Thanksgiving Football

I didn’t take very many pictures on Thanksgiving day which is a bummer since most of my family was in town for it. But I did take some pictures of the guys playing back-yard football.

In this picture is (left to right) my cousin Ben Heffernan(White shirt) my brother Steven Shahan(another white shirt :S) My Grandpa Cec Reid(Maroon sweater)Uncle Dale (Blue shirt) my cousin Marcus Heffernan (Teal shirt) and my future hubby, Kenny Godby(Red shirt, surprise surprise).

Blessings from God’s Word

What I’d like to share today was from Mrs. Judy’s Sunday-school lesson yesterday.

I’ve been teaching 2-3 year olds for about 3 years now so it has been surprising to see how much I missed hearing from God’s Word from an older, more experienced, lady who can add her own life’s experiences to what she is teaching. It was a real blessing yesterday and I hope I can share adequately what it was that God gave me out of this.

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16, 23-24

1  O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2   Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3   Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4   For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5   Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6   Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

1. God Knows Me. vs.1-6

13   For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14   I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15   My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16   Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

2. God Made Me. vs 13-16

~Mrs. Judy talked about the word reins meaning the innermost part of a person, basically the organs. She then passed around a book showing all of the stages of pregnancy. So we could all see how God formed us. She pointed specifically to a picture of the baby at about 4 weeks, did you know that the heart has already formed at such an early stage? We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

~She talked about verse 15 and “the lowest part of the earth” meaning the woman’s womb. Even though the woman may not know that she is expecting yet God does from the moment we are conceived. He knows all about us “My substance was not hid from thee."

I thought of Andrea Hamilton during Sunday School and the little baby picture she has on her blog showing how her baby is growing and developing. That little baby even though he isn’t born yet is still a person in God’s sight and He knows everything about him already.

23   Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24   And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

3. Davids Prayer. vs. 23-24

This is a familiar part of scripture to most people, David wanted God to see every aspect of his life and lead him in the way he should go. Mrs Judy just asked each of us if we could honestly pray this prayer about our lives or if there were things in the way that we wouldn’t want God to see(which He does anyways as seen earlier). Its not an easy thing to pray that prayer and be willing to remove those “wicked ways.” I’m so glad that God, even though he sees all of our downfalls and failures He also loves us enough to show grace and mercy and gently tries to lead us “in the way everlasting.”

Well I don’t feel like I’ve done a good job at sharing this but hopefully you were able to see something from this Psalm in a different light than before. If you have anything to add about this or just  comment I’d love to hear what you have to say about this Psalm.

Thankful Thursday

 I decided to give some thanksgiving quotes for today. Some are funny and some are serious, I hope you enjoy.

 

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of Thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer

 

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude. ~E.P. Powell

Thanksgiving was never ment to be shut up in one single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. ~Irv Kupcinet

 The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings ~Henry Ward Beecher

Let us remember that, as much as has been given to us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Thanksgiving is America’s national chow-down feast, the one occation each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty. ~Michael Dresser

Coexistence: What the farmer does with the turkey… until Thanksgiving. ~Mike Connoly

 God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart. ~Izaac Walton

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now. ~A.W. Tozer

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. ~Aesop

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you?   ~William A. Ward

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain

 

Wednesday – News and Views

This is just going to be a quick update on our week since I’ve been bad and haven’t posted anything since last Thursday. Opps

Friday : I went with 3 of my bridesmaids to David’s Bridal to pick out their dresses for the wedding. We all had a really great time together, I wish Missy could have been here to go with us. I had decided to let each girl pick out the style she wanted as long as it came in the right color, two of them ended up picking the same dress :) as long as they’re happy that's all that matters.

Kenny came down that evening to ref a basketball game at ABC and to watch a movie at  the Spencer’s house. So it was nice to spend some time with him and with close friends.

Sunday: The morning service went very well, every Sunday we have some new visitors which is very. We have recently been getting ready for our Christmas Cantata on December 5th. The church, from what they tell me, has never tried to do a cantata so they seem excited/nervous/anxious about it. I’ve never done anything like this before either. God has really been stretching me since coming to Emmanuel Baptist Church and I’m loving it!

Monday: Dad came home from the hospital! YAY!!!!! He has to be on medication via intervenes for the next 6 weeks which will keep him, as his Home Care nurse put it, “home bound.” You can imagine how much Dad is going to enjoy that! (sarcasm)

 

Events Coming Up:

• Kenny and I are going to my Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving after he plays in ABC’s Turkey Bowl on Thursday.
• 12 days until EBC’s Christmas Cantata
• 2 1/2 weeks until Kenny and I go to Colorado to visit his family. [{(very excited)}]
• 1 month until Christmas
• 6 months, 1 week and 4 days until Our Wedding! [{(excited again!)}]

The Bible says to number our days… some of us are just more literal with that interpretation. Sorry I didn’t include any pictures today, I have lots to show as I’ll be sharing some of my families traditions leading up to Christmas.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thankful Thursday

It has just been happening by accident that I’ve posted a special blessing on Thursdays and today is no different. I don’t know that I’ll always post some thankfulness on Thursday but for today the title just seemed to fit.

This is the Top Seven things I am Thankful for at this moment in my life.

 

1. My Heavenly Father – He guides, protects, supplies, and corrects me and it is all done out of a love that I fail to understand and comprehend. Here recently my Dad has been in the hospital because of a serious infection in his foot. I know that the Lord is in total control, He hasn’t forgotten our family or what is going on in our lives. Because I have a Father in Heaven, I have comfort that everything will work out to the glory of God.
2. My Parents – They are not just my parents but also my best friends. I am thankful for the Godly heritage I have from them and I hope to raise my children to the glory of God as my parents have done.  There is a song that says it best “I may not have riches as some others may, but I have a mother who knows how to pray. And there may be some things I missed in my youth, but I have a Father who stands for the truth! I have a goodly heritage, I am blessed with things you can’t see. I have a goodly heritage, and that is worth far more to me."
3. My Family – I was raised in a Christian Family that encourages each other to serve the Lord whether in full time Christian service or as a layman in a church. My Aunt and Uncle started a church in Kansas and have been there for at least 20 years. My cousin Abby and her new hubby are proud supporters of her parents church in KS. Her brother Ben and his wife are at BJU studying the Bible (the last I heard) in order to be missionaries someday, they also are helping a church in Linville Falls. My older sister Missy and her husband are currently in Missions Training at NTBI in Canada with the hopes of someday going to Papua New Guinea to translate the Bible into tribal languages. My brother Stephen and his wife work with the music and youth at Calvary Baptist Church as well as working in the area. All of this stems from grandparents who brought up their children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to love and serve the Lord.
4. My Future Hubby – You didn’t really expect me to get too far without at least mentioning Kenny, did you? :) I have been praying about/for Kenny for almost 3 years now asking the Lord to bring him the right woman to be his helpmeet, even if that meant it wasn’t going to be me. But, as Dawn said a couple weeks ago; “God gets the glory and I get to glow” because I get to be the lucky girl who spends the rest of her life with Kenny Godby and I couldn’t be more excited about it!
5. My Job – How many people can say that God worked out the perfect job just for them? I can! During my last year of Cosmetology school I started getting bad headaches from the chemicals and thought maybe I wouldn’t be able to continue in that profession. About 2-3 weeks before graduation I started looking for a “haircuts only” position in a salon somewhere when a guy named Jeff called my school looking for someone getting ready to graduate who was looking for a “haircuts only” kind of job. (yes he said those exact words) I have been working for Jeff and Lisa for the past 4 1/2 years and I have loved (almost, wink wink) every minute of it! 
6. My Church – I really have 3 churches that I could at any moment call my home church. Maranatha Baptist, the church I grew up in, got saved and baptized in and will soon be getting married in. Glory Baptist, the church that helped me break out of my shell and learn to serve, they also taught me a lot about helping each other and praying for one another. And lastly but not least, Emmanuel Baptist, I’ve only been there a little over a month now but they have welcomed me into their church family and I have already learned a lot from each person.
7. Our Youth Group – Brock, Emily, Dakota, Elizabeth, Demi, Mason and Mikaela. (I don’t want to hear “Ms Becky why is Brock first on the list?” Because your names are not put in any order of importance.) With that said I think we have the best youth group around and I enjoy being with each one of them.

I could keep going but if I’m actually going to get this posted on Thursday I had better stop there. With Thanksgiving just around the corner (seriously its next week) What are you thankful for?

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kenny’s Tux Fitting!

Excuse me, Miss! Could you pull that a little tighter? I wanna see how many shades of blue he can turn. :)

 

Kenny… did you really wear your SLIPPERS to the mall? Just wondering :)

Winning Engagement Picture!

#7 is the winner!

Don’t worry we are going to crop the “weed” out of the way ;)

#12 got 2nd place   

 

 

 

 

#4 came in 3rd

Happy Veterans Day!

 
I grew up in a household that was always proud to support our country and the men and women who gives their lives for our freedom. My Dad is a veteran and as a young girl I spent lots of time at the feet of other veterans who I have developed some treasured friendships. Because of this background Veterans Day just can not go un-noticed!

“But the freedom that they fought for,

and the country grand they wrought for,

is their monument to-day, and for aye!”

                  ~ Thomas Dunn English

“This nation will remain the land of the free

only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

~Elmer Davis

“Freedom is never free” ~Unknown

“I think there is one higher office than president,

and I would call that patriot.” ~Gary Hart

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms.

It means a strong desire to live

                                         taking the form of readiness to die.”

                                        ~G. K. Chesterton

“In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.” ~Mark Twain, The Notebook, 1935 

Thank a Veteran Today!

P.S. If you are a Veteran or Military Personnel living in/near Rutherford County stop by Spindale Barbershop, 111 West Main, Spindale, for a free haircut.

Thank you for your service to our country!

Last Chance

Today is the last day to vote for your favorite picture!

On the side of my blog here there is a list of the different posts that I’ve done. Click on:

Engagement Pictures 2 – Vote for your Favorite. 

That will take you directly to see all the pictures.  Thursday evening I’ll post the winning picture.

  

 

 

 

 

 

Can you see where his foot slipped? :s

 

 

Kenny “throwing” me into the water.

Wedding Date Change!

Ok because we were having problems getting a reception site and photographer Kenny and I have decided to move the wedding up a week. The new wedding date is:

 

June 4, 2011

So now that we have that taken care of everything seems to be coming together nicely.

1. The Reception site is booked. Double Springs Baptist Church, Shelby, NC.
2. Bette-Anne Stroud is our Photographer for the day. (She’s the main reason we switched our wedding date, she is just that good. www.stroud-photography.com )
3. I’m talking to my jeweler friend, Tye, on Tuesday to pick out Kenny’s ring. :)
4. Mom and I are going this coming Friday morning to pick out the cake.
5. Kenny and I are going to do our Wal-mart Gift registry this coming Friday evening.
6. Mom, the bridesmaids and I are going dress shopping on the 19th of November.

 

Well now I feel like we are finally getting somewhere! Kenny and I are looking forward to TAC Conference coming up this Saturday. Mr Cajiuat, my former youth pastor is the speaker for the day! I hope he tells the Ziggy story, that message always reminds me to live for Christ today because tomorrow may be too late.

I don’t know how I got from Wedding planning to TAC :/ But I guess I should end there before I hit another rabbit trail. :)

Blog ya later!

“God gets all the glory and I get to glow.”

I’ve got a little story to share about a couple I’ve been fortunate enough to meet at Emmanuel Baptist Church. I don’t know every detail to their story but I want to share what I do know.

About 3 weeks ago Todd and Dawn walked into the doors of Emmanuel on a Wednesday afternoon. They had just moved into the area from Florida. And as far as I know they had a deal on a house before they moved but when they got here the deal had fallen through. Around the same time they traded vehicles only to have the new one burn up on them.  This left them homeless and without a car. They started asking around for someone who could help them and eventually someone directed them to come to Emmanuel. The church put them up in a hotel if they came to church.

For the past three weeks the two of them have been helping out around the church. They have been such a blessing with their faithfulness to the church, and Todd seems to be a Jack-of-all-trades, fixing doors and painting in sometimes less than superb places (the rafters in the Burlison Building being one of them.) Recently Todd has found a job, I didn’t think to ask where, but he is still helping out with different projects around the church.

Last night at church Dawn called me over to her and said “did Kenny tell you the good news? We got an apartment!” She started to tear up just telling me about it. They had tried earlier in the week to get an apartment, that was just walls and carpet but for some reason it didn’t work out. She started telling me about the new one. “Its a fully furnished apartment right across the street from the church! God didn’t let the other one work out because He had something way better for us. And I have 3 job opportunities as well!” “Well when did you move in?” I asked, now I’m all excited too. “Today! We moved in today!”

After church Kenny and I along with Cindy and Brock went over to see the new apartment. Fully furnished, beautiful wood floors, washer/dryer, big kitchen. Dawn was so excited she kept touching things as she showed them to us. She said she was doing it because she wanted to make sure it was actually there and not just a dream.

As we were getting ready to leave Cindy commented that Dawn was so happy she was glowing. Dawn just replied, “God gets all the glory, and I get to glow.”

I am always amazed when we think something is hopeless, God provides more abundantly than we could have even thought to ask for.

Congratulations Todd and Dawn on the apartment!

Day One Voting Stats

 

 

I want to thank those of you who have already voted for you favorite picture. It has been interesting to see what every one is choosing!

Here are the totals so far:

#2. has 1 vote

#4. has 1 vote

#7. has 7 votes

#12. has 5 votes

#13. has 2 votes

 

Encourage others to vote on our pictures – even if we don’t know them :)

It’ll just make the whole thing more interesting! (for me anyways.)

Remember you have until November 10, 2010 to choose your favorite.

Engagement Pictures 2 – Vote for your favorite

Ok these are my favorites out of the 130 pictures Cindy took Sunday afternoon. Your more than welcome to comment on as many as you like but make sure to make it clear which one is your top pick. The one with the most votes will be the “Official Engagement Picture.”

Directions for voting:

• You can only choose ONE(1) favorite – Did you read that Mom?  Mrs. Godby? Only one! Just kidding :)
• Leave me a comment on this blog choosing your favorite
• You have until November 10th to vote – this is if you need to sleep on it before deciding :)

Here they are!

1. Funny story…. That’s not my engagement ring  I sent mine off to be sized on Friday, Cindy let me borrow hers for the pictures. Oops!

 

     2.  

    3.   I think this one looks like a magazine picture…just sayin

    4.

    5.   Doesn’t he just look dreamy in this picture? Alright I’m going to say it… Dreamboat!

   6.   Ok so I probably wouldn’t use this one for “the” engagement picture because its taken from far away… but it is one of my favorites

 

   7.  

    8.   Funny Fact: Kenny’s hand is covering up some other “lover’s initials” D+M -We should have put ours there and took a picture of that!

    9.   Maybe we can photo-shop those initials out :s

 

    10.

    11.   Once again, I probably wont use this one for the main picture but I thought it was really sweet. :)

 

    12.  

 

    13.  

  

Ok that’s all! Do you see now why I was having a hard time choosing my favorite? :) Please remember to vote for your favorite!