A New Small Group

About a year and a half ago I registered for GroupLink at Buckhead Church, completely unaware of just how strange of an experience it would be, in the hopes of joining a women's small group.  After possibly the most uncomfortable night of my life, I left feeling unsure of what would come of the group I'd formed with some other women.  We didn't have a leader and none of us knew each other.  Then, after about a month, I was chosen to lead the group.

To be honest, I would have to tell you that the group experience wasn't everything I'd hoped it would be.  Please don't get me wrong, the girls in the group were amazing.  Only when God's in control of forming groups is it possible for 12 20-something women to all get along and genuinely enjoy each other's company.  Am I right?  So the group was made up of some [12] incredible ladies.  As we each shared our stories, we learned that we're all from different places and in various stages of life.  It was great.  We'd meet on Wednesday nights for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer.

I said earlier that this group wasn't everything that'd I'd wished, so let me tell you why.  It wasn't because of the girls in the group, because I can't say enough how wonderful they were.  I truly love each of them and loved getting to have discussions and grow with them.  I think the issue was just the number -- 12.  

12 is a lot of people.  It's almost how many students I teach.  How can you meet for 2 hours, once a week, and have 12 people equally join into a conversation?  How can you grow close to 12 people?  We tried and tried, but it just wasn't working.  Intimacy with 12 people is really difficult.  Vulnerability with 12 people is almost impossible.  So, although I met some wonderful friends in our group of 12, I don't think the group flourished as it should have, and our group ended up dissolving.  

So why do I think I should lead a new group since my last group dissolved?  

Well, for one, God is asking me to do it.  To open our home to a group of women for fellowship.  [Do I need any more reasons after this one?]  If God wants me to do it, I will.  I am trusting that He will lead this group from our very first meeting.  I know that He has great things planned for this group.

When I led my last group, I went into the whole experience blindly.  I was completely unaware that I'd be chosen to lead the group I formed at GroupLink.  This time, though, I made the decision for myself.  So I think from the beginning this time, we'll be off to a better start.  We will set norms and expectations.  I also think that since I've led a group before, I will learn from the past experiences and allow them to help me in the future.  One of those things is not allowing 12 people to form a group.  I have learned that with 12 women, intimacy, trust, and vulnerability are unlikely.  Accountability is easily swept under the rug and it's easy to remain anonymous.

So, that being said, I am excited to begin a new group.  I am eager to make new friends.  Close, real friends.  I am looking forward to having real, intimate conversations, and getting to know the hearts of these women.  

I am praying that God uses this group to grow each of us closer to Him.  To grow in truth. To grow in our faith.  To become better examples of who Christ is.  To sharpen and support each other.  I am praying that this group will bring glory to God, while we are meeting, and as a result of our meeting.

October in Photos

As summer and our weekends at the lake came to a close, I remember saying, "I'm looking forward to life slowing down and catching my breath."  It seems, though, that I've jinxed myself.  Our weekends are still packed, and our weeks are more busy than before!  I can't believe it's already November!

That being said, here are the highlights of October in pictures:

October began with a teachers-night-out.  Over the river and through the woods, to Luke Bryan we go!

[Quite literally]

Susan, Kelli, and me -- Love these two.

While back in Athens visiting Cal and Ashley, we decided to get festive at the pumpkin patch.  I'd never picked a pumpkin off the vine before!  We loved walking around looking at all of the different pumpkins and sunflowers on the farm.  We decided to paint our pumpkins instead of carving them this year.  It's nice to enjoy the pumpkins through November! 

pumpkins for daaayyyyyyyssss

Maybe one day I will have a garden of sunflowers.

Could there be a more accurate picture of us?

Love this man.
We're holding the pumpkin like that for many reasons:
1. It's heavy.
2. If you hold the pumpkins by the stems, they'll break off.
3. How do you non-awkwardly take a pumpkin pic?
This is NOT a 'I'm preggo!' picture.  

This is my pumpkin -- Byron's was rather disturbing so I'll spare you from that.

Byron and I went on a short hike one weekend (I'll post pictures of that later) and I celebrated Halloween with my kiddos at school wearing our PJs.  Then Friday everyone welcomed November with a Sugar Hangover.  

My goal for November is to slow down amidst the chaos, enjoy it, and give thanks for the blessings that come with a busy schedule.

just like the song goes: make new friends & keep the old

I grew up with an incredible group of friends.  There's no doubt that God strategically placed them in my life.  These girls were who I depended on, laughed with, and knew my secrets.  We spent the weekends together, served on mission trips, and unconditionally loved each other.  We had a strong foundation built on trust, Christ, and similar interests, with countless shared memories.  After graduating from high school, most of us went to different colleges where we began a quest to make new friends.

At Georgia College and after graduating, I quickly learned that all girls are not like my friends from home.  I can't remember ever fighting with the girls from Lilburn.  We never had a falling out.  We didn't have drama.  And although most of us still live near Atlanta, we don't see each other that often, so I need to make some new friends.  Not to replace the 'old' ones, but because you can never have too many friends, right?  And it's just time for that.

 Needless to say, finding good, genuine, Jesus-loving [new] friends proved to be rather tiring. . .which is exactly why I joined small groups.  [I'm doing a women's group and Byron and I are in a newly-married group!]  In a previous post I mentioned just how awkwardly it began, but I am more thankful than ever with the way they've turned out.

Yay for our new friends Adam and Alicyn!

After spending months praying for God to put me in a group, I am certain that He's handpicked these new friends for me.  We've only been meeting in our groups for about 6 weeks and I am already loving the people.  I am excited we are building our friendships with Christ as the foundation and making it a priority to meet each week.

It's neat to think that I've made so many new friends in the past 6 weeks and I already feel like we know each other so well.  I can't wait to see how the friendships evolve and relationships grow as we individually grow closer to God in the process.  

I know that God created us to be relational beings.  Sometimes, especially when you don't know many people where you're living, it's easier and more comfortable to continue to seclude yourself and veer away from and new community of friends.  There is no doubt, though, that with a little courage and God's placement of new people into our lives, great relationships happen.  I couldn't be more thankful.

so long summer

The end of Summer is always so bittersweet.  Okay, maybe it's a lot more bitter than sweet.  With such a wet June and July, the warm, sunny weather arrived just in time to tease us, and run away for another 8 months.  I hope she returns on time in 2014 and leaves the dreary rain south of the equator.  Luckily, we were finally able to get on the water in August and September before greeting Fall.

The lake is our happy place.

and Brigdet's, too.

Byron landed a new trick this summer -Wake to Wake 180.  Whoop!

I'm not hitting Wake to Wake yet. . . but I am a lot closer! :)

Our good friend, Ralph, doin' his thing.  We love spending our summer weekends with him!

How sweet is Ralph's pup, Georgia?

Bridget and Mookster are completely exhausted and need to rest-up for next Summer.

Byron & I both ended the summer in need of new sunglasses.

So long lake weekends filled with wakeboarding.  Until next year....

As we wave good-bye to Summer it's time to embrace all of the pumpkins, apples, mums, and cool, crisp air. Happy Fall, y'all!

sometimes awkward is good

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

I grew up in a community with a wonderful church I was proud to call home.  My best friends and I grew as friends as we grew in our faith.  Our friendships were built on a foundation of worshiping, reading the Bible, and serving together.  I loved my church and the people there.  But as with most things, it no longer is what I need what Byron and I need.   After not really settling anywhere for over a year, Byron and I decided it was time.  Although we aren't in a house and our living situation is still up in the air, we agreed to start actively searching for a church.  We ended up at Buckhead Church, and although we still aren't sure if that's where we want to call home, we felt like God wanted us in small groups.

Let me just explain this process to you.

In August they have this event called GroupLink.  I imagine it's just as awkward, if not more so, than Speed Dating and Sorority Rush combined.  All of the un-grouped women met in the sanctuary and were given time to mingle and meet with girls in their same age groups.  From there you form a group.  You meet all these girls you've never seen before and decide to do a group with them.  Not really knowing anything about them.  Hardly even remembering their names.  It was really uncomfortable.  But I went through it.  Twice.  [once for a women's group and once for a couple's group]

I left after finding my women's group completely overwhelmed and apprehensive -- 100% unsure about the process and 80% positive it was not going to work and I was going to drop out.

"I won't have anything in common with these girls," "They all seem so different than me," "I don't think this is going to work,"  I told Byron.  Still I prayed.  I've been praying for a group for a while -- long before GroupLink or we even stepped inside Buckhead Church.  So I continued talking to God, and did my best to trust that He had some reason for placing me in this group of girls.

We all got together for pizza a few weeks later.  I was nervous before dinner, sure it was going to go terribly.  Man was I wrong.  My nerves were immediately calmed and I left Felini's feeling much more confident in our group.  I've only known them for a month and I already love them.  We meet once a week and I couldn't look forward to it more.  I love learning about them and building our friendships.  I honestly couldn't be more thankful.  I'm excited to see what God does through the girls in our group and within the group itself.

After months of praying for this group to come together, I'm sure that God had it mapped out for it to happen just as it did. In the best timing, when I'm able to commit to this group and in need of friends with the same love for Jesus.  I have a good feeling about this!

sweet summertime

I am so thankful that my job allows for me to enjoy summers -- time to relax and enjoy the warm weather as I've recuperate from last year, while also preparing for the upcoming.

I began the summer with a quick trip to Birmingham to cheer on Stephen as he pitched in the oldest Stadium in the country and a Braves game.

Memorial Day Weekend

We were also able to spend some good days on and at the lake --  wakeboarding, relaxing and hanging out with family and friends.


The puppies sure love being at the lake.  Mook absolutely loves the water, while Bridget hasn't been as much of a water-dog.  [I think it's partially because she's not exactly shaped for swimming, so she always wears her life-jacket.]  The days at the lake were unbearably hot and the water abnormally high [because of the rain, duh!], which resulted in sweet Bridget voluntarily plopping herself in the water!

We love weekend with Cal and Ashley.

The lake has always been my favorite place.  I'm thankful I was able to spend  a few weekends there.  Although we didn't get to do as much wakeboarding as we would've liked, when we enjoyed the time we did get on the water.  Maybe the rain will hold off and allow for some more time at the lake for a few more months!  

Blueberry picking off the bush at the lake is one of my favorite things of summer.

After spending quite a few days at school, some days working and planning with my new grade level, others sorting through the items kindly given to me, I can finally think about school starting without hyperventilating!  [I do still have a good bit to accomplish, but at least it no appears that a tornado hit my room!]  In addition to being incredibly thankful for the sweet teacher-friends' generosity, my mom also spent a day with me organizing and sorting through the rummage of the teacher supply tornado that seems to have hit my room, and I honestly couldn't be more grateful!  I should have taken before and after photos -- maybe I'll take one before the first day of school!

With just short of a week left of my summer, I plan to enjoy the last days to the fullest.  Off to the beach we go!

girl friends & tasty drinks

I think this is one of my new favorite flowers -- ranunculus. 

The second half of March seemed to pass at a supersonic rate.  Between crunch time for the CRCT, completing some of the last assignments for my Gifted endorsement, planning and preparing for our trip to San Diego, and busy weekends, it’s no wonder weeks have flown by. 

Over Saint Patrick’s Day weekend we enjoyed the Suwanee Beer Fest.  It was my first beer festival, and while I’m not too much of a beer conosuiere, I enjoyed spending the afternoon outside in the gorgeous weather [getting my first sunburn of the season] with my happy husband, Byron.

so much beer.

My good friend from Parkview is getting married to her high school sweetheart in July.  It was such a blessing to celebrate with them and catch up with some of my favorite & best friends.

love, love, love these girls. 

Even though the weather was subpar the next weekend, I joined my mom and some of her high school friends for a quick trip to the mountains.  We did some shopping, visited a vineyard, and cozied up around the fire at night. 

My beautiful mom & crazy 'Aunt' Karen at Crane Creek Vineyard

It was wonderful to spend time with my mom, as well as the company of her crazy friends.  They’re always entertaining to be around, and a reminder that true friends will always be around to share joy and laughter.

springin' forward

These are puppy treats I picked up while in Athens last weekend.
 {No, I did not break Lent over Shamrock cookies...
although, these smelled like Gingerbread and it was sliiiightly tempting!}
 Bridget and Mook went bananas over them!

The warm[er] weather is making me incredibly happy!  I absolutely love the Spring flowers, sunny afternoons, and longer days.  Byron and I spent the days before Springing Forward with Cal & Ashley in Athens.  They're such wonderful friends and we're incredibly thankful for them.

a weekend of firsts: smoked biscuits {whoops!}, your pie, & jittery joes [how on earth was this my first trip there?!]

I decided my race for March would be the Shamrock 'N Roll on March 10th.  When I registered for it I obviously was not thinking that it would be the morning of Daylight Savings.  Also, when registering, Byron told me I should run the 10K instead of the 5K, so I signed up [I didn't want to let him down].  Now, just so you know, I haven't run over 2 miles [with the exception of the two 5Ks I've run in 2013] since the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon...so I was a little lot nervous for the race, which was only a week after I registered.

excited/nervous/anxious face...ready, set, goooooo.

Because my husband is awesome, he always wakes up early and accompanies me to my races.  Who knows what he does while I'm running, but he's ready at the finish line to snap a photo of me.  [This time he deceived me by standing about a hundred yards before the actual finish line...it was a trick finish...but that's neither here nor there ;)] p.s. how long is my hair!?! whoa!  

1 hr, 1 min

I couldn't be more happy with my finish time -- given the fact that I have't run six miles since November -- and the fact that I didn't feel like I was gonna die when I crossed the finish line!  I'm not a fast runner by any means, so when I finished in my personal best with my legs feeling great, it was a big accomplishment for me.  And... a little incentive that I need to step up my game.  I'm feeling encouraged after that run and ready to push myself! :)

where did february go?!

Wasn't it just Valentine's Day?!  How is it already the second week of March? [Let me tell you...] The chaos of projects, parent conferences, and busy weeks & weekends greeted February, then quickly shoo-ed it away. I can't say I'm complaining as I'm itching for warmer weather, Spring flowers, afternoon walks, longer days, and sunny skies, but before we get swept up in all things March, here's a quick photo re-cap of the second-half of the second month of 2013:

tulips are my absolute favorite.

February race: Run for Orphans

puppy snuggles on cold winter days.

a little redecorating

[I reupholstered our chair - so long 1990s, Zack Morris fabric!]

[I found this PB pitcher at Goodwill for $2.00 {score!} and turned it into a vase with some hydrangeas]

more puppy snuggles

a nice weekend with Mr. & Mrs. Gordon.

So long, February. . .

Hellooooooooo, March!

cold weather brings . . . a cold

It's nice that the temperature finally feels like it should in January, but unfortunately the cold weather brings sickness, too.  I'm pretty sure I've consumed an unnatural amount of hot drinks and soup-like meals during the last 6 days.  Obviously no one enjoys being sick, but I absolutely hate it.  So, to be honest, this post is mostly for me, because I need to focus on the little things that bring joy to into my life when I'm not feeling so hot.

things that've made me happy while feeling quite crappy:

- Sweethearts.  It's not too early for Valentine candy is it?  Didn't think so!

- On Monday I picked up my sweet mother-in-law from the airport, and then enjoyed some pho with her and my wonderful mom.

- Tuesday night, when Byron arrived home from work to find me asleep on the couch with a fever, he stood in the kitchen cooking me homemade chicken tortilla soup for dinner.  It was delicious.  [I'll post the recipe soon.]  He's THE best.

- Sweet puppy cuddles.

I know what you're thinking, and no, I don't position her for photos. . .

- Completing my first 5k of 2013 without dying.  With the combination of cold temperatures and trouble breathing due to congestion, I'm just glad I finished.

My sweet friend and co-worker, Paige, who signed me up for this run.

- fresh fruit, soft tissues, hot chocolate, and pajamas

Is it summer yet?! 

let me brag about my friends

It's an unlucky situation that some of my friends no longer live in the same city as me. And if we do live in the same city, that city is Atlanta, meaning it's huge and comparable to living in different states when driving on 85 and 285.  Does it make them bad friends?  No.  Absolutely not.  It does, however, leave a friend-shaped hole in my heart longing for girls' nights, coffee dates, and shopping.  I miss them like crazy, but that means when we finally do get back together we laugh without ceasing and pick up where we left off.  

Over Christmas I was finally able to get together with these two a couple times!

such wonderful friends at our wedding

I have the greatest friends and if you beg to differ, we'll end up in a fight.  My favorite thing about these friends is their heart for the Lord.  Our friendships are built on the steadiest of foundations.  They're trustworthy and encouraging with hearts of compassion and even though it may take a game of phone tag, I know they're reliable and they'll eventually call me back.  I can honestly say we've never fought and we just might be the most drama free group of girls you'll find.  Just girls being ourselves without trying to impress one another.  Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to find such friends, and although I'm not quite sure, I consider it one of the most wonderful blessings in my life.  

Earning my Turkey

Every year on the fourth Thursday in November the Atlanta Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon takes place.  And every year, I wondered what exactly possessed those people to wake up early and run 13.1 miles?  The day when you eat the most delicious food and express what your thankful for, why on earth would you torture yourself with a half marathon?  

Well, this year, I was one of those crazy people! Why?!

At the Expo, there was a big sign reading 'Why I run:'
Which one's mine!?

For some bizarre reason, on January 1, 2012, I made a goal, or a New Year's resolution if you will, to run a half marathon in 2012.  I can honestly tell you that I'm not sure why I made that decision.  I'd never run a race before, and quite honestly, didn't really like to run, or run often for that matter.  It wasn't a way to reach a weight loss goal or anything of the like, but simply to push myself to do something I'd never done before -- something I thought was impossible for myself.  And whatta ya know?!  I did it!

My friend Rachel decided to start her Thanksgiving with a 13.1 mile run as well:

Excited/Nervous about the run.

Byron's such a good sport -- he always wakes up early to support me in my races.  This time, because traffic was so terrible, Rachel and I jumped out of the car and left him to park while we hustled to Turner Field.  Needless to say, I was a little surprised when I saw him as we lined up in our corrals:

I wouldn't say that the course was too difficult, but I will admit that I didn't train for the 13.1 miles as I should have.  To be honest, I just got sick of running, so I lost interest and focus on training.  My time wasn't great, but I did do it, which I'm pretty happy about.

run. run. run. run. run.

Crossing the finish line.  2:42:12 [according to my watch]

finishedddd!

I saw Byron as soon as I crossed the finish line and was completely surprised when he pointed to Brad and my Mom on the other side!  Not gonna lie, I got a little emotional.  

Surprise!!! 

happy with my husband

Go, Rachel, Go!!
This girl is inspiring.

We're still alive!

Running the half marathon was definitely an experience -- not sure I wanna do it again anytime soon, or ever for that matter.  The turkey, dressing, and [Byron's] pumpkin pie sure did taste good, though!

Unfortunately, my Thanksgiving feast-induced food coma went into full effect at my grandparents' house, so I didn't get a single picture of the delicious food or my wonderful family.  But Byron and I did manage to snap a photo of the two of us to commemorate our first Thanksgiving as a married couple:

achieved goals, good shoes, blister-free feet, a loving family, delicious food, an incredible husband . . . I have a whole lot to be thankful for this year!