A Story About Fear

I had an amazing experience the other day, but before I get to that, I need to back track a little bit.
I hear too many stories of horrible things that happen. Lately, I have heard of things that happen within an hour of my house. When I'm home alone is when I'm the most scared (at night mainly). When Matt is gone, I don't sleep well. I have to either bring the kids in bed with me, or go sleep in the spare bed and keep a lot of lights on. I have nightmares just from seeing a commercial of a scarey movie! When I go to the store, I am constantly on alert of everyone around me. I think it's good to see the news so that I am more aware of things sometimes, but lately it has made me go crazy to the point of not even wanting to go anywhere unless I have someone else with me. I didn't think as much into things before I was a mom, but now that I have two little ones to protect, makes it a lot scarier.
I was talking to a family friend at church a couple weeks ago and I was talking to her about how scared I get (since Matt was out of town). She told me to pray and ask God to watch over us and to say the prayer out loud. Normally, I pray quietly to myself.
Well, the other day I heard a horrible story of a murder that happened pretty close to where we live and I was feeling so hopeless, I remembered what my friend said. So, I broke down and cried out to God. I know I have done that before, but it had been awhile since I really just cried it out to him aloud. It's kind of hard to explain this, but as I was praying, I felt him near me. Like he was hugging me and letting me know that he is always with me and to not be afraid. Then, all of the sudden my tears stopped and I was smiling! I think God put that friend in my life to remind me that He is in control, He is always there for me, and that I need to put all my trust in Him!

"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

"The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

Just a little update

Hey everyone! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!
We spent the day with my hubby's family! I made lots of yummy things to take over! :)
Matt and I started the 60 day Insanity workouts almost 3 weeks ago and it is awesome!! The only work outs I have done in the last 4 years, were just walking and little things here and there....but this thing is for real! I was actually surprised that I could keep up in the first week...but by now I am in the best shape of my life already!! I love it, too, b/c it's a special thing Matt and I do together after the kids go to bed..around 7 pm. ;)
Last weekend, we had our friends watch Ethan and Elly for us so we could do some Christmas shopping. It's so awesome to have good friends who live so close so we can watch their daughter and they can watch our kids. This was really the first time we ever did Christmas shopping for the kids...the past 2 we barely did anything b/c our parents spoil them and we got away with not spending much money lol, but now that Ethan understands it all, we decided to finally start lol! It was a lot of fun!! I am just so excited to see their faces on Christmas morning!!
This past Tuesday, the kids and I went over to our friends house and we had a little gift exchange for them! We had so much fun! Here are some pictures! :)








Well, Matt is home for 2 weeks and I am so excited!!!

Hope everyone has a great Christmas!!! :)

Ball and Birthday!

The USMC 236th Birthday Ball was on November 5th! Matt and I dropped the babies off at my parents' for the weekend and we drove down to Macon where Matt works. It was definitely a nice getaway for me, but Matt still had to work most of the time we were there. Luckily, I have some family that live there, so I was able to spend most of the time Matt was working with my cousin who I rarely get to see :)
The ball was at the aviation museum right outside Robbins AFB. It was a lot different then the two I had been to before, which were at nice hotels in Atlanta.
The room was really cool, though. We had a lot of fun and I was able to meet some wives and girlfriends of guys Matt works with. The food was horrible, which was expected, so we left after and went out with some couples to Buffalo's. I am still mad I didn't stay for the cake, but completely forgot lol!
My Corporal getting ready :)

The Ball room at the Aviation Museum.
Ceremony
Matt and me at the Ball :)
LOL he was pretty excited about the Ball glasses we got this year! ;)


A couple we went out with afterward!






THEN my baby girl turned ONE on November 10th! AKA the Marine Corps Birthday!
I met a friend and her daughter at the mall and we rode the train!. When Daddy got home that night we had pizza and cake, then opened presents! The next day, Veteran's Day, we went to Jump for Joey! We got in free, too! Both Ethan and Elly had a blast! I just can't believe how fast this year went by!
My Marine Baby!
Good Morning Birthday Girl! :)
At the Mall with her friend Morgan!
My 1 year old! (Notice the bow!! :)

On the train!
Ethan was the conductor ;)
MMmmm Pizza!
Eating her Cake!
HAHA Matt stealing Elly's cake ;)
Big Brother enjoying his sisters day! :)
Mommy and the Birthday Girl! :)
All Done ;)
At least I smiled ;)
Opening her gift from daddy!




Jump for Joey :)

That's it for now! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving next week! :)

Pumpkins and Ohio

Hello Family and Friends!

We just took our very first family trip with all 4 of us! We went to Ohio to visit my grandparents and had a blast! Ethan and Elly got to spend a lot of quality time with their Great Grandma and Great Grandpa and also with their 95 year old Great Great Grandma! She is the one with the curlers in her hair...we went to visit her when my Great Aunt was doing her hair ;)

Here are some pictures from the trip! :)

My Grandparents house on our family farm!























Other News:
Matt was promoted to Corporal on October 2nd!

The USMC Ball is on November 5th!! I can't wait to see him in his Dress Blues!!



Side Note: I have been off facebook for about 5 months now and my phone broke last month and when I got a new one, it broke, so I am waiting on my next one which I promise to be very careful with and to not let the kids near it :) So, if you have tried to get ahold of me with no response, that is why.

Hope everyone is doing well!!! :)