Weekend at the beach 2011

Last weekend Ethan and I joined my parents, brother and youngest sister for a few days at the beach! My parents were staying the week, so we claimed our spot at the beginning of their trip. We were at St.Augustine beach about a hour from where we live. Ethan and I drove over on Thursday night and stayed through Saturday evening! Friday we headed down to the water and enjoyed the sun! It was a beautiful and the water felt good too! After the beach Ethan and I went on a lunch date to one of our favorite restaurants, Barnacle Bills. They have really yummy sea food and it was nice to get to eat there one last time before our move. After lunch we swam at the pool and enjoyed spending time with my family! On Saturday we spent more time at the pool and then went shopping! It was a fun trip and we enjoyed getting to hang out with family!

My view on Friday morning!

Ethan and I on our way back from lunch on Friday!

The awesome burgers my dad made for dinner on Friday night! So yummy!

My mom took more pictures, so when I get them from her I will try and post them!

Ethan's College Graduation Party

I am so proud of my husband. He has worked so hard in school and he never complains about any of the homework or the fact that he commutes an hour to get to class 3 nights a week.

Ethan is graduating from the Baptist College of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies.

We had a little BBQ to celebrate and it was a sweet time of fellowship with family and friends! I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few!

The yummy cake from Sams!

My dad!

Ethan's side of the family!

Thad, Shannon, myself, Ethan, his mom and his dad

My side of the family!

Dave, Ethan, myself, Apryl, my mom and dad, Abby, Amber(Katie Joy in her belly), Chad and James

We are so excited that he is starting seminary in August! We can't believe how soon the move to Kentucky is coming! We leave 2 weeks from today!

Student Life Camp 2011

Last week Ethan and I went to Student Life Camp in Orange Beach, Alabama with some of the students from our youth group! It was the best camp I have ever been apart of. Not only was the beach awesome, but the camp was amazing! The worship band was the Brett Younker band(who played at the camp we went to last summer). They did a great job at leading us in worship and helping to prepare our hearts for what the Lord was going to teach us. The camp pastor was Matt Chandler! Ethan and I were really excited to hear him preach in person. We love listening to him sermons and I have enjoyed reading his wife's blog. Matt Chandler is the pastor of The Village Church in Texas. Make sure to look him up! The "theme" of the camp was Devoted. Are we devoted, how do we become more devoted and who helps us stay devoted where the questions that we encouraged to ask ourselves. Matt Chandler preached on the Gospel and it was extremely convicting. I am still processing what I learned and God is still teaching me. The thing that stuck out to me the most of that the Gospel doesn't just save us, it sustains us. We need it and without it we will never make it. I am thankful for this time of growth and refreshment. It was needed and I loved spending time with the students! We had a great time and I would go back in a heartbeat!

Here are some pictures from the week!

The hubs and I!

My view while on my run in the workout room!

The girls in my room. Minus Mrs. Cindy who was taking the picture!
From left to right:
Kaylee,Myself, Morgan, Abby,and Whitney


The view from our condo!

Spending some time on the beach one night after worship.

Emily, Myself, Whitney and Abby

Whitney and I

We may be crazy, but I think we are the best chaps ever :)

Love my mom's face in the background!

Mom and I enjoying the beach!

Mom(who was also a chap), myself and Abby!

One of my new favorite pictures with my favorite person!

This was our last trip with our church youth group before the move. I have loved serving and growing with the students and am very thankful for the time I have spent in the youth ministry. It has been a blessing and the Lord has taught me many things through it. I know that the relationships I have built will be ones that will last forever!

The changes I have made

In December 2010 I decided that I needed to make a change. I was weighing the heaviest I had ever weighed and to be honest, I just didn't feel good. I felt weighed down and had a lack of energy. I knew that I wasn't living a healthy lifestyle and I wanted to get my weight under control. Rewind to October 2010 where I began running. I wanted to run a 5k so I set out to start the training. I fell in love with running, but was failing in the losing weight department because I had not changed my eating habits. So in January 2011 I joined Weight Watchers. I set out to lose a total of 24.8 lbs. I have lost a total of 13lbs! I cannot believe what I difference that 13lbs has made in the way that I feel and the way that I look. I have done well with maintaining as well. I have also completed a 5k and have continued running! I am planning to run my second 5k on July 4th! Running has played a huge role in reshaping my figure and strengthening my muscles. It has also provided me with more energy! I am currently dabbling with the idea of training for a half marathon. Who knows! I have struggled with losing the remaining 11.8lbs, but am planning to push extra hard over the next few weeks and as we make our move to Kentucky. I know that I can do it and I really want to!

Running along with Weight Watchers has changed my life and I am thankful for the path they have taken me on. As I continue to push myself towards my goals and strive to live a healthy lifestyle God has been teaching me that my self worth is not found in my looks or skills, it is found in Him and as He continues to show me that He also continues to draw me closer to Himself! Teaching me about who He is and that my life and reason for living is found in Him and it is to bring glory and honor to Him in everything I say and do. I hope that if you have been wanting to change this aspect of your life that you will go for it! You can do it! Our bodies are a temple of the Lord and I believe that when we constantly fill it with junk we are not honoring Christ.

Here are a few before and after pictures of where I am currently at.

Before: October 2010

After: Mother's day/May 2011



Before: Christmas Eve 2010(my heaviest weight)

After: June 5th 2011(down 10.8lbs!)

Did I mention that Ethan has also lost a good bit of weight? I am so proud of him and he looks so great!

June 6th 2011

Yesterday Ethan and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary! I honestly cannot believe it has been 2 years! Ethan is my absolute best friend and it is an honor to be his wife. Christ has grown us and has been teaching us and I am so thankful that He saw fit to give the gift of marriage. It has been one of the biggest blessings in my life and I could not ask for anything more. As God has been working in our life and in our marriage He has grown our love for each other. I would have never thought that I could love Ethan more than I did 2 years ago, but I was wrong and I am so glad! He is a godly example and he encourages me in my walk with Christ. His love and care for me are more than I deserve and I know it is by God's grace that we are able to love each other and it is through His word and His love for us that we know what love is.

Ethan sent me these beautiful flowers yesterday! Made me day!

And since most of us love looking at wedding pictures, I thought I would share some of my favorites with ya'll! Hope you enjoy!

Side note: Our unity candle wouldn't lite because of the wax :)

I am still in love with our wedding cake and boy was it yummy!

I most defiantly married prince charming :)

June 5th 2011

Yesterday was a very special day! We celebrated Ethan's 21st birthday! The festivities began on Friday evening when I got home from work. We heading to McAlister's for dinner and enjoyed a little date night in honor of the birthday boy. On Saturday we slept in and then hung out around the house just relaxing and enjoying the free time. Saturday evening we went to my parents to celebrate. We had a yummy dinner and then banana pudding for desert. Sunday after church we headed to O'Charley's for lunch with Ethan's family!

About 3 weeks ago I cracked and gave him his gift early. I had ordered him a new Incase backpack from Apple for his MacBook Pro! I was so excited about it that I had to give it to him early. I felt bad about not having something for him to open on his birthday so I ordered him a 10 Vol. set of Charles Surgeon's Sermons that he had mentioned he wanted. I gave them to him when we got home from lunch!

I enjoy spoiling Ethan and I think I have gotten pretty good at it :)

The birthday boy and I with his new books :)

At lunch on Sunday!

Happy Birthday Ethan! I hope you had a great 21st birthday and I am so thankful to be your wife! I love you!