Thanksgiving craftiness

So this year Daniel and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house for Daniel's family. Since we are living in a bigger house, and it was my first time hosting TG dinner, I wanted to make it special. I have been introduced to Pinterest website in the past couple of months, and have been bitten by the crafty bug. Here are some of the things I have made so far...

Our Family Tree

My first wreath

Centerpiece for Table

Paper pumpkins

Flowers on the China hutch

Great is Thy Faithfulness

I sit here this morning writing this and its hard to explain the feeling I am experiencing. The best way I know to describe it is "overflowing with grace and love." The past couple of months have been probably the hardest and most trying months in Daniel and my marriage. But as I write this I can say that we are coming out of that darkness and into the light of God's grace in our lives. I want to take a few minutes and just brag on God and how much he has been a blessing to us over the past couple of weeks.

Let's start with the weekend of October 7-9th. We were scheduled to have our annual Summit Conference in Louisville, KY that weekend with our business team. This is the one conference a year that new Diamonds are celebrated and its always a spectacular event. Well, leading up to this weekend Daniel and I had been going through some challenges with money since D was out of work. We had been having to pinch pennies and really watch our finances. The tickets to the conference for both of us would cost roughly $280 plus the cost of gas to get there, food, and lodging for the weekend. We really struggled with the decision to go or not. We decided literally Thursday evening that Daniel would go and I would stay home this time. He would be able to bum a room with some of the other guys and he could live off PB&J for one weekend. Well, we decided to post a few pieces of furniture and other household items on Craigslist that week to make room in our house and hopefully make a few extra bucks to pay some bills. Literally Friday evening we get calls from people asking to buy both pieces of furniture for a grand total of $150, the exact cost of my ticket to the conference. We took this as a sign that we should go and so we packed up and left to go to Louisville. We were blessed even further when we got there by some friends of ours from Wisconsin who graciously let us stay with them in their hotel room free of charge. It was a very humbling experience for us and we were so thankful for the extra measure of grace and friendship that weekend.

From that weekend, the blessings have kept rolling in one after another. Daniel and I have been looking to move closer to Nashville to help save gas money and headaches from the morning commute. Also, Daniel is going to start substitute teaching in Nashville and we both wanted to be closer to work. Right after we got back from Louisville, that Sunday evening, I was browsing Facebook before bed and came across a post about a house for rent right behind Trevecca. I thought it was a long shot, but I emailed the property manager who happened to go to school with me at TNU. He said the place was still available and we set up a time to go look at it. The PM, Ryan, was even gracious enough to lower the rent for us to meet our budget. So we found a house that is literally 3 miles from work and it will save us hundreds of dollars a month in gas. That's not all, Ryan and his wife have two doxies too, so Cooper and Sophie will have new friends to play with!

In the process of getting ready to move on November 1st, we have been packing and selling more furniture on Craigslist and Ebay. We have been blessed to sell enough to replace our dining table for a smaller version, buy a washer and dryer and hopefully have enough left over to buy a new couch and lawnmower. And last but not least...this morning I left chapel to find an email from PayPal saying we had another $90 purchase go through! Just more confirmation that Daniel and I are on the right path and that God is blessing our every step and meeting our every need! I stand in awe of his mercies every day.

So as we start this new journey in our lives with a new house, new job, and new ministry opportunities, I ask that you continue to pray for God's blessings in our lives and for continued guidance as we walk out his calling on our lives.

Women of influence

This weekend I was able to meet on of the women that influences me along with thousands of other girls and women throughout the world. Nancy Alcorn is an amazing woman of faith that heard God speaking to her about helping young women who were hurting and sharing God's love with them. Nancy founded Mercy Ministries. Please take a moment and look up this ministry at www.mercyministries.com. Research Nancy's testimony. She is amazing and Daniel and I are proud to be partners with her.

It's been a long time; I shouldn't have left you...

As I sit here typing out this blog, I smile because I know that as soon as Daniel reads that title he is going to know how to finish the sentence. It's another one of our many inside jokes. Anyways, I shouldn't have left you so long without an update on life at the Perry Playground. I realize its been months since I last updated my blog, and as always its because life happened.

Let's see, where to start....

My last post was at the end of July. At that point I was struggling with my role as a wife. I was utterly discouraged about what seemed to be the constant arguing that was taking place with Daniel and I. We were arguing over the dumbest things, and needless to say I wasn't feeling too "super wifey for lifey." Over the month of August Daniel and I talked with our mentors and started taking a course on marriage...and each other. George recommended a few books for Daniel to study, and Renee did the same for me. She gave me The Power of a Praying Wife, and Fascinating Womanhood. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm still not through either of these books, because again life got in the way, I've been lazy, and frankly...those books make me very angry when I read them. The reason they make me angry are:

1. they are written from a 1950's housewife mentality (which flies in the face of every ounce of independence I have)

2. they reveal areas about my marriage that I have to fix...not Daniel...ME! 

 So long story short, I read a little and throw the book, pick it up again, read a little more, throw it again....you get the drift. On a good note though, our marriage is getting back on track and we are both learning to communicate better.

So, that brings me to late August, early September. School started back for Daniel again, this time with all his classes being online. School started back for me as well, with a fresh group of Freshman in my LEAP group. We are known as "Starr and the Giant Peaches." I am having so much fun with this group of students and they continually stretch me and help me to become a better instructor. Daniel has decided that since he is taking online classes this fall, then he will have time to pursue substitute teaching in the Metro school system. He has completed all the paperwork and background check and all that jazz...and is waiting patiently for the orientation. I think he is going to be an amazing teacher and that the students will absolutely love him.

Work has been pretty crazy the past couple of months and I have been working ALOT! But we did have a chance to slip in a couple of mini vacations with family this late summer/early fall. We were able to go camping with the Perry's in Missouri, and we celebrated Grandma Perry's 80th birthday in Indiana in September. We are planning a trip to Grandma Foster's cabin in Virginia with my parents and Kyle and Micha at the end of October. I'm looking forward to the quiet mountains and cool crisp air.

That pretty much sums up our beginning of Fall, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming holidays. Be looking out for my next blog about the joys of house hunting! Blessings, and check out my photos on Facebook from our mini vacations this year.

Someone Worth Dying For

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel completely and utterly lost, broken, empty. Well today is one of those days for me. One of those days where I just want to curl up in my bed, and sleep...all day. Some may call it depression, and maybe it is. All I know is that when I was driving to work today, I heard this song and it made me cry.

Someone Worth Dying For

You might be the wife, waiting up at night
You might be the man, struggling to provide
feeling like it's hopeless
Maybe you're the son who chose a broken road
Maybe you're the girl thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God can you hear me?
Oh, God are you listening?

Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I want to believe, I want to believe that
I'm not just some wandering soul
That you don't see and you don't know
Yeah, I want to believe, Jesus help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach

So you just keep asking, Oh, what everybody's asking

Your worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah, the cross has proven,
That you're sacred and blameless.
Your life has purpose!

You are more than flesh and bone
Can't you see you're something beautiful
Yeah, you gotta believe, you gotta believe
He wants you to see, He wants you to see that
You're not just some wandering soul
That can't be seen and can't be known
You gotta believe, you gotta believe
That you are someone worth dying for

You're someone worth dying for
Someone worth dying for

Times of Transition

Change is hard.

This past week has been a roller coaster of emotions and unfortunately, most of them have been stressful, hurtful, and sad. Our department got news last Tuesday of who would be staying at the school, and who would be going. Ultimately, 2/3 of our close-knit work family would be seeking employment elsewhere. That is a really hard pill to swallow, for everyone.

Over the past five years in this role, I have grown to view this team as a family, dysfunctional a lot of the time, but family none-the-less. It is going to be very difficult to wrap my head around working here without them. Each one brought something to the table that was valuable and unique. It's a very strange sensation to be grieving over this situation, but that's reality.

I think I have moved past the disbelief stage, and the anger stage. I think I'm in the "oh my goodness, what are we going to do now!!??!!" stage. I cried my first set of tears over this today at our last luncheon together. It is all starting to sink in as people are packing their offices into small boxes and loading up their cars. Next week is going to be eerily quiet around here. The sad kind of quiet. The lonely kind of quiet.

Through all of this transition, I am constantly reminded that God has a plan for each and every one of us, no matter what obstacles come into our paths. He will see us all through. Continue to pray for me and for my co-workers as we all face a situation that is new to us and hard on every level.

Blessings

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

~Laura Story

These past few weeks have become ever increasingly stressful as we approach transition at work and uncertainty of the future. I am leaning on God and trusting his guidance and wisdom in my decision-making processes. I trust that He will provide for my every need, but I would be lying if I said it has been easy and doubt-free. I heard this song this morning on the radio and it really spoke to me. It reminds me that God never promised that everything would be easy in our lives. It also reminds me of this passage from Isaiah

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. ~Isaiah 43:2

 The passage doesn't say IF you go through deep waters, but WHEN. God tells us that our lives will not always be easy and that we will face difficulties and hard decisions. There is also a promise in that statement: I WILL BE WITH YOU! That gives me peace about all that is going on in my life right now. I am thankful for the trials because they help me to grow into a stronger woman, who is more and more trusting of her God.

The Road Not Taken

 The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I came across this poem this morning and although I've heard and read it hundreds of times, it hit me more this morning. I realize that it is ever increasingly applying to my life.  Daniel and I are moving into a new month after having one of the best months in our business to date. We are so excited for the growth not only in our business, but in ourselves over the past couple of months. Its always been a struggle for us to come to terms with friends and family who are not supportive of, or do not understand our venture, but we will keep pressing on because we have a vision of what our future will be...and its not the road most traveled. 

I have been working on having high expectations for people, our business, and our life in general. There has been a lot of extra stress with work situations this past couple of months, and change is coming. I have been working on preparing myself for the changes ahead and keeping my attitude and expectations in check. I will leave you with a quote that really speaks to me every time I start to get worried.

In every adversity there lies a seed of equal or greater benefit for those who have a positive mental attitude.

Attitude is Everything

Its been a while, almost a month since my last update. I apologize for neglecting to keep those who read this informed of our lives. Not a whole lot has changed in the month of March that bode an entire blog to get you "up to speed." We decided to stop doing P90X for now. I guess we weren't ready for the commitment that came along with working out 6 days a week for an hour.

In other news, we found out more details concerning the job restructure and honestly, we still dont know much of anything. We are all in a state of waiting to see what will take place over the next couple of weeks, and months. My first instinct was to worry, but I was quickly reminded that God is in control and what good will worrying do for me? I have had to make a conscience decision to control my attitude this month. With all the uncertainty at work, it is really easy to fall into a negative frame of mind and get sucked into feeling sad and sorry for myself. I refuse to do that.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by friends who always have a positive mental attitude about life and circumstances. Its really hard to throw pity parties when they are around. I really appreciate that. It has also been important for me to keep reading and listening to mentors in my life who remind me that attitude is everything (great book by that title)! Here are a few quotes that have really spoken to me this month and have encouraged me to control my thoughts and speak life into people and circumstances.

“We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it's a continuing choice.”

- John Maxwell

“Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.”

- John Maxwell

Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts.  It's what you do with what you have left.  ~Hubert Humphrey

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.  

~Author Unknown

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.  

~Mary Engelbreit

There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes.  

~William J. Bennett, The Book of Virtues

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.  ~William James

      

Try, Try Again

I am learning a lesson about myself...I like to put things off and make excuses when it comes to exercise. Last week wasn't so good for Daniel and I when it came to doing our P90X workouts and eating well. We reverted back to our lazy selves. We started again last night and I decided just to start over with day one, since I honestly hadn't even completed a full week yet. We did Legs, Back, and Abs last night. I was pretty excited that I could complete the whole workout because I can't do a pull-up to save my life. The great thing is, I can use the stretchy bands to do my pull-ups. I did 8 sets of 20 reps with the bands and I felt like I could still do more. I will have to increase the weight of the bands on the next workout.

It's nice to being doing this workout routine with Daniel because it gives me encouragement and it makes it more fun to get to spend some quality time with him as well. Even though we both took a week off of the workouts, we both have gotten compliments on how we look like we are losing weight (me), and gaining muscle (Daniel). It gives you such a great feeling when those kind of comments come out of the blue. So we press on, to win the prize. Please keep encouraging me to overcome my lazy nature and achieve this goal.

I'm back at it again

Well I stated last week that Daniel and I were starting P90X and I had completed day one...well the very next day I came down with the Flu, plus a sinus infection so I couldn't continue the program for a whole week. Daniel continued on by himself while I mostly watched him exercise and slipped in and out of conscientiousness on the couch. By this past Sunday I was feeling much better so I started over with day one on the 13th. I completed day two last night and it was actually more fun than day one. The first two days of the week are the only days that Daniel and I are on different routines. We are doing different tracks...he is doing the original track and I'm doing the lean track. I can already see the changes beginning in him only after a week. I can see changes in myself as well, but I think a lot of it comes from being sick for a week. One thing I have noticed is that I haven't been hungry for a while. I don't know if its a left over symptom of the flu, but I have not really wanted to eat this week. I have lost 3 pounds this past week but I think that has a lot to do with it. I'm at work right now forcing myself to eat a protein bar for breakfast. It tastes pretty good, I just don't want to put food in my mouth.

This has begun to start a problem that I know will just intensify if I continue to work out daily. Hopefully I will snap out of it soon. All I really want today is an iced chai latte, but according to Daniel, that's not on my diet. The diet is probably the reason I don't feel like eating. It's only been a week and I am so sick of eating meat for almost every meal. I like being a carnivore, but I miss carbs. Valentine's day was especially hard because everywhere I looked there were people bringing in cupcakes, and cookies, and chocolates. I told Daniel last night that the only thing I really wanted for V-day was cheesecake. LOL. I hope the sweets cravings will subside soon. Tonight I start night 3 which is arms, back and abs. Wish me luck!!

The first steps on our 90 day journey

Its a new year, but some old habits are hard to break. Daniel and I realized lately how unhealthy we were becoming and how out of shape we really are. We have been in denial a little bit too, but the scale doesn't lie. We decided to start working out and getting serious about our health. We haven't been feeling good about ourselves which reflects in almost everything we do. We knew it would take a lot of commitment and strength to get back into a healthy lifestyle. We decided to do P90X, and extreme 90-day workout that some friends were telling us about. I want to start by saying that I am NOT, let me repeat, NOT marketing the Beachbody line. I know a lot of friends that are reps for this company, but Daniel and I have our own business and we are marketing Nutrilite products. We started P90X last night and along with the daily workouts, there is a diet that we are doing also. I thought that I could use this platform to help keep me accountable.

Last night was day one of the journey. It proved to me just how out of shape I really am. I was able to do about half of the DVD and there were a couple of workouts that I knew I couldn't do because I just didn't have the strength. We finished our first workout and had our Nutrilite Quick recovery protein shakes. It wasn't even 15 minutes after the end of the workout when I started feeling my muscles tighten up and start getting sore. I ended up laying down on the couch and resting for a little bit while Daniel took a quick shower. I felt pretty bad last night afterwards and was pretty out of it. My muscles were very fatigued and I couldn't keep my balance very well.

I ended up not sleeping very well because my mind was racing for what seemed like the majority of the night. I woke up this morning with a major headache and what felt like medicine head...but I hadn't taken any medicine. I took a really hot shower and couldn't get my body temperature to go down for a quite a while. I still don't feel great as I sit here and type this at work. I still feel pretty out of it. I think I may be dehydrated so I'm trying to drink a lot of water today. I have to work late tonight, but then I will be going home to do day 2. I will keep you updated on my progress.

A "Baking in my Pajamas" kind of day

This past weekend we went to Hazel Green, AL for the day to visit with Daniel's grandparents. We had not had a chance to go visit in quite a few months and they wanted to see us, and to give us our Christmas gifts. We took both the dogs with us because we were only going to stay for the day. The Lovell's have a huge yard that we thought the puppies would enjoy. It was pretty cold down there so we made the dogs wear their winter coats, which are stinkin cute as can be. Cooper had a blast running around the yard exploring. He ran around non-stop for about 30 minutes chasing birds, squirrels, and whatever leaves were blowing. He went all the way around the property and found the man-made pond. Luckily Daniel and I were standing right there with him because he decided to jump in the freezing cold pond with his coat on!! It was so scary and Daniel was quick to run over and grab him out. Once we made sure he was ok, we both burst out laughing. How often does your 10 pound doxie decide to do a polar plunge when its barely 40 degrees outside? We made sure to get him nice and warm and cuddled him for a while. He was traumatized.

The weekend with the grandparents and Aunt Becky was very nice despite that drama. We received some really nice gifts. Two of the gifts were cooking gizmos "As seen on TV", and I LOVE them! I love anything that goes into the kitchen, especially if it helps me make cooking easier. The first one was the Pasta Boat. Its a bowl that you can cook your pasta in the microwave. I love pasta so I was excited about this one. We tried it out last night when I made a homemade lasagna. It worked great and made my life a little easier....which is always nice.

The second one was the Perfect Brownie Pan. This is the one that allows you to make 18 perfectly square brownies simply and have a convenient way to display them. I tried this one out on Sunday night when I made a new recipe...Sour Cream Apple Crisp bars. They were very yummy!! And the pan worked just like it said it would. I was pleased.

Overall, it was a very successful baking & cooking weekend. Sunday night we started preparing for the snow that was to come in overnight. Daniel and I decided we were in the mood for soup, so we made a big pot of homemade veggie soup. It may be the best veggie soup I have ever had!! It was very simple too.

Monday we woke up to about 3 inches of snow on the ground with more coming down. I didnt go to work because we couldnt get out of our neighborhood. It was very fun to see how Cooper and Sophie responded to the snow. Cooper loved it. He is so adventurous! Sophie didnt really like it because she doesnt like her feet to get wet or cold. She eventually went out and played in it when she saw the other dogs having fun.

The snow allowed me to have one more cooking adventure...one I havent had since childhood. I made Snow Cream! Daniel had never experienced snow cream and I was so happy to be able to share it with him. We made two big batches and we froze most of it so we can enjoy it for a long time. Daniel also went out and made a snow man. He was so happy :).

Overall, this weekend has been a great one. The simple things in life that we so often overlook...cooking, adventure, family, and fun. I cant wait to experience it even more in the year to come.

He is Good

So yesterday I came home and the house was spotless! The laundry was done, there were no dishes in the sink, and I was greeted by two hyper puppies and one loving husband. At that moment, I couldn't have been more content. I've been going through some rough patches lately and this form of love is just what I needed. I heard this song this morning for probably the hundredth time. I am dedicating this to Daniel. Love you.

Mama's Song

by Carrie Underwood

Mama, you taught me to do the right things
So now you have to let your baby fly
You've given me everything that I will need
To make it through this crazy thing called life

And I know you watched me grow up
And only want what's best for me
And I think I found the answer to your prayers

And he is good, so good
He treats your little girl like a real man should
He is good, so good

He makes promises he keeps
No he's never gonna leave
So don't you worry about me
Don't you worry about me

Mama there's no way you'll ever lose me
Giving me away is not goodbye
As you watch me walk down to my future
I hope tears of joy are in your eyes

'Cause he is good, so good
And he treats your little girl like a real man should
He is good, so good

He makes promises he keeps
No he's never gonna leave
So don't you worry about me
Don't you worry about me

The Year of the Lord's Favor

As we welcome a new year, we have a motto or mission that we will attempt to live by in 2011. It is a popular passage from the Bible that many of our mentors live by as well.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, 

because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

~Isaiah 61:1-3