2015's Powerful Lesson Learned

Aside from learning how to balance the married life and an awesome new job....I learned a very powerful and life changing lesson! I learned that not everybody in your life is your cheerleader. I learned that who I associate with matters. I learned that loving yourself sometimes means loving certain people from a distance.

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm." 

Proverbs 13:20 

If you associate with negative people, you too will be negative. If you associate with hot heads, you too will be a hot head. If you associate with gossipers, you will gossip. If you associate with "haters", you will be a "hater".  

Towards the end of 2014, I was preparing for marriage. During that preparation, I made a promise to myself that I would love my husband and my marriage enough to no longer surround myself around those who's "love" was confusing or painful. I didn't want to bring that rejection or hate from others into my new marriage or my new home. I wanted to surround myself and my marriage around people who truly loved and supported us and those who inspired and encouraged us! This was a painful thing to do and experience but the rewards have been amazing!  

God has honored the decision of putting my husband and marriage first and wanting only healthy relationships in our lives! It is BIBLICAL to be mindful of our associations and to also FLEE from things or people that might help us stumble! 

"Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn AWAY from them." Romans 16:17. 

It isn't selfish to want better for your life. It is WISE to be selective and to know who should be loved from a distance. Thank you God for all you have done for my husband and me! I will take these painful lessons and continue to grow in YOUR goodness and to focus on the relationships YOU want in my life!!!  

I encourage anybody who is struggling with letting people go that hurt you, reject you, disrespect you, or people who say they love you but act as if they hate you to cling to what is good and cling to GOD! Letting go of people you love is hard but once you are free, you are FREE. NOTHING is wrong with loving hurtful people from a distance! Let 2016 be the year that you associate with positive, God fearing, loving, and kind people! Let 2016 be the year you are set free from painful or destructive relationships and cling to God! He is the One who can set you free and show you REAL love! 

Happy New Year readers! May this be the year that all of your dreams come true!!

Scripture Of The Day

"Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Mrs Lubbock Sash

I love my Mrs Lubbock sash! 

What I'm Loving Wednesday - Snow Days and 2016

I'm loving that I have had a great week of rest off of work so far.  Hubby and I have spent some awesome quality time together and I have really been able to recharge my batteries and get ready for 2016! 

I'm loving that I get to reflect on 2015 and prepare for 2016 by making new goals and anticipating an awesome 2016!  

I'm loving the new series I started to watch on Netflix this week!  Its so cute!

I'm loving that I still have half a week of vacation! Weeeeeeee! 

Christmas Shenanigans

What an awesome Christmas weekend and FIRST Married Christmas might I add!  Thursday, hubby and I went to Christmas Eve service and enjoyed it so much!  Trinity's Creative Arts did a wonderful job of putting that together!

That evening my parents came over and enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner and gift exchange!  We had amazing food and amazing company!

Christmas Day, we spent the day with my father-in-law!  We went and watched the new Star Wars and brought Buffalo Wild Wings home and spent the rest of the day watching movies!  It was very nice and relaxing!

Saturday, my brother and sister-in-law came over and we had pizza and exchanged gifts!  I stinking love my nephew!

We didn't get to spend much time together because Blizzard 2015 was about to hit Lubbock, TX and boy did it!  We are currently on Day 4 of being snowed in!  It has been nice and relaxing!  I have been able to clean closets, cook and bake, catch up on some reading, and take long hot bubble baths! Most awesome, I have spent amazing quality time with my husband!!! We took Daisy out for a walk and it still looks terrible out there!  Not sure we will be going any where for a while! Yikers!!!!

I think I will start working on my New Year's goals!  2015 was awesome but 2016 is going to be more awesome!!!!!!

Weekend Shenanigans ~ Roaring 20s, IMAGINE, Christmas Blessing, and Christmas Parties Galore

Last weekend's Shenanigans included a Friday Night of Roaring 20s Christmas Party with Prize 31 women at Church!  It was so much fun and all of the women looked AMAZING!  It was so much fun to get dressed up and spend time with the girls!

It was also my first time to emcee a Trinity event and I had SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

The next day I celebrated my IMAGINE Booth volunteers at Church!  These people helped me so much during IMAGINE sign ups that I had to honor them by a little dinner and fellowship!

That same evening I joined my handsome husband for his work Christmas party!

It was a fun and busy weekend!  The holidays tend to bring busy weekends!  This past weekend was also a busy weekend full of Christmas fun and cheer!

We kicked off the weekend with a Mrs. Lubbock appearance at a Christmas Dinner and it was so much fun!

We met some awesome people and had an awesome dinner at Sheila's Tea Room!

The next day we had our Christmas Blessing at Church and it was amazing!  We helped several families receive a Christmas blessing both Saturday and Sunday!  It was awesome to see God bless so many families through Trinity Church families!

Last night was our Devoted Women Christmas party! We exchanged gifts and shared some Godly wisdom and of course laughs and giggles!  I love these girls!!!

What were YOUR Weekend Shenanigans

National Diabetes Day 2015

Today is National Diabetes Day! Make a commitment today to eat healthy! 

Weekend Shenanigans - Church Retreat and Weekend Get Away

Normally the hubby and I have very boring weekends.  This past weekend was full of adventures and fun!

Thursday afternoon we headed off to Ruidoso, NM for a leadership retreat for my work.  Hubby got to go with me, so that made it much sweeter!  The weekend was filled with fellowship and quality time with my baby!

Thursday evening after our first session, we had dinner with some of my co-workers and their spouses.  I learned more about my brothers and sisters and enjoyed fellowship.

Friday after the morning session, Darin and I spent some good quality time together!  We haven't had a chance to take any time away together since we got married, so we took advantage.  We did our favorite, antique shopping.  I scored me this cute little Christmas book.

Then we drove an hour and half to visit White Sands National Monument and it was breathtaking!

Then we had the evening sessions back in Ruidoso.  Spending time with co-workers and friends was amazing!  I am growing to love many of them and they are becoming more than just co-workers but they are becoming my family!

We then headed back to the lodge and watched a movie in front of the fire and relaxed!

The next morning before leaving Ruidoso, hubby stopped and got me a bag of apples.  I kept saying I was craving an apple, so he stopped and grabbed me a bag full of apples!  Marriage is so sweet with the right one!

We had planned on heading to El Paso as that is where hubby is from but an emergency back home happened and we had to quickly turn around and come back home.  Everything is good now, so no worries but the rest of the weekend was a little hectic and not as relaxing as we had hoped.  Thank goodness I have a couple of days off for some rest and me time.

What weekend Shenanigans did YOU get into!?

What I'm Loving Wednesday - Fall And Life

I'm loving that work is slowing down and that I can get caught up on things!

I'm loving that fall is here and I have a new home to dress up for fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!!!

I'm loving where I am in life!  Marriage is awesome, work is great, and family life is amazing!  Things are really at an awesome place!

I'm loving that one of my volunteers is one of my best friends, Mary, so I get to see her every Sunday and Wednesday!  It's what I look forward to on Wednesdays now!

Walking In The Forest

Being lost in guilt and shame is like being lost in a forest at night; overwhelming, dark, and scary.  You have no idea what enemies lurk or that they are ready to attack during this vulnerable moment.  Guilt and shame are not of God and we must learn to immediately withdraw from moments of guilt and shame before the enemy attacks during this vulnerable moment.

Conviction is of God and requires a heart ready and willing to turn from sin and to allow God to cleanse you.  Conviction is the light helping you see in the dark.  Repentance is finding the right path to take.  Cleansing is finding your way out of that dark forest you were lost in.

When guilt and shame creep in, tell the devil what he can do with his lies!  YOU are a child of God!