Rule # 32

My life has been crazy lately.  Between teaching, taking the Gifted Endorsement class, Vision Cohort, training, and settling into a new apartment, it's been nearly impossible to slow down and relax.  Since Byron and I have been married, we hadn't spent a single weekend in our apartment, just the two of us, to do chores, run errands, sleep in, and what-not.  You know, the lazy weekends when you might do some laundry, clean the house, sleep in, and grocery shop?  But finally, we had a somewhat boring weekend!  [and we couldn't be happier about it!]   I've finally gained some of my sanity back.

We were able to sleep in, take the dogs to the park, and grocery shop together.
My sweet husband bought me tulips at Trader Joe's!

Beginning the weekend with cafe au-laites and ending it with homemade pizza. Mmmm!
[Thanks, Karie for the pizza stone!]

The world is constantly tugging us in multiple directions and it's easy to lose focus of what's important and our relationships and priorities suffer as a result.  Maybe that's part of the reason God thought it necessary for the Sabbath.  To have a day for worship and praise without work.  A day of rest in which you remove the stresses of your life momentarily to delight in the Lord and the blessings He's given you.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 

but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.

Exodus 20:8

I'm thankful for our weekend and for a weekday without school, but I'm challenging myself to enjoy the little things (rule number 32) as they present themselves, amidst my daily routine.  Although the Sabbath is the day of rest, I want to take time everyday to relax and rest before I over-exhaust myself [and my patience].  The Lord deserves my attention and affection before I'm running on fumes.  So does my husband. And my family.  And my students and coworkers.

Thank God for the golden orange trees He blesses us with in the Fall.  Laugh and enjoy an evening with your husband before you're ready to conk out at night.  Enjoy the blessings before they pass.

Halloween Fun

When you're a kid you look forward to Halloween all year long, right?  You impatiently await the day for candy, costumes, candy, trick or treating, candy, parties, candy, jack-o-lanterns, and candy.  Then you grow up.  Does that mean the Halloween festivities have to stop?  NO.  Why on earth would growing up mean that?!  We all know we shouldn't/can't eat the vast amounts of sugar, but that's so need for the celebrations to cease . . . they might just look a little different from when we were kids!

On Saturday I decided to run the Monster Dash 10k.  It was actually an enjoyable run.  It wasn't my best run ever, but I made felt like I finished strong.  It was definitely a reality check to tell me I need to get serious about my training.

Byron's wonderful.  Even in the cold he wake up early with me for races.

I now have my first running medal!
[Every runner was given one -- I'm not that good.]

Byron spent hours [seriously -- he stayed up until almost 5am] building a Captain America shield for the Halloween Party at his office.  The shield is intense; it flies and everything.

I had to spend Halloween night finishing up some lesson plans for my Gifted Endorsement [Boo.] but made sure to take a break and bake cookies.  Mmmm!  Let's be honest, cookies make any holiday better!

I was overjoyed to finally use my mixer for the first time!
 It doesn't matter how old you are -- sprinkles AND icing [lots of both] are always the right choice.

 Unfortunately, I didn't get to take a picture of the pumpkin we carved before it rotted.  So Byron recreated it on a cookie and made me photograph it immediately!  [It was a zombie pumpkin.]

October flew by.  I can't believe Halloween is already over.  One year we're going to have a Halloween party and dress up and decorate the house. . . go all out.  Maybe next year.

It's crazy that it's already November!  Thanksgiving is 3 weeks from today - whoa.  It's gonna be a crazy month: birthdays, election day, Thanksgiving, a 1/2 marathon, Black Friday, and more. . .

Here we go!

Pumpkin Fluff Recipe

What's the best things about fall [besides the cool weather, beautiful colored leaves, jack-o-lanterns, mums, apple ciders, crisp breezes. . .]?  Okay, there's a lot to love about fall.  A LOT.  Especially pumpkins!  They're great to look at and they're great to eat!

Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin breads, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pies, pumpkin cheesecakes.  Yum.  Unfortunately, those delicious pumpkin dishes don't always help your skinny jeans fit the way you'd like.  So here you go: a pumpkin treat that won't expand your waistline and leave you feeling guilty.  Plus, you can dip apples in it!

(recipe makes about 6 cups)

Ingredients:
1 - 16 oz. can of pumpkin
1 - 6 oz. container of fat free vanilla Greek yogurt
1 - 8 oz. container of fat free Cool Whip
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp. of vanilla
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
sprinkle of all spice

Directions:
Mix cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and all spice into pumpkin.  Stir in the brown sugar until completely blended.  Add the vanilla. Stir until blended.  Mix in yogurt.  Stir in cool whip until completely blended.  Refrigerate until serving.  

Serve with apple slices, bananas, or graham crackers.  Mmmmm!

the best things of fall

Good friends.  God created us to be relational beings and blesses us with incredible people to live life with . . . laughing until there are tears in your eyes, acting silly without the fear of judgement, and heart to heart conversations.  I cannot express how blessed I feel to have such wonderful friends that encourage me and bring me closer to the Lord.

As iron sharpens iron,

a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17

I love my friends and miss them when we're apart.  One of the reasons Byron and I love our new apartment so much is because we're in a location that allows us to see our friends and family more often.

 We're happy to have hosted our first overnight guests.  Cal and Ashley were the lucky guinea pigs!  It was a perfect weekend to be outside and enjoy all things fall.  We took a trip to a brewery, enjoyed hot apple dumplings [no photo or recipe yet, but it will be posted soon!], and pumpkins, of course!

Subtly creepy.  

After the brewery, we picked up some pumpkins & cider and the boys got busy carving.

Have you ever added apple slices to your cider beer?  You should try it. 

I still haven't taken a picture of our pumpkin yet -- whoops -- I'll take one soon!

Byron and I thought once that once we were living in the same city together, our weekends would slow down a bit.  It hasn't happened yet, though.  We're staying very busy and enjoying every minute together!

first days as Anna Livermore [officially]

After spending hours with the most friendly people in Gwinnett at the Social Security Office and Department of Driver Services, I am legally Anna McCray Livermore!  Yes, it took me 5 months to make it happen . . . whoops!

[The 'L' is for Livermore]

Byron and I had an adventurous weekend together as [the official] Mr. & Mrs. Livermore.  We decided to head up to North Georgia for some hiking and camping at Mount Yonah.  The weather was incredible on Saturday -- it could not have been more perfect.

Gorgeous Trails.

The biggest snail shell I've ever seen.

About halfway to the top. 

The second half of the hike was much steeper and strenuous.  [It didn't help that we decided to blaze our own trails by climbing the rock faces on the side of the mountain!]  Breathtaking views made it all worthwhile though.  

I mean, how can anyone deny God's existence when they see sights like this?

Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:2

Right before sunset we made it the the top of the mountain and set up camp: stacking stones for the fire pit, collecting kindling and dry firewood, and hanging our hammock.  Soon our fire was blazing and we were enjoying hotdogs and roasted marshmallows.  

Spiral hotdogs cooked over a campfire,  roasted marshmallows, and the view from the top of a mountain:
 there are few things better in this world.

We decided to drive into Helen for Ocktoberfest this morning.  Neither of us had been to Helen in years, so we spent the afternoon eating Brats by the river, meandering through shops, and people watching in the biergarten.

On our hike down the mountain this morning.

Ocktoberfest

More than the adventures of the weekend, I absolutely loved spending uninterrupted time with Byron.  Without our cell phones, our [still] unorganized apartment, and my countless 'To Do' lists, we were able to really focus on each other and enjoy the blessing that marriage is.  What a weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Last week was crazy and I didn't have time to post my 'Thankful Thursday' post, but I've felt incredibly blessed over the past few weeks for many reasons.  My prayers have been answered in ways I couldn't have imagined and God's making sure everything 'falling right into place.'  I could make this list much, much longer, but for now, here's my 'Thankful Thursday' list:  

Friends with servants’ hearts.  On Friday a few of Byron’s friends assisted us in moving from Macon to our new apartment.  Without them we would not have been able to do it [honestly – we’d still be standing there wondering how to lift the dresser].  

Our new apartment.  Although it’s filled with boxes and lacking any semblance of an order, we are grateful have a new apartment together.  Bridget and Mook and Byron and I are becoming more and more comfortable in our new home.  The boxes are all gone and our items are slowly, but surely, finding their 'place.'

Sales.  I have loved shopping the sale racks [I refuse to buy anything full price] to find new items for this apartment.  This week I was able to find new kitchen accessories, lampshades, and pillows.

Dinners with Byron.  It's so great to be able to eat dinner with my husband every night.  We love cooking [and eating, duh!] together, so it's been awesome to spend time preparing meals together each night.

Fall.  Everything about fall is awesome -- the weather, the changing leaves, Mums, pumpkins, and the delicious autumn foods.  It's perfect for walking the dogs and enjoying afternoons outside as the leaves are beginning to change colors.  

1st week in our 2nd home

With all of the moving and unpacking occupying our time, the past week has been pretty crazy for Byron and me.  We've both expressed [many times] as we open our boxes, it's like we're opening our wedding gifts for the first time!  And, sadly, for some of the items, it is the first time they've been out of their box.  Incase we weren't excited enough when we unwrapped them in May, we are ecstatic about using the incredible gifts we received as wedding gifts in our new home!

Bridget and Mook and Byron and I are all becoming more and more comfortable in Peachtree Corners.

Byron and I prepared our first home-cooked meal together.  Let me just say, these were THE BEST mashed potatoes I have ever had.  A recipe will be posted soon.

Since we hadn't fully unpacked, we ate off the plates Lindsay and Karie painted for us.

We're lucky to live walking distance from two parks, the Chattahoochee, and minutes away from great restaurants and shopping!  Saturday morning we found a local coffee shop that we look forward to visiting often.  Our location is perfect for us -- between our jobs, close to family, and in a great community!

My brother, Stephen, celebrated his 25th birthday this weekend.  For the first time in years he was able to drive home for his birthday.  Even though he hasn't been in Knoxville long, it was wonderful to see him!  His birthday dessert of choice:

this recipe will be posted, too.

And, God answered our prayers in a huge way.  Byron's needed a new truck for a while [let's be honest, if you've seen it in the past months, you were surprised it even ran!], so this week we prayed and prayed while looking for a truck, doubting whether or not it was even an option.  After days of looking and calling dealerships, Byron just happened upon a dealership that had the truck he's been wanting at a price we've been wanting!  I absolutely love seeing Byron so happy and thankful.  It's a tremendous relief to have a reliable truck for him.

Words cannot express how thankful I feel to be living with Byron again -- it's such a great thing to end a long day of work with him and the pups.  My 'list of things to be thankful for' is growing at a rapid rate and I only have God to thank.  Through the moving and everything, we've really had to rely on His plan and trust that He is faithful.  God is so good.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is His faithfulness;

his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:21-23