Licensing Ceremony

I don't even begin to know how or where to start thanking everyone for their love and support over the weekend. To say that my home church family (the church where I grew up, was baptized and first learned about serving) was excited may be an understatement! Because they went all out!! 

I was not prepared for seeing my name in big bold letters on the church marquee! 

Special thanks definitely goes out to my girls who sang my soul happy just before I got up to speak! 

This process has been so humbling and has taken me so far out of my comfort zone!! 

I just cannot stop thanking my church home pastor for all that he did for me!! 

He and my husband have been the best supporters and new minister could ever have! 

Not sure what I would do without this man!!

And my mom worked her socks off trying to make this day special!! She's my hero for sure!! 

I had girlfriends who showed up to have my back!! 

WIT wives were definitely in the house!! 

This lady has been a constant encourager!! We met as pen pals back in middle school and reconnected when Marc went to seminary three years ago. 

Speaking of seminary!! These two also graduated with Marc but they along with several others from VUU took me in as an honorary member and have been supportive from the moment we met! 

My 95 year young aunt kept saying she would not miss this day for anything and she didn't! 

My god mommy surprised me by coming! I missed having my godfather there especially since he was the one who baptized me as a kid, and performed the marriage ceremony for Marc and my marriage. Funny thing though is that I actually dreamed about him the night before the service! It was as if he wanted me to know I had his blessing! 

My home church pastors wife is so down to earth and loving! 

My sista cousins!! They are hilarious!! So glad I didn't look at them while I was preaching because apparently they were balling like babies!! lol Which I get because I sure cried like a baby when my babies sang!! lol 

This lady is my right hand at WABC! She presented me with a gift from the church! It's been hard enough keeping them from calling me First Lady! It's going to take another 8 years to train then not to say minister every five minutes lol! 

I received so many beautiful gifts, hugs, and kisses that day! I only hope that I can live up to pride my family and friends have taken in me! 

The Lion King Show

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed watching the Lion King Musical!! It was almost as good as being at Disney!! lol

Thanks to my sister we didn't even have to drive back home afterwards. We got to stay in her company's suites (the same suite we sometime stayed in when Marc had week long courses for his masters degree program). 

It's definitely something any true Disney fan should experience at least once!  

10k steps!!

Went shopping with this one today for patio furniture for her apartment !

I'm still amazed we got this much in her car!! 

We even did a bit of window shopping for Nicki's new apartment. 

I love AtHome! And this pillow section today was calling my name!! Not that I have any need for them!! lol But they are so darn cute!!

Only a scrapbooker would understand why I printed out Nicki's register in Target! lol

Saw this sign while out shopping. Love the words!! 

Q said I walked 10k while shopping with her at all of the stores (I lost track of how many there should be)! 

My girls are trying to kill me with all of the events on our calendar next month!! Did I mention Q graduates the week before Nicki's wedding?? And that my licensing ceremony's is this Saturday! Yes!! So if I don't post much until after the wedding then you will know why!! 

Update!! 

The very next day after we went shopping Q updated her patio!! I think we did a great job!! lol

Birthday Gifts

I got a ton of cards in the mail today. So I thought I might as well share my gifts! I hate calling this a Birthday Haul so let's just say this is a birthday blessing!

The first gift actually came last week from Marc's aunt. I wore the earrings to my daughters shower. Not sure what kind of earrings I will wear to the wedding but these are always and option! 

My second gift was from a sweet CM that always gets me pretty jewelry. I can't wait to wear this fab bracelet somewhere. She gave me a bracelet once before and I have warn that thing to death! That's just how much I love it! 

This top also came from a CM who somehow seems to nail it every time! If it hasn't been jewelry its been a cute top . I have a scar in the middle of my chest, and its hard for me to find tops that look nice and don't dip down so low that they show my scars. This one fit perfectly! 

This one came from hubby. I have a hard time sleeping at night and my pinched nerve still flares up from time to time. We have yet to find a pillow to work under my neck without causing an issue so I think he is hoping this will make it just a little more comfortable at night. I'm going to test that theory tonight! 

He also gave me a bag of chocolate peanuts I'm trying really hard not to demolish! lol They are my one sweet weakness besides Zero bars! 

Of course if you read yesterday's blog you know the big surprise was tickets to see the Lion King musical!! I still cannot believe I'm finally going to get to see it!! It's almost as exciting as preparing to go on a trip to Disney!! Well Almost!! lol 

My ipsy bag came in the day before as well!! 

I think I'm most looking forward to trying out the Argan oil for my hair!!! 

And that ladies (and gents) is my birthday blessings!! lol

Best birthday ever!!

I don't even know where to begin!!

The morning started with me waking up to the news that my daughter Nicki and my soon to be son in love were sending Marc and I to see the Lion King Musical next week. That carried me through the day!! lol Then my sister confirmed that we could stay in the suite in Rickmond (which means we get to really relax by going up early, checking into the suite and then after we see the play we don't have to make the 1 1/2 drive back until the morning)!!! 

This is the birthday girl waiting to start her day!! lol

I then had a fabulous lunch at the Swan Terrace with this man!!

From there we proceeded to Colonial  Williamsburg for the day to use our annual passes from last year before they expire in August (need to make a few more trips)! 

I'm going to be posting more detailed photos on my trip blog of our Williamsburg adventures!

We did just a little bit of shopping at Merchants Square, strolled down Duke of Gloucester Street before heading to my daughter Q's place for cupcakes and pizza!! 

I can honestly say I enjoyed my day!! The very best part was all of the calls, text and shout outs on Facebook from family in friends!! A big highlight was having Marc's 85 year old aunt sing to me on the phone and having my 95 year young auntie call me to wish me a Happy Birthday!! The fact that so many took the time out of their busy schedule to show me some love just makes my heart sing!! 

Bridal Shower

Nicki's bridal shower was Saturday!  It turned out exactly as we had hoped (if not more). One of our guest told me today it was booge fabulous and that should could not wait for the wedding!! She also said our theme was fab as well!! 

Which makes every event planner a happy camper!! lol 

Her bridesmaids did an excellent job hosting! But the biggest props goes out to her grandparents who went above and beyond the call of duty! 

These two (they were so busy I didn't get a chance to get a picture of them together ), put their whole heart into the event! From her godmother getting the venue to her godfather cooking all of the hot food for the day!!

Yours truly created the vision and choose the decoration theme based off of colors Nicki choose last year, and with the group effort of many we pulled off a pretty cool wedding shower if I do say so myself!!

Neither rain, sleet nor snow (I kid you not! At one point in the day we had all three in the span of 30 minutes. And although it got to be extremely cold by the end of the day, eventually the sun shown bright and sunny) kept family and friends away! I'm forever greatful for the people that God has not only placed in my life, but those he has placed in the lives of my kids)! 

Reflections

The last few weeks I've been doing a lot of reflecting. Honestly I've probably been during it the last year and a half!! There are so many changes in our lives that have either taken place or that is about to take place and it's been overwhelming at times.

But this past Sunday I had an epiphany!! Life is just too short!! And as much as God wants you to work and prepare for your time in heaven with him, he's also giving you beautiful surroundings in which to bask in his masterpiece!! This earth we call home! I can imagine that was how he saw it when he created heaven. But somehow we as humans have messed that thing up and he's had to come in and fix it!! 

Yet, even through all of this he's still provided us with beautiful moments which should inspire us to keep running the race! 

I looked out over our front porch Sunday and the view was gorgeous! It might not be Hawaii but God still created a beautiful oasis in my own little world in my own little yard and this particular day it was like I finally noticed! 

I took this picture ten weeks ago (thanks Instagram), and as much as I love snow (and anyone who knows me knows this to be true lol), I probably love spring (minus the pollen) just as much. After all I am a spring baby!! lol 

Seeing the difference in this branch ten weeks ago to how it looked yesterday in the picture below just made me smile!! 

See, a few months ago this hydrangea bush appeared dead and was covered in snow. Yesterday morning green leaves had started to cover over the brown!! Seeing this reminded me that Jesus took what seemed lost and dead in me and covered it with his love!! Because of him I am a new creature in Christ, and because of his sacrifice on the cross I will live forever in eternity with him! Thank you Lord for your amazing grace and mercy!!

Sunday I posted the first picture on my Facebook page and pinned the following message to it: This is a message to my young people!! Life is short!! I'm looking outside today and it's beautiful!! The sun is shining and Gods beautiful canvas can be seen everywhere!! Take it from this old lady....you will have hard times! There will be bad days...but grab each day by the horn and live it!! Get out there and love people, love life, and first and foremost love God!! I guarantee it won't steer you wrong!!

This message was not only to the young people, but it was a message for every one of us!! Life is short!! Live it to the fullest!! Give God your best, and every once in a while remember to stop and really look at his masterpiece!! He made it not only for his enjoyment but he wanted to share it with us!! To often we are caught up in stupid stuff and we miss the beauty around us!!