High Five for Friday {2014- #1}

Happy Friday and Wedding planning weekend to me!  I'm so excited to get to spend the weekend with all of my favorite people.  I'm even more excited to spend the weekend trying on lots of beautiful white dresses if you know what I mean.  Which I think you do!  It's like a fairy tale come true. 

Here's what else made my week pretty great! 

Good hair days... I mean seriously with the length that my hair is getting now just having a day where it looks halfway decent is beginning to be a miracle.  I desperately need a trim so it spends most of it's time in a classic low pony-tail so a day where I can where it down is truly an accomplishment. 

Catching myself staring at my beautiful ring at least 10 times every hour... It's gorgeous right!  Enough said about that.  

Realizing that my Christmas gift from my sister is the perfect bag to hold all of my wedding planning supplies in... This Coach purse is adorable!  My soon to be sister gave it to me for Christmas and while it's supposed to be an overnight bag I've found it's perfect for holding my wedding planner and journal, and a couple of pens.  Because yes, I do have to carry it with me everywhere! 

Learning how to be a pioneer woman by cooking dinner for my sweet fiance'... If you've never had a fried chicken taco you are missing out!  They are so good.  I'm determined to be a good wife and I want to be able to provide my new family with delicious meals.  I used this delicious recipe from the Pioneer Woman and the fiance' loved it!  As an added positive I didn't cut myself and only burnt my thumb one time while cooking the entire meal. 

Finding a venue and picking a date... The fiance' and I were so excited to finally pick a venue and settle on a date.  We've been planning a short engagement so this Bride has been a little stressed with finding a place that was available and had everything we wanted in it.  We found a beautiful church in our area that has plenty of room for our guests and a great staff to work with us.  April 5th here we come!  

This #KidsMin had a great week and I hope you did too! 

With so many things going on this week and this weekend I decided to give you a glimpse into my life today and come back with #KidsMin from A to Z... Games on Monday.  I'm sticking to my goal this year to put people first and blogging second.  While my initial goal was to finish A to Z in January I've already pushed into February on my calendar, and I don't even mind.  I'd rather spend time focusing more on each letter's content than to write off a post in 10 minutes and get it out there just to do it.  

If all goes according to plan next week I should be covering...

Games

Holidays

Ice Cream

Juggling

and Kids.  

Although, as we learned yesterday... Plans change and flexibility is often required.  

It's about Grace and not perfection even in the blogging world. 

Happy Weekend

High 5 For Friday

Happy Friday! 

I am so excited for this Friday!  I'm getting to spend the evening with my best friend and this week has truly been such a phenomenal week.  So many wonderful things happened. 

I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for H54F! 

Sister and I put up our Christmas tree.  This was actually two weeks ago, but I hadn't shared it on the blog yet.  Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Fa la la la la la la la la.  Yes, I am aware that it's before Thanksgiving.  It is what it is.  

I got to see my sweetheart this weekend!  Long distance relationships have it's challenges.  After nine weeks a visit with him was just what I needed. 

Wednesday was Thanksgiving Pie night in AWANA!  It was so much fun!

Visit here for a recap! 

Yesterday I got free tickets to see Hillsong United!  They were so good!  As a #KidsMin I frequently miss getting to experience the worship on Sundays because when I get to sneak into the service I often arrive after getting all of my volunteers settled 20 minutes into the service.  Spending two hours just soaking in the wonderful worship music and the presence of Jesus was again just what I needed.  Thank you Catalyst for the free tickets and for taking such wonderful care of your leaders! 

And finally, today I got to see the wonderful colors of Fall.  The trees are at their most vibrant colors this week.  Seriously, have you ever seen anything more red.  It's glorious. 

Happy Weekend, Everyone! 

High Five For Friday

It's Friday!  And what a blessed Friday it is.

Today, I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for H54F! 

I'm also linking up with Jennie and Lindsey for Friday Favorites!

There are so many things to be happy about that I'm not even sure where to start.  

I'll try to do my best to narrow it down to my top 5. 

1) Spontaneity!  I am so happy that I decided to make a spontaneous and random trip home over the weekend.
I got to enjoy the fair with my mom and family and got to cross something off of my Fall Bucket List all at the same time.
Speaking of bucket lists?  How's your list for fall coming?

Enjoying the fair with mom!

2) Unexpected Blessings!  I can't share everything on my blog, but I will say this...
When Jesus pours out his blessings it is phenomenal.  I called my mom yesterday, in the middle of the day, because I was absolutely in awe at how much I have been blessed this week.  In fact, I was reminded of this song by one of my Southern Gospel favorites the GVB and only Audra will appreciate this.  Any other GVB fans out there?

"Greatly blessed, highly favored, imperfect but forgiven child of God." 

3) A great Wednesday night!  I loved seeing all of my favorite little one's as Bible Hero's!
It's seriously one of my favorite theme nights ever and has just been added to the must do list!

4) Finally getting my fall festival planned for work.  I've been putting off typing up the details for a few weeks and have been keeping all of my notes and to-do list mentally in my brain.  Yesterday was the day to end that.  I pulled out a legal pad, opened up a blank document and finally got everything on paper.  I now have a complete games list, to buy list, to make list, etc...

For lots of neat ideas for fall and other holidays be sure to visit and follow my Pinterest page.

5) Picking a costume!  I can't tell you what it's going to be, because I always keep my costume top secret!  It's more fun for my little one's to try to guess what Miss Mary might show up as, than for me to just tell them.  I can however tell you that it is going to be awesome.  Let's just say that it is going to be Biblical, but with a modern and very girly twist.  Last year I was a lady bug, and this year...

Sister and I in last year's photo booth.  

Please forgive my tired eyes.  As you can imagine this was a long day! 

What happened in your life this week?
Let's talk about it!

High Five For Friday

Happy Friday, #KidsMin Calling!

Hello to all of my visitors this week!
I was overwhelmed with seeing the many people who stopped by for a visit this week!

This week, I had the amazing opportunity to go to Catalyst Leadership Conference so my top 5 this week are all revolved around them.  Be sure to visit the blog next week for recap posts on what I learned.

1) Having Uncle Si be Friday's surprise guest at the conference.
You haven't lived until you've sang 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' with Uncle Si and 15,000 of your closest friends and family!

Uncle Si at Catalyst!

This was after waiting in line to get a book signed for half an hour. 

Sadly, with close to 1,500 people in line I didn't get my book signed but I still snagged this awesome shot! 

2) Getting to worship with Passion live!  Oh my goodness can you say AMAZING.  Despite the 3 hours of sleep I got on Wednesday night waiting to see Passion at 7:30 on Thursday night was totally worth it.  They were the most genuine worship team that I have ever seen and they led me straight to the feet of Jesus.

His love never fails.

It never gives up. 

It never runs out on me! 

Speechless after Passion. 

3) Hearing Judah Smith preach!  His sermon... Life changing!  I'll be blogging the specifics next week, but to sum it up in a tweet... Dance because the only thing worth dancing about in your life is that God loves you in spite of what you've done.

4) Listening to Reggie Joiner talk about children and family's ministry.  "I can't change anyone, but I can love a few."

Welcome to Catalyst! 

I love seeing all of the extra touches.  

This year they offered hot air balloon rides! 

5) Getting to worship Jesus with 15,000 of my closest friends.  There is absolutely nothing like hearing 15,000 voices and seeing 30,000 hands raised up to Jesus.  I truly believe that it was as close to heaven as you can get on earth.

Those are my top 5 this week!  Was anyone else at Catalyst?
Sound off below with your highlights!

Happy Fall Friday!

Today, I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for H54F! 

I'm also linking up with Jennie and Lindsey for Friday Favorites! 

Happy Fall Friday!  

That's right... Sunday, was the 1st day of fall and that makes today the very first fall Friday. 

Every morning for the past two days I have walked out of my house to a nice crisp air and I am on top of the moon.  

I absolutely adore fall so as you can imagine my week has been pretty spectacular.  

Here are the top 5 things that made my week so amazing. 

Homemade chicken noodle soup on a cold and rainy day. 

Gorgeous fall sunsets. 

Steaming hot cocoa on the 1st day of fall. 

Sweatshirts, Team Spirit night & Transit. 

Making my fall bucket list.  

It truly was a wonderful week during what I truly believe is the most wonderful time of the year.  

Monday will be the official start date of the first #KidsMin Calling giveaway.
I'll be giving away a copy of 2 of my favorite go-to books: The Big Book of Bible Games & The Big Book of Bible Crafts.
Check in daily next week for your chance to enter the giveaway.

I am currently looking for those who work in #KidsMin (whether as a leader or a volunteer) who would like the opportunity to guest blog for #KidsMin Calling.  If you are interested in guest blogging please e-mail me at kidsmincalling@gmail.com.  Thanks! 

High Five 4 Friday

Happy Friday, Ya'll!

Today, I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five 4 Friday.
I'm also linking up for the first time with Jennie for Friday Favorites.

This has been one of the greatest weeks ever!
I spent all day Monday being completely lazy with my sweet boy.
Because let's face it, we all need a day where we don't have anything to do.
Here's a look at the rest of the things that made my week High Five worthy!

From left to right & top to bottom:

1) Hey, Jack!  It was Crazy Hair night at AWANA this week!  I showed my Duck Commander pride with a Duck Dynasty theme!  I was happy, happy, happy when the night was over.  (For a complete look at Crazy Hair night visit here.)  P.S. For anyone who wants to know when the Duck Dynasty obsession is going to end...  I have no idea!

2) I walked into Hobby Lobby this week and discovered not only the aisles completely devoted to fall, but the Christmas aisles as well.  December is so close I can reach out and grab it.  Oh, Christmas tree.  Oh, Christmas tree.  How lovely are your branches.

3) Sister and I are about to keep our boys in a week and we have been getting ready.  This is the beginning of our games section just for them.  P.S.  Isn't that shopping basket to die for?  Sister found me that basket at a local thrift shop and turned it into my Easter basket this year.

4) I got to spend my Labor Day weekend with some super special family members!  It was one of the best weekends ever!

5) When I was browsing the fall aisles at Hobby Lobby I found these delightful gems for mine and Sister's walkway.  Their going to be a beautiful placeholder until it's time to put out the official fall decor.

That's what made my week so lovely!
What would you give a High Five to this week?

High Five 4 Friday

Today, I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five 4 Friday.

Here are the top 5 things that made my week fabulous!

I have developed a new found love for those Ducks.
I am quite possibly the most girliest of girls that you will ever find.
I love to wear dresses and skirts and hate all things related to hunting, camping, and the general outdoors.
My idea of camping is a hotel with air conditioning and a pool.
After hearing this amazing testimony from Phil, I'm a fan of the Ducks.

My family was already on board with the Ducks so they wasted no time in getting me properly outfitted.
This surprise was waiting on my bed when I returned from AWANA on Wednesday night.
I was happy, happy, happy upon seeing it.
And that's a fact, Jack!

We finally got our Riverside Kids t-shirts in and I am thrilled.
Getting ready for church on Wednesday nights is going to be a breeze now.

I visited my Alma Mater yesterday for their annual church/organization fair.
For someone who always said they were never visiting after they graduated I have found myself there several times.
However, because of them I fell in love with Africa.  And that I wouldn't change for anything.

Lastly, I'm happy for Friday because I get a three day weekend and I couldn't be more thrilled.
I consider my normal weekends to be 2-day (Fri/Sat) but, thanks to this delightful holiday called Labor Day this weekend I get Fri/Sat/Mon.  I'm spending it with my best guy and I couldn't be happier.