High Five for Friday!

Praise the Lord it is finally FRIDAY! This week, I honestly thought Friday would never come. Here are five things I am super thankful for on this Friday!

• Hunter and I cooked almost every night this week, when I say that.. I mean, I cooked. It is nice to not have tons of homework to do each night, so I am making sure that no matter how tired I am, to cook dinner.
• Wednesday night, Hunter tried out the new men's Bible study at our church. He said it was really great, and I was so happy that he liked it.
• The diversion of the new class allowed me to have some time to get Hunter's birthday present! Sneaky, sneaky.
• A wonderful birthday dinner with some friends, Heather and Tyler. They came to my house last night to eat dinner and hang out for Hunter's birthday. What makes me so happy is that Hunter enjoyed the night and the meal. Last year, he was gone to basic training, so I tried to do as much as I could to make this birthday special!

This is Hunter's plate of food. We had corn, potatoes (grown in my Dad's garden), steak and shrimp.

• A restful weekend, Hunter and I only have a few things on our calendars for this weekend.. and, this will be the first weekend in over a month that we don't have a big event to attend. I am excited to spend some time sleeping (much needed) and just do a few things I want to do, as well as clean.

Linking up to Lauren at From My Grey Desk

Bows for a Cause

Many people take for granted the ability to have a child, and the joy of having a child. We so easily get bogged down in the fast tracked pace of this world, we forget to think of what blessings we really have, me included.

Here is a link to a post belonging to a friend of mine and her husband who are adopting after a long battle with infertility. A friend is doing a fundraiser to help bring their baby home. You can find out more information here.

I am a Master

HAHA! Wow, what a joyous time this is!! Saturday I graduated with my Masters of Arts in Mathematics.

The past two years have been probably the hardest time of my life, but... by the grace of God, I made it through. Lord knows I couldn't have done it without my friends (MARY-ANNE) and family, and definitely Hunter.

Life continues to move at a 90-to-nothing pace for me... I had another interview yesterday, and it went well. When I know more definite details of my life.. then I will be able to share. Right now, I am just working... and trying to get my life in order for the next step.

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from the big day:

My twin sister, Donna and I, walking to the Coliseum for graduation

Family shot with the parents before the ceremony

After graduation, I had to take a picture with my home, AKA Gordon Palmer

After graduation, we celebrated with all the other graduates and our families at my church

High Five for Friday!

I am taking a little cue from Lauren at From My Grey Desk!

Hello beautiful Friday, you are the end to a tumultuous week, and I am so glad you are here!

Here are my five favorite things from the past week:

1. Gabby and I went to Olive Garden for Dinner Monday night. It was Ah-mazing, as always.

2. Taking and turning in my final exam for my last Masters class.. can you say DONE!

3. I wore a new outfit, and it made me feel good. See that post here.

4. I got all A's this semester! Talk about going out with a bang!

5. My boss, friend, and brother-that-I-never-had, Clint, gave me these books for my graduation present today! If you know me, you know I am movie illiterate. Clint uses movie quotes, all day, every day in conversation. Now, I can watch movies, and learn the quotes! Hooray for graduation!

Glad to be able to link up to High Five for Friday!

Just because

Why the idea for a spiffy new look on a rainy Wednesday night? Just because...

Because, I felt like my hair looked awful....

Because, I was tired...

Because, I am finished... DONE with my Masters degree!! Can you believe it? Right now, I cannot!

Because, I am so exhausted and I can't even tell you what day it is....

Because, I am always cold... so I need innovative ways to wear sleeves

Because, my best friend, Mary-Anne, loves fashion, and is teaching me a thing or two along the way...

Because, despite all the craziness, I believe we should all take a little time to care for ourselves...

Last night, when I got home... I breathed a sigh of relief. I had my very first job interview for a teaching position at a local high school! EXCITING! And I have all assignments and requirements for my Masters degree complete.. now I just sit and wait to graduate Saturday. :) Finally, there is a light at the end of this very tiring tunnel. The stress of it all is catching up with me, but I know it will all be worth it. Praise be to the Lord for His many blessings!

Closing Doors

Today, when I turned in my final exam, I walked out of the doors of Gordon Palmer for the last time. The building that has become my graduate home over the last two years. What an amazing feeling as I took in my breath and tried to breath in all that was around me, as if preserving this memory in my mind.

What a journey it has been. This has been one of the hardest, but most rewarding times of my life. I look forward to where the Lord will lead me from here.

Holding On

I heard this song for the first time this morning... WOW. It has really touched my heart. Sometimes, with everything that we have going on in life here on this earth.. it is hard.. hard to look up, hard to feel worthy of His love. So many times... I feel like saying, forget about me Lord, spend your time on someone else. But God doesn't want that... He wants all of us, all the time. Praise be to the God who loves us despite ourselves.

You can listen to it here.

Jamie Grace - Holding On

VERSE 1:
All the signs of life
They’re all around me with every heartbeat
I feel so alive,
I am joy and sadness,
Peace and madness
If only I can fight just a little longer
I know It’s gonna make me stronger

CHORUS:
I just keep holding on to what I believe
Oh, I believe in you
Give me the strength to fight
And the heart to believe
When it’s hard to believe in you

VERSE 2:
Oh and these are the times when doubt’s tryin’ to creep in
And I need a reason that’s larger than life when hope seems hard to find
If only I can fight just a little longer
I know it’s gonna make me stronger

CHORUS:
So I just keep holding on to what I believe
Oh, I believe in you
Give me the strength to fight
And a heart to believe
When it’s hard to believe
I’ll just keep holding on, holding on, holding on
Give me the strength to fight
And the heart to believe
When it’s hard to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
When it’s hard to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh, I wanna believe

If only I can fight just a little longer
I know I’ll be stronger

CHORUS:
So I’ll just keep holding on, holding on, holding on
I’ll just keep holding on, holding on
I’ll just keep holding on to what I believe
Oh, I believe in you
Give me the strength for the fight
And the heart to believe
Cause I’ve got to believe
I’ll just keep holding on, holding on, holding on
Give me strength for the fight
And the heart to believe
'Cause I’ve got to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
Yeah I’ve got to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh, yeah I feel so alive.