Thankful

I can't believe it's already time for Thanksgiving! Where has the year gone? In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to share the things in my life that I am most thankful for:

1. King of Kings - with the kind of year that I've had I have needed Him more than ever. I am so very thankful that He loves me unconditionally and is always there guiding me through life. He has blessed me beyond what I deserve, and for that I am truly thankful!

2. Mr. Fleisher - I am one lucky girl because I am married to my best friend. Mike is a great, Godly man who is always there for me. He has seen many sides of me this year, and has held my hand through it all. I love you Mike!

Mike and I at the Hog vs South Carolina game in Fayetteville!

3. Mi Familia - what can I say? My family has never failed to be there for me - I love that about them! I am blessed to have such a supportive family!

4. Besties - these girls are in every way sisters to me. We have grown up together and know so many things about each other - and yet we still love hanging out! I'm sad that we have all moved to different cities, but every time we reconnect, it's just like old times. I can't tell you how much you girls mean to me - Love

Lena, Katie, me, and Laura at my wedding

5. Crestwood - I couldn't just say co-workers because I am so very thankful for being able to work at Crestwood! The staff, parents, and students are all absolutely wonderful - I can't imagine wanting to work somewhere else. Of course, my work besties make it even better. We always say it's a rarity for someone to both work in a great place and also work with your best friends - we get to work with our best friends every day!

With Lindsay, Sharon, & Sabra before performing at the talent show

6. Bella - I love my doggy and am so thankful for her! She keeps us laughing :-)

7. Certified - after a stressful 8 months I found out that I passed my National Boards! This was a great end to a not-so-good year. Now I'm looking forward to the benefits of being NBCT!

About to mail off my box for National Boards

8. Pinterest - this one may seem out of place, but it's brought out my creative side. I've always considered myself creative, but this wonderful website has opened my eyes to all the crafts I need to make. I am truly excited to incorporate many of these pinterest finds in my house!

I am also thankful for those who actually took the time to read this thankful list! I hope everyone enjoys time with their family and friends over the Thanksgiving weekend! And, last but not least, GO HOGS! BEAT LSU!

Worthy Is The Lamb - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

A friend of mine posted this video a while back saying she thought this is what it would be like in Heaven. We sang Worthy is the Lamb this morning at church and thought immediately of this video. It was a great way to start off my Sunday!

Painting with a Twist

I have discovered a wonderful new place for Girls' Night Out - Painting with a Twist! One of my coworkers has been wanting to go now for several weeks and this past Friday was the perfect time. What's great about this place is that you don't have to be an artist - I am by no means an artist. You sit at a long table with your canvas and painting supplies and follow along with the instructor. Since Fall is here, we chose to go the night they were painting "Colors of Autumn". I will say that mine does not look exactly like the instructors, but that's ok. Really, out of the 30ish people there, no 2 paintings were the same. Below is a picture of my final "Color of Autumn". Again, I have never really considered myself to be a great artist, but I am pretty darn proud of myself. We are definitely planning to go back around Christmas time.

Maybe I've found my true calling....probably not!

Us girls with our paintings. Everyone's look great! I highly recommend you try this place out at least once. It's a chain so there's one in NLR and in Fayetteville.

On a different note, I found this at Kroger today...

Oh yeah!!! The countdown has been on for the past several months. I can't wait to see Breaking Dawn - this magazine just made the anticipation even higher! I am planning to start rereading the series before November 18th. Team Edward all the way!

I hope everyone has a great week! I'm hoping that mine goes by quickly :-)

I Remember

September 11, 2001

It's hard to believe that 10 years have passed. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a senior in high school and heard about the first plane when I walked into my mom's office. By the time I got to class the 2nd plane had already hit. While we, traveling STARS, were sitting in a circle the news was showing on the TV. Mrs. Ratliff, my teacher, was talking when we saw the first tower collapse. From that point on class was over. We all moved closer to the TV in order to focus in on what was going on and the magnitude of it all.

By lunch time, the news of a gas shortage had made it's way to my school. My mom checked me out while I was in my American History class - I never got checked out. She gave me her Sam's card and debit card and I left. When I got to Sam's I remember the line for gas was all the way down the access road! I ended up finding a smaller station to get gas then went straight home to catch up on the news.

While I cannot even come close to knowing what it must have been like to have seen these attacks first hand, it still made an impact. My heart breaks for those who lost their lives that day and for their families. I am honored to live in a country that can come together in moments like this. I am also honored that many service men/women have risked and/or lost their lives to help us feel safe again. I pray for our country and that we are able to grow even stronger and closer to Him throughout this next decade. My we not dwell on what happened, but allow it to make use even stronger. I also pray for the service men/women, firemen, and policemen who risk their lives daily in order to make the USA a safer place to live. God Bless America!

Desired Prayer

I pray that this can eventually be my prayer. I heard it this afternoon on K-Love while on my way home from getting another round of blood work. Scott was talking about how truly hard this prayer is to truly pray with all your heart. No one likes to go through pain, loss, or any other storms in life, but we are not promised a life without those things. Mercyme is a Christian group that I have loved for a long time, and I've just added this song to my list of favs! I do hope that one day I can sing this song and truly mean every single word.

"Bring The Rain"

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on You, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are such greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Praise You in this Storm

This past week I have experienced one of the hardest, most emotional storms of my life. I have been blessed with supportive family and friends who have given me encouraging and inspirational words. While I'm still struggling with trying to get answers from the Lord about why and how to move on, I have had this song running through my mind constantly:

Praise You in this Storm
by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now, God, You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise You in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for you are who you are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for you are who you are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

And I'll praise You in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for you are who you are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Goodbyes

Well, my summer is officially over, so I must say goodbye to sleeping in, afternoon naps, and the free time to do whatever I want. This has been a fun summer! We didn't go on any big vacations or anything, but we still got stuff done. We started our summer by celebrating Mike's 30th birthday! I can't believe I'm married to a 30 year old :-) Here he is with his the traditional cookie cake...yummy!

We are still in the process of renovating the kitchen - we have the granite, sink, & faucet installed, but we haven't decided on a backsplash yet. I'm hoping to get this done soon rather than later. Mike and I also enjoyed a quick getaway to Memphis. I am sad to see summer go, but am looking forward to being back on a normal schedule. Is it bad that I'm ready for it to be November? The end of the year seems to be the best!

I also had to say goodbye to my Granny, my dad's mom. She was an amazing, christian woman! Since her death was so unexpected, it was extremely hard on our family. Plus, this is the first grandparent that I've lost. I've included several pictures of my dear Granny throughout the years - from raising her 3 boys to seeing my graduate from the U of A. I love and miss you Granny, but I know I'll see you again.

My dad with his parents and brothers - this is a cherished picture because it's one of the few of my granddad before he died.

Granny with her boys

Granny with her parents & her boys

Celebrating a Taylor family Christmas

The whole Taylor crew outside Granny's house in Center Hill

At my 2006 U of A graduation in Fayetteville

"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens". ~ 2 Corinthians 5:1

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus". ~ 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful". ~ John 14:27