James Bible Study: Lesson 2

Last night we had our second bible study meeting studying the book of James. We focused on Chapter 1, verses 1-9 which was a section about the testing of our faith and steadfastness. I really enjoyed this lesson! It gave a lot of insight. My thoughts and leanings are below.

• Consider it a blessing when you face troubles and trials because you know God is with you and will guide you through it


• Trials produce steadfastness and patience. You learn from these troubles and are able to accept them more easily in the future


• Developing steadfastness and perseverance will build consistency in your life and create awareness of your situations


• God guarantees we will endure trials but he also guarantees he will take care of us and help us overcome them


• Trials give us hope, Hope is given by God


• We have trials and experiences in order to help others through those same trials


• Trials build character


• We experience trials in order to grow nearer to God which in return will grow our faith.


• During times of trials, wisdom is always the first thing you should ask God for.

Things Change So Quickly

I am laying in bed on a Friday night and at 11:37 p.m. I realized for the first time today that it is our 8 month anniversary, or it is for at least, now, 22 more minutes. As I am decompressing from my crazy week I find myself looking at photographer's blogs.

Nine months ago I would have been looking at photographer's wedding pictures or wedding blogs to find the next greatest and unique idea for my wedding. While surfing the web for these ever illusive ideas, I would probably have some trashy wedding show on the TV in the background. Nine months ago I was OBSESSED with weddings and wedding planning. I tagged every blog I read and bought every wedding magazine I could find.

Oh how things change so quickly.

Fast forward to the present, not even a year later, and I COULD CARE LESS about anything wedding related. I don't watch anymore wedding shows, I don't look at other people's wedding pictures and I certainly don't read bridal blogs or magazines. I don't think I stopped because I got burnt out, I think I have just passed that time in my life and feel like it is time to move to the next step.

These days, the topic I like reading about and the pictures I like looking at are...get ready for it....babies. I know what you are thinking and NO I am NOT pregnant and no I don't want to get pregnant tomorrow. There are still things Ryan and I still want to do before that time. I think this change just comes with the territory and comes with my stage of life. All my close friends are married now and most are starting their own families. I know of five babies due this summer!

I still giggle to myself when thinking about how quickly my interests changed and how much more mature I feel now than I did 8 months ago on my wedding day. I am not sure if it is the whole "being a wife" thing, the fact that my husband is 5 years older than me or if because I am just making major life plans now and not just tiny decisions like which color the script on the wedding napkins should be.

Today, I'd rather go to a baby shower than a wedding shower and discuss baby names rather than wedding colors. One of my favorite TV shows at the moment is "One Born Every Minute." Does this change happen so quickly for everybody else or am I a special case? The answer, I think, is that it is different for everybody.

As the last 5 minutes of my 8 month anniversary comes to a close, I will finish up this post, doing a little online shopping for the next baby due and maybe take a glance at a few more newborn pictures. Who knows when that time in my life will come, but as long as it comes at some point, I will be happy. Until then, I will do like I always do: research, learn and over organize for the next big life event.

Lent

We are currently in the season of Lent - a time to remember the ultimate sacrifice that was given for us. Our church recognizes Lent but we are not encouraged to give anything up so I have never really been a person who practices it. But recently I started trying as a way to remember and honor my Savior. The purpose is to sacrifice something that is hard for you and fast from it for 40 days.

I tried last year and it was a major fail. I mean really, what was I thinking, no wine for 40 days? Yeah right! I think I lasted 6 days. Shameful!

This year I am doing a little better. I decided to give up candy: 1. because I love it and 2. because, who doesn't use Lent as a way to lose a little weight? I am a major candy person. Not so much chocolate but I LOVE anything sour. I am the person who every time I go to Walmart I buy one of those 99 cent boxes of theatre candy they have sitting conveniently in front of the checkout lanes. Candy is a go-to snack for me.

Let me tell ya - it has been hard. Especially because my office is candy central! I literally stare at this all day because its at a table in front of my desk.
And this is in our conference room.

And this is on a table on the way to our kitchen and is so convenient to grab a little something sweet after you eat lunch.

Literally there is temptation EVERYWHERE! So far, we are about 2 weeks in and I have not had a piece of candy since before Lent. I am pretty proud of myself and every time I tell myself no I think of the why I am saying no and who I am saying no for - my Jesus!

It's Our ONE-YEAR Anniversary

No, we have not been married a year yet, but TECHNICALLY, Ryan and I have been dating for one year :) We met on LEAP DAY 2008! The night was supposed to be a girls night. Emily and our friend Mary went to listen to Molten Lava who are now called Boom Kenetic - a great 80's cover band. Little did I know that I would meet my furture husband. Below is a picture from that fateful night of me and Mary. I still have that top and will probably NEVER get rid of it now. We had so much fun dancing and hanging out with friends and I had even more fun having the first conversation with the man who would soon become my best friend and boyfriend.

Love you Ryan and thank you for the wonderful year (or 4)!!!

Tri Delta Cookies

For all of my fellow Delta Sisters - here is the recipe for those yummy sugar cookies we use to get on Chicken Finger Fridays.

Ingredients:

• 1 box Funfetti cake mix


• 2 eggs


• 1/2 cup butter (softened)

Mix all together and bake for 9 minutes at 350 degrees.

They will come out perfectly chewy. Mmmm Yumminess!

Ebates

Have yall heard about Ebates.com? If not, I am about to change your life and change the way you shop online. Ebates is an awesome site that PAYS you to shop online. I was very skeptical about this at first but after I tried it a couple times, I realized that there are truly "no strings attached." I have been on it for 10 months and have been paid $153.34 simply by going here before I buy anything online. I added up my purchases and that is 11% back. Below is a summary of my account.

How it works

When you know you are going to purchase something online, first go to ebates.com and search for the site you are about to order from. Each site has a different cash back precentage. It ranges from 1%-40% cash back. Not every site is on ebates but I have not come across one I couldn't find yet. Once you find the site, click on the "Shop Now" button and it takes you directly to the retailer site where you purchase normally. And that's it. Ebates tracks your purchase through that "Shop Now" button and as soon as your order is confirmed it will add the cash back total to your account.

Example

Ryan and I decided that we were going to purchase a new TV for our christmas present to each other. He found one he liked at Sear's. We looked through Ebates and the cash back precentage at that time was 10%. We bought the TV at $299.99 dollars and $30 was depositied into our account. Sear's has a ship to store option so we didn't pay any shipping costs which made it cheaper to purchase online than in the store with our Ebates cash back.

Do It!

I am telling you people, this site is worth it. There are no annual fees or anything like that. Not only can you make retail purchases but you can make hotel reservations, buy magazine subscriptions, restaurant gift certificates and several other options. It is especially useful during the holidays for those of your that shop online. Most retailers double their cash back percentages too durning the holidays. You get sent a check every quarter so it ends up being a little extra spending money that you didn't expect. During this economy, who wouldn't need that?

Another perk of simply signing up is you get $5 automatically. If you would like to create an account, email me and I will send you a link so you can get the $5 since I am already a member. Signing up is easy also - simply submit your email address and a password and you are done and $5 richer.

Go take a look at Ebates and share the wealth with others (pun intended).

Journalism School Auction

For all of you Ad/PR, broadcast or print majors from the University, check out the Journalism schools' silent acution fundraiser. You can bid on a lunch with one of your old professors, hour-long photo sessions, a signed Bobby Petrino football, cooking lessons and much more. Click on the picture above to see a complete list of auction items and to place a bid. ANYBODY can make a bid, even if you weren't a Journalism major or went to the University.