Immanuel Baptist Church ~ Sheridan

Kelly at Kelly's Korner, was hosting Show us your Churches, so I thought I would join in and tell you about our Church. 

I attend Immanuel Baptist Church in Sheridan, AR. Obviously, it is a Baptist Church. I grew up in an Assembly of God church, and Trey grew up in a Methodist church, but this is were we "compromised." The beliefs of our Church are perfect for both Trey and I. 


Our Church has about 700 members, but a normal attendance of around 350 people. I love that is big enough to have a large youth group, bible studies, etc but small enough to feel like a family. I grew up in a church of around 50 people and never was part of a "youth group" I went to women's Bible study with my grandma. I always wanted my kids to grow up in a Church where they could fellowship with other believers their age. 


I love our preacher because he preaches the truth, whether it is fun to hear or not. He is not afraid to say things that may not be politically correct, or may step on toes. The things that offend people are usually things that we need to hear most often. 


Our Sunday school class is a relatively small group, and I love the fellowship that it provides. We are relatively new members, but I just love being there in God's presence. 


If you are close by and looking for a Church, please come visit us. Going to church won't save you, but a relationship with Jesus Christ is what you need. It is so important to have consistent fellowship with other believers and to be challenged to grow and learn and worship Him. There is nothing like a loving, strong Church family! 


Also, are you looking for a new blog design?? Jennifer at Munchkin Land Designs is giving one away so be sure to go and check it out! Her designs are amazing. 

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What I'm Loving . . .

I'm loving . . . that I got accepted into UAMS's college of nursing! I'm now counting down the days until June 1 so I can get on with it.

I'm loving . . . that in less than a month, Trey and I will have our 3rd anniversary! It is so crazy that we have already been married three years. It seems like we just got married yesterday.

photo by Benfield Photography

I'm loving . . . this boy's burp cloth set that I found on Etsy. I can't wait to use it one day, hopefully soon! 

I'm loving . . . this adorable necklace, also from Etsy, *hint hint* Trey, because you know Anniversary, Mother's Day ; ) 

I'm loving . . . that Ashley is working on something super special for me, that y'all will hear more about later. 

I'm loving . . . these herringbone TOMS, only problem is that I can't find them anywhere, but I am on a mission. 

I'm loving . . . that there are just a few short weeks left in this semester. I can see the light!! 

I'm loving . . . these new yellowbox sandals I discovered yesterday. 

What are you loving today? 

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Catching Up

We have been busy bees lately. I found out last week on Wednesday that I got admitted to UAMS, my dream school : ) I had a back up in place, but I was so thrilled to get that letter. I can't wait to start in June!

Ry's Nana bought her this adorable Easter basket that came in last week as well. Thanks, Nana

Ryanne immediately thought that she belonged in the basket. 

We went to sweet Carter's 1st birthday party, and Ryanne had a blast in the bounce house. 

And this, my friends, is how my child has taken to eating lately: by shovel. Ha! I'll just dump it all in, Mom. 

And I know you probably get sick of watching videos of Ryanne, but I love to share them for family. Ryanne was entertaining us in the car, and was so excited to go see her Pop! More about that later. 

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Simple Sunday

I vlogged. So what?

So, on twitter Wednesday several of my friends were chatting about doing a vlog, so I decided I wanted to jump on the bandwagon. Kodi, Whitney, Jenn, Jillian, Niki, and Angie are all doing one too, so be sure and go check theirs out! 

We decided that we’d all answer 3 questions and then post the videos to our blogs. 

Questions:

1. What does  breakfast, lunch, and dinner look like for you on a normal day?
2. If you won $30,000, what would you do with it?
3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Don't laugh too hard, okay? I might cry. Okay,  I won't. I'll probably laugh with you. 

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It's a zoo out there

It can get rather boring when you have a whole week of nothing to do. We decided to go to the zoo and amuse ourselves, well with the animals and the people who act like animals. 

Aunt Kelsey and Ryanne looking at the monkeys

Monkey. Or something like a monkey. 

Giraffe. He spread is legs out into a V so that he could reach the ground with his neck to eat. It was quite amusing. 

Tiger. Ryanne says "Tiger says Rawwr" 

Mom and Ryanne

Panthers? I believe. The one looks like a cheetah to me so I'm confused as to why it is a panther. But a panther they said it was, so I'll trust them, I suppose. 

Lion. Also says Rawwrrr. 

The bear was still sleeping. It is kind of like me. . . . doesn't want to be awake. 

This bear was curled up playing with it's feet like I've only seen a monkey do. Strange. 

Watching the bear

Posing. That's what we do best. 

This was the biggest porcupine I've ever seen in my life. If we got in a fight, I think we would both lose. 

Ryanne has a new obsession with making this lip thing with her face. I don't really understand it, but its cute, so I embrace it. I know soon that she'll be a teenager and I'll want to smack her face remember this.

Some cheesy posing fun. 

And then we had Chick-fil-A. Because I love it. And so does Ryanne. And Kelsey wasn't given a choice.

The end. Hope you enjoyed our boring trip to the zoo. 

On a better note, I burned 511 calories on this little adventure so that was amazing! I've been running and counting calories for two weeks and I've GAINED four pounds. Shoot me. 

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she will forgive me

Her judging eyes cut through me like a hot knife slicing warm butter. My soul melted a little inside as I saw the ice of her vains begin to freeze me like an unwanted blemish.

My heart raced with anticipation. That dread. That guilt. “Could I be doing more?”


She has four kids, groomed to perfection. Gourmet meals adorn her table, and her house has the delightful stench of cleanliness.

My hatred for her boils my blood, but stems not from her idealistic misinterpretation of perfection but from my guilt. Perhaps I could be a better mother. Perhaps I could be a better wife.

Parenthood is like running a marathon. It burns training for it, it is exhausting beyond measure, there are times you just want to give up, but in the end it is one of the most rewarding things you've ever chosen to devote your time to.

While I delve into my mom guilt, basking in the evilness of her critical stare, I know the truth.

 I don’t always do organic foods, whole wheat, or even fruits and veggies. Sometimes we survive completely on macaroni, cheese, and spaghettios. Because it is less time consuming.

 There are days when I insist I have to go to the bathroom rather than read Green Eggs and Ham for the 346th time. Because it saves my sanity.

I may not keep my house in impecable shape. Because I have more important things to devote my time to.

I am not cookie cutter Mom. Those eyes can slice and dice me however they want to, because I know that I am doing it right.

I may not follow the mass media recommendations or the accepted social norms, but I know that I am raising a daughter that exemplifies the morals my husband and I share. A daughter that I am proud to call mine.

I'm raising a daughter that won't care if she had spaghettios because we spent extra time cuddling or swinging on the back porch.

I know she'll forgive me for the unbaked bread, the dusty china cabinet, and the unfolded socks.

I know she'll forgive me for the unwashed windows, tousled beds, and the fast food dinners.

I'm raising a daughter that will forgive me for my imperfections, because those are the very same traits that make me her mom.

The beauty of parenthood is that it is yours, all yours. You choose the value of your time, and you pay the price.

I choose to be her loving, playful, teacher and Mom first and foremost, and everything else may wait. I pray she'll forgive me for that.

*This post was written in response to the Red Dress Club's prompt about forgiveness. Constructive criticism is welcomed and greatly appreciated. I strive to improve my writing and always appreciate your feedback in doing so.*

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top 2 dream rooms

Taylor is sharing her Top 2 dream rooms this week as they prepare to move to a new house. I thought I would join in on the fun, and share some rooms that I love. 

My dream living room is kind of a mix of the three of these. I want a rustic look, with a massive stone fireplace, wood floors, and leather furniture. I love wood on the ceilings, but I think I want sheetrock walls. I want it to be luxurious, but to be home and to be lived in. 

My dream master bedroom has a built in nursery, later to be used as an office or sitting room, and a fireplace. 

I love the sofa in the bedroom, and dark soothing colors. I want hardwood floors, but a plush rug too. 

What are your dream rooms? 

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Sharing the Love

I'll make this short and sweet, but I just wanted to share the love and tell you about some super awesome giveaways a couple blogs I read are doing right now.

Megan is giving away $50 credit on her blog to SheShe Made. I stole these from Megan's blog, but I wanted you guys to see just how awesome the stuff is.

Make sure and go enter this giveaway right away because it ends TONIGHT! 

Also, Neely is doing a surprise giveaway on her blog. Who doesn't love surprises? Plus I know it will be awesome, because Neely is awesome. Go enter here! Her giveaway ends on the 27th, so you have a little while, but make sure you do it. 

That's all for today, folks. I'm going back to my regularly scheduled agenda of lounging because it is Spring Break, after all! 

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Q & A: The Answers

Q: What event inspired you to start blogging and how do you find the time?
A: I started the blog around the time my daughter was born, to keep track of her life. At that time, we were building a house and living with my in-laws who only had dial-up internet (no DSL available) so it was kind of impossible to keep up. As soon as we moved into our new house, I started blogging a lot more regularly. I find it therapeutic almost, so I just have to make time for it. Typically, though, it doesn't take very long to write my posts. 


Q: Where are you at in pursing your nursing degree?
A: Not very far. Ha! This is my fourth year of college, but I have changed my major a couple times as my life changed and I learned more about what I really wanted in life. Anyway, I am just now starting the "nursing" part of college, so I have about 2 years left until I'm an RN, and another 2 years until I'll be a nurse practitioner. 


Q: What would you do if you won the lottery? 
A: Truth be told, I'm a money nerd. I was a finance major until the market crashed, and I decided it wasn't going to be worth the time. Of course, I would pay off my house, etc and probably build a bigger one to fill with babies. I would have to buy a ranch to make Hubs happy, complete with horses and cows. Then, I would invest the money in businesses, property, etc. I have several dream businesses rolling around in my head that I would love the opportunity to see come to fruition. 


Q: What cosmetic products do you use? 
A: I've used merle norman my whole life, but right now I think its kind of heavy. I want to try mineral make-up, but bare minerals doesn't match my skin. Any other mineral make up suggestions would be appreciated. 


Q: Where did you meet your husband? 
A: We went to high school, and then college together. 


That's all I got. : ) If anyone else has more questions, please feel free to leave them below, or email them to me. 

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for Japan with love

Out of respectful awareness and compassion from the bottom of my heart {as well as the hearts of many other bloggers} we reserve Friday, March 18th as a day of silence for Japan and their suffering. 

So on Friday, March 18 "Bloggers Day of Silence," please redirect some of the time you would've spent reading this blog to lift up an earnest prayer for Japan and her people and their healing.  And consider donating through  www.ForJapanWithLove.com.  

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Mooo . . .

We've been working on learning animal sounds, names, and recognizing them. She loves to read her animal books, and to point out the animals in them. I just wanted to share this video. It warms my heart to see her learn new things, and to see her love for animals.



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23 Hours

6:49 AM, Sunday. You know the day that we already lost an hour of sleep? That day.

*Phone rings*

T: (with too much energy for this early in the morning) : "Hey Babe!"

Me, groggily : "Um, do you know what time it is?"

T, ignoring the question: "I need you to do me a favor."

Okay, I concede. Usually these "favors" involve bringing him lunch later in the day, or looking up some paperwork that he forgot to take to work. I can do that.

He continues, "I laid my uniforms on my toolbox when I was getting ready for work and ran back in the house to grab something, and then ran back out to the truck."

Oh no. This is not going to be good. Remembering is not his specialty.

"Anyway, I forgot to put my uniforms in the truck before I left."

I told you it wasn't going to be good, didn't I?

"And I need you to go look for them."

At not even 7 AM? Or at not even the real 6AM because the time has been changed for all of 5 hours, maybe?

Oh, and did I mention it was raining? And dark? Well, it was.

If I had my way about this task it would be done around 2 PM. Unfortunately that was not an option as he kind of needs his uniforms to work, or to run into a burning building. I better go find them.

I trudge to the closet and change into something that covers more than 11 square inches of my body, and then go wake the disgruntled toddler and drag her to the car.

I started the car in an effort to keep her asleep, and explored the yard praying that they were all right there near the driveway.

No such luck. I'm pretty sure that if they made a shock collar for husbands, I would've bought one that day.

I drove slowly through the neighborhood with a spotlight. Yes, in Arkansas, we have spotlights. And I have one in my garage car.

6 houses up from ours, I score one shirt. Yes!

The rest of the neighborhood yields no success. I pull out of the neighborhood and discover a shirt and a pair of pants in the road just outside the neighborhood.

Double Yes!!

4 miles later, all the way on the opposite side of town, I find the last part of his uniforms.

Drenched, I climbed back in the car and turned my butt heater on full blast in some hope that it would dry my rain soaked clothes.

It didn't work.

I drove the uniforms to him, and headed back home. All before the real 7 AM.

It's probably a good thing that he was at work for the next 23 hours.

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top 2 random facts about me

1. I'm an only child but I have 4 siblings. Huh? My parents were divorced while I was still an infant, and both remarried. (Actually both have now been married 3 times each). My mom has 3 kids, Kelsey who is 17, Dustin who is 15, and Megan who is 11. My Dad has one boy name Hunter who is also 15. Hunter and Dustin are less than a month apart which is kind of strange to explain sometimes. 

2. I'm addicted to popcorn. Like I eat it at least once daily. I pour on the butter, and a savor every bite. Orville Redenbacker's ultimate butter is the best. But if I don't have that, I'll just melt butter and pour it on top of another brand. I'm sure that is really good for my arteries and my weight loss goals. Amen. 

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A Firefighter's Prayer

A Firefighter's Prayer

When I am called to duty, God, 

Whenever flames may rage, 

Give me the strength to save some life, 

whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, 

or save an older person from the horror of that fate. 

Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, 

to quickly and efficiently put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and give the best in me, 

to guard my every neighbor and protect his property.

If according to my fate I lose my life this day, 

Please bless with your protecting hand my family, this I pray. 

Last Friday, Trey graduated from the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. During his time there, the academy experienced a first: a death of a firefighter during training. May God be with his family during this time of loss. I pray for comfort for his wife and children.

This was the entering processional with the entire graduating class. 

Jonesboro Fire Department Honor Guard Pipes & Drums leading the procession

Trey and other firefighters walking in. The guy in front of him is carrying the jacket of deceased firefighter, David Eason. 

Trey sitting beside where West Memphis firefighter David Eason would've sat during the graduation ceremony.

Beginning of the ceremony

Trey receiving his certificates. 

West Memphis Fire Chief, Wayne Gately, in the place of deceased firefighter David Eason

One of Trey's coworkers, Nick

Ryanne clapping for her Daddy! During the ceremony, when Trey walked in, she started screaming "Daddy! Daddy" He had to live at the academy during training, so she was missing her Daddy.

Watching Daddy

So proud of him, and the fact that he puts his life on the line to help save others. 

If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands . . . “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, 

I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him 

and show him my salvation.” ~ Psalms 91

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