Vera!!

I just got back from a 24-hour trip to Ft. Wayne Indiana. Why Ft. Wayne? Well, that's where the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale happens to be each year! My mom and I have been planning this trip for a year. It was so much fun and so worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Next time, I want to stay longer and go each day of the sale. You get more choices on the first day, but you get better prices on the last day!

We began our morning standing in line at 6:50 a.m. There were already about 1000 women in line because they spent the night or got there in the wee hours of the morning. I was beginning to get a little worried at this point that I wouldn't get the things I was looking for, but I had no idea what was to come...

The doors opened at 8:00 an it was a sea of women running around filling up pink garbage bags with all the handbags, totes, and wallets they could find. I was in awe of how much Vera Bradley was in this place. I could never have imagined it! I LOVED IT!! Needless to say, they didn't run out of anything!

Mom and I separated and met back up to sort through our pink garbage bags and take out anything that just "jumped" in our bag on a whim. We were making phone calls and sending text messages to make sure we got things for our friends. Then, we did a little more shopping and a little more sorting until we were totally satisfied.

We were completely finished shopping and paying by 11:30. We headed out to the parking lot to discover a line of thousands of more women (there had to be over 10,000 people there). The wait to get in the door at this time was about 4 hours! Women are crazy about their handbags, huh!? I am so glad we got there early! We had a plane to catch!

I'm sitting here in my new Vera Bradley pajama pants and sorting through bags! I can't wait until we can do this again. It would be perfect if the sale came back to Atlanta again like it did a few years ago!

Neigh Neigh

I don't know where he got it, but Michael calls horses "Neigh Neighs"....or is that spelled "Nay Nay"? It's the cutest thing! There are several farms around our house that have horses and every time we drive by, Michael gets so excited!

The other day, we were out shopping and came across a horse ride for kids - you know the ones that cost 75 cents to make them move back and forth! Well, Michael wanted to ride the Neigh Neigh, but I knew that it freaked him out to have them move. So, we just spent some time in front of the store on a horse that didn't move. He loved it and it saved me 75 cents!

Don't you love those little flip-flops!? They're so adorable!

So Long Insecurity

Beth Moore was in Atlanta yesterday! I love her! I have done a couple of her Bible Studies and read a couple of her books. She's an amazing woman that loves the Lord and she has a lot of wisdom to offfer!

She came to do a conference based on her book So Long Insecurity. I went to the conference with Robin, my mom, and her friend Emily. We had a blast! We loved listening to her...she's a hoot!


Since we bought tickets a little late, we were in the overflow room. We watched a live simulcast on a large screen, but were told that Beth was going to make an appearance. I assumed she would come stand on the stage and say "Hi y'all! Thank you so much for coming today!"...and that would be it. However, we got a real treat! After lunch, Beth came into our room and sat on the steps and let us all sit around her and snap pictures like crazy! She sat down with her daughter Melissa and allowed ladies from the audience to ask her questions. We had a little Q & A session! It was intimate and personal and so nice! She's as genuine as she comes across and I love that! Of course I was one of the ones that sat right in front of her...I weaseled my way up there! ha!


We also had some powerful worship led by Travis Cottrell. One of my favorite worship songs to sing is Revelation Song. It was incredible to listen to 9500 ladies singing "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty...Who was, and is, and is to come!"


Another highlight of my day was meeting one of my favorite bloggers - Kelly from Kelly's Korner! The girls were making fun of me because I was so nervous to meet her! I'm so glad that I did, though! She's so much fun!

Big Sky #2

I'm really getting out of order here, but these are the remaining pictures that I JUST put on our computer from Big Sky, Montana!

On our last snowboarding day, we decided to take a trip to the very tip top of the mountain. This mountain is called "Lone Peak" because it rises above the rest at 11,000 feet. You have to ride a lift, ski down a bit, ride another lift, ski down a bit, then ride a tram (gondola, skylift, whatever you may call it) to the very top. We stood in line for about 45 minutes just to get on the tram. The only people that are in this line are very serious skiiers. I mean, they are all business with their fancy clothes and avalanche shovels in their backpacks. *Side Note: Sam DID snowboard down this mountain from the very top the day before, so he's one of "those" serious snowboarders...minus the avalanche shovel and the fancy clothes.

When we make it to the top of the mountain, I could not stand up. I was scared out of my mind! From what, I don't know...falling down the cliff? ha! I had to crawl around on my hands and knees! I could only walk a short distance before freaking out a bit. I looked like a dork up there with all those serious people, but I could not help it!

Obviously, we made it down safely by riding the tram back down! We had to do the walk of shame when we got off because we were the only people that didn't ski down, but who cares? It was a fun experience, but I have no need to do it again! I have the pictures to enjoy!

At the end of the day, Sam took Michael snowboarding for a little run...

This last picture is on the way home. The flight attendant was serving our complimentary beverages and she said "You all are so cute together...do you have a camera?" So, she took a picture for us! Thanks, flight attendant lady! Fly Delta Blue! :)

Easter

I realize it's a little late to be posting Easter pictures, but I'm a little behind! What can I say!?

I loved putting Michael's Easter basket together this year! He's at such a fun age to enjoy the little things...like Matchbox cars and Sesame Street books and figurines! He was so happy to dig through his basket and find new treasures!

We also got him a book called "The Story of Easter". It's a children's book that tells the story of Jesus. It's so important to us that Michael realizes that Easter is NOT about what he gets in his basket, but about Jesus sacrificing His life for us.

After church, Michael got to play with bubbles! He loves bubbles right now!

Big Sky #1

Over Spring Break, we left the nice warm weather and went to Big Sky, Montana! We traveled with my mom & John, my brother & his fiance, Summer, and their daughter Kennedy.

This trip was Michael's 3rd round trip airplane ride (he's now been on 8 different planes). On the morning that we left, we had to get up at 3:30 a.m. and travel all day long! Michael is such a trooper! He slept for pretty much the entire flight.

Do you see how little this plane is? We were cracking up when we saw what we were boarding and that we had to walk outside to board!

The weather in Big Sky was in the 20's and 30's. Not too bad if you're all bundled up in ski gear. We snowboarded for 3 days while we were out there. Sam snowboarded for 3 ENTIRE days - not even taking a break for lunch. I, on the other hand, am done by lunch time. My legs get so tired when I'm out there and I'm usually starving!

Here's a few of the pictures from our trip. I still have to finish downloading the others, so you have something to look forward to! Yay!

Sam went down this crazy steep mountain! Can you tell how steep it is??

This is me icing my tail bone after a fall on day 2...

Michael and Kennedy didn't ski, but they had a good time playing in all the snow!

Days on the Lake

We are getting some fabulous weather here in Georgia, so we've started taking advantage of our new boat! Sam has been going out on the lake for a month or so now - he's getting some good use out of his wetsuit since the water is still a little chilly. Nothing is going to stop Sam from getting on his wakeboard as early as possible! He's actually out on the lake tonight with some friends. He's taking advantage of every chance he can get. We finally got the tower put on and some speakers for the tower, so the boat looks awesome! I will post some pictures soon!

These pictures are some of our first days out on the lake. As you can tell by the way we're dressed, it was a little cold. Crazy Sam got in the water this day! Ha!

Don't you just love Michael's squished up face? He's not a big fan of the lifejacket...

Michael and I just enjoy the ride and relaxing in the sun! I actually got in the water last week WITHOUT a wetsuit and it wasn't so bad! I only wakeboarded for like 4 minutes and my back was soooooo sore! I obviously don't use my back muscles very much!

Michael loves the boat so much that he has to say "bye bye boat" every time we leave the house. Sam plans on getting Michael up on waterskis by the end of the summer...we'll see, huh?!

This is Michael with his friend Ellie...it was her first time on the boat this day! She was so relaxed that she took a nap! (Sidenote: We were getting off the boat, so the kids do not have their lifejackets on. Don't worry...we keep them safe when we're out on the lake!)

And this is Ellie's mama, Jennie...

Michael and Mommy's sunglasses...He's got his own pair, but there was something special about mine!

It's been a while since I've posted a blog, so I've got some catching up to do...

Still to come:

-Easter

-Spring break in Big Sky, Montana

I know...the suspense is killing you!

And 1

Happy Easter! I hope that you had a great time celebrating our RISEN Lord today with your family! I will post pictures of Michael's Easter tomorrow... I still need to upload them tonight.

However, Michael has continued to work at his basketball skills. It is amazing how much this boy loves basketball! If there is a ball around, Michael will find it and hold on to it forever! Of course, Daddy loves this! Looks like Michael will be following in Sam's footsteps...

As usual, the YouTube video is cut off, so if you want to see the full video, go here.

Good Friday

Wow...Today I am overwhelmed with thoughts of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. One of my new favorite blogs, Women Living Well, posted a great blog today. As you read this, just reflect on Jesus and what he did for YOU because he loves you that much!

Pause for a moment...Be silent.

Today we remember. (Taken from Matthew 27)

We remember...

the betrayal for 30 pieces of silver

the flogging

the crown of thorns

the purple robe

the sign "Hail, King of the Jews!"

the strike on Jesus' face

the crowd shouting "Crucify Him!"

the long walk to Golgotha carrying the cross

the nails in his hands

the nails in his feet

DARKNESS

the words "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

the temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom

the earth trembling

the guards exclaiming "Surely he was the Son of God!"

On the cross, Jesus said "It is Finished." (John 19:30) FINISHED - PAID IN FULL. All the bad things you have ever done are paid for in full by the blood of the lamb who gave his life for you on the cross. Do you wonder if you are lovable? Do you wonder if he really can forgive you of your sins? Does your guilt lie to you?

Psalm 103:10-12 answer these very questions: "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Library Time

Michael and I went to the library last week for the first time. We were joined by Jennie and Ellie and Robin, Kaylin, and Ethan. Ellie and Ethan are only 6 months old, but I think they enjoyed listening to the stories. Michael and Kaylin had a good time...especially when we sang "If you're happy and you know it..."