessed. Even without the gifts or anything, I am just so excited to have found (as the Song of Solomon says) the one whom my soul loves. People ask me if I get tired of telling the story or talking about wedding stuff, and I will admit, after I told the story over 500 times the first week back at school, I was a tiny bit tired. But not of the story, I just have this "painter" mentality that I can't get over. I have to tell every little detail, and when there are so many important details a girl gets worn out! All of that to say, I'm not tired yet! It's my favorite story, which explains why I've dedicated practically this whole post just to rambling about rambling.

Anyways, I know you want to know... so here's all the details on the wedding I have right now. The colors are pink (very light pink) and tan (as in we're using burlap) and its going to be so country chic. And that's all. That's all I can tell you right now :)

One to Seventy

This past weekend I attended two birthday parties, one for a young 'un in the church who turns one on Tuesday, and another for my Papaw, who turns seventy today. My Grandaddy also turned seventy this month. My sister turned seventeen. My uncle turned forty-something (how horrible am I for not knowing exactly how old???) And honestly, they are all the same as they were the day before their birthdays. 364-days-old to 365-days-old did not change baby Isaac, nor did sixty nine years to seventy years change either of my grandparents. But somewhere along the line, all of these people aged and nobody saw it happening, not really. I turned twenty on my last birthday, but I feel like I just turned 14 the year before. I mean I remember the birthday party in great detail. All of the girls from the church came over for a sleepover and my mom and dad gave me a white teddy bear and my mom cried more than she did when I became a teenager, and I was the first to fall asleep because as it turns out I've always been the old lady in the group. 

I guess I've said all this to say, time flies. With all of these birthdays, such a wide variety of ages, my head is spinning. Sometimes I like to be all philosophical and think about how time doesn't really exist, that its just something humans invented and how no wonder time flies if it doesn't even exist! But then, my head hurts so badly. So I have to stop thinking about it.But if time passes so quickly and we don't feel any different from one day to another, when do we change? When did I stop feeling like a fourteen year old and start feeling like a twenty year old? (Ha. I rarely feel twenty, most of the time its eighty or sixteen ;))

I'm just thinking, I have five semesters of college under my belt and one week of the sixth semester and I want to quit so badly I think it would blow all of your minds if you knew how badly I want to quit. (No worries though! I'm just dreaming, I would never quit). I'm just burnt out, and the first week of Block I was enough to send anyone (I believe) into absolute emotional distress. When I realize though, how quickly the past two and a half years have gone by, I am quick to come to the conclusion that the next year and a half will be just a blink of the eye. Which is awesome, but.....

How fickle can I be? I want the next year and a half to fly by! I don't even want to know it happens, but I want time to slow down too. I want to enjoy this next year and a half. I want to have fun. I want to spend time with my family and with the people I love. I want to enjoy being engaged. (I feel a really good argument for me quitting school coming on haha). I don't want to miss out on everything good that is going to happen just to get to the next great thing. Life shouldn't work like that. But how do you stop it?

Because before you even realize that you are one-year-old, you are seventy.

Back

Its back to the grind here at WKU. Day one of classes is done. I spent six hours in a rather small room with 21 other aspiring educators talking about how to "woo" men (we're all girls), our fears of spiders, and who all got engaged over break. Oh, and teaching, of course. 

I actually can say that its not all that bad being back here. Every day is a step closer to turning the tassel and, then, marrying my best friend. 

I am so thankful to God for the break that I had. I mean, I had a break from everything. There were really no youth services (not that I'm glad to have a break from that), I didn't have to work, do homework, or anything really. I got caught up on episodes of Grey's Anatomy, got new furniture in my room, cleaned out my closet, and looked at a million bridal magazines. However, as soon as school starts, so does everything else. Life is picking back up again, and I can't say I'm not excited about it. 

If you're wondering about the wedding... Joseph and I agreed not to talk about it until January. Well, its January, and honestly we haven't made any real plans. I mean, we have a year and four months left! I'm sure the more homework that accumulates though, the more planning I will do. It seems to work that way. Speaking of homework, I already have a ton. Two chapters to read and complete reading guides on, a poem to write, and something else... I think.

Crafty Christmas

 One thing I really enjoyed about this Christmas was all the fun gifts I got to make. Right, MAKE. I'm telling you, if you have a crafty bone in your whole body, its the way to go. 

This one, to the left, I made for my Grandmama. It's just basic paint on canvas. If you use a sponge, you can make the canvas look like wood. (I figured that out on accident, I'm not that artistic.) The one below I made for my sister, Rebekah. It is a verse from Proverbs 31. I loved this one, it was one of my favorites. I also, finally, got my mom's old sewing machine set up in my room. I was super pumped about this! Rebekah and I used it so much in the first few days that I had to wind a couple of bobbins and she broke the needle, so we had to get a new one of those. I must say, my sewing skills aren't all I thought they would be. Sewing is no easy task. My first project was a camera strap for my new camera that I got on Black Friday with Joseph (yay! it took the best pictures over the break!) I was going for a quilted look... and well, whatever. It looks good in the picture, but up close its kind of ragged, I need more practice I suppose. 

The Proposal

Finally, the story you have all been waiting for, I'm sure ;)
After a day of museums, good food, and ice sculptures, Joseph and I had only one stop left (of course, I didn't know what it was). So I put the blindfold on for one last time (and was not happy about it). We drove... and drove... and drove... and when I finally asked "How much longer?" Joseph said, "Oh, just thirty minutes." WHAT? Where on earth could we be going? However, the longer we drove, the more aware I became of what was happening. These roads were familiar. I recognized the curves. He was taking me home... or somewhere close to it. I thought of every place close to home that we might have been going. If you know where I live, you know there aren't that many places. Actually, there is just one: my church. When the truck finally came to a stop in the gravel lot, I didn't rip my blindfold off. Instead, Joseph helped me out of the truck and led me up the steps. When I took the blindfold off, we were standing on the porch at the church. Of course, I immediately asked, "Um, what are we doing here?" I knew, but I didn't know... surely not today!

But then, Joseph told me he had brought me to the church to give me... a Bible? It was small and white and really really pretty. I just looked at it. So, he told me to open it, and I did, to the first page. So he told me to keep opening it, to where the page was marked. There, I found a ring, tied to the ribbon, next to the verse that says "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord." Whoa. When I looked up, Joseph was on one knee and asked me to marry him.



Of course, I said yes.

And, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???" hahahaha I was totally not expecting it.

Its a pretty good looking ring, eh?

The Day of the Proposal

The day began unlike any other day... haha. Joseph told me he wanted to take me out for the day (December 15) to treat me like a princess as a reward for all the hard work I had done all semester. It was my first day of Winter Break. However, that little sneaky would NOT tell me where we were going. So I had to wear a blindfold.

Its actually a sleeping mask, as I am sure you can see. And, I must admit, I have only slept with it on once since that day, and I woke up to find it under my bed. So from now on, it will remain the special sleeping mask that I wore ALL DAY on the day Joseph proposed to me.

Our first stop was (SURPRISE!) the FRIST Center of Fine Arts in Nashville. There was an Egyptian Exhibit there that Joseph and I had been wanting to see (nerds). I was super pumped... and felt really smart, I think Joseph did too. Plus he looked really spiffy.

 

After visiting the Museum, we hopped back in the truck and I was forced to put the blindfold back on. There were more surprises to be had! Our next stop was lunch at Maggiano's Little Italy (sorry, no pictures there, I was too busy stuffing my face with the best chicken and spinach manicotti of all time). After lunch, Joseph took me (blindfolded again) to see ICE! at Opryland. Now, of this I do have pictures :)

ICE! was incredibly fun... and cold! Afterward, we went to a frozen yogurt place in Hendersonville. I don't remember the name, but the yogurt was gooooood. By this time, I was getting tired and had a headache. But we had one more stop, a stop that deserves its very own post....

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Since I last blogged, life has been awesome! I mean, a proposal, Christmas, family, New Years, wedding planning. THAT'S RIGHT! I included proposal and wedding planning in that list! And yes, I was talking about my own. Honestly, I do not think I could write words that would accurately describe the day and how I felt and how happy Joseph makes me and even how great absolutely everything has been since that day. So, since they say a picture is worth a thousand words, I am going to give you pictures... and just a few words.

This is me, the day after, being SUPER excited.