Little Mommy- Day 5

Today at the 30 day challenge is Siblings.

I have one very special sister. She is four years older than me and is my polar opposite, which is why we get along so well. : ) Of course, we have had our disagreements but a lot of who I am today is because of my sister. She warned me about all sorts of things and shared her joys with me as well. I was her maid of honor at her wedding on 7/7/7 and she was my matron of honor at my wedding last year. She is a fantastic wife and one day will be a wonderful mother-once she gets over germs : ) She is a wonderful woman of God and I am proud to call her my sister. I know she prays for me and I love that she challenges me to be the best women and wife I can be, not for our glory but for the Lord.

I have so many memories of her being my little mommy. A memory I have is being in my moms room and us playing "pancake." She would put my legs in between her legs and squeeze. OMG! It was terrible, maybe thats why I have no muscles in my legs. haha! Another memory is her demanding I let her pluck my eyebrows and telling me I had a uni brow and she had to do something about it. I also remember laying in the bed with her the night before her wedding and us crying together because of our happiness and change. I probably was crying because I was scared- I don't like to share her.

There is something about having a sister that is amazing. I am so thankful for her. Love you little mommy!!

Prayers Needed

A teacher at my school has had some major family struggles lately. Her sister and brother-in-law had twins 5 months ago. They had to be in NICU for awhile but are finally at home. However, on October 3rd he had a stroke. He is in ICU currently and they are doing everything they can but it looks grim. Please keep this family in your prayers on all levels, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. These are things a young family should never have to go through but we serve a mighty powerful God who has a wonderful plan for this family so be in prayer for a peace amidst this chaos. I will update if I find anything out.

You can look at pictures and get updates at Together for Shorty.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help and you have healed me.

Psalms 30:2

My Day Three of 30 Day Challenge is posted below.

My Parents-Day Four

Today at Katie's is Your Parents.

*I'm at school, so I'll add photos when I get home*

Oh my parents. How many times growing up did I yell and say I would NEVER be like that?! Yet, they are the PERFECT example of how I hope Justin and I can be. I took them so for granted growing up but now I am so thankful for both of them.

My mom-I am the spitting image of my mother. not in looks. i look like my dad but boy oh boy are mom and I alike? Its scary sometimes. We say the same things, we do the same things. Mom and I talk at least 2 or 3 times a day and when J is gone more than that!! She was a teacher forever so she understands my days of success and my days of failure. When my mom was young she was hit by a drunk driver and was never supposed to walk or have kids. She does both. : ) She is such an inspiration. She has a positive outlook on life and KNOWS that everyday is a gift from above and we are here for a reason. She spends her days "looking for God's gifts" Anytime I'm having a bad day, that is what she tells me..."Look for his gifts" Everyone always told me how hilarious my mom is- I never saw it- now I'm just like her! I hope I can be as wonderful of a teacher as my mom was. I keep her Teacher of the Year bell on my desk to remind me to do my best each and every day. She still calls me gooey and thinks she needs to remind me to wash my hands and brush my teeth. My mom is one of my very best friends and I can't imagine life without her.

Papadoodle-
Oh daddy bear. I am the baby of the family so I have always been "the princess" (much to Jessica's dismay- my older sister) I was Dads son. I was a trainer for the football, basketball and soccer team in high school and my senior year we won state in basketball. I got a medal just like the boys. : ) Dad was so proud. He still wears his football shirt with my name on it. Dad was always the one who after we ate dinner each night would get the bible and the Josh McDowel family devotional book and we would have little devotionals after dinner. Dad is such the spiritual leader in our family, just like the bible tells him to be. I know he prays for me and wants the best for my life. Something that sticks out in my head today is recently I resigned from my job as most of you know. Dad called me and told me how proud he was of me for standing up. It made me feel so good. To hear your daddy say he is proud of you. Joyful. And then when God provided my new job, when I called Daddy he started crying and prayed with me over the phone a prayer of praise to the Lord. It was wonderful. I love that I have those memories with my daddy bear. We also watch Disney Channel together. : ) To end on a funny note, last year I am teaching 1st grade and I get a text from Dad in the middle of the day that says, "Stilettos, guess I didn't get the memo...Nodding my head like ya, moving my hips like ya" Yeah that's right...a Miley song text. LOVE IT!

Together they are an unstoppable team. They have been married 31 years and continue to love and cherish each other. Surely they have had arguments over the years but I was never worried that they would leave each other because a bond like theirs can't be broken. My mom's parents were married 52 years before her dad passed away and my dad's parents 61 years before my grandfather passed away so they have a good family track record and Justin and I have a lot to live up too. : )

My First Love- Day Three

Today is Day Three over at Katie's 30 Day Challenge. I figured if I can't keep to a work out routine perhaps I can keep to 30 days of blogging.

Day 3 is your first love.

I have contemplated on this all day. Did I want to write about my first boyfriend? candy? coming to know the Lord? my husband? etc? But the one thing that kept coming back to my mind was a little boy named Austin. He was a pure bred cocker spaniel and was my best friend for 17 years. He passed away April of 2009. I have always loved animals but there is something about having your own that makes it all better. Austin lived to make us happy. He thrived on our happiness. There is no one in this world that will never be mad at you, and is constantly there to be your best friend the way Austin was. He was there with me through elementary, middle, high school and my first three and a half years of college. He was such a good dog. My whole family still cries when we talk about him. I don't like to think about it. He truly was my first love.




I will always remember and love Austin "Bubby"

Austin & Me- I was the spy and he was my spy dog on a regular basis. : )

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Sweet Jamie over at This Kind of Love hosts What I'm Loving Wednesday and I decided to link up today. Kids are at CAMP again and I am all ready for the rest of the week.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

1. It's already Wednesday!
2. Hubby came home three days early.
3. Our bedroom furniture is FINALLY going to be delivered on Friday- (we only ordered it ya know the beginning of AUGUST!- I will NEVER buy anything from Ashley Furniture again- they have lied to us, been rude to us and still we don't have our bedroom suite)
4. Elissa is getting married in two weeks!!!
5. Modern Family & Cougar Town come on tonight!
6. Aggie football is only 3 days away.
7. I got to eat Spoons last night (PTO fundraiser for school so Justin couldn't tell me no) hehe
8. That my sore throat and runny nose are allergies not me getting sick.
9. I got to hold Ava basically ALL weekend long.

and last but not least

10. I AM LOVING THAT TEXAS IS ACTUALLY HAVING FALL WEATHER! It is beautiful. Pip and I go for long walks everyday because it is soo pretty!!

Pumpkins

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin...

God picks you,
washes all the dirt off,
cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate and greed.
Then he gives you a new smiling face and puts HIS light inside of you to shine for all the world to see :)


Thanks Pamelia for sharing!! Xoxo

Challenge

A bunch of blogs I read are doing the 30 day challenge and I decided I would join in!! My weeks have been boring with busy weekends so this challenge will keep me busy during the week as well. Thankfully I am not too far behind.

Day One: Introduce, Recent Picture, 15 interesting facts

My name is Lauren and I am 23 years old. I am a graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in Early Education. I work at an elementary school with 2nd graders who struggle with reading and math. I pull small groups all day. Its WONDERFUL. It the joy of teaching without the stress. I got married to my prince charming, my Knight in shining armor last summer and we have one fur baby, Pip.

one: I was born on Friday the 13th; therefore it is my lucky day.

TWO: I love to read children's books.

three: My husband thinks I am a nerd. (that he loves)

FOUR: I broke my back the summer before college tubing on the back of a jet ski.

five: I have had MRSA staph & had to have a pic line to get rid of it (at one time, I had 18 on my legs)

SIX: I almost died last February when I had H1N1, pneumonia and my body turned septic. I was in ICU for almost a week. God is good and fought my battle for me and pulled me through the valley.

seven: I love naps. (enough said)

EIGHT: God has rescued me and continued to show me his mercy and grace every day. Once I almost died, I realize every day TRULY is a gift. We spend so much time planning for a future that isn't guaranteed.

nine: all my friends have babies and give me a slight baby fever (no worries though- no babies yet)

TEN: A National Geographic Photographer is my DREAM JOB. I have a photography business currently, Knight Photography, but I do it on the side for now.

eleven: I could shop every day, all day. (online) I however, would love to have a personal shopper who could make me look cute without actually having to search

TWELVE: I love wearing hats.

thirteen: I'm allergic to penicillin and sulphur.

FOURTEEN: My closet is colored coordinated and my dresses are color and sleeve coordinated.

fifteen: (Justin's addition) I have a slight obsession with Disney Channel. (don't judge, I have to stay current with my 2nd graders)

Day Two: Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

Well one Sunday, Justin and I were at church and I saw a study for men raising sons and it was called "Raising Modern Day Knights" (actually a book)- well it hit me that Justin and I should be Modern Day Knights in this world full of sin. Knight is our last name so it works perfect. More than one meaning. : )