{Thanks}living and Insta-Friday

Last week's them was "Choose Joy."

This week's them has been, "I am redeemed."

You know that song on the radio right now?  

It's by Big Daddy Weave.

That's where I got the idea...

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be

Amen?

I'm incredibly thankful for a Savior who's saved me from myself.

I have a Savior who has forgiven my past.

I have a Savior who doesn't remember the sins I've committed.

What an overwhelming feeling.

Lately, Satan has just been telling me lies.

"You're not good enough, Beth."  

"You'd be better off getting a different job."

"You're not cut out for this job."

Ya know what?

Those are just what I said. Lies.

He has to tell me lies, so he can feel better about himself.

Well, NO MORE!

Each day on my way to work, I pray.

I've been praying for God to remind me who I am.

Know that song?

Tell me, once again who I am to You, who I am to You Tell me, lest I forget Who I am to You, that I belong to You

Can I get another amen?
I belong to my Savior.  
I am his, and He is mine. 
I'm not going to believe Satan's lies anymore!
Huzzah!  (That's for all of you Bunton boys. :])

This week I am very grateful.
I'm grateful that that my past can't define me.
I'm grateful for Jesus who made that possible.
Thank you, Lord!

I'll just show you what I'm thankful for this week:

I'm thankful for high school friends.  I'm so glad that we've kept in touch over the last 5 years, but I was really happy to see them last Saturday night.

I am thankful for new friends!  I got my #mugswap package on Tuesday night.  Look for that post coming September 10th!

 I bought my new friend Sally on Wednesday night.

She's my first sewing machine, and I'm incredibly excited

{and blessed to have the resources} about what creations we can come up with.

Notice, I also just had to buy a PINK sewing kit to go along with her.

That's right, I'll be sewing in style!!

 I got this amazing email yesterday morning.  Corporate office employees will be getting a short Friday {that's TODAY!} and we'll be leaving at 3:00 pm.  Woo-hoo!!!  My Monday is pretty much booked, so I'm thrilled to be getting off work early today!

 I am thankful for my memory.  I didn't forget how to sew.

I might have forgotten how to sew straight, but I didn't forget how.

I made my first napkin.

I picked the material out on this trip.

Yes, I've had it since June, okay?

I had every intention of sewing with my aunt's machine, but that didn't work out.

I'm thankful for my new one. :]

One other thing that I'm incredibly thankful for

(I didn't get a picture):

I'm thankful for new friends.

Tyler and I went to our first small group on Tuesday night.

It's exciting to meet new people...especially since we haven't met anyone in St. Louis yet.

**Disclaimer:  Cara and Rod, you can't get mad at this comment.  We already knew you.  We didn't have to meet you. :]**

Today I'm linking up for  {Thanks}living and Insta-Friday.

Sally the Singer

I bought a Singer today.

I named her Sally.

I'm excited to see what kind of projects she and I can come up with.

She's a beauty.

I already wound my first bobbin.  

I put my orange thread in.

I'm washing my material.

Tomorrow she and I will create.

**As I was driving home from Wal-Mart tonight, I was debating on a name.  I thought back to my momma (because she's the one who "taught" me [and I say that loosely...because I was a horrible student] how to sew back years ago).  She has her mom's sewing machine, and it was the one I learned on.  Her momma's name was Sally [I never had the privilege of meeting her], so I decided to name my new friend, Sally.  

Sally and I have some "connections."  She passed away on Mother's Day, May 13th, 1984.  I graduated high school on Mother's Day, May 13th, 2007.  I also graduated college on [Friday] May 13th, 2011.  I'm pretty sure we would have been friends.  She would have been an awesome grandma.  I can't wait to meet her someday.**

For now, she can be a part of me through my new sewing machine. 

:]

A Wedding Reception

Remember my best friend's wedding?

Well, just last month she had a wedding reception in her hometown.

I was blessed to be a guest at the reception as well.

The decorations were beautiful.

It was set up so that her friends and family could feel like they were at the wedding.

Cake table and beverage station

They had bee decorations on them! So cute!

The beverages were in beehives!

The buffet table

Table decorations

 Being introduced as Mr. & Mrs. Wood!!!

Of course, I had my favorite! Red Velvet!! :]  I absolutely loved the sparkles!

Mr. & Mrs. Wood serenaded the guests with some bluegrass!  While Mr. Wood {the father of the groom} played the gee-tar. :]

Pictures on display as the guests walked in

Guest book table 

A not very attractive photo of me talking with the groom. 

With the beautiful bride!  She's stunning.

Here's a snippet of  a song that they sang...I'm pretty sure my phone told me I didn't have any more room to record the rest.  I was a little upset.  But enjoy what I did get!

Random Facts About Me

Happy Sunday!!

Since I'm still at home today, I thought I'd share some fun stuff.

{I'm probably in Sunday School at this time when this post is published.}

How about random facts about me?

I've been trying to come up with a list, so here goes...

1.  I'm a list maker:  to-do list, grocery list, wanna-do list, bucket list, blog list.

You name it, and I've probably got a list for it.

No joke.

I'm Red.

2. S-A-L-E is my favorite four letter word.  

Rarely do I ever buy something full price.

There's no need.

3.  I love spontaneity....

...unplanned events and flying by the seat of my pants.

It's wonderful.

4.  At the same time, I love having my family calendar and personal planner filled out and organized so that I know what's happening in the upcoming weeks.

That may sound like an oxymoron, but there is definitely a balance between the two.

5.  My all time favorite movie is Princess Diaries.

I own it on VHS and DVD {oh! as well as the 2nd one, too}.

6.  Writing soothes my spirit and calms my soul.

I may not be the best at conveying my thoughts or just writing in general,

but I write from my heart.

7.  I hate those letter things that you have to fill our when you submit an online form or blog comment to make sure you're a real person.  {I've already made it easier for you to comment on my blog because I don't make you fill that out.  You're welcome.}  

I hate them because it takes me 5 tries at least before I get them right!

**So it's your turn...what do you want to know?  Leave me a comment and maybe I'll do another post with your questions.**

Reminisce

So today I'm at home. 

The place

...where I grew up.

...where the majority of my memories are.

...where part of my heart is.

...and most of all, where my family is.

It's the town's favorite {or least favorite} part of the year.

Fair Time!!

I happen to love it.

Everyone comes home.

We all hang out on the square.

We talk, laugh, and eat. 

We see people we haven't seen in a loooong time.

Tonight is my 5 year High School Reunion.

5 YEARS, PEOPLE!

To some, you may think, "That's it?"

But to me, I think, "Where in the world did the time go?"

My class was pretty close...we were all friends.

So I'm incredibly excited to see everyone.

Lots of us have gotten married.  Had babies.  Graduated college.  Gotten jobs.

It will be so cool to see what each person is doing in their life right now.

We had a small class...graduated with 88 or so.

According to facebook {because that's where we get all our knowledge these days}, at least half of my class will be there.

*Oh, and I had to get back on facebook so I could get the information about the reunion.  I wasn't really missing it that much.*

I always dreamed that I would be married at my 5 year reunion.

And I'm blessed to be just that.

I'm blessed to be taking my best friend, so that he can meet all the hooligans that I ran around with.

I'm excited to be meeting my friends' significant others and spouses.

I'm excited to be reacquainted again...to see how we've all matured {or not matured}.

Most of all, I hope to see what God is doing in each and every person's life.

I hope that Christ will radiate through me so that others {who may not know Him} will see something different inside of me. 

Insta-Friday

This past month, I haven't really been able to keep up with

Friday's Fabulous Foods.

My apologies.

I'll try harder in September 

{when our calender is free from weekend engagements}.

Before Tyler and I take off for the weekend

{we're going home...as in to my parent's}

I thought I'd partake in Insta-Friday.

Where all my pictures are from my phone.

{I hardly ever use my real camera anymore...to be honest.}

Honestly, it was a pretty good week.

We bought The Hunger Games.

Shh....don't tell my Granny!

I posted these on IG this week...

all of these pictures were taken out the airplane window

on the way home from Minnesota.

Awesome!

I went to my first NFL game.

Granted, it was preseason, but we were on the 12th row.

Cool!

{and for those of you who are going to give me a hard time about this, I like football in person MUCH better than on the tv...it's all about the atmosphere.}

I cooked!!

Yay!!

...and my husband washed dishes!!

I'm SOOOO incredibly grateful for him.

He's been such a big help since I went back to work.

I pinned my 1000th pin on Pinterest this week.

{this picture might not count...it's just a screen shot}

The #SheReadsTruth study has been blessing my socks off!

Happy Friday, friends.

I wish you a blessed weekend!

Choose Joy

Yes, my last post was very depressing.

But that's how I was feeling at the time.

I am feeling better though!

I've really been learning through this move that 

I choose my attitude.

Whoa!

Who woulda thunk it?

I've had such a struggle with it all...

...being unemployed for 6 months, still haven't met any "friends," and have been busy to boot!

Can life slow down just a little bit?

Please?

Yes, you read that right.

The girl who counts down to everything wants life to slow down.

Now, that's an oxymoron!

I'm having a better attitude this week.

I've made it to Wednesday and the week has gone by fairly quickly.

I posted this picture on Instagram today.

Time to pay some bills!  This week, my theme has been, "Choose Joy."  My job is not ideal and definitely not glamorous, but my God has been faithful.  He brought me this job when we needed it most.  I will choose joy in life instead of letting life steal my joy!

Isn't it true, though?
When you choose your attitude, things are much better!

So in choosing joy this week,
I'd like to share some of the things that have made me happy.

I got to wear my *new* earrings made by Hannah.
Check out her {shop}.  She's SO talented.
Oh, and she has a heart of gold!

An at home date with my husband.

Slumber party!!!

SOOO much fun!!!

 














I got to go thrifting on Saturday and found this beauty!

I wore my new dress to church on Sunday! 

I actually felt up to being a wife!

After being extremely exhausted I actually felt like cooking supper.

Oh! AND I packed our lunches the night before!! :]

Lastly, but definitely not least:
I finally shipped my packaged to my mugswap partner!
I have been SO excited about this opportunity. 
*I will write about the experience at a later date.*

So while sometimes life can get you down,
you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off
and get a new attitude.

The Last Chapter

Today I'm grieving.

I'm grieving the last chapter of my life.

No, not the last chapter.

Rather, the one I just closed.

Today was on-campus worship with the campus ministry that I was involved with in college.

I'm sad because I've gone to that worship service since I was in 6th or 7th grade.

My brothers and my mom were there.

My dad had to stay home and teach Sunday School.

I'm sad.

Is it okay to grieve the life that I had before I grew up and entered "Big Girl World?"

Is it okay to miss my college years where I had so much fun?

So many memories?

Is it okay to grieve the city where my heart has been left?

Well, even if it's not okay, I still am.

I'm trying to make life good here in STL.

It's hard.

I know God never said life would be easy, and I'm trying to suck it up.

But it's amazing how God works.

I heard a sermon at church this morning.

It was exactly what I needed to hear.
Sometimes when you're asking God for something, maybe you need to start seeking answers. 

So maybe it's time to start looking for another job.
Maybe it's time to let my tears out.

And when I finally did, my husband knew exactly the thing to cheer me up.
He went to get supper.
Then we watched "The Princess Diaries."
My favorite movie. Ever.
I'm so thankful God placed Tyler in my life.
He is my soulmate. 

While I'm sad today, I know it's just
For a little while.
One day there will be no more tears.

For now, I shall start my job search over again.

You Can Be Anything in the World

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I never thought I would be "grown-up" this fast.

I still don't know what I want to do.

I've really been thinking about this lately.

I'm in my second accounts payable job, but this isn't forever.

Or ideal.

I always thought I could sit at a desk all day and crunch numbers.

Who was I kidding?

Anyone who knows me could tell you

...I'm a people-person.

I have a want need to talk to people.

All this to say {or ask}...
Is it a complete waste of money to not use the degree I went to college for?

I want to love going to my job every day.
I want to know that I could have an impact on someone.
I want to change the world.

I want to be passionate about my job.
I'm not.
Maybe one day I will be.
For now, I'll keep praying about it.

Sightseeing

One more post about our anniversary trip.

This time I'll share more photos.

We met up with my aunt Kristie on Saturday evening.

She took us to eat at a local diner near her super-cute house.

Then she took us to see her campus, where she works.

It was absolutely gorgeous...all the architecture and flowers.

I wish I would have taken pictures of it, but I didn't.

Then she took us to see Minnehaha Falls.

We called my Granny, because it's one of her favorite places in Minnesota.

{yes, I'm sharing this one again}

Call us lame, but we went to IKEA the next day.

We had never been....

Here are our faces to show our excitement of going.

And here's a project for my daddy when we finally buy a house.

I absolutely love this dining room set-up.

Gorgeous!

I seriously could have spent allllll day in that store.

Too bad the closest one is 5 hours away.

We went back to the Mall of America and went to the Sea Life Aquarium.

It was nothing like I remembered it.

{They took the moving sidewalk out!}

We did some other shopping at Goodwill.

We found a gun store {of course}.

It was a relaxing weekend. 

I loved it.

It feels good to cross Bucket List items off!