tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55227019424365538182024-03-13T13:09:46.792-07:00Life More AbundantlyAnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-10734628465759753612011-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:002011-06-07T10:04:23.081-07:00I'm Very Sorry<div>I'm not going to delete my blog because one day I will have internet at home and be able to blog again. I really wish I could be faithful and blog about all of the wonderful things I am learning on our little piece of Heaven in Shelby, NC.</div><div> </div><div>We have come a long way. I have learned how to can, make my own laundry detergent, quilt, keep a home...that's a big one, and now we have chickens that will soon be giving us some fresh eggs! What a blessing! </div><div> </div><div>I will be back one day, and I will have much to share.</div><div> </div><div>Mrs. Brackett</div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-49826729084930241462010-11-09T18:20:00.001-08:002010-11-09T18:20:46.054-08:00“A Fairy Tale in Reality” by Mackenzie Brackett (age 13)<p>The following is a story written by my precious step daughter for her daddy on his birthday. </p> <p>Once upon a time in a far away land, a king of great kindness, wisdom, and mercy ruled the land far greater than any other earthly king. His secret was God. He had a princess and three princes. The princess loved the king very much and would always try to please him,  so she could see his perfect grin that made her heart giggle. Sometimes, as all other humans, she would not meet his highest expectations but his loved never stopped, in fact it grew. The princess always went to the king for advice; his wisdom never lacked. They even had special nicknames like: Sugar daddy (king) and baby girl (princess).</p> <p>Sadly, the time came when they had to limit their time. The princess come to the king’s palace on the last two days of the week. This was a test that God sent, to see what the king would do. Little did we know, our love would strengthen and so would our blessings. Then the king got married to Anna the queen of my father’s palace. She was the biggest blessing, because the king got a sparkle in is eye again and no longer was the king captured by despair, a cruel knight who breathed sadness, loneliness, and pain. He was set free, and lived happily ever after. </p> <p>The princess waits for her Prince Charming, knowing that they will be together forever in Heaven. </p> <p>The end.</p> <p>What a precious gift. That is real true love isn’t it? </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TNoBe_lGgnI/AAAAAAAAAac/aU9ssjY95TU/s1600-h/100_0458%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TNoBfb8nNuI/AAAAAAAAAag/G54pWiKzkbE/100_0458_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-75528301831304195522010-10-07T13:10:00.001-07:002010-10-07T13:10:51.462-07:00I Wouldn’t Trade it For Anything<p>We had a great weekend with the kids. A death in the church seemed to renew the love between my husband and I and therefore led to a sort of family revival if you will. </p> <p>First I would like to say that Mr. Larry Birt was a wonderful Godly man who always had a smile on his face because he loved the Lord. After struggling with many different illnesses and multiple hospitalizations he got to go home to be with his Savior. Although it is very sad to see Mr. Birt (Papa Birt, Paw Paw Birt, etc) go, there is some joy in knowing that he is right now before the Lord his God whom he testified of his whole life. </p> <p>Dusty picked up the kids from school and got home shortly after I did on Friday. They immediately went outside to play (as they always do at our house). I stayed inside and cooked a yummy dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes (with gravy from the chicken), corn, and broccoli. After dinner the boys went outside to play football with Dusty, the neighbor, Matthew, and his friend. Mackenzie and I watched from the sidelines and decided to build a camp fire. We built the fire all by ourselves and the menfolk got us some more wood.  What a sweet time we ended up having at that camp fire. We went around and said what we were thankful for about everyone in our family (the friends had gone home). How sweet it is to watch your children (or step children) cry when they talk about how much they love their daddy and step mom. </p> <p>I realized yesterday just how good God has been to me. He has given me a great husband and four great children who love me unconditionally. Mackenzie said yesterday, “I love Anna because she took us in. It wouldn’t be easy to love someone else’s kids like she does.” It is easy. I love those kids. I wouldn’t trade my family for anything.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pN8r-LsI/AAAAAAAAAZk/wq20oay-Ewc/s1600-h/100_060111.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0601" border="0" alt="100_0601" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pOL8ccfI/AAAAAAAAAZo/c3iivxsCkkg/100_0601_thumb12.jpg?imgmax=800" width="191" height="191" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pOvhO8OI/AAAAAAAAAZs/g4GZi8nkpyo/s1600-h/100_06132.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0613" border="0" alt="100_0613" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pO7oh9zI/AAAAAAAAAZw/3qVT6SmSGSE/100_0613_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Zac and his daddy ^                               Me and my hubby ^</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pPF2yKtI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/j7ECYchc-lo/s1600-h/100_06024.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0602" border="0" alt="100_0602" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pPvHpzII/AAAAAAAAAZ4/Dv3_XSg0ukM/100_0602_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="198" height="210" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pQJFVWmI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/2miAwdmAdAg/s1600-h/100_060311.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0603" border="0" alt="100_0603" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pQFRA0tI/AAAAAAAAAaA/nWVVoL_cLyM/100_0603_thumb14.jpg?imgmax=800" width="187" height="194" /></a></p> <p>Andrew the youngest ^                           Campfire built by women ^</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pQnNk7AI/AAAAAAAAAaE/ENTZqOTVlK4/s1600-h/100_06054.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0605" border="0" alt="100_0605" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pQ3Q0lcI/AAAAAAAAAaI/DmRzBbWA5oY/100_0605_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="174" height="221" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pROBd8HI/AAAAAAAAAaM/ZnoNbVCtznw/s1600-h/100_06086.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0608" border="0" alt="100_0608" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pRcG6kqI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/KMMBbXkxwT8/100_0608_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="203" height="204" /></a> </p> <p>Mackenzie my helper ^                   Levi and his daddy ^</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pSToucYI/AAAAAAAAAaU/zuVOMlk_fik/s1600-h/100_05962.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="100_0596" border="0" alt="100_0596" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TK4pSw2mYeI/AAAAAAAAAaY/NSOunrTkDSw/100_0596_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Our family (missing Mackenzie, adding my niece Ashtyn) in Virginia for the fall festival</p> AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-92077035674031515822010-09-23T06:37:00.000-07:002010-09-23T06:43:00.616-07:00What if it had been George?I know politics are touchy, but I got this e-mail from my grandpa this morning and I had to share. A lot of America has become one giant cult following one giant leader...<br /><br /><br />If George W. Bush had doubled the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in just one year, would you have approved?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved? If George W. Bush had criticized a state law that he admitted he never even read, would you think that he is just an ignorant hot head?<br /><br />If George W. Bush joined the country of Mexico and sued a state in the United States to force that state to continue to allow illegal immigration, would you question his patriotism and wonder who's side he was on?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had put 87,000 workers out of work by arbitrarily placing a moratorium on offshore oil drilling on companies that have one of the best safety records of any industry because one company had an accident, would you have agreed?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had used a forged document as the basis of the moratorium that would render 87,000 American workers unemployed, would you support him?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a TelePrompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the 'Special Olympics', would you have approved?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of 'inexpensive' and 'incorrectly formatted' DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?<br /><br /><br />If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had stated that there were 57 states in the United States , would you have said that he is clueless.<br /><br />If George W. Bush would have flown all the way to Denmark to make a five minute speech about how the Olympics would benefit him walking out his front door in Texas , would you have thought he was a self important, conceited, egotistical jerk.<br /><br /><br />If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had misspelled the word "advice" would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoes as proof of what a dunce he is?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?<br /><br />If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?<br /><br />If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America , would you have approved?<br /><br /><br />If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?<br /><br />So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive?<br /><br />Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama.<br />Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable.<br /><br />I am glad my hope is not in politics, but it sure is interesting (=<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;">"Let his days be few; and let another take his office." Psalm 109:8<br /></span></em>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-1632871906031972010-09-21T10:37:00.000-07:002010-09-21T11:05:53.089-07:00He May Have Something More<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/vintage%20bike" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 326px; HEIGHT: 187px" border="0" alt="Vintage bike Pictures, Images and Photos" src="http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp131/portagephotography/vintagebike.jpg" width="692" height="434" /></a><br /><br />Last night we went with the mission to a revival service. The church did things a little differently than we typically like but the preaching was on point. He preached out of this text:<br /><br />Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:<br />But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."<br /><br />A lot of that scripture is self explanatory. We shouldn't glory in anything but the Lord. The preacher spent a lot of time talking about the lovingkindness of God. He told a story that brought me to tears about a little boy who told his father he wanted a horn for his bike. His dad said no, not right now. The little boy was mad and sulked for the whole day. He rode to town with his dad and they stopped in at the general store. His dad paid the man at the register and all the while the little boy got angrier because he was sure his dad was spending the money on things they probably didn't even need. He wanted that three dollar horn so bad. They walked out to the truck and waited on the sidewalk for the goods to be brought out. The clerk came around the corner pushing a brand new bike with a horn on it and that little boy thought "Wow, someone's dad must really love them. They didn't just get a horn but a new bike!" His anger turned to sheer joy when the clerk hoisted the bike up into the truck.<br /><br />Isn't that just like the Lord? Before we even can ask for something we think we want, He already has something better prepared for us. I don't know about you but there are things I would love to have. I don't have to stop asking for them. But when the answer seems to be "no" I know that there must be something better for me, directly from my Father's hand.AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-53145680154352206672010-09-16T08:05:00.000-07:002010-09-17T06:01:02.060-07:00I love this life! {and wedding slideshow}Hello my friends! I apologize for my hiatus and for the sparse posts to come. I am still working on internet where I live....not sure how we will solve that issue! I guess I really do live in the country! Dusty and I are settled in to our house now and we have had a quite a busy start to our marriage. We have been travelling a lot for the mission (click <a href="http://www.crossroadsrescuemission.org/">HERE </a>for info on the ministry we are involved in) and a little bit for pleasure of course ;)<br /><br />Volleyball season at Blessed Hope is in full swing and Zac is a starter! Mackenzie is working in the concession stand and she has such a servants heart. Levi is in boy scouts and he is even teaching his daddy things! And Andrew is enjoying being the youngest child. He is looking forward to being involved in things when he is older. All of the kids help out with bus church at their church. They make us SO proud. Motherhood (or step-motherhood) is so much fun. Dusty and I look forward to the weekends with much excitement.<br /><br />Our little country house seems to be a haven for the animals these days. The kids have been begging for a dog and neither Dusty nor myself are interested in having a dog in the house. We told them we would pray about it. A few weeks ago, Dusty went outside to get a book out of the storage building. When he shut the door, three puppies ran out from under the building! They don't stick around much but they sure are cute to look at. We named their mama Millie. She is a roamer as well but a sweet little dog. Less than a week later a little black and white dog showed up. She wouldn't let us pet her but she would walk right behind us. She is warming up to us and is faithfully waiting when we get home. Her name is Lola (= Then my parents gave us a hand-me-down dog that was a troublemaker with their dogs. She (Hera) and Lola have become the best of friends. When we go on walks they are right there with us. It is nice having them around!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyJ_40HPI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/b4zvhgv-NMM/s1600/097.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517668378320575730" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyJ_40HPI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/b4zvhgv-NMM/s320/097.JPG" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b>Millie</b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyIePfb2I/AAAAAAAAAY4/aOckrvb1eoM/s1600/096.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517668352109014882" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyIePfb2I/AAAAAAAAAY4/aOckrvb1eoM/s320/096.JPG" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b>Lola</b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><br /></b></div>We have also acquired 2 cats (Malcolm Merriweather and Brisco Darling) in addition to my cat I had before, as well as 3 rabbits (and probably some babies on the way!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyJakojEI/AAAAAAAAAZI/4LOxcrBVuQc/s1600/061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517668368303819842" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyJakojEI/AAAAAAAAAZI/4LOxcrBVuQc/s320/061.JPG" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b>Malcolm</b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyI8ySxTI/AAAAAAAAAZA/esfR6Pc-dE0/s1600/056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517668360308049202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/TJKyI8ySxTI/AAAAAAAAAZA/esfR6Pc-dE0/s320/056.JPG" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b>Brisco</b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><br /></b></div>So, that's what life is looking like here in the foothills of North Carolina. I have some of the most beautiful views of the hazy Blue Ridge mountains on my way home from work every day. We have been blessed beyond all measure with a wonderful marriage, wonderful children, a ministry to work in, a great church family, and a great supportive family.<br /><br />Here is a slideshow of some of my favorite wedding pictures. I hope to post again soon!<br /><br /><br /><div><embed style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px" name="flashticker" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" src="http://widget-05.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2449958197328267013&site=widget-05.slide.com"></embed> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: 400px"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2449958197328267013&map=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://widget-05.slide.com/p1/2449958197328267013/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2449958197328267013&map=2" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://widget-05.slide.com/p2/2449958197328267013/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2449958197328267013&map=F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://widget-05.slide.com/p4/2449958197328267013/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;">"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.<br />For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.<br />Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?<br />And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12</span></em>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-4079230573581864022010-06-14T09:49:00.000-07:002010-06-14T09:52:03.367-07:00I am Married!I don't have time to do a big post but I have missed all of my blog friends so much!! I just wanted to let you all know that I am married! My name is officially changed to Anna Brackett and we are moved into our house!! We were back from our honeymoon for a day and a half and we left for a week of youth camp. 13 kids got saved!!!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord! We are back home now and I promise I will start working on a post with pictures and such! I hope everyone is doing great!!<div><br /></div><div>~Mrs Brackett</div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-36907557509065367142010-05-27T17:30:00.001-07:002010-05-27T18:02:59.525-07:00Is This Really Happening???I have to say that this whole wedding thing is very surreal. Wednesday night was my last night as a member of my church. Wednesday was also my last day watching my sweet Anna Sophia. It was a little bit of an emotional day for me. The sheer enormity of the next two days is what brought me through it with my sanity still in tact. <div>Last night I packed for my honeymoon (almost completely packed!!) and packed a lot of the little things I had kept around "just in case". I think I went to bed around 1 this morning (=</div><div>Mom and I woke up (against our will) packed all of the food for the rehearsal dinner and the reception and headed down to the barn for some cleaning and preparations. When I got there my darling fiancé and some of the men from the mission had already put down the fresh sawdust/shavings and put out the rows of hay bales. It looked better than I even imagined!!! So April, mom, and I covered the hay bales with the blankets we had, cleaned up a little bit, and mom and April measured out and rolled up the burlap for my aisle runner. The rest of the decorating is going to be done by April and I CANNOT wait to be surprised!! (=</div><div>Tonight I made some sausage gravy and ate it over toast. My sweet niece Rebekah and her mom and dad are hanging out tonight. Tomorrow is the last day of preparations. Here is our schedule:</div><div>The kids have their awards ceremony at school at 8:15, then Mackenzie and I are coming back and getting our nails done, after that we are picking up my dress from getting pressed and then heading to the rehearsal/dinner. Saturday morning, I am getting up, showering (of course!), getting my hair done, and going to the barn. I am so excited!! I can't believe it's really happening!! </div><div>Anyways, I am so excited. I can't wait to be Mrs Brackett! </div><div>Here are some pictures of my last day with Anna Sophia. I love her so much! 18 months of my life were spent loving and nurturing her. </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UOv0LtyI/AAAAAAAAAYY/8bKaVujsHYA/s1600/100_0029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UOv0LtyI/AAAAAAAAAYY/8bKaVujsHYA/s320/100_0029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476117915491874594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">What a smile!!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UORdnphI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/eTROjV4Why0/s1600/100_0032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UORdnphI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/eTROjV4Why0/s320/100_0032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476117907344172562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She loves her Magnadoodle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UODUK8TI/AAAAAAAAAYI/fqWKDh78Hyo/s1600/100_0021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UODUK8TI/AAAAAAAAAYI/fqWKDh78Hyo/s320/100_0021.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476117903546446130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And she loves me too I think (=</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UNmKy8VI/AAAAAAAAAYA/DcIRP5i9udQ/s1600/100_0017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UNmKy8VI/AAAAAAAAAYA/DcIRP5i9udQ/s320/100_0017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476117895722496338" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She really loves rides in the car!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UNHUFOcI/AAAAAAAAAX4/sbLm_ixyfho/s1600/100_0016.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UNHUFOcI/AAAAAAAAAX4/sbLm_ixyfho/s1600/100_0016.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_8UNHUFOcI/AAAAAAAAAX4/sbLm_ixyfho/s320/100_0016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476117887439944130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My going away gift from Anna and her brother, Jason. I love it!! (=</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow is the day before my wedding! How wonderful! I felt like this day would never come and here it is!! </div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-86362391620152389082010-05-25T18:56:00.000-07:002010-05-25T19:28:31.443-07:00Wedding Gifts...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_yEo_zS0sI/AAAAAAAAAXw/mo_dCOsBhlo/s1600/100_0008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_yEo_zS0sI/AAAAAAAAAXw/mo_dCOsBhlo/s320/100_0008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475397086831891138" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_yEoHRh50I/AAAAAAAAAXg/qP73Xty2hCE/s1600/100_0003.jpg"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></a>We have gotten so many awesome wedding gifts. One thing I wanted and thought we couldn't get due to finances was a digital camera. I have never upgraded my technology in that area. Well tonight my wish was fulfilled!! My Aunt Neeci and her daughters bought me a Kodak Easy Share M341 (don't know what all that means). It is a wonderful piece of technology!!! I took a couple of pictures with it:<div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_yEoHRh50I/AAAAAAAAAXg/qP73Xty2hCE/s320/100_0003.jpg" /></div><div>Got my hair colored and cut tonight and we did a "practice run" for my curl size (=</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_yEoidDmEI/AAAAAAAAAXo/5F4x55U9LCM/s320/100_0006.jpg" /></div><div>My sad little pile of belongings in my room =(</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_yEo_zS0sI/AAAAAAAAAXw/mo_dCOsBhlo/s320/100_0008.jpg" /></div><div>My sweet little kitty, Yma Jane Smith (soon to be Brackett as well)</div><div><br /></div><div>Only 4 days!!!!! I can't believe it! God is so good to us!!</div><div>Here are the lyrics to the song on my blog; it is from one of my favorite musicals, Phantom of the Opera. I love sappy love songs! (=</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; ">"No more talk of darkness,<br />Forget these wide-eyed fears<br />I'm here, nothing can harm you<br />my words will warm and calm you<br />Let me be your freedom,<br />let daylight dry your tears.<br />I'm here with you, beside you,<br />to guard you and to guide you...<br /><br />CHRISTINE<br />Say you love me every waking moment,<br />turn my head with talk of summertime...<br />Say you need me with you now and always...<br />Promise me that all you say is true<br />that's all I ask of you<br /><br />RAOUL<br />Let me be your shelter<br />let me be your light<br />You're safe, No one will find you<br />your fears are far behind you...<br /><br />CHRISTINE<br />All I want is freedom,<br />a world with no more night<br />and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me...<br /><br />RAOUL<br />Then say you'll share with me<br />one love, one lifetime<br />let me lead you from your solitude<br />Say you need me with you here, beside you...<br />anywhere you go, let me go too<br />Christine, that's all I ask of you...<br /><br />CHRISTINE<br />Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime...<br />say the word and I will follow you...<br />BOTH:<br />Share each day with me,<br />each night, each morning...<br />CHRISTINE<br />Say you love me...<br /><br />RAOUL<br />You know I do...<br /><br />BOTH<br />Love me - that's all I ask of you<br />Anywhere you go let me go too<br />Love me - that's all I ask of you..."</span></div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-1160903502203549762010-05-23T21:05:00.000-07:002010-05-23T21:36:00.019-07:00Moving Weekend<div>I have an awesome family. On Saturday we loaded up a little U-haul trailer with all of my things and headed down to Shelby to move into my new house. All of my sisters plus my mom and dad plus two of my brothers in law came to help. We got everything moved except for a few odds and ends at Dusty's house and the things I need for the upcoming week. Dusty and the kids got to spend the first night there last night!! (= If you remember, I posted a lot about the renovations to the trailer. Well the Lord provided something much better for us. He gave us this amazing house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upstairs and a full basement (1/2 finished) with a bathroom and a wood stove downstairs. This is so much more than we could ever have asked for and definitely more than we could have ever provided for ourselves. The house needs a little updating so bear with us...I will describe things as I go (=</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-mR4RpZI/AAAAAAAAAXY/_QMjw3KCp-I/s1600/May+2010+058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-mR4RpZI/AAAAAAAAAXY/_QMjw3KCp-I/s320/May+2010+058.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474686755633472914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Dining room complete with a table big enough for all of us (= to the right is a sliding door that goes out to a deck</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-Pz7GI1I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/zRvs9qqVknU/s1600/May+2010+056.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-Pz7GI1I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/zRvs9qqVknU/s320/May+2010+056.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474686369635115858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My sewing nook in my bedroom</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-PpUSffI/AAAAAAAAAXI/XP8RVnIz_eM/s1600/May+2010+057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-PpUSffI/AAAAAAAAAXI/XP8RVnIz_eM/s320/May+2010+057.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474686366787993074" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Looking out from the sewing nook into the bedroom. We haven't figured out the set up for our seating area yet, but the master bedroom, closet, and bathroom is close to the same square footage as the entire trailer. Our bed looks a little sad but the bedframe is a work in progress (=</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-PLnnR7I/AAAAAAAAAXA/IhI0VNZIiu0/s1600/May+2010+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-PLnnR7I/AAAAAAAAAXA/IhI0VNZIiu0/s320/May+2010+053.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474686358815983538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our master bath (I told you this was more than I ever dreamed of!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-O0yWYNI/AAAAAAAAAW4/EwUjfveeKIM/s1600/May+2010+052.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-O0yWYNI/AAAAAAAAAW4/EwUjfveeKIM/s320/May+2010+052.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474686352686997714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The boys room. It is bigger than it looks, but it is hard to get a good picture. I am working on bedspreads LOL</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-OneIyUI/AAAAAAAAAWw/9l8IrxNw0Jw/s1600/May+2010+051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n-OneIyUI/AAAAAAAAAWw/9l8IrxNw0Jw/s320/May+2010+051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474686349112559938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mackenzie's room. She got the good deal! She is using all of my old college bedding and all of my pictures that were in my room. I am so glad she gets her own room!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8wqkqOII/AAAAAAAAAWo/Nt0I2y6Kw2A/s1600/May+2010+050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8wqkqOII/AAAAAAAAAWo/Nt0I2y6Kw2A/s320/May+2010+050.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474684735037520002" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My full sized oven and flat top range (= Complete with apron and dish towel hooks! Just outside of the doorway to the left is a little bar area with lots of storage. We put our paper products, surplus foods, games, movies, etc. in there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8wAh5V_I/AAAAAAAAAWg/ydvcSZ8AnX0/s1600/May+2010+049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8wAh5V_I/AAAAAAAAAWg/ydvcSZ8AnX0/s320/May+2010+049.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474684723751639026" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My mom and sisters completely organized my kitchen for me. I am very thankful for that because I am very bad at that stuff! Notice the dishwasher.... (= Didn't have one at the trailer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8v5AVjXI/AAAAAAAAAWY/L9aEd2XGppY/s1600/May+2010+048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8v5AVjXI/AAAAAAAAAWY/L9aEd2XGppY/s320/May+2010+048.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474684721731833202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The kitchen has tons of cabinet space and I even got that junk drawer I always wanted!!! I am getting a shelf for our little plants. Hopefully the herbs will grow quickly and I can transplant them to the deck!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8vowf5yI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/5BbQaguufyE/s1600/May+2010+047.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8vowf5yI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/5BbQaguufyE/s320/May+2010+047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474684717370435362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My man making a funny face as usual. To the left are the cabinets I was talking about earlier. Great storage!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8vWavpfI/AAAAAAAAAWI/hT8xuoLs8pA/s1600/May+2010+046.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n8vWavpfI/AAAAAAAAAWI/hT8xuoLs8pA/s320/May+2010+046.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474684712447354354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Taking a much needed break! (=</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am thankful and I am humbled by the manifold blessings that my Heavenly Father has bestowed upon Dusty and I. I don't fully understand it but I give Him all of the glory. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><br /></span></div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-67115036073558147512010-05-23T19:55:00.000-07:002010-05-23T21:04:39.847-07:00Wedding Workday and "Girls" Night Picture Post<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n45RkWokI/AAAAAAAAAWA/yeWOcO-j_w8/s1600/May+2010+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n45RkWokI/AAAAAAAAAWA/yeWOcO-j_w8/s200/May+2010+007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474680484897661506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Rebekah made a big mess right before we started working LOL</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n44wQ5wQI/AAAAAAAAAV4/GPzL_KCf2Yw/s1600/May+2010+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n44wQ5wQI/AAAAAAAAAV4/GPzL_KCf2Yw/s200/May+2010+011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474680475957707010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mama sewing and Rebekah sleeping in the basket</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n44um1P6I/AAAAAAAAAVw/YFPFLovOV7k/s1600/May+2010+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n44um1P6I/AAAAAAAAAVw/YFPFLovOV7k/s200/May+2010+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474680475512815522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Working on my veil...can't wait to post pictures of it (=</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n44Cz45qI/AAAAAAAAAVo/guSfP8QoO9E/s1600/May+2010+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n44Cz45qI/AAAAAAAAAVo/guSfP8QoO9E/s200/May+2010+015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474680463756420770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Melanie cutting out my bolero and Ashtyn playing on the total gym</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n43odcZaI/AAAAAAAAAVg/XXwTONfvFf0/s1600/May+2010+016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n43odcZaI/AAAAAAAAAVg/XXwTONfvFf0/s200/May+2010+016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474680456682956194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I had to take a little snuggle break</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3Ip3Q-oI/AAAAAAAAAVY/84mEVmmwuq0/s1600/May+2010+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3Ip3Q-oI/AAAAAAAAAVY/84mEVmmwuq0/s200/May+2010+019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474678550094215810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mama hard at work...she has made this thing happen!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3IC1X2zI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/rLABFJ0GbEU/s1600/May+2010+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3IC1X2zI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/rLABFJ0GbEU/s200/May+2010+029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474678539617295154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">These are amazing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3Hv8MHAI/AAAAAAAAAVI/YeXtXz5htd0/s1600/May+2010+032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3Hv8MHAI/AAAAAAAAAVI/YeXtXz5htd0/s200/May+2010+032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474678534545611778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Girls night is not complete without Krispy Kreme!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3HM9AtTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/9vztEuNwAdI/s1600/May+2010+037.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3HM9AtTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/9vztEuNwAdI/s200/May+2010+037.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474678525153817906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Or a musical</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3G7naYoI/AAAAAAAAAU4/v11WZYM7YVs/s1600/May+2010+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n3G7naYoI/AAAAAAAAAU4/v11WZYM7YVs/s200/May+2010+031.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474678520499823234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Or face masks with my soon to be step daughter!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1ZjkJXKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/LGA-RH_s9Kg/s1600/May+2010+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1ZjkJXKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/LGA-RH_s9Kg/s200/May+2010+034.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474676641437932706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">David is such a good sport! He did masks with us (=</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1ZV03ffI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4MfojRiTP1o/s1600/May+2010+039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1ZV03ffI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4MfojRiTP1o/s200/May+2010+039.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474676637749968370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Peeling is the best part</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1Y0Kg8FI/AAAAAAAAAUg/bsM3ARmVa-A/s1600/May+2010+042.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1Y0Kg8FI/AAAAAAAAAUg/bsM3ARmVa-A/s200/May+2010+042.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474676628713959506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">LOL Melanie is hilarious!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1Yfo1P4I/AAAAAAAAAUY/hySVui7rs2I/s1600/May+2010+043.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1Yfo1P4I/AAAAAAAAAUY/hySVui7rs2I/s200/May+2010+043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474676623203975042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(= I have the best brothers in law</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1X_MB8dI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/JUZAkNnV-Ro/s1600/May+2010+045.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S_n1X_MB8dI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/JUZAkNnV-Ro/s200/May+2010+045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474676614493237714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Rebekah couldn't take it anymore. She was sleepy </div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-28436945942374145602010-05-20T07:09:00.000-07:002010-05-20T07:16:00.391-07:00Prairie Flower Farm Giveaway!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7bN6K_wNUWM/S_QlzJdn7LI/AAAAAAAACS0/bkstCVuYAdg/s1600/scones+and+strawberry+jam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 510px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7bN6K_wNUWM/S_QlzJdn7LI/AAAAAAAACS0/bkstCVuYAdg/s1600/scones+and+strawberry+jam.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I found this blog through two of my blog friends. Linda over at Prairie Flower Farm is having a sweet little giveaway. She has a great blog from what I have seen and I look forward to following her. Click <a href="http://prairieflowerfarm.blogspot.com/2010/05/little-party-giveaway.html#comment-form">HERE </a>for details on how to enter for her giveaway.<br /><br /><br />P.S. Only 9 more days!!! We are in the single digits and the HOMESTRETCH! I appreciate all of the loving and encouraging comments I have gotten in these crazy busy days! (=AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-29489847422693388442010-05-18T07:14:00.000-07:002010-05-18T07:23:01.244-07:00It's Crunch Time!!!I wanted to post pictures but I don't have a camera :( and my sister is so busy that the pictures we took on Saturday are not uploaded yet. So....just use your imagination!<br />In case you haven't seen my countdown, we are 11 (that's right!!!!!) days out from the BIG day! At this time 11 days from now I will be getting ready to walk down the aisle in 45 minutes! How exciting is that??<br />So Saturday we had a work day with Mom and Melanie (my sister and MOH) and Melanie's sweet baby girl, Rebekah (she will be 3 weeks tomorrow!). We had a whole list of things to do and slowly got to check things off.<br />Things we did:<br />1. Made my bolero/shrug<br />2. Made my birdcage veil (can't wait to put up pictures of this after the wedding)<br />3. Hemmed my dress<br />4. Finished Mackenzie's dress<br />5. Cut out Melanie's dress<br />That may not seem like much on paper but I sure can rest easy :)<br /><br />Things to do:<br />1. Sew Melanie's dress<br />2. Hem the boy's pants<br />3. Move as much as possible to the new house<br />4. Pack for the wedding/honeymoon<br />5. Finish bustling my dress<br />6. Figure out what kind of lipstick I'm going to wear??!!???<br />those are just a few...thankfully I have Mel and Mom organizing me LOL!!<br /><br />This is definitely a fun and exciting (and sleepless) time!! Counting down the days...AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-69466619995339183982010-05-13T05:16:00.000-07:002010-05-13T08:19:22.285-07:00True Love...From my PerspectiveI have had a sad situation come up with an old friend in my life. It made me stop and examine my past and present relationships and sparked a revelation of sorts. I realized that the things I did in the past to make my relationships worked were only futile acts. Why? Because it wasn't true, Godly love. Here are a few characteristics I came up with from my own personal experience that may help others decipher real, Godly love from infatuation, lust, or whatever it may be.<br />1. True Godly love never ever requires us to compromise our Christian morals.<br />2. True Godly love never separates or alienates us from our Christian family and friends.<br />3. True Godly love never causes us to question BIBLE principles.<br />4. True Godly love never brings reproach on the Lord's name and it never hurts our Christian testimony.<br />5. True Godly love never pressures us to do things we don't want to do or don't believe it is okay to do.6. True Godly love never takes us out of the Lord's will for our lives and I honestly believe if you are in the Lord's will you will be serving HIM.<br />7. True Godly love is unselfish. I honestly thought that love like this didn't exist. But it truly does. It is totally realistic and possible for a person to put their spouse's needs before their own but only if God is the glue that holds a relationship together.<br />That's all I thought of. I hate to think that there are girls out there who get sucked into relationships with "Christian" guys and things just aren't what they seemed. God has a perfect someone just for you! I'm glad He gave me my Mr. Right (=<br /><br />P.S. It dawned on me today that after I get married I will not have internet at home....so my posts may be as sparse even after the wedding as they are now. Oh well...the Lord knows what He's doing (=<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.balloonplanet.com/shop/images/products/product_7293_large.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 377px;" src="http://www.balloonplanet.com/shop/images/products/product_7293_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Thursday....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Can you believe it??? Only SIXTEEN more days until the wedding!!! (=<br /><br /><br />P.S. Dusty's youngest boy Andrew refuses to give me a kiss until Dusty and I are married...we will see how he does that day LOL!AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-48681235138187116552010-05-10T07:53:00.001-07:002010-05-10T09:28:55.537-07:00Happy Mother's Day!I know I know, a day late and a dollar short! HAHA! I hope you had a great day honoring your mom! We sure did. We had dinner with most of the family and we were able to get mom just what she wanted, a 90 amp flux wire welder. That's right. That's what my totally cool mom wanted for mother's day! She is amazing. She said she would make me a pot rack for my kitchen (=<br />I was 3 weeks away from being a step mom this mothers day but the kids made sure I knew how much they loved me and Mackenzie made me a hand beaded bracelet in lovely shades of purple. I wore it to church on Sunday. I truly have the best kids a girl could want.<br />Life is just moving right along for me. I am a happy happy girl! (=<br />And guess what??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/241451966_7c2dc38b8c.jpg?v=0"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/241451966_7c2dc38b8c.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>That's right...only 19 more days until we say "I do"!!!!<br /><br />Happy Monday! Happy belated mothers day!AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-43181756305126792842010-05-05T15:03:00.001-07:002010-05-05T15:06:13.428-07:00The Coolest Book in the World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://community.adn.com/sites/community.adn.com/files/images/BackyardHomestead.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 411px;" src="http://community.adn.com/sites/community.adn.com/files/images/BackyardHomestead.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>I got this book from my mom and sisters at my church shower. It looks so awesome. I haven't gotten to read out of it in depth but I skimmed through it and let's just say I am so excited to try and put it to good use!!! It may be a good idea for a 100th post giveaway???!!!??<div><br /></div><div>P.S. 24 days til we say "I do!" and share a big smooch in the doorway of the barn!</div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-22611364648085961492010-05-04T07:08:00.000-07:002010-05-04T07:24:44.476-07:00The Beatitudes of MarriageMy Pastor's wife did the devotion at my church shower last night. I thought it was really a blessing. So I am going to share with you the beatitudes of marriage that she went through in the devotion. I can see the importance of these things even before marriage.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><ul><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, considerate, and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world, and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity and mutual helpfulness to one another.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set apart some time each day for the reading of the Bible and for prayer.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are those mates who never speak loudly to one another, and who make their home a place “where seldom is heard a discouraging word.”</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship service of the church, and who work together in the church for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out the problems of adjustment without interference from relatives.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed is the couple which has complete understanding about financial matters, and have worked out a perfect partnership, with all money under the control of both.</span></p></li><li><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">Blessed are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their homes to Christ, and who practice the teachings of Christ in the home by being unselfish, loyal and loving.</span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">If I could add one thing to this list it would be "blessed are the husband and wife who do not speak negatively about one another to their friends or family". I have had women that I hardly know tell me all about their husbands faults and failures. That makes him look like a punk {for lack of a better word}. As wives, especially if your husband is serving in a ministry, you should do everything you can to build up and exalt your husband {without being prideful of course} because a woman's tongue can make or break her husband's testimony. The same can go in reverse order.</span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;">So I thought that was a blessing. I hope that everyone can get something out of this. I have a mile long list of things to do today so I'd better hop to! I can't believe I'm starting my day at 10:15. I'm ready for lunch by now on a normal day LOL! Have a happy Tuesday!!</span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>"Two </i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">are</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i> better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.<br />For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him</i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">that is</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i> alone when he falleth; for </i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">he hath</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i> not another to help him up.<br />Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm </i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">alone</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>?<br />And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.</i></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>" Ecclesiastes 4:9-12</i></span></span></span></p></li></ul></span></div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-84499477781578615772010-05-02T19:25:00.000-07:002010-05-02T19:48:04.538-07:00It's Moving Time!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S944xkFc8cI/AAAAAAAAASY/IxXmPLiikA0/s1600/engagement+121.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S944xkFc8cI/AAAAAAAAASY/IxXmPLiikA0/s320/engagement+121.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466869421825651138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">*True Love*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Here's an update for everyone: Dusty and I will not be living in our beloved trailer. It is bittersweet. The trailer is cozy. It is home. It has a 5 story tree house in the backyard and swings and a rabbit hutch and gardens and a workshop. Best of all it has a utility room. I love that! Not to mention my pantry....<div><b>BUT</b> the Lord knew our needs were beyond those things. The house we are moving into has so much that we need. It has a separate bedroom for Mackenzie. A room big enough for all three boys. A huge master bedroom with a closet the size of Dusty's current bedroom {okay I am exaggerating but it really is a huge closet!!} A master bathroom with a jetted tub and separate shower. A very big kitchen with abundant counter space and a DISHWASHER!! Also it has a full sized range and oven. A chest freezer and a fridge/freezer combo. A dining room where we can eat real family dinners. A kid's bathroom. A basement with one side for a workshop {with a wood burning stove} and one side that has a bathroom and what could be another bedroom. Great cellar space for canning under the house. A deck and a yard with trees enough for each child to have their own tree house. We also get to keep what furniture we want. That includes a dining room table and chairs for our whole family, matching living room furniture and a recliner, gas logs, a twin bed w/ mattress and box spring, a pool table, and other miscellaneous items. All of this for what we were paying for our sweet single wide trailer. Isn't God so good? Dusty and I are so blessed and we truly don't understand why the Lord would show us favor. But we are thankful. We hope to start moving into the new house in a week. (= Pray for us!!</div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-22092287086101057262010-04-30T04:45:00.000-07:002010-04-30T05:02:18.510-07:00A Week of HappeningsThis has been a BUSY week! I have been at the Jubilee every night except for Tuesday {wedding dress fixing day}. It has been a blowout service every night. I think the preacher said they have run close to 400 every night! That is a blessing! We have heard great preaching and great singing and it has been the most fun. I honestly feel bad for people who don't experience the "tent revival" atmosphere because it is my absolute favorite thing in the world. There is still a chance to get in on the fun! Tonight at 7 pm (concessions start at 5:30) we are having the last service of the week. It's on Highway 18 in Shelby (going out towards Blacksburg). You can't miss the two huge tents. (=<br />Also on Wednesday morning I found out that my dear sister Melanie was in labor. By 2:15 that afternoon we had a new family member, Rebekah Dawn. She is beautiful and perfect and absolutely my favorite Olstad baby! We are so glad to finally meet her. I'll get a picture up soon. I just wanted to update everyone on where I have been. (= The Lord's been good to me this week. I'm thankful for the new life I have in Him! What better place to be on a Friday night than under a tent with godly people, praising the Lord. Have a good Friday. I will try to get a good post out this weekend. No promises. My life is CRAZY!! LOL!AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-4422207277452208872010-04-27T14:28:00.000-07:002010-04-27T15:06:15.033-07:00Showers and such..Upon request from one of my beloved readers I will share with you all some things I got this weekend at my showers. The one on Friday night was an adult ladies only shower so I will let that speak for itself ;) <div><div>On Saturday I got....</div><div>(I am only going to name a few of the big things because this post would be so long if I named it all!)</div><div>*My Crockpot {which I used for the first time Sunday}</div><div>*My hand mixer {which I tested out and it is amazing!}</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S9dbWskLQoI/AAAAAAAAARg/HayvPOJU0yc/s320/mixer.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>*Some of my Wilton baking things {including a muffin tin, cookie sheet, and cake pans} as well as my stackable cooling racks</div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S9dcerEK-FI/AAAAAAAAARo/VldNAB4AXgA/s320/muffin+pan.JPG" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S9dcfKU--CI/AAAAAAAAARw/0fMm_Hw2hFs/s320/cooling+rack.JPG" /></div><div>*My no slip grip mixing bowls {5 qt and 3 qt}</div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S9ddCAV7-0I/AAAAAAAAAR4/OxJVfAgzQw0/s320/mixing+bowl.JPG" /></div><div>*My silverware!!! {I picked out the most plain design they had and I wanted it to be not very shiny}<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S9ddwKN_4uI/AAAAAAAAASA/vLP-0kbZM5g/s320/silverware.JPG" /></div><div><br /></div><div>*My toaster...no picture needed</div><div>*My tupperware</div><div>*My utensil trays {bamboo- one is for silverware and one for utensils- the latter is pictured below}</div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S9degE7scQI/AAAAAAAAASI/0bKUeWuBAU0/s320/utensil+tray.JPG" /></div><div>*And lastly, my mom got me a luggage set. It is kind of a tradition. I love it!!</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_meK7LIJt92I/S9dfhxlu2YI/AAAAAAAAASQ/O4YlSGxdYr0/s320/luggage.jpg" /></div><div>That's all for now. I got lots of other things, but these were just a few of the big ticket items I got. (= I can't wait to move them into my HOUSE!</div></div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-77282144710416834192010-04-27T13:45:00.000-07:002010-04-27T14:04:30.683-07:00Where've I Been?If you love me you may be wondering where I have been lately. The truth is I have been doing a lot of waiting. I haven't really had anything big to write about. But last night kicked off the 9th Annual Spring Jubilee at Crossroads Rescue Mission!! It is such a fun time of year! So fun in fact that it is mine and Dusty's one year anniversary of having met one another!! So exciting! Last night was awesome. The service started out with the Love Valley Baptist Church adult choir. Then Preacher Philbeck's family sang (wife, son and daughter). They are one talented family! The service was going so well and when Preacher Philbeck got up and read the scripture for his message the PA system went out. The way the tent was set up, the people in the back would have never been able to hear him so he got his family to sing some more songs while the men ran to get a new amp. Finally, it was fixed and let's just say that the service was out of this world!! He preached on "satan is fighting a losing battle". It was amazing. The replacement PA system lasted just long enough for the choir to sing at the end and then it went out again. Everyone was thrilled. It was a great night. <div>I hope the momentum carries on throughout the remainder of the week. Today Anna Sophia and I ran some errands and enjoyed ourselves. It was a good day. Working on my WEDDING DRESS tonight!! So exciting! I hope you have had a good Tuesday. There's so much to be thankful for!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.<br />Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:<br />Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;<br />Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;<br />Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">" Psalm 103:1-5</span></i></span></span></div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-73661077656786618622010-04-26T04:23:00.001-07:002010-04-26T04:29:17.526-07:00Busy Weekend!I know I have been the worst blogger ever!! I'm sorry! This weekend I had a shower on Friday night AND a shower Saturday afternoon. We did it that way so that family could come in from out of town. It worked out pretty well. I had a really great time. It was really fun to open all the presents and play the games. We had lots of laughs! Mackenzie (Dusty's daughter) came to my shower on Saturday and she got me my hand mixer. She also wrote a little poem in my card. Here is what it said:<br />"You asked for just my heart<br />I give you it today<br />May we grow together<br />Even forever<br />Let nothing get in the way"<br />I thought that was so sweet and precious! She is such a sweet and good girl.<br />Sunday morning was our church's 28th homecoming. We had church from 10 until 12 and then we had dinner on the grounds. I got to use my crockpot for the first time (= After dinner we had a groundbreaking ceremony for our new church building. I won't be here for the process but it will be so exciting to come back and visit a new church! Sunday night we went to Dusty's church. It was a good service. We had some good talks on the way home. It's always nice to look back at how good God's been to us, and also to look forward to the bright future He has in store for us.<br />May 29th come quickly!!!AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-21891458431049376022010-04-21T04:09:00.000-07:002010-04-21T04:40:17.655-07:00How to Have Abundant Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4238532035_f285857b0b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4238532035_f285857b0b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is not anything mind blowing or philosophical. I am just sharing some things that I have learned either from experience or observation. I believe the Lord wants us to enjoy this fleeting life on earth, and I believe He wants us to do it in a way that glorifies Him. (=<br /><br />1. Sell out to the Lord's will for your life - there is no peace that surpasses the peace of knowing that you are in the Lord's perfect will<br /><br />2. Read your Bible - I have neglected my Bible reading before {and I probably will again} and I can tell you it will hurt your walk.<br /><br />3. Pray - this is an area that I am definitely working on. But when I'm not praying, I'm not happy. My pastor always says that you can't talk to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings very long and stay mad or upset or down. He is right!<br /><br />4. Sing - who has ever suffered from singing?? {if people suffer from your singing, remind them that the Bible says make a "joyful noise" not a beautiful noise unto the Lord}<br /><br />5. Tell people about the Lord - trust me, I know this can be a little difficult. But think about the joy that the Lord has put in your life...don't you want others to share that joy?<br /><br />6. Dance - that's right, I said it, DANCE. Dance for the Lord {you don't have to do it in public!} 2 Samuel 6:14 "And David danced before the Lord with all his might". Also, dance with your spouse. How romantic to share that with your husband or wife (= {can't wait!}<br /><br />7. Eat yummy foods - Now, I am not going to promote eating in a way that truly hurts your health. But just yesterday I heard a woman say she never eats salt or sugar and that has helped her look younger. You only have about 65-80 years as an adult to enjoy eating the delicious foods that are available to you. So eat them!<br /><br />8. Get a little exercise - Tessa, don't call me a hypocrite!!! Even if you just do a few jumping jacks, it makes you feel good (=<br /><br />9. Snuggle - your kids, your mom, your sister, your brother, your wife, your husband, your best friend. It doesn't matter. Just snuggle. It is a wonderful thing!<br /><br />10. Love unselfishly - this is a hard one for us humans. We are selfish by nature. But when you say to yourself "My {husband, wife, etc.}'s needs are more important to me than my own" and you act on that, it is so rewarding. I love to feel like I am doing something for someone else!<br /><br />These are just a few of the many things I thought of...feel free to leave your ideas in a comment! I truly love comments! And I love followers...but then again who doesn't? (=<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have </span><i style="font-style: italic;">it</i><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">more abundantly</span>." John 10:10</span>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-51833456552939712332010-04-19T11:05:00.000-07:002010-04-19T11:07:41.176-07:00Just a Quick Note...Happy Monday everyone! It has been a good day thus far with Anna Sophia. She is napping now (=<br />Dusty and I are going tonight to look at a potential house...please pray with us about it. There are a lot of good reasons to move into this house but we want to be 150% sure it is what the Lord would have us to do! I will let you all know what we decide...AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522701942436553818.post-32155398865083932362010-04-16T20:00:00.001-07:002010-04-16T20:27:54.653-07:00All That Really Matters<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.decodog.com/inven/dogshrd/col28249d-cl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 469px; height: 370px;" src="http://www.decodog.com/inven/dogshrd/col28249d-cl.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">{Dusty showed me this picture this week. I don't know what it is called but I love it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">}</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br />I got a spiritual awakening today. I went to the Jiffy Lube to get my oil changed and when I was done the manager walked out to my car with me and let me know I could contact him with any questions or issues. I handed him a tract and he looked at it and looked back at me. So I asked him if he died if he knew whether or not he would go to Heaven. He told me he didn't know, but he would like to think he would go to Heaven. I asked him if he wanted to know how he could KNOW he would go to Heaven. He said yes. This is the first time this has ever happened to me. So I explained it to him as well as I knew how, and asked him if he wanted me to pray with him and ask the Lord to save him. He said he did. And there in that parking lot David asked the Lord to save his soul. It was the most thrilling experience ever. I had never experienced that before. So here is my question for you: If you died today, do you know that you would go to heaven?? Here is how you can know:<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;font-size:small;"><b><span style="color:#660033;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;color:#660033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13px;"><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:10pt;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DO YOU KNOW?</span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">everlasting life. (John 3:16)</span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">WHO IS GOOD?</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one. (Romans 3:10)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">WHO HAS SINNED?</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">WHERE SIN CAME FROM</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">and so death passed upon all men, for that</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">all have sinned, (Romans 5:12)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">GOD'S PRICE ON SIN</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">GOD'S WAY OUT!</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">But God commendeth His love toward us in that , while we were yet</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead thou</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)</span></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(Romans 10:13)</span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">If you are not a child of God, you can call on HIM today, right now, and He will never leave thee nor forsake thee. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. </span></span></div></span></b></span></span></div></div>AnnaMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00743867528785954347noreply@blogger.com3