Hello all this blog is coming to you from the University of North Greenville :)...
I made it safely to NGU yesterday and have spent some amazing time with my amazing friends. My future sis in law told us to list the things we are thankful for so I thought I would do that since there is a whole lot I am thankful for..
1. The forgiving God I serve for putting up with me and blessing me with so much.
2. A husband truly sent from God that challenges me spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally everyday and makes sure to show me and tell me he loves me all the time.
3. My mother who is the strongest woman I will ever meet. She raised me on her own and made sure I went to an amazing private school, took dances lessons and never wanted for anything. I appreciate her always being honest about money and feelings because it taught me the importance of honesty in all areas of my life.
4. My Grandmother who is in her 80's but can still kick it. She is such an amazing woman who can handle so much...and she gave me my mom:)
5.The rest of my family who are always there for me no matter the distance. Especially my uncle Woody whose has been like a dad to me and stays envovled with my life and teaching me weird history facts just because...and he has a kick butt sense of humor.
6. My extended family....My mother in law who makes us stay up to play seek and find games and manages a laugh and a smile even though things are hard....My father in law who is always interested in what Nate and I are doing and always will to give advice. I am thankful for my crazy sis in law Ashley who always calls us for advice at all hours of the night and is so enthusiastic about so many things. I am thankful for my Grandparents Balough for giving Nate and I a true picture of what lasting love is and for sharing with us their lives. I am also thankful for all of my new aunts and uncles on Nate's side who have adopted me into there family so quickly. For grandpa Swinehart that is too funny sometimes. I am thankful for Dorothy Swinehart because raised so many beautiful children and I am sad I didn't get to meet her. I am thankful for Nate's step parents bc they have shown me strength and perserverence. Tim who welcomes me with open arms as his own daughter.
7. My best friend Maggie Smith who I have been with since 8th grade. I'm thankful for everything we were able to do together and experience with each other and one day are parents will get married and we will be true sisters on paper :).
8.For my truest friends who love me as I am and treat me with respect. I am so blessed to have so many friends that have touched my life and I am so glad to be apart of theirs.
9. For my venting buddy who loves Kasey Kane (sp) for letting constantly talk her ear off and is willing to share herself with me...and she calls me on my crap which I really appreciate.
10. For my fab three that take road trips, die hair, make fun of Hitler, tshirt cult, and are all around awesomenest for taking time out of your life to visit me bc you knew I needed to see you and for making it happen and not just saying it would happen. I am so ready for round 2.
11.For the ability of Nate and I to support ourselves with no outside help. I am so thankful for our independence and Nate's planning for our future. He promised my mom when He asked her permission to marry me that he would support me in everyway especially finances and he has. I love knowing my hubby can take care of us and tell me no when something is a want and not a need.
12.My puppies who are my babies right now...for those who want to know we are waiting a couple more years for real babies even though apparently everyone wants a Nate and Morgan baby especially his mom :)
13.I am thankful for simple things like a post it that says I love you or a phone call from a friend.
14. I'm thankful for when Nate gets off work early, which is rare.
15. For a new day to start all of it over again....
Ok so this was really long but I thought that I couldn't just list it I had to explain why so...there is so much more I am thankful for but these are the biggest and most meaningful...enjoy.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Classes, Scrapbooks, and Prizes :)
A lot has happened in a little amount of time so I better get to typing. I have been going to all of these Army classes and have been overloaded with a HUGE and OVERWHELMING amount of information, but funny enough none of it really answers the questions I have. I am really big on Army traditions and courtesies. I would love to have a class just dedicated to all of those subjects. Well, there is no such class. A friend and I were thinking well why don't we start one. We are in the process now of researching all that we can from books and other spouse's. I think it will be a lot of fun to do and a great asset to other women in the Army.
On another subject I am going to this Scrapbook Extravaganza tomorrow which I am VERY excited about. I think I have talked the hubby into letting me buy a Cricut if I find one for a good price. I think it will be a funny girls day out, I am going with my FRG leader/friend and a couple of other girls. It is an all day event from 8-5 and they are going to serve lunch. I am not much of a scrapbooker, but I love to make cards for people a lot and add special touches to decorations and presents. It will be fun to see demonstrations and do different projects.
Some other awesome news is that we won a contest. Nate has been going by our housing office almost everyday for a month to enter us into this drawing for a $250 gift card to this French Lick Resort that is a hotel, spa, and restaurant and second prize is $50 to some restaurant. They told us they would be drawing today at 3pm so of course when neither of us got a call we figured we didn't win and no biggy, we normally don't win stuff like this. Nate was on his way home and was stopped by the head housing guy and was told that they hadn't drawn yet and that Nate should enter one more time before going home, so he did. Sure enough 20min later we get a call that said we won 1st place :). It took him 4 times to draw a different name than ours. They don't award both prizes to the same family. We technically won 1st-4th place. How crazy is that? We are so looking forward to going to the spa with this card.
Another fun thing happened to me yesterday in my class. A lady who I had met in a previous class was again a guest speaker in this class. She had come a little earlier that her time so she was sitting in the back. We were on the subject of grief and how to help people with their grief and what not to say. The phrase, "God never gives us more that we can handle," was one of the phrases not to say to someone, which of course is true, no one wants to really hear that in the midst of a tragedy. The speaker at the time was telling us how we say it to ourselves and how she says it to herself all the time. I gave my little tweak on the phrase and how I perceive my life sometimes..."God never gives us more than we can handle but today I feel like a pack mule". It is a simple phrase I tell myself because when you think about it in the old days and in some current locations people would use pack mules to help them carry stuff they couldn't in some cases there whole lives were carried on those mules. I feel like God does that to us sometimes. He knows that another person can't handle something we can so he "packs" it on us. Then there are times where we get to be the leader of the mule and simply walk beside them and guide. The lady in the back got up to speak about Volunteering and stopped and said thank you to me for being a "pearl" to her today. I had never heard of that expression and she explained that when things or people come along that she needs then they are pearls. She told me that the phrase was exactly what she needed to hear at this time in her life. You never really think who you can help when you open your mouth, but just think of all of those you don't help by keeping your mouth shut.
Well, enough for now I will write again soon...well maybe :)
On another subject I am going to this Scrapbook Extravaganza tomorrow which I am VERY excited about. I think I have talked the hubby into letting me buy a Cricut if I find one for a good price. I think it will be a funny girls day out, I am going with my FRG leader/friend and a couple of other girls. It is an all day event from 8-5 and they are going to serve lunch. I am not much of a scrapbooker, but I love to make cards for people a lot and add special touches to decorations and presents. It will be fun to see demonstrations and do different projects.
Some other awesome news is that we won a contest. Nate has been going by our housing office almost everyday for a month to enter us into this drawing for a $250 gift card to this French Lick Resort that is a hotel, spa, and restaurant and second prize is $50 to some restaurant. They told us they would be drawing today at 3pm so of course when neither of us got a call we figured we didn't win and no biggy, we normally don't win stuff like this. Nate was on his way home and was stopped by the head housing guy and was told that they hadn't drawn yet and that Nate should enter one more time before going home, so he did. Sure enough 20min later we get a call that said we won 1st place :). It took him 4 times to draw a different name than ours. They don't award both prizes to the same family. We technically won 1st-4th place. How crazy is that? We are so looking forward to going to the spa with this card.
Another fun thing happened to me yesterday in my class. A lady who I had met in a previous class was again a guest speaker in this class. She had come a little earlier that her time so she was sitting in the back. We were on the subject of grief and how to help people with their grief and what not to say. The phrase, "God never gives us more that we can handle," was one of the phrases not to say to someone, which of course is true, no one wants to really hear that in the midst of a tragedy. The speaker at the time was telling us how we say it to ourselves and how she says it to herself all the time. I gave my little tweak on the phrase and how I perceive my life sometimes..."God never gives us more than we can handle but today I feel like a pack mule". It is a simple phrase I tell myself because when you think about it in the old days and in some current locations people would use pack mules to help them carry stuff they couldn't in some cases there whole lives were carried on those mules. I feel like God does that to us sometimes. He knows that another person can't handle something we can so he "packs" it on us. Then there are times where we get to be the leader of the mule and simply walk beside them and guide. The lady in the back got up to speak about Volunteering and stopped and said thank you to me for being a "pearl" to her today. I had never heard of that expression and she explained that when things or people come along that she needs then they are pearls. She told me that the phrase was exactly what she needed to hear at this time in her life. You never really think who you can help when you open your mouth, but just think of all of those you don't help by keeping your mouth shut.
Well, enough for now I will write again soon...well maybe :)
Monday, February 15, 2010
just because
Well Nate and I finally broke down and bought another computer, one of those notebook computers.He is going to take mine when/if he deploys. We were waiting until closer til the time of us leaving but then we realized we would be too busy and probably forget and then we would be in Hawaii and everything is jacked up in price there so...we just bought it.
It is so funny how stuff we need just ends up finding us at good prices. Nathaniel and I are VERY cautious buyers when it comes to bigger purchases. We tend to shop around and then talk ourselves out of things and then just not buy them all together.
We found a whole living room suite for less than $1000 for everything and we shopped forever for that. We shopped for our tv for a long while and I finally found a great deal.
All this being said I have told Nate for a while that he could get a new grill bc he really likes cooking with charcoal, and ours is a gas grill. He kept swearing that there was a grill that was both a gas grill and a charcoal grill, of course I didn't believe him. Well, the grill does exist. I thought to myself ok so how much is this going to cost us, I mean I did promise. I was so scared to look at the price, but to my surprise it only costs $299 and it is HUGE and awesomely amazing. Needless to say we are going to be grilling out a lot this summer :). Another funny thing tonight was we have been waiting to buy the first season of this show called Fringe because sometimes you can get them cheap but this one was $44 and funny enough we randomly went to Best Buy tonight and it was on sale for $10.
I think God does these fun little things to make us smile and reward us for saving :).
Well, this blog was pointless but fun. I will write again later.
It is so funny how stuff we need just ends up finding us at good prices. Nathaniel and I are VERY cautious buyers when it comes to bigger purchases. We tend to shop around and then talk ourselves out of things and then just not buy them all together.
We found a whole living room suite for less than $1000 for everything and we shopped forever for that. We shopped for our tv for a long while and I finally found a great deal.
All this being said I have told Nate for a while that he could get a new grill bc he really likes cooking with charcoal, and ours is a gas grill. He kept swearing that there was a grill that was both a gas grill and a charcoal grill, of course I didn't believe him. Well, the grill does exist. I thought to myself ok so how much is this going to cost us, I mean I did promise. I was so scared to look at the price, but to my surprise it only costs $299 and it is HUGE and awesomely amazing. Needless to say we are going to be grilling out a lot this summer :). Another funny thing tonight was we have been waiting to buy the first season of this show called Fringe because sometimes you can get them cheap but this one was $44 and funny enough we randomly went to Best Buy tonight and it was on sale for $10.
I think God does these fun little things to make us smile and reward us for saving :).
Well, this blog was pointless but fun. I will write again later.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is only one day away!
Valentine's has come to mean a lot to Nathaniel and I, but not for the normal reasons. A couple of years ago we lost a really good friend on Valentine's Day. She was an amazing woman of God and wanted to do great things as a missionary. She was a budding Biology student and definitely put me to shame with her diligence. After her death I was left wondering how God could take such a beautiful person who was going to give her whole life to Him. She had often talked about her family and about some of her friends that she was witnessing to at the time. She really had a gift for fearless proclamation.The hardest people to witness to are often those the closest to you.
We had lunch that Valentine's and were laughing and cutting up like usual. We were a part of a VERY close knit dorm on campus that did everything together. She was leaving that afternoon to surprise her boyfriend with his present. She was hit on the driver's side by a Jeep Wrangler.
I sat with 20 other girls crying my eyes out and filled with such confusion and hurt.
I knew God always has a purpose for everything that happens, but at that moment things don't seem to have a great purposes.
We all attended her funeral together and wore ribbons to distinguish who we were and why we were there. We were taught about the Fruits of the Spirit, because those were her favorite passages. I cried harder than I ever have because as many funerals I have gone to this one was the closest... I lived with her, ate with her, shared with her, studied with her, and simply knew her. I will admit I questioned God so much and why He would do what He did.
The end of the service came and they had and invitational for people to accept Christ or rededicate their lives, which is only fitting for her funeral.
I got my answer from God...it only took 5 minutes. She had been a missionary already. Some of her family and friends stood up to answer the Holy Spirit's call on their lives.
I felt so small in that moment. Her death was to give those close to her life, eternal life.
It hurts still. Even as I am typing this I get teary eyed.
Her parents have decided that when the time comes they will donate their house for the church to use for missionaries to stay at.
She loved butterflies and funny enough when I find I am missing her most one happens to appear. I was very blessed to get my goodbye in the form of a dream. It was as simple as a hug and all she said was, "I'm ok" and it was over. I believe God know when we are ready to accept things. Nathaniel and I have decided to name our first girl Brittany Addalynn Balough in honor of our dear friend.
Everyone who ever knew her misses her and even those she didn't know she made an impact on.
We miss you!
Brittany Fogg you will NEVER be forgotten.
Valentine's has come to mean a lot to Nathaniel and I, but not for the normal reasons. A couple of years ago we lost a really good friend on Valentine's Day. She was an amazing woman of God and wanted to do great things as a missionary. She was a budding Biology student and definitely put me to shame with her diligence. After her death I was left wondering how God could take such a beautiful person who was going to give her whole life to Him. She had often talked about her family and about some of her friends that she was witnessing to at the time. She really had a gift for fearless proclamation.The hardest people to witness to are often those the closest to you.
We had lunch that Valentine's and were laughing and cutting up like usual. We were a part of a VERY close knit dorm on campus that did everything together. She was leaving that afternoon to surprise her boyfriend with his present. She was hit on the driver's side by a Jeep Wrangler.
I sat with 20 other girls crying my eyes out and filled with such confusion and hurt.
I knew God always has a purpose for everything that happens, but at that moment things don't seem to have a great purposes.
We all attended her funeral together and wore ribbons to distinguish who we were and why we were there. We were taught about the Fruits of the Spirit, because those were her favorite passages. I cried harder than I ever have because as many funerals I have gone to this one was the closest... I lived with her, ate with her, shared with her, studied with her, and simply knew her. I will admit I questioned God so much and why He would do what He did.
The end of the service came and they had and invitational for people to accept Christ or rededicate their lives, which is only fitting for her funeral.
I got my answer from God...it only took 5 minutes. She had been a missionary already. Some of her family and friends stood up to answer the Holy Spirit's call on their lives.
I felt so small in that moment. Her death was to give those close to her life, eternal life.
It hurts still. Even as I am typing this I get teary eyed.
Her parents have decided that when the time comes they will donate their house for the church to use for missionaries to stay at.
She loved butterflies and funny enough when I find I am missing her most one happens to appear. I was very blessed to get my goodbye in the form of a dream. It was as simple as a hug and all she said was, "I'm ok" and it was over. I believe God know when we are ready to accept things. Nathaniel and I have decided to name our first girl Brittany Addalynn Balough in honor of our dear friend.
Everyone who ever knew her misses her and even those she didn't know she made an impact on.
We miss you!
Brittany Fogg you will NEVER be forgotten.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Oh Goodness....
I have already dropped the ball on this blogging thing :). How do people have the time to write one of these everyday? I guess I will make more time.
So, I haven't read my Jane Austin book yet, sad days. Although, do not fret, I have read the Married to the Military book...pretty good info. I don't know how to even begin taking stances on military life and the ins and outs of it all.
I do consider myself a pretty outspoken person...I pick my battles when need be and and don't waste my breath on those who don't care to listen. Those who really know me have seen my mean/outspoken side.
I love being a military wife...let me rephrase...I love being and ARMY wife. I take great pride in knowing that my husband is going to fight for my freedom and for others out there. I try hard not to complain because I did sign up for it ALL. I don't take the stance in arguing, "I didn't sign up for this, why is it so hard?" When Nathaniel asked me to marry him I knew what I was getting into and I take great pride in that fact. I love when people tell me to quit complaining bc they have the right to. What makes my pain and heartache and hardships worse than theirs?
You know the saying God never gives us more than we can handle and I definitely believe that but, it doesn't stop me from feeling like a pack mule at times :). God is good in all he does.
I often find myself comparing my life to others and thinking WOW how crazy, awesome, wonderful, superficial, stupid, fake, and complex someone else life can be. I have realized a lot in recent months on how to look at other peoples words and actions. I found that when I complained about things they became so much more important than the bigger picture. We are all selfish people, at times we have to be for our own survival. I realized that I am so busy complaining about something in my life that it clouded me seeing what was happening in others lives. I LOVE helping out my friends with there problems, but when I am so focused on myself it is pretty hard to help others. I love Philippians 1:3-6, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I sums up how we should be feeling towards others.
I find I have to chastise myself for putting myself before others sometimes. God puts us first always!
I have so much to be thankful for.
I just want to say a HUGE I LOVE YOU to all of my friends (you know who you are) for letting me complain, tell me to get over it, letting me help you, letting me share in your ups and downs, and just being TRUE friends....
Philippians 1:3-7 is truly my pray for you all.
Well, this was a long one and I will try my absolute hardest to write again tomorrow ;)
...until then...
So, I haven't read my Jane Austin book yet, sad days. Although, do not fret, I have read the Married to the Military book...pretty good info. I don't know how to even begin taking stances on military life and the ins and outs of it all.
I do consider myself a pretty outspoken person...I pick my battles when need be and and don't waste my breath on those who don't care to listen. Those who really know me have seen my mean/outspoken side.
I love being a military wife...let me rephrase...I love being and ARMY wife. I take great pride in knowing that my husband is going to fight for my freedom and for others out there. I try hard not to complain because I did sign up for it ALL. I don't take the stance in arguing, "I didn't sign up for this, why is it so hard?" When Nathaniel asked me to marry him I knew what I was getting into and I take great pride in that fact. I love when people tell me to quit complaining bc they have the right to. What makes my pain and heartache and hardships worse than theirs?
You know the saying God never gives us more than we can handle and I definitely believe that but, it doesn't stop me from feeling like a pack mule at times :). God is good in all he does.
I often find myself comparing my life to others and thinking WOW how crazy, awesome, wonderful, superficial, stupid, fake, and complex someone else life can be. I have realized a lot in recent months on how to look at other peoples words and actions. I found that when I complained about things they became so much more important than the bigger picture. We are all selfish people, at times we have to be for our own survival. I realized that I am so busy complaining about something in my life that it clouded me seeing what was happening in others lives. I LOVE helping out my friends with there problems, but when I am so focused on myself it is pretty hard to help others. I love Philippians 1:3-6, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I sums up how we should be feeling towards others.
I find I have to chastise myself for putting myself before others sometimes. God puts us first always!
I have so much to be thankful for.
I just want to say a HUGE I LOVE YOU to all of my friends (you know who you are) for letting me complain, tell me to get over it, letting me help you, letting me share in your ups and downs, and just being TRUE friends....
Philippians 1:3-7 is truly my pray for you all.
Well, this was a long one and I will try my absolute hardest to write again tomorrow ;)
...until then...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)