Yard Work, a Solemn Assembly, and headaches.

Pretty much sums up our weekend! We spent most of the days outdoors pulling weeds and laying pinestraw. It was so peaceful and beautiful out, we just couldn't soak up enough of the sunshine! We also made our way around town to NeSmith's Nursery, dropped off some items at the Antique Fair for Junior League, CVS pharmacy, Publix (where we picked up some girl scout cookies from one of my best former students:)), and we even squeezed in a Sonic run.






Our pastor recently called our church to a day of fasting and a solemn assembly like mentioned in Joel 1:14 and 2:12-17.

Joel 2:12-17 (New Living Translation)

A Call to Repentance
12 That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish.
14 Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,
sending you a blessing instead of this curse.
Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine
to the Lord your God as before.
15 Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem!
Announce a time of fasting;
call the people together
for a solemn meeting.
16 Gather all the people—
the elders, the children, and even the babies.
Call the bridegroom from his quarters
and the bride from her private room.
17 Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence,
stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar.
Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord!
Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery.
Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say,
‘Has the God of Israel left them?’”

Well, yesterday was the day. It was an urgent call for all the members of our church to come together to humble ourselves before the Lord, to seek His face, to pray, to repent of our sins, to read God's word aloud, to worship the Lord with all of our hearts, and to make some important confessions together. We definitely did that...we all cried out to God. It was a sweet time in our church family. It was a unique and beautiful experience. Our pastor was very serious about it and he thought that it was the perfect time to step up, confess some things, fix our priorities, and be restored.
We were on our way to church...a little bit hungry from fasting all day. But ready to worship God in a new way. (Also excited how Brother Dan is relating everything to my current Bible Study...so cool).


I was also able to get completely caught up on my David study. And set out all of my "green" decor! And then the excruciating headaches hit and halted my plans. They are awful, headaches like I have never experienced. In the past week I've missed a dinner, a brunch, and Sunday School because of them. Praying that my Dr. will figure out something today! I hope that everyone had a sunny and relaxing weekend!



Joel 1:14 ESV
Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.

In my head...

You know of my great love for Christy Knockels right? The lyrics to this song are true in my life and SO uplifting. I love the word FAITHFUL! It is one of my favorites when describing my God.


Thank you, Lord!

GA Proposal to Slash Pre-K Program Hours

Click on the link and watch the video.

GA Proposal to Slash Pre-K Program Hours

This is not cool. I don't teach PreK, but every change in education, specifically early childhood education impacts everything that I do. Our students need Ga's PreK program. My (hopefully) future children need it! As a Kindergarten teacher at a Primary School...I need PreK.

Our days...

Yesterday was Matt's 29th Bday. We celebrated by eating at the new japanese steakhouse in town (per his request)....SO GOOD! Then we made our way to the school board meeting. We had a great night together...LOW KEY! Perfect, after a long day of work. (I actually had a longer post typed out about him and his special day...but do not have the energy to finish it right now...I'll get to it soon though.)


The weather is just GREAT right now. Matt grilled chicken tonight and we ate with our windows open. Tomorrow night we will probably eat out back on the porch!! Matt is busy with choir tonight and I am busy learning more about David (I have really found a new passion through this study).


I am extremely tired tonight. There is a lot going on with education in GA lately and it makes me kind of sad. I'm hoping to feel energized tomorrow! I am excited about the upcoming weekend. And how each day in the mail I'm getting pretty colored invitations to bridal showers, brunches, and weddings. I have a lot of good friends getting married over the next few months. I love reasons to celebrate and get together with old friends! So fun!!

Hosea 6:3
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

How I love three day weekends!!!

Friday was a great day at school, we had about 50 teachers from Early County visit and spend the day with us. They were so nice and we enjoyed a fun lunch with them and my administration. My kids and I ended our unit on President's Day and the Presidents. We made George Washington's Cherry Delight as a little fun Friday snack. It was very yummy! They love to help me cook.



Friday night my parents came into town for the weekend. That is the ONE and ONLY bonus about them living in a different town....our visits are highly cherished. We ate supper at home, watched tv, and just caught up.




Saturday we were up early. Daddy and Matt did yard work and Mama and I hit the stores. I didn't buy one thing. But I did take lots of pictures. Some are things I loved, some are of things that I can make, some I just took because...I actually took a lot more...but you get the idea. You can get a little inside peek of just a few things that our small plantation town has to offer. Mama and I ate lunch outside on the bricks at Savannah Moon...and we brought home lunch from Publix for the men. :)














Saturday night we ate dinner at Ted's Montanta Grill for Matt's early birthday celebration. We also had Blue Bell when we got back to the house.




Sunday, we made breakfast sandwiches (almost as good as a local place, Henderson's) and then my parents went back to Dublin. So sad to see them go!


We were out and about again today in Tallahassee. I had a Dr appointment, so afterwards we ate lunch at On the Border, stopped by Sweet Blue, Target, and Turner's. We are home now and took a little nap. I have a horrible headache so I am skipping my dose of Beth Moore tonight and taking it easy. I am glad that it is only a 4 day week at school! Have a blessed week everyone!



I'm going to type up my devotion from this morning. It is from Jesus Calling. It always speaks straight to my heart and encourages me with whatever I'm facing that day. I hope that it speaks to you if you're reading this today.

"Trust and thankfulness will get you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining. Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting me. It is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. Thus, you focus on Me, entrusting your concerns into My care."

I am LOVING the song, Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole. It was sung at our Abby Rike event two weeks ago, and it is so, so good!

Psalm 141:8 (ESV)
But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless.

Full of Joy

I finally got my hands on the video of MY MATTY and OUR CHRUCH CHOIRS signing at the GBC in Albany. What can I say, I am a proud choir wife. I LOVE our choir and could listen to them sing to the Lord all day long. I love how the children, youth, and adult choirs all sang together. They sounded EVEN better in person.

Our sweet pastor is the man sitting in front of the choir with a huge grin on his face. And Matt is right in the middle. A lot of my former babies are singing up there too. I'm one happy girl tonight! Enjoy!!!

Alive Forever Amen (Truly powerful that night...everyone was out of their seats)


How Can I Keep From Singing (My personal favorite...brings tears to my eyes)


Your Grace Still Amazes Me (Our Awesome Youth....seems to be my theme song lately)


God of Heaven (They sounded like angels here)

LOVE LOVE LOVE

I'm loving this beautiful Valentine's Day! It is sunny, breezy, and 70 degrees today! On top of all the fun that Valentine's Day brings in kindergarten, we had a little bit of extra recess and got to soak up the sunshine. Our day wasn't even crazy at all. Should I be worried? :)


I am going to spend this evening studying David and listening to Beth Moore at Bible Study with 50 or so women. I just know that our leader will have our room all decked out for the holiday!


When I get home Matt and I are having breakfast in bed (yes, at night). And watching Like Dandelion Dust. It isn't really romantic, but it is based on a book written by my favorite author. I can't wait for our little date tonight!!




I hope that everyone had a wonderful HEART day!!!

She's going to the chapel...

My dear friend from college, Miss Mary Lynn Collins (she will be the 4th GA Peach to wed)will be tying the knot sometime this summer. I was so excited to hear all about her sweet engagement last night!! I found these pictures from one of our many beach trips to Mexico Beach. This was one of our more grown up trips (we were both teaching and I was married).




Nothing can top that news. But I did have a wonderful Valentine's weekend with my hubs. We played tennis (in our street) for the longest time...so much fun. Blakely was our ball girl. Every time we hit the ball out of "bounds" she would go fetch it. Then we worked on stripping a little table we snagged from Bargain Bazaar. We went downtown and strolled the cobblestone streets. The weather was too gorgeous to just stay home. Our little shoe store in town does a tally on Toms sold since they've gotten them in. I bought the 508th pair sold. We ended our day by eating dinner at Longhorn.














I worked on my Bible Study for a long time this afternoon, went grocery shopping, then we had a late lunch/picnic in our front yard. We washed my car and cleaned up the house. We even had time for a short nap with the windows open. Blakely kept on opening the curtains though...which is why the nap was short. We didn't go back to church tonight (even though it is our favorite time to go). We were preparing for our weeks and enjoying being lazy for a change. I feel refreshed and ready to take on Valentine's Day with my mini-Valentines tomorrow. It will be WILD, I assure you!






Ephesians 1:7-8
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.