GIC- Global Impact Celebration

Each year our church throws a celebration for the people serving the Lord on the mission field. The missionaries set up booths in the foyer of the church for people to stop by, discuss their work, and hear what we can pray for them about. They always set up AMAZING speakers who encourage both the congregation and the missionaries with truth from God's Word.

2010 reaches the climax of a vision our pastor set out before us eight years ago (before I even began attending our church.) Tonight we began the 2010 GIC where we started celebrating the accomplishments and work God has done through the people at our church. To learn more, go here. The night began with a pep rally for the missionaries and progressed to an incredible time of praise and worship, followed by a message from Johnny Hunt, the pastor at Woodstock Baptist Church in Atlanta. His challenge to avoid complacency and strive toward focusing on Christ and making His name known was so encouraging. Festivities will continue on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as we hear from and party with the missionaries before they head back to the field. I am excited to see what God is going to do to and with the people of our church during this conference.

If you are in the Birmingham area, you should definitely check it out.

*But you will recieve power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.*

Acts 1:8

Have a blessed evening my friends!

Graduate School

I know everyone has seen this, but I love it. I saw it again recently and it immediately reminded me of my life with graduate school. Everytime I get comfortable, stuff just keeps piling up.

Check it out-my life in an I Love Lucy episode.

Happy almost Hump Day friends!

Some things I love right now....

This spring weather is magnificent! I am not sure where you are reading from, but here in Alabama the sky is clear (well kind of... it was yesterday, today it is a little overcast) and the temperature is at a wonderful 64 degrees. I adore this time of year, when the buttercups bloom and people walk dogs happily, not bundled up looking miserable.

As I mentioned in the last post, Sunday was my mom's birthday. I was very stumped on her gift this year because our budgeting is a little different then it has been in the past. Brian and I talked about it and decided to give her an assortment of things I have fallen in love with over the past year, things that have been useful, or things that have simply been fun. So in the spirit of my mom's birthday, I want to share some of the things I gave her... and some of the things I wished I could have given her.

#1- Caldrea Lotion and Household Cleaner

Image from Caldrea.com

People, this stuff is incredible. The teacher next door had the lotion on her desk when I started at my school. After using it several days in a row, I finally bought myself some. It's kind of pricey, but has this fresh, heavenly scent that is not too strong. As I was purchasing the lotion, I discovered their household cleaner. At first I scoffed, who's need expensive cleaner? Then I heard how good it worked. Then I bought some. Pitiful, I know. Holy Smokes. Not only is your house (countertops, toilets, showers, tubs, coffee tables, glass top dining room tables, dressers- I use it on EVERYTHING) very clean, it smells good too. I simply adore this stuff.

#2- William Sonoma's Kuhn Rikon Herb Chopper

Image from Williams Sonoma.com

I am so afraid of knives. I am a timid chopper. After getting my gift certificate at Christmas, I headed to WS to shop around and found this treasure. Somehow it takes my fear away. It comes with a cover and is even good for chopping mango, though I'm not sure if it's any better than a regular knife. I just really like it. :)

#3- Cardigans

Image from Oldnavy.com

Cute. Classy. Dressy. Casual. The perfect catch all. Brian's getting tired of them, but I love that you can throw them on with anything!

#4- Decorative tanks (to go with the cardigan!)

Image from OldNavy.com
I have bought 3 in the past two weeks. They dress the cardigan up and give it SPUNK! And they are perfect for the hot summer months.

#5- The Hostess with the Mostess

This site is incredible! She gives such great ideas for party decor, gifts, food, everything! As I was planning mom's party, I went straight to her blog for ideas. I am anxious to use a few of them for upcoming baby showers. I wish I was that creative!

#6- The Connecticut Wedding Blog

Somehow I was blog hopping and got to this site- I might have just googled tablescapes. Anyway, there are some gorgeous wedding pictures as well as some great ideas for tables. I was inspired by their Coke bottle vases and put my own spin on it! Beautiful pictures and great inspiration.

#7- Simple ballet flats

I have been wearing them all year and loving them. Then, I found this post at Design-A-Peele. Clip on earrings on flats to make them cute? Ingenious! Beth is always blowing me away with her passion for Christ and her fabulous house and wardrobe ideas. I am dying to try out the clips ons, but it means I have to widen my shoe variety. Well, a girl has to sacrifice sometimes, doesn't she? :)

#8- Scarves!

It took a little while, but now I can't get enough of them! They are such a cute way to add a little extra to an outfit. I am LOVING Ann Taylor Loft's Spring collection, but can't really afford it right now. Better save the big bucks (or wait for a sale)!

Well, it's back to studying for me! Have a blessed and wonderful week my friends!

Tablescapes

Tonight we celebrated my mom's birthday with my parents, two of my cousins, my aunt, and two of my parent's good friends. I was determined to have the party at my house so that my mom could relax and truly ENJOY. This resulted in a very hectic day.

We had delicious steaks and potatoes and enough appetizers to feed a small army. I wanted to decorate the table with things that my mom loved, so if you know my mom, I chose the most obvious option- Diet Coke.

The night ended up being great. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with family and friends and to be able to serve my mom. I also discovered (or rediscovered) some great blogs that give suggestions on parties and decor, so look forward to a post about that soon!

Have a blessed weekend my friends!

2010 Winter Olympics

Is anyone watching the Olympics?

While we were in Mobile, we watched the speed skating and women's mogul competitions. I have never liked the Olympics before, Winter or Summer, but somehow with those two events I have become obssessed! I am so impressed by how prepared they have to be and how in one instant they can win or lose. WOW. No pressure though, right?

Image from International Olympic Committee website

Snow in the South

Last Friday was a "major" snow event for Alabama. We got out of school at 11:30, so I headed home to do homework (gross) and watch the snow fall through the window. I wish we could see a little more snow on a regular basis, it's so pretty! Once Brian got home, we went outside, took pictures, and watched Bodie play in the snow- she wasn't so sure what she thought of it.

As soon as the snow stopped falling, it started melting, so we headed to Mobile for Mardi Gras. We went with Brian's family- we packed his mom and dad, two brothers, brother's girlfriends, and the two of us into one van. It was tight, but fun! We went to the Saturday afternoon parade and the Saturday night parade. We all seemed to have more luck at the afternoon parade, where I got at least five strings of beads for each of my students. And a WHOLE BAG of moon pies. Yum! (Those I am not sharing with the kids :)

All in all it was a fabulous weekend! School was delayed two hours this morning for more snow, which didn't actually come, so I got to sleep in!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you have a blessed week!

The 39 Clues

When I am reading, there are generally two ways to describe me... I either don't put a book down or can't put a book down. Mostly, I don't put it down, whether it is truly holding my attention or not, but every now and then I find that rare book that is excellent and is impossible to stop reading.

When I started The Maze of Bones, the first book in the 39 Clues series, I wasn't sure what to expect. A friend of mine from school had suggested it, so I picked it up while I was at the library. It was fabulous. It is a story of an orphaned brother and sister who's grandmother died. In her will, she left a challenge to the remaining members of her family. The challenge was to search the world in for the result of 39 clues. Once they found the solution to the clues, they would become the most powerful person (or people) in the world. Throughout the rest of the story, the brother and sister are in search of the result of the first clue. I was at the edge of my seat throughout the entire book and checked out the next 5 in the series the next day. :) I would definitely recommend it for elementary students and have already suggested it to a couple of children in my class!

Happy hump day everyone!

Book Goal #2- The Higher Power of Lucky

For my second Newbery Award Winner this year, I read The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. The media specialist at my school mentioned it as a book that was controversial, so I checked it out and found out more for myself. This book was the 2007 Newbery Award Winner.

After reading the book for about 1 minute, I discovered why it was controversial. The book begins with a 10 year old girl standing outside an AA meeting, listening in. She hears the people talking about their "higher power" (their inner strength that allowed them to get over alcoholism) and decides that is what's missing in her life. This "higher power" is referenced throughout the entire book. I think that the Susan Patron did a good job reflecting the confusion and simple-mindedness of a child who is bordering between childhood and adolescents. The setting was vivid and easy to imagine, but I did not enjoy reading the book. As I was reading, I was more than a little frustrated that this book meant for children was discussing adult topics that would give children too much information at a young age. I kept wishing the "higher power" they were discussing were Christ. If children/ young adult authors were as focused on Him as they are on alchohol and sex, imagine where our world would be. The only Higher Power we need is knowing Christ, His sacrifice for us, and the love that He gives. Any other "higher power" is a waste. Once again, I felt that the book was inappropriate for children and wouldn't let the students in my class read it.

Brad Paisley

Ho.ly. Cow.

Last night was the Brad Paisley concert.

It was soooo good.

Our seats were incredible.

My husband is the best.

Here are some pics of the awesome-ness!

The opening act was Justin Moore. He sings "Small Town USA"

Next was Miranda Lambert. She was really good! I do love the song "Gunpowder and Lead." Not so much the words, but the beat is fun!

Then, Brad.

Cool silloutte, huh? He was standing in front of a big screen showing scenes that went with the song. We have about 12 pictures of this. :)

These pictures are my personal favorite. He came off the stage and walked through the crowd. There was a row of folding chairs between me and Brad. That's about two feet. These pictures aren't zoomed at all. I almost hypervenilated.

I have video, but I think that may be against the law, so you will just have to enjoy the pictures.

Bottom line, if you get a chance to see him in concert...

Do it.

Happy weekend my friends!

The day my life was changed.... kind of.

4 years ago I was completely obssessed with Carrie Underwood. I mean SERIOUSLY obsessed. I must have listened to her Some Hearts CD for 6 months straight. The girls got talent, what can I say?

Brian and I were still dating at this point so my sweet then-boyfriend surprised me with tickets to see Carrie in Birmingham for our 3-year anniversary. I was beyond thrilled. She was opening for Brad Paisley, who I knew next to nothing about and really didn't like, but who cared? I was seeing Carrie.

We went to the concert and sat next to a rather inebriated couple, held hands, and sang softly (ok, maybe loudly) along as she sang Jesus Take the Wheel and That's Where It Is. I was a smidge disappointed in her performance (she was still pretty new at that point), but her songs were good and I was happy.Then, he took the stage and I no longer was obsessed with Carrie Underwood but with Brad Paisley. He put on an INCREDIBLE concert. He was talented (Brian loves his guitar playing), funny, and VERY entertaining. I went home, bought as many songs as I could find on Itunes, replaced the Carrie CD in my car, and have not gone back yet. (Don't get me wrong, I still like Carrie, but there isn't room in my heart for two favorites.) I don't love ALL of his songs, but enough of them that I am entertained for a long period of time. I mean have you heard the song Then? What's not to love?

Okay, so I know what you're thinking- Ashley, you need to be doing something more productive than telling us this right now. You are going to be stressed out very soon and you are not very fun to be around when you are. And yes, you are so right, but that is where the rest of the story comes in....

For Christmas, my wonderful and thoughtful and incredible husband bought me two tickets to see Brad for this weekend. I am within 72 hours of seeing him in concert again and I am so excited that I just can't focus! I have spent the evening on Itunes, listening to songs and pretending to do school work, but let's face it, it just isn't happening.

(Okay, this is us excited, but not about Brad. Actually, we were excited about Mickey Mouse. But, if you could see me now, I would have the same expression, but be wearing a long sleeved shirt.)

But the light at the end of the tunnel is that I get to see BRAD at the end of this long and tiring week! Yay!

Want to join me in my unproductivity?

Then (My all time favorite.)

Online (You just can't help but laugh.)

Little Moments (The one that made me love him!)

It's almost THURSDAY!!

One day from Friday.

Which is officially the weekend.

Score!

Simple Pleasures

Today Kelly posted about the simple pleasures in her life. As I was reading, it was a fabulous reminder that there are so many great things that are part of my every day!

My simple pleasures are...

waking up next to my sweet husband every morning

a scrumptious cup of hot chocolate

curling up with a good book

having lunch or coffee with a friend

a great household cleaner

a romantic comedy

a clean house

a new shirt

The Office (New obsession- love it!)

laying with my cat on the couch

a weekend with no plans

a real cherry Coke

a hot bath

I am blessed.

Happy Hump Day my friends!