I long to be as close as she is...

Beth Moore. A Woman dedicated to teaching other women how to

LOVE and LIVE the Word of God.

I have been in several Bible study groups that used her materials....I cannot say enough about them. Not only do you grow spiritually, but you learn SO MUCH history and reasoning behind the stories we grew up reading in church. They become even more meaningful and applicable.

In April (yes, it's been a while) I had the opportunity to attend Beth Moore's Living Proof Conferences in Tampa with my mother-in-law Cathy) and her 3 friends (Sherrie, BRenda, & Michelle). It was incredible to finally see her in person!

She is SO REAL and so DOWN TO EARTH!

This weekend's topic was "FAMILY". I walked away with a HUGE realization (not that it wasn't right in front of me) that technology has taken over "family"..... basically taken the place of our relationships...We don't sit at the dinner table and discuss life over food; we sit on the couch in front of the big screen (or small)....and if we do sit at the dinner table, the TV is on for background noise so that the silence isn't awkward. When we go someplace in the car, we stay on our cell phones....there again, so that there isn't awkward silence. We crawl into bed and pick up our cell phones to check facebook one last time instead of conversing with our spouse.

I took a quick snapshot of my own marriage. The family we were creating was nothing short of all the things mentioned above. So sad. So true. When I got home that night I spoke with Mike about all these things and we both agreed to be conscious

of when and how we use our cell phones, tv, etc.

oVeRcOmE...

Monday through Friday I am face to face with people like you and I that are literally fighting for their lives....and each one of them in their own way exhibit and unbelievable courage and perseverance. I find myself reminding them often, that this (their situation) is only temporary, that this is only one chapter in the Book of Life, that there is someone MUCH bigger in charge, that they WILL OVERCOME.....Gee, if I would only take my own advice sometime.

As I get to know my patients, I learn that we all come from quirky backgrounds. We all have scars, hurts, and unpleasant memories that cloud our today.

Over the past year through being counseled and mentored I have learned that we can be whiners or we can be warriors (thank you Beth Moore). We can continually make excuses for our behaviors or we can change them (thank you Kathy Leggett). It sure hasn't been easy....but I can look in your face today and tell you that I have overcome so many little things that have made a real big difference in my life.

Last Sunday in church we sang a song by Desperation Band called "Overcome".... it wasn't the first time, in fact it was probably the 3rd or 4th, but I just never really "got it"....until now.

Because He overcame (the cross), everyone will overcome.

Lyrics:

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God's only son perfect and spotless one
He never sinned, but suffered as if he did

All authority, every victo-ry is Yours
All authority, every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever,awesome and great is Your name,You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
and the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

SwEaT eQuItY...

<--- Bryan & Jennifer (our small group leaders), Me & Mike, Jenny & Mike, Megan & Mike.

(It's no mistake....we have 3 Mikes!)

I know that most of you have heard me talk about my small group in one fashion or another. There is something so incredible about being able to come as you are...something about vulnerability. It's hard to put into words just how close we have grown together in our relationships with one another and in our relationships with God.

I always giggle when someone asks me where I go to church. I giggle even blogging about it. Our name is simple....T.B.A. (or weird) :) But, it is the meaning of that name and THE church that stands behind it that is SO AMAZING!

It first stood for "To Be Announced". That is exactly what we were.....2 healthy churches, with 2 different names united for a greater purpose....to become the hands and feet of Christ. So, for the time being, we were truly to be announced. In the mean time, we outgrew our building (Hallelujah!) and sold it!

At some point we knew we would need to define our name. After almost 2 years...T.B.A. sort of grew on all of us and I don't think we really wanted to let it go. After lengthy discussions, prayers, and planning by our pastoral team....

T.B.A. "TRUSTING, BELIEVING, ACTING"

Unique. And I just love it . :)

Our new building is under construction. Groups of volunteers from church have been out on the grounds cleaning up and such after the workers........."sweat equity". It looks like we will be moving in sometime this summer! (the pic above is obviously from just that....not exactly our Sunday best!)

"I love running cross country....On a track, I feel like a hamster." - Robin Williams

....I love going to Lake Hollingsworth here in Lakeland to run (2.8 miles), however, I can't seem to get myself around the thing more than once.....and when I read this quote by Robin Williams, I knew why! Ha!

(Holly & I runnin')

Anyway- For the past two years I have ran several 5k's with my besties from work. They are so much fun....and ADDICTING! We participated in the Dash for the Donut (Police Officer Memorial Fund), Miracle Miles (Babies at Winnie Palmer), and the Santa Sprint (Special Olympics).

(Holly, Karah, Rhonda, Me, & Erin after the Miracle Miles)

(Holly & I after the Santa Sprint)

Last month, Holly and Erin went on to race in the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Some other peeps and I were on the sideline cheering them on. Every single time they ran by, it literally brought tears to my eyes. It was SO VERY inspirational. So, on the way home, that was it. They had made up my mind for me....

(Erin & Holly after the Princess Half)

I have recently started training with the Gallowayans.....the group follows the Jeff Galloway training method.....not the ONLY way to run, but it works for me! The official season opens in June ---- we focus on the Women's Half Marathon in November and the Breast Cancer Marathon in February.

Check it out: www.JeffGalloway.com

Sunday, I ran my longest run with Meg..... 10.5 miles. (my body was only a little pissed, haha)

Much love to those in my life who encourage me to be more than I believe I can be. <3

one year ago today, i married my best friend

the age old question...."where did ya'll meet?" the worst answer..... "a bar." haha. but, it's true, our first introduction was at aj's in tallahassee on a tuesday night. i was there with 12 or so girlfriends celebrating my sister's birthday. a mutual friend (now) of ours, Dave, was there with his buddies running around. when i ran into them, he introduced me to the stranger that was with him....mike. we said "hey, nice to meet you" and we both went our separate ways. never crossed my mind again and i never crossed his again.....until church on wednesday, hahahahaha. cracks me up. the college group was meeting in the smaller sanctuary and mike was sitting up front. when it was over, he stood up and screams, "hey, aren't you the girl i met at aj's last night?". my eyes got really big..."yesssssssss". anyway- so, yep, that was it! he was on vacation A LOT that summer. we kept in touch thru facebook and texting mostly. his dad has a $400 cell phone bill to prove it. :/ when fall classes were in, we were pretty much inseparable.

we got engaged in may of 2007 after dating about a year. we were in lakeland for a long weekend and mike made plans for us to eat lunch with his mom on that thursday. so, we are getting ready to go. i did my make-up and threw my hair in a pony tail. he walks by the bathroom and asks, "are you gonna do your hair?". i answered, surprised that he asked, "it IS done". he stood there and looked at me. then he said, "i mean, are you going to straighten it?". at this point (not out loud) i'm thinking, is he serious? what is wrong with my hair? again, i said, "my hair IS done". we get to mike's mom's office and he tells her that he wants to take me to Hollis Gardens sometime. She said, well why don't we run over there before lunch? i was upset because i had not brought my camera. no worries. mrs. cathy whips her right out of her purse. haha. ok. so, we go moseying on over. she says, want me to take a picture of you? sure. it was in front of the most random weird shaped metal thing ever. i didn't say a word. she takes it, i look over and around and then to mike and he is on his knee. i had to take a second look because he did that ALL the time with his cell phone! the first thing out of my mouth was "are you serious?". haha, i tried to give him a way out, just kidding. so, the wedding planning began.

everyone told me that the first year was the hardest year of marriage and if you can make it thru that year, then you'll be fine. to be honest, it wasn't sooo hard. of course, now, they are changing their story. today, it's if you can make it thru the first 5 years, then you'll be fine. ah, who knows. i don't, but i do know that we are both as happy today as we were a year ago when we got married...we still laugh and grin ear to ear when we talk about our wedding day. we truly had a blast. it was sooo much fun!

I want to (again) thank our friends and family for being who you are. we couldn't have done it without you! The next big step in our lives....a house. we have been in the process of buying (in case you haven't heard) and it has been just that, a process. i realize that things could have been worse, but dang, buying a house is stressful! our scheduled close date is friday august 28th at 3 pm. we are sooooo excited! here is a sneak peek! :)

princesses don't turn into pumpkins...

mike and i have been attending tba church (formerly known as epic...we have since merged with church of the highlands...long story, but a Christ filled one) for a little over a year now. bryan legg, our pastor, and his wife, cheri, were our small group leaders at the time. we got to know them and their 3 girls, alyssa, avery, and addyson, very well. their family is a LOUD HOOT! :0)

alyssa legg, one of the little princesses in my life, turned a whopping 7 this week! to celebrate her birthday, she invited 10 of her friends to a sleepover at her house. (yes, i said 10 and yes, i said sleepover). i wanted to do SOMETHING to crash the party...i stewed over it all day at work.

i finally decided that i would dig my wedding dress out of the closet and attempt a princess surprise. well, 11 months and 10 pounds later, mike squished me into the dress. the first comment out of his mouth after he got it zipped was as follows: "man, babe, you got a butt". he was referring to my fluff that was pushed up and in towards the center of my back! how dare he!oh, but wait, it gets better. as he runs his hands from the center of my back to my sides he said, "there, i smoothed it out." mmmm, huh. yes, he did.

the next task was to squish me into the car. HILARIOUS! i DID drive myself. now i know why we had someone take us to the reception and hotel! there was a dress and a ittle head on top. haha.

obviously, me getting back into my wedding dress and showing up at the sleepover wasn't going to be as impressive to 13 little girls as it was to me. so, i grabbed a HUGE pack of DOUBLE roll toilet paper. we split the girls up into groups of 3. their task was to turn one of their group members into a princess/bride by creating a wedding dress using one roll of toilet paper. it was a blast. there was mostly paper on the floor and on bryan!

and, how could i forget, the infamous cupcake tree! this is the 2nd year cheri has used it! all the girls decorated their piece, placed it on the tree, and gave it a spin! (yes, it spins, just not on it's own) i got this tree as a wedding gift from my mee-maw. i wasn't sure when i was going to get to use it, but i have several times and so has cheri!

i left only a few asleep at midnight. the rest of them were either giggly or hot, haha!

.....about the princess/pumkin thing. maybe they don't turn into a PUMPkin, but a PLUMPkin, yes! :o)

25 mph

funny story.

i leave for work before the bars close and Jesus gets up. i was on the parkway wednesday morning with just one other vehicle. the air was blasting, radio jam'n to the tune of God is great, beer is good, and people are CRAZY as i sipped my iced coffee (which is another story). not long after being on the road, the sheriff's office flew by, running lights and sirens. (this about a mile before the toll closest to I-4...the one that doesn't have a sunpass dedicated lane). i SWEAR that officer never slowed going through the toll. i didn't expect him to, i'm just saying. the truck ahead of me passes thru the toll, hesitating only a little as he anticipated the infamous sunpass beeeeeeeeeeeeep! i was thought to myself....man, the S O didn't hesitate at all and the guy ahead of me barely hesitated....those yellow and black arms MUST go up faster than i think. so, i unintentionally did not hesitate passing thru the toll booth...and the arm didn't move...until it hit my windshield with a thud! it scared me. i clinched my teeth and made an "eek" face as i peered in my rear view mirror. after everything seemed to be ok, i laughed hysterically until i cried!

this morning, i hesitated going thru the toll. i had time to waive at the toll booth worker, which i didn't do yesterday. only today, she didn't waive back. :/