Good Mornin'

Every morning, when my alarm goes off, it plays this song, and I find myself singing it throughout the day.

You get 10 million points if you've seen this movie more than once.

It makes me happy inside.

Oh, Brother

This is my oldest little brother (I have one more).

I know he's cute.  My friends used to always tell me how adorable he was and how handsome he would become.  They were right.

He works at Abercrombie.  He doesn't really love his job, because he's the serious kind of guy, but yes, they all love him.

It's his first year of college.  He lives in a dorm room with 7 other guys.  

Billy and I went to visit him last weekend, and what I saw made me want to tell him to just come home!  His room was super dirty, and there was trash everywhere, and the environment was, well, nothing like what my parents could safely provide for him.  

He's learned so much about the world and lots of the bad stuff in it.

Only one thing stopped me from telling him that this place was not for him:

He's become a man.

When we were talking to him, I watched him interact with his roommates in the most loving, understanding ways possible.  I watched him handle things that made me want to cry.  He's learning how to mix his serious sensitivity with that strength that comes from being a man.

He asks for advice.  He seeks out good counsel.

I'm so glad I did not say anything.  Not to mention, Billy thought it was best if we just let him know we were proud and not worried.  He was right, but it was also true.

I'm so proud.  I'm not that worried.  He's not only going to make it.  He's becoming the most wonderful man!

Oh, and doesn't he look like Matt Damon?!

Hilarious, I know.

The best part about this is that Brock looks up to my husband.  And my husband thinks the world of him.  

Next week, I'll have to write about my baby brother :)

Time

How is it, when I have free time, it suddenly becomes full time?  My schedule is so full, that I had to buy another organizer!
I got one of these from Target... I think that I might go back and get the rest of the set (it doesn't help that they're so cute!)

How do you stay organized?

Two of a Kind

What do these two things have in common?

Well, last night, in preparation of having 13 girls come over, I was using my vacuum, when, half way through, I was noticing that it was spitting something out:

That's right! It's a hair ball!  My vacuum is a cat!  And there were more than one!  All I could think is, My poor, poor vacuum.  I even have a vacuum that picks up pet hair, but I know that I just produce MASS amounts of long hair that would outshine a pet.

I'm just impressed that the machine still runs.  

Poor thing.

To Do

• Finish planning for one of my best friend's baby shower.  Inspiration (with a few changes, of course):

via My Insanity

• Make easy snack food for Small Group tonight!  Ideas, please?!  The girls are quickly going to get sick of my pigs-in-a-blanket... Though they are extra yummy.

• Read Priceless by Tom Davis.  It's fiction (which I adore) and it raises the issue of sex trafficking (which I love fighting for).  It may be hard to stomach, but if you are willing, you should pick it up.

• Never watch Braveheart again.  Jessica, you were right.  After a certain point, I just closed my eyes and kept asking Billy, "Why would you want me to watch this? Why? Why?"  He turned it off.  I didn't mean to make him feel bad (he's too sweet), but seriously, it was awful.

Just the Two of Us

I think our Netflix Queue should have a "His" and "Hers" section.  It's been getting a bit confused lately in its recommendations.  I think it was these two titles that set it off:

Poor, poor Netflix.  Don't try to figure us out.  We're in love, and that's what keeps us together.  It's not really our common personalities.  

Hey, at least we watch them together, right?  

He completes me.  (Insert Awww here!)

Shhh...

I have a secret.  I'm really trying to eat healthier.  I know I've said that before, but really, guess what?  It's true now!  Changes I've made (or, rather, meals I've been eating):

Egg White Omelets

I like eggs.  I never thought of just Egg Whites.  Did you know that they're much better for you?  Evidently, the whole world knew, and I didn't!  And, they're good.  I don't like to eat yucky foods.

via

Veggies with Soy Sauce

I'm trying to eat less meat.  Guess what?  It's not that hard!

Yesterday, for lunch, I had veggies cooked in Olive Oil and then Soy Sauce!

I love Soy Sauce, seriously... so much that I had sushi last night.  I mean, hey, I was good for lunch, right?!  Happy sigh.

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Tips, please?

Alright, so those are only two things I've done, but I thought it was enough for a post.

Anyway, please help!  Send me recipes if you'd like!  I'll post my faves up later this week!!  Also, if you have good substitutions, like Olive Oil for Veggie Oil, let me know!

Thanks, loves!!

A Time to Give Thanks

I realized the other day that I do a lot of venting to you all.  It's just that you are so encouraging and wonderful and writing it down makes me see life in a better perspective.  I would be lying if I didn't say that I was going through a time of tremendous growth, but I also would be lying if I didn't say I was hugely blessed.  To remind myself and all of you that I do have lots of amazing things that God has given me, I wanted to make a list (I know, surprise, surprise.  Don't hate.  I know you love my lists!).

I'm Thankful For:

1. William Rogers

How in the world did I get such an understanding, self-sacrificing, loving husband?  He's also really cute.  He works so hard so that I can get time off, and he serves me in so many ways.  He truly puts my needs above his own, he prays for me daily, and he is super romantic.  I am so in love.

2. Bon Blog Designs
In my time of crazy schedules, I'm so glad to have something that makes me feel creative and is a sort of outlet that I really enjoy.  It's a blast to meet bloggers and work with them and try to get everything right.  I just finished my real-life friend Lindsey's blog.  You should check her out; she's super sweet.




3. Friends
Billy and I have some amazing friends that have lifted us up, prayed for and with us, and just been some of the most fun people to be around.  It's as if God gave us a gift we hadn't even been asking for but he knew we needed.

4. My Readers
You all have been some of the best friends and confidants that a girl could ask for.  You're uplifting, friendly, and your comments and emails have opened up a whole new world for me.  I couldn't have asked for any more lovely readers and friends.  Thank you.  You are a huge blessing.

Burr!

Thank Goodness for this cold weather and cancelled everything... classes, work, everything.

I had icicles hanging from my rearview mirrors on my car.  I love the south and how we act as if the world is over with a little ice and snow.  Being a Southern Belle is the best, right, ya'll?!

My plan for today:

Yes!

Home Tip #1

The other day, Billy and I were over at my parents' house, and my mom wanted to buy a new washer and dryer.  I went with her to Lowes, where she impulsively (which is COMPLETELY opposite of her personality) bought a set that was on sale.  Well, we should have been a little more cautious, because when we came back to their house, we started looking at reviews online, and they were not all so good.  However, I am glad that I was there when she read them because I learned a very valuable lesson from someone called Anonymous.  Thank you, Anonymous, for your Home Tip for this budding housewife:

This washer has a multi-purpose mode ...

I wash my veggies in it and they smell and taste great. The steam cycle is perfect for broccoli. If you rinse, the discharge can be used in your juicer, it has all the vitamins!

Who would've thought?  For dinner tonight, I'm steaming veggies right between the whites and the towels.

Disclaimer:  I'm not really doing this, but I did get a kick out of that review.  I mean, WHAT?!  I guess you can't knock anything until you try it, right?!  Seriously, please tell me that nobody does this.  What if you got lint in your broccoli?! It makes me shudder to think about it.

Stayin' Alive

If you were to ask me my new year's resolution two days ago, I would have said one word:
Survive.

As excited I am about the new year and all of it's changes, I felt like the lovely holiday break from my over-crazy schedule reminded me that I was a real person.  I wanted to wave at the friendly smile I saw every morning and go, "Hi, love!  I've missed you!  There she is!"  It's true.  I had missed myself.  I got to vacuum more than once over the past three weeks.  My hair and makeup have been getting a little extra TLC.  My time with Jesus has been superb.  I like having free time.

Because of the drastic change in pace I'm about to face, as I approached this new year, all I could see was a looming cloud come over my approaching schedule.  All of the pressure that I felt lifting over the holidays slammed right back onto my shoulders.  I knew that my capacity was at a 5, my responsibilities were at a 10, and there was absolutely nothing I could do but try my best to remember to exhale.  Even as I'm typing this, my heart is starting to beat a little faster, and I can feel wetness stinging behind my eyes.

Enter my poor, sweet, strong, fix-it-all husband.  Last night, I was boo-hoo-ing to him with what I was just whining to you all about, and he asked if he could pray over me.  God knew I needed it, so I said yes, my eyes still slightly weepy and my nose and lips puffy and red.  Adding to that, it was late.  I couldn't tell you the words of his prayer, and I sniffled throughout the whole thing, but when he was done, I felt calm.  I don't mean that I felt like it was all going to go away.  In fact, I know that it's not.  I'm not sure how I am going to handle it, still.  But last night, after Billy's prayer, God reminded me sweetly of a verse in one of my favorite chapters in the Bible:

The Lord will guide you continually,

giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like an ever-flowing spring.  (Isaiah 58:11)

My new new year's resolution?  Let God water me.  Run to him for restoration, because I already feel the weakness drowning my self-driven efforts.  Relax because if I am truly living out his plan for my life, he will give me the grace to handle it.

Well-watered gardens produce good fruit.  Replenished ground is not cracked.  I don't want to live in a state of drought unless He takes me there for a reason.  I want to do more than survive.  I want to thrive and grow and be guided by strength that is bigger than mine.

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Sweet, sweet restoration.