Beautiful weather, antiques, Ezra, and set-up night!

Yesterday was the most beautiful day! The skies were sunny and perfect! We spent lots of time outside, and even went to one of our favorite antique stores downtown. We hit the jackpot there, I might add. We had been looking for some shutters and found the perfect pair for a steal. We ended the day by washing our finds and grilling out. Matt also got a Keurig coffee maker with a gift card that he recieved at his Christmas party last year (it was for 5 years of employment). We haven't been able to make coffee for a month and a half (ever since ours mysteriously turned itself on and started smoking). He is one happy man! I'm excited about having coffee on the way to work tomorrow...I know I'll need it!







This morning, my pastor continued his streak and preached another POWERFUL, GUT WRENCHING, BRILLIANT sermon. He is always great, but the Lord has spoken to him recently and he just brings a fresh word like no other. He preached on Ezra and repentance. Our praise team was also AMAZING this morning. We were all "lifting our hands in the sanctuary." :)



And after 4 hours of intense set-up and upacking, the Fairgrounds are starting to look like a retail establishment. Tonight was our first set-up night of Bargain Bazaar. I am in house wares this year and it is SO full already. I didn't even have to work out today. Dragging racks, boxes of hangers, and sorting and organizing tons of heavy items is enough! :)


This week is going to be one of my busiest ones yet. I am praying for strength, a servant's heart, and a great attitude! :)

Ezra 9:5b (NLT)
I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the Lord my God.

Basketball, Jewelry, and Mexican!

We went back to our alma mater on Thursday for our favorite, Lady Blazer Basketball. Watching the Lady Blazers almost has the same effect on me as retail therapy. :) I LOVE it! If we lived a little bit closer, I would proably go to every game. It was a little weird to think about how young we were...sitting in the same seats, 8 or so years later. It is a sweet thought, but scary at how fast time goes by. I still saw some people that I know...but it was nothing like packing out the bleachers with 20of your closest friends.





I LOVE jewelry. I wear a lot of it most of the time. I guess my kids have picked up on the fact and two different students made me "bangles or cuff bracelets". I actually sort of liked the striped one!



My support teacher got me this cute ring too!


I started off yesterday morning with a flat tire on the way to work. I ended up staying late at work and was really ready for a movie night in the Pickin' shed. However, Matt's coworkers were heading over to Moultrie to eat at a popular new mexican restaurant. Margarita's. The food was good and we had a fun time with everyone. We drove my Honda Accord (had it since I was 16). Usually, Matt will drive it some when he can't take his company car. But the only time we ride in it together is to the beach. So I sort of think of it as our beach car. Driving it made me feel young. :) (I think I may be getting a camera soon and the quality of my pics will be SO much better!)


I have a gray cardigan that I am completely obsessed with. I pretty much wear it every day lately. I was proud of myself tonight because I'd worn it for the past two get-togethers with the same families, but decided to go with all black instead...even though I did have on the gray cardigan with the outfit at first. :) I thought my hubby looked super cute last night...so I snapped his pic after we got home!



We are planning on spending the day outside in the beautiful weather and getting some chores done. Maybe we'll have time for a LONG walk around Cherokee Lake.

Happy Saturday and Weekend Everyone!
For Christ died so that we no longer live for ourselves, but for him who died and was raised again. 2 Cor. 5:15

Fast Week

My days have been full lately. I've been sleeping well. :) Here are some very random thoughts from the last few days.

We had our January lunch on our wing at school on Monday after Snow Day. I was in charge along with my support teacher. It was cold, so we did chili and all the fixings, corn bread, coconut cake, and cake balls.




This cutie in my class wore suede boots to snow day. This was my attempt to save the boots.


Another one of my babies came to school wearing these today. Can you believe that both soles fell off the shoes before lunchtime?


We started Zumba everyday after school from 4:00-5:00. It is a lot of fun. It is even more hilarious to see us all in the gym (it is surrounded by windows) learning all the moves. Several teachers/teachers kids have gotten a huge kick out of watching us. I love it that my principal and assistant principal are in there with us. Nothing like a school family. :)

I've so been living out of my car lately. Here is what my back seat looks like.


On my way home from work I ran into two sweet girls...I followed behind Abby on her bike until I got home. She was on her way to my house for a pit stop (bathroom break)! Gotta love her!! Hard to believe that my first favorite kindergartener will be going into 5th grade next year.


Last night was the "BIG" school board meeting. It started at 7 and I didn't leave until after 11:30. Luckily, the 10 teachers from my school that stuck it out get to where whatever we want to work for awhile. YEAH! It was actually really fun hanging out with everyone for so long. My assistant principal wanted to get a group picture but about the time we were thinking about taking one, we got called back into the board room. We were just all exhausted this morning. I literally had to HOLD my eyes open at times.


I watched Toddlers and Tiara's tonight because I "know" the little girl Alyssa. She is the niece of a couple in our Sunday School class. It was fun to watch!

I'm excited about visiting my downtown this weekend. See what I have to look forward to? LOVE The Limelight!!


Our weekend is looking like it will consist of a basketball game, a movie night in, a day out on the town, lots of time spent with our church family worshipping our God, and the set up of Bargain Bazaar. Lots of fun things planned.

Psalm 21:1-2
How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord! He shouts with joy because you give him victory. For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have withheld nothing he requested.

BEST one

in a long time. Our weekend, I mean. We stayed plenty busy...but had lots of fun too. Friday afternoon I hosted a shower for one of the girls on my wing at school. Her daughter just so happens to be in my class, so that made it even better. We always do a shower for the second baby at a local mexican restaurant. I love the people that I work with (and we stay so busy with our little ones during the day that we hardly see each other) and LOVE getting to chat and celebrate together.



After the shower Matt and I headed up to our church to start off the Disciple Now weekend. The Worship Leader was GREAT!!! The speaker hit home as well. The theme this year was....BREAKABLE. From routine to revival!!!!!



Saturday we went grocery shopping and slept in (Hallelujah! It was much needed)! We also dropped some things off at our jeweler. They are in the process of moving and we got to tour their new boutique. SO COOL! Then I whipped up some Vidalia Onion Dip and a Corn Salad to take to a barbeque out at Lake Riverside. We didn't end up leaving until close to midnight.




Sunday we enjoyed two AMAZING church services!!! Our pastor preached a LIFE CHANGING message on Sunday night. Here is one of my favorite songs from Brett Younker. He sang it all weekend long. I didn't buy a cd, but I will be downloading it from iTunes soon.




I spent Sunday night cooking "SNOW"...well cakeballs and coconut cake to resemble snow for Snow Day at school on Monday. I was also in charge of decorations, drinks, and corn muffins.


Habakkuk 3:2
I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger, remember your mercy.

Experiencing

restoration, renewal, refreshment, and revival! I am quoting this from my AMAZING pastor's heart. This is going to be our focus the next few months.

In Psalm 51, David prayed, restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. The call of Hosea was, Return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled (14:1). In Acts 3:19, Peter preached that repentance brings about times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. In a moment of deep contrition Ezra expressed his desire: That our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival (Ezra 9:8). The desire of the prophet Habakkuk: O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known (Habakkuk 3:2).

Hebrews 11:6...God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

The past few days.

For some reason the last few days of work have been insanely busy. I've had lots of paperwork to do and back to back meetings to attend. My kids have also started to run fevers again. Over half just had the flu before Christmas....I hope it is not lurking in my room again. As a matter of fact, one child told me that she could hear the flu sneaking back into our classroom. Hahaha!! I am planning a baby shower for Friday and DNOW with our church is this weekend, and a few other things.

I left on my pj's all day Monday and ended up adding rain boots and a coat to my outfit...good thing I don't have many days off that are rainy and cold...Matt might be in trouble because I'd always look like that. And I'm not even going to talk about my hair that day. :)


I left school early (by early I mean by 4) yesterday and today to run errands for this weekend. I don't know why but I thought that soup and caesar salad sounded so good for supper last night. And it was sooo good. Matt was actually off of work at a decent hour and we got to cook supper together. That's always fun!



I've been setting out a few Valentine decorations here and there. I like adding some holiday flare back into our house.



I wore my toms to work today and felt like a skater girl. Ha! One middle schooler told me that she liked my shoes and had never seen that color. I had to laugh and tell her that they probably don't make that color anymore...they're about 4 years old.


Other than trying to keep up with The Bachelor, Biggest Loser, The Real Housewives...and now Idol. I've been reading, reading, reading. I'm thankful that Bible Study starts back up next week!

I'm currently reading The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes. It is hard to put down.


I'm also listening to Hillsong's Yahweh Live cd over and over this week.


I hope everyone is having a great week!!
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.