Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Newbies!

I am beyond excited to be writing this post!!
Saturday, while I happened to be cleaning a very VERY messy apartment,
Chris looked out the window and saw a moving truck!

Turns out that we got us some new neighbors!

Chris and I absolutely LOVE Charlotte and Andrew!

And you wouldn't have guessed it,

but they are from Georgia too!

Both of them actually graduated from UGA!
Go Dawgs!

Tonight I had them over for dinner.
I made enchiladas 
(which if I do say so myself were pretty darn good).

We all talked about moving to NOLA, life back in Ga, saying goodbyes to family and friends, and BLOGS!!

Yes Charlotte has a blog too!
Her's makes mine look like a 2 year old's cause it is so cute and she is a wonderful writer.

I can't wait until the next time we will get together!

Is it bad to say that I absolutely think of them as bestie friends already???


Monday, July 30, 2012

Nooooo Way!

Today was my first day of new teacher in service week.

All new teachers in my parish must go 1 extra week for training.

Today we got our emails, attendance, grading software, and Promethean board accounts all set up.

I'm not sure if all you readers remember,
but last year I was teaching 1st grade and had a total of 20 students.

Out of those students I only had 5 girls.
Ohhhh how those sweet, precious, giggly girls were angels compared to those 15 mean, sweaty, and stinky boys.

I am now eating my hopes and prayers 
with my foot caught in my mouth,
cause today I got to see my 4th grade roster.


Guess What!!

I have a total of 17 students.
(I talked to another 4th grade teacher at my school and she told me that she currently only has 16 students and last year only had 16 students also.)

Now my number of students can definitely increase due to late 
registrations....


but as of right now....


out of my 17 4th graders


only 3 are boys!

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Lord-oh-Mighty what I am I gonna go with 14 girls!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Christians Stand Up




So pretty much if you have a facebook you have seen one of the two posters above.

Right now there is a ton of controversy going on about how Chickfila spokesperson Dan Cathy spoke on how their company is based on


 Christian values such as same sex marriage 


and keeping the Sabbath holy. 


This outrage has caused some serious turmoil for the Chickfila company. Boston, Chicago, and recently Los Angeles have all spoken about how the restaurants will no longer be permitted to be in their cities since they don't follow the same beliefs. A mass boycott of the restaurant is also in place.


I personally have even seen several old high school and college acquaintances speak out on facebook their input on the matter. Many are saying that they think that Chickfila's stand on Christian principals is terrible and "not with the times."


Right now it is looking like it won't be much longer until same sex marriage is legal. This cry out from so many American people about the issue is really making a mark!


I see this as a major problem for Christianity.
Christians today are too afraid to stand up. 


LOOK at how these people have made a stand, gained world wide attention, and are getting their ways justified by law.


Now, Why can't we Christians make a stand?
If they can do it for evil, why can't we do it for GOOD?


I congratulate Chickfila! I am looking at them as a roll models.
I am making a stand by CHOOSING to stand with them!


Why do I choose to disagree with homosexuality?
Because I believe in the Lord with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.


I choose to live my life to the best of my ability from his written doctrine, the Bible. No I am not perfect and do not claim to be so, but I do know that I can disagree with others in a peaceful manner. 


Some Bible Verses that I use for my own personal reference are:


Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
Leviticus 18:22


If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Leviticus 20:13


(now with Leviticus 20:13 this was the law before Jesus came and died for all of our sins. We now know that because he died for us all one simply has to do is pray and ask for his forgiveness instead of being put to death)


I think the best point from the Bible that is the most relatable to todays issues is found in Romans Chapter 1. I have listed below just a couple verses to help make my point.



27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 
31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

I write this blog post today with a heavy heart. I know that my words may very well be twisted and used to be thrown back at me by someone who disagrees.
The beauty of America is our freedoms, and I am using my freedom of speech to write this.

I want to lastly make it very clear.

I do not in anyway hate homosexuals. I believe that it is their decision to live their life the way that they want to. 
My goal is to just try and spread the Love of God to everyone whom I can, and to do it in the most peaceful manner that I know how. I pray that my words may help someone to realize this Love. That maybe I can have some small, smidgen of an impact for the good of my Lord.






Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Confident and Unashamed

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
1 John 2:28



A couple of weeks ago Dr. David Crosby at First Baptist New Orleans preached a sermon on God's love and he started off with this verse.

He asked the crowd,
"Do you have anything to be ashamed of?"

Um... well I don't know about you but I have plenty to be ashamed off in God's eyes.
In fact it overwhelms me when I try to think about all the ways I have ashamed him.

I wrote a blog post about a year ago on my goal in life, which was to enter heaven and have God greet me with the saying,
"Well done my good and faithful servant."

Obviously going along with him greeting me like that, I need to be prepared to greet him as well.

I want to walk into heaven and greet God confident and unashamed.
Confident in my salvation. No doubting, no worrying, no fear.
Unashamed by my sins committed on Earth.

Currently I feel like I am on the right track. I am confident in my salvation. I know he lives in my heart and without a doubt, I know my name is written in the Lambs book of life.

How confident are you?
Do you ever feel so ashamed by your actions on Earth that you feel like they might be unforgivable? That maybe you will walk into heaven and hear the most feared words of
"depart from me I never know you"?

If that's you, then you should read the story of when Jesus heals a Father's child who has an evil spirit in him in Mark Chapter 9. But pay extra attention to the Father's actions and remarks.

23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

If you're not confident, just pray to God and tell him all your worries and fears. Tell him you need help in your unbelief. Many times our actions do not align with our words.  People say they believe in Jesus, go to church, and study their bible, but good actions do not make up for bad actions.  If you believe in your heart, then your actions should flow from your believing heart.  We will all continue to make mistakes, but we must strive to continue to follow Jesus.  To me this verse is saying, "Lord I believe in You; Help me to grow in my belief."

Many times Christians will doubt their faith.  I challenge anyone who is doubting their faith to grow in their belief in Christ.  Pray, "Lord help my unbelief."  Let your actions flow from Christ who is in your heart.  Study the bible, not to tell others, but to learn more about Jesus.  Go to church not to be seen, but to worship God.  In order to follow Christ you must know the Word.  Psalms 119:9-11, 

"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.  With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart.  That I might not sin against You." 

 Store God's Word up in your heart that you may live right and grow in your belief in Christ Jesus. So that you may also enter heaven confident and unashamed! 


(P.S. I started this post but Chris finished it. I just couldn't get my point written across the way I wanted to. I believe Chris took my words and added to them a wonderful message.)

Monday, July 23, 2012

Ohhh My Soul



All last week during vacation Chris and I had this song stuck in our heads. We LURVE the lyrics and the worship leader at First Baptist New Orleans, named Robert Comeaux, sings it MUCH better than the guy in this music video.

"Still my Soul will sing 
Your praise unending,
Ten thousand Years
and then forevermore"

"Bless the Lord Oh My Soul
Ohhh My Soul
Worship your Holy Name"


Friday, July 20, 2012

Beach Times

So I am loving these whole PhotoStory things!
Takes me all of 5 min to make a blog post,
plus I personally had soooo much rather look at pictures then read a  bunch of words! 

Ahh... makes me ready for Christmas and my new camera I'm going to be getting.
(wink wink Santa Clause)

Here's the next PhotoStory of our fabulous time on Vaca.



 Paula showed me this in a beach shop and I thought that it suited us perfectly. 


At the dog track.

Chris and Gary get sooooo into it.
They have it down to a system on the dogs they think will win.
Almost like an algebra equation.

Multiply this dog's speed by two, then divide by its weight. Carry the remainder and subtract by its ratio of wins by losses. Then hope for a miracle and that's your winner:)


I got a little board while the menfolk were having their fun!


 And yepp.. I was the only one who walked away with any money. 
I made one bet and won 26 smackeroos!





PhotoTime! 
Chris was so excited! 

 I love me some photoshop! 
I believe I can make just about anyone beautiful with it. 



Putt Putt around here ain't no child's game.
We take it seriously.

Christi got several holes in one and us gals made sure to rub it in those stinky boys faces. 



Love me this chicka!
She is such a nut and so much fun to be around! 







Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Double the Trouble


When I first came into Chris's family,

(when I was 15! Wowwza! Can't believe my daddy let me out when I was still a baby)

there was already a Megan.

The beautiful girl sitting beside me in this way over sized chair name is also Megan.

For me growing up there was always someone else named Megan around.
Just in elementary grades 2,3,4, and 6 I had classes with several different girls named Megan.
Also at my church there were MANY different Megans, in fact at one time we had 5 girls named Megan!
Just in our little church! 



Since always being around so many people with my same name,
I have vowed that when I had kiddoes of my own that I won't name them something that is common.
I LURVE names Carder and Grayson for boys 
and my girl names are always changing!
(Note: other family members please don't steal my precious baby boy names!)

Anyways I am proud to share the same name with this Megan.
She is MY cousin and I would do anything for this chicka!

I can't believe how fast she is growing up too.
Meg I remember when you were but a tiny thing, running around and wrestling with the boys. When Chris and I first started dating I remember playing with you and you telling me that I was weird that I had your same name:)



I also remember how even though you were so little, you talked like an adult.
You always sounded so grown up, and so smart!

Even today I love listening to you come up with fast witty comebacks to Chris's never ending teasing.


You are such a beautiful child of God on both the inside and out.

I love how when you are around nobody can eat without saying the blessing,
you kindness toward others,
the way you talk and reason hard life questions with such simple answers,
your great common sense,
your AMAZINGLY beautiful smile,
your humorous jokes,
your fast teasing of Chris, Alex, Brandon, and Blake,
your tomboyish ways,
your proud love for your family,

 and how when you laugh your smile gets real big and your eyes light right up!



I had so much fun getting to spend some girls shopping time just me and you yesterday.
You have no idea how much I enjoyed getting to have you all to myself and not having to share you with any of the boys around.

We talked about middle school, shopping, clothes, boys, family, and our future of us going on many more girl outings.

Except next time we want Ashley to get to come with us:)

(Ashley we missed you desperately this beach trip!)




We had fun being silly and looking at all the ridiculous stuff they sell in beach shops.

When we are together we are just DOUBLE the Trouble! 

(just a inside joke between me and Meg: Don't forget about us getting told to Shh by some random people for being too loud, and WHAT we were laughing at:)


Meg, Paula, and Tony left the beach this morning to go back home and Chris and I already miss them.
We are having fun at the beach, but it just ain't the same with out Alex, Ashley, Brandino, Meg, and Blakie here with us! 

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Last Weekend

So I have been wanting to do this for along time.
This blog post is all about pictures,
and it is called a PhotoStory:)

Instead of reading my writing go on and on about what we did this past weekend,
just look at the pics and piece it all together.

To start off the story we decided to head to Georgia for a quick couple of days before heading to vacation at the beach.
The catch.....

we didn't tell anyone we were coming to Georgia.

We made a surprise visit.
I loved watching and listening to some of our families reactions as we walked in their houses! 


 Friday morning
NOLA time:)

Burning rubber on the interstate


When you wake up that early.

This is the kind of picture you get from me when it is before 6.






About half way there Chris let me drive for for a couple of hours:)
Made me a happy gal

This is the first sign that says Atlanta on the way from New Orleans.
When I see this sign, I know we are getting close! 


Chris took this picture.
It was supposed to be of the Georgia State sign,
instead Chris took a picture of the Georgia Rest Stop.


 Our first stop was to surprise my sweet daddy at work! 

Then later Friday night we stopped by our old stomping grounds at church for a revival night service.


Saturday we made sure to spend a little time with these knuckle heads.



Blake drove me around on this bad boy. 


I miss sitting under this tree and looking at papa's barn.

 Their garden:)
 Chris is so much like his papa:) Love to just sit and listen as they talk. 
Sunday we were back in the car again for another long drive. 

 Beach Bound! 

A car trip with Gary is not complete without some walkie talkies! 
 Tradition: we had to stop here. 
Sunday Afternoon, look where we wound up! 

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Touche


Oh touche, touche Nicholas Sparks!

You have yet again sucked me into one of your famously amazing books this summer.

It never fails. I am such a sucker for his southern romance writings. 

I remember when I was a teenager reading "The Notebook."
The first Nicky book I had ever read.
( I can call him Nicky because we are just that close )
I got so into it and then...

BAM

BOOM

BADDA BING

in the last 15 pages the whole tone of the book changed
and I was left boohooing into my pillow that night.

I remember going to tell my mom about the ending, still crying and all upset. She laughed and told me to stop reading his books if they make me cry.


You woulda thunk a girl would learn.

But no, nooooooooo
I guess I don't catch on quick.
I have read every single one of his twisted creations.

All his books are the same.
Right when you are getting sucked into the character, setting, and plot,
devastation strikes and the tears start pouring.


See now in case you haven't gotten it yet,
 me and Nicky aren't friends.
We have a love/ hate relationship.

As of right now since I just finished his latest book,
I don't like him anymore,
I don't like his stupid books, 
and I don't want to watch any of his stinkin' movie adaptations on tv.

It's an ongoing circle.

Right when I finish a book I hate him because I'm all sad and crying. 
Then time goes on and I forget about how sad I was after finishing his last book I read,
 and I get excited to read his next book. Then I read it and when I finish the new book, I hate him all over again.



So yesterday I went off to the public library, checking out some books for my up coming 4th grade class. Trying to get a head start on planning and such.

My feet start moving over to the 'S' section of the books separated by authors last name.
I don't know why I am over there but curiosity got the best of me.
I find ol' Nicks books just fine. 
I look over the familiar titles.

And lo and behold, I find one I haven't read yet.
One book I haven't even heard off.

Hum.. "The Best of Me"
it sounds nice enough with a little picture of a country front porch on the cover.

(by the way... ALMOST all of his books have a picture of a country front pouch on the cover)

Beep... it gets checked out.
and here I am. 
Writing about his stinking books.

Oh Nicky please forgive me, I lurve your books and hate them at the same time! I don't like crying at the sappy endings!
Buuuttt, 
Chances are, next summer, when I'm sure you will have yet another new book out, I will be reading that one too:)