was that a bark?

It's been cold outside.

I mean, cold.

I pat myself on the back for making it into my car each day; I can't stomach an outfit post at the moment.  SOO, I will enlighten each of you with some pertinent information...
  
Savannah barked for the first time a few days ago.  She NEVER barks, she's too cute to bark.

She was provoked...our friends Chesson and Amanda were over (affectionately known as Uncle Chesson and Aunt Amanda..haha), and Chesson brought out her barkin' side.  It was a cute bark.....kind of like an "arf" instead of an actual "bark."

After Savannah let out her first "arf" Brandon and I played the ever popular game of, "if-my-dog-were-a-human-what-would-he/she-sound-like?"  We knew Morgan Freeman and Michael Duncan were out....hmmmm.  Back to the drawing board.  Fergie?  No.  Beyonce?  No.  After some discussion, we decided....bum, bum, buuuum.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we believe Savannah's voice would sound like if she could speak...

 I also believe that when she will eventually grow into the voice (and personality) of Dory from Finding Nemo.  "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

parents.

my parents are in town visiting this weekend and we have done the following things...

ate, ate and ate...or is it eaten?  

bought some earrings at Brighton.

oh and we ate.

Hat: Target, Shirt: J.Crew Factory, Necklace: from my sweet grandmother, Belt: Target, Dress (worn as skirt):F21, Shoes (can't see them):Target.

Our eating and earring buying has been peppered with doggie play time, house touring, and more specifically cupcake eating....and today HOT krispy kreme doughnut eating.  We are all good infulences on each other.

Oh, Brandon and I also got a great picture together in front of our house...wanna see it?  BAM..

we'll have to get used to the outhouses, but I hear once you do you never want to go back! ... I'll post an actual updated picture soon.....I like to keep the suspense going.  Oh, and its not green.

my adorable husband.

There is one reason, among many, why I love to go back to my in-law's house.......I get to see these three photos....

Which one is my hubby, you ask?

this guy....

adorable, right?  If our child looks anything like that.....I will be one happy camper!

and, because I know Ben and Blair are dyyying for me to point them out....

God is a covenant God.

Psalm 25:10

“All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

Exodus 2:24-25

“God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  God saw the people of Israel – and God knew.”

Joshua 21:45

“Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass”

1 Kings 8:20 (King Solomon speaking about God’s fulfilled promise)

“‘Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made.  For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.’”

Galatians 3:13-14

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, ‘cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’ – so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith.”

1 John 2:25

            “And this is the promise that he made to us – eternal life.”

God, through Christ, has already extended a promise to you, don’t delay his call.

3 ways to wear a scarf.

numero uno...headband.

numero dos....bandana.  70's man.  Peace.

numero tres....around your shoulders.

now, the full sha-bang!  This was also the way I chose to wear said scarf.  

 scarf: Target; tunic: J. Crew; pants: H&M; shoes: TJ Maxx

my two cuties on our trip to the park.

play time

Savannah went to her first puppy cotillion class.  We were nervous, very nervous....

but we were also hopeful.  I mean, she doesn't understand the concept of personal space and jumps around like a fairy most of the time, but she's tiny and gentle around other dogs. 

We walked in with our heads held high, round the corner....and wha??  Um, are we in the right class?  I thought this was puppy training, not right-out-of-the-womb-training.  Staring back at us is 2 month old puggle (beagle and pug mix); who Savannah could eat for breakfast, and a Chihuahua who Savannah could eat for a mid-day snack.  Savannah, of course, was delighted.  We held her leash a little tighter..

Savannah didn't quite know what to do with the Chihuahua; Molly.  She couldn't understand why Molly would scream bloody murder any time she came close.  So, Savannah just did her play-time-jig around Molly.  I'm not touching you!  I'm not touching you!  Unfortunately, she had other plans for the puggle; Chloe.

Shirt: Gap; Jacket: Francesca's Collection; Necklace: The Aztec's themselves (really, I have no idea); Jeans: Ann Taylor; Shoes: dunno.

 We were almost ready to breath a sigh of relief, until we heard, "the last 10 minutes will be puppy play time!"  Oh, gosh.  She's never played with a dog this small.  Before I could protest, she was put in a play pen with Chloe.  The first 10 seconds were great, I look at Brandon and give him a yeah-we're-awesome-parents-look,  but then I see it.  My face turns red.  I start sweating.  She has Chloe pinned down and is gnawing on her leg like a chicken bone.  **Cringe** Uh, Savannah?  I didn't even have a response.  By this time she moved to the other leg.  I giggled awkwardly and pulled her off quickly.

Needless to say, play time didn't last the full 10 minutes.

We may need to work on play time, but I think she has the cute factor down.. Savannah, "do your chain hang low, do it wobble to the flo'?"

secrets

There are a few hidden secrets in these photos...well, there are 2 hidden secrets.

1. It was 34 degrees at the time.  Yeah, 34 DEGREES!  There were shiiiiivers going down my spine..I guess I kinda give it away in the first picture, but at least I'm smiling (?) 

2. This skirt, or so you THINK its a skirt, is really a dress....yep.  I'm cool like that.  

 You wanna know another secret? 

 "I like big butts and I cannot lie..." muah. ha. ha.  The secrets I keep.  (Insert sarcasm and humor..) 

Sweater: Target; Dress (worn as a skirt): F21, Shoes: Nine West Outlet; Belt: UO; Earrings: Target.

update

What have we been doing over the past week, you may ask....well, I'll tell you.

We danced.
We partied.
We had dance parties.

I drug Brandon down to the floor, where Savannah and I resided for the weekend, to take a "family photo"....it didn't really work out....

I got dressed.

....it seems I only wore blue striped shirts.  Must be my uniform....

date night @ Busy Bee in Downtown Raleigh

work, work, work all week long...

But, let's be honest, if I had to pick any uniform to wear, I would without a doubt pick Patty Mayonnaise..I would love to live in polka dots and skirts...Brandon could pull off Doug.

We also cooked a lot of yummy goodies!!  And ate them.

Restaurant Style Salsa

1/4 cup oil, packet of dry ranch dressing, lots of dill.  Mix together and pour over a box of cheez-its.

Snickerdoodle Muffins

Brats with onions, peppers, mustard and a side of these Kettle Chips

I also read the Hunger Games trilogy in less than a week......yeah.  

But, on a more serious note, I really enjoyed how Suzanne Collins painted a vivid picture of what a glimmer of hope can do for an entire Nation.  As believers, we have that hope!!  What's stopping us from changing the Nation?

it is finished.

You know, us Christians, we believe a lot of weird things. Let me tell you some of what I believe about the God I serve,

I serve a God who spoke this World into motion.¹

I serve a God who parted the Red Sea.²

I serve a God who miraculously freed his chosen people.³

I serve a God who keeps every covenant.⁴

I serve a God who was the 4th man in the fire that day.⁵

I serve a God who heals the blind, sick and lost.⁶

I serve a God who has ultimate authority; the wind and waves obey him.⁷

This same God humbled himself and came to this Earth as a baby.⁸

This same God chose to die on a cross for the sins of all mankind.⁹

This same God rose three days later.¹⁰

This same God took on our unrighteousness so that we may stand righteous, clean and beautiful.

And, this same God chooses to relentlessly pursue my heart every day of my life.

I am constantly humbled by his amazing grace.

After Jesus was beaten, spit at, and nailed to a cross. After Jesus, died, was buried and two days later rose from the dead.....he went on a little journey to Emmaus.¹¹

I want to weep every time I watch that video. Christ overcame DEATH and is able to walk 7 miles two days later. How can you not fall on your face and worship him? The one who gave his life to save you.

“It is finished
It is done
To the world salvation comes
Hallelujah, we're alive!
Hell was silenced when You cried:
It is finished
It is finished”¹²

(I know there are far more references for the statements above, probably better ones too, but this should get you started)

^1.                Genesis 1-2

^2.                Exodus 14:21

^3.                Exodus 7-12  

^4.                Exodus 6:5, Deuteronomy 7:9

^5.                Daniel 3:8-30, specifically 3:24-25

^6.                Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

^7.                Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41

^8.                Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:1-7

^9.                Philippians 2:4-11, 1 John 2:2

^10.           Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, 1 Corinthians 15

^11.           Sermon Excerpt from Matt Chandler, Luke 24:13-15

^12.           “It is finished” Matt Papa





the masters

As most of you reading know, I had a major tooth ache this past week. I had a root canal wednesday and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! (I know it's been tough without me, but I'll be back in action this week!)

It's perfect timing because this is MASTERS WEEKEND!!!! As my dear husband has said "it's the greatest time of the year!!....apart from our marriage, but that was last year, so I can say that.." uh, yeah.....

This is a snapshot of what my weekend will look like.....I love my husband :)

B has to finish a paper in order to complete his master's program (not to be confused with the golf tournament streaming through our TV), but that does not stop him from dressing in his "masters outfit" and taking short breaks from writing to stay updated on rankings.