Group Photo

Here is a photo of the group that went on the girls trip!

From left to right

My mom, Me, Sister Amber, Nephew James, My Nana, Sister Abby, Cousin Katherine, Katherine's daughter Kyleigh, Cousin Jennifer, Aunt Kelly, Sister Apryl!

Girls Weekend 2010

This past weekend was my mom's side of the families 2nd annual girls weekend. Last year we went to Savannah, GA and this year we went to Bryson City, NC. We had a great time! It was an extended weekend and it was a blast! We did lots of shopping and at lots of yummy food! I have a lot of pictures from the trip, but I haven't had the chance to upload them yet. Here are a few from my mom's camera!

Downtown Bryson City!

Darty Girls + James!

My cousin Jen, Katherine, her daughter Kyleigh, my sister Abby and myself shopping in Wynesville!

Enjoying a sweet snack!

James, Mom and I swinging outside our cabin! Oh and the weather was to die for! It was in the 50's! It was perfect!!

More pictures to come!

Caked-Give a way

I love baking and reading about those who bake! I love eating what I back even more :) I was introduced to a new blog called Caked by Erin through a friend. Erin makes some amazing cakes and cookies!

She is having a give-a-way right now and she is giving away the cutest Anthropologie apron! Make sure to check out her blog! http://cakedbyerin.blogspot.com/ but don't enter to win her give-a-way because I want to win :)

Getting some grub :)

On Tuesday night I had a few girls from our youth group over for dinner! I made Pasta Shells, with salad and bread sticks! I thought it was pretty yummy and the girls seemed to like it! I love these girls! They mean so much to me and I am so thankful for their godly example! They are such an encouragement to me and such a blessing! I am really looking forward to having more girls over soon and expanding the group!

The Girls!

Our Meal!
Desser!

Ethan told Whitney that she wasn't aloud in our room. So she took this picture and texted it to him while he was in class!

Cooking :)

Time for a change!

I have had long hair for a while now and as much as I loved it(once it was done and looking pretty) it was a lot of work. So on most days I would just throw it up in a bun and head out the door. I grew to hate it because it took so much work to make it look decent. I really wanted something fun, easy, and new! I am so happy with the cut I got! I love it!! I think I ended up cutting off about 7 or 8 inches!

Ethan and I yesterday after church!

This was right after I got it cut on Saturday!

Verse of the day

"I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."

Isaiah 12:2 (ESV)

I love the verse of the day feature on my blog. I honestly don't know if anyone else looks at it but I love it! I look at it every day and it helps to keep my focus right. Today's verse really hit home for me. It is a daily battle to fully trust in my Savior. Not in just some things but in ALL things. This verse is my prayer, and I know that my God is always good to provide whatever I may need!

He won't be little for long....

I was able to spend some one on one time with my nephew James over the weekend! I had a blast with him! He is talking a mile a minute and I love to hear him call for me :) We did lots of fun things and made lots of fun memories! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this little boy. It's hard to remember life without.

I was walking to my dorm room at college when I called to check in with my mom. After asking her how things were going she said " Well, Amber and Chad have a baby coming". I paused for a minute before saying " What?". She then went on to tell me about James and that he was being placed in Amber and Chad's care and that they were hoping to adopt him. All I knew was that his name was James, He was about 7 months old and that things for our family would never be the same. About a week later I came home from college and I remember walking in to the house and Amber walked around the corner and handed me my new nephew. He was my nephew from the very start and I knew that regardless of the turn out of the adoption he would always be my nephew. About a year later Amber and Chad closed on the adoption! I was so blessed to be able to watch God work in and through this situation and it has been such an honor to watch Amber and Chad raise their son! I honestly can't image things without him!

I wasn't able to find a picture of James from when I first met him. I believe they are on a different computer, but I did pull the one below from facebook. This is James and I at his 1st Birthday party. He has changed so much! He has turned into such a little man. He says and does the funniest things and has the sweetest temperament! James is now 2 1/2 years old!

Here are a few pictures from this weekend!

James at Texas Road! He is a ham :)

Our little Gator!