Aunt LaLa

This post is part of the Happy Wives Club Blog Tour which I am delighted to be a part of along with hundreds of inspiring bloggers. To learn more and join us, click here!  This blog tour had me thinking of what I wanted to say about marriage... I look around me and I see some unhappy marriages and I see some HAPPY WIVES :) (happy marriages) When I see the unhappy ones I wonder if they have forgotten why they got married in the first place?  I think even a happy and healthy marriage you have those bad days where there is miscommunications, hurt feeling, and unmet expectations.  I love my hubs, I'm a HAPPY WIFE! But guess what? My Josh and I are human and boy do we fail.  On those days where it seems we are just "off" or maybe it is a transitional period or what ever life throws at you maybe it would be a good idea to remind your self why you married the man/woman you married.  First, why marry? Why did you want to get married? We have to...

It is here!! Can you believe it? Christmas is here! I love Christmas, I always have. Christmas was a magical time on my family. I love the lights, the giving hearts, the love, the songs, the warm fuzy feelings, and most of all celebrating the birth of my savior!! Found in the book of Luke... I love reading this story with Josh. It is our own celebration...even though you may hear it or maybe sound just routine.. He truly is the reason for the season!!  You can read about him in Luke 1 and 2 26 God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31  You will c...

As of December 1st it has been 2,190 days of being married to my best friend. On December 1, 2007 I was blessed to become a Mrs. to one of the best people I know. 6 years we have been on this journey. I love how one of my friends described Josh and I's relationship We have had "quite the love affair" Which is so true. We  have a passion for one another and a longing to be near one another. I miss him when I'm not with him. I told him last night when we are apart I feel half of me is missing. We have faced some hard times. We have been jobless...We have lost....We have been betrayed... Everything we have been through we have gotten stronger. We are far from perfect. We are selfish at times, forget to pray together, we lack in encouraging one another... However we are passionate about being better. And truly being an example of what God wants marriage to look like. Here are a few reasons why I love my Josh... He always kisses me bye, even if it is just...

Not really the first post I wanted to write after Thanksgiving, but it is on my heart. It is so upsetting that again we are watching a shooting at a school in Colorado.  I just do not understand what is going on and why? I know there are several opinions politically and otherwise of the reasons.  I cannot stop thinking about the shooter today who was a student. I hate what he did, I hate that his actions wounded two other students, I hate that his actions caused these parents and students to experience such a tragedy...  But I DO NOT hate the shooter. What was going through his mind? Why did he do this? What was he thinking right before he took his own life?  My stomach is sick, sick with the thoughts of the shooters family and his friends... or anyone who has contact with him... thinking what could I have done? Did I do enough?  It is just sickening...  I read on a local news station on Facebook that when they announced that the sh...

Happy Thanksgiving to you! I hope you know how thankful I am to know each of you through this blog world!  All my love, Aunt LaLa

I had intentions of writing a post for everyday this week to talk about what I'm thankful for  I had intentions of cleaning my house today  I had intentions of finishing up my presentation and paper  I had intentions of starting a new devotional I had intentions of so many things..  But I have not done one of them!  I love this time of year! The family, the celebration, the food, the laughter!  I'm thankful for my family!   We are a loud bunch and there are always awkward things being said. We laugh at each other and poke fun at each other!  It is great!  I love everyone of them!  Here are a couple of pics of the crazies...  Mom My aunt and grandmother... um yeah.. LOL My cousin and I My nephew and I Little stinker told me to close my eyes and make a face...

I started following Jennifer at Unveiled Wife early this year. I love her desire and passion to help marriages. When I got married I was fortunate enough to have some what of a realistic view of marriage. I knew it would be work, but honestly I never imagined the struggles, arguments, crisis we would face in our marriage.  I truly believe that the enemy tries to isolate us and make us feel we struggle alone. He has tried so in my grief.  Any one who knows J and I know that we have a special love, we are each others help mates. When God created each of us, when we were in our mother's wombs, we were meant for each other.  I do not think that our society promotes happy marriages, it does not promote the marriage that God wants us to have.  I love journaling and devotions... obviously.  Jennifer wrote a devotional called "Wife After God".  I wrote Jennifer and told her I would love to do a book review for her devotional. I was so exci...

I think I've asked myself this question many many times. My sister is expecting again. She will be having my nephew Mason in April. I have not met her fiance but she seems to be happy, and I'm happy for her. I know that God has a plan for each of us... But honestly this broke my heart. And maybe I should not write about this but it is how I feel. I know my sister would understand if she read this. She has lost a baby, my nephew Ashton. She lost him in 2008 and it was heartbreaking. She was about 4/5 months when Ashton passed. Thankfully she has been able to carry JJ and Cayden ,not without difficulties, but they are healthy. Now, I say all that to say I cannot say I was not heart broken when I found out initially she was pregnant. Honestly I was angry at God. However, in the last few weeks I have worked on processing all of this and talking it out with God. I have to keep reminding myself what God has shown me. 1. I do not know what God's plan is for my sister, h...

Life is full of things you can never prepare for. We all make plans, goals, dream about the future... In reality, we do not know what is going to happen tomorrow or in the next moment. When the enemy drags us down and keep us in the dark places of bitterness, anger, discontent, depression, grief, negativity... we miss out. We miss out on laughs and good times because we are so consumed with our junk. Do we really want to live like that? I do not. But have you ever noticed how easy it is to get to that place and stay there? How it is so hard to get back that happiness? Ever sat down and thought about that? Maybe I am a different breed (smile) but I think a lot. I'm super aware of my decisions and emotions. Most of the time that is not a bad thing, but when I allow myself to get in those previous mentioned dark places it is certainly NOT a good thing. There has been so many words of wisdom I've heard over the weekend.  Through other women and through the Holy Spir...

Unstable is how I feel. Not in a I might harm myself or others...ok there is one person who I'm having a hard time being around. God and I are working on that. Any way, I'll spare you details [not wanting to sound whiny] but every since God opened the doors for me to share our story it feels as if I have been in a battle.  I'm weary. I'm angry. I'm worried. I'm fearful. I'm insecure. However, I do serve a God who loves me and no, I don't understand all his ways and I'm certain they are far more complex than my mind can comprehend. He is strong He is calm He is peace He is LOVE He is unchanged Where I'm weak he is strong.  I'm thankful for friends and family who are praying for us. We have decisions to make, changes to come and we need his guidance.  Let's encourage one another, is there anything I can pray for you about? I would love to. Darkness is driven out by light. So let's spread CHRI...

So October 15th (which was my 28th birthday) Josh woke me up with blueberry pancakes in bed singing me Happy Birthday!  It was a sweet start to our day.  After getting ready we headed to the park to set everything up and get started with our 2nd balloon release in honor of Hope.  Unfortunately there were several disapointments that morning, it almost as if something was trying to work against what we were doing.  I was really excited to Channel 8 pull up and I was interview again! I've been trying to get my hands on that video, so pray I can. It was aired but I did not know that it would be. So hopefully I can see it. The reporter actually got footage of us praying and the balloons being released.  It was an emotional day, very emotional. It was my honor to release balloons in honor of Hope and all the babies we are grieving for. I'm thinking next year that we will try and have a release on the weekend before or after the 15th. That way ...

Tomorrow is the day. Hope's 2nd annual balloon release. The day we remember all the babies lost. Ones we have got to hold, carry, love, even the ones we didn't get to meet face to face.  They are all equally important and missed.  I wrote an article for Happy Wives Club titled Happy With My Family of Two God knew excatly when this needed to be published what wife/women needed to read it. Infertility, loss, PCOS are HARD journey's to take.  Last year I fought hard to enjoy life again, very hard. I had to make a choice and this article talks a little about that. I had to embrace our family of two.  Just to clarify, J and I are completely open to adoption or what ever avenue God sees fit to give us a child. This article was not saying I'm just excepting no children... ever. I am saying I am not going to stay in that place of want-desperation-depression-anger-jealousy- and so on. What quality of life would that be?  My heart aches everyday f...

So at 5:45 J and I pulled ourselves out of bed and waiting anxiously for my interview to be shown! Then there it was, I have to be honest I was nervous, excited, and even though I'm celebrating Hope my heart was hurting. I'm so thankful for the support I recieve from my husband, family, and friends. I pray that the 15th at the balloon release there will be peace and a step toward healing for other women. I feel many mixed emotions right now! One of them is excited, I know God opened this door and I cannot wait to see what he is going to do in Josh and I's lives. Here is to my sweet baby, I love you Hope with all my heart. In the video I show my heart. This heart is from A Heart to Hold . They are an amazing organization. Their mission is: To offer comfort to families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss by creating and sharing the gift of a weighted handmade heart. I love my heart and it stays close to me. I'm so grateful to have recieve...

Finished my interview this morning! It will be aired tomorrow morning in the 6am hour on WVLT Local 8 news. I will make sure to post the link on here and on my Facebook page as well. What a journey that God has taken us on. When I wrote the First post about Hope , it was such difficult day. I've went back and read that post and remember the paralyzing grief I felt. There are no right words to express my gratefulness that I can now function, and the pain does not take my breath away everyday. I can be honest in saying that almost a year and 1/2 later my heart is still hurting. I am not sure you ever stop hurting but as cliche as it sounds time does heal. It is OK that I have good and bad days... grief is like that. It can hit you all at once and not even see it coming. Then there are days like today where I feel empowered because of what I have been through. I want help others process all of this, and be able to learn myself through others. I am so incrediably grat...

source What a day! I never in my dreams thought that God would open the door he did today! First, there is nothing locally supporting Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month or any one doing something October 15th for the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day that I can find.  So, J and I decided that we would put together a balloon release in honor of Hope. (If you are interested in attending or would like a balloon released in honor of a precious one then please feel free to email me auntlala25 at gmail - or comment)  This morning I seen a post from a local news station trying to find out if there were any breast cancer awareness activities going on. I posted that this month was also Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month as well. She asked that I email her with more information about this. And I did.  So WOW part is they want to interview me! I will be able to share our story and spread awareness!! How amazing is that!?? They will also shar...

October is Pregnancy and Infant loss awareness month.  1 in 4 woman suffer with this pain and grief everyday.  When we lost Hope, I truly thought I would die. It was my worst nightmare.  I have had some really bad day and some really good days.  Yesterday was a bad day, but today is a little better.  I have clung to my faith through this and want to extend a crying shoulder, a listening ear that needs it.  Honestly some days it seems that God has forgotten me, I know he hasn't because his word tells me he will never leave me... but it is some days I get down but he always gives me strength to move through.  I needed and need people to recognize our Hope, she was real and we love her.  I know I will always carry Hope with me. No matter where I hear the word Hope I think of her.  I'm going to have a balloon release again this year. It will not be as formal as last year and I'm hoping to work on a actual wal...

I'm not sure where, who, what...I've never been here in this season of my life. I've never been 28 (almost) I've never been a college graduate (almost) I've never been so confused about what to do with my life...  Frustrating to say the least when I feel like totally abandoning all my plans because they are just not what I want anymore as far as career wise and my education. It is just seeming a little overwhelming.  I've aspired to be this great blogger, but I have not blogged like I've wanted.  Honestly getting on here talking about my soul searching has not really seemed appealing to me. I guess because I am not sure what to write! LOL  I have had everything planned out... but my parents were right it seems, the older you get the less you know or have figured out.  I keep thinking about graduating. What will I do with my life? What do I really want to do?  I've always struggled with the what I want to do compared to wha...

I've been doing this fabulous devotional that I cannot wait to share with you all.  It has challenged me as being a wife for sure. I decided that I wanted to show my husband extravagantly love. I work hard to love like Christ would, but sometimes I think as wives we forget our marriages are to be examples of the love of the church and God.  I was just really inspired to do something for my Josh....  An Italian Romantic Dinner.  Now, I'm not a Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse, and others...  I do have some awesome recipes passed to me and I can be inventive :) I decided to make: "Poppie's Italian Chicken"  Cheddar garlic biscuits Italian salad I created the "ambiance"  Josh took this one. I forgot to take one of the table with food or before! LOL  Poppie's Italian Chicken 1 cup of miracle whip 1  bottle of Italian Dressing 4 Frozen Chicken breast ( I used 3 this particular night) Marinate chicken in...

Hello my fellow bloggers! To celebrate this new season of getting back into the swing of things, and thanking you for sticking with me, we are having a giveaway!  I was connected with Easy Canvas Prints through another blogger. I had the opportunity to review their product.  I received a 16x20 canvas, and I LOVE it! I have always admired canvas prints and now I'm excited to have one of my own! Easy Canvas Prints was so easy to use! The website was very clear and user friendly.  I love that I was able to see a preview while designing my canvas. There are several options to how you want your canvas designed! Here is a picture of my canvas:  I love how it turned out!!  I think my favorite part was when I ordered this picture there was a problem with the resolution and I was notified before my print was made. They sent me a file telling me how to make sure that this resolution will work. That was great! The problem was resolved quickly....