Older in a Dozen

In 12 days...I will be 30. Yes, the dreaded 3-0. A part of me is indifferent...I mean, my hubby has already done it, most of my friends have already done it, and I get to do it with my twin sister, so it's not like I'm navigating uncharted territory or even doing it alone. All the ladies at my office keep saying that the 30s are your best years; I hope they are right, because right now, I'm feeling a bit uneasy. 30. By 30, you're supposed to have your life in order. You're no longer a wild (like I was ever wild!) 20 year old. PLUS (and probably the thing most troubling me), there are things I thought I'd already have accomplished by 30, and now, I just feel behind. Old and behind.

When I snap myself out of one of my I'm-getting-old pitty parties, I realize that I'm TOTALLY being ridiculous. It's not like I'm going to wake up in 12 days and all of a sudden be old...or even different. I will just be me...one day older...one day wiser...one day more loved. :0)

But just in case another pitty party hits, I've decided to draw my strength from the only real strength and turn to His Good Words. So every day in the dozen days remaining to my big 3-0 birthday, I'm going to quote an encouraging or meaningful piece of Scripture from either a 30th chapter or verse. After all, all my days our His...

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price."
--1 Corinthians 6:19-20

ordained before I was born...

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
--Psalm 139:16

and hopefully giving glory to Him each day I am blessed to be here.

"...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
--1 Corinthians 10:31

So...today's I'm-going-to-be-a-big-girl-about-turning-30 verse is Mark 12:30...

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength"

Happy July 4th!

Happy Birthday America!

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD"
--Psalm 33:12

I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July!

Happy 1st Day of Summer!

But You, O God, are my King from of old;
You bring salvation upon the earth...
The day is Yours, and Yours also the night;
You established the sun and moon.
It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth;
You made both SUMMER and winter.
--Psalm 74:12,16-17

Happy 1st official day of summer! Today is the summer solstice...the longest day of the year. May we all use this extra long day to bring extra glory to God. :0)

Happy Summer!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Dad, Granddaddy, and to all the fathers out there! Thank you for ALL you do! Also, Happy Father's Day to my Father God! I am SO BLESSED to be a daughter of DZ and a daughter of the Lord and King!!!

"A man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season." -- Unknown

"A wise son brings joy to his father" -- Proverbs 10:1

Happy Father's Day! I love you!!!

Our 7th Wedding Anniversary!

Today is my sweet hubby & my 7th wedding anniversary! Woo hoo! :0) The last seven years have been so wonderful. I am so blessed to have my sweet hubby (thank You, Father God!), and I love him so much! I LOVE YOU, MATT!!!

Love one another for love is of God.
He who loves is born of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know God.
For God is love.
God is love.
--1 John 4:7-8

Every year on our anniversary, I put on my wedding dress, and we take a picture together. (I know, I know...I am so sentimentally silly.) Here is our picture from today:

(See how sweet my hubby is to do such silly things for me? :0) I love you, Sweetie!)

Happy Birthday, Little Bit!!!

Today is my baby sister's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, K! It is such a wonderful joy to be your big sis!!!

"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace."
--Numbers 6:24-26

Here is my baby sister holding my new baby niece this past weekend! So sweet! She already loves her Auntie K so much!!! :0)

Happy Two Week Birthday, Precious One!

It is with GREAT joy that I excitedly introduce my precious, beautiful, and wonderful new niece.



Today is her two week birthday. I cannot believe she’s been here TWO WEEKS already…but then I ALSO can’t imagine life without her!!!

It amazes me how very, very, very much I love her! She is perfect and adorable and such an amazing blessing from God!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above"
--James 1:17

Thank You, Father!!! I love her SO MUCH...and to think You love us INFINITELY MORE than that! Just amazing what a tiny little thing can teach you. I am forever and wonderfully changed. :0)