Aunt LaLa

April is a full month of Birthdays!! Friday the 26th was my sweet little nephew's 3rd birthday! Eli, Your chuckle and smile are huge bright spot in my life! I look forward to your hugs! I LOVE the way you run to me when you see me yelling "LaLa! LaLa!"  I love you buddy! I love his laugh!! Those big blue eyes get me everytime!!   Before I go, I have to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Aunt Shelley today!! She is all a niece could ask for in an aunt! She has taught me to be the best Aunt I could be! :) I love you Shell! SO proud of the work of God in your life!!  Come back later this week as I start the recap of vacation and suggest some places to go when your in Myrtle Beach!  Until tomorrow my friends! Staying Hopeful, Aunt LaLa

Hey it's me! Oh I know I'm probably relaxing by the pool right now on the beach.... :) Was not that some great guest post! Seriously check these ladies out :) So I posed the question "What does your faith mean to you?" On twitter and facebook. These are some of the answers I got...  Lisa: Trusting in God 100% of the time Josh: everything I am, with out it I'm nothing. Sharon: Trust, confidence in our Lord! Keeps my fear away! Frances: It's what that takes me through each and every day. It's what gives me the strength to go on and do the impossible when in the natural I feel like all hope is gone. It's my faith in Jesus that gives me the hope and peace needed to survive in this present world and gives me joy in my heart. And my faith in Jesus is what will take me to Heaven when my life here is over...It's who I am at the core of my being. Pat: Trust! So, I ask you bloggers, what does YOUR faith mean to you?...

Today's guest post is from my dearest friend Mel! Melanie and I are best buds! We have been best friends since we were nine years old. Not many are so blessed to have a best friend that are for life. We have been been through everything together! We stood with each other against the world (so we thought) , we have made "Buck of our Lives" videos, we have laughed until we were crying, cried on each other shoulders, been there to cheer each other on, we have seen each other at our worst and been honest enough to tell them so (LOL) ... We were also there standing as witnesses on each of our wedding days.  I love you best bud! ________________________________________________________________________________ What my faith means to me. If you've ever mistakenly left home without your coat during an unexpected cold front, you know the feeling I'm about to describe. You check the weather, you step outside your door, you see the sunshine peeking through the wi...

I've known Frances since I was about 17. We went to church together and I became friends with her daughter. I taught her little boy (who is not so little anymore) in the pre-school Sunday school class. Francis is such a sweet spirit. She was always so kind and giving you a smile. I have such fond memories of her and my mother talking. I remember her and my mother heading up a "Tea of Pure Joy" where we were taught abstinence and what plan God had laid before us. I remember the time that we had a lock in for the girls and was teaching how to cook. She reminds of the women in Proverbs 31. I'm honored to have her share with us. ________________________________________________________________________________ First I want to say how honored I am that Lauren (Aunt Lala) has asked me to write a guest post for her wonderful blog.   Lauren asked that I share about what my faith means to me, and that is always a special topic.   When I think about faith I think abou...

What a time it's been this last few months! Between school, work, and life it seems my life has been a whirlwind!  So guess what? We are going on vacation... actually when you read this I am already on my way.  I thought about what to do this week, and I knew what was on my heart. God has been showing me many things over these last few months... I'm learning and he is molding.  My passion, my drive, my dreams are all founded in my faith.  When it came to being employed I prayed and trusted that God would lead and guide me. When it came to choosing our church, we prayed and trusted that God would guide.  Everything is wrapped in my faith.  Choosing my spouse. Eating right. Trips. Bills. Friends. My work at my job. Our Hope. Marriage. My faith has given me strength. Given me Hope. Given me peace. Given me joy.  In essence...  My faith is my LIFE  Join me this week as I have two great guest blogge...

Linking up with   Ramsay Grace  and   Satisfaction Through Christ For  Tuesday's Prayers There is so many things that are going on at the same time and it is very overwhelming at times.  Some days are better then others...  If you read my POST yesterday then you know yesterday was one of those darker days.  But I felt the prayers, and God intervened and showed me he cared (as he always does.) I went to a funeral yesterday. One of our Jr High kids lost his father last week. My mood yesterday was not one that went along with trying to console. I was hurting. But there were people I loved hurting worse.  The funeral was a great experience for sure! It really was a celebration of life! It was definitely not a funeral I have been accustomed to, but I hope when my funeral comes that its that way. People being ministered to and finding peace and strength from God. Also with a few laughs :) I was really stressed...

The fifteenth passes every month without a second thought to most.  For me its another marker of my baby being in Heaven.  It is a marker that I'm another month stronger.   It will be a year next month that we lost our precious baby, Hope.  I've been thinking about this alot lately. I think about where I was last year at this time, not realizing I was about to embark on the MOST painful journey of my life thus far. I've been going back and forth about what exactly I'm going to do next month when we reach 1 year mark. J and I have talked about this numerous times, as always he wants to support what I want to do.  He is such a gift.  My life is busy. Full of laughter and people I love. Full of work and stress. Full of school, cohorts, and projects.  The closer the 1 year mark gets the more bad days I'm having.  Of course there has been death around me these past couple months. Not me directly but loses for people ...

Well, I've done it.... I went from 37 followers to 36 on my GFC Oh well, I guess thats the way it goes :) In other news I go on vacation in ONE WEEK!!!! AAAHHH!! So ready, this will be my first REAL vacation in 5 years! Did I tell you that I'm on Youtube? Well I am... Here it is enjoy! I'm practicing my skills :) Have a great weekend!

OK, so yesterday I posted my first set of questions for my Liebster award! Again thank you Eloquent Rambles for this honor :) Go check her out! :) I decided to edit the rules :) I know the idea is give these people questions to answer but I'm going to forgo that part, however, I do encourage you to visit these blogs!  Awesome Blogs I read: Abundantly Blessed Momma : This is a friend of mine who I adore. She is one the sweetest ladies and her love for the Lord makes me smile! Amazing Grapes : Emily is very candid and I love her sense of humor! Broken Pieces Outreach Ministries : I know this ministry personally. What a great thing they do. Seriously go check them out! Grown2Worship : This family is an inspiration to me! From death of their own child to adopting 2 children and wanting more! Love this moms faith! The Sweet Life of the Reeses : Sherry has been so kind to me and encouraging! I love reading about her growing family  [ I know no tag backs but whatever...

So I feel extremely honored that I've been nominated for the Liebster award twice in 2 weeks! :) I was nominated by my sweet blog friend Sherry over at The Sweet Life of the Reeses and I was nominated over at Eloquent Rambles ! Thanks ladies :) I will posting my answers for Sherry first then for Eloquent Rambles tomorrow :) and will list my nominations :) So this is how it works: The Rules 1. You must post 11 random things about yourself. 2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you. 3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate. 4. Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post. 5. No tag back (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you)! Random things about me :) 1. I can pick things up with my toes 2. My parents are still married after almost 30 years 3. I'm a middle child 4. I would love to be apa...

I remember when J and I first got married.... that first year held plenty of practice to deal with conflict. Your first year of marriage is one of bliss, change, compromise, and making up ; ) Those who read my blog daily know that I am a student still. I'm working on a degree... Honestly, I feel that my marriage is an atmosphere for learning just like my college class rooms. I have been taught more things about my self, life, love, death, and so on than in any other area of my life through our marriage. God has used our marriage as a teaching tool for sure! No matter how much you love each other.... Sorry to tell you there WILL be conflict. If there isn't then I would look at how honest you both are with each other. Because joining two different people in all of life's crazy happenings is not one of ease. So, just some pointers that I've learned in my marriage to handle conflict... (I by no means have perfected these!) 1. Let your pride GO!...

Where does time go?? Today 4 years ago I was made an aunt for the second time. My nephew JJ was born... I love him so dearly! This little boy is a fighter! He was born 4 weeks early and had collarbone broken during birth! Yet he was a good baby, didn't cry much, and had LOTS of smiles and giggles to offer! His smile and laugh are the sweetest sounds! I miss him and wish he was in the same state as our family but alas... he has a home and a life in GA with his mommy :) JJ, LaLa loves you with all her heart! I cannot believe that 4years has already gone by!! You little guy are a ray of sunshine in our life. I know that God has great plans for you!! Love you forever, Aunt LaLa Uncle R and JJ Christmas 09 Mommy and JJ (Thanksgiving '10) Trip to Ga 2009 Visit 3/2012 Lala holds JJ for the first time! Visit 3/2012 Cousins :) 2012 JJ Dedication 2009 Aquarium '12- JJ, O, and Lala Uncle J and his buddy JJ Cousins ...

Everytime I think about having 3 nephews it really makes me want to shake my head! It is just strange to me some times as I sit and think about how much life changes so quickly. You spend so many years at home growing up- cousins, camping, family vacations, sibling rivalry, Christmas EARLY mornings... Then one day... Your married. 2 cousins have moved far away :( , Christmas is not the same, grandparents pass away, family vacations have to be divided up or taken seperatley because not EVERYONE can go at the same time... Its like your ONE big family because multiple families... Ugh... This post has made me sad. My intention was to write about how much fun I had last week when I got visit my sister (Who is baking my 3rd nephew) and nephew! I also got to spend a day hanging out with my  best friend! So lets continue down that road... yes? OK! So last Monday started my spring break! I had planned a trip to GA and my mom decided to tag along and surprise my sister! She had no ...

Any one who knows J and I know we love each other... We always hold hands, giving each other little kisses, watching each other from the other side of the room... But some days are just harder then others. Some days J drives me crazy! Some days I'm a grouch & snap at him. I used to feel such anxiety when this happened. My flaw of putting such a high standard on myself leaks in to my relationships sometimes. But the truth is J and I are very different people. We have different personalities. Thats ok. Above all we are human... So when we seem to have an off day instead of having anxiety I just remember that its still us, we still love each other, tomorrow is a new day :) Happy Monday! Staying Hopeful, Aunt LaLa