Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas Cards

As a family we spend the first 11 months of the year trying to plan/figure out what we want to do for our Christmas cards! We are not fans of the "sit and smile" thing and we love to do our pictures all together!

Here is a glimpse of years past . . .

2008
*This is not even our mailbox :)


2009
*Yes, that is our couch in our driveway!


2010
*We are in a tent in our front yard!


 . . . . and here the our 2011 Christmas Card!
*My mom and dad's hair is photo shopped on! :)


Merry Christmas!
I wonder what we will come up with next?!?!

P.S. Big THANKS to Amy Horton Photography, she has been with us through it all!!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Anniversary Slim Down

Like most couples who have been married for more than a day a few years we have both put on a few pounds since we tied the knot almost 5 years ago and our goal is to get back to what we weighted when we got married by May 19th (our anniversary). Chris and I have set goals for ourselves and we are taking it 1 weeks at a time so that we don't overwhelm ourselves! 
Below is the progress we made over the first 6 weeks! 
*Please note that we even made it through Thanksgiving Day and we are still losing :)



We'll be sure to keep you updated!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Story

This past Sunday my dad played this video at church. Yes, it is long so don't start it until you can sit and watch the whole thing. It is completely worth it!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Happy Birthday George Lopez

Happy Birthday 
to the BEST Puppy in the whole world!!!

 Daddy loves you!

I love you!

Even if you are a weirdo and love to be out in the cold!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Happy Black Friday

No, I am not a fan of the whole Black Friday thing but I am a BIG fan of the Target Black Friday commercials! They are so funny! It doesn't matter what I'm doing, I can be in the middle of a workout but when I see these commercials I crack up! I thought I would share some of my favorites:




I hope you have a great Black Friday!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Giving Thanks

As it gets closer to thanksgiving I, like most people, begin to think of things that I am thankful for. Lots of things run through my head so I thought I would make a list. 
Here it is, in no particular order . . . 

1. God - I have and know the God who created the universe and holds everything together. I am so  thankful that NOTHING is to big or to small for me to take to Him!

2. My husband - Chris is the man that I look forward to seeing when I wake up in morning and I am excited to spend time with when I get home from work everyday. He is my rock! He is very supportive and he doesn't sweat the small stuff.

3. My Parents - They have always been awesome roll models for me and that is not because they are perfect but because they never stop working at it. The love they show each other it amazing and the love and understanding they have shown to myself and my sister and brother throughout the years has been overwhelming.
 4. My Brother - Nate is 8 year younger than me and I still remember the day he was born. He is a miracle! I am very thankful for his silly/crazy/fun personality. He is also very talented!

5. My Sister & her lil'family - My sister and I are 2 years a part and we grew up doing everything together. I love her so much & she is one of my very best friends. Her husband, Mason, is so much fun and we love having him as part of our family. He always makes us laugh! 
Then, there is Levi, her sweet, silly, handsome, spoiled baby boy! 

6. My nieces - Jocelyn and Laila are both beautiful little girls that are growing up so fast! They both used to be scared of their Uncle Chris but now they LOVE him and his music. They are true OUTSIDEtheCAMP fans :)

7. OUTSIDE the CAMP - Yes, I am truly thankful for the band! This is a ministry that I am privileged to be apart of and it can reach those that I would have never met otherwise.

8. The Babies- Baxlyn, Korbin, Kylee, Brody - I see these babies as my nieces and nephews. They are miracles and they never cease to amaze me.

9. Friendships!
  • Heather - She knows me better than I know myself! I turn to her for things as small as what color toe nail polish I should pick to what I am going to do with my life! She is a VERY strong and very supportive!


  • Amy - she is always there for me to talk and cry with. She also does a great job at always reminding me to keep an eyes on God's plan.


  • Mandie - She is one of my closest friends yet she live so far away :(   I consider her my big sister and we both know each other so well!
 

10. My Job - God has blessed me with a job that I love! I have been a Computer Foundations teacher at an elementary school for the past 5 years and I have so much fun being able to teach every kid in the school from Pre-K to 4th grade. I also have awesome co-workers!!!! My teammates at work make it fun on those crazy days when we all want to pull out our hair!

11. Extended family - I love my family, not just my immediate family but also my family through marriage! I So Blessed! 
*No, I don't have a picture of everyone but Chris and I do want our whole family to know that we love them and we extremely thankful for them!*


What are you thankful for?
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1

Monday, November 7, 2011

I Love Six Flags

This past weekend we went to Six Flags with some of our favorite people!
Chris, Brody, Me, Kylee, Bret, Korbin, Heather, &  Baxlyn

Check out The Cox Quad blog to read all about our adventure!
www.coxquads.blogspot.com

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

Chris the Chipmunk and I hope you have a Fun and Safe night! 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

66 Books in the Bible

I am very proud of my Patch the Pirate Club kids from my church! Almost every Wednesday night for the past year we have talked about a different book in the Bible and then they came up with a motion that would help them remember what happened in that book. Some make sense right away and other maybe not so much but it was all their ideas! :)
I hope you enjoy it!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Mayhem

I love the Allstate Mayhem commercials but I think these 2 are my favorite so far! :)



Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The #1 Question . . .

The "#1 Question" that I have been asked more in the past year than any other is . . .

"So, when are y'all having kids?"
*this question usually comes with the awkward look at my tummy or a wink  :)

So here is the answer: 
I truly believe that it isn't God's timing for us, yet. :) 
For those of you that have known me for any amount of time know that I LOVE kids and I am very much looking forward to the day that I will be a mom, but for now, I'm good!  Yes, it has taken LOTS of prayer and arguing with God about how I wanted things to go in my life for me to get to this point (click here - this older blog explains more) but, since I have stopped trying to make things go my way and turn a lot over to God I have had a peace! There are times when I'm around babies or  pregnant ladies that I go home and through a little pity party for myself and wonder, "Why not me!" but when I get frustrated I remember this verse . . .  
Ecclesiastes 3:1  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..."
and I know that God timing is ALWAYS best!

As for those moments that I just need a "baby fix" I can go to work and I am instantly surrounded but hundreds of kids or I can go to church where I can rock a baby in the nursery or teach them about Jesus in Patch Club, or I can love on any of my nieces and nephews :) 

 God knew what he was doing when he surrounded me the hundreds of kids to love that aren't even mine! All I can say is, with all this practice, I am going to prepared when the time does come! ;)

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Never Forget

I'm Proud to be an American
and I will never forget . . .

The Twin Tower Falling

The plane hitting the Pentagon

or the plane that crashed into the Pennsylvania field!


May God Bless America!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Walk for Life

Myself and 3 friends will be participating in the 
Walk for Life this Saturday, September 10th

            Walk for Life benefits Real Options for Women, a Christ-centered ministry reaching out to women facing unplanned pregnancies.  Real Options for Women is unique from other clinics in that every single client is presented the gospel.

Real Options for Women offers the following services free of charge:
  • Pregnancy tests
  • Crisis intervention counseling
  • Medical pregnancy confirmation
  • Ultrasound imaging
  • Spiritual counseling 
  • Ongoing counseling for life issues 
  • 180 Degrees education program in schools and churches
  • ROC – Real Options on Campus 
  • STD screening and treatment 
  • Abortion recovery support groups
I am taking donations and pledges for the walk. 
If you would like to donate, you can contact me or go to: 
  •   www.friendsofro.com
  •   click on “Donate”
  • as you are going through the process just enter my name as the person you are sponsoring
           If you would like additional information about Real Options for Women please visit www.friendsofro.com.

Thanks

Friday, September 2, 2011

How He Loves

How He Loves
By: John Mark McMillan

This song is amazing! I love the words and how honest and true they are. It is one of those song that when I hear it I can not help but to sing along and it causes me to stop thinking about what's going on around me or what's bothering me and just worship! If you have not heard it or seen the video of John Mark McMillan's testimony take to time to stop and watch it now!


He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.


And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all


Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…


He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

North Carolina or Bust

Let me start out by saying sorry,  most of the pictures are blurry because they were taken on my phone . . . yep, we went on a long over due family vacation and NO ONE brought a real camera! :(

We hit the road Sunday afternoon at about 2pm for North Carolina!

We arrived at Grandma Julia's house at 2pm on Monday (exactly 24hrs later)

Monday night mom, Anna and I went over to my Aunt Lynnie's shop. She does permanent makeup (you can check her out on Facebook). Mom had her eyeliner done years ago and needed a touch up, Anna chickened out and I got my eyeliner tattooed on! In the picture below my eye is still pretty swollen and sore.

Tuesday night Grandma Julia had a family get together were we got to see some of our family we had not seen in YEARS!! Aunt Deborah fell in Love with Levi.


Nathan found a candy shop with the World's Largest Gummy Bear so he had to get a picture with it! 
It was 5lbs! :)

Thursday we drove another to 2hrs to Carolina Beach! It was Levi's first time and he LOVED it!

 Levi and Uncle Chris with his sand castle!

Friday night we had another family get together but this time it was with my mom's side of the family.


Saturday we started for home! This is just 1 of the many things we did to keep Levi entertained for the trip :)

We stopped in Gatlinburg, TN Saturday afternoon. 
We went to the Ripley's Aquarium and a Mirror Maze that night!


Sunday morning we got up and went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum - Very Cool!


This was made of over 6,600 feet of Gum Wrappers and took 18 years to make!
After grabbing some lunch we jumped in the car for the LONG ride home.
We had a Great trip but I am also very happy to be home!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I Did It!

I have officially gone two weeks without make up!
During that time I focused on inner beauty and that we are all God's beautiful creation. :) 
I am VERY proud of the girls the did this with me!
*Ephesians 2:10 - "We are His masterpiece..."

*Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

*1 Samuel 16:7 - "... For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

*Proverbs 31:30 - "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

*1 Peter 3:3-4 - "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
 
*1 Timothy 4:8 - "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next."

*Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

Saturday, June 25, 2011

No Make-up Challenge

Okay, so this past week I gave all the teen girls at my church this No Make-up Challenge!
I presented the challenge to them by writing this letter:

"I want to start out by saying you are Beautiful. Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
            I also want to be completely honest with you, I forget that about myself MOST of the time. Almost every time I stand in front of the mirror I am thinking about everything I want to change about myself. It is a daily battle for me. I have been blessed with an awesome husband and wonderful friends that encourage me and tell me I'm beautiful but most of the time it goes in one ear and out the other.
            The reason I am telling you this is because I KNOW I am not the only one that feels like this. I also want you to know that just because you get older you don’t suddenly figure everything out.
            There are things that I use as a cover up that keep me from listening to God when He says that "We are His masterpiece..." in Ephesians 2:10 and one of those things that I use as a cover up is make-up. So I have decided to give it up. I am going to start out by not wearing make-up for the next 2 weeks.

During the time I would be using to put on my make-up I am going to be studying/ memorizing the following 7 verses:
*Ephesians 2:10 - "We are His masterpiece..."
*Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
*1 Samuel 16:7 - "... For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
*Proverbs 31:30 - "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
*1 Peter 3:3-4 - "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
*1 Timothy 4:8 - "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next."
*Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
So I am asking you to take the NO Make-Up Challenge with me.

Now I know most of you don't do the whole make-up thing, so I want you to stop and think of what you use as a cover up. It may be fixing your hair, it could be the choice of clothing, it could be anything ... most of us have something we use as a cover up so think about what it is & Give it Up for the next 2 weeks and use that time to put God 1st!
So who is with me?

P.S. I don’t think there is anything wrong with make-up or fixing your hair but if we put it before God and we don't believe everything that is written in His word, that is when I think we need to re-evaluate our priorities and that is what I'm talking about!"

Remember: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

So I want to challenge you to do the same! Are you with me?

Friday, June 3, 2011

What time is it . . . .


and that is all that needs to be said! :)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Anniversary Weekend

It was perfect! 
We both started our anniversary celebrations off on Wednesday. Chris spend most of the afternoon getting a new tattoo to (almost) finish his sleeve. 
Romantic ain't it ;)
While he was there I was at the nail salon where I got my nails done and enjoyed a relaxing pedicure! :)
We both had to work on Thursday so we just hung out with the family for the evening.
Chris had to work on Friday morning so I made an appointment for an hour massage = BeSt IdEA yEt!
After the massage I headed home to pack for our weekend get-a-way and when Chris got home from work we hit the road. 

*Side Note: For Christmas my parents got us a weekend get-a-way & dinner with George(our dog) care included so we saved it for now.*
My dad booked us for a 2 night stay at the.
When we got there we told them we were there celebrating our anniversary so they upgraded us to a suite! 
After checking everything out and getting settled we got ready to go out to a nice dinner.
Saturday was awesome, we finally got to sleep in which neither one of us have done in a long time then we went over to the Galleria Mall to do a little window shopping. That night we went to
 and saw Pirates of the Caribbean 4 in 3D.
You gotta love the look on his face :)

**When we were on our Honeymoon Pirates of the Caribbean 2 came out and we found this cute little theater in Colorado and saw it so we figured since they the timing worked out for this new one we had to see it this weekend. :) ** 

Sunday morning we got to sleep in AGAIN! Then we finished up our weekend at Original Pancake House for a big brunch.

We both would love to thank everyone for all the sweet anniversary wishes!  
We have already started planning our 5th Anniversary trip . . . . a cruise! :)