- We have started exercising and changing our eating habits which we both love and hate at the same time. It is such a blessing to be able to do this together though and not alone!
- We became members at our church (Bethlehem Baptist) in January. We love our church a lot and our so very excited about officially becoming members.
- We enjoyed a weekend with Michael's friend Nathan and his wife Danielle. They were up here the weekend of the Superbowl and we loved getting to hangout with another couple. We played games, went out to eat, watched the game, etc. We are very thankful for these two and always have fun when we get to see them. :)
- The weekend after that Michael's parents were up here for a visit. We hadn't seen them since Christmas so it was nice to get to spend time with them again. Our nephew also turned one that Sunday so we had a little birthday party for him. We love getting to spend time with either of our families and it was a well blessed weekend.
- Unfortunately that weekend was followed by this last week of being sick and feeling gross. I hardly ever get sick...or at least that used to be the case...but have now had the flu twice in our marriage. That was followed by having icky head colds and just feeling lousy so we spent this last week resting and trying to feel better. A week off of exercise was really nice, but it is not going to feel so nice when we start back up again after Michael gets home from work today :(
- I have had the blessing of having a long term substitute position in a kindergarten room. I work Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Friday. This has been a really good experience and I have learned a lot. I will have this job until the beginning of April and it's going to be sad to leave those kiddos when the time comes. Seeking to do my best every day between now and then and praying for grace to show them grace and love each day.
- I have been loving these two songs lately. "The Power of the Cross" and "Speak Oh Lord" . The first is the Gospel. I love when artists use their gifts to share the beauty of truth in a song. Listen and be encouraged! The second song is my prayer for my life right now. I desire for God to speak to me and through me. Pastor Jason talked yesterday at church about how we are stewards of grace. He challenged us to consider if grace was staying stagnate like a lake in our own lives or if we are allowing it to flow like a river into the lives of others through using our gifts to serve them. I want my life to be a river of grace flowing to others, blessing them, and always pointing to Christ.
- Similar to the previous bullet, I have been overwhelmed lately by the love of my God and the countless ways he has blessed me through other people. The ways he has used other people to shape me into the person I am today. I am so thankful for so many people...people I know well and people I hardly know but interacted with for a time. I am thankful for family and friends, old classmates and people I grew up with, people I went to college with, family friends, teachers, pastors and others who poured into my life, people I worked with at camp, etc. So if you are reading this, you should know that I am thankful for you. Whether you have had a big or small interaction with me and my life, you really have blessed me and played a role in teaching me something so thank you.
In closing, here are two pictures from our Valentine's Day last week...love this man and so thankful to have him to walk through life with!
