Engagement Story!!

I have officially been engaged for a week and a day now and for those of you wondering...yes, I'm still on cloud nine!! :) I wouldn't mind staying here for the rest of my life. What a sweet story I have for you. (get your blankets and hot chocolate and let's gather 'round) I must have told this story at least a hundred times in just one week and I've yet to grow tired of telling it. I drove to Griffin this past weekend to see my sweetie. There was an event at his church that night that we had to attend and later that evening I was to spend the night with our friends Todd and Jennifer. Well, I arrived to Aaron's apartment a little after 10 AM on Saturday morning. He had called to check on me a couple of times to see how close I was - now we know why! When I reached Aaron's door and knocked, he opened the door, peaked his head out, took my things from me and as I walked in, the first sight that I see is rose petals and lit candles on his living room floor. Talk about a sister's heart doing the biggest somersault EVER!! I immediately knew then what was about to happen and the first words out of my mouth were - "Aaron King, what are you doing??". As if I didn't know!!!!! So Aaron took my hands, kissed me, told me that he loved me and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, got down on his knee, and ASKED ME TO BE HIS WIFE!! I said yes faster than lightening, kissed him, then commanded him to show me that bling of a ring and put it on me! :) I was pretty calm at first, but as started thinking about what was really going on, I got REALLY excited and I'm pretty sure that FREAK OUT got a new name that day! My sweet fiance LOVES video, computer stuff, etc. So, wouldn't you know that he hid a video camera to capture this incredibly special moment on film. As much as I hate seeing myself on video, I am in love with the fact that we have this sweet moment forever. I'm trying to get up the nerve to allow him to post the video for you all to watch. Maybe in another week?? :) I LOVE that man and I cannot wait to be his wife. The Lord has lavished His goodness over me by giving Aaron to me and I hope to honor that always. I'm a blessed girl. Enjoy some pics and be on the lookout for that video...which I believe should be titled "Girl Freaks Out".

What will I leave behind?

I had to attend a funeral today of a dear, sweet older lady that I attended church with from birth to about the age of 22. Yes, she was one of those ladies that could tell you stories of changing my diaper in the church nursery when I was a baby or all the times my parents would have to take me out in the middle of service to spank me. Yes, I know you all think I've always been the angel that I am now...sorry to disappoint. :) The older I get and the more I come to learn what an impact (good or bad) we have on others lives, the more careful and intentional I want to become about leaving behind a life of good, not a life of mess. Listening to all the things said today about this sweet lady and the legacy that she is leaving behind has caused me to think a lot today on what kind of legacy I want to leave behind. Needless to say, I have a lot to improve on and a lot to strive for. I hope that what I want to leave behind one day, will be what I will leave behind one day. Some thoughts from today on what I want kind of legacy I want to leave...

• That I strive to live a full, abundant life here on this earth...knowing that this is one of the many reasons Jesus came..so that I could have and experience that with the promise that the best is yet to come! (John 10:10)
• That I have a genuine love for the people in my life and that my actions and words toward them would show them this love.
• That I'm a hard worker.
  
• That I can "laugh at the days to come" because I know my God is Sovereign and that everything is under His control and command. (Proverbs 31)
• That I strive to do everything "without complaining or arguing".
• That I don't worry.
  
• That I'm easy going and fun to be around.
  
• That I'm a good listener.
  
• That I like to learn and that I'm willing to accept when I've done something wrong and am not too proud to correct it.
  
• That I love the Lord above all else and this is evident in my devotion to Him and in my heart towards others.
  
• That I'm a caring, loving wife (hopefully one day!) who treats my husband with honor and respect...knowing that he is a treasure.
  
• That I'm a mother (hopefully one day) who will strive to train my children up in such a way that causes them to seek after their Savior and want to please Him in all that they do. And pour out more love on them than they can stand...even when they disappoint me.
  
• That I have a servant heart and strive to place others before myself.
  
• That I'm graceful and act like a lady.
  
• That I find contentment in small things - that I'm simple.
  
• That I think before I speak.
  
• That there just aren't many things in life worth letting yourself get "rawled" up and upset about.
• That it's important to keep the commitments you make and stick with the job until it's completed.
• That I dream big and don't limit what God can and wants to do with my life.
  
• That I am smart with money but that I don't hold onto it tightly.
  
• That I smile at everyone I meet.
  
• That I'm adventurous and want to see and experience things.
  
• That I love to encourage.
  

Just a few things that have crossed my mind today. Definitely have lots of work to do but it's always good to reflect on things we want/should be striving for. What will you leave behind one day? Just think about it. Have a great week! :)

Aaron's Sweet Surprise Was...

The FABULOUS Fox Theatre!! Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious! I just have to say it right now (incase you haven't already figured it out) that I have the BEST fella in the world. Truly. And not at all because of the things he does for me (although as you can see he does some pretty incredible things), but simply because of who he is. Aaron has been keeping this night a surprise for at least a couple months now and as much as I tried to play cool about not knowing what was going on, it has secretly been driving me NUTS! I had no clue! None at all...and am SO thankful that I didn't. I even asked Aaron to let me know when we neared wherever we were going today so that I could close my eyes and make the suspense last as long as possible. It was absolutely worth it! "Jersey Boys...The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons" was playing and it was SOOO good. They are known for songs like "Sherry, Stay, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man, Working My Way Back to You, Rag Doll..." The story line was great and very entertaining. Aaron nor myself go to things like this very often so it was definitely a treat for both of us. Thank you, sweet Aaron, for such a fun day, for your thoughtfulness in planning this and surprising me with it and for treating me the way that you do...everyday...not just today! I am hands down the most blessed girl in the world. :) Enjoy a few pics of our day together! There's just something about seeing this sign and knowing that you are about to have a good time. And a good time is exactly what we had!

Thank you again, Aaron! Loved EVERYTHING about my day! You're wonderful.

LONG Overdue!

My Sister, My Mom and Me on Mother's Day 2009

Well, once again I am WAY behind on blogging! So much has been going on over the past couple of months and at least I have pictures to prove it! :) My life is truly so rich and so full...I have been ever reminded of that lately. There are many days we are all tempted to complain of our crazy busy, fast paced lives but when I take time to think about the things that fill my time and when I look through pictures like the ones posted here, my heart can't help but overflow. I am incredibly blessed with an abundance of precious people...people the Lord has sweetly chosen to put in my life.

My Daddy and the Little Mister

This has to be one of my ALL TIME most favorite pictures! Luke LOVES his "Papa" so much! I am amazed each day at how big this little guy is getting. And he continues to capture more and more of my heart as the days go by. He continues to call me "Mae Mae" but has recently been saying "Aunt Meredif"...which I am also just crazy about! LOVE HIM!

Karla and Justin got Married!!

That's right people...the moment we've ALL been waiting for for 7 years now! And what an absolutely beautiful wedding it was! She was just the most gorgeous bride ever and to see the way Justin looked at her was priceless. LOVED being a part of that awesome day. The Lord has big plans for their lives together!

Karla, Justin, Me and Aaron

Handsome Aaron and Me

Karla and Me

Pictures from Karla's Wedding Showers

Pictures from Visit with Aaron's Grandmother in Kingsport, TN

Luke and Aaron
This picture was actually taken after Aaron and I returned home to GA after our visit with his grandmother. As you can see, Luke is quite taken with Aaron. I love it! :)

Aaron and Myself
We stopped on our drive home from TN to see the beautiful TN mountains. It was such a pretty day.

Ms. Roma (Aaron's Grandmother) and Me
What a sweet, sweet lady! Aaron and I had such a wonderful time visiting with her and the rest of this side of his family. I felt incredibly welcomed by everyone and can't wait to see them again.

A Few Pics from Easter 2009

What a sweet little boy!!

Coloring Easter Eggs!

Aaron and Me at Easter
Aaron met a lot of my family for the first time at Easter this year - they loved him and though I know he was a bit overwhelmed, he did a great job! :)

Life is good. Work is going well - we are still in our busy pollen season, but busy is good these days! I love the people I get to work with each day and truly do love the interaction with our sweet patients. My family is doing well and are all healthy. Aaron and I have been helping Aaron's parents get moved into their brand new home that is about 20 minutes from where they were living in Covington - this has been fun for me as it has allowed me to spend more time getting to know his family. And some GREAT news is that Aaron just got a new job as Graphic/Media Designer at a baptist church in Griffin, GA. Aaron has been praying for a new job for quite some time now and this opportunity couldn't have come at a more perfect time for him. My dear friends Todd and Jennifer also serve at this church in Griffin where Todd is the Student Pastor. Todd called Aaron and I one Friday night not too long ago about this opening and before we knew it, we were moving Aaron into his new apartment in Griffin this past weekend! God is so good! He just completed his first week at the church and I know he is going to do wonderful! Aaron is such a blessing to me and I am so thankful at what the Lord is doing in our lives!

I will say it again how truly blessed I am by an abundance of godly people who make life on this earth such a joy! The Lord is working in such neat ways in my life...answering prayers left and right - reminding me to be diligent in them and trusting His perfect timing. He is faithful and loves us so much more than we could ever imagine!

Have a wonderful week!

Life in pictures!

Here are some pictures to tell of the happenings over the past few weeks. Sometimes they are WAY more fun than words! Enjoy! :)

HANGIN' WITH THE MISTER!

Love this picture!

He's getting so big.

Mae Mae and Luke...just playing.

Mae Mae "fixes things" while Luke finds things for her to fix! :)

LOVE him!

Nana and Luke...he's so smart!

The cool new Easter stick ups that Nana got Luke for the refrigerator.

GEORGIA BASKETBALL GAME WITH AARON!

One of my Valentine's Day presents for Aaron was tickets for the GA/SC game. GA lost and was really bad, but we had fun anyway!

SISTERHOOD GAME NIGHT W/ THE FELLAS!

Hope everyone has a GREAT week! :)

S.I.M.D.

Ok, so again, I'm stealing this idea from my friend, Hannah. Sunshine In My Day! It seems lately that most everyone, myself included, has the tendency to see the glass as half empty instead of half full. Maybe we're all just worried about the economy...maybe we're all just tired. Who knows?? But...that is SO not me...so I thought I'd take some time to think on the wonderful, positive things in my life that the Lord has given me or been doing in my life lately. I'd love to hear what He's doing in yours! :)

- Today is FRIDAY!!
- I danced tonight with my iPod in...in front of my mirror...with a fake microphone...to Natalie Grant's "I Will Not Be Moved". I'm an amazing dancer...can't believe I've never shared that talent with all of you before. :) SO FUN...and hey, I didn't go to the gym tonight...needed exercise.
- I have a roof over my head, a satisfied belly, clothes on my body...I'm so blessed and so RICH.
- I've learned so much this week about forgiveness and the kindness of my Savior. May I learn to be more like Him!
- NOTHING is too hard for the Lord.
- I got to spend some quality time with my friend Karla this week. She's gettin' married, ya know!
- I got a cute, new shirt on sale tonight.
- I have an incredibly sweet fella (Aaron) who likes/loves me for exactly who I am.
- Luke came over last night and we had such a fun time playing together.
- I work for 2 incredible doctors who care so much about their patients.
- I have the best friends ever.
- I get to watch LOST tonight...I'm tryin' to catch up. I'm tryin!
- The trees are blooming...so pretty.
- My non-working car radio decided to work for a little while today.
- I'm ALMOST in a new, smaller pant size.
- Today is FRIDAY!!

Life is CRAZY good!

And by crazy good, I do mean crazy, and crazy good. :) Again...so sorry it's taken me so long to post an update. I'm excited to sit down for a minute and share a little of the past months events with you all. Life certainly has had me on the GO in all aspects, but I love it! Of course, a nap every now and then would be nice, but I haven't had one in so long that I'm starting to forget what they were like. And this is coming from the QUEEN of naps back in the day. Just ask my old roommate, Gina. :) So...other than my little "nap deprivation", my life feels the fullest and best that it's felt in as long as I can remember. The Lord has/is sweetly allowing me to "taste and see that He is good" in so many ways. I truly believe that He always allows us to see that He is good...it's just up to US to choose to make our way around the craziness at times to actually experience that goodness and not dwell on worldly circumstances. I'm ever reminded though that "He came to give us life, and life ABUNDANTLY." I want to choose abundance.

So, a few updates. Work is still going really well! I love my job. I was offered the position as Nursing Supervisor about a month ago and after some thought and prayer, I decided to accept this position. The transition has truly been a smooth one so far and while I still have SO much to learn, I'm enjoying the challenge and thankful to work with a team of people who are so patient and willing to do whatever they can to help. The Lord is blessing our office by keeping us SUPER busy - we will not complain about that! :)

My GFJ (get fit journey) is also still going well! The pounds are still coming off SLOWLY but surely. I hope to be close to my 90 pound mark at my weigh-in this week. I decided to join the new YMCA here in Gainesville at the beginning of the year and I LOVE it! I've done well up until this point with doing my exercises without the help of a gym, but a girl can only do her in-home walking/aerobic video so many times before she just wants to throw it out the stinkin' window! One of my best friends, Courtney, also joined around the same time I did and she has been a HUGE encouragement and accountability...we are great gym buddies! Our friend Karla is getting married in May (yay!!), so Courtney and I are using that as our incentive for the time being. I can also go to my Weight Watchers meetings now at the Y on Tuesday evenings after my workout, so this has really been an answer to prayer. My Saturday morning meetings were great and I sure do miss the people I got to know there, but they just weren't always the most convenient.

As you can see from the picture below, I'm still VERY much in love with the Little Mister. It just gets better the older he gets, even though I still miss him being a baby. (what's the deal? I sound like his Mama!) I love this little boy so much it's crazy. Luke is a talking, dancing machine and is so much fun to play with these days. And SMART...oh my goodness, he's so smart! He's doing such a good job learning his letters already and his vocabulary is pretty impressive...not just from his Aunt's perspective. :) I hope I'm as much fun for him as he is for me! :)

Mae Mae and Luke

And last, but certainly not least, I'll share a little update with you all on my boyfriend. How crazy is it that I have a boyfriend?!? For those of you who've known me for a while, you know how long I've been waiting to say those words. "I...have...a...boyfriend!" And he truly is the best! I have so enjoyed these past couple of months getting to know Aaron and his sweet family and friends. His family has been so welcoming and generous towards me and Aaron always makes me feel nothing less than a queen. Aaron nor I never really dated a whole lot in the past, so much of what we are learning and experiencing is brand new for both of us and that makes it that much more fun...knowing that we are learning together. Something really neat that Aaron and I have been doing together is a devotional specifically for dating couples. This has been one of my most favorite parts of our relationship so far because it has allowed me to see that Aaron truly is genuinely a guy after the heart of God and wants to honor Him in all that he does. He will tell you that he isn't perfect and he's already experienced quite a few times, I'm sure, that I'm not perfect. But knowing that he strives to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord is an incredibly wonderful thing. Waiting on the Lord is 100% the best way to go. Enjoy a couple of pictures of me and my boyfriend! :)