Friday Fav!!!!

It's Friday!!!! HOORAY!!!

Tonight we are going to see the movie Courageous with our college group! We are pumped! I will let you know how it is!!!! :)

Tomorrow is the Troy vs. UAB game!!! Pretty exciting! Remember... I was a UABer, 

(Jess on the L is getting MARRIED next Saturday - woot woot!!!)

but now Troy pays my salary so I am definitely a Troy fan too.

Also, I wanted everyone to read the best poem ever written... b/c she wrote it because she loved me!!! READ IT!! :) It's from EMILY!! 

Dear Ann,

I'm a big fan.

You always make me laugh,

And you burp like a man.

You are quite loud,

But stand out in a crowd.

You're absolutely gorgeous,

Though not bosomly endowed.

We shared a bunk,

Til you married a hunk.

When we got back from Africa,

Your feet really stunk.

You moved to Troy,

Where you spread the Joy.

Now, you're a momma to Walter,

A hyped up little boy.

You rap in sign.

And it blows my mind.

You got mad skills,

And I wish they were mine.

You sure got class,

But ain't without sass,

If you don't visit me soon,

I'll kick your... bottom :)

Let's be neighbors one day.

We'd frolick and play.

Our kids would starve,

But we'd laugh the days away.

You're my best friend,

And apparently my twin.

With love from Emily,

I'll love ya to the end!

That's so fun!!! What a good birthday present! 

Now for the Friday FAV!!!!! What is my fav restaurant you may ask... well... there a few.  (To clarify... I have told you my fav food... but not my fav restaurant)

For breakfast it it: 

For a nice sit down dinner with my fam: 

My fav place with my fav tea and my fav chicken salad sandwich and just my fav:

And my new fav with my fav salad in the world (and the only fav I can get in Troy):

The end. Enjoy your Friday!! 

It's my BiRfDaY!

So... it's my birthday today.  I'm old now.
And... sadly... it's not as exciting as it used to be b/c I still have to work... it's just another day.

But... I wanted to tell you about my Birthday present from God.  You ask: What did you get from God?

I say: RAIN!!!!! 

I know, most people don't think of trudging through the rain on their birthday fun... but, I did. I posted a while back about RAIN and my longing to be cleaned out and renewed (see here)!! I still long for Him to RAIN in me!!!!! I thought it was the PERFECT present from my Daddy!!! It blessed my heart.  He wants to cleanse me and for me to mature and look more like Him and I took that as a way that He was calling me closer to Him.  I am grateful! :) It was a great birthday present this morning!

I also have received gifts from some of my favorite people:

My mommy bought us that BEAUTIFUL triangle table for my birthday!! That was a HUGE b'day present!! I love you mommy!

My BFF Becky sent me beautiful trinkets that were made in Bangladesh. I love you Beck!
My BFF Lindsey Jo sent me an AWESOME necklace that was made in Uganda!!! She's so self-sacrificing!!! I love you LJo


My BBF Emily got me the game Quelf!!!! I can't wait to play it!!! How exciting!!! i love you Em! Also... it my stats part of my blogger I saw that someone found my blog by searching for "awkwardly tall people"!!! hahaha!!! :) love you!!!

My hubby bought a goat for me!!! haha! He told me that and I was SO confused - I was thinking "What are we going to do with a goat? We don't have a privacy fence!" haha!! For real - He gave a goat to a family through Samaritan's Purse in my name!!! So special and exactly what I wanted!!!! I love my hubster A LOT!!!! I don't have a picture of MY goat, but I am guessing it looks a bit like this:

My Good Friend Haleigh got me a pretty cross bracelet and a car air freshener!!!! Maggie is smelling fresh! :)

Also, my hubby (b/c he is so sweet)  had cake for me at youth group... NOT just ANY cake... the BEST cake in the world = LINDSEY JO'S DIRT CAKE!!!! And Ms Regeina's yummy, beautiful cake!!!!! It was presh! 

So special!!! I am a blessed lady!!! 

T-R woop woop O-J woop woop A... N-S!!!

 This weekend was the FIRST, HOME TROY FOOTBALL GAME!!! It was against MTSU!

Yahoo... Game day!! (that's sarcastic... kind of)

You have to understand... I went to THE University of Tennessee.  Game Day there is INTENSE and ORANGE!! It was overwhelming for me.  Game Day took a lot of energy... even just to walk out of the apartment... my eyes were flooded with construction orange EVERYWHERE! Don't get me wrong... I love UT... but GAME DAY was not my cup of tea! It's hot... or cold. You have to stand for HOURS by drunks who are just dumb and call my bestie DIGITS b/c she has little hands... haha! But it's just... alot.

But, here at Troy... Game Day is actually enjoyable. There's tailgating. There's families. There's actually space to walk around. I don't dread it! :)

Troy is pretty good at football too. They win a lot... especially the Sunbelt conference championship.  They are beasts at that! And they have fun cheers like T-R WOOP WOOP O-J WOOP WOOP A....N-S!!! Pretty enjoyable! :)

So football is great. For some reason people are obsessed with watching grown boys run around in tight pants (some boys are HUNDREDS of pound in that tight... spandex outfit... NOT CUTE!), chasing a weird shaped ball.  That's great and all and I like to get excited about games as well... but the important part of the football game is most definitely...

THE BAND!!!! 

DUH!!! The band NEVER lets you down!! Halftime is the Besttime!!! 

MTSU's band was legit... QUITE LOUD I must say!!! They blared at me ALL game!!! There was about 80,000 people in there band and 1/2 of them were horns... so they tooted really loud! (Okay... I know I claim to love the band the most... but I'm not gonna use the scientific/bandy words b/c I don't know them! gosh! Don't judge!) Here is the MTSU band... they are large... I told you! 

Troy's band was... phenomenal!!!! 

There show had lots of SPY music!!! It had like all the spy TV shows and it even had music from the Incredibles, Austin Powers, and more!!! SO FUN!! 

But... you have the understand... Yes, the band is crucial to a game but the MOST, TOP, ELITE, BEST thing at a football game is...

The DANCE TEAM!!!!! 

Everyone should know that! 

If there is no dance team... there is no point in a game! DUH! This is what I spend the entire game watching, critiquing, and getting excited about! And... Troy's dance team did great!!! That's cool for me to say b/c my past experience has not been so swell.. but Saturday made me want to be on dance team again!!! 

At UT they have the BEST dance team... for real. They won 3 national championships while I was there! They are fantastic!! At each basketball game, I was the crazy woman who gave the dance team a standing ovation!!! YAY for dance teams everywhere!!! 

It was a fun weekend. It went to Montgomery Friday night to see my lovely mommy for my birthday... we ate at Olive Garden... YUM!!!! :) 

Go Troy.

Rare Beauty

So we have had these flowers pictured growing in our backyard.  Jacob said there were some RARE japanese flower.  I don't know what they are called... that's a question for my mom or Lindsey Jo.  I just know I liked them, and the word RARE got me thinking.  Got me thinking about RARE BEAUTY!!! We are all attracted to BEAUTY. We want to be beauty. We want our lives to be BEAUTIFUL and RARE!! We long to be special and noticed.

I long to have RARE BEAUTY.  Beauty that speaks of Christ - of purity, of honesty, of transparency,  of treasuring... of so much more.

There are special times in my life where I have experienced true, RARE BEAUTY!

One RARE BEAUTY that is a constant in my life is my mommy.  She has always been my constant. She is my role model.  I have seen so many things in and through her - strength, compassion, giving, truth, love, caring, commitment, encouragement, righteousness, fear of the Lord.  She has been my biggest fan in everything, at every season, in every place. She has loved me when it wasn't easy and when my hormones chased away everyone else.  She is RARE BEAUTY.

These ladies (minus Beck) are RARE BEAUTY. I have never had friendships so pure, so genuine, so good.  These ladies... are wonderful.  Ami - she is my Beautiful Strength.  I had seen her trust in the Lord and grow in the Lord as she watched her daddy battle cancer. I have seen her study and fight to understand Scripture and live it out in all areas of her life! She's fiesty and I love it!!  Lindsey Jo - she's my Brave Humor! This woman is BRAVE!! Married at 18. Buys at house at ago 20. Having a kid at age 22!!! Some say nuts, I say BRAVE!! Her best friend and brother was killed in a car accident last March. I have seen and heard and know her heart has been challenged and comforted and revived by my Lord.  And on top of all that ladies and gentleman... SHE'S HILARIOUS!  Emily - She's my  Crazy Compassionate Joy!!!! She's my best friend. She is wonderful. She is the essence of compassion and joy... and craziness!! She was my roommate. We spent every waking hour together - no, seriously we did- we lived together, worked together, went to church together, ate together, EVERYTHING... and I loved it.  I have never seen the Gospel of Christ and the Love of Christ in action like I do in Emily.  AND... her middle name is Joy... so she's that much cooler!  I love her heart, her joy, her friendship... it's good.  Becky (not pictured- haha... kind of like a yearbook picture) - She is my Determined Nurse.  She is the most determined woman I have EVER meet!! She knows what God calls her to do and what's required of her and BY GOLLY... she does it!! She is a nurse... she was made to heal, to love, to show Christ to others.  And she is doing it!!!!!!!!! She is fabulous! 

RARE BEAUTY = following Christ's calling NO MATTER WHAT!!!! I was part of RARE BEAUTY - my and 3 of my great friends went to Africa... 4 college girls... trying to follow God, love on orphans, and be obedient TO GO!!!! It was FABULOUS! 

This crazy cool woman, Heather, is also a burst of RARE BEAUTY!!! We worked together at a deaf camp in Illinois.  It was tough. It was long. It was starved of Jesus. I knew it would be.  When I flew up there... I was TERRIFIED to get off the plane. I don't get that way much, but I just wanted to stay on that plane more than anything... I knew the summer would be tough, lonely, and dry.  BUT... when I arrived in Dixon, IL... I MET HEATHER!!!! She was a God-send. We poured into each other. We poured into others. We did Bible study each morning together. We loved on each other. We laughed alot. We, like crazy people, went to Chicago with no plans... just 14 Bibles to give out with a goal to enjoy the city and love on the homeless.  The last week of camp, we FINALLY got to be co-counselors!!! We broke all the rules, we played hide-and-go-seek in the corn fields with our girls, we talked a lot about Jesus (even though we weren't suppose to), we signed a Spice Girl's song together for the talent show, and it was so good.  This girl loves Jesus, she loves to enjoy life, she loves to interpret, she's just CRAZY AWESOME!  

RARE BEAUTY also takes place when the people of God do exactly what they are called to do and love to do!!! This group, UNASHAMED, is the sign team from the University of Tennessee that God set up!!!! The group, the girls, the time together, and the love there is hard to express because it was so perfect. We loved each other, we love Jesus, and we loved signing together. Makes me smile just thinking about it! 

Where do you see RARE BEAUTY??

Look for it...

Invitation to crap and the friday fav!!

I know I often talk about the girls' Bible study and the youth group, but something that has really blessed be this school year is our college group - The ROPE.  

(The name -The ROPE - means Reaching Out to People Everywhere.  We know it should be ROT-PE, but life's hard and ROT-PE doesn't really roll off the tongue. We would really like to change it to CONSUMED... but everything in the church that's printed says The ROPE so... there.)

This picture was posed!! Haha!!! I had to capture the moment,
so I made them pretend to pray! :) 

Beautiful feet - ready to go, do and share... 

The ROPE started because our church is literally a block from Troy University and there had NEVER been a college ministry here... so... we did something about it.  It's funny because I graduated from college a year and 10 months ago and Jacob... well... Jacob hasn't graduated yet.  But... when you feel the nudge to do something, you have to do it, no matter how inadequate you feel.

Last year, we had a consistent 10-12 people who came each weekend to the ROPE.  It was a good group. We grew a lot from it, but I felt that there wasn't CLOSENESS, HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY, etc. in the group. I knew that's what our group was to be founded on... so feeling the nudge (once again), that's what we did this year.

The first week, I formally invited them all into my crap! haha! I know I could have said it more eloquently, but that's not me.  I invited them to know my struggles, fears, joys, insecurities, and I wanted to be invited into all their crap.  We changed the chairs from rows to a circle. Jacob was willing to change the format of the night from a full message to discussion.  It is good. 

Wednesday night, there was transparency and a sense of community that we all long for. Struggles and fears were shared. Encouragement was given. Blessings were received.  It was a night of worship.  So good.  It was a feeling of belonging... what a joy for all of us!!!  

 We are studying Philippians. We are being called to boldness, to joy, to surrender.  We can do it... together.  I'm so pumped for this group. This year. This movement.

FRIDAY FAV... SIGN

cHeRiSh

The man doesn't do it how I would... but it's my fav sign!!! I would use 2 hands and have a really passionate face on!!! :)

HaPpY fRiDaY!!! 

The week's end...

This weekend we got to go home for a night! It was fabulous.

Walter enjoyed the car ride. He was so funny - he would put his head out the window and his eyelids would flap in the wind. Bahaha!

It cracked me up!!!

Friday night, we celebrated this wonderful lady's 50th birthday!!! This is my stupendous mother-in-law!!! I've known her for quite a while!!! I was part of the fam before I was part of the fam!!!!! She is 50 - well she will be tomorrow and we had a partay for her!!! Lots of yummy food, presents, laughter, and talking!!! :)
It was suppose to be a surprise, but me and my lovely husband kind of ruined that! ha!

Saturday I went to see my nanny and pawpaw :) It was fun. We sat around and just enjoyed being together. They are too cute. I hope me and Jacob are that cute when we are 80!! I know i will talk as much as my nanny. say crazy things like my nanny. ask lots of questions like my nanny. and still love my hubby like my nanny. hopefully jacob will put up with me and love me lots like my pawpaw. :) 

Then, I went to a adoption baby shower to celebrate this little one coming to her new forever family from China

Isn't she precious?!?!?! Her name is Madison Jade!!! The man marrying us is her daddy

He was our youth pastor and his wife has been one of my many amazing role models who pointed me to Christ!!!! Can't wait for MJ to get home!! Her little brother said that since she is from China, she will teach him karate!! haha!! how funny! Can't wait to see how that turns out! 

Then we had more family time with the parentals and Jacob's nanny at CHILI'S!!! it's one of our favs!! It was delicious!!! I always order a house salad and buffalo wings (WITH THE WINGS!!) and chips and salsa of course!! YUMMM!!! 

Saturday night we drove home, put up our new entertainment center from our dear friend Katelyn (pics coming soon), and enjoyed time together.  

Sunday we went to church, I went to the Miss Troy University pageant (made me miss dancing...), and then more church!!! :)

It was a splendid weekend!!!!  Hope yours was great as well.

Most ridiculous post ever...

At Bible study Monday night I said something so profound ridiculous, I felt the need to tell the entire world for a few reasons:
1. I like the rare moments when I'm funny
2. You need to keep my husband accountable!
3. You are reading my blog... so I better keep you entertained.

Here goes:
We were talking about prayer and how GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS - because HE does! We talked about how God's answer isn't always what we expect blah, blah, blah... and that when we pray for someone to be healed it doesn't always happen.  I asked what the ULTIMATE healing for a Christian would be... HEAVEN DUH!
I proceeded to tell them if I get really sick one day I don't want them to pray for my body to be healed... I want to be eternally healed... so just pray that I die! Then I can see Jesus! HOORAY!!

Then I made them promise me something...

When I die, they have to MAKE SURE Jacob cremates me (I've already told him my thoughts on this)! I don't want people coming around at a funeral home and gawking at my DEAD CAUCUS (yes, I really said this)!!! I don't want them to put make-up on my dead body and have people stare at me... YUCK!

I told the girls if I die they should not come over to my house to eat french toast for a while... because that's where I want my ashes to go - in french toast!!! or the salt and pepper shakers!!! I want somebody to eat me - that's the best prank ever!!! "Oh... that food was soo good, it had a different seasoning on it, huh?" "Yea... you just ate Anna!" Funny. So... if I die and Jacob invites you over for a meal... don't eat it... bring McDonald's!

Needless to say... the girls thought I was crazy... but why not live it up when you are dead!!! I'm not scared!!! I'll be in heaven and y'all will be down here eating my ashes.

I know this is like the most ridiculous post ever... and somebody has probably reported me to a mental hospital but things just come out of my mouth like this - it's okay :)

Here are the other 13 weirdest things that I found to do with cremated ashes... ENJOY!! 

1. You can be shot into space on a rocket ship

2. You can be exploded with fireworks

3. You can be mixed with a coral reef

4. You can be crushed into a diamond

5. You can be fired in hand-blown glass

6. You can be painted into an art work

7. You can be launched into a helium balloon

8. You can be stuffed into a teddy bear (that's just wrong!)

9. You can be mounted into a vechicle

10. You can be the sand in an hourglass

11. You can be turned into a box of pencils

12. You can be built into a pyramid

13. You can be made into a vinyl record

What would you do?

hahaha :)

Dancing Rock(s)!

This weekend my hubby and I tried out our GREEN THUMBS! We enjoyed it!!

We totally destroyed out garden of crazy yellow flowers (I don't have a before pic).  They were pretty, but once we started ripping them up - THEY WERE INSANE!!! There were roots and weeds and sprouts everywhere!!!
I've never gardened before so it was really exciting for me! I had always watched my mom, maybe planted a few flowers myself, but we worked hard this weekend!

We planted these little bushes that will grow up to be very lovely!

This guy will have lots and lots of flowers on him!!! Can't wait! 

I like them. It was a lot of work.  We had to get all the crazy yellow guys up, get the old GROSS felty fabricy no-weed thing up, get all the gross pine straw up, avoid bugs at all cost, and then plant and re-straw the area!!!! I was sweaty!!! 

We planted a total of five boxwood bushes.  I liked this guy the best because he reminded me of my BFF :)

He is beautiful, skinny, and awkwardly tall!!! :) 

It's the EM plant!

Then I found a perfect place for this here rock...

This is no ordinary rock!! This is the DANCING ROCK!!!! 

I don't know why... or what was going on in my head, but when I was a little girl I named this very rock the DANCING ROCK!!!! I don't know what was special about it except for it's obvious beauty... but I chose it! 

I have many many many pictures of me on standing on this DANCING ROCK wearing various costumes, accessories, and dance shoes!! My mom has kept this rock and moved it to each house we have moved to.  As our house warming gift, she brought this rock down to be placed at our home now. So... of course, I recreated the picture that has been taken so many times before

YAY DANCING ROCK!! :)

And, I will leave you with a picture of Walt... because he's a camera hog and we had fun playing outside after all out HARD WORK!!! :) 

He's a CRAZY CUTIE!!! 

Friday Favs... FOOD!!!!

My favorite food is... drum roll...

SALAD 

I love lots of salad.  

love love love salad.

My favorite is Western Salad is from MOMMA GOLDBERG'S.

YUMMM!!!! 

and

BREAD

I love bread. All kinds of bread. french. white. wheat. rye. rolls. raw. Logan's rolls are at the top. dark bread. garlic. cheese. ALLLLLLLL BREADDDD!!!! 

That's the Friday Fav for the day. Thanks for stopping by.