Headed to Honduras

Missing a few members of the team, but it's the first picture of many!

Tomorrow morning our team of 16 will meet at the International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson, where we will spend a few hours waiting in anticipation board our plane and soar across the Caribbean.  A few hours later we will land in Tegucigalpa.

We have made our own plans regarding our week will be spent in Honduras, including Vacation Bible School and some construction projects, but excitement fills my mind as I think about what God's got in store, because His plans always  surpass our own.  It is very possible that our plans will be dismissed by His, so we've been praying for open hearts and minds, for patience and understanding as we embrace a new culture and new friendships.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands us, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of time."

God has called and provided the way for the 16 of us in our group to spend a week in Honduras.  To be the hands and feet of Jesus. To love the people as He would.

Please pray for us as we travel.  Pray that the Hondurans have open hearts to us as we meet them. That they will be able to see Christ in our words and actions.  Pray that their hearts, and ours as well, will experience God in new, extraordinary ways.

Thank you for your support!  We'll update each night with stories from the day!

a different kinda goal

You know the satisfaction you get from crossing something off a ‘To Do’ list?  I love that feeling: the feeling of accomplishment.  [Maybe that’s why I always have Post-Its scattered and stuck everywhere…]  Every year I look forward to setting new goals for myself.  Sometimes they are a little, or a lot, over zealous, which means I don’t accomplish them . . . but why not push myself, right?

2014’s goal is different than any I’ve ever set and it will be a whole different kind of difficult. 

In 2014, my goal is to not purchase any new clothing.

I know, I know.  Whattttt?!?

It’s weird though, because while I love to shop, I don’t feel like I overspend on clothes by any means, but I do have more clothes than I need.  28 days into 2014 I can proudly say I’ve almost made it 1 month abiding by my goal!  It sounds silly, and ridiculously materialistic, but when I think about how often I walk into Target or stop by the mall for something and unexpectedly pick up a blouse or running shorts, I realize that it happens a lot more than intended.

Knowing that I won’t be spending money on clothes this year is such a relief.  I’m looking forward to a year without purchasing new clothing and I’m excited to see how things in my life change because of it!

the end of '13

I'm pretty sure the earth began spinning much faster as soon as October ended.  How are November and December already gone?  Obviously, I've been busy [hellllllooooooo, not a single post in December, and hardly any in November].  Unfortunately, I still am, but I'm also determined to take the time to sit down an write more often.  Starting now.  And by write, I mean re-cap November and December of 2013.  In pictures...

Minnehaha Falls in early November.  We were blown away by its beauty.

Mook swam, Byron climbed, I photographed, and Bridget tried to keep her feet dry.

Ran in our tacky sweaters along the path of Christmas lights at Lake Lanier.

Spent my birthday with this hunk at King and Duke.

Celebrated Christmas with our families!!
My Grandparents' house [above]

at his parents' house 

and with my family!

Bridget loves Christmas, but wasn't too fond of her gift [a candy cane shaped bone]

Mook also loves Christmas -- particularly the gifts.

Byron and I got our 2nd tree together.  This year I even got to put all of my Barbie ornaments on it!

The Faces of Bridget

A week away from school has left me with some time on my hands and I thought I'd compile a few of the thousands of photos of Bridget, everyone's favorite Corgidor.  She wrote the captions herself [duh] to allow you to better get to know her.

I am my grandma's favorite.

Everyone thinks I'm just a princess, but I'm straight gangsta.

Mmmm, flowers.  I love to smell flowers!

I remember to buy my mom cards for Mother's Day.  Then I use these puppy dog eyes to get whatever I want.

Zoolander ain't got nothin' on me.

The mess of moving makes me CRAZY. 

I guard our home all day.  It's exhausting. Thank goodness my parents bought me this pillow.

Santa, look into these eyes.  I've been good alllll year.  I promise.

This year I am thankful for...

Everyone on Facebook seems to participate in the 'Days of Thankfulness' or whatever it is called, where each day they post one thing they're thankful for.  Instead of posting each day, I'm compiling my list all into this post.

I am thankful for...
1.  Such a loving, gracious God and for the truth in His word.
2.  My wonderful husband -- he loves me more than I'd ever imagined possible.
3.  My mom, dad, and brothers -- I couldn't have asked for a better family to raise me.
4. The best grandparents on the planet -- they are so inspiring and I hope I'm like them when I grow up.
5. My awesome in-laws -- they are such a blessing to Byron and me in countless ways.
6. My aunts, uncles, and cousins -- they have always been constant, supportive, encouraging, and loving.
7. My friends -- they've shaped who I am, are dependable, and make me laugh like no one else can.
8. My job -- I love my school much [maybe because of the next two on the list!]
9. My friends at work -- they are such a blessing.  I could not make it through the day without them.
10. My students -- they keep me on my toes and make each day enjoyable and interesting.
11. Bridget & Mook -- the two pups that bring joy to each and every day with their wagging tails.
12. The 11 women in my women's small group -- I am so thankful for the new friendships we're building and for how God's working in them.
13. The 4 couples in our married small group -- It is such a blessing to build relationships with couples who have the same love for the Lord.
14. A home -- it's not where we want to stay forever, or even for another 6 months, but it's fulfills the needs we have right now and is a temporary place for Byron, the pups, and I to call home.
15. Laughter -- because it leaves you feeling better than almost anything.  It's something so simple with such a great impact.
16. Wakeboarding -- One of the first things Byron taught me and our favorite way to spend time together.
17. Running -- because nothing makes you feel free-er.
18. Food -- oh, how I love to cook it!
19. Wine -- specifically Prosecco and Cabernet, and how good it is at the end of a long day!
20. Free time -- that allows me time to clean, write, grade, pray, shop, and catch up with good friends.

Cranberry Salad

[An actual conversation held at a Friendsgiving one year.]

Friend 1: "Will you pass the beets?"

Friend 2: "Those are yams!"

Friend 1: "They're the same thing!"

Friend 3: "Actually...it's cranberry sauce."

You can't make this stuff up.

Thanksgiving is a great holiday; a time to spend thinking about all that we a thankful for with family, friends, and yummy food.  As a child I always intentionally skipped the cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving.  Sometimes you could see the ridges from the inside of the can, and others it had a similar consistency to cottage cheese.  It was not to be trusted.

Until I had it at my wonderful in-laws Thanksgiving.  My mind was blown.  Who knew the side of cranberries could be so delicious?!  My mother-in-law was gracious enough to share with me her mother's recipe, and I'm sharing it with you!  I did alter the ingredients a bit from the original, but it is delicious!

Grandma Springer's Cranberry Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh cranberries, finely chopped in a food processor

1 - 20 oz can of crushed pineapple, drained

1 - 11 oz can of Mandarin Oranges, drained

2 - 3 oz packages of Lemon Jell-o

7 spoonfuls of white sugar [more or less, to taste]

2 cups boiling water

Directions:

Dissolve Jell-o in boiling water.  Place in refridgerator.  You want the Jell-o to cool and begin to  congeal {it takes about 45 min - 1 hour}.  While the Jell-o is in the fridge, finely grind the cranberries in the food processor and add sugar to the cranberries.  Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then stir in the crushed pineapple.  Once the Jell-o is beginning to congeal, add it to the salad and stir it until it's combined.  Last, add the mandarin oranges and mix them with the salad.  Cover the salad and place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.  Enjoy!!

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.