It's the MoSt wonderful time of the year!

I must say...Last year at this time, I was not ready for the holidays to roll around! My heart and my head were not where I wanted them to be. I was a newly wed, preparing a home and a husband for our first Christmas together and we didn't really have the support that we were needing.
This year my feelings are very different. God is moving and stirring in my heart and in my life and I am SO excited to see what this next year holds in store. Things with our family are moving in a positive direction and I feel very blessed for the little life that Jacob and I have right now.

Since I haven't posted in a while I just wanted to share a few random things...
They go as follows:

This is our living room- decorated with our Christmas stuff- It's so much better than last year. We really didn't have very much furniture and so our Christmas tree and such looked a little bit out of place, but it's cozy and warm this year. We had to add a new stocking for our sweet black lab, Luke and we re-arranged furniture a bit. Looks good to me.

 Also- We took our *annual* girls trip to Dallas again this year... I say *annual* because this is only year #2 but we are making it annual from now on. The only thing missing from this trip was my MOM! She had to work the weekend we were going, so she stayed home. Miss ya mom! But the girls (pictured above) were a blast!! And a BIG thanks to Val (pictured below) for offering her BEAUTIFUL home, a wonderful hot tub and a weekend of fun!! I had a blast girls! :)

Now if it wasn't random enough...We decided on a whim to paint the kitchen...I worked a party with my mom on Saturday night and my wonderful husband painted, glazed and put up crown molding in the kitchen! I love the fresh, clean look that it has now! I am still working on new window treatments in there...any suggestions?
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Next- This BEAUTIFUL friend of mine took some lovely pictures of Jacob and I.

Can I just say...I *love* this girl! She is so talented at what she does...and not only that but she is a beautiful woman inside and out! She is a great momma and a wonderful friend!! Check out HER blog here.... http://www.chriseldaphotography.com/

Below are a FEW of my favs...I don't know how to pick because I love all of them... Here's a few-

Thoughtful

I read this today and thought I would share with my blogging buddies.. It just was what I needed to read/hear today...


"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His Love. He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Slacking Off

I have been slacking on Thankful Thursdays and blogging in general- I have been slacking for a few reasons, to list a few:

• Work- I LOVE MY JOB! But I have been very busy! We just finished our Trunk or Treat Event and it was a huge success! A lot of time and work went into to making it great!
• Family- I've had family coming in and out of town, both to celebrate the good news from my grandmother (keep reading, I'll explain) and also to help take care of her now that she's back home.
• School- Can I just say getting a degree is hard! WTAMU, you take up a lot of my time (and money) thank you, that is all.
• And finally pets...Yes that's right, I said pets- WE CAN'T KEEP THEM HEALTHY!! How are we going to have kids when our vet bills are so high?!? (yes I'll explain this too!)

Let's get started: Even though it's not Thursday, I thought I should give you all an update on something I am thankful for! My sweet grandmother just returned home last Thursday from MD Anderson in Houston with a great report!!! Our prayers are being answered! The tumor in her lung is significantly smaller, the doctor told her even if it had stayed the same that would have been good news, but her Chemo pills are working!! The spots on her brain are also smaller or even gone! They won't have to go back for THREE months! I am so excited they get to be home for the holidays and that they received good news! Thank you Lord!

Secondly- The dogs- Jacob says how can we have kids when we have to take care of these dogs all the time...Oh I hope he's not right!!! Luke McCoy is in a cone-yes similar to the "princess crown" Mollee had to wear after her surgery. He would not stop licking the injured paw and per vets orders he is indefinitely in a cone. This cone seems to be an object of destruction too because Luke can't walk past something without his lovely cone knocking things off the coffee table, shelves, the bedside table, etc...he is a mess. AND MOLLEE--- Just found out last week that we will be returning to Dallas for another eye surgery for her. I am so bummed because I know she is in pain, but also because we don't really have an allowance for "dog surgery" so here hoping the new year will bring healthy puppies...If not: PUPPIES FOR SALE!!! (just kidding we are keeping them!:)) Matching pictures of their Prince and Princess Crowns to come-

On a good note though- My sweet friend Amber Dawes is going to be the one to make the trip to Dallas with me. Jacob can't take off work anymore and so we are going to make it into a girls weekend- spending time at her mom's house, going to Canton and of course I am sure we will find our way to the Cheesecake Factory!

That's all I have for now. Hope you all enjoyed the crazy snow we got! Amarillo weather is weird.
Have a great week! xoxo

 

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Today---In this moment,  I am thankful for the rain. I woke up this morning and I could smell it. We had the windows open all morning and it's so refreshing to be able to look out of the window and see the rain. It feels like a lot of new "refreshing" things have been happening in my crazy life and although at this moment I don't want really blog about any of it- I do want you to know that God is moving and stirring in my heart and in the heart's of the people around me and it's a good thing. It's something else to be thankful for.

I mentioned in a earlier post about the marriage study we are doing as a small group- This past week's lesson was a great one. It was all about forgiveness and how to forgive your spouse and the husband's role and wife's role..etc...It was a great thing to read- one thing that really stood out to me though was this: "Forgiveness comes when we see our own unrighteousness."

I think that is an excellent point! Sometime it takes being aware of ALL the things that we are forgiven of each and everyday before we can forgive someone else. So I am chewing on that right now, along with lots of other stuff! I wanted to simply write a small amount for Thankful Thursday and I hope each day you guys might find something to be thankful for!

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend! :)

xoxoxo-

Thankful Thursday- week 3

Thankful Thursday- Week 3

I am thankful for answered prayers!!

Today is a great day! It's the day that my sweet grandma and grandpa get to come HOME! They have been in Houston at MD Anderson for several weeks now and I am so excited that they get to come home. Her facebook status this morning read: .Lois Mobley Wells Today's the day! Finally headed home in a few hours. 34 radiation treatment and feeling good. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for me. Please continue to pray for a good report in a few weeks.

I am so happy for them to be able to come home and finally rest easy in their own bed, in their own home. My grandmother is an incredible woman- She has had such a positive attitude through out this whole process. She has sent emails daily about her trip there and the progress and the thanksgiving her and my grandpa have in their hearts for not being as bad as some of the others there. Her outlook on this whole process has made me want to be stronger. I have found myself appreciating the little things more and more and I have grown closer with my sweet mom through watching her be there for her parents.

I am SOOOOO thankful for our answered prayers of her being able to come home and I am praying along with lots of others for a clean bill of health when she goes back!! I am so blessed to have watched her be so strong!

So today, for thankful Thursday- I am thankful for answered prayers and for my Grammy and Poppy! I can't wait to hug you both and see your faces! I've missed you!!!!!!!!

 

Thankful Thursday!

Well we are back to a Thursday once again-
I must say I have truly missed the blog and I'm excited about learning new things to make my blog better!
So today for Thankful Thursday-

I am Thankful for My Parents

          Since I was a brand new baby until right this moment as a young, married, independent woman- my parents have been my biggest fans! They have been there for me for every school play, soccer practice, gymnastic meet, anytime I was sick, sad, happy, or mad they have stood beside me in all things. I am so thankful for the both of them and who they are in mine and Jacob's life!

        Really- at this point in our lives they are the only family we have. Jacob's family is absent and without my parents we wouldn't really have anyone to speak life into us. They are incredible!

       Mom- thank you for teaching me how to be a lady, thank you for teaching me about morals and how to love someone but not let them take advantage of me. Thank you for being my biggest fan and my best friend! You are ALWAYS and I mean always a listening ear, your always on MY team and we are a great pair! I am so thankful for Fridays when we get to run errands together all day and I dearly miss our time spent together in the mornings over a cup of coffee and some good convo...or good silence :)

 You are just as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside and it has been an amazing blessing for me to see you lean more and more on the Lord as things with your mom's cancer and our family have been a little discouraging. You are such a great mom and one who I want to be just like. Thank you for being you and for being MY best friend! I love you mom and I am thankful for YOU!

     Dad----oh my sweet dad! I can't even think about you without getting a little teary eyed weird. You have been there for me since day one..truly haha! You coached my soccer games, and you have been there for me through every event thick or thin in my life! Thank you dad for teaching me how to be strong in my faith! Thank you for teaching me about work ethic and what is means to work hard and earn the things I have. YOU are an amazing example for Jacob and I am sooo thankful that you are there for him to watch. Thank you for being the best daddy in the whole world. I still remember dancing with you in the living room when I was a 4 year old and again a few weeks before my wedding day. I remember crying my eyes out when we were practicing for our father daughter dance because I couldn't imaging you "giving me away." It makes me cry now just thinking about you praying with me right before you walked me down and aisle and how you told me I was so beautiful! You taught me to pray...on my knees beside my bed when I was little and you still teach me to pray by the way you share your faith! I love you dad and I am thankful for YOU!

So thats it-my Thankful Thursday for today! Hope you guys have a GREAT day! Until next time....

xoxoxo

Thankful Thursday

I am going to try and start posting a new thing called "Thankful Thursdays." I have so much to be thankful for and I need to take time to appreciate these things instead of dwell on some of the negative (which I've been known to do)

So today for Thankful Thursday #1

I am thankful for my husband!!

Jacob Anthony Reinbold- YOU are an amazing man! I am so blessed to call you my husband. We have been married for a year now and I still remember meeting you, our first kiss, and when I knew I was in love with you. You have grown in this amazing man who loves the Lord, your bride and others in that exact order. You still constantly amaze me with the new things that you do or say. Each day you come home from work with a new project or idea that blows me away. Your passion for your job and the skill at which you do it is incredible. You are so talented....And the way you have a passion for learning...it never gets old to me! You are so smart, and although it used to make me mad when we were in calculus together :) it now makes me proud! I know you will work hard and provide for our family no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in.
I am so amazed at the way you defend me, love me, protect me and make me smile! YOU are the biggest blessing that I have in my life! I am so thankful for the way you love my family. You love my mom and dad as if they were your own! You take pride in who they are and they take pride in you! I am so thankful for that relationship!!! You are such a good "daddy" to our puppies...I know that's silly, but it truly makes me smile to see the way you love our dogs!
I know that you are not a "real"daddy yet....But when that day comes I know you will melt my heart. You will be a hands on dad and you will be amazing to say the least!!! I can't wait to watch you be a dad to our little ones! That makes me smile...
So in closing...Jacob, I am thankful for YOU, and YOU are the one that makes me happy! Thank you for all you do! Your the best! xoxoxo

P.S. Take some time today to be THANKFUL!

Free Ice Cream!

Just wanted to let you all know that Coldstone is offering FREE ICE CREAM tomorrow! Here is the add! I know it's an awful picture from my iphone but it still gets the point across!
Enjoy!

Small Group!

We are reading this book/workbook in our small group...


It's really pretty good so far...I have a hard time getting into books...especially books that come with workbooks...sounds like a lot of work to me...However this has been good so far! It's been an easy read and it's been great to do the workbook with Jacob. I am excited to continue reading it with our small group and I think if you are a married person reading my blog (or a soon to be married person :)) You and your spouse should consider this!
Good Luck!
-xoxox-

What's in a year??

I have taken a much needed rest from blogging... I could blame it on the sun (summertime) or I can blame it on not having enough time but the truth is I just haven't it in me to blog. We have had such a busy and eventful past couple of months, so I will try my best to catch you all up from what's been going on.

First and foremost--

A year ago from yesterday.......

Jacob and I just celebrated our ONE YEAR anniversary! It is crazy to me that a year has passed since our wedding day!! I remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember some of my thoughts and my feelings. I remember getting ready and walking down the aisle! It was such a wonderful day for both of us!! So much has happened since that fall day in September. I am so blessed by Jacob and I am so thankful that he is my husband! He makes me feel beautiful, smart and funny and there is no one I would rather come home to each day! We have really grown into our relationship and we have learned what makes each other tick! He knows how to do little things that make me happy and I know the little things that make him feel loved. It is really neat and I can't wait to see what our future holds. In summary- year one was a success! I LOVE being married to Jacob!

Next thing- We found out earlier this month that my grandmother (my mom's mom) has been diagnosed with cancer. It was shock when we heard the news and we have been praying like crazy since we found out! She has lung cancer and she also has tumors on her brain and in her hip. She was blessed to be able to go to MD Anderson right away and though we were praying that she could come home for treatment, it turns out the doctors are having her stay there for her treatment. My SWEET mom is keeping this little lady until my grandparents return. 

She has been a complete joy and my mom has fallen in love with her. Lucy came to stay with Jacob and I for a weekend while my parents went to Las Vegas with some high school friends (they all turned 50 this year..YIKES!!) (jk mom!!:))

Anyway- Lucy came to stay with us and she was a joy there too! It was a little stressful with all the dogs at our little three bedroom house.

Mollee Kae (our dog) had just had double eye surgery... We traveled to Dallas for the day- leaving at 1:15 IN THE MORNING- driving straight in and having surgery then driving straight home with no sleep! It was a crazy day but sweet girl went from looking really bad to much better! She is a trooper and she is doing great!

The next big adventure at the Reinbold house was that Luke, our black lab, mysteriously cut the pad of his paw. It was bleeding one night when I got home from work and I had to get ACE bandage and get it wrapped...that has been quite the ordeal as well. He has eaten every bandage we've put on his paw and the vet said there is nothing they can do. So we continue to wrap his helpless paw and poor thing acts like he can't walk on it. We will be thankful when our dogs are back to normal and healthy...(our pocketbooks will be equally as happy!)

Finally to wrap up our summer here a few random thoughts:

I have decided (for the moment) that I am going to take my blog to being public again...No, things are STILL not fixed as far as our family situation goes...But it's better than it was. We are all just remaining quiet and for now, I think that's the best thing. I also am doing it because I have had several people ask me to be a viewer of our blog and there is only a limited amount of space for readers, so I thought it would be better if we were public again- then those who wanted to read..could!

Secondly- I have accepted a full time position at Hillside Christian Church- I am no longer an interim but I am on for good! It has been a huge blessing for me and Jacob and we love this church so much! We have found a WONDERFUL small group that has been such a blessing to be a part of! Jacob can't attend this semester because of school but I love everyone in our group and the honesty is great! SO BLESSED....

Lastly--no we are no having a baby right now...BUT I did see a picture online of what I want our nursery to look like when we do get pregnant...Hopefully that will be sooner than later :)

Anyway- I will try to post more often! Hope you all had a wonderful summer!

-xoxoxo-

Can't get going

SUMMER TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can not find time to blog in the summer! We have been running around like crazy! I spent 4 weeks away from home (no not all at once...but in total)
One of those weeks was with my awesome husband and the rest were for work. I had a blast but I am STILL catching up on laundry and cleaning from my latest trip. But we will get back in the swing of things soon. Fall is just around the corner and I must admit I am ready! No, not for school and such but the stillness, the cooler weather and my birthday!!!!!!!!!

Jacob and I have had several things going on...Jacob got a new toy over the summer...although it's not that fun haha..he got a BIG trailer for his job. This is will make his load a lot easier. He won't have to load and unload things from his pickup anymore, he will be able to store this things in his trailer.
                                      I also got a new toy!

Yes- I bought into the whole iphone 4 phase! I am so excited and I LOVE IT! I am still figuring everything out about it but I think I am really going to enjoy MY new toy!

More exciting news to come! Stay will me! I'm not a total blog failure!

xoxox

And we're back!!!

Well--- I haven't sat down to write on my blog in a while! Maybe some of you gave up on me! I hope not! I am trying to get back in the swing of things but the summertime is a really hard time to be a blogger! It's crazy here at work with camps and trips and of course the sunshine does not want me sitting in front of my computer. But I guess I will give you guys an update on what's been going on lately.

On father's day, Jacob's dad's house burnt down. It was a total loss of his house, car and boat...Needless to say since this day our worlds have been CRAZY, fast paced and stressful. The word overwhelmed is an understatement!

This has been a crazy process as we have begun picking up the pieces of his life. He had no car insurance, no house insurance and no boat insurance---The community really came together for Jacob's dad and it has been neat to see people reach out and offer a helping hand, either providing lunch for the people working over there or providing materials for the rebuild, people have been gracious and they have been the hands and feet of Jesus! It has been a neat and a very humbling process to watch and be a part of.

Also- I have been out of town some for work. We went to high school camp and we have elementary camp coming up around the corner. While I was gone this last time Jacob spent his evenings building this beautiful planter box for the front of our house. He redid our front door to match- I just don't have a picture of that. We finally got flowers put in the beautiful box he made me! And YES he is for hire!! :)

Our sweet puppies Mollee Kae and Luke have been great! They are just keeping up with our fast paced lives and loving every minute of it! Luke has gotten HUGE and he is so precious! Here is a quick update of his size! We love our dogs!!!

And finally since our honeymoon, Jacob and I got to take a trip together. For the 4th of July we went to Lake Texoma with some of our sweet friends Barri and Tyler. They have a FABULOUS lake house there and we got to spend the weekend on the water! It was very relaxing and super fun! Here is one picture that we got the night of the 4th. We had a blast!

And last but not least- We have spent lots of time with our sweet friends Nathan and Kayla Maxwell. They live a few blocks away from us and I truly believe that God has put them in our lives for a reason. They are a precious and genuine couple who share our morals and ideas! We truly enjoy hanging out with them and getting to know them better and better!

So that's our summer time so far! We have been running crazy and time is FLYING by us but we couldn't be more thankful for where we are in our lives right now. Work is great, our families are happy and healthy and we are so blessed!

I hope each of you have a great summer! I will try to be a better blogger from now on! 

 xoxoxo