and while you're at it...

And while your at it, go ahead and order some of these fab Sarah Cihat dishes to eat your grilled cheese on...

yummy!

I just found this on another blog and I can hardly contain myself!

Well, April is pretty much over but before we let it go I think that we should acknowledge one thing. April seems to get a lot of talk about it's showers that brings May flowers, but did you know that April is Grilled Cheese Month?! Well, according to this website, April is just that.
I am thrilled to find out about this, and the only complaint I might have is that I found out about it a little late.

Click here for tons of yummy grilled cheese recipes to celebrate with!

More of an Addiction Than an Adjective

A Post-it's Best Friend

In decorating my new office I have been desperately looking for a bulletin board that would fit into a certain dimension on an angled wall. This area of wall and the twenty something post-it notes that are all over my desk are just begging for a bulletin board. Well as of today... problem solved. These bulletin boards are so pretty and unique. Little Pretty Studio at Etsy created a very innovative design on a forever classic item that will soon be making an appearance on my new office wall.

and we can't forget....

Happy Secretary's Day!!!

Happy Earth Day!!!

In honor of Earth Day, I think everyone should purchase an organic made canvas bag to use as a replacement for plastic grocery bags.

Come on... you know you've looked at them and wondered what it would be like! You'll look a lot cuter with a canvas bag on your arm than an ugly plastic bag, and you will do a small part to help our earth.

Think green, every little bit helps.

I found this and edited it to fit my format, and lost the address of the page that I found it on... oh well, just know it's not original... it was stolen with pure motives! =)

1. Plastic Blows tote by Black Sheep Heap- 100% recycled cotton- $15
2. Hand painted canvas totes by Bonna Bag- 80% recycled cotton, 20% recycled plastic bottles- $25-45
3. Bicycle tote bag by Rock Paper Scissors- organic cotton- on sale for $21.75, today only!
4. Recycled army bag by Katrina Kaye- recycled tote with vintage fabric- $38
5. Felt tote bag at Zanisa- recycled wool felt- $95
6. Recycled sail tote by Reiter8- recycled sailboat sail- $75
7. Reversible daisy market tote by Pouch- reclaimed vintage and new fabric- on sale for $36, today only!
8. Reversible Doppio bag by Diengie- recycled burlap coffee bean bag- $60
9. Fairgrounds market bag by Tree of LifeStyle- salvaged vintage fabric- $25

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I'm ready for May flowers, but until then...

Trendy Tea

Check out this tea-friendly mug called, the pouch mug.

It's a little something that only a true tea enthusiast will appreciate.

I need some...

I'm gonna sing this song
To let you know that you're not alone
And if you're like me
You need hope, coffee, and melody
So sit back down
Let the world keep spinning ‘round
For yesterday's gone and today is waiting on you to show your face

It might not be
The prettiest thing that you'll ever see
But it’s a new day, oh baby, it’s a new day
And it might not look like
A beautiful sunrise
But it's a new day, oh baby, it’s a new day

I’m a pilgrim soul
I've traveled far and come back home
This land is hard and cold
For those who long to love
And I know it might seem
That the world is crumbling
But it’s me and you dancing in the kitchen at 2 am
And we're still alive

It’s the calm of the storm that comes blowing in
It’s the springtime saying I'm back again
The clouds that roll by
Crossing moonlight
Me and you love – everything's alright
Standing in the rain with nowhere to go
Laughing and we're spinning and I hope that you
Remember this day
For the rest of your life
Me and you love – everything’s gonna be alright

And it just might be
The prettiest thing that you'll ever see
It’s a new day
Oh baby, it’s a new day
If you look outside
To see a beautiful sunrise
It’s a new day

(New Day, by: The Robbie Seay Band)

All creatures great and small....

The Lord God made them all...

Spring = baby animals!

My First Earthquake

Thank you for all of the texts, emails and calls of concern....

Us along with the rest of Southern Illinois did experience an earthquake early this morning.

Me and Seth are ok and nothing was damaged.

The first big one was at 4:36 in the morning and it was a magnitude of 5.4. It woke us (and the rest of the city) up out of a dead sleep. The second one happened while we were out running errands and enjoying our day off. It wasn't as big as the first.

Thank God it wasn't worse and nothing was damaged. It was still a pretty crazy... and scary experience.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4682373&page=1

do it.

do it.

(great store. greater quote.)

Week two of the launch...

What about the Second weeks service? Oh, well, I’m glad you asked. We had 601 people in attendance. Which is just more than we can hold in just two services, so as of May 3, we are going to a Saturday night service. This is madness and me and Seth along with the rest of the pastoral staff, leadership, and members are just standing here in awe… it feels like a dream.

As far as youth goes we had 57. Both weeks there were decisions made and some awesome ministry time and of course a load of good laughs and hang out time.

So pretty much in September this is what it looked like...

And now...

Modified Youth Service...

My office... (only that messy after services!)

Friends...

Leading Only One for Me during first opening service...

Who knows what I was talking about???

a colorful life

The only problem with being a colorful free spirit is that sometimes I have to remind myself to breathe... other than that, it's fabulous.

A Five Minute Update...

I could never be an atheist. Not that I’ve ever considered it, but if something catastrophic ever happened in my life, I would have no choice but to look at this season of my life and know that there is a God and He loves me and is constantly working on my behalf. I'm too excited not to find at least five minutes to share about all that He is doing in our lives....

Last I wrote, I had sprained my ankle, had a week to move out of my house and was a project manager over a huge church launch… so here’s the scoop…

1. My ankle is better. I was unable to wear heels on the big church launch day, but I managed to pull together the perfect outfit for such a special day anyway.

2. Speaking of the church launch, we had a PHENOMINAL turn out. Because me and Seth are both on the administrative and Pastoral staff of this new church branch, we have pretty much been waiting for this day for over a year now and it came and went without one major hiccup! We are SO excited about seeing God move throughout the next several years. We started off with two services because our new sanctuary only holds 250 and we didn’t want to take any chances. Well, it’s a good thing that we took the risk because we had a combined total of 527 people in attendance on our very first Sunday. I led worship along with my team and Seth had 40 youth that showed up to the youth service Sunday night. We already had to expand the parking lot this week and there is already talk of a third service! We knew God wanted to do big things, but wow… this blew our mind! We are waiting in great anticipation for this Sunday as we take on our second service!

3. WE FOUND A HOUSE! A really big and awesome house… that’s only .25 miles from the new church branch! With gas prices being ridiculous. This was a huge added bonus. The house is 3 bedroom 2 bath, 2 car garage, new covered back patio, whir pool bathtub in the main bath, big closets, all new kitchen updates, new carpet, the entire house has updates all over it from windows to flooring…. It has just been huge blessing that literally fell right in our laps! The house wasn’t even on the market when we first went to look at it, and now we will buying it and moving in it in 30 days! It is much bigger and nicer than we could have imagined. Me and Seth both agree that it is a house like you would live in with your parent’s as a teenager, not as a newlywed couple who has been married for less than a year. God just continually opens doors before us and provides and with or without the favor from Him, we’ll follow Him forever and live our lives to glorify Him!

I will have pictures ofthe church and the new house soon!

That’s all of an update I have time for right now. I love you all and can’t wait to get the phone call that I have a handsome new baby boy cousin. (Praying for you Katy!!!...and Stu!)

Meet me in St. Louie

These were taken by Josh during Court and Dusty's visit to the lovely St. Louis.

Josh is me and Seth's bff who also came in from Nashville for the weekend...

This is all I have time to post for now, this has without a doubt been the busiest season of my life...but it's been simply wonderful! Maybe I'll have time to write an update soon!