We're Moving... soon!

Nathan & I got married in November. We began praying about South Florida in December. We thought we may end up there come January of 2013 but God had different plans!

Thankfully since we've been praying for South Florida county by county & studying up on the demographic & needs of the communities the Lord has prepared our hearts & it's made this big transition a lot easier!

About 2 weeks ago we got a call from our friends who are on staff at First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach who informed us that when we move down there we would have affordable housing! (Whoa, answered prayer!)

This past week we got a call about a job for Nathan! He would be making more money working part-time which would allow him to help the church, FBCWPB, with tasks & church planting endeavors.

Awesome news! When does the job begin? Oh... May 21st... yes of this year. (Whoa).

We're still processing & we're overwhelmed how God has provided for us & guided us! It has been thrilling & comforting. We are thinking our official moving date will be May 17th! (Whoa, that's not even 3 weeks!?)

A Few Thoughts

We just got the sweetest dog ever & our new apartment don't allow pets!
God has provided a home for Scooter at Nathan's parent's house. He loves his new dog-friends & he LOVES running around on 70 acres. (We cried leaving him... Nathan will deny this fact... but we know he will be loved & spoiled!)

I love "my" kids!
God has provided  a wonderful girl who I trust completely to take over my jobs! She finishes her semester the week we leave... awesome timing! (I definitely still cried when Tatum asked me if I'd be somewhere & immediately I responded with "Of course!" Until I realized I'd be gone & I had to explain I could not be there.)

We have so many wonderful friends here.
Sadly, I can't pack them all up too but most all of our friends have a "sending" mentality & want to go out & spread the Gospel! Let's be honest... if we didn't leave first our friends would leave us. We're blessed with wonderful friends & we know that they'll always be our friends no matter how far the distance. (This doesn't mean I don't cry still)

I feel like I've just finished hanging things on our walls!
I did... but let's be honest... y'all know I love changing things in my home. I'm getting a new palate! (I kinda want to cry thinking about packing everything up though!)

Anyway, we're moving & we're excited! We have a lot to accomplish in the next 17 days & then even more once we get to West Palm. I'm just so excited that this move I'll have my husband with me & we'll be helping each other.

Praise God for His sovereignty & provision! He is too good to us & I can't fathom why He loves sinners like us... but wow I am grateful!

Computer-less

Sorry for my lack of posts! You see... not only have I been quite busy but, during all that busyness our adorable dog decided his first victim would be my computer cord. The damage doesn't look bad... but it's enough to keep my computer from charging. So I've swiped my hubby's computer in the time being & will hopefully get my cord delivered soon!

Scooter's next victim were my cute brown wedges. It's a VERY good thing they killed my feet & I was considering getting rid of them otherwise this puppy may have met his end. You do not mess with my shoes.

Anyway, I haven't forgotten about this place or my readers! I hope to be back blogging regularly soon... I didn't think I'd miss it like it do!

Mexican Lasagna

Here is a delicious recipe that is pretty quick & very easy. I made it tonight and halved the recipe... I baked one casserole & froze the other (which is good in the freezer up to 3 months)! 

1 (9 ounce) package of chicken
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained & rinsed
1 (24 ounce) jar of chunky salsa
1 cup taco sauce
8 corn tortillas
1 cup sour cream
2 cups cheddar jack cheese, shredded

1.) Dice your chicken & cook it fully. I like to add a little fajita seasoning to mine as I saute it!
2.) In a large bowl mix together: salsa, onion, garlic salt, olive oil, black beans & chicken.
3.) Next, take your baking dish(es) & pour taco sauce on the bottom.
4.) Layer tortillas on top of the taco sauce.
5.) Pour 1/2 (if your splitting your casserole adjust accordingly) chicken mixture on top of tortillas.
6.) Use half (again adjust accordingly) of your sour cream on top of the chicken mixture & then cover with cheese.
Repeat #'s 4-6

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil & place in the oven at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Take off the foil & bake for 10 more minutes. 

Make sure that if you freeze your casserole to take it out of the freezer the day before you want to eat it because it needs to thaw before you cook it! Enjoy! 

PS. Sorry that there isn't a picture... it taste better than it looks! I promise. ;)

Show & Tell Friday

I have been wanting to hang my thrift store find for weeks and finally I did today! 

So I decided I wanted a needlepoint of North Carolina. I had seen these awesome pillows with needlepoint of different states and they were awesome! However they were well over $100. Clearly not in my budget... but they were so cool. I really wanted one of North Carolina because that is where Nathan & I met, fell in love, got married, & have begun our life together as husband and wife! It will always be a special place to us. 

You all know I love thrifting & today's blog is about sharing my thrift store finds. The same day I was researching the needlepoint pillows online I decided to visit one of my favorite thrift stores here in Raleigh & found a needlepoint of NC for $5. It was in a hideous frame. (An easy change... or so I thought!)

It's an odd size but I was able to find one today at Michael's and it was 1/2 off so I only paid $4.99. It was not the color I wanted but that was definitely an easy fix.

Here is the final product! I love it and it's special. (and it only cost me $9.99)

We're parents!

We've been talking for a couple weeks now about getting a dog. (I've done most of the talking!) Today I decided to go to the animal shelter because I've tried emailing them & that just hasn't gone so well. I left Nathan at home working on a paper & told him I wouldn't bring anyone home unless I cleared it with him first. However, I wasn't expecting to bring anyone home because I've been told multiple times, "if you want a small dog the likelihood of one being there that you like & wanted to take home was slim... they're usually the first to go!". 

When I got in the car to head to the shelter I decided to just go ahead & call to make sure they were still open like their website said it would be. The woman on the phone answered my questions & then asked me one. "What exactly are you looking for?" I proceeded to tell her that we live in a small apartment & wanted a small dog... preferably one that doesn't shed. She answered, "In all seriousness... a family just walked in with a schnauzer mix & they're about to release him to us!" I told her to please wait I was on my way!!! I rushed there & ran inside (no, literally ran inside) to quickly get to our dog! I made it but just barely. As soon as I told them who I was they told me to hurry & go as fast as I could to 'Kennel E'. There he was. Sweet little Scooter! He is a 2 year old male Schnauzer/Yorkie mix. He is sweet & friendly & we couldn't be happier with him. 

Meet Scooter!

He is just the cutest!

Mr. Fox Fun!

This week while watching sweet little Dylan I decided to read him a story. Unknowingly I picked up Dr. Seuss' book Fox in Socks & almost immediately regretted it. Then it became so ridiculous I was loving it... and so was Dylan! After I finished the book my brain actually hurt!! Tonight I decided to share it with Nathan. We went back & forth trying to read it & ended up just laughing at each other! I am definitely going to have to buy this book as soon as I find a copy.

Here are the words for you to try and read. Make sure you read it aloud! Good luck!

Fox
Socks
Box
Knox

Knox in box.
Fox in socks.

Knox on fox in socks in box.

Socks on Knox and Knox in box.

Fox in socks on box on Knox.

Chicks with bricks come.
Chicks with blocks come.
Chicks with bricks and blocks and clocks come.

Look, sir.  Look, sir.  Mr. Knox, sir.
Let's do tricks with bricks and blocks, sir.
Let's do tricks with chicks and clocks, sir.

First, I'll make a quick trick brick stack.
Then I'll make a quick trick block stack.

You can make a quick trick chick stack.
You can make a quick trick clock stack.

And here's a new trick, Mr. Knox....
Socks on chicks and chicks on fox.
Fox on clocks on bricks and blocks.
Bricks and blocks on Knox on box.

Now we come to ticks and tocks, sir.
Try to say this Mr. Knox, sir....

Clocks on fox tick.
Clocks on Knox tock.
Six sick bricks tick.
Six sick chicks tock.

Please, sir.  I don't like this trick, sir.
My tongue isn't quick or slick, sir.
I get all those ticks and clocks, sir, 
mixed up with the chicks and tocks, sir.
I can't do it, Mr. Fox, sir.

I'm so sorry, Mr. Knox, sir.

Here's an easy game to play.
Here's an easy thing to say....

New socks.
Two socks.
Whose socks?
Sue's socks.

Who sews whose socks?
Sue sews Sue's socks.

Who sees who sew whose new socks, sir?
You see Sue sew Sue's new socks, sir.

That's not easy, Mr. Fox, sir.

Who comes? ...
Crow comes.
Slow Joe Crow comes.

Who sews crow's clothes?
Sue sews crow's clothes.
Slow Joe Crow sews whose clothes?
Sue's clothes.

Sue sews socks of fox in socks now.

Slow Joe Crow sews Knox in box now.

Sue sews rose on Slow Joe Crow's clothes.
Fox sews hose on Slow Joe Crow's nose.

Hose goes.
Rose grows.
Nose hose goes some.
Crow's rose grows some.

Mr. Fox!
I hate this game, sir.
This game makes my tongue quite lame, sir.

Mr. Knox, sir, what a shame, sir.

We'll find something new to do now.
Here is lots of new blue goo now.
New goo.  Blue goo.
Gooey.  Gooey.
Blue goo.  New goo.
Gluey. Gluey.

Gooey goo for chewy chewing!
That's what that Goo-Goose is doing.
Do you choose to chew goo, too, sir?
If, sir, you, sir, choose to chew, sir, 
with the Goo-Goose, chew, sir.
Do, sir.

Mr. Fox, sir, 
I won't do it.  
I can't say.  
I won't chew it.

Very well, sir.
Step this way.
We'll find another game to play.

Bim comes.
Ben comes.
Bim brings Ben broom.
Ben brings Bim broom.

Ben bends Bim's broom.
Bim bends Ben's broom.
Bim's bends.
Ben's bends.
Ben's bent broom breaks.
Bim's bent broom breaks.

Ben's band.  Bim's band.
Big bands.  Pig bands.

Bim and Ben lead bands with brooms.
Ben's band bangs and Bim's band booms.

Pig band!  Boom band!
Big band!  Broom band!
My poor mouth can't say that.  No, sir.
My poor mouth is much too slow, sir.

Well then... bring your mouth this way.
I'll find it something it can say.

Luke Luck likes lakes.
Luke's duck likes lakes.
Luke Luck licks lakes.
Luck's duck licks lakes.

Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes.
Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.

I can't blab such blibber blubber!
My tongue isn't make of rubber.

Mr. Knox.  Now come now.  Come now.
You don't have to be so dumb now....

Try to say this, Mr. Knox, please....

Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.
While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew.
Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.
Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze.
That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.

Stop it!  Stop it!
That's enough, sir.
I can't say such silly stuff, sir.

Very well, then, Mr. Knox, sir.

Let's have a little talk about tweetle beetles....

What do you know about tweetle beetles?  Well...

When tweetle beetles fight, 
it's called a tweetle beetle battle.

And when they battle in a puddle, 
it's a tweetle beetle puddle battle.

AND when tweetle beetles battle with paddles in a puddle, 
they call it a tweetle beetle puddle paddle battle.

AND...

When beetles battle beetles in a puddle paddle battle 
and the beetle battle puddle is a puddle in a bottle...
...they call this a tweetle beetle bottle puddle paddle battle muddle.

AND...

When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles 
and the bottle's on a poodle and the poodle's eating noodles...
...they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle 
bottle paddle battle.

AND...

Now wait a minute, Mr. Socks Fox!

When a fox is in the bottle where the tweetle beetles battle 
with their paddles in a puddle on a noodle-eating poodle, 
THIS is what they call...

...a tweetle beetle noodle poodle bottled paddled 
muddled duddled fuddled wuddled fox in socks, sir!

Fox in socks, our game is done, sir.
Thank you for a lot of fun, sir. 

Did you make it!?

Show & Tell Friday!

Do you have that one item in your closet that you feel goes with anything & everything? Mine is a purple 3/4 length sweater. I found it at Goodwill for $3, maybe less. It's been ages since I bought it & if I ever find another that is similar I will snatch it up in a heartbeat! Here are a few pictures of me in one of my favorite pieces of clothing. It fits in my purse, it's a color but typically neutral enough to wear with most of my outfits & it's comfortable... AND I bought it for $3 or less! 

My family minus my sister, we were on our way to see her perform in the musical Chicago!

A day trip to Apalachicola for some oysters with my parents!

With sweet friends at a local gelato place in Wake Forest, NC... may it rest in peace. :(

As you can see I wear this sweater all the time for all sorts of events. Stacy & Clinton would either applaud my layering technique or criticize me for wearing a secondhand sweater all the time. Whatever- I love it, I'm comfortable, & it was in my budget!