New Meaning

This past weekend while on the Winter Retreat, the speaker Britton spoke on Wisdom.  There were several things he said that impressed upon me. One of which I've heard many times.


Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
   and lean not on your own understanding;"


He emphasized leaning not on your own understanding. Elizabeth, don't lean on your logic; enlist the Holy Spirit to reveal to you. When that happens remember who the wisdom comes from. (Not me that's for sure.)


One more thing, Britton also said "Wisdom is crying out, but it's crying out in a noisy street."  Meaning, there are a lot of sources of information, most of which aren't wisdom. We need discernment and to be active in our pursuit of wisdom.

Apparently Winter Retreats aren't my thing...

If you know me well, you would know that last years Winter Retreat didn't go so well. Bad weather and what not.  Well this years wasn't really the best experience either.  On the way up the mountain someone got sick and threw up out the window.  Well it also went on the door. We had to rinse it off with Gatorade because we didn't have any water.  The next morning, I woke up with a sore throat but didn't think much of it (the room was chilly that we slept it). That afternoon we went on a hike...I was with a group of students and we got separated from the rest of the group(I didn't have a map or cell phone).  We honestly thought we were lost, but about 20 minutes later the group caught up with us.  I felt pretty terrible after the hike.  Proceeding to me going to dinner barely able to swallow food because my throat hurt so bad. I also had body aches, chills, and a terrible headache.  So I get moved to a room by myself and then leave the next morning. Drive home wait in a CVS Minute Clinic for 3 1/2 hours to find out I have Strep throat and a Sinus Infection.  My WONDERFUL mother met me up there, made sure I got home safe, and made me homemade soup and rubbed my back.  Andrew had to stay up on the retreat.  Can I just say thank God for antibiotics! Thanks to Fleming for getting the ball rolling with Penicillin. So I am seriously wondering if Winter Retreats are my thing???

Silly Gifts are the Best

Andrew's Valentine's Day gift was....a huge pack of Classic Mint Chapstick.  He loves that stuff, and we can't find it everywhere. Honestly I can't find it many places other than Wal-mart. I tend to avoid that
place. So I bought a 24 pack on Amazon.  I think it's safe to say he want be whining anytime soon about being out of chapstick.

Things I've picked up from Mommy-Da

If you've ever been to my Mom's house at any point ever you would have noticed she keeps a really clean house. It doesn't matter if the world is falling down the house looks great.  I will say she has a few advantages: 1) She only had girls living in the house (girls are just cleaner than boys...I don't know why it's just our shoes don't track in as much).  2) She had a really clean freak daughter (me). So when we were growing up we always cleaned the house : vacuum, dust, sweep, mop, clean bathrooms....every week.  I like to do this at my house too, but honestly sometimes I don't.  Also, we always cleaned house before leaving on a trip. My mom didn't like to come home to chores...Amen! I hate coming home to chores. So last night I enlisted the help of my wonderful husband. We managed to get everything in order for leaving today for the Youth Winter Retreat. I have to say it's honestly amazing how a clean house makes me feel refreshed. Bizarre how it affects my mood.  I am so stoked about leaving now because I know when I get home all I have to worry about is a few loads of laundry! Thanks Babe, we make a great team!

This picture felt appropriate!

Nothing says Happy Valentine's like Yo Burrito, Yoghut, and....Steve Spurrier?

Last night Andrew and I met at Yo Burrito for a little Mexican and basically we chose that resturaunt because we had a gift card and it put us in vicinity for Yoghut (we love Yoghut!).  While there, Andrew spotted Steve Spurrier at the bar. He was convinced it couldn't be him, because he should be in a press conference about Clowney. Nope sure enough it was him. Sorry for the blurred images...I was trying to be incognito!

My sweet enjoying a sweet treat at Yoghut!

After this we went to Best Buy and purchased our free Valentine's day gift...a Wii! Andrew and I are enrolled in Visa Extras and our points finally accumulated to enough to get something nice (a Wii). We are pretty stoked about our loot! Andrew and I then went home and played Just Dance 2 and seriously had a blast!

A lovely Day!

Ok I'm so corny get it a lovely day...It's Valentine's Day. Anyway just goes to show people really do change. I was never this corny before Andrew and I met, really before I met his Dad.  So I want to tell you a story about a Valentine's Day past....
...Once upon a time there was a young girl who had strong opinions and really liked this young guy (they were about 18 or 19 years old).  They had been dating for a couple of months and were approaching their first Valentine's Day. (this is about Andrew and me, you got that right?) This girl with all of her strong opinions though Valentine's Day was stupid, something made up for corporate America to make more money. And special days for couples should be their anniversaries. She nixed Valentine's day...crushing her sweet boyfriends heart...who really wanted to display his care for her.  She then called and talked to her mom about her strong opinions and her mom, the lovely, the wise, the brilliant, said, "you know Elizabeth, we should display our love for each other daily and not only on special days (as this was my opinion), but we are human. We are flawed; we don't always do what we are supposed to do. So we should take any opportunity we have to let the ones around us know that they are loved."

Oh that Donna! She's quite the smart one. Take her advice to heart and let the ones in your life know they are loved. Friends and family, I know I fall short all the time, but I love you! Happy Valentine's Day!

Also, I have a really funny cheesy gift I got Andrew. It's going to be late so you will see what it was when it arrives!  By the way, that story turns out funny. Andrew and I in a mad dash to save our first Valentine's Day went to Ruby Tuesday and ordered strawberry daqs to go (haha jokes on me you can't order alcoholic drinks to go...that's drinking and driving....haha I was 19 and wasn't even thinking about alcohol...haha when I told them nonalcoholic they filled my order and we enjoyed them!) Also, that story hasn't really ended yet, but it's happy cause I didn't ruin everything and we got married!

1 Corinthians is one of my favorite passages. It shows me what love is supposed to look like. I fail this example all the time, but there is One who has not failed. God is love, so lets bring some real meaning to this day! Happy Valentine's day everyone!

1 Corinthians 13:3-8

³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.⁸ Love never fails. 

Awkward is the new smooth

Andrew and I are currently watching the Grammys. I'm looking for to Mumford and Sons performing and he's looking forward to Eminem and Rhianna.  Don't judge us. I love M & S's sound; it's amazing. You just have to get over the fact they like to cuss (I just listen to the edited versions).  Muse just performed and won best Rock Album of the year. They went up to accept their grammy and honestly their acceptance speech was incredibly awkward. I think they are a perfect representation of our new pop culture.  It's cool to be awkward or is that just me that thinks that.

By the way Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers just performed...it's official....completely sold out love them! They are a very unique sound...folk meets rock!

Gorgeous Citrus

Tuesday night I was cutting up some Blood Oranges, and I just thought they were so neat.

I'm not sure you can tell...honestly the color changed from orange, to red, to purple.

For real...2?

So I was getting together medications for my patients, and we sometimes give juice or pudding or something to help wash down the taste. Well I noticed on the pink lemonade it says....

 Can you see it?

Here's a closer look..."made with real lemons"...No way, lemons in lemonade.

I don't believe it! Sorry guys couldn't help it!

Funny Husband

In Sunday School we have been studying the books of Ruth and Esther.  Andrew has clearly been sewing these principles deep in his heart. I am being sarcastic, but only because what he said was pretty funny.  Last night we were dipping icecream and we got to the bottom of the container. Sinfully I didn't scrape every last drop, so Andrew promptly took the container and thoroughly scraped it and said, "What, I'm gleaning!" We both had a good chuckle!

Pleasant Surprises

Sunday, I finally took the dead mums out of my planters and replaced them with pansies. Honestly it's amazing how just a little bit of life really brightens the front of your house.  So while doing this, I discovered the tulips that Andrew bought me last year. When we were in college he would spend crazy amounts on tulip bouquets and honestly tulips don't last once they are cut. I would say they are gorgeous, but I hate that you spend that much to literally be gone tomorrow. Last year he bought me one of those little live bouquets and well I had great intentions of planting the bulbs this past fall. Totally forgot, oops! However, good news my tulips are sprouting in the orginal container!!!!



For real?

My friends, this is one of the funniest displays of affection I've ever seen. It makes you ask..."for real? no really are you for real that you did this?" Here you go:

Found this while thrifting with a friend. I think I should go back and get it (if someone else hasn't already snagged it) for Andrew's future "man cave".  Seriously guys, it says "my only lover." Did you catch that? One word. Phenominal.