Smelly Good...One of my Favorites!

My sister is a big fan of these little car air fresheners that Bath & Body Works makes. I'm not a huge shopper at Bath & Body Works, but Anna convinced me to get one for my car and I love it!

They come in different scents and different designs (I just bought the turtle because it reminded me of the beach) These little things are called "Scentportables" and they are great! If you're interested check out this link OR just go to the mall. :)

Consignment Sale

Growing up we always wore hand-me-downs, there were 4 of us...my mom was smart. Occasionally we got new outfits, especially if my Grandma Moon had say or if it was a special occasion, but a lot of times people gave us clothes. I'm so thankful that my mom taught me it's okay to wear 2nd hand clothes, shoot...I'd still do it today if I had someone to give me clothes.

Over the weekend my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, Matt's aunt and I set out on a little consignment shopping at a children's consignment sale at 1st United Methodist Church in Cary. I wasn't sure what we would find, although we had heard it would be a great sale. AND it was!

I got all of this...
for about $18. Yep...I spent less than $20. I don't think I did too bad for my first time and it was a smaller sale. My mother-in-law got a really nice pack-n-play, a bouncy seat, a baby bathtub, & some clothes for about $70 and I think Matt's aunt got a really really nice high chair for around $10.

I have a lot of friends that go to the BIG consignment sale at the fair grounds twice a year and they really rack up. I've always been amazed at the amount of money they save, I mean kids grow so fast and you can find really nice things that are gently used at these sales. I'm really looking forward to doing more consigning in the future...I've always liked to bargain shop. I can't tell you the last time I bought a pair of shoes or clothing full price. I like the challenge and I always like the feeling of accomplishment after I see how much I've saved. :)

He is Good!

You know...it's so awesome to see God's relief & comfort at just the right time. I mean, I know he's with us all the time...but it just seems like when you can't take it anymore in difficult situations he always brings relief at just the right time.

I can't explain the whole situation, but I've been struggling through some pretty difficult things recently and we've been praying for God to do his will, regardless of whether or not it was exactly what we want or not. I've felt like no one understands and people don't really care when I share what I'm going through. I've even felt like people totally don't want to be around me because I've been so miserable. I am so thankful that I serve a God that totally understands what I've been through and will never "not want to around me" because of my circumstances." AND he brings relief. He's brought me relief, the pain & frustration I'm dealing with still exists but God's given me the relief I need in order to glorify him until the problem is resolved completely. And it's the little things that he uses to remind us that he is with us...like...
-My sister spoke at our winter sports award Tuesday night. It was so great to see my little sister talk about how God has brought her out of the self-esteem issues she had growing up. AND my mom surprised me by riding with Anna to Knightdale. They came all the way here from Charlotte and drove all the way back after the ceremony. JUST FOR ME!
-I've had 2 planning periods with NO meetings this week. Because of this, I've gotten a lot of work done so I haven't had to bring stuff home. I've been able to rest more and take care of the little one growing inside of me.
-AND today...a student brought me a whole bag of Ghiradelli dark chocolate (which is my favorite!)
-Not to mention...we have NO plans this weekend and the weather is going to be glorious!

God's love is so good and sometimes it just blows my mind. Romans 8:31-39 is a perfect picture of how NO matter what we go through, nothing...nothing will separate us from the love of Christ.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Ahhh, Jesus is SO good!

Yummy Recipe

I hate that I never blog anymore...if only I had more time.

Just wanted to share an easy recipe for a yummy fruit salad my mother-in-law shared with me.

Fruit Salad:

1 20 oz can of chunk pineapple (drain)
1 11 oz can of mandarin oranges
1-1/2 cups of seedless grapes (cut in half)
1 cup of mini-marshmellows
1 cup of coconut
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
3/4 cup of sour cream or vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon of sugar

Drain pineapple and oranges. Combine pineapple, oranges, grapes, marshmellows, coconut and walnuts. Mix sour cream (or yogurt) with sugar. Stir into fruit mixture and chill.

It's so yummy! Enjoy :)

Surrender

I've been fortunate to not catch many of the many sicknesses going around my school, but I did wake up with a sore throat, stuffy head & aches this morning. For me this is the normal cold that usually leads to a sinus infection or allergy something...either way, it's not fun that I had to miss Journey Church this morning. Thankfully we have a live feed now and I was able to watch the service on my computer. Jimmy has been preaching a series called "LIFE" the past few weeks and today, he talked about surrender. Something that I think a lot of Christians struggle with. Too bad we can't all just be like Paul, he was the perfect example of how we SHOULD surrender to the Lord.

Jimmy mentioned that "Becoming like Jesus is not a deed, it's a death. It's not about trying it's about dying!!" What truth! Matt & I are preparing to enter a new phase of our life together as we will be welcoming our little girl into the world in July. (YES! OUR LITTLE GIRL, WE FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THANKS TO MY MOM'S OFFICE FOR DOING AN ULTRASOUND A FEW WEEKS EARLY) We've got a lot of adjustments to make as we prepare and we've been praying for God to show us what he wants us to do. It's so easy to say we've surrendered these "plans" to God, but I know that I still worry about how a lot of things will play out. Keep us in your prayers and that we would totally surrender to the Lord and let him work things out in HIS time, not ours...which is what we're struggling with.

Happy Sunday!

Magan

Ramblings of an Icy Day

Well...we didn't get snow, but we did get ice. A lot of ice....(Not really a picture of ice in my backyard...but it's a pretty picture) I've been a picture taker slacker late. :)

This morning I actually woke up at the Uhler's house because we did a little emergency baby sitting of the twins last night. It was nice to wake up at 6:30 this morning to see that Wake County Schools were closed. I got up when I wanted, spent some time with two of our best friends, ate a wonderful breakfast, & enjoyed their sweet little babies. Once we actually were able to get out & head to our house I knew I needed to get some stuff done today. Unfortunately most of my day was spent doing school work, and I am no where near finished...but I did get some other things done as well. Finally got my everyday house decorations back out after putting up all of our Christmas stuff over the weekend, I cleaned my house, and got caught up on some reading in Genesis. Quad girls, I can't lie...I'll admit I got behind last week after our coffee date. School took all I had last week...NOT a good excuse, but I definitely won't be getting behind again once I get caught up. :)

Lately I've been really fatigued (1st trimester), but I'm coming out of it and headed into what everyone says will be a great 2nd trimester. I can feel my energy coming back and I'm soooo excited to actually get stuff accomplished.

As much as I hate making up snow days, today was very productive and honestly, I could use another day to get some other things done...maybe Saturday, I would prefer to NOT have to make up tomorrow as well.

Enough ramblings...I'm off to prepare myself to enjoy my Christmas present with my hubby & the Uhler's tonight. THE LION KING!!!!

I don't make New Year's Resolutions...

I don't make New Year's Resolutions...I know, I'm a party pooper. I just always feel like I end up trying for a few days & never get very far. So I have a few things I'd like to do this year, but they goals for the year & I'm not going to try to do them all at once.

If you're interested...
1. I'd like to read through the bible this year. This is something I've never done. I'm in a triad (well...a quad) with women from my church & we're doing this together. I'm excited to get to know 3 other women that love Jesus and that I don't know very well. I am also excited to explore the bible in a new way and let God teach me as I go. I know this will be a great challenge for me. I've already learned something...did you know that Adam lived to be over 900 years old...WHOA! I can't imagine. Talk about seeing the Lord work!

2. I want to spend more time doing things I love to do around the house...cooking, baking, finding cheap ways to redecorate, cleaning (yes..I love to keep my house together. As a teacher, I don't get to do this very often. Matt does A LOT of house work), & being a wife. (And of course I'll get to learn to be a good mommy this year too!)

3. Make more time to relax. Our dear pastor's wife, Beverly, always gives me a hard time for not relaxing enough. Rightfully so, she knows best. I SHOULD take time to relax. I'm always on the go & I never take time to read, watch movies, take a bubble bath, drink a cup of coffee on the porch...all the stuff that I would like to do, but never take time to stop.

4. Be a better wife, a Godly wife. With Matt working a new job this year (or a different job with a VERY different schedule) I'm still learning how to be the best support that I can, I'm always looking for new ways to love him, and be the best wife I can be.

I know this kind of seems like a lot considering I just said I want to spend more time reading my bible & that I want to spend more time doing things around our house. I didn't say I want to be perfect at any of this, but I want to do better at all of them.