The month of OCTOBER 2012

This month has kept us super busy!  I love every second! 

We had our good friend Kim's little boys 1st Birthday Bash a few weeks ago! She designed the whole thing & did a caterpillar theme, it was BEYOND adorable!  Little Preston is growing up to fast, we just love him!  It's my nephews BFF!  They are precious!

I always find reason's in October to continue to decorate even more!

One day Avery wanted to bake cookies so we made pumpkin cookies- delish!

She was in her first wedding this past weekend! Our cousin from Hong Kong got married & it was the most beautiful wedding! Avery & her cousin Stella were the flower girls & they were precious!

I have tons of other pictures I just haven't had time to download all the goodies on my camera, whew!

My sister in law & cousin Gretchen were in the wedding!  I did their make-up for the wedding! So fun!

Avery had been sick this past week!  We were home for 4 days straight- EEK!  Poor thing!

When she started feeling better we joined our friend Beth & her sweet baby boy for lunch!

We are in full force Halloween clothes!

How cute is her little boy!?  We all met up for lunch along with my friend Amy, it was so nice to catch up!

And look who is doing AMAZING?  My Daddy went back to the Marina for a few more days, it closes this next week for the winter. We visited him!  Such a special moment to see him there.  He is still healing, it's been tougher than he thought but he is doing great- thank you Jesus! More updates to come on him!

He is in therapy 3 days a week now!

Avery missed visiting him, she just sat on the picnic table taking it all in again with her princess book.

The week prior he made it back to church for the first time & we all enjoyed a big family lunch again!  

Special day for us!

I praise my God everyday!  I am stronger because of my Daddy!

And of course we have been enjoying our every night bath time!  She likes to wash her hair now & started this, this month!

I enjoyed the craft fairs that come each year to our town! I went with my sis in law & our friend Kim!

The tree's are beautiful at this time of the year my sis & I enjoyed the drive through our downtown!

This month my nephew started to walk!  Such a sweet moment in our families lives we love this little guy!  He looks IDENTICAL to my brother & we all just giggle because he looks like a little man!

Hudson turns 1 next month can you believe it?  My sister in law has a crazy awesome party she has been working on for months, you just wait!

This weekend we hit up our annual pumpkin patch visit with Chad's family & roast for dinner at my Mother in-laws.  It was a pretty darn good Sunday guys!

{These are from Instagram so phone pictures & not really clear}

This month we also celebrated my friend Suzette's birthday!  I am telling you I feel blessed now more than ever to have good friends!

And my hair got chopped & completely changed this month & I must say, I'm LOVING every second of this sassy fun style!

And I'm getting ready for Christmas.  Ordered this cutie from a friend!

And have my sweet friend Amanda working on Avery's Christmas outfit!  

And guess what the end of October brings?  That is right!  My tree goes up this next weekend!  I loved my house last year I can hardly wait for the fun this year!!! Get ready hubby, alot of work in store! =)

God has really been working on me lately, & I wanted to leave you with something I read today & reposted on my facebook  page.  It's great food for the soul for this coming week!  Life is sweet, cherish each moment!

Do not expect to be treated fairly in this life. People will say and do hurtful things to you, things that you don't deserve. When someone mistreats you, try to view it as an opportunity to grow in grace. See how quickly you can forgive the one who has wounded you. Don't be concerned about setting the record straight. Instead of obsessing about other people's opinions of you, keep your focus on Me. 

Ultimately, it is My view of you that counts.

As you concentrate on relating to Me, remember that I have clothed you in My righteousness and holiness. I see you attired in these radiant garments, which I bought for you with My blood. This also is not fair; it is pure gift. When others treat you unfairly, remember that My ways with you are much better than fair. My ways are Peace and Love, which I have poured out into your heart by My Spirit.

--Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Happy week to all!

My new hair!

Last week I got a new hair style...

... & I must say, it's super fun & I'm having a blast with it!

{I cut 3 inches off, went chocolate & auburn & added tons of layers & bangs}

I know long hair is fun & in pretty much an all of the time hair fashion but I needed some change to my life.  With all of the things going on, I felt it was time for a different little happy; one that was easier to fix & still somewhat fashionable.  

I love hair.  I think hair can tell alot about your personality & can be fun to fix.  My friend Kelly & I were talking about doing hair tutorials on her blog sometime & I can't wait to participate because I have some fun things up my sleeve!  I'm the type of girl that can't wear my hair the same way every single day, I need something different & fun to change!

I also think that hair can be fashion.  These days we worry so much about what we wear & how we look, but hair to me is also a great accessory just like an awesome blazer!  It's fun to be different & try to not always have what everyone else has. I kind of get tired of seeing the same stuff all of the time.  So- I went with bangs.  I know bangs aren't anything crazy new but it's something you don't see a ton of people have... 

So, what do you think?

I have tons to blog about the past few weeks have been so busy!  Chad has been traveling, our cousin had a wedding, my Avery is growing like a weed...

Julee/Preslee--Silent Auction Info!

I just did a blog post HERE on how you can help out on donating money to the Memorial fund for Julee/Preslee,... so please visit- you won't want to miss out!!!

But, here are also some other ways you can help out on donating to a great cause for our dear friend Julee:

• A sweet friend at "Pumkin Butter"  is doing a great auction on kid's goodies, so check it out!  

• A long time follower & sweet friend Karen at "Karen at Home" is featuring an auction on her blog for Thirty One Gifts... check it out!

• Check out another dear friend of mine at "Life Sweet Life" for a great "HOG" auction you won't want to miss also benefiting this great cause!  

• Over at "Faith, Grace & Giggles" she is featuring "Scentsy" items!   

• My good pal Kelly at "Kelley's Korner"  is representing some awesome ways to participate in the silent auction with some gift cards!  You must check them out!  

• Don't forget Jennifer at "The Getts Times" for "Embers Grille"!

• A sweet local friend & awesome gal at "Living the high life" is doing a great auction item.  We just adore her work- fabulous girl! 

• Check out a local gal that I personally love, "Amy Hannon" for some other great "Hog"  goodies, she is a doll!  I follow her on Instagram, she is a local gal by us Arkansas gals & I adore her so much!

**There is a great list of how you can add to help with silent auction items- please go HERE for more information**

Sent this to my dear friend Julee tonight:

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12

I love you girl!

Memorial Fund & Silent Auction Info- Julee

I wanted to share a couple of ways you can help support our friend Julee!  A memorial fund has been set up in honor of Matt at Summit Bank:

Preslee Turner College Fund

Summit Bank

PO Box 965

Arkadelphia, AR 71923

Summit Bank will also be adding an online donation button on their website (summitbankdirect.com) in the coming days.

Also, visit HERE for more information on the silent auctions that are soon to take place. I will continue to keep my blog updated of ways you can help.

We appreciate all your prayers, support & love to Julee.  It's been a week since Matt has passed & I know tonight is probably hard for her re-thinking of what took place & of course the coming days ahead.  She posted this on FB tonight:

There are a lot of things I would like to say but right now all I can say is Thank you for your prayers! They have carried me through this week. I just can't believe he has been gone a whole week. I just thank the Lord that I have a reason to get up every day. Our sweet Preslee is going to get me through this along with all of your prayers and support!

Why

We often times question our life & things that happen to each of us personally.  "Why" is a question that I have had on my mind since my friends husbands death on Saturday evening.  I just haven't been able to get that question mark out of my head.  I have tried the past few days to make sense of everything but I don't think I ever will.  All I know & can say that is truth is that it was somehow in God's plan although we don't want or know how to just except that right now.

Yesterday I road down to the funeral with 2 of my friends & we would have moments of just talking aloud, then quick moments of silence as we would feel our friend Julee's heartache.  We actually passed the spot where the crash took place & it just took my breath away as I gripped the wheel.  I just simply can't imagine or do I have words to explain that tragedy.  

We were listening to the radio before we approached that spot & this song came on.  It's been a song in my life right now that I wanted to share because it's on the radio a lot & has just touched my soul personally through the past several weeks of my life that I have been going through some hard times.

Us girls softly sang it quietly in the car.

The funeral was televised yesterday, if you follow Julee you probably watched it live.  I had several people say they caught it even from Canada.  The important thing to remember about the service was that Matt was a Christian man, he lived a life for Christ, loved his family, daughter & sweet baby girl Preslee.  My heart is with Julee, I just hurt for her.  No words... 

There are so many wonderful people doing donations, I am working on a few right now.  But go over to Kelly's Korner and have her sign you up for a day to have letters mailed to Julee.  What a great thing to partake in!  It's the small things that matter the most, she will love reading them.

I also have to add that our friend Jennifer is one amazing woman & friend.  She was with her since the day of the crash & stayed until yesterday after the funeral, talking her through this, being there, & loving her.  She is one great friend & we all adore her.  Please read her journey HERE.  Jennifer, I love you girl, thank you for being such an amazing woman of Christ.  

I sent this verse to Julee & thought I would share it's very dear to my heart.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  – Psalm 28:7 

Thoughts

Julee posted today on her blog.  I was at a stoplight when I saw it was posted & pulled over in a parking lot & wept aloud in my car.  Avery had school today & while I never love to be away from her I had a little time to myself to just think, cry for my friend, & prepare myself for the funeral myself & 2 of my friends will be driving to attend tomorrow early.  I say "prepare" but I don't think we are ever prepared for something like this.  I have text 2 friends the past several days along with Julee's best friend Jen checking in on her & all I can say is "my heart aches".  Because it literally does.

My friend Kelly posted on her blog earlier about hard times & I couldn't have said it better.  It is so true about life right now.  There are times when I just think I can't handle much more bad news, & something else happens.  This situation has thickened me to the core & made me draw even closer to God than ever in my life.

...God helped me to realize in a quiet time last night that life is going to be like this & without these moments of hardship I am never going to grow.  If my Dad hadn't had his heart issues & now this horrible tragedy with our friend, I would still be skipping around just "enjoying life".  Don't get me wrong, I WANT to enjoy life.  But my priorities just weren't straight.  It's not about who we have as friends, what we wear, what we are able to show.  Life is about much more precious than "stuff"... it's about the legacy we can leave behind like Matt Turner has left behind for all of us, his wife & daughter.  It's about what people can say about you that bettered you towards Christ.   Life is about knowing our purpose for being here, & letting others see your joy of Him & being that light that someone may need on a dark day.

{We never know others situations}  

I know Julee made her way outside of the house yesterday with her best friend Jennifer.  How awful for someone to be rude, un-kind, have road rage, have a bad attitude, be snooty to her, or anyone wherever we go....  And my Dad, we were at Wal-mart the other day & I was telling him while walking through the aisles that it's sad we aren't nicer to more people in society because we never know what others are going through, whether they are sick or even just lost a loved one, had surgery or just got diagnosed with cancer. I told him while we were walking that it would break my heart if someone at the store was hateful to him after what he went through!

 ...My point in sharing this is we never understand other's life struggles & we should each think of how we are in public or our lives before we mistaken a dark moment for someone.  ALWAYS treat with kindness & love that of Christ & take the high road.  I am no miss perfect, but I'm telling you, God uses situations like this through people, (and even me), to share so that this world can try to be a better place.  I am thankful for all I have learned through others testimonies, it's helped mold me into who I am today!

Thank you for all of your prayers there are so many ways you can reach out to help donate to Julee, her daughter & family through many blogs linked to mine as well as local shops.  I will do another post as I continue to hear of all the wonderful things are community is doing.  And please watch Kelly Korner's blog for the letters to Julee.

We will give her a big hug from our amazing blogger world tomorrow.

Silent Auction Information

I wanted to post this amazing video that our news team put together on behalf of Matt, Julee & Preslee as well as their families.

I will be traveling with some of my friends & sisters in Christ to be with our Julee this week for the funeral. Please continue to keep her in your prayers she needs all of our support, love & prayers.

If you follow Melissa via twitter she is setting up to have people send cards to ensure we can get them to Julee.  Also there are all kinds of donations being made at several locations you can check out! Our sweet Sarah at "Life Sweet Life" is setting up some arrangements for silent auctions to be go on this week so go check out her blog!

I feel so blessed to have such a great group of blogging friends in our community!  

We sure do love you Julee!