Monday, July 5, 2010

Love this.

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life."
Bob Marley

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

God is Good

Sneak peek on ways we have directly seen that God is good in our lives as of late: (we always know He is good but it is nice when He shouts it at us!)

1. It really is true that you get what you give. In the past few months Chip and I have made a couple of donations to friends going on missions trips and EVERY TIME within 2 days of the check being cashed, we received checks in the mail for wedding presents, graduation presents, etc. Today we even received a notice from our gas company that they owed US money so we had no bill this month and they would credit our account. Wowza. We know fully well that God is our provider and blesses those who give generously.

2. For months Chip and I have been praying to find a church to call home and to find a great community within this church to surround us and to connect with. We went to try out one community group, and well, we stayed. We couldn't have asked for a better group for God to place us with. Chip feels so affirmed and loved by the men of this group and I already feel as if I have known the women for my entire life (though I've only hung out with them 2 times). Crazy huh? But it isn't crazy to God.

3. For those of you that don't know this about me, i HATE being away from home. I never liked camp, I was the kid who would get their parents to come pick them up from the sleepover, etc. This summer, with TFA, I am to spend 5 weeks in Atlanta to get training and teach summer school. The thought of going away for this long, leaving behind my sweet husband, family, and friends, literally makes me cry. While having a conversation with God I basically told Him "you better make it abundantly clear with flashing lights that this really is what you want for me to do to serve you because otherwise I'm out. I haven't been hired by a school. I don't want to go away. I want to stay where I'm comfortable." (By the way, I don't recommend giving God orders.) Not kidding, within 24 hours, I had received a job offer, visited the school, and fell in love with the area. I'm glad to announce I will be teaching 7th grade language arts :) And I am 100% sure that TFA is EXACTLY where I am supposed to be and Atlanta will be an incredible but great experience. I also will be home every other weekend which just shows God will equip me for what He has called me to do.

We could go on and on and on about all of the blessings God has given us so far in our marriage, and we are not so naive as to think that hard times aren't coming, but we know who God is, we know that He is good, faithful, loving, merciful, gracious, and protective of His children, and we know that there is nothing we will face that He will not walk us through. So for now, and then, we will rejoice in His presence!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Sick blahhh

So since Saturday, I have essentially been "sick as a dog." Food and I are, to say the least, bitter enemies at the moment. Since eating makes me feel sick and hurts my stomach, I have essentially no energy. I slept for about 24 hours straight from Saturday to Sunday afternoon with the exception of waking up for about 5 hours intermittently because, well that's just a lot of sleep!! Monday I felt good enough to go to the TFA job hiring fair from 8-3, but as soon as I stopped moving, i felt sick again! So, my solution was to keep moving and I went to Bible Study and came home and hung out with my girlfriends and once they left, sick again. And it's now 5:17 and I am getting out of the shower and starting my day, on Tuesday. Where did the weekend go? And whyyyy am I still sick? Oh yes... because of this lovely child:

But it's not like I can really be mad at her. Look at her!!! Best job ever. Although getting your viruses... not a great benefit. But i guess it's my own fault for smothering her in kisses all day, even when she's sick. Baby's need extra kisses when they are sick. It's a fact.

All that to say, Chip has done a fantastic job in his efforts to make me well. Gatorade runs, bringing me Cracker Barrel, entertaining Lola (even if its at 3am to let her out to potty and while i sleep all day), bringing me advil, taking my temperature, etc. You name it, he's done it. Oh yes, and most importantly, he brought me peanutbutter and chocolate ice cream (which heals all illnesses, also a fact) when he went to get Gatorade! And he knew that would heal all evils in the world for me at that moment, and guess what babe, it did. I am eating some now! So husband of the year award goes to Chip, sorry ladies. You can try to make a case for your man but there is no topping unrequested peanutbutter and chocolate ice cream when you're sick. (Also a fact).

And now I feel like I want to put another picture on here for kicks and giggles so here is Lola :)

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Names of God

Took this from a website (http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/items/Thirty%20Days%20of%20Praying%20the%20Names%20and%20Attributes%20of%20God) but I love it.

God is Jehovah. The name of independent being—“I AM WHO I AM”—only belongs to Jehovah God. As we consider His greatness, we fall down in fear and awe of this One who possesses all authority. Exodus 3:13-15

God is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. This name means “the God who sanctifies.” A God separate from all that is evil requires that the people who follow Him be cleansed from all evil. Leviticus 20:7,8

God is infinite. We cannot speak of measure, amount, size, or weight and at the same time be speaking of God, for He is beyond measurement. God has no beginning, no end, and no limits. Romans 11:33

God is omnipotent. God has power. Since God is also infinite, whatever He has must be without limit; therefore, God has limitless power. Jeremiah 32:17,18, 26,27

God is good. The goodness of God is what disposes Him to be kind, benevolent, and full of good will toward all creation. Psalm 119:65-72

God is love. God’s love is so great that He gave His only Son to bring us into fellowship with Him. God’s love not only encompasses the world, but embraces each of us personally and intimately. 1 John 4:7-10

God is Jehovah-jireh. This name means “the God who provides.” Just as He provided yesterday, He will provide tomorrow. He grants deliverance from sin, the oil of joy for the ashes of sorrow, and eternal citizenship in His Kingdom. Genesis 22:9-14

God is Jehovah-shalom. This name means “the God of peace.” God could never give to others a peace that exceeds understanding if He Himself were not perfect, unfailing peace. Judges 6:16-24

God is immutable. All that God is, He has always been. All that He has been and is, He will ever be. He cannot change because He is perfect and will remain perfect. Psalm 102:25-28

God is transcendent. We must not think of God as highest in an order of beings. This would be to grant Him eminence, even pre-eminence, but this is not enough. He is transcendent—existing beyond the created universe. Psalm 113:4,5

God is just. God rules with absolute justice. Not fooled by appearances, God is fair, equitable, and impartial in all of His judgments. Psalm 75:1-7

God is holy. God’s holiness is not simply the best we know made infinitely better. God is absolutely untainted. His holiness stands apart—unique and incomprehensible. Revelation 4:8-11

God is Jehovah-rophe. This name means “Jehovah heals.” God alone has the remedy for the healing of mankind. The Gospel is concerned with the physical, moral, and spiritual healing of all people. Exodus 15:22-26

God is self-sufficient. He is the One who contains all, who gives all that is given, but who Himself can receive nothing that He has not first given. Acts 17:24-28

God is omniscient. God knows all that can be known. His knowledge includes every possible thing that exists, has ever existed, or will ever exist. Psalm 139:1-6

God is omnipresent. God is everywhere—close to everything, next to everyone. “‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.” Psalm 139:7-12

God is merciful. God’s compassion is infinite and inexhaustible. In the mercy of His provision in Christ, He took upon Himself the judgment that was due us. He waits and works now for all people everywhere to turn to Him, not wanting any to be lost. Deuteronomy 4:29-31

God is sovereign. God is in control of our lives. His sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation. To be sovereign, God must be all-knowing and all-powerful. 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

God is Jehovah-nissi. This name means “God our banner.” We may go from triumph to triumph and say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Exodus 17:8-15

God is wise. All God’s acts are done in infinite wisdom. He always acts for our good, which is to conform us to Christ. Our good and His glory are inextricably bound together. Proverbs 3:19,20

God is faithful. Our hope for the future rests upon God’s faithfulness. Because He is faithful, His covenants will stand and His promises will be honored. Psalm 89:1-8

God is wrathful. God’s wrath is never capricious, self-indulgent, or irritable, as human anger often is. Instead, it is a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil. Nahum 1:2-8

God is full of grace. Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to grant merit where it is undeserved and to forgive debt that cannot be repaid. Ephesians 1:5-8

God is our Comforter. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Comforter.” Paul writes that the Lord is “the God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

God is El-Shaddai. This name means “God Almighty.” It is best understood as God who is all-sufficient and all-bountiful—the source of all blessings, fullness, and fruitfulness. Genesis 49:22-26

God is Father. The Creator of the universe cares for each one of us as if we are the only child He has. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9). The Spirit of God taught us to cry, “Abba, Father,” as in the intimacy of the family. Romans 8:15-17

God is the Church’s head. God the Son, Jesus, is the head of the Church. The head—as the part of the body that sees, hears, thinks, and decides—gives the orders that the rest of the body lives by. Ephesians 1:22,23

God is our intercessor. Knowing our temptations, God the Son intercedes for us. He opens the doors for us to boldly ask Him for mercy. Thus, God is both the starting point and ending point of true prayer. Hebrews 4:14-16

God is Adonai. This name means “Master” or “Lord.” God as Adonai calls all God’s people to acknowledge themselves as His servants, recognizing His right to command them as the Lord of their lives. 2 Samuel 7:18-20

God is Elohim. This name means “Strength” or “Power.” He is transcendent, mighty, and strong. Elohim is the great name of God, signifying supreme power, sovereignty, and a covenant relationship that He is ever faithful to keep. Genesis 17:7,8

Monday, April 5, 2010

Pictures of Lola Mae

Here are some pictures of our sweet puppy Lola Mae. She had her second vet visit today, and let's just say she is NOT a fan. At her first visit she weighed 4.4 lbs and had to get one vaccine and some deworming medicine (she loved that- it was banana flavored) but hated the vaccine (duh!!). Today she weighed in at......drum roll please.......5.6 lbs! She gained 1.2 lbs in 2 weeks bahaha. She's a growing girl!! After she got 2 more vaccines today she is pretty much milking the system and giving me and Chip the "poor pitiful me" look. Oh well, she's a trooper! And has to go back in 2 weeks...shhhhhh don't tell her ;)

Sunday, April 4, 2010

He is risen! He is risen indeed!




HAPPY EASTER! As Chip and I's first holiday together as a married couple, we are thrilled that it was truly the holiday that Christianity is all about. Praise God for an empty tomb!!

We have been attending West End Community Church for almost 2 months now, and just are in awe at how at home we feel. We both are blown away by the community there and how filled our cup is when we leave each week. It is seriously our favorite part of our week. Wanna come with us? Just let us know.

We signed up for their Discovery class today which is the next step towards membership there. It gives you a better understanding of the church, who they are, what exactly they believe, etc. We also went to Sunday School for the first time there today and really enjoyed it. It was their young married couple's class and we truly enjoyed the discussion style class technique.

We are so grateful to have found a church that we absolutely love!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

NORMAL!

Hello everyone! Chip and I are finally getting backed to normal life after the whirlwind of the wedding. The envelope taste is finally leaving our mouths as we finished up thank you notes, the laundry is piling up, the bills are rolling in, and you know what? Life couldn't be better.

We are so happy to go to sleep and wake up next to each other every single night. We are happy to come home to each other at the end of the day and sit and eat dinner at the kitchen table we painted together. We still get a rush out of using our "fancy pants" coffee maker as we call it. We love to say "hey this is the first time we've used (insert wedding present), awesome!" We're newlyweds, and we are happy. And we plan on staying that way.

As life settles down and we get a routine we will blog more about the happenings in our lives, promise :) Like this past weekend, we got a puppy!!!!! Here's how it all went down...

Saturday morning I was doing some work in downtown Franklin and Chip went to go play golf with the boys and afterwards we met at the bank to consolidate our bank accounts into one account (zzzzzzzz)- it gets interesting I promise!

While we were waiting for the paperwork to finish I said "Babe, you should be so proud of me. A lady was selling mini dachunds on the side of the road in Franklin and I didn't get one. I didn't even stop and look." (I have wanted a puppy forever and kept begging Chip to get one and he kept saying no no lets wait til you get back from TFA Summer Institute).

Then Chip says, "Well, we can go look if you want" And i explained to him that puppies are like Yoda- there is no try, only do and you don't just go look at puppies and not come home with one unless you have no heart. So he says "well lets just go look - im not promising anything"

So we go back to the apartment real quick to combine cars, I run in to use the restroom, and grab Chip's checkbook and toss it in my purse ;) and then we go and drive to Franklin to see if the lady was still on the side of the road- and she was!!!!! And as soon as Chip held our pup, I knew he was sold, so, welcome sweet Lola Mae Wooten into our family :)

We're loving her oh so much (maybe would love her more if she slept all night and didn't keep having accidents) but she is so soft and so sweet and so cuddly and loves to meet people and give them kisses and play and especially take naps. She loves to play with her pup-cousin Neyland too. They even play tug-a-war with their toys. Also, she doesn't really walk. She hops like a kangaroo. And it's awesome. So Lola is officially taking visitors- she can't wait to meet you!! I will post lots of pictures of her as soon as I find my camera charger, don't you worry.

And with that, I'm going to go to sleep!