This morning service was really good. Pastor Rich has been doing series on "Lets Do It", yes there may be a few orange bins scattered around...

I bet Home Depot didn't know they were going to influence sermons.

And it feels very relevant to where I am in life right now, which is God telling me to just step out and faith and do it!

We met the crew for lunch at Bellacinos, and then headed to Leadership Meeting afterwards. The day was long. It's hard for me to sit in meetings for 1 hour, much less for almost 4 hours. Although I will say, despite aggravation and tension, it's been really productive, and I'm excited about where we're heading!

Came back home to a peaceful day, snuggled up in blankets, watching an episode of Fixer Upper,

Scones. So many scones.

and the newest episode of Downton Abbey. And can I just say, I think I am officially scarred for life..

Yeah pretty much my reaction too.

That was my face. Minus the blood. I think. 

After hanging around the house getting a few more things done, (when does this ever end? the cleaning? the maintenance? Guess it doesn't) we hung out with Britney and her boyfriend Branden. It was definitely an interesting meal, but made me very thankful that we could spend some time with Britney. We waited a while in line, waited a while for our food, and some how managed to have 2 out of our 4 meals that were bad and needed to be redone. But luck would have it, and the benefit of knowing people--Amanda--we got compensated with free dessert around the table, and one free entree!

And let me just tell you....


This is what heaven tastes like.

Today I slowly got some much needed things done around the house, but on advice of Stephen decided for once to try and just relax on my day off on Friday. I tend to feel a guilt about working when Stephen doesn't, which is the life to only have to work 4 days a week--but then I feel spoiled too. So I took my time doing thing I wanted to do. It was super nice.

Then I spent the evening with my friend Tori from high school. So glad she takes the time to ask me to get together and then make time for us to get together. We enjoyed Pompeii pizza and saw 13 Hours at Columbiana Grande. Was a very intense movie, but really good. Plus who doesn't like a good "based on a true story" movie!

So today I'd sort of worked myself into an anxious stressed out state because it was my first day with a couple of kids at a local elementary school. Our office decided to volunteer weekly by reading with a kid or two and try and help them improve their ability to read. So this was my official first time going, as my background check got delayed due to some errors.

So here I was anticipating what in the world might happen during our time there, and well the Lord gave me a peace just a little while before going. Honestly it was a lot of fun. If I let my anxiety control me, I can forget that quickly. But we just hung out for an hour, talking and going through a few of their core word flashcards. These boys are so cute. Mischievous. But cute.

I came home after work, ready to crash until church. But honestly because the day had gone so well at HB Rhame my anxiety about the evening had kind of dissipated. I was hoping for that. Because I tend to stress out every Thursday, to the point I willing have to force myself to engage and interact with people those evenings, and well it's exhausting for this introvert.

But every time I'm there, I feel re-energized. We had a lot of talks, and got to spend some good time with a lot of great people. One of our new guys, he's a little different, had a very very long talk with Steve, that I was able to hear a good chunk of, and well please be praying if you read this, for this guy. He's struggling with a lot of things, and there is no telling how deep that struggle really goes.

After church, say 11:30 pm, we finally made our way out the door to then drive to Waffle House with Jason, Phillip, and Lydia. Sometimes its these moments you realize how much you really love these people you spend so much of your time and investment with. They are great people, and even more fun to hang out with.

We kind of coordinate

Stephen and I, the old fuddy dudds, left before the crew, and arrived home at 1 am. Exhausted, and ready to sleep.

Here I am on February 1, and I feel so exhausted, I can only imagine that's how I felt last Wednesday because it seems that is all I've felt for a while now. But really I'm pretty sure today we just sat around the house hanging out. Which is so welcomed and marvelous sometimes, isn't it? I kind of wish I could have that kind of night, tonight. Oh well I'll dream of tomorrow... ya know Feb 2!

Oh but thanks to the glory of your phone and it having date time stamp, apparently we did manage to make a quick trip to Walgreens for some milk, and my sweet handsome man had me pick out some chocolates so we could just sit down and enjoy them together. Guessing what each one held inside.

Life is like a box of chocolates. Is it though?

We live on the edge!

So apparently last week was a bit busy, and I never got around to actually posting anything. So here I am on February 1st, posting for January 26. We'll see how this goes!

Pretty sure I came to work, went home, and if my memory proves me right, we literally just hung out at the house. I've been in a very exhausted state of mind for what feels like months.

I'm not sure if it's the exhaustion of worry or anxiety, or if it's just my body screaming out for a break--but didn't I just have one at Christmas? Either way I come home, and I feel like I can't do anything!

Oh wait! My parents came over. I had left my phone at their house on Monday, and we had decided that since streaming Home Town at their house wasn't working, we'd watch it at ours.

It was a fun night of getting to spend time with them, talk, and watch and hear them as they saw images and stories from their own "Home Town". 

I barely got any sleep last night, which resulted in me being super exhausted all day. But not until about 3 or 4 o'clock yesterday was I just DONE. Work just seemed to drag much more than normal at the end of the day. I was so happy to be driving home, except I didn't and ended up going to my parents so I could attend the visitation last night for Mrs. Cindy.

We came home and tried to watch Home Town, so my parents could see their little city and how these two are changing it. Dishanywhere.com was not having it though! So hopefully Tuesday night.

But in the silence of the TV, I spoke with my mom about the future. One of my largest hesitations to move anywhere else by within SC, or within the US, or to really follow God's leading to wherever he may take me, is this idea that I'll be taking any future grandchildren away from my parents. I'm their only kid, hence those would be their only grandkids. My mom eased my fears, but at the same time I know that if the Lord ever requires that of me, it will be tough regardless. I feel like I'm daring God not to do that, and in return I'm sure he'll ask that of Stephen and I. We will see, but we are open to the world of possibilities, and whatever the Lord may require of our lives.

So thankful for God fearing and loving parents. So thankful for my mother.