Praying for Grace

So recently God has called me to help co-lead a bible study at church...... at first I was excited, then I was nervous, and now I praying for huge amount of grace and courage.  The last few month I have had the opportunity to grow in the Lord with some amazing women, and I have seen God begin to really work on the deeper issues of  my heart.  The leader of my study recently approached me and said she felt that God was prompting her to ask me about co-leading the study with her.  After several weeks of prayer, I felt the Lord calling me out of my comfort zone to step up to the challenge.

We will be working through Max Lucado's Fearless study.  After meeting tonight I am excited, but also nervous.  I know that in embracing the co-leader role I am going to be stepping out meeting more people and really opening myself up.  I know that God will give me the grace I need to fulfill what He has called me to do, but the anticipation of it beginning seems to be pressing on my shoulders.

Through this study I can feel that God is going to bless me with new friendships, as well as to take my relationship with him to a new level.  If you think of me, would you say a few prayers that I am open to God's voice and His plan for this study?!  I know I am going to need all of the prayers I can get.

Spring Break Adventures

Spring break was pretty exciting.  I wish I could have come back with a tan, but the Florida weather wasn't in the mood to cooperate.  I had a wonderful visit with Ryan and Bailey.  I loved seeing how they have settled in as newlyweds and being able to explore the Clearwater area. 

The sun greeted me the day I arrived, so we took advantage of the day and layed by the pool for a bit, then headed down to John's Pass to walk around and grab a bite to eat.  John's Pass is a cozy little walk with fun colored buildings and every kind of tourist shop you could imagine.  Only in Florida could you paint building like this and get away with it.

John's Pass

Out on the board walk headed to dinner.  I always feel so short around my extremely tall brother! :)

Bailey and I.  I couldn't have asked for a better sister-in-law!

The 3 of us.

The restaurant we ate at.  I love the fresh seafood!

Due to the rainy weathe Bailey and I took a day trip down to the Tampa Aquarium, we weren't the only ones who had this idea.  They had some great exhibits and this litte guy was our favorite.

Before heading home I checked out where Ryan works and the plane that he works on.  Oh my gosh, it is one of the biggest things I have ever seen!  His plane is huge.  I am amazed that something this big can actually lift off the ground.

Talk about feeling short!

The seat Ryan sits in during flights.  You should see/hear about some of the other stuff that he has to do....I don't think you could pay me enough to do them.

One of the rescue helicopters.

Don't think they'd actually let me do this.... I probably wouldn't make it out to rescue anyone.

Aren't they cute?

I fell in love with this little guy too!  He was a lot of fun.

In other news, last Sunday Stinson and I brought home Mia.  She has been such a wonderful addition to our family.  We both love her to death, and Maggie is adjusting well to having another dog around.  Stinson took her to Dallas with him to visit Sara and Kennedy, and she and Elvis became best friends.  Maggie has definitely missed her.  She brings me her toy that they like to play tug-of-war with her because her new friend isn't here to play with her.  Here are a few pictures of our new little pup.

Mia in her little red dress!

Here they are playing their new favorite game. 

I am sorry if I bored you to death with pictures and my not so exciting life, maybe next time I write there will be more exciting things to write I about! 

Expanding

Expanding, adding, growing, etc.  And no I don't mean my waistline or pant size ( I am working hard to shrink that right now!)  I think that is what we will be doing in our humble family of two, well three with Maggie, to four.  While many of you wish the word I am going to say next is baby, it is not, it is a puppy! We orginally thought that we would be a loan family, but the opportunity has presented itself to be the proud parents of this precious one!

Meet Mica Don't you just love her?!

We are going to go meet her next Sunday.  She is a 9 month old miniature dachshund whose orginal owner no longer has time for.  She is from the same breeder of the puppies.  Want to know the best part?!  She is already potty trained, crate trained, well socialized, and on her way to learning tricks!  Stinson is excited to not have to do the puppy thing, and to be honest, so am I. 

Sunday will be the first time we meet her, but I have a feeling that we are going to fall in love with her and bring her right on home.  You just have to look at her sweet face, and then you want her to be cuddled up with you!  I'll be sure to let you know what we decide.  I think it is safe to say that she will be ours very soon!

Finishing Touches

I was hoping to post the pictures of the finishing touches of the house decorating sooner, but I never brought myself to sit down and just write or post pictures. My last post I left you hanging.  I know you have been losinng sleep over the reveal of my snow day project #2.  Without further ado here it is!

Snow Day Project #2

Don't you just love it?!  I sure do.  I have envisioned this in my head, and as I was slaving away over it I was praying it would turn out as awesome as I had dreamed.  The whole project cost less than $25.  Here is what I did:

1. Went to Goodwill and purchased thses 8 frames for a grand total of $11.

2. Went and purchased 3 different spools of ribbon and 3 cans of spray pait (with gloss finish) for $12.

3. I arranged the frames on the floor how I thought I wanted to hang them. I took out the glass in each frame and wiped them off with a damp cloth.  Then I decided witch color each one would be.

4. I coated each frame with several layers of spray paint, then let them dry over night.

5. I cut ribbon, (I just estimated, if you are a perfectionist you could measure) varring witch kind went on the various frames.

6. To attach the ribbons I just used hot glue, it may be more secure to use a staple gun, but I don't own one and the hot glue has worked perfectly.

7.  I used pin head nails to hang them on the wall.  I love how it turned out and it really adds some fun and color to the empty space on the wall.

Last week one of the teachers on my team helped me sew drapes for the kitchen window and valences for the laundry room.  Both rooms feel finished and look exactly how I imagined them. 

Kitchen Window

Kitchen Wall

Laundry Room Valences

In other news, it is spring break.  It could not have come at a more perfect time.  I think I was in desperate need of some time away from the classroom.  With our state test coming closer each day, the pressure of things to get in and review continues to build.  For those of you who are teachers, you know what I am talking about and all of the pressure that comes with state tests.  I am doing my best to not let it get the best of me, but I so desperately want to push my studnets thinking and ensure that I am preparing them for not only the test, but for the challenges that will come throughout the rest of their academic careers. 

In order to fully enjoy my week off I am going to be heading to Florida on Wednesday to visit my brother Ryan and his wife Bailey.  I am so excited not only to go to warm place, but also to see them. I have not seen them since July when they passed through on their way to Florida.  Ryan is planning things for us to.  Hopefully the weather will change its mind a bit and the sun will shine so I can get just a little bit of color to my pale skin! :)

Stinson and I will be adding to our family this May!  No not a child adding, but adding a puppy!  We will be an loan adoption family for a local miniature dachshund breeder.  The litter of puppies was born on Sunday.  We will picking out our puppy very soon.  Our puppy will be breed by the breeder 2-3 times, and then it will be forever ours.  It is a really neat program and her dogs are wonderful!  Here is a link to the litter if you are interested in checking them out.  I will be sure to keep you updated about which one we pick, names, etc.