Happy 3-0...

Happy 30th to this girl...

who has been rockin' my world since they day we meet at AU.

 

 

30 years.

Just a few short days ago I turned 30. As I talked to different people about this upcoming monumental birthday there were a lot of different sentiments shared. Some struggled with turning the big 3-0, some felt like it was the start of the best time of their lives, and others felt like they were officially leaving their youth behind.

Even to this day I have not had too many thoughts about it...it just feels like another birthday. However, I can say that I am grateful for the opportunity to leave the past year behind. Twenty-nine was a hard year for me. I cried more this past year than probably any of my other years combined. Over the past year I have spent a lot of time wrestling through tough emotions, thoughts, and feelings. I mourned, I dealt with extreme sadness and disappointment, and I also said goodbye to a lot of the ideas and plans that I had for my life. But despite this, I also spent the past year feeling so much love. The past year has provided opportunities to grow closer to Coy and also point our relationship closer to Christ. I felt more love and support over the past year than ever before and was reminded just how important my family and my friends are to me.

As I drove to work on the morning of my birthday I reflected on just how grateful I am for the life that I have been given. I have been truly blessed and no past or current trial or tribulation can take away from all of the love I have in my life. I spent the day being reminded of how blessed I am, with so many birthday wishes from friends new and old; beautiful and unexpected flowers from my besties; decorations in my office at work; phone calls, texts, and Facebook messages; and being completely spoiled by my husband with an incredible dinner out (at which he also invited my parents as a surprise) and some pretty fantastic gifts.

 

I am thankful for my past 30 years and I am looking forward to many, many more years to come.

this guy.

  I am so thankful for THIS guy.

If I could have the choice to spend life with anyone else in the world I would

choose him every time.

My life is made better on a daily basis because of the love he gives to me.

The big and the little and all of the things in between are why I love him more today than I did almost four years ago on our wedding day. And why I also feel more love from him in return.

I am so glad that I get to go through life with this guy.

Of all the roles I fill, being his wife is my favorite.

 

Birthday Bash

Last weekend two besties headed down to Nashville to see our other long lost bestie. Although the purpose was to celebrate Brynn's 1st birthday party...it is nice to have any excuse to head to my old stomping grounds. There is often not much better than quality time spent between friends - and this weekend was no exception. The weekend was busy getting things ready for the birthday bash but also included so much more. I am so thankful for the time I was able to spend with Adi (and of course Brynn too) and treasure these weekends that seem to always be fewer and farther between!

 

You Get in the Water...

"You get in water, go down in the water, and Jesus cleans you.

You come back up and you're all clean."

These are the words spoken by my six year old niece Keira when asked by her classmates what baptism was. Keira, along with the rest of our family, were blessed to be able to watch my eleven year old niece Emma get baptized this past weekend. When asked in school the next day about her favorite part of the weekend, Keira replied that it was watching her cousin get baptized.

 

What a truly amazing thing!

 I always feel blessed by the family that I have. However, it is in moments like this when I am so proud to call them my own. I am so thankful for the lives that my nieces and nephews are leading, even at such a young age. They bless my heart so often.

It warmed by heart to the fullest as I sat and listened to the reasons why Emma wanted to get baptized, how she wanted others to see her love for Jesus and how she wanted Jesus to help her have a better attitude and treat people good.

What made the moment even more special was that her dad was able to baptize her, just as my dad was able to baptize me and my two sisters.

 

I can't wait for life to unfold and to see what these sweet children that I love so dearly are going to do with their lives, how they are going to be used by God, and the awesome things He has in store for them.

 

 

Elliott and Keira holding hands while watching the baptism. If this

doesn't melt your heart I am not quite sure what would!

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Toasted pumpkin seeds are probably my favorite part about

carving pumpkins. I recently discovered them several years ago from a friend and since then

I cannot stop eating them and thinking about them in the fall. Last week, after carving pumpkins with several friends I toasted the seeds from our pumpkins. 

 I separated the seeds from all of the other junk in the pumpkin and rinsed them thoroughly.

After doings so I sprayed a cookie seat, spread the seeds out and then covered them in olive oil.

 (You can also use vegetable oil but I tried to be just a smidge healthier.)

I then coated them in salt, garlic salt, and paprika.

 They baked at 345 degrees for around 30-45 minutes, with period stirring!

Cool and enjoy! 

Fall favorites.

It was a busyyyyy weekend for hubs and I. I felt like we were on the go nonstop. And although I enjoy and crave some solitude on the weekends this was not a weekend for that!

It was jam packed few days but it was worth the sacrificing of my personal time.

I know these weekends are fleeting with winter only a few weeks away which also means hibernation is only a few weeks away. So, I am soaking up every second of fall that I can!

 

Thursday night we had a few good friends over for dinner, pumpkin carving, and s'mores. It was the perfect fall night!



 

Friday night my sister and brother in law headed to a Halloween party which left hubs and I with the four kids! We had so much fun playing Kinect, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows, and watching movies. These kids are so special and dear to my heart and I loved being able to love on them nonstop for a little while. 

                         He is literally the best uncle!                       
                                                                         I think this hotdog fell in the fire minutes later.

 

           Saturday morning snuggles were my favorite!

 

Saturday afternoon we got to celebrate this sweet baby's 1st birthday!

I can't believe it has been a year since precious little Elayne was born. She is seriously one of the happiest and most content babies I know. I could stare at her sweet face all day long.

She ate almost her entire mini cake by herself and kept herself occupied forever in that chair. 

          That top right smile is my favorite!!                          
                                                                                    Yes, my sister made this. Unreal really.

 

Although we didn't have tickets to the much awaited Colts vs. Bronco's game we took full advantage of celebrating the big event. It was a fun (and exhausting) day of tailgating downtown. We were lucky enough to have the hook up with a great tailgating location. Love the Colts, love Peyton Manning, and love my friends...which means it was a great day.