Sunday, February 27, 2011

These are a Few of my Favorite Things...

Happy Sunday!! It has been a wonderful day! Church this morning, lunch with the family, a walk to the library with Trevor to pick out some new children's books, and now we are sitting at the table studying/contemplating an afternoon nap.

I have to speak for a moment about my faith. I love the Lord with all of my heart, and I am so eager to learn more and more about Him. I've been praying lately for a true heart of prayer. My mom is quite the prayer warrior, and I love her for it! Anyways, I've been constantly asking the Lord for a desire to pray more. Instead, or for the moment at least, He has given me a heart to pray for one specific person. I have a feeling it is not only for her benefit but for mine as well. I've never had such a strong desire to constantly pray for one person. It's amazing!! It has completely touched my heart and softened it toward this person.

I have been wanting to share this at church for awhile, but have not had the opportunity to testify. I have another friend that I have been praying for for a very long time. She is a sweet friend who I love very much. I began praying for her because I knew she was struggling and did not know the Lord. I'm excited to say that after my constant prayer for almost two years, she has come to know Jesus as her personal Savior!! I have been beyond excited about this for quite some time! Praise Jesus!

I also have a friend who is involved with the World Race. She is ministering throughout 11 countries in 11 months. I cannot imagine picking up my life to do this! What amazing dedication!! I know everyone has a busy schedule, but you do not want to miss out on her amazing testimony!! This recent blogpost from Alecia is a testimony that God does miracles in our lives on a daily basis. Please please please read These Slums Were Made For Walkin'. You will be blessed tremendously!!

So my favorites for this week, besides the above wonderful testimonies, include:

I watched an episode of Kid in a Candy Shop last week and learned about The Popcorn Girl. I cannot wait to take a trip to Las Vegas just to try her delicious flavored popcorn. I've already told my future in-laws to pick me up some srawberry cheesecake popcorn during their next trip!! Yum!!



My last favorite for this week is an awesome book for kids and adults alike!! I am not a huge poetry fan. When I was asked to write a review of a poetry book, I was less than thrilled. A sweet friend of mine suggested What's the Weather Inside by Karma Wilson. If you like Shel Silverstein, you'll love this collection of poetry!!! I read the entire collection when it came in the mail the other day!


Friday, February 25, 2011

It's Been Awhile

Hi! Long time no see! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update... I'm on this hormone medication (I'm sure you really want to hear all about it) and it makes me kind of CRAZY! If you ask Trevor, I go absolutely crazy for about a week!

Anyways, what is new in our lives? School is going well. I can't believe how fast things are going. We are already in the seventh week of school and I feel like we have just begun. I start student teaching next semester. I will find out exactly what district I'll be placed in in around two weeks! It will be Frisco, Denton, or Plano. I chose Frisco first because it is such a great district, but now I am kind of thinking I would rather be in Denton. I'm a grouch in the morning and I'd have to wake up super early to get to Frisco on time! It's okay! God will place me where ever he wants me. : )

Trevor is enjoying graduate school thus far! I think he is really enjoying the challenge!

We are getting married in 90 days!!! WHOOOHOOOO!! We  are so excited to be married! Everything is coming together and it will be here before we know it. I went with some of my family and my bridesmaids a few weeks ago to reveal my wedding dress. Here are a few pictures:


Don't get too excited!! I'm not showing you my dress! You'll have to wait for that one! : )


This is my dad seeing my dress for the first time!! : ) He loved it!


No one understood this crazy bird cage veil! I really wanted one, but my mother put her foot down! It's okay though! It wasa little crazy for a cage veil!

These are all of my wonderful bridesmaids!! They are all so GORGEOUS! From the left: Kristen (my wonderful sister-in-law), Megan, Jessica, me (who is standing on a step and not that much taller than everyone else), Meleena (my maid of honor), Chelsea, and Brenna. They are all so precious to me!!

We had such a blast that day! There are so many more pictures that really capture the beauty and excitement of the day. You won't see any pictures of my dress, but you might catch a few extras at http://www.jillianzamora.com/. Gotta love me some Jillian Zamora Photography!!! : )

Have a fabulous weekend!! We are preparing to finish up our weekend and weekly duties to head to St. Louis to see Trevor's mom side of the family! Trevor's wonderful cousin Katey is having sweet baby, Marie, soon and we definitely need to help celebrate! We can't wait to see everyone!!

Friday, February 18, 2011

The Blues...

Tonight, I had planned to write about what was on my heart, what has been worrying me, and what is keeping me up this late. However, with the help of my Keepers of the Home Bible Study lesson this week, I'm going to go to my Lord instead. : ) I hope that for all of you, when you have a worry or something weighs heavily on your heart that you will seek the love and  Lord. My Heavenly Father knows all of my needs and He calms my heart! Praise you Lord for the works that you have done in my life!

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Thinking of Summer!

I cannot wait for summer to be here! Not only are we getting married this summer, but I just adore summer!! I'm ready for a swimming pool, a cute swim suit, and a cool breeze! Yes, I know we have a few more months before summer gets here, but it's exciting to know all of the things that will be happening this summer! Here are some of our upcoming events:

1. I turn twenty one!
2. We are getting MARRIED!
3. Honeymoon=complete and total relaxation!
3. Heidi and Jason are getting married, and I cannot wait for their wedding!
4. Well, I cannot continue to list the weddings that I am excited about! I would have at least 11 more to list!
5. Summer School! Most people would not add this to their list of exciting things to do this summer, but it just means I am one step closer to being done! I also know that I will have classes with some great friends!!
6. Vacations! I'm excited to do some more traveling this summer and see family!!
7. The possibility of moving somewhere new is exciting!!
8. Swimsuits. I'm so ready for swim suits!!
9. I'm also excited that my new job will not require me to work 9-10 hours a day wasting away my summer time!! This year I'm going to actually be able to do fun things!!!

Here is what currently has locked my mind on summer!!

Dear Oscar de la Renta, good job!


Summer, come fast please!!

Keep watching: tomorrow we are going to go get my wedding dress!! All of my fabulous bridesmaids are coming along with some of my family! Oh and I cannot forget that the amazing Jillian Zamora is coming!! Can't wait!! 

Saturday, February 5, 2011

I. HAVE. TO. HAVE. ONE.

I just have to rant for a moment about my most recent desire! A week or two ago, I told you that I needed a new hobby. WELL, I've found a tool that is going to help me create a whole new crafting adventure for myself. I thought about buying a sewing machine and learning to sew. I thought about taking a cooking class, but there aren't many in the area AND I know how to cook. I also thought about getting another job, but I really don't want to. Ha! Anyways, I have found my new hobby!!! In order to follow through with my new hobby, I MUST. HAVE. THIS:

This is a Silhouette SD Machine and I must have it!! It does everything under the sun! It cuts just about everything!! Though I am sure I could find someone's to borrow, I must have my own!! I have already created a list of things I will make! Here is my first project that I will make with this:


Okay, okay! I'm not going to spell Alex, but I love these wooden letters!!! The Silhouette Machine will even cut fabric!! Here's another project that I'm going to do as soon as I get my Silhouette Machine::

Ahhh! I'm just so excited about my new hobby! Now I just have to get a special someone (wink wink Trevor wink wink) to get me my Silhouette Machine!! : )

Since raving about new crafts, I have to give a shout out to an awesome new store I found on Etsy!! I was there 200th person to follow their store and they gave me a free letter!! : ) They just made this girl VERY happy!! Check out their cool designs!! This is my personal favorite:


I LOVE THIS!!

Check out their Etsy site by clicking their picture above!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

New Design!!!

So I have this awesome friend (who I have not met in person yet, but is a friend of Trevor and my soon-to-be Mother-in-law, Monica) that made me a new layout for the blog! I'm super excited about it!! She took some of our engagement pictures and made this awesome design! I love it!! : ) Thank you Bree Johnson!!

On another note, it is so cold here! UNT has been closed for four days, and snow is still coming down!! This is NOT my Texas!! I think the Lord is preparing me to move some where a lot colder than typical Texas.

Here is how I feel today (I've felt like day three and four since the snow started):


Luckily, Trevor and I have had a lot of time to spend together!! We've watched a lot of movies and spent some much needed quality time together! : ) I've also been able to catch up on some of my homework (it's a never ending list).

If the snow lets up and the ice melts a bit, we get to go pick up my wedding dress on Saturday! We have to drive to Frisco to get it though. If the weather permits, the wonderful Jillian Zamora and all of my beautiful bridesmaids will go for the Big Reveal!! I'm praying that the weather gets better!! I can't wait to see my dress again!!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Storing Up For The Winter Storm

I have eaten WAY TOO MUCH food today!! Under Texas conditions, we are iced in! I haven't left the house all day! It's been nice! Trevor had to sleep here last night and will probably have to sleep on the couch here again tonight. I don't mind so much!! : ) Anyways, I have eaten so much food today!

Breakfast and lunch wasn't TOO terrible, but it was after that when it all went downhill.

Snacks: two large chocolate squares (melted chocolate chips frozen together)

Dinner is when it gets really good!! We had comfort foods for dinner! Seasoned turkey tenderloins, yummy baked asparagus, sweet corn off of the cob, fresh italian bread, regular mashed potatoes, and then my sort-of-attempt at Grandma Niecey's mashed potatoes. Grandma Niecey makes her mashed potatoes with a base of boxed mashed potatoes. I however only cook with real potatoes. I told Trevor I was going to see if I could make my potatoes taste cheesy enough. I knew that they wouldn't be as good as Grandma Niecey's, but I thought I would try! Well, they were cheesy and comforting. Gideon really enjoyed our leftovers!! He enjoyed the leftover turkey tenderloins too! He's a spoiled puppy!


NEXT...thought I was done didn't you? Nope! Then I had the need to make berry cobbler! Yum! It was delicious!!
It is seriously the easiest cobbler to make! It requires: 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of flour, 2 eggs, and berries (tonight's choice: blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries). Super easy!! Here are the before and afters!

Before:
 After:


Delicious!!


Needless to say, I had to run fifteen miles after dinner tonight! That probably won't cover everything I ate today, but it's a good start!! : ) Now to cuddle up by the fire and watch The Expendables! Being snowed in is awesome!! I'm kind of ready for the 70 degree weather that was here a few days ago though. I think I eat less when it is warmer!