Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Weekend in ATL

We spent our anniversary weekend celebrating in Atlanta. We crammed just about as much as we could into 60 hours and I loved every single minute of it!

First stop?


World of Coke! It was so much fun. Totally cheesy, but in the best way possible. There's a room with tons of Coke products from around the world for you to try. Some of them were tasty. Others made me want to throw up. One particularly bad one was from somewhere in Africa. It was minty! MINTY! Like carbonated mouthwash. It took everything in me not to spit it out. Needless to say, I was a happy camper when I saw a whole section dedicated to Coke in all its different forms in America, including Diet Coke!

(Speaking of Diet Coke, I really am doing a pretty good job of drinking more water. I'm down to about a can a day, which is really not that horrible. WOO HOO!)

That night we had dinner with some of our good friends that moved down there for law school. So good catching up with them!

Second stop?


CNN Center! Pretty cool... we probably wouldn't have gone if it hadn't been included on our CityPass, but it was a nice way to spend an hour. Plus, it was cool to see that place empty, because the only time I've ever been in there is at Passion with 25,000 other people!

Third (and arguably, best) stop?


THE AQUARIUM!!!! We got to go on a behind the scenes tour, which totally made my day. I'm a gigantic dork and legitimately teared up when I saw this big guy swim by. I've been wanting to go see the whale shark since the aquarium opened in high school, so being like 10 feet away from him with no glass was mind blowing. Gave me chills. It's a top-notch aquarium. If you're ever in Atlanta with a free day, you should totally go!

Last stop?


The zoo! This came in a close second as far as best attractions go. Panda bears have been on my list of animals I want to see (right above a great white shark... seriously), so seeing this little guy made my heart all warm and fuzzy. When we got there, he was eating bamboo back in the corner and then got up and walked around all cute. I want like 10 of them as pets.

Clint almost got in a fight with this big man.

Clint tapped on the glass and he swung his arm around and banged the glass right back and gave him a look like, "If I could just get to you, I'd break your arm off." And apparently that wasn't the first time he'd done that. He got so mad when he saw the vet that did some work on him once that he hit the glass so hard it cracked all the way up. He's got some serious anger issues.





















We wrapped up the weekend at home by eating our cake topper. It still tasted as good as it still looks!


How have you guys spent your anniversaries? Anybody else have a list of animals they want to see in real life, or am I the only one?

Monday, January 23, 2012

one. whole. year.


That happened over a year ago. Woah. Time seriously FLEW past us.

It's really incredible to look back on the year and see all that's happened. In a way, it makes it seem like a lot longer than a year, honestly.

There's been a lot of ups and a fair share of downs. We've laughed. We've cried. We've fought. We've made up. We've made some huge decisions. We've grown.

If I had to sum up our first year of marriage in one word, it'd be blessed.

The ways the Lord has blessed us is indescribable. I can't even write out all the ways He's blessed us. Seriously. It's that good. He's given us everything we need and so much more.

I know that we're filled to be emptied again, so I want to be able to look back on this and remember His faithfulness in years to come. There will be trying times where He seems so far away, but I know He is good. I know He's faithful. I know He takes care of His children.

Clint, you're my best friend. Ever. I love you more than you know and I've loved every single one of the last three-hundred-and-sixty-something days of being your wife. I'm praying for tens of thousands more. :)

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Back to School?



I'm a dork.

Like, a major dork.

Like, a dork that loves school so much she wants to figure out a way she can get her husbands degree for him because she misses it.

That kinda dork.

I'm done with school, but majorly want to go back. I love the tests. I love the studying. I love taking notes. I love it all.

I think it's because I learned to successfully reign in my ADD when it came to school. I'm failing miserably at that in the real world. But that's a different story.


I'd like to get my masters one day. In what, you ask? No idea. Not a fat clue.

Education sounds nice. I could teach public speaking at a high school. But then again, how many high schools in this economy can afford a public speaking teacher? They're not thinking about the fact it's the number one thing employers are looking for. Don't get me on going on that...

Or I could teach little ones. But I'm not sure I'm cut out for that. I like the idea of decorating a classroom, loving on little kids, having spring, summer, and winter breaks, all those good things, but I'm just not sure I can handle the grubby hands and snotty noses.

So, we'll see what ends up happening. All I'm saying is that if you see me wandering around Vol State with a short red wig on, just call me Clint.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Mae Josephine

AKA Josie.



This is the newest addition to the Lamberth family.

She's a purebred mutt.

We've got no idea what sort of dog she is, but we're legitimately kicking around the idea of getting a doggy DNA test kit like this one. Don't laugh. Curiosity is just getting the best of us. We think she's got some great dane in her and some black lab, but we're not sure about the rest.

She's crazy, loud, fun, obedient, and Capone's new best friend.


And yes, they've both got leashes on. It's takes constant discipline to stay sane around our house.

Oh, and I didn't mention cuddly...


She's fun. A lot of fun.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

It's Started.


Last night was our students very first time to worship in our brand-spankin'-new student building. To say it was exciting is an understatement. The energy was contagious and there was a buzz through the whole building.

Clint and the rest of the Long Hollow Student Ministry staff worked so incredibly hard to make it happen. Tears filled my eyes when the first kids ran in and the opening song started and my sweet man walked on stage. I could tell how proud he was in that moment. Not the cocky/sinful proud. So, maybe I could say humble. Because it was sort of a "Oh my gosh. How in the world am I getting to do this?" Either way, it was a crazy special moment.





Over all three campuses, there were over 1,400 people at student services last night. 1,200 were just at Hendersonville. Most importantly, 11 kids gave their hearts to the Lord last night. It made eternal impact.

I'm so thankful to work at a church that sees the importance of pouring into students. It will not be in vain. I can't wait to see what will be done by God through the students of LHBC in 2012.

It's going to be huge.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Community

As soon as Clint and I got married, we started praying for God to put people in our life we can do life with. The first few years of marriage are hard in the sense that it's all brand new and you're just trying to figure it out together.

In our case, I honestly thought that everything would just click into place. I'd graduate college, finally start a big girl job, and just fall seamlessly into the life I'd half been living in for the previous 4 years.

Well, I moved home and found myself outside the loop, without knowing how it happened or how to jump back in. That resulted in a lot of sensitivity to things that normally wouldn't bother me. Because my feelings were hurt in one area, I'd jump on Clint for doing really insignificant things that sort of annoyed me. We were both really unhappy and constantly bummed. It was a really, really hard time.

We went on a staff retreat back in August and I was surrounded by godly staff wives who genuinely wanted to know how they could pray for me, so I gushed it all out there. We were lonely and uncomfortable and just felt like we were biding time. Our best friends were probably going to be moving away (which they are, but praise the Lord for friendships that will stretch from Nashville to Chicago!). It was just a really weird phase of life.

After that, I had woman after woman come up to me and encourage me and tell me they had been in the exact.same.place.

WOOOOOOOOOOO! I can't even tell you how encouraging that was. Clint and I began to pray diligently for the Lord to surround us with people who loved Him and loved us for who we are. And BOY, has He been more than faithful!

Just a short 4 months later, I can say blessings are overflowing in the friendship department. Last night we met with our newly formed small group for the very first time and I just couldn't stop smiling. To look around and see that most of these people I didn't even know four months ago and now we're in life together! It's just crazy. And encouraging. And wonderful. And just God showing off how faithful He is to us.

So all that to say, I'm happy.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Goals for 2012

Can I just say that when I started typing that, I typed "Goals for 2011".  I've actually written 2011 on every single thing that needs a date today. I'm gonna get it down one day... probably around March.

I don't really like the word "resolutions". Don't know why, but I don't. I think it has to do with the fact resolutions are thought of as something temporary that you say and then always break. Goals are something to work towards–something achievable. So these are my goals for the year, which is 2012.

1. Become more intentional in relationships.

I feel like Facebook and Twitter have ruined me when it comes to intentionality. Why would I take the time to call or have coffee with someone to hear about life when I've watched it happen online?

I'm taking a break from social networking this week as a challenge to give up something valuable in exchange for praying for the upcoming opening of our new student building at church. I honestly didn't want to give it up, but I felt the nagging need to so I'm following that prompting and really enjoying it. It's incredible how much time that frees up.

I really want to be intentional about showing people the Lord has blessed me with that they are just that–a blessing. Cards, emails, little trinkets, just anything to show them I'm thinking about and love them.

2. Drink more water.

The amount of Diet Coke is drink is absurd. I start with a large Sonic diet coke (the best, in case you were wondering...) on the way to work in the morning, drink one with lunch, and sometimes top it off with one at dinner. Yes, I know the horrible things it does to your body and teeth, yet I just can't stop myself. I'm actually sipping on one as I type this...

So this year, I want to drink more water. Like, a lot more. Still trying to find ways to make it more appealing. I'm totally open to suggestions.

3. Lose weight.

I questioned putting this one on here because it's just sort of a weird topic, but I want to be as open as possible with this thing, so here it is. Now, I don't think I'm fat at all. However, I do think I have a lot of excess chub that could stand to disappear. I'm not looking to be stick thin, but I just want to be healthy and I know I'm not right now. I'm heavier now than I've ever been, and I don't want to let it get away from me. There's not a specific number I'm looking for, just to look good and feel healthy.

4. Make my house feel home-y.

Clint and I bought our first house this year (major YAY!!!), but I just can't get into making it feel like a home. I didn't hang a thing on the wall until the day of his birthday party last month. We moved in in SEPTEMBER! That was a solid 2 1/2-3 months with nothing on the wall. I really want to get it feeling lived in. And warm. And inviting. And every other thing I dreamed my own home would be one day.

I've found that, because of my small case of ADD, I've got to tackle it little by little. I actually hung up a shelf in my bathroom and showed it off to people last night like I had given birth to my first born. There are going to be a lot more "babies" being born this year, so my friends better get ready to listen to me dote about my latest house project!

5. Read through the Bible.

I've been a Christian for over 10 years, and I've yet to read the Bible in its entirety. It's something I've started and tend to give up once I get around Judges. This year, though, I've started reading the Bible in chronological order and I. am. LOVING. it. Who knew Job happened right after the tower of Babel and around the same time as the patriarchs? This girl didn't. It's really helpful to read it this way because I'm always getting frustrated, trying to figure out the "storyline". I'm really excited to see where God takes me this year as I learn about Him!

So there they are. My goals for the year. Hopefully this blog will be a bit of accountability in all these areas and I'm looking to update y'all as the year goes on!

What are some of your goals for this year?

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New Year=another try at the blog.

I want to remember 2012. 2011 was such a huge year, but I just glaze over it in my brain because I have no account of it and that makes me sad. I started a job, got married, went on an AMAZING honeymoon, got a dog, went to Disney, bought a house, got another dog and SO many things in between.

This blog is my new year's resolution.

I want to be intentional on writing down everything that's going on in my life.

2012 will only happen once, and I want to soak in every moment!
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