Z is for "Z" End!

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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 Its been 30 days already? I can't believe I followed through with this challenge. I have to say it was difficult to stay on track most days... but I got a post for every letter. I had so much fun and gained some wonderful new followers. 

 

I am going on vacation tomorrow and when I return I will start my giveaway... right now my sister, Kari has made some cool pot holders to be given away and I will find more items to give away too, so stay tuned!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!

Y is for Yellow

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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 If you don't know already... my favorite color is pink. I recently went shopping for an Easter dress and when asked by the attendant at a store what I was looking for in a dress I blurted out "NO PINK!" I explained that this was because about 75% of my wardrobe is pink and I would really like to branch out a bit. Two stores later I found a pretty dress that had big black and white flowers with splashes of yellow and a cute yellow bolero. I LOVE IT!

 

I have incorporated yellow into my knit blocks for the KAL I am doing each month... or rather the one I say I am doing and have only gotten through one of March's squares. 

 

I think I am going to find more room for yellow in my closet!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!

X is for eXcited!

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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 I am super excited because in just over 48 hours I will be seeing my sister for the first time in 6.5 years... I am trying not to make Jeff crazy with how excited I am. I plan to have lots of pictures to share when I return! Also... I am up to 43 followers... I will begin the giveaway process when I return as well!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!

W is for Weather

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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I have been in Arkansas for about 7 years now... and I don't recall having such crazy weather in a 4 months span! We missed 6-7 days in January and February for snow and then this week I spent an hour hiding in a stair well at work! I do not like tornadoes... I do not like being away from my husband during tornadoes. No damage other than my car now looking like a big black golf ball. I am praying for the people who lost loved ones on the storms this week.

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!

V is for Valentine

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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 I married my Valentine on Valentine's Day. We have been married for 7 years and I love him more and more each day! I thank God for my Valentine!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!  

U is for Unicorns and Glitter!

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!    

T is for Tomorrow

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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 When I asked Jeff what I should do for my T post he gave me a list a mile long that included several dinosaurs, truth, trust, and a big word that I've never heard before... transubstantiation... I'll pass! 

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days... Easter! Its the day we celebrate the trial, death and more importantly.. the resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why did I say more importantly? Because without the resurrection... then His death would have no meaning. If He didn't rise on the third day then He wouldn't have concurred death and saved the world from their sins.

I am forever thankful for the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for me and for you. As you celebrate Easter tomorrow, don't forget to celebrate Jesus!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!    

S is for Samaritans Purse

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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 Samaritans Purse is one of my favorite organizations. It was founded by Franklin Graham. There are many parts to Samaritans Purse; they provide ponds, schools, hospitals, cattle, chickens, toys, mosquito nets, etc to countries around the world. Samaritans Purse also runs Operation Christmas Child... my favorite Christmas charity. 

For the last three Christmases Jeff and I have packed shoe boxes to provide to OCC and our boxes mostly have been sent to Africa. I have told Jeff before to put the money he is going to spend on me into my boxes... because that is what gives me the most joy!

Last Christmas, our church packed 50 boxes! I told Jeff as we were delivering them to the drop off place that I wanted to do 100 boxes this year. He didn't think we could meet that at first. But with some great organization and a few people who also love these boxes, we are well on our way to reach 100 boxes. We are collecting a new item every month or so until we reach about 100 of them and then we change items. This year promises to be an exciting year for our church's packing party.

I have crocheted some wash cloths in the past and this year I plan to crochet some while Jeff and I are flying to Washington next week. I am also knitting some rabbits! I am having a ton of fun and can't wait to share photos!

For more information on Samaritans Purse please visit www.samaritanspurse.org

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!   

R is for...

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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I don't know what R is for. Roses, reaching, romance, religion, roller coasters, rice, raisins.... goodness! I could list so many "R" words... but I couldn't write about any of them! I feel that religion or having a religion or being religious doesn't necessarily mean that you are saved. The pharisees were religious and Jesus said they were like white washed tombs... nice and pristine on the outside... but dead on the inside. They toted the scriptures around their necks and prayed loudly when people were around so that they could show off just how religious they were. But they showed no compassion for others... even praying "God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector." (The Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Luke 18:9-14)

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!  

Q is for Question

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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Leave a comment with your questions about me and I will pick some to answer!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!  

P is for Prayer

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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How do you pray? When do you pray? I have to say, I am a conversational prayer. I can't say I am a constant prayer but my thoughts go to Him several times a day. I consciously pray when big things happen... good and bad.

I believe that prayer is an essential part of being a Christian. It is part of the relationship we should have with our Lord. You need to build your relationship with Him in the same way you would build it with your husband or wife. Conversation is important. I know He hears them and that sometimes his answer is no or not yet... or maybe its yes... but not the yes I expected. It's like having your best friend with you every moment, every second of every day. 

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!  

O is for Original

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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When I write my posts, I try to do so in an original manner. I don't want to seem like I am copying anyone's style or ideas. I think I do a decent job with that. I have seen my followers grow over the last few months and I am excited about it. 

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!  

N is for Nephews

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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 So I am totally stealing this N post from my sister. I have been mulling over what to write about that begins with N since I was supposed to do my N post on Saturday. Good thing she came up with Nephews or I was going t be clever and do "N is for Nothing!"

So I have 5 Nephews... not counting friends children that I have adopted as mine. Xander (Michael), Taylor, Nathaniel, Colton and Noah. I will get to meet each of them for the first time in 10 days! I will meet Xander first in Seattle. His Dad has been good enough to let my sister, Debbie, have him that day so that we can meet him. He will be 5 in October. I haven't had many interactions with him, but my family assures me that he knows who I am... probably from all the crocheted goodies he gets for Christmas!

Taylor will be 3 in September. This little boy is adorable. My sister-in-law tells me that he adores my crocheted goodies as well and even refuses to wear any hats other than the ones that I have made him. 

Nathaniel is going to be 3 in December. This little man is the one I am closest to. We talk on the phone at least once a month. I love hearing him say "I love you so much!" I've been told that this little guy can pick me and Jeff out of  photo. He knows my voice. I cannot wait to meet him. He had a conversation with Jeff the other day...

Nathaniel: I go bye bye in daddy's car go see Jeff and Sarah.

Jeff: Do you know where I live? its a long drive!

Nathaniel: I go bye bye in daddy's car go see Jeff and Sarah.

It was the sweetest thing I'd ever heard. 

Colton just turned 1 in January. I don't hear a lot about him since his parents don't have internet to keep in touch in the way Kari does. I've been told he is a beautiful child. He will get a new baby sister in July. 

Noah.. Noah was just born in January. We were all hoping he would be a girl... but God made him a beautiful little boy. Taylor is his big brother and they are so cute together.

I have 10 days to go until I get to see my family. I hope the next 10 days go by quickly.

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers!  

M is for Memories

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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As it comes closer and closer to May 1 when I will make my first trip back home in almost 7 years I can't help but to think about the past... think about all the memories I have either cherished or somehow forgotten. 

I remember staying up late with my sister, Kari, when we were kids playing barbies. It would be so late and we would be so tired so we would tuck the barbies under our pillows and lay down to "rest our eyes". Somehow we always managed to fall asleep and wake up with barbie imprints on our faces. 

I have a step-sister who is about 3 months older than us and the three of us had so much fun together. Sun bathing in the backyard in our under clothes or camping on the front porch... and then having it rain on us! In the last week or so I began to remember the memories we wrote on the wall inside our bedroom closet as teenagers... Yes.. ON THE WALL! I spoke with my step-sister, Debbie, last night and we talked about the wall. It contains all our declarations of love for boys we went to school with and who knows what else. She told me our parents know about it now and laugh about it... they probably would have skinned us for it back then! I told her I have to add my new and only love to that wall when I come up there. I can't wait!

Today's memories though center around Jeff's Grandma Duncan. She passed away and went home to her Lord two years ago today. Her passing was hard on me as she was a second granny to me. I loved her as my own since I had lost all my grandparents by 2005. I sat with her through most of her last days and I truly miss the woman. I cannot wait to reunite with her in heaven some day. 

There she is on the left... this was Christmas 2007... one of the last we had with her because she spent her last Christmas at the nursing home... refusing to come and celebrate with us in 2008. I miss her smile, her laugh and her hugs.

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look because she will be having a giveaway when she reaches 20 followers! 

L is for Love

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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The bible tells us that we only know love because God first loved us. God has love us before we were ever conceived in the womb... before the foundation of the world. He chose to love me even when He knew that I would sin and the bad choices I would make.  

I've learned a lot about love in the last 7 years. Jeff and I went to a marriage conference held by Dr. Gary Chapman, Author of "The 5 Love Languages". This conference was amazing and I learned that loving someone is a choice. Marriage is hard and learning to live with someone who was raised differently than you is extremely tough. But loving that person is a choice you make.

Jeff and I had a rough start. We separated two weeks after we got married... or rather, I left him. I was gone for almost 6 months. We had to learn to communicate and to love each other... even when one of us ground on the other person's last nerve. Jeff has been by my side as I dealt with deaths in my family and his, an illness that almost took my life and many other rough patches. He has honored his vow to love me in good times and bad, sickness and health. I make a conscious effort to love him daily... because that is what God has done for me.

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look!

K is for Kari

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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I am sure I have talked about her some here on my blog... but I would like to tell you a little more about my twin sister, Kari. Kari was born 3 minutes after me almost 27 years ago. I would say she was a surprise to my parents but really we both were the surprise since the doctor told her she was going to have one big boy... not two small identical girls! 

so identical I can hardly pick myself out of this photo!

We were best friends as children. I felt her pain... all the time. My earliest memory was when we were just toddlers... I don't remember how old but Kari was really dehydrated so Mom and Dad took her to the doctor. Since I tagged along I remember the doctor having to give her IV fluids through her foot! I screamed and screamed because it hurt ME!

 

Kari always wanted to pose for pictures... (that's her on the left right)

 

 Somewhere along the way we grew up. When we were 17 she had major back surgery to correct the scoliosis that threatened to cripple her. Two titanium rods were implanted along her spine... she grew 4-6 inches in height during that surgery to become the same height as me! This was a hard thing to deal with. We knew the risks that the slightest wrong movement from the surgeons could injure her spinal cord. I felt her pain as a dull ache that spread down my spine. I spent that night and many other nights with her in that hospital as she recovered from multiple surgeries due to infections. I am thankful she doesn't remember these days as they were very scary.

 

We went to different high schools and her surgery kept her back so we did not graduate the same year...

 

My sister and I have a lot in common now as adults. We both crochet and I think she does beautiful work! She has a 2 year old and a fiancee... I have a husband and hope to start a family soon. And we both will do anything we can to help the other. I love my sister... I am thankful God spared her when she went into respiratory distress the morning after her first surgery.

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look!

J is for Joy

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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One thing I have learned in the last seven years is being Joyful. Not in a happy or giddy sort of way like the definition at dictionary.com tries to explain - "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation". But the kind of Joy that you feel when your hopes are secured on something more. The joy in knowing when you are done in this world... you will live in eternity with the Lord.  

In the last seven years I have experienced the death of my own Granny and Poppa, Jeff's Grandma who was like my own, the pastor who married Jeff and I (and his parents 30 years before us) and his wife... as well as many other people who held a place in my heart. It is hard watching people we love pass away; but with the joy God has given me it takes the sting away especially knowing that those people had gone home to be with the Lord.  Joy helped me through these deaths, my near death in June 2008, my job loss 6 weeks after returning to work in 2008... Knowing God has a plan for me is a wonderful joy!

I am not going to say that I am the happiest person out there. I know I have my days where even I don't want to be around me. That's the thing about being one of His children... being forgiven for my actions and attitudes.  

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look!

I is for Incredible and Inspire

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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Super happy today... recently I've entered and won a few giveaways, INCREDIBLE! These giveaways feed my love for crochet. Last night I received two of the prizes. I found out this morning I have one coming in the mail soon and one should be coming via email soon. So here are the ones I received last night...

Learn to Do Waffle Weave pattern book I won over at Ambassador Crochet... Thank you!

 Size Q hook and Crochet For Today pattern book I won over at Twisted Strands... Thank you!

Both books look amazing and I hope to complete projects from each!


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I is for Inspire...

When thinking about what inspiration I get to crochet the things I do I like to think about color combinations and how the patterns or colors make me feel. I am inspired by the idea that I am pouring love into each item I make and that the recipient will know the care given.

I've told you before that I believe God has given each of us a purpose in life. I believe mine is to love complete strangers and to share the gift of crochet He has given me with these people. This is the joy I long for each day... so see my work put to good use. Giving the things I crochet to others is why I love this craft so much... and I am truly thankful God has blessed me with the ability to crochet... and now knit!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge, so be sure to take a look!

H is for Home

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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Jeff and I were finally blessed with our first home just about 14 months ago. It was the second or third house we looked at and I knew when I walked into the kitchen that it would be ours. We made the offer, secured a deal, and signed the closing papers in about three weeks time. 

 

This house is just about everything I wanted. It has a bay window in the dining room, a newly remodeled kitchen with all stainless/black appliances, an upstairs, a fenced in back yard, a garage and its in a good neighborhood. I knew we would make some changes around the place... a new deck outback, build a balcony/deck off the master bedroom so the door leading outside will no longer be the door to nowhere, redo the bathrooms and other miscellaneous projects. 

 

We finished the bathroom "redo" by June 2010 with the exception of putting up the paper boarders at the top of the wall - that project is still waiting to be finished. We finished the new deck out back... I think the original deck was the ORIGINAL from 1978!! And I was thrilled this February when Jeff and I decided to rip out the rest of the carpet in the living room and put down some beautiful cherry laminate flooring just in time for our 1 year anniversary of being home owners! 

 

One thing that amazed Jeff was when I told him this is the first real house - meaning a house that sits on a concrete foundation... one that was built here.I grew up in trailers, manufactured homes and apartments. This was something new to me and I love it. 

 

Realizing you are an adult... a home owner is an amazing feeling. It is another reason I feel that God has blessed us so much. Not that we haven't had our rough times... God blessed me with those too. I am truly thankful for the home he has blessed me with!

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My sister, Kari, decided to join the challenge today, so be sure to take a look!

My First Award!

Ok, I have to admit I squealed when I saw the comment on my blog telling me I had won an award. Since I have admitted that... I also must admit that my squeal freaked my poor husband out! So needless to say, I am super excited to have received my first award from Deirdra over at A Storybook World. Thank you so much!

G is for Giveaway

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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I have slowly watched my followers grow from zero to 30. As a lover of giveaways I have wanted to host one myself for quite a while. So today I am announcing that once I reach 40 followers (please tell your friends) I will plan a giveaway to scoot up to 50. Once I hit 50, the giveaway will close and a winner will be chosen! 

 

What will the gift be? Well, I have some yarn and other miscellaneous items I plan to give away. So spread the word and lets get to 40 followers!

F is for Family

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.



  I am going to make these posts a mix of things but my hope is that they will all have a common thread... God.

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I shared a little about my family on my "D is for Dad" post. I prefer not to say that I come from a broken home because even though my mom left us our home wasn't broke. My dad did everything within his power to care for us and I don't feel that I missed out on anything even without my mom there. My dad remarried in 1996. My step mom is a wonderful woman. I do not call her by her name, she is my mom. She had 5 children and we became a family... her 5 kids and my dad's 4 kids; 9 kids total sharing one bathroom. My mom has not remarried but she did have a child when I was almost 15 so that gives me 9 siblings total. 

I am almost 27 and all of my siblings are grown and on their own except for Jacob who is 12. I moved away from home when I was 19 and got married. Jeff and I have been together ever since. I miss seeing my family grow and change. I have 5 nephews I haven't met and a niece on the way. I have a sister in law, a brother's girlfriend and a sister's boyfriend I haven't met. I look forward to meeting them on my visit in May. 

When Jeff and got married I married into a wonderful family. Jeff's parents had been married for just about 30 years at the time. His parents loved me like I was their daughter.

I have to say God surely blessed me with two wonderful families. 

 

E is for Exercise

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.



  I am going to make these posts a mix of things but my hope is that they will all have a common thread... God.

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In January 2010 I made the decision to start exercising. Sure, I was playing on my wii and doing what I kept trying to convince myself was exercise but I never saw an improvement in my personal fitness. I joined Curves in January 2010 and worked out at least three times a week until I made the decision to leave in February 2011. I learned to exercise right and found that even though I was gaining weight each week... I was actually feeling better and more fit. I was able to hike down to a waterfall last summer. That was something I have wanted to do for years but was never fit enough.  

 

When I made the decision to leave Curves in February I purchased a membership to the fitness center at our local community center. I also purchased a membership to be able to take all the classes I want there with actual trainers. 

 

The first few weeks were murderous.  I was sore about every day but I knew I had to keep going. I have lost a small amount of weight... .6 pounds to be exact. I have gained and lost, gained and lost. I missed work outs last week for a whole week since I was sick in bed. I walked a mile yesterday and went to an abs and arms class this morning. I hope I hurt tomorrow!

 

I enjoy the days when I just walk because I put my ear buds in and listen to KLOVE. I spend this time worshiping God and praying. This helps me start my days right. 

D is for Dad

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.



  I am going to make these posts a mix of things but my hope is that they will all have a common thread... God.

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I had a hard time deciding yesterday what my "D" post would be and honestly, this idea didn't hit me until I was just about to drift off to sleep last night. I've talked about my dad before... told you about how I was Daddy's Little Girl growing up and how we have to make him special food now that he is sick. Today I want to tell you a little more about what makes this man the best Dad... in my opinion.

 

As I get older I remember less and less about things I did when I was a kid... I couldn't sit here and tell you about activities I participated in or about family holidays. However, sometimes a memory will just pop up in my mind and make me smile. One of my favorites being the day my brother, James, was born back in May 1990. I was in Kindergarten and my sister and I were in a school assembly/concert dancing with umbrellas and singing. I remember looking out to the audience and seeing my dad and older brother. Dad kept motioning with his arms trying to tell us that James was born. Try picturing a grown man sitting in the gym of a school swinging his arms around like he is cradling a baby in them and then pointing at my older brother. Being 6 years old I obviously was confused as to how my mom had a baby Buddy (my brother's name). 

 

When I was in first grade I had an accident on my bicycle... I tumbled over the handle bars and landed on my chin. I went to the emergency room and got 5 stitches. My Dad loved to tease me that I couldn't eat soup anymore because it would leak out of the hole in my chin and then he would put the back of his hand up to his chin and wiggle his fingers to make it look like noodles hanging out. This teasing always made me cry but I find it pretty entertaining now. 

 

My mom left us when I was in 4th grade. Their divorce was finalized when I was in 5th grade and my Dad won custody. I remember the struggles he had trying to support 4 children on his own... but he made it work. I remember one Christmas Eve he woke us three older children up and showed us the pile of gifts under the tree. He asked us if it was enough... it was more than enough. My dad was always honest about our situation and he made sure the kids were taken care of first. He was my protector when things went crazy on visitation with Mom and I learned to be the protector during those times when I was older. 

 

He is an amazing encourager. My dad is the reason I went to college... the reason I worked so hard to graduate from High School on time. He taught me values that didn't catch on until I was married and trying to build a life of my own with my husband. 

 

He is one of my best friends... someone I can tell everything to. He calls me Gabby because I talk a lot. But he loves it... and so do I! I am so thankful that God saw fit to bless me with the dad I received. 

 

 

C is Crochet

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.



  I am going to make these posts a mix of things but my hope is that they will all have a common thread... God.

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My step-mom taught me to crochet when I was 14. My first finished project was a hideous blanket for my new baby brother. Looking back I see this blanket as my first scrap blanket since it was made from several colors of yarn from a shimmery blue variegated, brown, green and other colors. It was worked in the round and the corners were bad... the center pouched out. I am sure my mom has the blanket in storage somewhere. I would like to get a picture of it someday. 

 

Obviously, my crochet skills have gotten better over the last thirteen years... especially in the last two years. I really enjoy this craft. It relaxes me and allows me to be creative in so many ways. My family lives 2000 miles from me in Washington state. I have three sisters, three brothers, a sister in law, a (soon to be) brother in law, a brother's girlfriend, a sisters boyfriend, four nephews, a niece on the way, a dad, a mom and a step-mom that I send Christmas gifts to each year. I find the most cost effective and easy gifts to send are home made. 

 

I started a new Christmas tradition for myself two years ago when I stopped at Walgreens and saw an "Angel Tree" of sorts that provides gifts for senior citizens. The first year I made a pink black and white granny square lap blanket. I loved this blanket and I still think about Lois (the recipient) frequently.  Last year I donated two blankets for Dora and Linda. I have posts somewhere for them... one is here and one showing the half way done blanket is here. Currently I have four blankets in progress for this charity. 

 

I believe that God gives his people gifts. Gifts to use to glorify Him. These gifts may be teaching, the ability to comfort, the ability to provide etc. Over the last couple years I honestly believe that God gave me the ability to crochet so I could honor and glorify him with that talent. I pray for the recipients of my blankets as I work them and I provide them a note letting them know the gifts are made with love and prayer. I love my charity projects, they teach me patience and prayer. 

 

 

B is for Books

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.



  I am going to make these posts a mix of things but my hope is that they will all have a common thread... God.

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I have always had a love for these stories and words within their bindings. They take me to places and teach me things I never knew. My tastes in books or rather the theme of books I read has changed in the last seven years. When I was a teen I was really into V.C. Andrews. My mom seemed to have all her books and I really enjoyed the new books that were coming out as they seemed to be written for the younger crowd. These books are not something I would read today. 

 

While my husband tends to shy away from fiction books I practically feed on them. I discovered my favorite Author a good 5 or 6 years ago when I was looking for something to read while we were waiting on Firestone to replace the tires on our truck. Karen Kingsbury is an amazing and inspirational Christian Fiction writer. My first Kingsbury books were the three books in the "Forever Faithful" series. These books touched me in a way any other book had done. Karen's books helped me learn more about my God and the grace he has given me. 

 

Back when I was a housewife I enjoyed visiting the library. I read several books a month and sometimes two a day. I read almost 100 books in a year. I don't read as much now as I would like because I do spend most of my free time with my yarn and hooks. 

 

My most favorite books are the Chronicles of Narnia books by C.S. Lewis. I have loved these since I was a child and my husband gifted me the full set for our first anniversary. I could read those books over and over and find something new each time I read them. I have also enjoyed the movies. 

 

I apologize if this post is not as interesting as the others. I have had books on my mind all day. I went to Mardels and purchased 7 new books for my collection and finally... after more than a year of living here... unpacked my books I had in the garage and placed them on the bookshelf. I love my books. 

A is for Aspiration

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.

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I chose "Aspiration" for today's post to tell you what I aspired to be as a child, as a young adult and now as the wife and woman I am. 

 

Aspiration is a noun defined as "strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition: intellectual aspirations." While looking up the definition of Aspiration I found the following synonyms: yearning and craving.

 

As a child I can tell you my dreams were not to be a preacher's wife or an employee at a major wireless carrier's call center. My aspiration was to be like my mom. I am still confused as to why I wanted to be like her... we didn't have the relationship most moms and daughters do. But maybe thats why. My mom is a nurse. I remember going to nursing school with her when I was little. I remember going to the nursing homes she worked in and connecting with the patients. But somewhere in my senior year of high school that dream changed. 

 

I wanted to be a chef and own a restaurant. I wanted to specialize in gluten free cuisine. Two things happened to me in high school to change my desire from being a nurse to being a chef/restaurant owner. My dad was diagnosed with Celiac Sprue Disease. This disease is non-curable but can be treated with a life long gluten free diet; specifically gluten found in wheat, oats, barley and rye. This was a big change for my family. Dad became disabled and he aged quickly. Learning how to identify gluten in common foods and where it came from was a huge challenge. The biggest challenge was cooking for him. 

 

The second thing that changed my childhood aspiration was joining a new class offered at my school when I was a senior. It was a catering class. We baked tons of apple, pumpkin and rhubarb pies to sell for Thanksgiving, we sold food to other students during lunch time like lasagna and cheese cake. I learned that there was a lot of math in cooking and math was my favorite subject. I entered a culinary competition with a small group of my peers and we trained in a local restaurant. I was in the local newspaper. It was in this class that I found the source of my desire... the source of my craving. I made the choice to attend Western Culinary Institute and I graduated in 2004 with an Associates Degree in Restaurant Management. I was on the right track to reach my goal. 

 

But God had different plans. I met my husband online in the fall of 2002. We became fast friends and started a long distance relationship almost a year later. Once I finished classes I chose to come to Arkansas in December 2003 and complete my Internship for college. Jeff and I got married less than 2 months later. I was only 19. I was still in that time of my life where I wanted to have fun and follow no rules. I did join the church Jeff and his family attended and I was baptized. God slowly worked on changing my heart. 

 

My aspiration now that I am a preacher's wife (as of 2 weeks ago) is to show daily that Christ lives in me. I desire to show compassion and love where ever I can. I want to be a good wife and helpmate to my husband, I want to be a mother and raise children. I no longer desire to own a restaurant. I still love to cook and miss it so very much because I cannot fix meals for my husband anymore due to my work schedule... but owning a restaurant is no longer my desire. 

 

My desire is to honor and glorify God in all that I do. I make an effort to do so each day at my call center job, at home with my husband and in the other activities that I do. God has given me a purpose... God is my purpose.