Good morning….today is Tuesday….NOT Monday!

It feels like Monday!!!!  I don’t think I can get passed that feeling today.  I had the most glorious looooong weekend!  I soaked in every moment!  I was too busy to get all my pictures onto the computer….so no pictures yet!  I was too busy relaxing by the pool!  :)  sigh….

One of the biggest highlights of my weekend was Sunday.  My very own husband preached his first sermon to “big people” on Sunday!!!!!!  He has taught youth and college many times…..but never adults.  He was invited to be a guest preacher at a tiny church in our town.  Thankfully it really is a tiny church and there were only about 20 people…..and we brought our entire family….so we added another 10 people! ha!  Very very sweet people. I was so proud of husband.  He did a wonderful job and didn’t even seem nervous….even though I’m sure he was!  And they asked me to sing also! haha!  So I did!  I took lots of pictures so I will be sure to share them soon!

Monday we relaxed by the pool and sat outside in the beautiful weather all day!  It was fabulous!  However I must not be the best at applying sunscreen because I have splotches on me…..I missed quite a few spots!  ha!

Oh and I finally soaked off my Shellac manicure last night……on day 17!!!!!!!!!!  Can you believe that?!  You could tell my nails had grown but there were still NO CHIPS on the polish!!!!  That stuff is amazing! 

Big news people:  my very first 5k race is this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If you have been reading the blog….I have been talking about my training and such for the past few months.  I am super duper nervous about!  I know I can do it, I think I am just psyching myself out.  I just want to encourage everyone who has ever wanted to run and has been too afraid or thought you couldn’t do it!  YOU CAN!!!!!  Trust me.   I started out barely being able to run for 90 seconds!  Say what?  Oh yeah…..that is no lie!  Now I am running a 5k!  I have to pinch myself because I can’t believe I am actually doing this!  I am very proud that I have stuck with it.  I have definitely seen huge improvements in my body, health and self-esteem. 

Well, I’m thankful for McCafe coffee this morning.  (got up too late to make my coffee! boo! )  But kudos to McD’s for getting me through the drive through in under a minute!  I’m pretty sure that’s a record! 

I can’t wait to catch up on everyone’s blogs and read about your weekends!  Hope everyone enjoys this week!  :) 

Hugs!

Amanda

You look so much better when you SMILE!

Happy Friday everyone!

I hope you are having a great start to the weekend! I am sooooo pumped cause this is a 3 day weekend! woohoo!

Right now Tim and I are chillin to the max! He fell asleep on the couch a few minutes ago…..so now I have free reign of the TV! ha! I’m catching up on my DVR tonight…..watching episodes of The Voice! Oh and I have laundry going and the dishwasher going. I love nights like this!

Last night I watched the American Idol finale on the DVR. Ummm lots of weird performances that I had to fast forward through! But, I LOVED Jacob’s performance with Kirk Franklin. Now, I was never a Jacob fan all season….but I love me some Kirk Franklin! Gospel/R&B is one of my favorite styles of music. Oh yeah….and I always love Carrie Underwood. She is just insane. In a good way!

I found Kirk Franklin’s official music video (click here) to his new song Smile. I really really want his new album! I wanted to share the video with you….it’s so cool! At the bottom of this post is the American Idol performance.

On American Idol the song was dedicated to all those dealing with the tornado aftermath and loss. It was really powerful!

Have a beautiful weekend friends!

You look so much better when you smile!!!! :)

xo,

Amanda

Girl’s Day Out Recap!

I had such a wonderful time at our Girl’s Day Out last weekend! I love having time to hang with my girlfriends. We are all so different….but get along perfectly and add so much to our outings! haha! We went to Branson to eat at Cantina Laredo! This place is sooooooo good! I had phenomenal self control over the chips and salsa issue. I’m proud of myself. I always fill up on chips and salsa before my meal. I think that is just a requirement at Mexican restaurants though. :)

I ordered the fiesta lime grilled chicken salad! It was divine.

This is the adorable pregnant lady of the group! Greta is the cutest! Her baby is due in August. This will be our last girl’s day before the baby comes…..

Enjoying our yummy lunch!

After lunch we went shopping at the OUTLET MALL!!!!!! Another requirement for any girl’s day! I found a few super cheap deals.

After our fun in Branson…..we drove back to Springfield to have a baby shower for Greta and her hubby. It was so fun!

I love my friends! Thankful for girl’s day. I’m thankful for the Godly advice and wisdom they offer. I’m thankful for the laughs. I’m thankful for their love.

xo,

Amanda

Addicted…..to Taboo.

I forgot how much FUN the game of Taboo is! Seriously.

And I guess I also forgot that I am TERRIBLE at Taboo! ha!

I’m a great guesser though. You would definitely want me on your team to help you guess….but not to describe the word. I ALWAYS get buzzed!

We had some college kids from church over to our house.

Dessert, Taboo, Maddie on the coffee table….the usual.

She is always the center of attention. I don’t mind though.

I could have played that game well into the wee hours of the morning. So fun.

Other games I love:

Dutch Blitz

Sequence

Catchphrase

Dominos

Uno

Mad Gab

What games do you enjoy? I love finding new games. I hope to have a huge game collection someday!

xoxo,

Amanda

WILW!!!!!

Happy Wednesday Everybody! :) 

What an insane week this has been weather wise.  I’m still so shocked and sad for Joplin.  We have just been on alert every day because we continue to have tornado warnings in our area! 

To lighten things up a bit….I’m linking with Jamie for WILW!  Go ahead and join up too!

I’m loving…..the dog we are dog-sitting for!  She is the sweetest little thing!

Tim and I are professional dog-sitters.  I’m kind of joking! ha!

I’m loving…..that my little nephew Izaak promoted in his Awana Cubbie’s class! 

He was by far the cutest almost 4 year old on stage….and I’m not biased or anything! ;)  Oh and they each got a cute little teddy bear that velcros on their vest! awwwww!

I’m loving….Bath & Body Works Candles! 

A very sweet lady in my church gave me this scent as a gift a few weeks ago.  I wasn’t sure if I would like the cherry or not….but trust me, it’s amazing!  These candles produce so much more fragrance than any other candle brand I think.

I’m loving…..my sweet husband of course!

Everyday is exciting being married to him! 

I hope everyone has a great hump day!!!!  Please stay safe if you are in tornado area like me.  :( 

love,

Amanda

the go-to dog sitters.

We are dog sitting….again….at the Shepard house! :)

Say hello to Laylah!  She is a sweetie. 

Please note:  Maddie is sniffing her butt. 

I’m sure Maddie is thinking in this picture….. 

“hey that’s my dad!  get off of him!!!”

  We love dog sitting actually.  We love babysitting too. 

I guess it fills that “no baby” void until we are blessed with our own Shepard baby someday.  

Praying….

Please pray for Joplin, Missouri!  Joplin was hit last night by tornados.  Out of all the tornados to hit Missouri, this one has been the most deadly and caused the most damage.  It is so scary because it hits so close to home.  Joplin is about 1 hour from my home.  We were spared and I am thankful.  But I am so sad for the city of Joplin.  I can’t begin to imagine what that is like.  One of my friends has a family member that lives in Joplin.  She is 5 weeks away from her due date.  Saturday night she had a baby shower.  Now everything is GONE.  She has no home, nothing for her baby……with the baby coming in a month.  My heart is broken for her and so many others.  Please pray for these people.  I want to go help….but right now they are asking that everyone stay out until they can get relief efforts organized.  Only medical personnel is being asked to come. 

I am alone at work today.  And I’m kinda scared!  The weather is scary today.  I’m thankful that the Lord is with me wherever I am, at all times! 

(all pictures from here)

Trust in the Lord at all times. 

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe”   Proverbs 18:10