Monday, November 28, 2011

It’s a cupcake kind of day!

Today is an extra FUN day! 

Because it’s my birthday! 

I almost forgot that today was the day….with all the busyness of Thanksgiving and all.  I was reminded when I started getting Happy B-day greetings on Facebook! haha! 

I feel blessed beyond measure this birthday.  I don’t need or want a thing.  Nothing could compare to having this precious life inside me. 

Oh yeah….and i’m inching ever so close to 30! ahhhhh!  Today I turn 27! woah!

Also, I know everyone was super busy this weekend….but you must go enter my giveaway TODAY. It is the last day to do so.  Go here to enter. 

Here is a t.m.i for you:  last week was the first week that I couldn’t get my pants to button comfortably!  haha!  I walked around Thanksgiving with my pants open…..everything concealed of course.

Our tree is up and our house looks beauty-full!!!!!!!  We haven’t done the outside yet!  It’s coming hopefully this week.

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Well, hope you have a blessed Monday! 

Love,

Amanda

Thursday, November 24, 2011

BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Hey Everyone!!!! I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I had so much food I don't think I can eat again for a few days! :) Well, I am really excited to be able to host a special BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY from the very sweet Breanna of Everyday Alabama! She has got some of the cutest things in her Etsy shop. You must go take a look. So, lets get to the good stuff. The lucky person will get to choose one item from her shop Glory Accessories. Here is a look at a few of the cute things she has to offer in her shop.....


I love love those hair bows!
If you win, you can pick your favorite from one of the following:
-Hair Bows
-Hair Flower
-Set of 2 Magnets
Here is what you need to do:
-Be a follower of The Shepard Life Blog and leave me a comment letting me know.
You can get one additional entry for each of these:
-Like Glory Accessories on Facebook
-Visit the Glory Accessories shop on Etsy and leave a comment with your favorite item
-Let me know that you have shared about this giveaway on Facebook or Blogger
The Giveaway will close on Monday night.
Good luck everyone! Whoever wins will be looking cute! Be sure to go visit Breanna's blog and her cute shop!
Happy Black Friday Shopping!
p.s. I'm heading out for some $2.99 bath towels! haha!
Hugs!
Amanda

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The most beautiful sound!

Hello There!!!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Guess what? 

There is going to be a fun surprise giveaway on my blog for Black Friday!!!!!!! Oh yes!  :) 

Today we kicked off our Thanksgiving with something very special.  We had a doctors appointment and got to hear our little ones heartbeat again! The first time was early on and it was hard to get a clear reading.  Today I am 16 weeks and right when she put the wand on my belly we heard it loud and clear!!!!!! It was beating about 153!  The most beautiful sound I have ever heard.  I could just listen to that all day if they would let me stay! haha!  Our next appointment is a few days before Christmas and it’s our first ultrasound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I CAN’T WAIT PEOPLE!   They said if the baby cooperates we will get to find out the gender!  Please please cooperate little one.  I am sooooo happy today.

I am so excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow!  whoohoo!  p.s. my doctor did tell me to watch out for the ham!  She said I could blow up like a balloon due to the salt content.  I think I shall stick to the turkey! ha!  I could join the Macy’s parade!

I have so so much to be thankful for this year.  Well, I always have so much to be thankful for.  But I just can’t get over this precious miracle inside me!  I am so thankful. 

Oh random:  I noticed the Hot Tamale’s boxes at the store are the holiday edition!  yay!  I picked myself up a box! Even though Tim always puts some in my stocking….I needed an early Hot Tamale fix! :)

Well, I have to finish up my work day and then it’s holiday time!  Oh yeah…and BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a wonderful day friends!

xoxo,

Amanda

Thursday, November 17, 2011

My Salvation Story

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Today on Callie’s blog she is hosting a link-up to share your Salvation Story!  I think this is such a great idea!  I have never actually shared my full testimony on my blog before…so I’m very thankful that Callie had the idea to do this. 

I am blessed that I have been in church since I was in the womb.  My parents were faithful to bring me to church no matter what was going on in their life.  I was able to hear about Jesus many, many times growing up. 

Well, I was a very stubborn and hard headed little girl.  I had heard about what Jesus did for me and how He loved me, but I was stubborn and was not going to make any decisions until I was ready.  I even went to Sunday School and VBS after VBS and I still hadn’t decided to make a decision. 

I remember how burdened my family was for me…even though I was only in Elementary school.  They always prayed for me and would ask me if I had any questions or wanted to talk about it.

When I was 11 years old, I had just finished 5th grade, I went on my very first youth trip.  The Gospel was preached very powerfully!  I felt God tugging at my heart and I knew I wanted to give Him my life….but I just wouldn’t trust Him.  There was a girl next to me that was nudging me and telling me I should “do it” and I caved and went forward to tell people I wanted to become a Christian.  That wasn’t a decision I had truly made and I didn’t really didn’t become a Christian that day.  Sadly I lived like that all through my school days.  I never did anything “bad”.  I was a very good girl.  And honestly….I loved God and wanted to do good things.  But I didn’t have a relationship with Him and I didn’t know Him. 

*Just knowing about God and knowing Bible stories won’t get you to Heaven.  Doing good things and being a nice person won’t get you to Heaven.*

What a stubborn girl I was! 

I got married when I was almost 21.  My husband thought I was a Christian and I thought he was a Christian.  But we were both living a lie.  We loved each other and had a pretty good marriage….but something was definitely missing. 

*I looked up to many Christian women and wanted their same joy, peace and happiness.  But that only comes from God!

Our church was having a revival service one week in April of 2007.  The sermons that were preached were specifically for Tim and I.  We were both so miserable because we knew that we were lost as a goose and didn’t have a relationship with God.  Our lives were meaningless at this point and filled with frustration.  On that Wednesday, my husband fell on his knees and cried out to God.  I wish I could say that I was happy for him that day….but I was miserable because I knew that is exactly what I needed to do.  But again, I was stubborn.  And so worried about what people thought of me.  I had been a “church girl” for so long.  I had everyone fooled. 

*It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you!  If they are a Christian….they will be overjoyed that you too are going to heaven! 

So as I said I was so so so miserable.  I didn’t sleep that night.  I wouldn’t talk to Tim about what was wrong.  I went to work the next day and could hardly focus.  God was telling me to COME! 

I went home after work and was just sobbing.  Tim came home from work and found me in quite the state.  I finally told him everything and we sat down on the couch.  I decided right then and there that I was done running and I wanted to have peace and a relationship with God!  Tim and I knelt on our knees by the couch and I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior!

You would not believe the change that took place in our lives personally and as a married couple!  We are not perfect by any means.  But God has been growing us and we have been learning ever since.  Our marriage has been getting better and better and sweeter and sweeter!  I know nothing can be perfect….but right now…..our marriage feels perfect!  We are so in love.  Many things have happened since 2007 when we trusted Christ.  So many ups and downs.  We walked through a dark road of infertility (which I am sharing soon) and Tim surrenderd to the ministry to be a pastor!  Through it all, God has been with us!  I now have that peace and joy!  I want everyone to know it too!

So what about you?

-Before God created the universe, He had you on His heart!  He wanted you to enjoy a perfect, endless life with Him.  (Ephesians 1:4)

So why does life often seem so meaningless and full of misery?  Or you wonder what happens when your time on earth is done?

-Sin separates us from God.  We are all sinners.  Just think…you don’t have to teach your child how to sin…it’s already in their nature.  Romans 3:23. 

-Because of that, the just payment of our sin is death.  Eternity away from God.  Romans 6:23.

-But God loved us so much that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for all of our sins!  John 3:16.

How can you have eternal life and a relationship with Jesus?

Simply place your faith in Jesus Christ!  To take God at His word.  To believe that Jesus is God’s son and died for our sin on the cross and rose from the grave.

“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved!” Romans 10:13

To call means to simply ask in prayer. 

I hope this has helped you today!  Whether you have been struggling with making a decision or have never even thought about it before.  I hope you would take some time to think about it.  You can read these verses in the Bible or read them online.  Crosswalk.com is a good source.  The book of John and Romans is a good place to start reading!  Feel free to email me if you have any questions at all.  If you want to share your own testimony, you can link up with Callie.

love,

Amanda

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Thanksgiving Pretties

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I pinned some pretty Thanksgiving pictures to my Pinterest board!  We never have a table as pretty as these….but I love imagining.  Our Thanksgiving is very casual.  We have so many people, everyone just finds a place to sit…couches, barstool…wherever!  Anyone else have a similar Thanksgiving?  Though I have always dreamed of having a gorgeous table scape someday!

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We ALWAYS have sweet potatoes with marshmallows!  It’s a must.  And my mom makes them the BEST!

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This year I am contributing by making a green bean casserole and a mac n cheese bake!  I also might be making a pie if I have time! 

Do any of you make the entire meal yourself? 

(props to you!!!!)

Also, about how many people are at your Thanksgiving?

I’m just curious! haha!  Someday I also hope to make an entire Thanksgiving meal.  I think it would be a lot of work and pretty expensive….but it would make me feel very accomplished!

I hope you have a blessed day!

Hugs!

Amanda

Monday, November 14, 2011

Thank YOU & other things!

First I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the precious comments you left me in regards to our video!!!!!!  You all are so sweet.  We actually made that video to show to our college group at church since Tim is the college director.  We loved it so much that we just decided to use that video to announce it to everyone!  haha!  It was super cheesy….but that is who we are! :)  We know the two most talented sisters that filmed and edited the video for us.  Thank you Allison and Linds!  We love you!!!!!!!  So, if you haven’t seen this video yet….you need to go watch it and things will make more sense to you. 

So, everyone is wondering…..how far along are you?

I am 15 weeks with baby Shepard coming in May! 

WE COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is such a miracle and an amazing blessing to be carrying a child in my womb.  Tim and I have quite the story of God’s power and amazing faithfulness that I will be sharing with you very soon.  Just to wet your palette….we were told it would be very difficult for us to have children and we tried for almost 3 years….with many speed bumps along the way.  I can’t wait to share our story with you in hopes to bring God glory and help those that might be going through the same thing.  I promise it is coming soon! 

Also….I know many of you are wondering….did I get my earrings out? Well, sadly NO!  We actually have been too busy to work on it.  And I don’t want Tim rushing with a pair of pliers touching my ears! 

I need to do a little housekeeping actually.  I posted here about my search for a really good concealer.  Well, I still have a really good brand from Sephora on my Christmas list I am wanting to try.  But until then, I have found a few good drugstore brands I wanted to share with you. 

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This is Revlon ColorStay Blemish Concealer.  I bought this for the little spots on my face that crop up from time to time.  I really do like how it covers and have been very pleased with this product.  I have tried similar products from Cover Girl and I like this one better.

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This is Neutrogena 3 in 1 Concealer for eyes.  This came by recommendation from several blog ladies.  I LOVE this!  It is your concealer, eye cream and spf!  I love how this product goes on and it really does cover and brighten my eyes!  The first day I wore it, I thought I looked so much more awake and fresh.  I really recommend this one to you!  I still want to try the fancy brand from Sephora….but like I have told you….I am a beauty product junkie! :)

Well, I think that is it for today!  Thank you again for all your sweet words!  I am so thankful to be on this beautiful journey! 

Happy Monday!

xo,

Amanda

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Monday, November 7, 2011

The time husband took pliers to my ears…

So last night I was pulling with all my mite to try and get my earring backs off.  No such luck!  I pulled and pulled forever and I started to make myself feel sick.  So, I went to the husband for help of course. 

Husband pulled and pulled at the earring backs and even with his brute strength….couldn’t get them off! 

*I’m starting to freak out right about now*

Well, out come the pliers!!!!!!! 

Husband is trying to pull the backs off with his pliers. 

I am screaming out of fear. 

They won’t even pull off with pliers! 

So, Tim thinks he will try to cut the metal with the pliers!!!!!!

oh no oh no oh no! :/

Now I’m screaming & crying afraid that he is going to cut my ear lobe!  With my outrageous behavior, Tim wasn’t able to go forward with the cutting of the metal idea. 

My life should be a sitcom, people. 

After I calmed down a bit, we were laughing about the whole thing and how this would be good TV. 

However, we still have a problem!  Earrings are still stuck.  I’m terrified they will be stuck forever. 

Has this ever happened to anyone? 

Any ideas on what I should do? 

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This is the infamous piercing!

Any tips you could offer me would be greatly appreciated! :)

xoxo,

Amanda

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Halloween Party Details.

Happy Thursday!  It feels like winter where I am today!  I love it so much.  Winter is almost my favorite time of year.  :) 

Well, I already revealed our Halloween costumes to you all…..so now I am going to share some details about our costume party!  We held a party for our college students at church.  Tim is the college pastor.  It was an awesome party!  And pretty much everyone dressed up! 

First the food….

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Next up the decorations….

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The costume that took 1st prize…..

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Caitlin made her own hot air balloon costume!!! It was amazing! She got $40, a Halloween pez dispenser and a ribbon! :)

We made everyone stuff onto the stairs for a group picture! haha! 

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We had almost 60 college students come!!!! It was amazing! 

My momma is a miniature Paula Deen!  The lady can bake.  Thank you so much mom and dad for letting us crash your house and making all the delicious goodies!  Mom baked all day.  And a few of the college girls came over to help me decorate too. 

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone!  I hope you have a very blessed day!

xo,

Amanda