go visit her....please? =)

Recently, the friend of mine that just got married created a blog.

I am super excited about it.

So, please go show her some blog lovin'.

She would really love it, and I highly doubt you will regret your visit.

Indroducing...Lori Lynn's Blog



And just becauue a post is hardly complete without a picture...=)
Me and Lori Lynn
2012



Joyfully at Home: Chapter Four

This chapter had so much "good meat" in it! Here are just a few paragraphs out of chapter four...

Words written by an older sister, Jasmine Baucham.

Becoming a Good Sister (or brother ;) to Your Siblings

Invest in your younger siblings! If you have brothers, encourage them to become godly young men. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty or do silly things to entertain them. Pretty soon, you will be having fun yourself. If you have younger sisters, invite them into your lives. Model biblical womanhood for them when you spend time with them. Don't treat them like pests or impositions; instead, treat them like people who are looking up to you. As an older sister, you have an incredible responsibility to invest in them. And, as daunting as it sounds, that responsibility can be so incredibly rewarding.

If you do not have much younger siblings who need your help, and you are afraid that you are missing out on valuable training in that area, don't lose heart! The Lord has given you a freedom to minister in ways that your peers with younger siblings may not have the opportunity to minister.

Whatever the ages of your siblings--whether they are twenty years older or twenty years younger--your years at home are a perfect time to invest in building strong relationships with them. This will go a long way in promoting harmony in your home, and giving you the base you need for truly being a blessing in other relationships you will form throughout your life.

Mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters and such precious gifts, and there are so many ways that our attitudes and actions towards them can contribute to a joyful atmosphere in your home.

Learn more! =)

Instagram Friday.

 

 

 






1. Having too much fun shopping with the sissy
2. Gotta love this Southern heat. ;)
3. Sisters...friends.
4. Going on an outing....
5. Gleaning so much from my Bible classes this semester
6. I'm blessed with one of the greatest Daddy's out there....Happy Father's Day!
*Picture was taken in Disney last December.*

Follow @purposelyathome

one of the most sweetest things....

....is definitely hearing a child sing or pray. And this little girl is no exception. =D

I mean, come on, peoples, she's even got Elmo there for back-up vocals! Adorable or what?? ;D

A visit with the bestie and a dream come true.

It's me.

This past weekend, I was able to travel to AR to see my best friend that just got married. I was able to tag along with her parents and two little cousins for the trip. I was so grateful for the invite... ;)

Instead of giving you the whole load-down in text, I'll let the pictures do the talking. ;) Sit back and enjoy.....

Friday.....

 

And the dream come true......=)
Seeing the Duggar's house in person!

After the 12+ hour ride in the car, we were finally at our destination.....

Lur and Garett's house....

You just gotta love them. ;D

Saturday.....

In downtown Bentonville

Me, Mrs. Stacey, Lur, and Alana (Garett's sister)

Entering the mini carnival for kids....

My mini-roller-coaster buddy ;)

Sunday.....

The cake that a lady from the church made and decorated.



Me, Lur, Garett, and one of Garett's childhood friends

It was such a great trip. 

I was so thankful for the opportunity to see Lur and Garett again.

FYI, you are one of the cutest couple's I know. ;D

Just sayin'.

"Please excuse me while I cry on your shoulder."

Well, peoples. I am here to tell you that I live a blessed life.

A life filled with excitement and fun.
A life filled with blessings and opportunities.
A life filled with accomplishments and victories.

I also live a life of changes and people growing up.

In the last few weeks, two of my best friends have gone through huge phases in their lives.
Exciting phases. Phases that led to the next turn in their life stories.

A graduation and a marriage.

The friends...my sister and my friend, Lori Lynn.

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My sister is the baby of the family. In other words, the last homeschool graduate in our family. Thinking about not having a homeschooler in our family is...different. After having a child homeschooling in our house for the past 17 years, let's just say that this is a HUGE transition for our family. So, really, this is a new chapter in all of my family's life.

Really thinking about it, I have no idea what I would do without my sister. She is amazing. Period.
She and I have a relationship that is just...special. Truly, I thank God everyday for a sister like her.
We share everything together.
Our dreams.
Our woes.
Our secrets.
Our goals.

She knows what qualities I want in my future husband, and I know what she wants in her future husband.
She knows when something is bothering me and knows just the right time when to say, "Okay, what's wrong."
She texts me at the perfect time and knows the perfect words to say.
She knows what makes me happy, and I know what makes her happy.

Even if our lives are both changing, and it may be scary (and sometimes sad that we are getting so old ;D), I am so thankful to have the sister that I am blessed with to face the life ahead of us....whatever our next adventure may be.

On to the next chapter of life....

Primping in the bathroom =)



The class of 2012.

I love you, seester.

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My friend, Lori Lynn and I have been friends for 13+ years.
We have cried together and laughed together until we were teary eyed.
We have rejoiced in the other's accomplishments.
We have made happy memories and embarrassing memories.

Two weeks ago, she married her Prince Charming. Her best friend.
Two weeks ago she moved 10 hours away to be wifey and homemaker to her husband.

Lur, I couldn't be more happy for you.
I treasure all the memories that we have made together and count every single one of them as a blessing:
.....playing dress up and playing in the forts in the back yard that the brother had made.....having sleepovers and talking for hours about our not-so-important guy troubles ;).....sitting with you on Sunday mornings and taking notes on the sermon....going to Mrs. Vickie's class and having heart-to-heart's with all the girlie's....going shopping with you and you trying on that ridiculous wedding dress at the Goodwill......the Wednesday night that I found out that you and Garett were getting married....you asking me to be your MOH....traveling with you, your mom, and the boys to MS for your first bridal shower...coming home to your little dog that DID NOT LIKE ME.....the last spend-the-night at your house with you being a single lady.....plucking eyebrows and fixing hair with you and Linz.....ironing tablecloths for your big day and you teaching me how to tie a "pretty knot" for the groomsman's gifts.....seeing you in your wedding dress for the first time and realizing that your little girl dream had come true.....the last Sunday with you at Elmore....my excitement when your mom asked if I wanted to go the AR to see you....my anticipation of seeing you in a few days.....:)



The family/friend shower in Mississippi

On her wedding day.

I miss you so much, Lurlynn.

I love you.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

The author of the hymn, Henry Jackson van Dyke, was born in Pennsylvania in 1852, and became a minister of a church in New York City. Henry later became professor of English literature at Princeton, and the author of a number of books, including the still popular "The Other Wise Man." He went on to occupy a number of eminent positions, including:

-American Ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxenbourg (appointed by his friend, Woodrow Wilson)

-Lieutenant Commander in the United States navy Chaplains Corps during World War I

-President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters

In 1907, Henry van Dyke was invited to preach at Williams College in Massachusetts. At breakfast one morning, he handed the college president a piece of paper, saying, "Here is a  hymn for you. Your mountains (the Berkshires) were my inspiration."

When he was later asked about this hymn, van Dyke replied, "These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time--hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thoughts of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope."

Taken from the book: Then Sings My Soul