My New Home

Hello, long lost friends!

I'm back in the blogging world, but at a new site. I've felt a calling into some type or form of fitness ministry, so this is just a little baby step in that direction.

If you want to find me you can go to www.wellnesswitness.com or over on our facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/wellnesswitness

Love to each of you!

Good Friday...

I've posted before about how much I love Ann Voskamp and her beautiful writing. She posted yesterday with the following:

And our God is not a God to merely believe, but to experience, not to only believe in, but be held by. A God who not only breaks for you but breaks with you, a God to not only have creeds about, but to have communion with, a God who not only who dies for you, but who cries with you, the God who touches you and binds you and blesses you and heals you and re-members you because He let Himself be dismembered and He is the God we not only believe in— but we know. We know – know beyond a shadow of doubt, death or despair.

He has touched our tears. He has cupped our broken hearts with His scars. He has whispered to the howl, “I know, I know. And I’ve come to begin the making of all things new.” We believe. Because we know. He knows our grief. We know His goodness. And the truth is – we don’t need an explanation from God like we need an experience of God.

And that is exactly what we get.

We get that experience of God when He stretches open His arms on that Cross and cries,

“For you. For all your regrets and for all your impossibles, for all that will never be and for all that once was, for all that you can’t make right and for all that you got wrong, for your Judas failures and your Peter denials and your Lazarus griefs, I offer to take the nails, the sharp edge of everything, and offer you myself because I want you, to take you, you in your wild grief, you in your anger and your disappointment and your wounds and your not-yet-there, you, just as you are, not some improved version of you, but you – I came for you, to hold you, to carry you, to save you.” - Ann Voskamp

Friends, what are you struggling with today? What burden are you carrying? Because of this day so many years ago, you can let it go. Let. It. Go. Give it to the One who is not only willing to carry it, but able.

This is a sad day when we think about all that happened to Jesus, but thank God that Easter is coming. We have hope. We have peace. We have the victory. Amen.

A day with Rapunzel

As much as I was NOT a girlie-girl growing up, my girl K is the complete opposite. The frillier, puffier, bigger the dress, the more she insists on wearing it. Last Saturday afternoon, she decided she would be Rapunzel to go out and play in the yard. As I watched her from the sunroom windows, I couldn't help but want to go take some pictures of her. She is so beautiful and so innocent. I am trying to treasure these memories and store them up in my heart. What a blessing this little ball of fire is in our lives!

As is true for any true Southern Belle, an outfit isn't complete without our flip flops!

Fishing...

While away on our Anniversary trip, we wanted to bring the kids back a surprise. We finally settled on fishing poles. Barbie for Karsyn and Spiderman for Mack.

To say they were thrilled would be a massive understatement. In fact, I think these two items have been played with more over the past two weeks than any other toy they've gotten before. These rods came with a practice fish made out of rubber that allows the kids to cast their line over and over and reel in their 'big fish'. Here are some pictures of my little fishermen enjoying their new rods!

To Walk or Stay by Lara Williams

This week, To Walk or Stay by Lara Williams is officially being launched. I mentioned this book in an earlier post, but wanted to remind you again why you need to pick up this book.

Lara Williams is my favorite blogger/author and has a God-given ability to speak God's truths in the most beautiful ways. I have never met her in person, but know that if I had, we would be fast friends. She is funny, and thoughtful and knows Him well because she has traveled through the Valley with Him. She is grounded in His Word and brave enough to speak truth in difficult circumstances and situations. This book is basically a compilation of things that God spoke to her during the process of her husband's infidelity and then her choice in allowing God to heal, renew and restore her message.

Here are some of my favorite parts:
"But more than my fleeting happiness, God's agenda in my life includes Him making me holy. I may need to repeat that. God's agenda in my life includes Him making me holy. And my transformation into a holy vessel often comes through suffering, by which He sheds needful things from me".

"I had a choice. I could've walked. I could've quit. I could've packed up the kids and run away. In fact my emotions screamed at me to leave. But deep down where God's spirit stirs, He prompted me towards something different- something radically foreign...I clearly sensed Him saying, "If you choose to leave you will miss my ultimate blessing".

"Whether we like war-talk or not, we're in the midst of a battle. And it isn't fluffy and pretty. Peter describes the enemy as a lion seeking whom he may devour. He prowls and pursues. He tempts and twists. He knows our weaknesses and attacks relentlessly- though within the boundaries our Father sets for His children. Because of WHOM we are fighting agains, we have to clothe ourselves with armor that will actually protect. In those early years of marriage, I wasn't battling my man. It felt like I was battling my man, but ultimately, I battled agains an enemy out to destroy our home".

"When faced with difficulties we have choice as to where we begin. We can begin wtih the trial and define God through the lens of circumstance, or we can begin with God and define the trial through the lens of His revealed character".
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This book The truths in this book can change your heart, your marriage, your home, your calling. You can purchase this book from Amazon here: (This is NOT an affiliate link) or learn more information by visiting Lara's blog at www.tooverflowing.com . While there, go ahead and subscribe to her blog so that you don't miss one thing she is writing. You do NOT want to miss this.

Love y'all!

8th Anniversary Trip

This year it was Marcus' turn to plan our Anniversary. We had planned to just stay home for the evening and let my parents keep the kids for us. We only had from mid-day Saturday until Mid-day Sunday, so we thought it would be nice to just enjoy dinner and a movie out, and a morning to sleep in while the kids were away.

However, Marcus made other plans for us that turned out to be GREAT.

Through a connection at work, he got us an AMAZING place to stay in Charlotte for FREE. It was called The Residence at Southpark and is a luxury apartment building right at Southpark mall. Here are some pictures:

We tried to take our picture, too, but didn't have much luck:

We arrived, got settled into our room then had lunch at the Cowfish Grill (pictured above). This was directly below our apartment. They served delicious half pound burgers, sushi, and the best fried pickles you have ever had.

After that we walked around the mall for a bit, had some coffee, took a nap and rested. That evening we had dinner at a place called Rooster's. It was delicious and it was a nice experience, but I just don't think we are fancy enough to eat at places like that often. We stayed up late that evening enjoying our time together and then got to sleep through the night without any kids waking up asking for us, and even got to sleep in. We had a nice breakfast in the room and then headed home.

We had such a nice time and were grateful for the chance to get away. Life can be so stressful at times, and we can get so busy about the business of life that sometimes I think we forget what it's like to just be us as a couple instead of us as Mom and Dad. It was wonderful to reconnect, renew and refresh our commitment and joy in each other. Thank you to my parents for keeping both kids and the dog for us. We appreciate you so very much!

As much fun as we had, I was glad to come home to our family, friends, and house. It was nice being in the city for an evening, but I am definitely a small town girl at heart.

Mack's New Room

I've been meaning to share pictures of Mack's new 'big boy' room for a while. He is LOVING his bunk beds and has started sleeping well again (Thank you, Jesus!!!)

Here's some before and after pictures:

Mack is his crib about two years ago...Wow...

Crib, rocking chair and his Jake and the Neverland Pirates Toddler Bedding

He LOVED this bedding set when we changed from his crib to his Toddler bed. 

Empty Room

Everything out except a few toys

The bed waiting to be carried in. 

A shot while we were getting the bed all set up.

Mack's new room.

I don't have any pictures of the rest of the room. I'll have to update again with those at some point. Mack loves his bed and looks forward to us laying in it each night with him to read books before bed.

He's growing up fast!