It's Fall Y'all

Today I'm participating in the Brave Love Blog's Blogtember challenge and writing all about my favorite season....

I may love snow in the Winter...

...beautiful flowers in the Spring.

...time off from work and spending lots of time with family in the Summer.

...and even the happiness caused by the first big rain of the Rainy Season in West Africa.

But my favorite season is most definitely Fall. I love Fall y'all! 

I love...

...seeing the leaves changing colors.

...the coziness of a hoodie.

...the temp's slowly dropping.

...it finally being grilling weather.

...the excitement of a good (Bama) football game.

...pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake, and of course pumpkin spice (chai) lattes from Starbucks.

...celebrating Thanksgiving.

And since Fall includes Thanksgiving, I end up spending more time than usual expressing my thanks and gratitude to my Savior for all He's blessed me with.

So I'd say one of the best parts of Fall is being reminded of all the goodness in my life.

Shuffling Along...

Today's prompt for Brave Love Blog's Blogtember Challenge is...

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 10 songs that play. And no cheating!

Here are my 10...

#1 - Dependence by Jamie Slocum

I feel like this song is a great worship song. It expresses my desire to have total dependence on my Savior.

#2 - I Will Return from the Furious 7 Soundtrack

This sound makes me think of my dad and makes me think of all the memories I have of them.

#3 - Love Like You Loved by Jonny Diaz

Isn't that what all of us that call ourselves Christian should be praying...to love, serve, speak, care like our Savior?

#4 - You're Not Alone by Downhere 

This song is one of my favorites and always makes me smile. It doesn't matter how many people you have around you... Sometimes we all feel alone in this world. But if we have Jesus as our personal Savior, we don't have to feel that way. He will always be with us.

#5 - Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

This is another favorite worship song. I love that I have what I have in the Holy Spirit. P.S. Want to know all the goodness the Holy Spirit has to offer? Read Acts 2.

#6 - My Lighthouse by Rend Collective

I recently purchased this album and instantly fell in love. I love Rend Collective's music!

#7 - Beyond Me by Toby Mac

This song helped me through the most hardest time of my life - the passing of my dad. I even wrote a blog post on this song and how it helped me.

#8 - 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

This was one of my dad's favorite worship songs and when he introduced me to it, it became one of mine as well. 

#9 - The 12 Days of Christmas as performed by Straight No Chaser

The first time I heard this version of the popular Christmas carol was via a puppet show put on by Dakar Academy's Drama Team a few years back. I loved it! It's definitely good for a laugh :)

#10 - One Day by Matisyahu

I think this song is such a great song. It's a great dreamer type song...to dream of what our world could be like if all the badness went away. Wouldn't it be nice?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday Ladies and Gents!

As I do most Fridays, I'm linking up with  Andrea, Narci and Erika and sharing some of my favorites from this week.

Want to know what my #1 favorite things is? This ecard captured it :)

Monday is Labor Day, so we're out of school. And y'all... 3 day weekends are most definitely my favorite!

This picture I took before school yesterday is a favorite. I just love the lighting and how it looks with the pencil columns.

Another favorite part of my school are the crayon columns inside the school. One of my favorite things I teach kids are character qualities. So these crayons are perfect.

Another favorite part of my days during the week is hanging out in my favorite room at the school. Seeing my name posted beside that door is also my favorite :)

How about this picture of one of my favorite kiddos, holding up his favorite necklace. Seeing how proud he was wearing his "bling" the other day was definitely a favorite moment :)

In keeping with the school items on my list of favorites, how about a look at one of my favorite after school snacks. These mini banana flavored Moonpies are healthy and delicious, so that definitely makes them a favorite.

Another favorite picture of the week is this one of a squirrel hanging out in the parking lot at school. Isn't he cute :)

Ooh, or how about this favorite picture? My mom (my favorite person) and I went out to dinner last night and when we came out and looked up, this is what we saw. Beautiful sunsets are always my favorite!

Another favorite part of my week was getting this book in the mail. I pre-ordered it a while back, and it finally came in the mail the other day. Getting mail is my favorite and I bet this book is going to be one of my new favorites. I can't wait to start reading it this weekend!

I found a few new favorite quotes/Bible verse this week, like this one...

This one...

This one...

This one...

And this one too...

And last, but certainly not least, is my new favorite picture with my favorite lady - my Mama. Y'all, I so love this woman so much. She is such an incredible blessing in my life

My Ideal Day

This evening, I'm following the lead of Kristin from the Taz and Belly and Bailey from the Brave Love Blog. And I'm writing all about...

My Ideal Day

Oh and FYI - This is a "dream world" type post. And in dream worlds, money/time/distance/calories are no object. So keep that in mind while reading.

Now, with that said, let's get on with my ideal day...

If this was truly my ideal day, I would have the day off from work, so I would've driven down to Gulf Shores the night before, just so I could wake up to the sound of waves crashing outside my hotel room...

I would spend a little time with my toes in the sand and a book in my hands...

I would eat a big breakfast and drink a cup of deliciously hot tea from Spot of Tea in Mobile.

 

After that (since again... I'd have unlimited funds and time wouldn't be an issue), I'd hop on a plane, and fly to Dakar. I'd spend the day visiting friends, walking through the market, eat some fresh mangos, some good ol' ceeb around the common bowl, and I'd end my trip with a visit to N'ice Cream for dessert.

 

I'd then hop back on the plane and head home, where I'd sit on my mom's couch, and I'd tell her all about my day. I could talk to that woman for hours and hours. 

We'd then order a couple pizzas and invite my brother, sister-in-law, and nieces over for dinner. We'd just spend the evening talking and laughing and eating and watching the girls play.

And then I'd probably end the day in my PJs with my feet propped up, watching a funny movie, or reading a good book. 

After all, it'd be my ideal day. So I could do whatever I wanted. Right? :)

Bucket List

Once upon a time I made a bucket list. If I remember correctly, it read something like this...

1) graduate from college

2) get married 

3) have a house full of kids 

4) live in Africa, running an orphanage

Well, I can check off #1. I did that...twice! 

And I can give a half check (is that even a thing?) to #4.  I have, indeed, lived in Africa. 

Anywho...

I was thinking about my bucket list the other day. And I thought now might be a good time to do a rewrite. 

So as I enter this 30th year of life, here is my new, revised bucket list. Except, this isn't a list to complete before I die. 

Rather, it's a list of "guidelines" to live by for the rest of my days (which won't end 'til I'm well over 100, of course)...

1) Have a job I'm passionate about. 

2) Cherish time with family.

3) Appreciate all God's blessed me with.

4) Never stop learning.

5) Make wise choices.

6) Be willing to try new things.

7) Accept my lot in life.

8) Plan for the future...but be okay with how God may change those plans.

9) Embrace the Fruit of the Spirit.

10) Allow the light of God to shine through me so others may see Him.

Will I do perfectly at all 10? 

I doubt it. I'm human. I stumble. I struggle. 

But will I give it 100%?

Absolutely!

Hello September

Y'all...

Can you believe it's already September?! I know I say this every single month, but wasn't it just January?! 

Anywho...

Let's leave my denial in the dust and see what all I'm planning to say hello to this month.

First up is Labor Day. ...because we all know that having the day off from work is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

I'm looking forward to spending the day off catching up on sleep and relaxing at home. Oh and did I mention catching up on sleep? :)

My mom and I are also planning to do a Food Network style cooking competition over the long weekend too. We're cool like that :)

I'll be taking my next class for my AG License on the 12th (only 2 more after that). And then on the 21st, I'll take the exam and will have my interview for that, as well. I can't help but feel like my dad's looking down on me, smiling about this. He was so proud when I decided to follow in his and my mom's footsteps and get my credentials (my "License to Preach"). What a blessing it is to be just a small part of this legacy :)

And last, but most certainly not least, I'll be continuing to pray for my future. God's stirring my heart about my future and I'm excited to see where He takes me :)