My Favorite Time of the Year

Christmas is the season that takes my breath away and leaves me speechless. Every year I anxiously await the time to decorate our home. It's been such a joy these past 3 years decorating our home for Christmas. Being able to decorate our apartment in Texas for 3 weeks and then quickly setting up our Charlie Brown Christmas tree in our new townhome in Wake Forest even though we would not be here for Christmas.

I can remember my first post-christmas up here in (January) 2007 when my mom ventured up with me to Wake Forest while Nick attended Passion and we found this perfect tree that I sit here now and stare at... at such  a great price. I will remember that special time with her (it was our first time as two married women together) everytime I look at that tree. Remembering our first "real" Christmas season together in 2007 when Nick and I were able to put our tree up and started making traditions of our own (since we weren't preparing to move like during our first year together).Hanging out with the neighbors.

And putting our tree up and decorating our house...

This year, due to Nick's trip taking place the weekend before Thanksgiving and the entire week, I was able to talk Nick into setting up and decorating 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. I now find myself rushing out of school not b/c I had a bad day, but just so I can sit in front of our tree and listen to Christmas music.

So here I sit just soaking in the smells of the candles burning of Christmas...just wanting time to stop.

Merry CHRISTmas!

May God Bless You!! 

Labor Day

This past 3-day-weekend Nick and I packed up and headed to Hickory for the 2nd annual Labor Day family retreat. My mom and dad, (brother) Justin, his wife Darlene, and Lucas (my favorite little man) all met at Dawn and Rick's house in Granite Falls.

I always enjoy being around my family and I enjoy even more being away with my hubby, not at our house or either of our parents houses' but someone elses house. We had a great time this year, we had a great time reflecting on our past family times, traditions and eating habits. Our dinners together reminded me of something from a movie...lots of conversations and laughing. I can only hope we have many more family times like that.

On Saturday, the big event was UGA vs. GS game, which if you know me at all you know I don't care for football, so after the 1st quarter, I took a nice long nap on the airbead. After the game Dawn cooked a great meal of Shrimp and Grits ( a true southern dish).

Sunday was great, we went to church and was suprised by the fact it was an All Worship Sunday. As I stood their singing I was overwhelemed, there I stood, with Nick on my right, Justin and Darlene on my left and my parents, Dawn and Rick in front...how blessed I am to have a family who loves Jesus. I hadn't really ever taken time to thank God for that blessing. I know many people here in seminary who left families at home who aren't believers and I am truely blessed to have a family that loves God and can possibly understand why we are here at SEBTS.

Nick and Rick working...

Ashley and Nick on the boat.

The rest of Sunday was spent on the boat with Darlene, Justin, Dawn and Rick. Justin tried many times to get up on the skies, Darlene and Dawn finally learned the secret of the wakeboard and had many great rides.

Dawn on the wakeboard.

Dawn giving Justin a skiing lesson.

The down point to Sunday was when Nick decided to get in to cool off and lost his wedding band in the water. It was pointless to go looking, so now he will be wearing my promise ring (we exchanged at our wedding) until we are able to replace his wedding band.

Monday we were able to spend a few hours on the boat, this time Nick stayed back at the house and Lucas joined us on the boat. But, not before a breakfast of Crapes that Justin got started with Lucas helping out.

Our 2nd Anniversary Trip

It's hard to believe that Nick and I celebrated two years this past week (July 21-25) in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge,TN.

We had a great time being together without the pressures of cleaning the house, work, or the internet. We stayed with a neighbors (Ashley Mullen) mom, who lives in Gatlinburg. What a treat that was, not only did it save us from all the hotel taxes, but since she works at a hotel, she has several perks around the area. We were able to go to Ouber Gatlinburg, for free and go to Ripley's Aquarium for half price.

We went shopping in Pigeon Forge (twice), you know me I love the outlets! We both ended up with some great buys! We visited the Apple Barn, with their yummy apple fritters! Visited the Christmas store also in Pigeon Forge.

We walked the strip mulitple times in Gatlinburg, Nick had found these shoes at a places called Jonathan's...I kept putting it off and by the time I gave in, his size was gone! We played mini-golf (Nick's fav. thing to do) and I got my "Back in Time" picture.

I got a hole in one! WOOOHOOOO!

One of our neighbors suggested we visit the River Rat, to tub for the day! Nick wanted to wait for a little later in the day, so we only got to go down once, but what an experience. Nick flipped out backwards (my fault), I ended up falling out trying to get to Nick... I went down the "rapids" on my side.

You know how much I love pictures, so I took tons!
Especially our trip to the Aquarium and to Cades Cove one of our favorite places to just be.

Time in Georgia...

While I find myself back in North Carolina my heart is still in Georgia. My sweet time at home was so precious. I was able to spend time with families that mean so much to my heart, spend sweet time with mom, go for a fun ride with my dad on the motorcycle and to a baseball game, take the boat out with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew Lucas. Lucas loves to jump in...get out and jump back in! We also had the privilage to attend Erik and Jennifer's wedding on Saturday! What a beautiful unity of two hearts brought together by GOD. Nick claims that he helped bring them together through the ministry of AS ONE, but we all know that God is the one who brought them together!

Summer has begun...

Summer has begun...

Nick has already traveled to Columbus, Ga then on to Mississippi for a mission trip with the Columbus Baptist Association. He returned back to a wife that had officially closed off another school year and unsure of what grade she will be teaching next year. I spent my first week of summer vacation sick, but did manage to spend time bonding with some amazing women of God. Nick left again today (Friday) for a weekend and Camp Ridge Crest. I am keeping myself busy by keeping a clean and organized house, spending time with great friends by the pool side, and serving however I can (this weekend I will be helping Ms. Tiffany get her house organized for Teen Mops and have told a nieghboring husband to take his wife out so I can babysit).

Earlier this week, one of our old (meaning they've moved, no reference to age Jamie) neighbors gave me such a blessing. In a time of need for their family, they called upon Nick and I to take care of little Ben while they took Christian to the ER. Everything went great and I got my baby urge taken care of. Christian is doing better last I heard. Thanks for your prayers, for those neighbors that have been praying for Christian.

I get the opportunity to head home on Monday for a week! I am so excited and looking forward to spending some great time with family and friends.

Nick will be joining me in Georgia on Friday for the wedding of Erik and Jennifer.

Nick and I will be celebrating 2 years this July. We have plans to go to Tennessee to celebrate! It's hard to believe all that we have been through in two years. It's hard to think that just two years ago at this time we were planning a wedding and planning a move to Texas and now I sit in my beautiful townhome in North Carolina.

It's amazing the journey we have taken.... From planning a wedding across Georgia, to packing up in Woodstock (Ashley's stuff) , then repacking in Columbus (Nick's stuff), then heading to Texas, unloading in Texas (for seminary at SWBTS) and then five months later moving into out new townhome in Wake Forest, North Carolina (for seminary at SEBTS).

God only knows where we will be in 2 years? Who knows, maybe over a BIG ocean?

Because of who HE is and who I am not..

Good Morning Everyone!
I just wanted to take a minute and share the video from You Tube. So often we find lots of funny videos, but being a visual learner this video speaks to my heart about out Great, Awesome God. It also brings back BSU (BCM) memories.

WOW! GOD IS GOOD!

Today actually this whole week, I was going in a million different directions and God stopped me in my footsteps. Today was our last FCA meeting of the school year. I was stressed most of the week since I still hadn't found a speaker, then on Wednesday, a fellow teacher and a special friend of mine, Alicia Clark said she would speak, God slowing me down...But today at 3:10 one of my girls- who quiet honestly I never thought would come to FCA asked to call her mom to see if she could stay- her mom said yes-and I was preparing myself for the problems she would and could make happen. This student has been a challenge all year and I will sadly admit, I haven't always loved her like Christ calls me to. A continous prayer of mine...

The meeting was going well, Alicia's husband came too and Emily, my co-sponsor was able to stay! I had adult help, another way of God slowing me down.

Alicia jumped right in serving ice cream (our yummy treat for the day) and then shared the gospel so well. The students were so focused on what Alicia was saying there were no problems with students trying to talk while the speaker was talking (not a usual thing with middle schoolers on Friday). They were connecting with every word Alicia said. She shared about being on mission where you are, but before she got to that point she shared who Christ was, what He did and how they could accept Him. When she finished I challenged the students to think about how they could be on mission next week at school and to come share their ideas with me on Monday. I can't wait to hear their ideas!

Ok- on to what stopped me... Actually, it was two things! First, one of my teammates
(who is lost) came to FCA- she said she came for ice cream-but she stayed and listened to the whole message...PRAISE GOD. She also had stayed around in my classroom during the FCA leadership meeting earlier in the week. Please pray though that God will not let her run anymore! Please pray that Christ will shine through me and that I will take every opportunity to share His word and love with her. The second event that stopped me and some of my other students in their tracks.... Remember the problem girl who I was preparing for the worest? As she was getting her stuff out of my classroom to walk home...after FCA ..she told me that what she had experienced at FCA had calmed her heart/spirit ( I don't remember for sure which word she used). When the door closed, I still had 2 other dedicated FCA students and we all said "Oh My Gosh, she came to FCA!". Please pray for this student. She has talked about going to church, but usually in a joking context (from the way she talks). Please pray that she won't forget what was said and that God will stirr in her heart so many questions that she can't wait to know Him. Please pray that I will allow him to use me to help her see him.

Six Sunday's in Spring

SIX SUNDAYS IN SPRING CONCERT SERIES 2008

Bring the kids, friends, a picnic and a blanket! Come to our SixSundays in Spring concerts from April 20 until May 25, 2008,at the Wake Forest College Birthplace, 450 N. Main Street,Wake Forest.All concerts begin at 5 pm and last about 2 hours, and all are FREE!Snacks and refreshments available. Come join your neighborsand let these Six Sundays be the best Sundays of the year!Sponsored by the Wake Forest Cultural Arts Association.

April 20: ZydecopiousNew Orleans style jazz!

April 27: Chris Rosser and River GuerguerianFolk, fusion, percussionist

May 4: Jason AdamoSoul/Rock...

May 11: THAD COCKRELLAlternative Country

May 18: ROOTZIEReggae, blues, funk

May 25: POLECAT CREEKMountain Folk Music

After almost two years....

After almost two years Nick and I have joined the blogging world.

We find ourselves in Wake Forest with Nick in his last two years at seminary and Ashley still serving as a teacher in middle school. I use the term "serving" instead of teaching, because some days I feel as if that is why God has me at this school.

We have found a church that we love, North Wake (northwake.com) ! Nick is singing in the praise team two Sunday's a month and Ashley in involved with a group that reaches out to teen moms in the area. After almost a year of membership and visiting small groups we have found one that we are excited to be apart of. The Knights/Lyons small group has already proven a blessing in the two weeks we have attended.