More Stamping Goodies and Fun for Me!

I can't believe I won something from Ellie again! This time I won a $20 gift certificate and I have already picked out some seriously awesome stamps. I can't wait to get them! Thank you again, Ellie! You're a total sweetheart!

Check out her blog HERE

9 Pounds Less to Lug Around

So, after 3 weeks of doing Weight Watchers with my wonderful husband, I am 9 pounds lighter. I can definitely be happy about that. It made me feel much better in my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding last weekend and when I put my jeans on for the first time in weeks yesterday, they were much more loose and it made me so excited! I need to lose close to 30 more pounds, but am looking at it in increments of 10 pounds to make it seem less daunting. This is the first plan I've ever done that seems like something I could actually live with and be successful with. I am so happy with what I've done so far and excited to see where I go! I have 5 weeks until my cousin's wedding and if I can lose even just 10 more pounds by then, I will be ecstatic and half way to my goal weight! How cool would that be? I'm not going to freak myself out about it though, I'm just going to be happy about whatever progress I make.

Awesome giveaway!

If you have kids, you'll want to check out the giveaway that's going to be going on from June 30th-August 3rd at J. Leigh Designs blog. I know my kids would totally freak out to be able to have this in our backyard. Here's hoping for an awesome win!

Special People

Sometimes in life, you're lucky enough to meet people who just make the world a little brighter and make you view things in a whole new light. I am fortunate to have a friend like that. She makes me happy to be me because she helps me to see myself through someone's eyes other than my own. She makes me smile and laugh constantly and just brightens my day whenever I see her, talk to her or even chat on the computer. She's an amazing person who loves the Lord and inspires me with all she does. She's just a truly beautiful person and I thank God for her.

When does my vacation begin???!!!

I am taking a few minutes (some of the only free ones today) to just say hello to the people who check my blog frequently and to let everyone know that I'm going absolutely nuts right now. Today is quite possibly the busiest day I've ever experienced and it is driving me crazy. On top of that, I leave tomorrow to go up north camping for the weekend and am just praying that it doesn't rain. I'm thinking that rain, tents, and tubing don't really go together all that well. I am just completely overwhelmed right now and feel like I don't have a spare second to relax or do anything for myself. Next weekend is my youngest sister's wedding and after that, things should settle down a little and hopefully I'll regain a little of my sanity. So, I won't be posting again until sometime next week, if I'm lucky! For now, I'm off to pick up the dog from the groomer, then onto my appointment with the seamstress for my dress for the wedding and then off to a meeting....aaaahhhhhh!!!!

This is home

Some of you know that my 18 year old cousin passed away tragically at the end of January. It has been very hard for our family and there are so many questions that will probably never be answered. I don't know all that he was going through, but he was obviously a very sad and tormented soul and I just pray that he is at rest now. I miss him so much and there isn't a single day that goes by that I don't think about him and just wish there was some way we could have stopped this from happening. There is a song that was playing constantly during the week following his death, while all of the funeral home activities and then the funeral were happening, and I just felt like it was what he might be saying. I truly feel that he saw the enemy and for whatever reason, he couldn't overcome the hold that it had on him. I just pray for him and hope he realizes just how loved he was and still is. I've just been thinking about him a ton over the past couple days and thought I would share this song.

Rest in peace, sweet Andrew William. I will hold you in my heart always.

Love of a Lifetime

Today, Brian and I celebrate 10 wonderful years of marriage. It's hard to believe that it's been that long already, but I guess it's like they say...time flies when you're having fun! It's amazing to look at how far we've come in those years too. Three children, a strong and ever-growing faith and a maturity in our relationship are just a few of the things we've experienced. God has blessed us so greatly and I look forward to all of the years ahead that we will share together. There is nothing better than being married to your best friend since the age of 6, let me tell ya! We have so many memories together and there is no one in this world that I feel more comfortable with. He is really just an amazing, thoughtful, loving, supportive (and the list could go on and on) husband and I am so thankful that God chose him for me! So here's to 10 years of a blessed marriage and to many, many more! Brian and I truly share a love of a lifetime (that was our wedding song, for anyone who doesn't know)!