Things That Make Me Smile…

1) what I like to call ‘one liners’ that I find while doing my daily devotions; here’s a list of some that I’ve come across lately…

Proverbs 3:5a Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.

Psalm 32:8b I will counsel you and watch over you.

Romans 8:28 God works for the good of those who love him

Psalm 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live.

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

2 Samuel 7:18 Who am I, Lord…that you have brought me this far? (This must have been the inspiration for ‘Friend of God’)

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous…He will never leave you or forsake you.

2) pregnant people/babies…

2 members of my extended family and 3 people from my limited Canadian social network (lol) are having babies in almost consecutive months! (June, July, August, September, and November!) While we are not ready for beautiful, bouncing bundle of joy ourselves, I’m ecstatic for the people in my life that are welcoming such wonderful blessings into this world! This also means multiple diaper cakes and baby blankets in my immediate future! :)

3) kindergarten

I started volunteering with a kindergarten class a couple of months ago, and I love it! I have missed being in a classroom so much, so this is a great way to get back in the swing of things and get my foot in the door while I wait for a work permit. The education system here is different than what I’m used to, so I’m taking advantage of being able to learn first hand! And the kids! The kids are amazing! Yes, there are always going to be those few students that somehow manage to drive you nuts, but every one of them is totally worth it! The teachers, too, are incredible. They are so understanding of me and my circumstances and try to make me apart of their classrooms. I even had the opportunity to chaperone a fieldtrip to the Biodome! (Which I keep telling myself I’m going to upload those pictures!)

I have to pause for a minute, because as I’m writing this, I’m looking out onto my back porch, and it’s snowing. Why is it snowing? Because it’s too cold to rain? But it’s above freezing…(barely)? It’s sunny too…!? At least it’s not sticking.

Snow. Something back home that would have been cause for some serious elation. Canada, however, has ruined me of that. Hopefully we’ll move back to the South, and snow will once again bring a smile to my face. For now, the sight of this unwanted fluffy white crap is making my motivation to go for a run later virtually nonexistent. Oh well. Back to what I wanted to blog about…

4) weddings

Who doesn’t love a wedding?? And it just so happens that I have the honor of standing next to 2 beautiful, blushing brides (what is with my alliteration today? lol) in the next 12 months! I will be flying home in May for Miranda’s wedding, and I can’t wait!! And Lolly is getting married next March, and Brian and I are already trying to plan our trip back for that! We’re so excited even though it’s a year away! :)

I’m also saying some prayers and thinking wishful thoughts that there might be another wedding thrown into the mix in 2012…wink, wink! You know who you are! ;)

5) sisterhood

This weekend, Alpha Gamma Delta sisters all over the world will be celebrating International Reunion Day, IRD. All chapters and alumnae groups across the globe celebrate this occasion on the same day by sisters coming together wherever they may be for themed festivities and fellowship. Initially, I was upset that I would be missing out this year, but a few weeks ago, I received an IRD invitation in the mail from an alumnae group out of Ottawa. I was overjoyed! I’m excited at the prospect of meeting ‘Canadian’ squirrels and extending my sisterhood experience across to a different corner of the continent.

6) visitors

A handful of sorority sisters, other friends, and a couple of family members have expressed a real interest in wanting to come visit me in the great white north this summer! I have to say (in my feeble attempt to persuade them) that it is beautiful in the summertime. There are so many fun things to do in the wonderful weather, and it actually gets just as warm as back home! So please, please, please come visit me! Besides, I’ve really been wanting an excuse to go on the Amphibus and have some Beaver Tails in the Old Port of Montreal! ;)

That’s enough for now…but now onto some laundry…not something that really brings a smile to anyone’s face…but this laundry sign certainly would bring a smile to my face while doing laundry! lol I have to make one! :)

My Newest Obsession

Recently, I have become obsessed with window shopping on Etsy.  If you’ve never heard of it, Etsy is a website that is an online marketplace for all things handmade, vintage, ect. You can buy anything from art, to purses, to quilts, to wedding supplies, to geekery (whatever that might be, lol).  One of my sorority sisters, Lindsey, has a shop, Ten Thirty-One, that is absolutely to die for! (Stephanie, you would love it!)  Oh, and can you guess which of these masterpieces I would kill for (ah-em, Mom!)?? 

Anyway, there are so many wonderful shops and items that I would love to own (like this sign in Boston colors for my husband’s hopefully soon-to-be man cave) (or any number of headbands or necklaces from this shop), that I thought I might share! Happy shopping!

Oh, and P.S. I also found this great site that is just like Groupon for a lot of items that are sold on Etsy, Groop Dealz.  Super fun! And again, happy shopping!

 

So Easy, Even I Can Do It! :)

Ask anyone who has lived with me…especially my mother or my college roommate, Lolly…and they will tell you that I am not the neatest person.  Since I’ve been married, I’ve been trying a bit harder to stay on top of household chores and clutter, but let’s face it, I am just not gifted in this particular area! So when I got this article on an email from The Nest, it definitely piqued my interest!

How to Organize in 20 Minutes or Less!

I found that it was full of great ideas that even I can do!  I’ve already hung a board for my jewellery and color-coded my closet and will hopefully use a few more of their tricks!

Famous One Liners

Recently, I’ve been doing a daily devotion every morning before I get ready for the day.  I started probably a month ago, and I really can see and feel a difference in my attitude, outlook, and approach to my day to day life.  Today, the devotion was all about not losing heart because God has put us where we are for a reason, looking at where we are as a ministry.  It was centered around 2 Corinthians 4:1

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

The author of today’s devotion also pointed out some very valid verses that go along with the first.  I read them and cut them down to what I felt was the short, sweet version that I need to remember in my daily life, so I’m calling them famous biblical one liners:

Luke 18:1  Always pray & do not give up

2 Corinthians 4:16  Inwardly, we are renewed day by day

Galatians 6:9  We will reap the harvest if we do not give up

Ephesians 3:12  We may approach God with freedom & confidence

2 Thessalonians 3:12  Never tire of doing what is right

I copied these down and am going to put them somewhere near my vanity so I can look at them daily and try to remember to employ these truths in my life.  I’m sure there are many more that I’m unaware of at the moment, but as i come across them, I’ll be sure to add to the list.

I’m new at blogging about this part of my life simply because I’ve been afraid of going to that place not only publicly, but within myself as well.  My hope in doing this is that the joy, love, and hope that these devotions bring me can spill into someone else’s life as well.  Thanks for the support!

Oh, and the button to the right is a link to Encouragement for Today, the devotion I’ve started doing in case you’re interested!

Ahh, noo!!

Army Wives is my absolute favorite show, and now they're killing someone off!! Noo!! I'm so sad! I don't know what it is about this show, but its so easy to connect with the characters and get hooked!
Most people don't know that i was almost an Army wife myself! Brian went to North Georgia for the ROTC program, to commission as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. When it came time for pre-commissioning activities and requirements, the ROTC department told him that it was no longer a possibility for him because he is Canadian. So plan b!
I am so thankful to have my husband home with me, but I have the utmost respect for Army wives. They pay a huge sacrifice to our country and are rarely recognized for it. So here's to the Army's unseen heros: the wives.

Army Wives Season 5 Episode 4 Preview


Now if only Canadian television would pick up the latest season! lol

Out on the Town

So the classy ladies of Alpha Gam went out for a night of dancing while I was in town!  I had so much fun hanging out with my babies and getting to know the new girls!  And we all looked pretty darn good if I do say so myself!

Miranda and me on our way out! 

All the girls out on the town for the night!

My littles and me!

The Upsilon Clan!!

Don’t Look Behind the Shower Curtain…

I had been planning to surprise my babies in Dahlonega for a little over a month, and on Tuesday, February 8th, I did it! 

Brian got a promotion at work that required a week of training in Toronto. I decided that I was most definitely not going to stay home alone.  So, after a gruelling overnight flight and early morning connection, I arrived in Atlanta on Sunday morning.  I spent the day with my parents and Shannon, going to her tumbling lesson, and watching the Super Bowl, and Monday was shopping with Shannon. 

Tuesday was the big day!  Only four girls from Alpha Gam knew I was coming, so strategic planning was key! My Big, Amy, and my Grand-Little, Miranda, picked me up at home; we did some quick wedding shopping for Miranda’s and headed up to Dahlonega.  Missy was another of the four who knew I was coming and had deliberately planned a pot luck dinner before chapter that night so I could make a grand entrance!  All of the girls had a sorority event, so Miranda and I headed to Missy’s to wait for everyone while Amy went to pick up some food for dinner.  The plan was for me to wait in the basement for everyone to get there, and then I’d come out and surprise everyone.  Well, about 15 minutes before everyone was supposed to get there, someone tries to walk into the house.  Assuming it’s Amy, I’m unfazed, but we quickly realized that it was most definitely not Amy and was Mariah, my Grand-Little!  I ran to the closest place I could get to….the bathroom! lol  Glad to have narrowly escaped without being noticed, I just start listening in from behind the door.  As more girls arrived,  I decided that the bathroom door wasn’t the greatest refuge and moved as stealthily as possible to the shower and closed the curtain. 

I hid in the shower for a good 15-20 minutes when I heard my phone start to ring!  In my rush to hide, I had left my purse on the table, and Miranda didn’t know where I had gone and was calling me to find out!  My Little, Caroline, found the ringing phone, located it in my purse, and recognized my dog on the background!  However, after some swift convincing from Miranda and a guilt trip from Missy she quickly dismissed it. Crisis averted!  Realizing where I was, Missy ‘dismissed herself to the bathroom,’ shoved the shower curtain aside, and gave me the biggest hug ever! 

After leaving me, she corralled everyone into her bedroom, closed the door, and told them to close their eyes.  Missy, Amy, and Miranda finally let me out of the shower and hid me behind the three of them.  They opened the door to Missy’s room, and had the girls open their eyes as they yelled surprise!!!……and all they saw was the three of them standing there. The girls were so confused, and I think kind of irritated at this point! lol Amy, Missy, and Miranda counted to three and jumped aside, and I popped up screaming!!!!  My Littles, Caroline and Lauren, literally tackled me almost to the floor!  It was a great feeling!!

I was so excited to see all of my babies and to meet my new ones!  One of them, my newest Great-Grand-Little, Faith, was the final Alpha Gam to know I was coming, and it was fabulous meeting her too!  Here are some pictures of our new, and improved Upsilon Family Tree!! (minus my Twin Kasey!! Sad day!!)