Thanksgiving

Michael and I spent this Thanksgiving with my family in Bainbridge. It's a family tradition to have my mom's family over for Thanksgiving lunch. This consists of about 15 people crammed into my parents living room, dining room, and kitchen. Then, that night, just my grandmother (Dad's mom) and Anna (one of my dad's sisters) comes over. It's a day filled with wonderful family, laughs, lots of food, and afternoon naps! It's also tradition for Michael and I to join all the crazy people that get up way too early to go Christmas shopping. We went to Tallahassee with my parents and shopped until our feet hurt. We set aside a budgeted amount to spend and we actually spent under that amount. We don't want shopping and gifts to be our main concern during Christmas time, ever so we don't go crazy with spending spending money! Overall, we had a great visit with my family. I even got to have lunch with my best friend from high school, Darbi. The Thanksgiving break seemed to fly by, but I really enjoyed the time off to spend with family and giving thanks to God for all He's done for us!! He gets all the glory!!

Weekend with the Kellums

Our best friends from North Carolina came to visit this past weekend!! We hadn't seen them since we went on a cruise together back in March and we hadn't seen their adorable little boy, Bennett, in over a year. It was SOOO good to get to hang out with them all weekend. Michael and I are trying hard to get them to move down here!! But, we will settle with getting to see them a few times a year. We had so much fun having them stay with us for a few days. I can't believe how much Bennett has grown since lasting seeing him. Man, they grow up fast!! Although we had a great time together, all good things must come to an end, and they had to leave this morning. Michael and I are planning a trip up there soon though!

Counting My Blessings

I've been very convicted lately about not giving God the glory and praise for all the many blessings that He's bestowed upon me, so I wanted to list several of those blessings that He's blessed me with and which I am VERY thankful to Him for!!

1. I have an amazing husband that loves me inspite of my imperfections. He is a leader in our household, just as God desires for a husband to be. He's caring, compassionate, and an amazing youth pastor.
2. I have wonderful Christian parents that raised me in a Christian home and instilled good morals and values in me, loved me when I was unlovable, took me to church so that I could grow spiritually, and provided for my needs and even my wants many times!
3. My brother, Jeremy, is a Christian as well and I believe that God is working in His life right now in amazing ways and preparing my brother to be the man that God desires him to be.
4. I love being able to teach at a Christian school where I can share the Word of God with others and see young students come to know Him and grow in their relationship with Him.
5. I am apart of an amazing church - CrossPointe!! I love everything about it, from the awesome worship time, the convicting and Spirit-filled messages, the friendly people, the wonderful staff, and the MOST AWESOME youth ever!! Our youth ROCK!
6. I get to lead two amazing youth life groups, the 9th and 10th grade girls and the 11th and 12th grade girls at CrossPointe and I love every minute of it. They are a great group of girls and truly desire to grow in their relationship with the Lord. They are constantly inviting their friends to church and spreading the Good News not just by their words, but with their lives. I'm so thankful for them!
7. I have some amazing friends that lift me up daily, even though some of them are miles away! They encourage me when I'm down and pray for me continuously.
8. Our house that we just finished building and have been enjoying getting settled into is a huge blessing to us! We desire to use our home for ministry purposes - whether it's having youth staff meetings there, getting together with the youth, having youth families over, hanging out with fellow believers and friends - and we are so thankful for the blessing of our new home!

There is plenty more I could list, but this is a start! Thank you Lord for your many blessings!!