Catching Up!

"your birthday is the happiest day of my life."- Unknown.


Well where have I been in the last 10 months or so. There is a lot to catch everyone up on so try and keep up. So I left everyone off after my amazing trip to Boston. I am still in awe that I was actually there. In person! Well later in August we took a long trip to NC (where hubby is from) and went to TN with some of his family. Spent a week with them and then went to FL to visit my parents and go on a cruise. Which was one amazing trip. Cruises are amazing! If you haven't been on one..GO! At least once in your life go on a cruise. It was so nice and seriously relaxing. We went to the Bahamas. So nice! Crystal clear waters and just awesome towns to walk around. I love the somewhat run down "old" towns to walk through. You can just feel the past and what all has happened in places like that. During that trip we had the joy of sharing some of the best news with our families..we were pregnant!! oh yes, i know what a shock it came to us as well. I mean, we were talking about trying that fall but to be pregnant in the summer was a total shock to us! we speed through 9 months and here we are...on March 20th 2013 our little man, Jackson Nolan, entered the world and forever changed our lives.

He has to be the greatest blessing God has given us. I just can't imagine life without him now. Its only been 7 weeks and I am already feeling like he has been with us for years. It is just perfect. Right now as I type this he is napping (cause when else is a new mom gonna blog!) Jackson was 8lb. 6oz. and 20 in. long at birth. His birth came on a night my family would come to find out they needed him more than ever. While I was at the hospital in labor little did I know that my grandmother (my dad's mom) left us and went home to be with the Lord. Just 3 hours before Jackson was born. While we have known for sometime that she would pass at any time it was still hard to finally accept. When someone is ill for so long and you are constantly wondering if "this is it", it doesn't prepare you for when it does actually happen. My mom was with my husband and I when Jackson was born. She waited until after he came to tell us (I am glad she did, I don't know what I would have done with that in my mind trying to push). My Aunt said it best..God blessed our family in two ways that night..he welcomed one of his children to glory and gave us another to watch over. It sure is amazing to look at God's timing and know that his timing is simply perfect. I spent almost 2 weeks before he was born almost begging God to let him come early. I was in so much pain and so uncomfortable. Little did I know that God knew what needed to happen and just when he needed to come. One of those moments when you look back and say you yourself "why did I ever question God's timing?!"

Well here we are 7 weeks into Jackson's life and I am on cloud 9! I keep telling my husband how lucky we are and how spoiled we are with such a good baby and it being our first. He hardly ever cries and is so content. He loves watching tv..which I still find odd at his age. Im sure he cant see anything but bright colors and hear music... but oh my does he like it. Especially a show called The Backyardagins. We put that on and he is glued to it. I have to say it really helps when we are eating dinner to have that on. Eating with two hands is much easier! :) I also quit my job to be a stay at home mom. We are doing well so far with it and adjusting to one income. Its not easy but we make it work. I know right now at this point God is calling me to be home with him. My time with him is worth so much more than having a little bit of extra spending money. I still plan to return to school and get my teaching degree. If all goes well I plan to be started by fall of this year. I really hope that happens.

Not much else has gone on, I mean what else did you expect...a baby is big enough! hopefully I will not be gone from blogging that long again. hubby is still in the Navy and about to be up for orders next month so we are praying about what God will have for us next, weather it is here or somewhere else I am looking forward to what God has for our life. well its about time for little man to get up and eat...time to run! oh and as for that sewing project...still in the box...one day! one day!

Until next time...

1100 miles in 2.5 days!

" A hot dog at the ballpark is better that steak at the ritz" Humphrey Bogart

Well yesterday we got home from a wild weekend of amazing fun!! We went to Boston this past weekend to see my beloved Red Sox play the Yankees. We went to two games, friday night's game and Saturday morning's double header game. They didn't win either game we went to but I have to say I has in my heaven on earth. This was my first trip to Boston and so for me, I didn't care if they won, I was already winning by just being at Fenway Park and living a dream I have had for a long time! Friday we woke up at 2am to leave for Boston (by plane), got to Boston around 10am. checked into the hotel and headed straight for Fenway. I told my husband that i really wanted to tour the park before the game and get some great photos. So we went and got tickets for the tours they do. I am so glad that we did. About an hour after we got our tickets they sold out tours for the day! so we were right to go when we did to see the park. After that we went across Yawkey way and bought a ton of stuff from the store. I winded up getting the jacket I have wanted for years (the on field jacket like the players wear). Now you may be saying to yourself, wow they really like baseball. That my dear reader, is an understatement. I have loved this game since I was about 2 years old. My parents can't pinpoint how or why I fell in love with Baseball but i did and here I am today in the happiest place I never thought I would be! Friday nights game was amazing, each team scored 5 runs in the first inning! which made for a great start to the game. We sat in Grandstand 14, which was amazing. 2 sections above the Red Sox dugout and in the wooden seats that have been there since the park opened 100 year ago! This park has some history that even Yankee fans can love. Its the oldest park still around and used today. And my is she beautiful!! Saturday we met up with a co worker of my husband's and his family to see the morning game. We sat on the Bud Deck above right field and even had a waiter serve us during the game. I felt on top of the world! It was a dream come true to see my team, but to be waited on (not to mention we got these tickets for FREE!) It was an amazing weekend! After the Saturday game we all went over to the USS Constitution, the oldest navy ship still in use, and toured that. It was so beautiful to see the history of that ship just as it was the ballpark. I got so many photos, I can't wait to edit and get them up for everyone to see! Now my trips to Fenway would not have been complete if I didn't enjoy some of Fenway's most famous things, I had too many Fenway Franks to count, we ate at Bleacher Bar (look it up, its amazing), and most importantly, I got to see my Red Sox take on their biggest rivals! God really gave me an amazing gift this weekend! I am still on cloud 9! 

As far as an update on other things around here, I am sick! We came home yesterday and I assumed my allergies were just acting up! not the case at all. Woke up this morning with a really bad cold and don't know where it is headed now, hopefully away from me, and quickly!!!! As fas as the sewing goes, I am working on it! I have been doing some practice items and such. Right now I am just trying to get familiar with the machine again, since I think the last time I used one was in middle school home ec. class. But it is coming along. I am working with some scrap fabric and getting my straight lines down and all that good stuff! I have yet to actually try a project, but all in good time my dear Watson! All in good time! We have a lot going on the next couple of months in our little family, places to go and people to see and decisions to be made! It is exciting and scary all at the same time! We are ready for what God has for us in this new journey of our life and can't wait to see where he takes us! 

Until next time!  

A new chapter is opening

"Do something today that your future self with thank you for"- Anon.


Sometimes I find God slapping me in the face with his will, other times I find him hiding it around the world for me to look closely and find. Lately I have been deciding what my next path should be now that I have "finished" college and have a degree. I have worked at my current job for 5 years this Aug. and need to start deciding what my next and career path will be. When I first started college I went with the intent to be a teacher. So doing so I volunteered as a Sunday School teacher to young kids at my church. After about 8 to 10 months of that I promptly decided that teaching wasn't for me and switched majors to Graphic Design (what my degree is in). About 6 months after that I changed churches and didn't teach anymore. Ever since then a voice in the back of my head keeps telling me how much I miss teaching those kids, the smile on their face and the warmth I felt from seeing them learn something, especially something I had taught them. It made me feel good. So I am sure you are asking yourself, What in the world happened that you quit? Well let's just say I had one very stubborn little boy in my class, and when your a Sunday School teacher, you can't really do anything. After much hesitation and going back and forth (and talking with my husband, and LOTS of praying) I have decided to go back to school and get my teaching degree! AAAHHHH! I know, I am somewhat freaking out really. I mean, I thought I was done with school forever! Now I am about to embark on a whole new field of study.

Since I am still working full time to pay off bills that we owe I am planning to attend school online (Liberty University has an amazing program!) With the program I am set up for I should have my Masters degree in Teaching by the fall of 2014 or the spring of 2015. I know, FAST, right! But you know something, when God tells you to do something, YOU DO IT! So that is just what I am doing. Enough of making excuses, its time for me to hold on with all i've got and jump head first in to this! My husband is also planning on taking some college classes through the same univ. for a different degree. He isn't planning of finishing as quickly as I am but he still has plenty of time in the military left to go before getting out and needing to worry about another profession.

I am excited and nervous all that the same time. It comes with a lot of added pressure and stress but I know that my foundation in trusting God and having the support of my husband and close friends and family is what is going to push me to graduate with high honors! ( I don't like to do things half way, I go all out!). So here I am, starting out on a new adventure towards God's career path for me. I ask my readers to keep me in your prayers as I being this journey and study like I never have before and push myself to new extremes! I know that this is something my future self will look back and say "I am so glad I didn't wait to do this".

Until next time...

Happy Summer Everyone!

"The time you enjoy wasting is not time wasted"- Bertrand Russell


Well it's summer time (tomorrow being the first day of summer)! That means hot days ahead for us here in the South! My husband and I have already been enjoying some of summer's greatest gifts. We have been firing up the grill and enjoying the local theme park lately. I have to say that my favorite time of year is summer (and fall). I love being able to walk to the mailbox barefoot and be reminded of running without shoes through the grass when I was little. Remembering how summer break from school was one of the greatest things to look forward to as well as our yearly family vacation. Speaking of family vacation, we have major vacation plans this summer. With Chip having been deployed twice over the last year and a half vacations have not come easy for us. So we are making this year count! July 4th weekend (5th and 6th) we will be in Boston to see my beloved Red Sox take on the Yankees (this is my first Red Sox game) and in late July/ early August we are taking a few days with my in laws to go to TN and then heading to FL for a Bahamas cruise, just me and Chip! What a summer to look forward to! I sure am looking forward to some much needed time away and to enjoy not having to worry about getting up for work the next morning or what I am cooking for dinner that night. The only bad thing is leaving our babies (dogs) behind. Its going to be tough being gone over 2 weeks without them. I know they will be in good hands with some of our closest friends keeping them, but still, they are my babies!! I know they will have just as much fun at their "sleepover" as we will on our trips :).


In other grand news, my sewing machine is finally here! I say finally, but it really only took maybe 4 days to get here. I am just excited about starting my first sewing project! The only thing is I can't start until Friday :( I work all day Wednesday so Thursday is the first day I can make it to the craft store for fabric. But come Friday, you know where I will be! That's right, setting up and starting my very first sewing project. Now if I could only decide what to make for my first project. I have been telling myself to make Scout (my yellow lab) a new pillow case. (long story short, he carries a pillow around the house, his favorite toy). He could really use a pillow care that either had buttons or a zipper and stayed on. However I really want some blackout curtain for my master bedroom. I just don't know which should come first. Common sense says make the easier thing first, but I don't always listen to that side of my brain! I am sure once it comes down to it and I am standing in front of the fabric wall at the craft store I will choose the pillow case. But for now this crafty lady is undecided.

I hope everyone enjoys their start to summer no matter how they are spending it! Until next time...

To sew, or not to sew..What a tough question!

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."- Arthur Ashe

So obviously I have reached an impass. I am in love with Pinterest and all the wonferfully amazing things on that site! I have found an endless amount of recipes that each week I have found myself enjoying cooking, and I think my future kid is going to be set for life with all the cool stuff I see on there. Now I love to craft. I scrapbook, do stampin' up and do household crafts all the time. My problem lies in the sewing/knitting area. I have for a few years now been wanting to learn a sewing/knitting craft. One of my closest friends taught me to knit over my husband's last deployment. So far I have 8 rows for a scarf! Needless to say, I didn't take to knitting all too well. Maybe it had to do with her being right handed and me left, or maybe that is my excuse, all I know is, knitting is NOT for me. I have seen so many amazing things on Pinterest that I would LOVE to make. Just one problem, this navy wife doesn't know the first thing about a sewing machine. So what am I going to do about it...Well glad you asked, I am making it my challange to myself to learn to sew.

I just ordered my very first sewing machine! AHHH!! so many emotions running through me right now! I hope I know what I am getting myself into. I was able to get a good deal on the machine as well (always an added bonus). It's a simple 8 stitch machine, but after reading many reviews it seemed this was the best starter out there. So here I am, waiting to get my sewing machine from UPS and start a project. Now I just have to decide what to make as my first project! Pinterest here I come! So here I am, Starting where I am, using what I have, and doing what I can! I guess all that is left to say is... Here's to you Arthur Ashe, and let the sewing begin!

Welcome to blogging, Amanda!

Well as my first blog post, I am like many stuck in that "what do i write" rut. I have been for months debating with myself about starting a blog. What would I blog about? Would people even care about what I had to say? The only way to find the answers to that was to, well simply blog! so here I am. Sharing my life with the world and those who care to read about it. I hope that during my blogging time I can reach others just as I have been reached through other blogs I read. 


Currently I am finding great joy in hunting down new recipes to try out (Pinterest and I have become quite close!). I love to cook and at the end of the day, for some odd reason, it feels like therapy! To come home after a long day at work and dive into my kitchen to cook something for my husband and I, yeah that is what I love to do! I will be sure to post some of the favorite recipes we have (be looking for those soon!) Well for now it's time for me to log off and do just that, cook! Today my husband and I are celebrating our 2nd year of marriage!! Which for me means playing secret chef and leaving him goodies to come home to after work. Since I myself will be at work when he gets home, I am planning to surprise him with cupcakes and goodies waiting on him. I'm sure that will hold him over until I return home to cook dinner :) 


Well, welcome to my blog and I hope you enjoy it. Learn with me as I navigate this thing called life and all that it has to offer. Here we go!