2011...what a ride!

Looking back...I'd have to say that these two verses sum up our year.



And this song comes to mind when I think of background music that seemed to be playing constantly throughout our year. I LOVE IT!!


January-Our year started of fairly uneventful. We spent a lot of time at home, getting organized and trying to stay warm and dry. :) We went to church and basketball games. I gave my friend a baby shower and we had Disciple Now. I purchased my favorite flats ever (but sadly wore them out before we rang in 2012 :))





February-We kicked off the month of love with JSL's annual Bargain Bazaar. I spent Valentine's Day with my Bible Study gals, studying David. Matty Matt turned 29 years old! We spent many weekends with friends! I had a little surgery. I also began having bad headaches this month. SAD! :(






March-Prom Closet. I got to visit with Lynnie in Macon! Our niece, Harper, turned 1! Carrie and Robbie came to visit for the weekend. We went to a SELAH concert that was life-changing and I got to meet Amy Perry!!! Matt was stressed to the max with his job, praying for change somehow. We got that change on March 31st. :)







April-Meg's bachelorette weekend on Tybee at Paula Deen's house. Mike's retirement celebration at Georgia Tech. Easter. Rose show festivities. Matt began interviewing for a job that God hand picked for him. It was a very looooong process though. I met the best DR in the world...thank you LORD!!!








May-Billy graduated from college! We said goodbye to many wonderful teachers on our wing and began preparing for changes in Stingerville. I completed my 4th year of teaching! Matt got THE JOB we were praying for!!!! We had lots of celebrations! Lynn's bachelorette in Atlanta!











June- Meg got married! I read so many books! Matty had training after training. Mama came to stay with me! We had a SS girls party...wedding style. Lynnie got married!!! We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! We began watching our favorite show EVER on Netflix...FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS...which quickly became an obsession!














July-My sweet Nanny Jane passed away. We celebrated the 4th of July and served with our church. My friends to came to visit me!






August-We celebrated Mama, Daddy, and Ginger's summer birthdays. I started school again. I began classes to obtain my gifted endorsement. Eeek!




September-VSU football begins!!! And fall decorating! We fell in love with sitting in reserved seats while cheering on our Yellow Jackets! :) Faithful, Abundant, True Bible Study started!






October-Fall Break!!!! Quail Trail! Blazer Homecoming...we found our official tailgating spot! Halloween! Matt found a new love for disc golf. :) Blakely turned 5!









November-Mrs. Sharon gets a new job and that means changes for our classroom family...but we made it and love Mrs. Judy, our new helper! Twilight Party and midnight movie madness! Thanksgiving in Merrit Island! Our beloved pastor announces that he is moving! :(



December-Geomesh takes over our house for the 2nd year in a row! ;) Troupe Show! SS Christmas Party! Victorian Christmas! Wing Party! And lots of parties and celebrations in between! My birthday!! 4 Seasons Christmas! Christmas in Atlanta! Family time on the island remembering our grandma! Ringing in 2010 with friends!












We've learned a lot about trust this year. We have had to truly depend on God and trust in His will for us in several pretty big situations this year. Looking back now, I am so thankful for those trials. We are so much stronger because of them. I feel like because of our strong faith in the Lord, our marriage has been strengthened and we were able to handle everything that came our way with hope and courage....even when we were so scared, sad, and overwhelmed. What a mightly God we serve. HE IS SO FAITHFUL!

We are praying specifically for several things as we enter the new year...and I'm really excited to see what He has in store for us. As always, I know that I am going to learn so much! Here's to hoping that 2012 is even better than 2011!!!!

Blessings to y'all that read this blog! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 NLT
I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

My birthday weekend!

Well to kick off my birthday, I got to wear my pajamas to school! Matt brought my presents into me around 5:30am and I opened them in bed. So fun...I felt so special and think we will always do birthday morning presents from now on! I loved leaving the house in leopard flannel pjs!!! It was a great last day of school before the winter holidays. We opened gifts, cleaned our classroom, my kids got to watch a movie in our multi-purpose room...WITHOUT ME...so I got to take down our Christmas trees and get ready for January and the winter months by checking out new books, getting word wall words ready, and changing our calendar. We made a special Christmas tree snack (since we had our party the day before) and the kids played outside. Then they took a nap and I got all my thank you cards sent home and paperwork ready for report cards. Perfect day! I don't think I ever shared any fun things we did throughout the month. Some of my favorite ornaments and gifts for their families. Their gingerbread men that they sewed, Christmas lights sight words, and shape Rudolph were precious too.








My 4 seasons (B, CB, and Jenn) came into town. We all met up for Mexican at Coyoacan. Matt snuck in a caramel cake. We laughed because we said that the cake looked like it was on fire as they were bringing it out. Luckily, they didn't pie me in the face, just made me wear that big ol' sombrero. I was absolutely CHAWED and couldn't blow out my candles or breathe for that matter. I'm pretty sure Matt ended up blowing out the candles and we all laughed until we cried over some pictures that Jenn got on her camera of the entire ordeal!! We took some group pictures in front of "The Seasons" sign, but I didn't get any on my phone.








Saturday everyone came over to Thomasville. We spent time being lazy, then went to dinner at Mom and Dads. The food was great, but we had an issue with the service. We rode around and looked at Christmas lights for a long time. Then went to Walmart where the girls helped me shop for a needy family that Matt and I were buying for. The church aslo provided a food bag for the family. Our job was to find a few gifts, invite the family to church, and then deliver the basket and gifts. Well we were super excited because when Matt called to invite the family to church, they said they wanted to come. So guess who we were picking up and meeting in the morning?? Carrie Beth stayed up late and wrapped the gifts for Matt and I. Matt was busy picking on us, and I was in charge of the wonderful tape. Haha!







We were all excited about church and this special family that wanted to come to church. They were actually waiting outside for us when we got there...unfortunately with no car seats for the two youngest children. However, we rounded some up and got situated. Dropped the kids at the nursery and attended a great service. I'm thankful that my friends came with us, helped us transport and encouraged us and the family! We bought them lunch aftewards and Matt delivered their goodies and gifts. I hope to drop off things occasionally throughout the year too. :)

After church we went to Tallahassee for lunch and shopping.



Then one of my favorite traditions, Carols by Candlelight. Our church is so beautiful and the choirs are just amazing. We heard from the children, the young musicians, the youth, the adult, the praise team, and the youth praise band!!!! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! After church we made homemade pizza and watched tv.






I don't have many pictures from Monday, but we shopped until we dropped. WOW! I also got to shop for a sweet teenager and get her a little prize. That was fun!




I had the best birthday weekend!!! The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been to see my family too. Luckily, it is so close to Christmas! Thank you Lord, for another year to serve YOU. I am so very blessed.

It's the HAPPIEST season of all!

Since I have a little bit of time off from all of my usual activities, I've tried to plan a little something fun for me and my hard working hubby each night when he gets home.

We baked cookies and rode around and looked at Christmas lights one night. A true south GA Christmas. It is 80 degrees, the air is on, and people have santa fishing in a boat in their front yards.




Last night we had a date to Jonah's. Our downtown is just so festive and beautiful this time of the year. It was a rainy night in GA, but one of my favorites this season!



Tonight we will be watching a Christmas movie or two in our bonus room while we get the last of our gifts wrapped and ready. We will also let this sweet angel open her presents tonight. :)

There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow...

it really is THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME of the year!!!!

I took a mental heatlth day yesterday. As soon as I got out of school on Friday, I had a birthday celebration, a weekend with a full house of friends (4 Season Christmas), fun activities with church, and then a shopping extravaganza day! So...yesterday I rested. I stayed on the couch. Watched lots of Netflix. Now that we are finished with LOST, I needed a new show and found Gossip Girl. I LIKE it! I read my magazine and looked at our beautiful Christmas tree...all in my pajamas!



Someone else likes the tree too. :)


Tonight I have a fun Christmas date planned for my hubby! I'm so ready for him to be off work!