Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving 2012 Kentucky Style 

It's is such blessing that for Thanksgiving Nathan and I are not traveling! I know that sounds odd but for us it is time for some MAJOR R&R!! We have both just finished up coaching and while I am still in Grad school, Thanksgiving weekend is a "NO homework" weekend. We spend our time doing crafts with the kids, making tents, and "camping out" in the living room.  

This Thanksgiving was extra special, because my dad came out from California to spend the week with us!! We had a wonderful week! The weather was beautiful so, we were able to play outside, ride bikes,go for walks and of course decorate ornaments and EAT lots of Yummy food!

Lord, I am truly blessed! Lord thank you for my amazing, loving family and two beautiful, healthy children and most of all thank you for your love and your guidance.   

  It was so nice we all to play outside!!

 What do say? 

I do love this crazy little man, he keeps me on my toes.

 Thanksgiving morning, we decorated Christmas Ornaments 

Thanksgiving dinner was a BIG success! 

The kids' annual Gingerbread house! 

I love watching them decorate, they are such little engineers. 

Challenged

“Come, all you who are thirsty" these words are so refreshing. Lord thank you for filling me up with your love, mercy and grace every day. 

As things have unfolded this Fall, this verse has become very special and rings true. Lord fill me everyday with your love and mercy and continue to work in me, and through me.  

Halloween 2012

It's Fall !!!

Nathan and the kids carving Pumpkins. 

First daddy carved the pumpkin. (The kids picked the shapes) Then
we split the pumpkin down the middle and they each got to paint their half.

The finished product 

HALLOWEEN 

Pirate Captain and the Pirate Princess  

In the waiting game...

While I see on my calendar it's already November 2012, I am struggling to grasp the reality that my Master program is quickly coming to an end. The fear of not finding a job or struggling to find the job I love is beginning to rear its ugly head. There are so many questions. Do I coach, do I work full time or part time, WHAT DO I DO!! Sometimes I want to put my head in a pillow and scream!! Stress management...

I know it is super silly to worry about things that are out of my control but, is that not human nature? The only thing that saves me is knowing that God is in control. When I begin to freak out about the future I try and find a quite moment with GOD and allow Him to have the burden and the fear.

Lord it is very hard to be in this waiting period, and it is scary for a person like me who wants to know all the pieces and be organized. Lord carry me through this season of not-knowing and give me your guidance

Psalm 27
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Time of their lives

Time of their lives

Today is Tuesday and I am in Pittsburg PA with the women’s soccer team playing in the semi-finals of the conference tournament… Other then it being a really long drive it has been awesome!

But anyway……back to why I am writing, the ladies that I coach are strong women, and they love the Lord, each other, and the game of soccer! And what I want to express most to them is that it is not the wins and losses that they will remember, (sure a few games will stand-out) but it is the memories and the friendships that will last. These are the women who will stand with you as marry the man of the dreams, the women who you will forever be in your inner circle of friends.

I can remember like yesterday all the fun, silly and stupid things we did at Vanguard University. The vegetable car race, the bus trip across the United States, the silly dance-offs and many more…

If the season ends today or two weeks for now, I couldn’t be more proud these ladies! They have battled, fought and run a good race, while all along singing praises to the Lord!    

My Kentucky Home

FALL HAS ARRIVED! 

One thing I really enjoy about Kentucky is the way people here get into the "Fall Sprit" It's pumpkins galore and corn stalks and cute scarecrow men for decorating. So to get in the fall spirt this past weekend we ventured to Midway KY for a fall festival. It was so much fun. There were tons of booths with homemade goodies, and tons of "Junk food" (our favorite). Kettle corn, ice cream, funnel cakes and BBQ what more could one ask for?, well maybe coffee right to keep up with the kids.  

RJ Corman had one of his big steam engines there, Titus loved it

I think she enjoyed the ice-cream 

And of course he loved his Kettle Corn

It's Soccer Time...

Well Asbury Soccer is totally in full swing. Camp came and went and now games and our season is underway. My time here has been very eye opening and encouraging. I know God has me here for a reason. Like I stated before it was hard to leave the familiarness of West and of course the girls. It's not that change is bad its just been an adjustment, but I AM LOVING IT! The ladies here at Asbury are amazing and the love of GOD is totally shines through them. I wanted to share a couple photos from our pre-season adventures. To get the girls off the soccer field we went hiking at Natural Bridge. I am very thankful for these ladies and am totally excited to see what God has in store for them!

Friends, One of God's many Treasures

In today's fast paced, crazy schedule it is not easy to find people who you can one "do life" with. Let's face it we are all busy and with kids schedules, work and school it's not easy...but I have been VERY blessed to have a couple friends who I am able to "do life" with. Our kids are all around the same age; we share the same beliefs and family values. And oddly enough, none of us have family here. There has always been this bond that ties us. (understanding what is like to not have family that can help with children and other needs). It was awesome just as natural as could be, we became just like family and filled in that gap. It has been a HUGE BLESSING for me. God could not have been better to me! 

How does one say good bye to one of their best friends? (Not easily that's for sure) I have never been a person that needs to have lots and lots of friends, I have only had a few close friends. Even as a child I remember only having a few close friends, and I still only a few close girl-friends. So when it comes to saying good bye it is not easy, even when they are following God's calling.

When we left California I had to leave my two best friends behind, because Nathan and I were following God's calling. Now it's time for me to send Jenny and her family off to serve God and the people of Africa. 

Jenny you are an AMAZING WOMAN OF CHIRST! and an AMAZING FRIEND! 

No words can describe how much my family and I will you miss you and your family. Thank you for all the wonderful memories and ALL the FUN. 

Watching our girls grow up together has been such a joy! Our girls truly love each other like sisters. I am already looking forward to the fun and wild, crazy adventures our boys will get into when you return home.... Lord help us with those two!! 

From the Andrews family to the Brown family, we LOVE YOU and CHERISH your friendship!!

GOD BLESS YOU!

California Adventure

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

On our little adventure we (Nate and I and my Mom and Dad) took the wild ones to Disneyland and California Adventure! WOW is all I can say. Watching Madison and Titus take it all in was the highlight of the trip. California Adventure has a new land called Cars Land, and I am 100% sure Titus thought he was really in Radiator Springs!! He was smiling from ear to ear and on total over load, I loved it!

They were stunned when McQueen talked to them! I love it! 

Over all the day at California Adventure was a blast, Madison got her Little Mermaid fix and got to go on a little roller coaster with her dad! You could hear her screaming (fun screaming) the whole time it was awesome! I think she even said mid-ride "I LOVE THIS PLACE" at the top of her lungs. She cracks me up.

Just what I needed

It never fails.....that is, God's gentle reminders in my morning devotions. 

This morning it was Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask and it will given to you; seek and you will find it; knock and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened." 

At a time when I am growing anxious to finish Grad school and begin My Dream Job, I must remember to ask God for the dream job and allow Him to guide me. He knows the desires of my heart and He has a plan for me, I just struggle with the waiting and NOT knowing. 

Lord help me to be patient and to know that You are in Control. 

 

A day in the garden

So while my mom was here, I kept her busy....One day we were blessed to have a beautiful sunny day so we planted these beautiful flowers. I know you aren't really suppose to plant until after Derby Day but we couldn't resist. I have no clue what the names of the flowers are, but they are super pretty and I took these with my new camera! They look amazing :) 

A little bit of fun

They say time flies when your having fun, I guess thats why my mom already has to leave :(

I LOVE having my mom here and I LOVE that we did nothing... well I mean nothing big. We just hung out around the house. We played outside a lot, gardened, went for walks, made gnocchi and as always bought little put it together projects for Nate! (We always come up with crazy, fun projects for Nate) I love you so much mom, thanks for making more memories with us.
xoxo

Making Gnocchi with Mimi

They had fun poking the holes...

  

It's time for a change...

Every since I can remember soccer has been apart of my life. I wanted to be like my brother and play, so mom and dad signed me at the age of 4 and it has been a passion of mine ever since. Soccer has brought so much joy to my life and taken me to some very amazing places and brought so many wonderful people into my life. Soccer has taken me to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Nevada, Northern California, all over  beautiful Southern California, Japan, Mexico and that's just to name a few.

It was in my Sophomore year at Vanguard that the coaching fire was ignited and it has been burning strong ever since. God blessed me beyond words with girls that I have been able to coach over the years. The girls from El Toro, Trabucco Hills and West Jessamine have impacted my life, and I cherish every one of the girls!

God has been stirring in my heart yet again, and after a couple years of wrestling with God and waiting on His timing, He finally answered!  
It is with GREAT JOY THAT I ANNOUNCE I WILL BE THE ASBURY WOMEN'S ASSISTANT COACH!!!

To my West Girls: Please know that I love you all and this was a hard choice. Being with you all the past 6 years has been AMAZING and I have so many wonderful, fun, crazy memories.... from King Island Halloween, to beating Catholic three times in a year, final four, District, Regional, and Sectional Champs!!! To the pasta parties, bible studies and all the silly times in-between. You will always have a special place in my heart!  

To my Asbury Ladies: This has been a long time coming, I have thought about taking this job more then once, but it was never the right time, but God has finally paved the way! I am super excited and nervous all at the same time. I look forward to all the new memories and adventures!

So Thankful

Seven years ago I married the man of my dreams! Life has been a whirlwind of adventures and wild journeys.

Nathan and I moved from Southern California to Lexington Kentucky six years ago. This move has been the best thing for our marriage. I say that the move brought us closer together because we have only had each other.

Needless to say moving to Kentucky created some anxiety in me and to have no family around it was rough. I am not proud to say that I treated Nathan poorly, once even telling him I was packing my junk and driving home! In desperation Nathan bought me a ticket home to see me family. I left Nathan with no intentions of coming back to Kentucky. While I was away, God and I fought. I was very confused and heart broken but after wrestling with God two weeks later I forced myself back on an airplane to Kentucky.

Coming back to Kentucky was a total God thing! God met Nate and I in our darkest hour and He gave us a light and gave us Hope. It was a long journey back to normalcy but God brought us back to happier times, and God continues to Bless us and teach us.

The past seven years have been a blast and with God in our home there is nothing that Nathan and I can't take on!

Nathan, I thank you for loving me even when I don't deserve it. Thank you for treating me as woman of Christ and Cherishing me! I love you with all that I am!

God is in all things...

It is always amazing that when my mind begins to become overwhelmed with the thoughts, worries, and concerns about the future, God is quick to give me a sweet reminder that He is in control. As I have been overloaded with Grad School and not able to contribute to financially things haven been stressful. God has shown us that He will provide for our every need, and while we may have had to cut out of few things we enjoy, we have gone with out the necessities.

For a couple weeks I began to look for a job in the area of my study. After a few interviews Nathan and I were discussing the perks and the disadvantages to working and going to school. Needless to say I was feeling defeated and warn down. Amazingly God met me the next morning and gave me the words I need to hear.

The prayer from my devotion was this;  Lord, I know that you have a plan for my life. And you know how hard waiting is for me, Father. Please help me to be patient and wait for your timing and your leading so that your plan for me can be successful. I love you Lord
Amen.

As hard as it to for me to wait I know that the Lord has great plans for me when I am done with Grad school.

Playing with my New Camera

So my sweet husband gave me our anniversary present early this year! I am so excited I can't even stand it. Taking pictures has always been something I have really enjoyed so he bought me the Rebel T3i! I am have taking pictures all day. It is so easy to use and the pictures are amazing.  

32

32 years old
2 wild kids
1 Amazing Husband
1 more year left of Grad School

Endless days of God's Love! 

Here comes another remarkable year 

Merry Christmas

Making christmas trees with our feet

Getting ready for Wilmore Old Fashion Christmas

Christmas Morning 2011