Hello and happy Monday! I hope this one has treated you well! I just wanted to check in quickly and briefly share a few pictures of a couple of photo projects I have been working on. I planned on creating an album using the pictures that Brett's roommate took of our engagement day and that album is just about complete! Only about 6 months later!! I also decided to create an album of the pictures that Bayleigh took of us! I have printed everything at home and each album is going to be completely different!
I am loving the way they are turning out and cannot wait to share more as soon as they are completed!! I have a few other posts planned for this week before Thursday because I am heading to New York for the weekend. Gosh, that sounded so ritzy...haha. While I may not be going to the big city.....I'm heading to Buffalo, New York to be apart of a wedding of two very special and dear friends and I cannot wait!! Again, I will share more on that later as well!
Well, the last couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. There have been lots of ups and downs. My emotions have been all over the place. I won't go into a lot of detail but all I can say is that I am so thankful for the Lord and His faithfulness. I am thankful for His provision in every situation. He is faithful when I am unfaithful. He is good to me even when the way that I respond is not always great. I am emotional, fickle, I sway, and I am inconsistent.....but my Lord is not any of those things.
I will be back soon!! I plan on enjoying my Saturday!
Well, I'll be honest....The past couple of days have been full of unexpected news, excitement, anticipation, nervousness, and disappointment. As most of you know, I graduated in December with my degree in elementary education. Y'all, I loved my major. I loved going to class and doing observations. It is just what I have grown to love. Now, ultimately, I want to be a wife and mother but, I truly want to teach. I was blessed to get an interim in the spring to finish up the year. I knew that finding a job would be tough in the fall but didn't have too many fears or doubts.
Fast forward to this past Friday, I get a call about a possible kindergarten position. I am ecstatic. This teacher retired Friday and they needed someone quick. I was recommended and things seemed to be going in a positive direction. No one else was being considered really. The principal called me and set up an interview for Tuesday. I knew it would be tough because school would have started but I was preparing and trying not to get too excited or ahead of myself. That is a tough thing though!! Anyways, the interview ended up being cancelled today because of some bumps in the road, mandatory transfers, etc. I don't know all of the details honestly. All I know is, I felt disappointed and hurt today.
In my head and heart, I instantly wondered who would be hired. Would they be better than me? Why them? Why was I not given a chance? I, at times, have felt entitled and like I deserve a job. Who am I to think that though? This did not surprise God. My flesh is sinful and is quick to be upset, sad, disappointed, hurt. I am not saying that those feelings aren't natural, but, why am I not instead, quick to remember that EVERYTHING that happens to me is for my good and His glory. His word PROMISES that He will work ALL THINGS for MY GOOD!! It's a promise. My plans are not His. His are better. I have to look at all of the MANY, MANY blessings that God is pouring all over my life during this phase of my life. Seriously, it is amazing. I am getting married. Brett has a job. We will have somewhere to live. We will have furniture. We will not starve! :) I want to look at this time as a blessing, not a burden. Sure, an extra paycheck would be so helpful financially. However, I only want to be in the center of HIS will. I do not want to be outside of it for some extra money.
I promise you, I do not have it all together. God is using this time that is tough to stretch me and mold me and test my faith! It reminded me of this song by Laura Story. I am sure you have heard it because of it's recent popularity. The line that was brought to my mind was....
"What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst, this world can't satisfy? What if trials of this life, the rain the storms, the hardest nights, are Your mercies in disguise?"
I mean, this was a disappointing day but if this is one of my greatest disappointments, I think I will be okay. Bottom line....what happened today was for my good and my Father's glory and because I say that, I am choosing to believe that.
Those of you that have prayed for me....thank you! I am blessed to have you in my life!
Brett and I had such a good weekend. We headed to Phenix City on Thursday to see his parents. I had no idea we would be celebrating my birthday but when we got there, his mom had cooked spaghetti for dinner. She knows it's my favorite! Then, I was surprised with a chocolate on chocolate cake. Wow. She knows her future daughter-in-law! I felt so very loved and special!
We had such a nice weekend catching his mom up on wedding plans and finalizing a few more details! We also registered at another little shop in Phenix City so we are officially done with all of that for now! It was just nice to be able to be with his family and for them to be more involved with the planning process since it can be a challenge to be in two different cities!
Today we finalized what the boys will be wearing and invitations! We will order those later this week or next week!! eek!! That will make it all official!
Also, tonight I created a wedding website for us. I wasn't planning on doing this since I would be putting a good bit of information on the blog but I did it so that people can see where we are registered and directions to Camp Grace and all that jazz. It's nothing fancy and not completely finished but it will do!
Tomorrow Brett starts his big boy job! We are so blessed and excited about this job! Also, we may have another exciting announcement in the next couple of days!! This growing up stuff is exciting, challenging, confusing, and fun!
Today I am officially twenty-three. The celebration started this weekend when family was all together. Eric, Linds, V, and my cousins were all here. Since my birthday is the 1st and hers is the 3rd we celebrated together!
My parents got me my mixer. Wow. Being excited about this must mean I am getting old! :)
Eric and Linds got me some plates and tervis tumblers with a K on them....I'm excited to be adding a K to my monogram!
Brett always asks me...."Does everything have to be monogrammed?" My response....."Yes!"
Today I woke up and soon after Brett came over with Chick-Fil-A, flowers, and a present.
He got me my cake stand from my china!
We had a fun day and night! It is always good to be with family...
Sam showing us some tricks...
Pudge....
Uh oh...trick and a fail...
Ouch..
Brett, Palmer, and I...
Thanks for the platter Mangs!! I LOVE it!
Love you Mangs!
All in all....a great day! Cannot believe it was my last one as a Blackman!
I am thinking my twenty third year will be the best one yet!
I cannot believe that May is just about over! This month has flown by! I am actually fine with this. I am so excited to be off for summer and don't want to wish it away but the faster it goes.....the sooner the wedding will be here!! Ah..yes.
I have become a once a week blogger lately. Hopefully that will change this summer, although June looks busy. Brett and I will be heading to Costa Rica in a little over a week with his family! I am so excited about going but things will be crazy for the next few weeks!
My first weekend of freedom was spent with my future in-laws and by the pool. I also made these...
Strawberries filled with homemade whipped cream. Such a perfect summer treat! Mine didn't turn out quite as pretty as these but they were still very good!
I promise to be back soon with something more exciting!
I hope that your Memorial Day was a relaxing one!!
I have seen this on several different blogs and thought I'd play along. Maybe I am just bored....but it was fun...
Enjoy!
Favorite time of day: Mornings...I am definitely a morning person!
Favorite season: Love them all and love the changes each one brings but I am a summer girl at heart. Even though you basically can't look cute because of the humidity and you sweat uncontrollably....summer is my favorite.
Favorite month: Hmm....Honestly, probably November and April because they bring the biggest changes in weather around here....haha.
Favorite holiday: Christmas or my birthday..
Favorite subject in school: Well, growing up I loved English/Reading. Now that I teach these subjects, I'd have to say either reading or math.
Favorite channel: Fox, abcfamily, USA, or HGTV....four favorites? haha.
Favorite color: blue
Favorite song: Seriously...Brett could tell you, I am known for saying, "Oh my gosh! This is my favorite song!" about a million different songs. I have no idea. It changes...but I love a good love song..not cheesy but good.
Favorite movie: Italian Job (is that weird?)
Favorite celebrity: Lately...I have been loving Katherine Heigl
Favorite kind of music: I really love a little bit of everything :)
Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill
Favorite thing to do: spend time with my family and Brett!
Favorite place in the world: Nothing like home....
Favorite hobby: I love to blog and be outside!
Favorite kind of animal: I mean...I love dogs but my whole life my favorite animal was a dolphin. I wanted to work at Sea World and train them. Don't laugh. I am on my way to that dream.... :)
Favorite place to live: I have only ever lived here in the south and can't imagine anywhere else.
Favorite place to vacation: Anywhere tropical. Hawaii was AMAZING!
Favorite restaurant: Chick Fil A. :)
Favorite food: Spaghetti or anything Italian
Favorite thing to cook: I really enjoy cooking and BAKING so pretty much anything. (as long as I have a recipe...not so good at just making it up)
Favorite drink: Hi, I am Laura and I am addicted to diet coke. oops.
Favorite chore: I mean....emptying the dishwasher..? Can't say I have a favorite chore. haha.
Favorite makeup: Bare Minerals
Favorite hair products: I am not really a "product" girl but I love Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner. I pretty much just pick a new color every time I go to the store...haha
Favorite lotion: Johnson's Body Care or Jergens soft shimmer
Favorite perfume: I don't have a signature perfume...Although I am kind of obsessed with wearing it. I mean I like to smell good...what can I say. I choose a new kind every time. Love Juicy Couture but right now I am using Vera Wang.
Favorite blogger: Oh.....lots to choose from. I'll give you three I LOVE (other than my family bloggers. LOVE you Mangs and Linds!)
Favorite books: The Bible, Radical, Atonement Child, Pioneer Woman Bio, etc.
Favorite verse: I have many.....but here is a great promise:
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." -Philippians 3:20-21
I love that and cannot wait for that day!
Favorite thing to wear: pajamas? no seriously. Ok...for real I am a comfy dresser....but I do love sun dresses and in the winter LEGGINGS!
Favorite kind of day: I love any day that I get to spend with my family
Favorite memory:Wow. Too many memories to name a favorite and I am sure there are plenty more to come...I'll let you know! :)
Why do I love this picture of us? I don't know. Strange.
1.) Studying the book of Philippians. It has truly been such a blessing so far. I have been reminded that God refines us in His own timing and that He PROMISES to sanctify us! One other principle from Monday nights lectures was: "Confidence in God's completion of His plan emboldens the believer to serve God joyously regardless of her circumstances."
2.) Ben Rector. Umm....I think I had heard his name but where have I been? Sorry for my lack of support Ben. But I bought your entire cd on Itunes today.
Here is just a taste of his music:
3.) Having the privilege to go to BSF on Thursday mornings for lectures. The morning class is going through Isaiah and yesterday Pam said something that caused my mom to nudge me as if to say...."Hear that, listen up!" She was talking about comfort and where we go for it. Is the first place you turn your significant other, the Internet, food, family, etc.? At the end of lecture she said, "when things are spinning out of control are you going to be down on yourself or down on your knees?" Needless to say, I tend to get down on myself...........A LOT. It is a huge struggle. It was so good for me to hear that and I hope that I will remind myself to turn to the Lord and not to other things for comfort FIRST.
4.) My new TOMS that I got yesterday!
So comfortable. Love them.
5.) It is a beautiful day and so much warmer! Enjoy it!!
