Day 12

How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

I've wanted to write a blog for quite some time now.  I majored in English in college and taught it for three years--as I've mentioned before, I've always been fascinated with words.  For as long as I can remember, reading and writing have been a haven for me.  Reading allows me to escape into another world and forget about the one I'm in; writing serves as an outlet, allowing me to express my feelings and thoughts, and only share them if I want to.

Part of why I never started one was time.  I made the excuse that I had nothing to write about, but I'm learning you don't have to have a centralized theme or story to keep up with one.  Reason two: I'm not the most computer literate person, and I had absolutely no clue where to even begin.

So this summer, my best bud Rachel created A Sassy Utterance and called me to check it out.  I fell in love, and we spent the next day or two on the phone setting everything up together.

I'm hoping that this serves as an outlet for me and also a way for our family and friends to keep up with the goings on of our lives--especially with the wee tot only five weeks away from arriving!  It's just something fun for me.

Hope you enjoy!

love, angie

Day 11

A picture of your family

This is technically supposed to be another post of my friends--but I've already done that.  So I'm going to add an extra family day.  This one will be my family, and the next one will be Hunter's.  That just floated my boat a little better :)

Mi familia...they really are fantastic.

Padre--ET

Mama--Jeannie

Oldest Sis--Michelle

Middle Sis--Melonie

Baby Sis--Me

That's our core.  Then add the boys and kids.

Hunter--my boy

Aaron--Mel's boy

Aby--Mel's oldest

Evan--Mel's middle

Kailyn--Mel's wee one

I know I've already talked a lot about my parents.  If you've read any of my posts, you should know how much I love and respect them.  I'm so grateful for the way they raised me, and I'm so blessed to have such a fantastic family.  Obviously this was taken at our wedding, August 2007.

Family photo taken in the fall of 2009.  My dad's sister and brother-in-law joined us.  Sadly, a few months later, we lost him to cancer.  Joyously, a few months after this, Mel told us she was pregnant with Kailyn.

Family photo taken Labor Day weekend 2010.

Christmas 2010--our true colors are coming out :)  This is the ever so popular "Papa face".  My dad and the kids make faces together all the time, and this one has become a staple.

My sisters on my graduation day from Louisiana Tech.  They are two of my absolute best friends.  Mel (left) is my middle sister.  We're four years apart which made for some interesting fights growing up.  But by the time I reached Middle/High school, we were best friends.  We can't stay mad at each other because we just start laughing (unless it's something major--but I can't even think of an example instance!).  She's a goober, but we have a lot of fun together.  Michelle (right) is my oldest sister.  We're seven years apart so growing up, she was a "lookout" for me so to speak.  I've always looked up to her, and as I've gotten older, our relationship has molded from one of protection and admiration to true friendship (although I do still admire her!).  They are two people whom I know will always be there for me no matter the inconvenience on themselves.  I am so grateful to have lifelong friends in them.

The boys got added to our family in 2003--and they shook things up!  We were used to our little 5some.  And we were really used to the operation of girls.  Dad joked (kind of) about how much the Wendy's bill increased when we added those two--the two of them ate as much as the five of us!  They've added laughs, personality, and some playmates for dad :)  We definitely got some good ones!

My sweet, sweet nieces and nephew--all three belong to Mel and Aaron.    They have completely changed the family dynamic in such a good way.  They are precious and beautiful and hilarious and we all just love them to pieces!

The little lady sitting in the front is my grandma (my mom's mom).  We call her Rue--her name is Jerusha, hence Rue--and she is my only living grandparent.  Her husband sitting next to her just passed away last month.  They were married in 2006.  These are most of my cousins and their kiddos--although we're missing about five cousins, and the number of kids keeps expanding!

So there's my side of the family in a very small nutshell.  I absolutely love them and am so grateful that we are able to spend so much time together.  That's where I come from :)

love, angie

Day 10

Songs you listen to when you are...

I don't really have certain genres of music for my certain moods.  I love music (self-admittance: I was a band nerd) and truly appreciate musical talent.  I enjoy going to all types of concerts from classic rock to classical orchestra.  So instead, I'll just give you a few of my favorite genres, artists, and songs.

Jesus Music (that's what I call it.  Not Christian, not Gospel.  Jesus music--because it should all be about him.)

Artists:  Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Ernie Haase/Signature Sound, Francesca Battistelli, Selah, and Natalie Grant just to name a few

Songs: "Praise You in This Storm" (this is one that I listen to if things in life are really tough at the time), "Dancing in the Minefields", "In Christ Alone", "Shackles", "When I Call on Jesus"

Country (yes, I like it.)

Artists: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Martina McBride, and Josh Turner 

Songs:  "When I Get Where I'm Going", "Gimmie That Girl", "She's Everything", "Down at the Twist and Shout", "Best Day", "In My Mother's Eyes", "When I Said I Do"

Mellow Coffehouse Style (I don't really know what to call it...)

Artists: Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Adele

Songs:  All of the music by the three artists above

Cajun/Zydeco/New Orleans Jazz (it always brings me home...and I can dance with my boy)

Artists: Wayne Toups, Fats Domino, LeRoux

Songs:  "Walkin' to New Orleans", "Take My Hand", "Tupelo Honey", "Mathilda", "That Butt Thing", "New Orleans Ladies", "Blueberry Hill"

I also really like Red Hot Chili Peppers (best concert I've ever been to by the way), Incubus, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 90's music, Bon Jovi, Alanis Morissette (strange, I know), and so many more it's unreal.  And I don't mind a little rap/hip hop/pop if I'm in the mood to dance--but again, my favorites of those are from the 90's :)

So there's a little glimpse into my musical menagerie.  

love, angie

Day 9

Something you're proud of in the past few days

Hmmm...I don't really feel like I've accomplished much, as sad as that is to say.

Probably finishing my Precept homework and study--and sticking with it.

And then also, two weekends ago, we cleaned up the house really well.  That felt good and I was proud of the way it looked (although it doesn't look that way anymore...)

Crazy busy weekend!

This past weekend was absolutely jam-packed!  We had something going on every night last week, and then I've been going nonstop since Friday morning.  Today is definitely a day of rest for me.

Friday--I had a hair appointment at 9.  It was an absolute disaster and I left looking like Shirley Temple.  But, a quick washing made it ok.  However, I've given up on getting my hair cut or fixed over here.  We live close enough to Lake Charles that I will just continue to line up my appointments with visits home.  Why mess up a good thing that you know works, right?  Sheesh...

Pardon the face, but I was not happy!  Do those look like soft curls to you? Does anything about that hairstyle look natural?!  It was awful...

We had our maternity pictures that evening in Lake Charles, so I spent the day ironing our outfits and packing everything up that we'd need.  Plus, on top of the normal getting ready for something special, I had to de-Shirleyfy my hair.  I picked him up at work, we fled to his dad's house so he could shower and get ready, and then went to meet the photographers just in time (we didn't have much time with the sunlight!).  We were able to eat dinner that night with my parents and his dad and stepmom.  It was a nice little visit and we're glad it worked out...but we got home late.

Saturday--I had a baby shower that morning in Silsbee for our coworkers and friends over here.  It was fun to catch up with them :)

My lovely hostesses and dear friends, Shellye and Brooke 

cake!

The two wee ones were not very cooperative as you can see...but I'm glad my mama was able to make it and bring them with her!

That evening, we had a going away party for Hunter's boss (and Hunter kind of took on the role of planning it...which really meant I had to get most of it together.  I mean really, what man actually does the planning of party?).  So that afternoon we were busy getting everything together and ready for that.  We headed over there around 5 and didn't leave until 1 that morning...I was exhausted!  But it was fun

Some of the guys in Hunter's group.  Laurence (front, center) and his family are moving to Australia this week.  He has been an amazing influence on Hunter in the work world and he's going to miss him quite a bit!

Sunday--Hunter had to leave for a work trip at 5:30.  So I snuck in a few more snoozes before getting up and getting ready for church.  We had another baby shower that afternoon given my the ladies at church.  So after services, we rushed home (my sister, brother-in-law, mom, and two nieces were over for the shower) and made lunch pretty quickly.  Then we headed right back up to the church for the shower!  It was a lot of fun, and we're just so blessed to have so many precious people in our lives.

My sweet hostesses!  Misty, Heather, Dajuanna, Dori, Joyce, Tammy, and Melanie...fabulous women!

cake!

Just a fair warning to those of you who will be having showers in the near future.  Be careful what faces you make when you open your gifts!  I would have posted some of those, but the expressions on my face are horrible!!  I wasn't making faces on purpose, but beware--the camera is not always your friend!

When I finally got home and my family headed back to Lake Charles, I rented a movie, picked up some snacks and sat myself on the couch for the rest of the night :)

This weekend was a whirlwind, and I don't think we could have fit anything else in it!  It was packed with fun and memories, and I'm glad I was able to pull through and enjoy it all.  But as I said earlier, today is now my day of rest.  My little swollen ankles are propped and I have no plans (until Precept class tonight).  The dishes can wait.  The piles in the living room can wait.  My errands can wait.  I may even take a nap :)

love, angie

Day 8

Short term goals for this month and why

So I got a little behind on the blogging challenge...this weekend was a crazy busy one!

Alright, short term goals:

1.  Write my thank you notes!!!  It's just a matter of making myself get started.  It's like grading essays while I was teaching; once I got started, it was ok.  But it just took a lot to get me motivated enough to sit down and do it (like the end of the 6 weeks and grades being due...).  And I'm noticing the same trend happening with these little notes!

2.  Finish the nursery. For the most part it's done.  But I still have to figure out where I want everything hung on the walls, and then get Hunter to actually do it.  Plus, there are still a few piles of clothes and knick knacks that need to find their home in there.  

3.  Get some meals made, divided, and frozen.  My lovely mother is making some for us too.  This will come in so handy once little bit gets here--especially since it'll be colder weather and soups will be very welcome.  Thawing a meal out and popping it on the stove or in the oven will be a lifesaver for me.

4.  Clean the house.  Like a good, deep clean.  We worked on it some two weekends ago and it felt great for the house to be so clean.  Now these dad-blasted lovebugs have come around and they are everywhere in my house...disgusting.  Plus all those little nit-picky things that we've been putting off.  We're finally about to be home for quite a bit (completely unheard of for us), so it'll be a great time to do those little tasks that we always say we'll get to eventually.  

5.  Rest.  I'm about to lose my ability to sleep and rest when I want to (it's already starting to happen a little as it's getting harder and harder to get comfortable).  So I'm going to take advantage of these last few weeks to myself--we only have 6 more to go!  Hopefully I can even read a few more books :)

Day 7

A picture of someone or something that has had the biggest impact on you

This would have to my parents.

Every ounce of who I am today comes from the molding, teaching, and praying they did with and for me.  I truly was blessed with having an amazing family.  Here are a few of the values they instilled in me:

1.  Love Jesus, love people.  My faith began by growing up in a Christian home.  It has continued to grow and mature as my life has.  But my roots began with them.

2.  Do your best--and don't underestimate what your best is.  So many people give the advice for your to "do your best."  But my parents added an extra piece to that lesson.  Know what your best is, and don't sell yourself short.  It's easy to say, "I really did try."  But did you truly give it your best?

3.  The lessons of #2 caused me to learn to set high expectations for myself.  There's a difference between high expectations and unattainable ones.  Sometimes that line grows shady, but I refuse to accept mediocre results from myself.

4.  Learning is amazing.  My education was always something that my parents encouraged and pushed.  But not only did they encourage it; by their example, I grew to learn the value of my education at an early age and encouraged it for myself.  And it goes beyond the education of a classroom--I just love to learn new things.

5.  Family time is essential.  We were very blessed to be able to travel as a family.  Those many vacations are some of my most treasured memories.  We also always ate dinner together.  Cable was cancelled when I was little (we didn't get it back until I was 16!), and we were forced to spend time together--which turned out to be a great thing.  Board games are a must for us.  

6.  It won't always be easy, but if you do the right thing, it will be worth it.  

7.  Stand up for what you believe in and don't give in to the pressures of others or this world.  This is a lesson that stuck.  I don't allow myself to be put in situations that make me uncomfortable, and I try my best to stick to my values--no matter the crowd I'm around at the time. 

8.  Respect.  This is the root of everything.  If you respect others, yourself, and your surroundings, what problems would there be?

9.  Have fun.  There's of course a time when seriousness is called for--but there's also plenty of chances to be a complete goober.  Take advantage of those!

10.  Marriage--never stop dating.  Don't lose sight of the person you fell in love with originally.  Grow together, but don't get sucked into (or allow yours to become) a mundane marriage that sucks many people's relationships dry.

11.  I am beautiful.  I am unique.  I am loved.  I may not look like the prettiest people in school.  I may not be the best athlete (or even a decent one for that matter!).  I may not have the most "friends."  But I am me, and I have talents and features that no one else has.  It's my responsibility to use them!

12.  Be careful with your reputation and who you're willing to "put your name on."  Once those are ruined, it is extremely hard to restore them.

13.  Be honest.  Trust is probably the hardest thing to regain.

14.  Use your manners and respect your elders.  Always smile as you pass people (ok, my dad may not be the greatest example of this...if you know him, you know what I mean!); please, thank you, ma'am, and sir are musts; help people when you see they need it--and even if it may seem like they don't; be a friend to everyone.

15.  Enjoy life--it goes so fast.  

Allow yourself to be inspired, and thank the people responsible.

love, angie

Day 6

Your favorite super hero and why

This one is very difficult for me.  I never was a super hero kind of girl--for me, it was more about Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake (which both were all about saving the day, so I guess they were kind of like my girly super heroes!).

I guess if I had to choose between the mainstream ones, I would have to go with Batman.

I did watch the older movies, and I absolutely love the remakes they are in the process of creating.  Plus, in today's versions, Christian Bale is one pretty-lookin' Batman ;)  I also like the fact that he doesn't really have any true powers.  He's just a normal man who happens to be filthy rich--but uses those riches to help others and fight evil.

and he's just pretty :)

That's all I've got to say about that...

Day 5

A picture of somewhere you have been

This is tough!  We have always been a traveling family, and thankfully I married someone who also loves to travel.  I've narrowed it down to two places--one is just not enough!

1.  Honduras.  In college, we were blessed to be able to travel to San Pedro Sula, Honduras twice for mission trips.  We worked with a family down there who had begun a church and a daycare.  We held services and VBS in the evenings, and worked on improving the buildings during the day.  As usual, it was more of a blessing to us than the people we went "to bless".  It is awesome to see God's hand at work in other countries, and I am so grateful to have gotten to be able to experience it.  

The Godoy family

Walking back down the mountain with Brian

Hunter playing pat-a-cake with one of the kids in the orphanage in town.

One of the murals our group painted on the side of the daycare.

Hunter and some other boys building an awning for the upstairs deck.

Loving on those kids :)

We were able to take the kids to Pizza Hut one day.  Most of them (if not all of them) had never left their little impoverished community.  It was amazing to watch them in their amazement as they scarfed down their pizza (another delicacy many of them had never tasted) in a restaurant and then get to play on the play place!

Tania and Christian....Tania stole our hearts and we would have taken her home had we been able.  The innocence these children have and the joy is just unreal--especially when we compare the way they are growing up to the way we did.  It'll melt your heart.

The first trip, we were able to spend the last two days in Roatan--one of the Bay Islands.  It was absolutely gorgeous.    Hunter and I have been back there twice since then, and neither time was it as pretty as that first one.  I'm so glad we were able to go!

We were also able to visit the Mayan ruins in Copan on our second trip.  They were amazing!

2.  Alaska.  This was probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen.  It topped all of the sites in Colorado and Wyoming; it blew away the clear water and sandy beaches of the Caribbean.  We were able to go on a cruise in Alaska two summers ago.  The weather was absolutely perfect the entire trip and we were able to see some amazing things.  We can't wait to go back--hopefully next time, we'll do some more land touring.  

The glaciers were beautiful--and huge!

We were able to go whale watching in Juneau.  It was incredible!  We saw several pods of humpback whales.

If I remember correctly, this is a station for the Coast Guard in Ketchikan.  Regardless, it's beautiful.

Us in front of the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

Sunset on the boat--at like 11:30 p.m.  

On a suspension bridge in the Yukon--technically Canada, but it was on our Alaskan vacation :)

Another glacier--this one kind of helps show how huge they are and how far back they go.  

And another glacier--they were phenomenal.  And the calving (when chunks would fall off) was unbelievable.  Talk about loud!  The whole thing just creaks and moans constantly because it's moving, ever so slowly.  

I hope life takes you to some incredible places.  Happy Trails!

love, angie

Blessed through the brokenness

Last month, I posted about precious little Declan Jace Carroll who Jesus took home at 4 months old.  The journey that the Carroll family has walked through has been a living testimony of faith and has served as a blessing and inspiration to so many people.  They have fully allowed the Lord to use their lives and their family in the way that He wanted, not allowing fear or earthly wishes to get in the way of that.  This story has been a true example of faith to me.  So many times, we focus on our faith to be that God will give us what we pray for--essentially what we want to happen.  But true faith means believing fully that He knows and sees the whole picture and plan; true faith is fully believing that He is beyond capable of healing and mending whatever our problem is at the time.  But if He doesn't, it's not because of a lack of faith.  It's because again, he knows and sees the whole plan.

Little Declan only lived on this earth for four short months, but his life and death are being used to spread the love of Jesus and strengthen the faith of unknown numbers of people.

Below is the video of the memorial service.  Please take the time to watch it and soak in the words that the Lord provided to Jason (Declan's father).

You are loved.

Day 4

A habit you wish you didn't have

That's easy enough--biting my fingernails!  I have done this for as long as I can remember.  And I've tried to stop.  I've used that nail hardener--just made me bite harder.  I've tried the reward system with myself--nah.  Nothing could seem to ease the temptation.  It drives Hunter crazy because he would love to get a good back scratch instead of just little nubs rolling across his skin.  But as soon as any attention is given to a nail that's a little longer than normal, off it goes!  At least it's not a habit out there enough to be featured on My Strange Addiction...

Ugh.  So I'll just stick to acrylic nails when I need to look a little snazzier.  And those just mess up your nails even more. I can't win for losing on this issue!

Day 3

A picture of you and your friends

Hunter:  Aren't we cute?!  As you should well know by now, he's my absolute best friend.  I got really lucky by finding him on the first go-round :) And if you can't tell, we are completely comfortable with one another!

Kristen:  We have been best friends and birthday buddies since Kindergarten.  There was a little span in there after we moved (to the next town) that we didn't stay in touch.  But when we picked back up in Middle School, it was like nothing had ever changed.  That's still the way it is, even when we have to go way too long without a good visit.  She's been a great support for me over the years, and I truly cherish our friendship!

Melissa and Rachel:  The three of us are fabulous.  Just sayin'.  Melissa kind of adopted me per say my first year of college.  We hit it off immediately and it's just gotten better from there.  Rachel and I roomed together on our first Honduras mission trip.  That was such a God given gift!  She, Hunter, and I were like long lost amigos.  The three of us are relaxed and pretty easy-going.  I look forward to any time I get to spend with them.  And as a bonus, we're all about to be mamas! (Melissa--next week!!, Me--end of October, Rachel--beginning of March)

Clay:  Clay was that popular, kind of preppy kid in our college church group who I thought Hunter and I would never be close to.  Boy was I wrong.  The three of us are a pretty close-knit bunch.  We're always up for a great laugh--even though a lot of times, I'm the brunt of the joke :/  But I love em both to pieces! Oh, Claybird...

These are my absolute closest friends who know me the best and with whom I feel the most comfortable.  They know the real me and still love me--you can't let go of that when you find it!

"A friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself."  --Jim Morrison

love, angie

Day 2

The meaning behind your Blog title

It's named after a song by Andrew Peterson.  I explained this a little in my very first blog post.  It's not "mine and Hunter's" song, nor one that we played at our wedding, etc.  But it has become one that I absolutely love.  

I'm all about lyrics.  Now, I need there to be a good beat and something that is catchy too.  But I really get captivated by the lyrics (it's back to that love of language thing...it's powerful, I tell ya).  Hunter's exactly the opposite.  Half of the time, he has no clue what the singer is saying!  Anyway, this song has some pretty powerful lyrics.  The song revolves around marriage and its difficulties--but also how a marriage is supposed to be worked on as a team, with your spouse and your Savior.  

I felt that this song captured what our life is about (plus it's pretty cool that we were the ages he mentions when we got engaged!).  We by no means have it made, and we have definitely had some struggles--and I know there are plenty more to come.  But this blog is about our journey...together.  We made promises to each other four years ago; promises that will not be easy to keep at all times, but as the song says, if it was easy, what would be the point of making the promise?  And we do choose to go dancing through the minefields that this world provides.

I cherish the day that we will be one of those sweet old couples still dancing together...

I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway

We bought our rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We made our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago

We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for

"I do" are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard
Is a good place to begin

'Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price
For the life that we have found

And we're dancing in the minefields
We're sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me
When I loose love's chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear

'Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos, baby,
I can dance with you

So lets go dancing in the minefields
Lets go sailing in the storms
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
That's what the promise is for

Don't let life's troubles make you forget to dance...

love, angie

10 years...

It's hard to believe I'm even old enough for such a vivid memory to have happened ten years ago.  I know that most Americans are taking time today to remember the lives lost, the families affected, and the country's strength on 9/11/01.  I wish that reflection would happen on more of a regular occasion.

I love living in this country.  I am proud of where I come from.  I have always been a huge supporter of our military and civil servants--those who make ultimate sacrifices to continually provide us with our freedoms and convenience.  

Alan Jackson's song written for that horrid occasion is such a powerful one.  There were so many different reactions; different beliefs on what had happened and who was involved; different levels of political knowledge.  But it all comes down to the cord that holds us together--love.  His quote of the Corinthian scripture is a vivid reminder of the importance of love, even and especially in a time of tragedy.  Show compassion and care for your fellow Americans, as well as all mankind.  Remember our soldiers who are fighting for us, but also remember those lives being affected who are not associated with our country.  Love is the only thing that will ever bring us to the ultimate goal.  Love is the only thing that will allow us to reunite with those we have lost.  Love is the greatest gift.

I was a freshman in High School when those four planes were hijacked by hatred and thousands died.  I could not fully comprehend the magnitude of those attacks at that time; but the videos and pictures were gut-wrenching.  It's already been ten years.  Has America become a better country as a result of this tragedy?  Or has it grown numb to those wounds?  

World Trade Center, Towers 1 and 2

The Pentagon

Flight 93, Shanksville, PA

Never forget.  

Blogging 30 day challenge, Day One

I'm going to give it a go :)  I was blog stalking one of my dear friends and saw that she had done this last year.  I think it'll be a fun change of pace.  I'll still be posting other random bits of my thoughts and our lives as they happen, but I'll have the challenge going as well...let's see how good I am at blog-multi-tasking!

Day One--A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

It's Me :)

1.  I'm currently 8 months pregnant with our first child--a baby girl expected on Halloween, Arabella Jolie Newby :)

2.  I now live in Texas due to my husband's job, but I am and will always be a Louisiana girl through and through.

3.  I taught 8th grade English and GT for 3 years, and really enjoyed the teaching part.  I resigned in order to be a stay-at-home mom.  I don't miss the politics and the paperwork and the drama, but I do miss my kids and teaching.

Some of my kiddos from last year on our DC trip.  I'm down there in the front and in the middle.  Love my kids!

4.  I love the smell of dryer exhaust.

5.  I love language--reading is my absolute escape.  We went to Roatan, Honduras on vacation last year--the boys went diving and snorkeling, spending most of their time in the water.  Me?  I spent the week in a hammock and read 5 books :)  Perfection.

6.  I miss marching band--call me nerdy, but I had fun. I played flute/piccolo, keyboard, and xylophone/pit. 

Our drumline--please pardon my attempt to have a serious face; I know I look like a dork.  But I loved these boys (and the other girls!).  I miss it.

7.  I was seventh in the third grade regional Spelling Bee. I missed the word "aloof" (I said a-l-u-f-e) and still cringe when I see that word in a book. It haunts me.  The girl who got second place missed "bayou"...how do you live in Louisiana and miss the word "bayou"?!  Oh, and I love watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee too. 

8.  I got married barefoot.

9.  I married my best friend four years ago. We've been together for eight and a half years. The first time I left my house with Hunter, my dad told my mom that I just left with my future husband. Daddy knows best. Also, you know the saying "a girl marries someone who is like her father"? This proverb is true for me to a nearly creepy extent. 

People are usually intimidated by them (Hunter because of his size,  My dad because he always seems so serious), but in reality, they are two of the biggest goobers I know--and love!  It really is kind of scary how much alike they are though.

10.  I have very sensitive hearing...I hear almost everything. Some of my friends call me the "Russian Radar".   It also came in very handy while I was teaching!

11.  I am a winter bug :)  I absolutely love and look forward to September-December every year!  I love the holidays and weather they bring...it's just beautiful!

12.  I adore my nieces and nephew and it is so hard for me to think that I will be able to love Arabella even more.  Those three have a huge piece of my heart.

Abygail, Evan, and Kailyn--I'm not kidding.  They've got a huge chunk of my heart--and they know it!

13.  My brother-in-law's hip bone is the same height as my shoulder. Needless to say, I am the shrimp of the family. But I also have some of the greatest protectors I could have ever asked for.  Plus, having grown up with two sisters, it's nice to finally have some brothers (most of the time!).

You can't really tell how super tall they are in this picture, but I love those three boys (and Lindsey!).  To give you a clue, Hunter and Blaine are 6'4"ish.  BA is 6'10".  And Lindsey is wearing 3.5" heels!  But we really are great together :)

14.  My dream jobs--either to be an elementary school librarian or to open my own tutoring company.  Or who knows, maybe both?!

15.  I believe in Jesus as my savior and strive to live my life for him. It's amazing to know that even though I fail...often...his love is unconditional. He is truly magnificent.  The past two-three years have been a journey for me as I'm learning to delve more into my relationship with Him more than my religion.  It's been fabulous, and it's only going to get better!

One down, Twenty-nine to go!


love, angie

Words

Never underestimate the power of your words.  I have always been fascinated with them.  I love to read; I enjoy writing (hence the blog!); the power of communication is unreal.  In my quest through my love for language, I developed a true love for quotes--words put so eloquently that they needed to be isolated and repeated, salvaged and protected.

In high school, I began keeping a book of some of my favorite quotes.  I've sloughed off a bit on keeping up with writing them down, but my love has not decreased in the slightest.

My tattered treasure

Today, I just wanted to share a few of my favorites.

"I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself."  --Marlene Dietrich

"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.  Live your life in such a manner that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."  --Indian Proverb

"Live your life so that those who know you but don't know God will come to know God because they know you."

"Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself."  --John Machaughton

"When you look for the good in others, you discover the best in yourself."  --Martin Walsh

"Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.  And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace."

"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the ONE person I can, and the wisdom to know it's me."

"If you don't have time to do it right, you must have time to do it twice."

"Laughter is an instant vacation."  --Milton Berle

"I know God won't give me more than I can handle.  I just wish he didn't trust me so much!"  --Mother Theresa

"A lack of planning on your end does not constitute an emergency on mine."

"Real love is always fated.  It has been arranged before time.  It is the most meticulously prepared of coincidences.  And fate, of course, is simply a secular term for the will of God, and coincidence, for His grace.

"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."  --Dead Poets' Society

Oh be careful little mouth what you say...which words speak to your heart?

love, angie