she is 22.

she is turning 22 and it feels like we were just turning 10.

she is a friend that I have been blessed to have in my life these past 14 years.

she is the kind of person that you can share anything with and she'll keep your secret.

she is the friend that co-taught with me for all those years teaching the adorable littles' at church.

she is a great friend to have spend the night parties with when we would stay up all night--

at least try to stay up all night. ;P

she is the one that I would want at all of my birthdays.

she is the one that spilled the beans and asked me to be her M.O.H on Wednesday night.

she is the friend that found and married her prince charming.

she is the kind of friend that planned a wedding in 5 months.

she is the friend that was calm, cool, and collected on her wedding day and was just absolutely gorgeous.

she is the friend that lives 12 hours away with her new hubby.

she is the friend that I miss like crazy but am so excited about her new life that she is blessed with.

she is just special like that.

February 2009

April 2009

May 2009

October 2009

November 2009

June 2010

July 2010

April 2011

November 2011

December 2011

February 2012

May 2012

June 2012

June 2012

July 2012

(and we don't have any 2013 pictures???! *gasp*)

I love you tons and tons and pray that you're blessed with many more happy birthdays.

<3



wanna read more?
my visit to her in AR as a bride
their one year anniversary

hold to Him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                            //Source via Pinterest//

Sometimes, for me, it can be easy to lean on worldly things for support.

To cling to the ways of the world instead of bringing my problems to Him.

God is our ultimate protector and provider.

May we all choose Him first.

May we all hold to Him tightly.

<3

it's a peach.

It was another early morning.

5:15 a.m. to be exact.

It was another morning to count our blessings and to don our tank-tops and running pants.

We ate our breakfast of crunchy peanut butter and banana, threw on our Mary Kay, and put the hair in a ponytail.

We were ready for this day.

Daddy was supposed to go with us on this trip too to participate in the 5k, but found out that he had a job to do that morning.

So, we girls loaded up and headed out to the peach county.

As we were pulling out of our rustic gate, I glanced out of my side mirror and sat stunned.

God is so amazing.

On this early morning, He had blessed us with one of the most magnificant sunrises.

We arrived at our destination 30 minutes early to make our before-the-race preparations.

God had given us a perfect morning.

Pinning on our bibs and walking/jogging around the parking lot, we were warmed up and ready for the Peach Run 5k/10k.

Before the race, we took our traditional "before" picture of the three of us girls.

The team.

(minus daddy)

The team that has run and encouraged one another for the past 7 months in our running endeavors.

The team that has stuck together for the past nine 5ks.

The team that was about to stick together once again and cheer each other on for their second 10k.

Finding our spots at the starting line, we were ready.

The running course was perfect.

Running through city and country, the scenery was magnificent.

The shade and breeze were perfect.

Settling in for the 6.2 miles, I was pushing on towards the goal at hand.

When it came to the part of the course to continue straight on the 5k course or take the right for the 10k road, it was tempting to make the choice to go straight.

(haha!)

But, choosing to take the right, I settled in for the remaining 3.2 miles.

Making it up and down the rather large hills on the last part of the course, I could see the end in sight.

I was counting all my blessings while running....

good health.

police to direct traffic.

a hill tackled.

a burst of energy.

a 10k accomplished.

Turning the curve in the neighborhood, I saw it.

The starting (and also the ending ;P) line.

I saved the remainder of my energy until I had about 50 yards left.

I started my ending-the-race sprint.

With my mom right there to cheer me on.

Crossing the finish line, I had broken my PR for 10k.

My last 10k: 1:16:38

This 10k: 1:05:40

Crossing the finish line, mom and sis came up and congratulated me and we then proceeded to discuss our times, and the course, and expressing our joy to have another one "in the books."

Oh, how I love our runs together.

And then the awards ceremony began.

And, of course, without fail, we found mom on the winners stand.

The sis won second in her age group.

(they only gave out first place awards for each age category)

And we won't even start on the guy who won first in overall men's.

A 31:36 10k? Yeah, that's just not even fair.

Avg pace: 5:05.

Unbelievable.

Oh, and you know what mom's prize ended up being?

A basket of peaches.

Yup, we'll take a basket of peaches over a trophy any day. ;)

Stats for the Peach Run 10k:

Chip Time: 1:05:40

Gun Time: 1:05:44

Age Division: 21-30

Place: 5th out of the 5 in my age group.

Overall Place: 56 out of 61

Pace: 10:33

dads day.

He is the encourager that encourages.

He is the driver of the red dually.

He is our hero and protector.

He is the hard worker that provides for our family.

He is the awesome hubby to our mom.

He is the runner that beats it (regardless of sweating bucket loads ;P).

He is the commissioner of the county.

He is the one that tells jokes that are still funny.

He is...

my daddy.

We love you more than mice love cheese.

(and that's a lot)

not pictured: mom, brother, and sis-in-law

instagram:

@purposelyathome

ketchup run.

The alarm was set.

The radio went off to wake me from a horrible nights rest. 

The cause: anxiousness of a race the next day.

5:09 a.m.

I get up and put on my gear. My running gear.

The pink tank top and brown capris are what I choose today.

We leave the house at 5:45 to get to our destination at 6:30.

We notice that not many runners are there.

We are 30 minutes early to the Ketchup Run that starts at 7:00 a.m.

Blessings abound.

The time keepers are just now setting up their equipment.

We think, "Wow, they need to get a move on. The race starts in 30 minutes!"

We are handed our packets and we pin on our number bibs.

As it gets closer to 7, there are still not half as many people that are expected.

The lady said that there were 120 runners registered.

Nope. There were maybe 25 present at that moment.

Mom finds a 5k flyer taped to the door of the Earth Fare building (they were hosting the race) and she reads it:

The race starts at 8:00 a.m.

Really?

We arrived and hour and a half early.

Oh well. 

Getting up at 5:00 had to be good for us....in some way...we just didn't know how.

Trying to count our blessings, we settled in and waited for the race.

Blessings were there whether we realized it at that point or not.

After snapping a picture of our running team, we still had time to spare.

We loaded up in the sub and headed out to drive the course and see where we would be running.

It was a fairly easy course. Some hills. Not many.

Blessings abounded.

We get back to the starting line and start our stretches.

It's time.

We get on our marks and go.

Having warmer hot weather the days before, God saw fit that it be a cooler day with nice breezes just when we needed them.

1 mile....8:40.

My fastest mile ever.

Blessings abounded.

The race is finished and everyone's a winner.

All the contestants receive a ribbon and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in male and female overall receive a ketchup bottle as their take-home prize.

(I thought it was cute myself.)

Daddy and mom beat their records and ran their fastest 5ks.

Sister just blew us all out of the water and finished in 25.

And I completed the course in 31:27.

Blessings abounded.

Yup, it was a good day.

Instagram pics:

@purposelyathome

kinder than you feel.

                    
                                                                         //Source via Pinterest//

Ever just have "one of those days?" 

one of those days where you want to be grumpy and snap back at everyone who talks to you.

one of those days where you were late for work and you had to stop at all the red lights because they turned red making you even later.

one of those days where somebody decided to pull out right in front of you so you had to slam on the breaks.

one of those days where your family just wasn't acting the way you wanted them to act.

one of those days where it rained just when you had the perfect day planned.

I can definitely say that I have had "one of those days" before.

But, I tell myself everyday just how blessed I am.

That the smile and kind words that I share might just be the only positive thing she/he hears that day.

Let's have a "one of those days" that is happy and one that we can talk positively about for days to come.

Happy day, everybody.

zoo with the two.

Today was perfect.

A chance of rain was predicted in the forecast, but no rain was to be found.

Mom, Sis, and I left our house to go pick up the two.

We were going to have a fun day at the zoo.

Blessings abounded.

The little boy:

our minister's grandson.

a ball of energy.

talkative and too smart.

a sweet prayer-sayer at our picnic.

the holder of the map--our guide.

The little girl:

full of sweetness.

another friend from church.

kept the little boy in line--hilarious.

fellow swinger on the swing set.

my sunglasses snatcher.

The sis:

full of unexpected surprises.

my best friend.

zebra print purse carrier.

picnic assistant.

leader of the pack.

(i mean, leader for me. if it wasn't for her, i would get lost everywhere. i. went.)

The mom:

lunch preparer.

queen swinger of the kids in the swings.

assistant guide to the little boy.

carrier of great surprise outings.

Blessings abounded today...

swing sets and sightings of tigers.

playgrounds and new friends.

peeks at mr. rhino and peacocks that howl (or is it yelling?...).  

sweet little ladies and tough little boys.

floating turtles and mini birds that eat out of your hand.

colorful birds and pink, sleeping flamingos.

thrilling train rides and yelling through dark tunnels.

yummy pb&j sandwiches with tortilla chips/wheat thins.

After little boy said the most precious prayer to bless our food for lunch, I said, 

"That was a great prayer!"

He replied:

"Thank you, I made it up myself."

Yup, got to love those 5-year-olds.

=)

benches to rest on and an armband for entry.

silly faces and maps to tell.

yellow and white anaconda's and camouflaged tree frogs. 

sweet hugs and breaks at the water fountain.

How I love these people.

Today was abounding in blessings.