A BIG Thank You

This is long over due, but I need to say Thank You. I need to say thank you to all my mom friends, my non-mom friends, and my family.

Thank you for being supportive during my pregnancy and now.

Thank you for answering my questions and being an "expert" for all my research on mom stuff, labor, etc. 

Thank you for the future expert advice I'll be asking for.

And thank you for being my friend.

I appreciate all your support and love. I'm really glad I don't have to do this first and I don't have to do it alone.

And most important, THANK YOU to my wonderful husband, Stephen! He is the BEST husband/father Sadie and I could ever ask for.

Changes

I have never been a huge fan of change. The move to Virginia was a tough one: I dropped something on my foot before leaving Lexington, and all my tears  came flowing. Steve felt awful that he had to uproot me from Kentucky. Little did he know it would be the best thing for me. I learned a lot living in Virginia. I learned about myself, my family, and grew up a ton. Many would say you should do that before you get married. Well I'm thankful to have had Steve to be there with me through a very tough time (even though his absence made it that much tougher).  Who better to grow and learn with than your spouse?

In Virginia, we rented an apartment, bought a house (at 23 mind you), and then became landlords of that same house a little more than a year later. In fact, Steve spent more time on the boat than he did in that house. But boy did we love that house.

Then we moved to Connecticut. This was a HUGE blessing because the Devil had a hold on me in Virginia and I needed to get away. God knew the only way to get me to quit my job was to make me move. And move we did. We have made a great life and friends in Connecticut. We have been renting our house in Virginia to tenants and living in base housing up here.

Our next move isn't far away, not even 30 minutes away. We are moving to be closer to Steve's school for when he is out of the NAVY, but still close enough to the place we now call home. Where we have built our life in CT.

We are not buying a house or making a large investment in something that is not necessary or bad, but I have some anxiety. It's silly. Really. I mean even if the move ends up being a bad choice we can always get out of it and find a better place the next year. So why do I have anxiety. Because I hate change and once again the Devil is using that weakness to stir up my faith in the Lord and take hold. Well that ain't happening this time!

I am so thankful for all the experiences (good AND bad) that I have been through and I'm thankful to have a strong man of Christ to walk right beside me during it all.  This house will be the first home our baby girl knows. Who knew Connecticut would be a place we call home?!

Thank you for your prayers as we jump into the next season of our lives together!

It's Christmas Time!

Hello! Oh I just love the holidays. My thanksgiving was absolutely perfect. Time with all my family and friends from home was exactly what I needed to get motivated to finish up grad work for this semester.

One of the reasons I went home was to hear my cousin announce that she is pregnant. And oh what an announcement. My uncle said, "We have an announcement." And then one my sisters unknowingly said, "Who's pregnant?!" Lindsey and Buck immediately replied, "We are!" It worked out perfectly, almost like it was rehearsed. Of course my husband then leans over to me and says, "Well at least we know when it's out turn not to say we have an announcement, haha." It was so cute though!

I love games! That was the other reason I went home. Lindsey was having a game night/31 party, and I didn't want to miss it. I have missed the Christmas game night the past few years and had been dying to play so I convinced Steve that we should go home. I had a great time hanging out with family and met some really sweet women who work with my cousins Lindsey and Kristy.

Steve and I got home Sunday afternoon and decided that evening would be the only chance we had to decorate for Christmas, so we did. These past few days with the tree lit up, stockings hanging, hot chocolate, and cheesy Christmas movies have been fantastic! Here are a few pictures.

Made this at Mad Potter with my friend Ellen!

The Lynch Cousins - minus 5 of them.

Our Tree and Stockings!

It's YOUR Choice: to be or not to be (healthy)

I don't always eat healthy and I will jokingly make things sound better (i.e. chocolate comes from a plant therefore it's natural and healthy), but I'm only joking.

So many people have asked me in the past how I stay fit and the truth is I watch what I eat, I eat everything in moderation (if I don't, I regret it) and I exercise on a regular basis. No it's not easy, but that's what I do. I'm happy the way I am and if I wasn't, I would know what to do. So make your choice today.

Check out these blogs/websites I follow on Facebook if you want or need help staying healthy and fit:
The Gracious Pantry
Skinny Ms.

My choice is to get my butt back into workout gear.Some of you know that I was completing a 12 week workout program called The Total Body Transformation Program. I loved it! It is great for all levels. Geared for beginners who then become naturals and pros, but it is easily adaptable.

Well this is week 12, my last week, and I haven't done one single day of it! I've been focusing on grad school and my trip home. I am prepared to go to the gym during my vacation though because I know if I don't, I will be that much behind. Working up to something for 11 weeks and then just dropping it can really wreck havoc in your life. So what am I about to do...that's right, I'm going to the gym to get my workout on!

Merriment

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones, (Proverbs 17:22, NKJV).

 

My devotion from Girlfriends in God talked about being merry today. It was saying how of all people those who follow Jesus should be filled with merriment! They gone on to discuss how God not only desires for us to be merry, but gives us a full life so that we can be merry. 

I could think of only one person while reading this devotion. My professor Dr. Babara Kennedy. She is filled with joy, happiness, and merriment even when teaching us. It isn't that fake kind of joy that many people force on themselves and pretend they are happy. She really is excited to be teaching us and helping us further our education. She loves what she does and shows us that in how merry she is. I haven't seen her outside of class, but I'm pretty sure she would exude merriment in any place you would meet her.

Challenge for today: Be merry in all you do. Glorify God in everything.

Here is an exert from today's devo:

 "Are you enjoying God? As you live and move and have your being in Him, is there a smile on your face and a skip in your step? Do you expect the rich adventurous faith-filled life that you read about in the Bible? Do you expect to experience God’s glory today? If not, perhaps you need to raise your expectations of what your relationship with Jesus can be.

Once we’ve tasted the sweetness of His fruit, to settle for anything less than the bountiful orchard of His blessings will always disappoint. Oh yes, there are heavy-laden branches filled with low hanging fruit just waiting to be picked. If only we would reach up high enough, raise our expectations, and pluck them from the tree."

Plans

Do you try to plan your life instead of letting God plan it? Sometimes I feel that we all have this problem. And right now I do. I had plans for my life, but since I've shared them, they have changed, I have waivered from wanting or not wanting the plans I've created. The most recent is when I want kids. Often I'll be around moms and I have this strong urge to be a mom, but also often I'm around those without kids and I want more of that. I want to enjoy time with Steve and have fun with others who are married yet don't have kids. The problem: all our married-without-kids friends are in other states or other parts of the world! Through this realization, I've gone to wanting kids right away, to never wanting kids, to not sure. In other words, I haven't been listening to what God's plans are for me!

So here is what I know: We want kids. I have a strong passion to be a head teacher for many years. I want to be a stay-at-home-mom when my kids are young. I hate subbing.

From that here are some questions I have: When will I teach again? When will I be a mom? Will I be able to stay at home? Will I even want to stay at home? When do I want kids?

Kids bring lots of amazing moments and joy to our lives. But I believe that it will happen with God's timing.  I have obviously been enjoying not being a mom. I have no idea when I actually want kids. I am selfish right now. I love that I can get a full nights' sleep or can go on a trip short notice. I love having my body. I love being free of the restrictions that children can bring. I know there will be a point when I can't wait to have those "restrictions" but I'm not sure when it will be.

The Lord has a plan, I just need to figure out what it is. I need to listen and wait. For now, I will continue enjoying being married to the most perfect-for-me man ever!

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I always love people to pray for me, so please feel free to do just that!

Catching up with the Moore's: 2012 starts with a bang!

2012 has been one fantastic year already! Not only did Steve and I get to start the New Year off in Kentucky, we also got to spend it with some dear friends (Ellen and Joel). After spending a week in Kentucky we drove the long 14 hours back to Connecticut. We both began classes right away and work. Steve is now finishing his 3 semester of half-time college and I just finished my 2nd semester of grad school. We are both doing well with 4.0s!


March brought on very happy days in our household due to UK playing so well this season. I went to the Final Four with my Dad! We enjoyed every minute. During my trip to the final four when I was laying out in Louisiana enjoying the 80*F weather, Steve was up in Vermont enjoying a fun weekend camping in the snow! 

We then enjoyed a fun night at the 112th Submarine Birthday Ball. Honoring my husband and having a great date is so much fun! I am so thankful for his service in the NAVY.  And of course he looks great in his uniform. :)

A month later we found ourselves back in Kentucky for my sister's graduation party from veterinary school at Mississippi State University. We had a party for the graduation, Kentucky derby, and cinco de mayo! It was a perfect day and perfect party. Jesus blessed us with sun and kept the rain away so we could play volleyball and corn-hole.

Fresh back from our trip in KY we are looking forward to a busy summer! Our plans include heading to Boston, Phoenix, The Grand Canyon, Japan, Birmingham, NY,  maybe the cabin for me, and of course camping. We cannot wait! If you are one of the people we get to see, we cannot wait to see you so soon!

Reflection of Sermon

I really enjoyed today's sermon at church. We have been following Moses' life story and how God chose him. A man who was imperfect, had a speech impediment, and thought he was not good enough to help God. He was so determined to not do his job that he actually asked God to have Aaron speak for him.

Today's sermon focused more on his call to get God's people out of Egypt. The part of the sermon that stuck out to me was part 2, he always has 3 parts. :) Moses first had to become pure or "clean before doing the great liberating work of God." Meaning that "his character comes before his call." We all have to find balance between our character and calling. Look at who you are versus what you do. It is so important to have the character or the heart God intends for us to have. If we don't then we cannot perform the great works God has in store for us. He knows who we are and chooses each one of us to do His work in different ways. I think this is the most difficult thing for me. I see the things others are doing sometimes and think I really want to do that, I really need to be there or I should be doing that. When really I should be thinking what does God want me to do?

Often we forget to take a look at our lives, to see who we really are. I think it is important to do this every so often, kind of like a checkup. Sometimes this comes in the form of a spiritual retreat with a church group, a solitary day or weekend, or maybe just a daily devotion or sermon to wake you up and say "alright, it's time to look at who you are once again." Are you really who God wants you to be? Are you thinking like Jesus, or doing like Jesus? Or are you stuck in the mud, living a normal life, but forgetting that God has more for you in His plan? These are just some of my thoughts and I know that this sermon was definitely for me! :)

2011 in Pictures Part 1

Our 1st sailing trip in September. It was windy and choppy, but so fun!

Fun with the camera on our 3rd Anniversary. Also enjoyed a great picnic and yummy dinner at The Ancient Mariner in Mystic, CT.

Our 1st corn maze at Buttonwood Farm the day before Halloween. It snowed randomly and crushed all the stalks, but it was still fun! Friends with us: David, Sarah and Steve, and Abby.

We had a derby party and introduced the KY derby to many Connecticutters and others.

Derby Party trivial winner Sarah!

We went camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire! Absolutely gorgeous trip in August!

My niece Danielle graduated from Transy in May! Woo hoo! What a great reason to come home. And she is engaged now!

Traveled to KY for my friend Ellen's wedding in October. Steve got to come to the wedding. One of our first since he got off the boat.

Our trip to NY with my wonderful parents was amazing! Central park in the fall is also beautiful. While there we ate at numerous restaurants that were so yummy and saw UK play at Madison Square Garden, and 2 musicals: Billy Elliot and Jersey Boys. Then went to CT to watch UK play 2 more games.

The Beginning

Connecticut. Moving in the middle of the winter in 2010 proved to not be too bad. A year later, we are settled in and wondering where is the snow? This time last year we had a LOT of snow, no friends, no home church, no job for me, and no classes started. Now a year later we have no snow, great friends, a home church, I'm subbing, and we are both about to start a new semester of classes. Steve is continuing his degree in engineering, while I'm getting my Master's in Teacher as Leader from Asbury Universities online program. Classes don't start until next week.

I will be posting some pictures from our first year in Connecticut! We have really enjoyed 2011 and look forward to our 2nd year in CT.