What if today, we were just grateful for everything?

This is quite the statement.

What if we did this? What if, rather than worry about everything that might happen, we took the opportunity to just be grateful.

I saw this on a Snoopy cartoon posted on someone's facebook tonight.

Just be grateful. Like it's so simple.  

I think that real secret is that it is so simple. 

Today, instead of complaining about how much I have to do and how much I didn't get done and how much money I'm spending on Christmas, I think back over the things that I have to be grateful for today.

The Gym.
My new workout buddy.
Jonathan keeping me accountable.
My job.
Lunch with Diana.
Baking - the beginning of Christmas Baking Extravaganza.
Christmas shopping - the ability to buy gifts for my loved ones and enjoy the Christmas season.
Jesus - the reason for the Christmas season.
My cell phone and good conversations.
The Internet.

I could go on. There is just so much to be thankful for and I am just grateful.

Chattanooga

This weekend, Jonathan and I went to Chattanooga, just for fun! We really had a great time and it was so relaxing!

We went out to eat, slept late, went to Rock City, went to Ruby Falls and then out to eat again with some of Jonathan's friends and slept late again! It really was a nice relaxing weekend!

Can you actually see 120 miles to KY/VA???

It's a beautiful view!

Us.

How far can you see, Jonathan?

The 7 states and their flags.

Waterfall

Ruby Falls - totally worth it. It is a cool cavern walk and ends with this view.

Behind the waterfall looking up - 145 feet.

Thanksgiving

Here's a little late post about our actual Thanksgiving...I feel like Baby Baxter being here was definitely the highlight, but Thursday was a good day. We were over at my aunt Dusty's with all 3 of her boys, and one of their girls! They are about the same ages as me and my brothers. And both of my brothers and their families were there. It was a good day of getting together and eating! Caldwell is 4 and Hamilton is 3. Dot is 10 months. Here's a few pictures from the day!

The whole fam - Pre-Baxter

Just after this Hamilton says "Caldwell doesn't like to play Tigers." - In case you were wondering - H is roaring at Caldwell and she is totally terrified!

Sweet girl!

RRRrrrrrroar!!!!!!!!!!!!

 H says CHEEEEESE!

I love these kiddos!

Our New Addition

Today, November 28, 2011, my nephew - Baxter Carpenter Waters entered the world! He is named after my maternal grandfather - H Baxter Carpenter who is 94. 

He is healthy and just a beautiful little baby! We are so excited that he is finally here!

One eye open

He's beautiful and perfect.

Proud Daddy!

Thankful Thanksgiving

Things I am thankful for now:

1. Work - I am so satisfied with my job. I am happy there and really enjoy the work and the people that I work with.
2. Jonathan - I am so thankful for his sweet spirit, his kind words and his encouragement. We have so much fun together!
3. Health - I am happy and thankful to have been healthy this whole year.
4. Family - I am thankful for the support and love they give me on a regular basis. I can't wait to spend time with them over the next 6 weeks as I get to know my new nephew and spend time with the rest of my family.
5. Friends - I am thankful for their continued encouragement. I'd especially like to call attention to a few close friends who continually encourage me, listen to me and make time for me in their lives: Melissa, Diana, Nick, Ashley(s), Megan and several new friends here in Knoxville
6. Healthy pregnancy for Ashley - And baby boy waters #2! Can't wait to meet him this weekend.
7. Spending time with my family over the Holidays. I can't wait to get home for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas.

I am so grateful to Jesus for giving me so much to be thankful for. He is the real reason I have to be Thankful.

What are you thankful for this season?

UT Football

I went to a UT/Vandy game this weekend with Jonathan. We went down early Saturday afternoon and met up with my friend Nick and a bunch of his friends to tailgate. We went to the Vol Walk and then went to another tailgate with some of Jonathan's friends. It was a fun afternoon and evening. When we got in the game, it turns out that Nick was sitting a few rows in front of us and had open seats in front of them. So we moved down there after the first quarter and sat with them. After the half one of Jonathan's friends and his wife came and sat with us for the rest of the game. It was so fun! And UT ended up winning the game in Overtime. Such an exciting game!

Here's a few pics from the weekend!

Can Anybody pick out Derek Dooley's orange pants?!

This is us at one of the tailgates!

Weekend Update

This past weekend was pretty busy, but just really fantastic!

I went with Jonathan to the Lady Antebellum concert here in Knoxville to celebrate his birthday, which was on Halloween. 

We were SO close!

It was an awesome concert. They were fun, energetic and played for an hour and a half. The openers, Randy Montana and Josh Kelly were good. Interesting music tid-bit: Josh Kelly is Charles Kelly's brother. Charles Kelly is the lead singer for Lady A. Josh Kelly is also married to Katherine Heigl. I was really hoping she would be there with their beautiful little baby. They adopted a baby from South Korea two years ago. But I guess I just had to put up with some good music!! I got the general admission tickets because I thought that it would be more fun. We got there pretty early and even though we had to stand the whole time, it was worth it because we were so close! Here are a few other great shots from the night!

In this last photo - the whole band came out on this stage extension thing and played an acoustic set. It was awesome! One of my favorite parts of the night. 

On Saturday, Jonathan took me to DOLLYWOOD for the first time. He, of course, had been before, but I had not. It was fun! We spent the afternoon there and the weather was fantastic. It got pretty chilly after the sun went down and I was glad that we had taken jackets, hats and gloves. We got to see all the Christmas lights and the Christmas parade. And we had the most amazing warm cinnamon bread. It was like eating a cinnamon bun and they had cream cheese icing to go with it. It was a fun, relaxing weekend just because we really weren't on a schedule. Just what I needed. 

I can't believe that tomorrow is Thursday and that next Thursday is Thanksgiving. I am reminded of how much I have to be Thankful for. Once upon a time, this blog was about being Thankful. I plan to take some time over the next few weeks to re-read some old post and be thankful for all of the good things in my life.

I challenge you to take some time and reflect on the things you have to be thankful for over the coming week. Expect a Thanksgiving post next week some time.

Fall Photos - "The Girls"

Halloween Weekend

This past week and weekend has been pretty fun. At work we had a Halloween Contest involving set building and costumes. Our department decided to do Pirates! It was so much fun. Here's a few photos of our set and some people in our department and their costumes. I'm not sure who won yet, but should know tomorrow!

The front of our Ship.

The Ship and sails.

Sails, Ship, Cannons, Ocean, Pirates

Water, Waves, Ocean.

Skeleton Crew

Dock.

Most of our department. Pirates, Arg!

My pirate accounting team.

I spent the day Friday running around pirating and then Friday night, I went to dinner with Jonathan and his family for his Birthday, which is Monday - Halloween Day. We went to Longhorn Steakhouse and it was delicious. Friday night, I went over to Rob and Ashley's house for a party and then Saturday night I went with Jonathan and a bunch of my friends to The Freakers Ball. It was a lot of fun and there were some C-r-azy costumes there! We got home L A T E. It has really been a fun weekend. Tomorrow night, I am going to take Jonathan out to dinner for his birthday to Ye Old Steakhouse - a Knoxville tradition. I haven't been there before but it is apparently the best steak in town!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I feel like there's been so much going on but when I try to think of what it is that's been going on, I kind of draw a blank! I've enjoyed a few slow weeks - at work and socially. I haven't done much during the week and have been able to relax on the weekends here lately for the most part and that has been so nice!

This past weekend, my mom was in town. We went to Cumberland Caverns to Bluegrass Underground! It was so cool! I want to take Jonathan back down there because I know he would love it. It was kind of a long drive - a little over two hours - but well worth it. I did forget about the time changing so we were a little thrown off for an hour by Central Time. We saw Westbound Rangers and Mountain Heart. The Westbound Rangers were good and entertaining!  They were fun - told jokes and cut up the whole time! Mountain Heart was amazing! It is a group of very talented musicians! They were so much fun to just listen to. The banjo player had only his thumb on his left hand. He was an incredible player. He's the guy that organized the group. It was so awesome to hear him play and such a great reminder that we, as people, can do anything we set our minds to. He was amazing to watch and hear play. I didn't take my camera but will next time I go.

Definitely check out their website for some cool photos!

October 11, 2011

Excerpts from Jesus Calling...


I am the culmination of all of your hopes and desires. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last: who is and was and is to come. Before you knew me, you expressed your longing for me in hurtful ways. You were ever so vulnerable to the evil around you in the world. But now my presence  safely shields you, enfolding you in my loving arms. I have lifted you out of darkness into my marvelous light.

Though I have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential. Receive my blessings with open hands. Enjoy my good gifts, but do not cling to them. Turn your attention to the Giver of All Good Things and rest in the knowledge that you are complete in me. The one thing you absolutely need is the one thing you can never lose: my presence with you.

Pslam 62:5-8; Revelation 1:8; 1 Peter 2:9; James 1:17

Full Weekend

Until Friday, I thought I had no weekend plans. I was looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend at home, by myself!

Well, that didn't exactly happen but it was a really fantastic weekend and I loved every minute of it! Friday night Nick and one of his friends came into town to stay with me for the weekend. They were going to the UT Football game. Friday night, Jonathan and I went and me them out for a little bit. Saturday morning, I did brunch with Nick, Zack, Latisha, and Carly. Then I met Joetta and Melissa at the Mall. When I was at the mall I ran into a girl from my Bible Study. Then I met up with Jonathan and we went to Morristown for the wedding of a good friend of mine from Grad School, Lesli. While at the wedding I saw Morristown friends, CN Friends, and friends from Johnson City. It was a beautiful setting and Lesli was gorgeous. Her dress may be the most gorgeous wedding dress I've ever seen. It was really beautiful. I came back exhausted and went to bed! I don't think I've ever spent one day visiting so many different people from different parts of my life! It was fabulous! My good friend Ashley was in town with her family this weekend and I am sad to say that I missed seeing them. Things just got crazy busy too fast! Hopefully next time I can visit with them.

The wedding in Morristown was at a place called Windswept - a community that kind of fell through when it was developed but it is absolutely gorgeous there. You can see for miles and miles. Here are a few pictures from the wedding!

The view from Windswept Clubhouse, gorgeous!

My date :)

Close-up...I love this photo!

Gorgeous Sunset

The Bride

The Moon - this photo is just for Nellie!

Nashville Weekend

I went Saturday morning with Jonathan, Melissa and her husband David to Nashville for the night. It was a surprise for Melissa's birthday! My friend Nick graciously offered his house to us to stay for the weekend. It was great. He lives right off the West End so we were able to walk everywhere! We walked to dinner, a bit of a walk, but it was gorgeous outside and a great walk! We went and got ice cream at Sweet Cici's after dinner at Jackson's.

Then we went to The Big Bang:

It's a dueling piano bar that is outrageously fun. The music is great! These guys can play ANYTHING. And when I say anything, I mean, anything. They played everything from pop music, rap music, the little mermaid, classic rock like Journey. Man, what a fun, fun night. I did not take the picture above, but it is just a great portrayal of what it's like there. Although I'm pretty sure there were about 1000 more people there than are in this picture! And about 400 bachelorette parties! The people watching is maybe the best things about this place! 

Sunday morning we got up and walked to Brick Tops for brunch. It was fantastic! 

And what's a road trip without a stop for pictures with Road Side Attractions:

Random Road Trip stop with my Road Trip Buddy. It was like college all over again!

Thankful for His Faithfulness

Tonight, I had dinner with my friend Melissa and we were talking about God's faithfulness and how we don't always recognize it as God's faithfulness. Like with my wonderful friends. I have such good friends and I don't often think of it as God's faithfulness but he was protecting me from so many other things and it is because of him that I have such wonderful friends. This has been a busy week for me already but I have spent two nights of this week with amazing women with whom I can share my life and feel encouraged by and talk to Jesus about.

Whitney and I have been friends since our junior or senior year of college. We probably really got to be good friends our senior year. Since I've lived in Knoxville, I have gotten to be friends with her friends. I was in her wedding and we see each other fairly frequently. We've been each other accountability partners this year. It has been good to encourage each other and share in similar struggles with each other about our lives. She is a good friend and God has blessed me with her in my life. I had dinner with her Monday night and we sat and talked for two hours. It was so good. We can talk about everything too! And we did :)

Melissa and I have been friends since freshman orientation, the summer before we started college. I met her because her roommate was friends from high school with my suitemate - or something like that. We have been friends ever since. We see each other pretty frequently too and we always have such a good time. And we never run out of things to talk about. We sat in a restaurant for 2 hours tonight and just talked.  I think we could have sat there for two more hours, if it hadn't been a school night! I have loved getting to know her heart more and more, the older we get and the different things that we go through in our lives.

I know that I will always be friends with these ladies. These are the kind of women that I want to surround myself with. The kind of women who encourage me, love me, and challenge me to be better. And give me the opportunity to pour my life into someone else.

I love these ladies and can't imagine my life without them. I am so thankful for God's faithfulness in providing me with good friends. These two are the beginning of a HUGE long list of praying, loving, amazing women that are apart of my life. And I am so thankful to Him for reminding me of His Faithfulness through my relationships with these ladies.

Deliriously Tired

After a crazy week last week and a great weekend, I am deliriously tired!

Here's a few pictures of my weekend - more details to come. All photos from the Harvest Moon Party!

Katie Preuss and me at the Harvest Moon Party!

Nellie (Hostess), Lydia, me

Lovely Lydia

Jonathan and me

Nellie and me! Loved seeing her! What a wonderful friend she is!