Looking Back...

Well, it's December 31st.  The last day of this year.  It flew by so fast.  So much happened in 2008 that I will always remember.

 

I started dating Justin in January.

My very first niece, Ava Nicole, was born in February.

Justin proposed in April.  (very romantic!!)

We got our first home in April.

My cousin, David, (we are 4 days apart) got married in June.

I got my kitty babies in July.

Justin and I got married in August.  8/8/08.

My first Christmas as a married woman in December.

 

What a wonderful year! I only hope 2009 can be so good to me.

A Little Update-- No pictures

Since Christmas, we have been busy, busy. After finishing the paint in the kitchen/dining room, we decided to paint MORE! We have now painted an extra bedroom and are trying to decide on a color for the bathrooms! I'm loving this... pretty soon I'll have a whole new house!

Our friend Shelly moved to Minnesota in August. She came in for the holidays to visit. She went to church with us last night, and then we had her over for dinner. I didn't take pictures, but I thought I would share the recipe because it is delicious!

Pepper Jack Chicken

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Worcestershire Sauce

Grill Seasonings

Diced Onion

Diced Jalapenos

Sharp Cheddar Cheese (4 oz)

Pepper Jack Cheese (8 oz)

Marinate chicken with Worcestershire sauce and grill seasonings for at least 10 minutes. Grill chicken breasts until they are tender. Sautee onions and jalapenos in a pan while chicken is cooking. Shred cheeses together onto a plate. Then spread cheeses and sautéed vegetables over cooked chicken, and put into oven to melt cheeses.

Church yesterday was amazing, as always. I love my church, my church family, my pastor, our worship team.. I just love it all!

Pastor Tom spoke about how we need to be "doers" of the Word, not just hearers. That really got me thinking. I know that I know the Word. I believe the Word. I hear and read the Word. But am I really living and "doing" the Word?? Do people around me notice that I'm different? Does my life show it? Am I like Christ? Because, afterall, that is what being a Christian is supposed to be about!

Justin and I decided to start following a program or whatever so that we can read the entire Bible in a year. I've always wanted to do it, but never would stay with it. Now we have each other to keep us accountable. I pray to learn and change and grow during this next year. I want my life to reflect my heart.

Christmas 2008

Where to start?  This is gonna be a long one......

This Christmas was wonderful.  It was full of love, joy, surprises, family, good food, and most importantly Jesus.

Christmas Eve night after Justin got off work we spent time with his parents, sister, and our soon to be brother-in-law.  We brought all of our Christmas presents over there and opened them together.  Justin's parents spoiled the four of us way too much.  I'm not complaining though!  LOL.  We really did get some wonderful gifts.

Towards the end of all the unwrapping, I still had not opened a gift from Justin.  He asked me where it was, and I had no clue.  Everyone stopped what they were doing.  I could feel them looking at me as Justin grabbed another box from the side of the couch. 

I opened it.  I said nothing.  I cried a little even.  I was in shock. This is what I saw when I got the wrapping paper off.

I have been wanting a new camera for a while now.  Justin and I had talked about it, looked at them, talked some more, and finally decided we just couldn't afford it right now.

 

Well, he surprised me!!!  I couldn't believe it.  I got the exact camera I have been wanting!  I cannot wait to start using it!  I think I have the BEST husband ever!!!!

 

After that, I felt like what I got him could not compare.  But it's what he wanted... a new tool belt and a DeWalt sander.  He's such a handyman and I love it.

We went home, played with our new toys, and then went to bed.  Bright and early the next morning we went back to his parents' house for lunch.  His dad's side of the family was there.

When we left there we went to my dad's side of the family.  It was bigger than ever this year and so much fun!

 

 

Of course, my Ava baby was there looking as cute as ever!  She really made Christmas fun this year.

 

 

She opened her presents and loved every one of them!  We especially had fun with her new orange ball and her foam blocks, which apparently were very tasty!

 

Uncle Mark made some of the best gumbo I have ever eaten.  And then we had a variety of desserts.  I stuffed myself silly and so did everyone else, I think.

Every year we take a picture of all the cousins.  The past couple of years it has been growing.  This has been the biggest group so far with three of us married and Miss Ava here now.

We finished out the night by going to see a movie with my aunt and uncle.  We saw Valkyrie...not my first choice in movies, but it was pretty good.  And I'll take any opportunity to go to the movies with my hubby cause that doesn't happen too often.

I hope everyone's Christmas was as perfect as mine.  And I hope everyone remembered our precious Lord Jesus on His birthday!

Cookie Surprise Cupcakes

I wanted to make something sweet to take to my family's Christmas get together tomorrow, and these look so yummy!

I got the recipe from Kelly's Recipe blog.

You just take a chocolate cake mix and mix according to the directions on the box.  Fill the muffin pans about halfway and then put chocolate chip cookie dough down inside each one.

 

This is Kelly's picture because I didn't have my SD card in my camera when I took my own picture!!!  :(

 

 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes and top with chocolate frosting. It makes about 24 wonderfully delicious cupcakes!

Now I've gotta go get ready for my first Christmas with the in-laws!

Changes

First of all this weather!  Two days ago I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  It was close to 70 degrees.  Today it is below freezing and no  matter what I do I cannot get warm!  It's FREEZING outside and inside too.  I'm glad it's cold for Christmas though.  Now, if only it would snow!

Second is our kitchen..  There is no longer any wallpaper or border!  I ripped it all down and then Justin helped me take down the backing.  That was quite a job.  We worked for like 5 hours on that mess.  I know it will be worth it though!  And I have a color picked out.  It's called Rolling Hills.. it's a pretty bright green color.  Can't wait!

Something New

Two posts in one day!

I just added the Windows Live Writer application and wanted to test it out.  I think I'm gonna like it.  It makes posting more like using a word processing program, and you can see exactly what the post will look like before you publish it to the web.

So, I'll use this post to introduce mine and Justin's babies. 

About two weeks before we got married, I talked Justin into getting me a kitten.  When we went to pick him up, we left with two!  They are now about 6 months old, and we love them so much.  Since we aren't ready for kids just yet, they keep us busy.

 

This is Samson.  He is our fat cat.  Justin likes him best and has no problem admitting that.  He just likes fat animals.  Ha ha!

 

 

 

This is Sylvester.  He is much skinnier and gets into things he shouldn't much more often.  I like his little "mustache".

 

I guess that's it for now.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!

!!!!!

I'm EXCITED!!!!
Today Justin and I started helping his parents paint the rooms of a house for his sister and her future hubby. While we were over there helping out, we started talking about doing our house. Well actually, I have been wanting to redo our kitchen since I moved in, but we just haven't had the money.
We decided to just do it in small steps. And I'm super excited because Justin said we could start this week! Tonight while he is working I'm tearing down our ugly wallpaper and border in the kitchen. Hopefully later this week we will paint. Eventually we are painting the cabinets, getting new hardware and new countertops.
YAY! YAY!

I'll have to post before and after pics once we get some work done!

My Baby Love

Today I worked what is quite possibly my last day ever of afterschool care. It was long, but not too bad. We watched The Little Mermaid, which has always been a favorite of mine. And we had relay and potato sack races. So that was fun. But tonight was alot more fun.....

I had plans to go to our church Christmas Concert tonite, but instead.. I got to babysit my sweet, precious, perfect, lovable little niece, Ava Nicole. Her parents wanted to eat dinner out with friends and asked me to watch her. Well of course I said YES! I love her so incredibly much. I can't even imagine how I will love my own any more than I love her. And maybe it's because I'm her aunt, but I think she is the prettiest baby girl I have ever seen.

Here are some pics from our night together~~

Ava with Aunt Lissa (not great of me, but she is precious)


Ava girl playing


Showing off those teefies!

Meeting the kitties
Sylvester

Samson


Still loving to put everything in her mouth


Baby girl being sweet



We really did have fun together. I love this age that she is now. She is so entertaining and curious and interactive. Oh, and I think she enjoyed the cats. She might just have to get one at her house now!

My Day and My Promise

Today has not been a very exciting one. I woke up and spent a little time with the hubby and then got dressed and went to work. I worked extra hours today (from 12-6pm). The day was d.r.a.g.g.i.n.g by all day. Finally, I come home to find out that because of the yucky weather, we still don't have cable. That turned out to be a good thing though!
I did dishes, laundry, cleaned the kitchen and even vacuumed a little bit!

Now I'm piled up on the couch with my kitties, drinking a Sunkist, and watching Shrek! It's been a while since I have seen it, so I figured what better to watch if I have no cable?!

I'm really ready for Justin to get home. He will probably be working til about 11:00 tonight. yuck. I don't like these days when we barely get to see each other...

Over the last few days, I have over and over again been overwhelmed with thankfulness for my family, but mainly my husband. Maybe it's because of the time of year. This is my first year to be married during the holidays. It's so nice to have someone to share it all with.

I have always had a secret fear of being alone. I never told anyone about it. It was a fear that was tucked away deep. I didn't even like to acknowledge it. And then a little over a year ago, in November, God spoke through someone and told me that I should not fear. I would not have to go through life alone. He had a plan for me and for my life.

I held on to that promise, wrote it down, read it to myself... Little did I know that plan would begin to unfold less than 2 months later! In January I began dating the love of my life!!! Isn't God neat? He has everything worked out and timed perfectly. I am so very thankful for all of the promises God has made me. I know they will all come to pass in His perfect time because His Word is TRUTH!

Bittersweet

Since this is my last week at my job, I decided to post about it. I work at Claiborne Christian School in the afterschool program for school age kids. I specifically work with the 4th-8th grade (but I hang out with the little ones alot!). I usually have about 12-15 kids in my direct care every day, and there are about 45 kids in afterschool all together.

When I started this job, I was less than happy about it. I didn't know how to handle the kids and their attitudes and their unwillingness to do anything I said. Over time, though, we have come to an understanding. They listen to me most of the time, and I kinda like them now! I actually think I will miss these kids!

Here are a couple of pics we took yesterday after snack time--


ONLY 3 MORE DAYS!

Where did the weekend go?

This weekend flew by WAY too fast...
I'm definitely not ready to be back at work. But this is my last week to work for quite a while! After Friday, the school will be closed for the holidays, and then in January I start student teaching!!! That's a pretty scary thought for me right now! I do not feel ready for that AT ALL!!! I need to really start praying that God prepare me for that next step in my journey towards a degree.

Another thing on my mind right now is Justin's job situation. He has been working two jobs for a while now. Working about 9am-1030 or later pm. It's getting to both of us. We are praying that God direct him somewhere else. We want him to have a full time job where he can work days. And we need benefits! It's alot to ask with the economy the way it is, but we believe that we have favor!

If anyone reads this, please be praying about these things with us!

Its Beginning To Feel A Little More Like Christmas...

Justin and I went to our small group's Christmas party last night. We had good food, good fellowship, Christmas music, and some Christmas Story trivia!


I really love this time of year. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the food, the friends and family, the shopping, the gift wrapping, the Christmas story, and everything else.

Now I'm even more excited as I'm counting down the days. I'm really looking forward to this Christmas in particular because of my sister's babygirl, Ava. She will be 10 months old, and I just know it's going to be fun!

Banana Split Pie

Justin and I are going to a Christmas party tomorrow night for our small group, Road to Recovery. It's just going to be a few people at Aunt Donna and Uncle Mark's house. Anyway, Justin found this recipe for a Banana Split Pie and wants me to try it.

Here is the Recipe:

• 2 bananas
• 1 pint strawberries
• 1 can crushed pineapple (in juice)
• 1 package strawberry jello
• sugar
  
• 80z cool whip
• 8oz strawberry yogurt
• 2 graham cracker crusts

Drain pineapple. Chop all fruit in bowl. Sprinkle sugar and jello over fruit and stir. Next, add cool whip and yogurt. Fluff together and place in graham cracker crust. Let set in refrigerator overnight.

I sure hope it turns out good!

**EDIT**
I decided that I like a little chocolate in my banana split, so I put some chocolate syrup on mine! yumm!

First Blog

Well, I decided today that I wanted to start a blog. More for myself than anyone else. I want a way to keep track of the things that go on in my life, but I've never really like journaling or anything. Blogging seems fun, so here I am!