30 before 30

The other day we were celebrating my 25th birthday as a family and my mom challenged me to create a list of 30 things that I would like to do before I turn 30 years old so here I go.

1. Read the Bible all the way through
2. Share God's love more/Witness to those around me
3. Outreach to our neighbors
4. Visit a state I have never been to
5. Go to a beach in Florida maybe even Disney World again while I am there
6. Go to another Major League Baseball game (the last one I went to got rain delayed and after waiting a long time we decided to leave, of course the game started when we got back to our friends house)
7. Learn to sew
8. Be pregnant/Have a baby
9. Learn a Bible verse/passage each month
10. Print/frame our wedding pictures
11. Plant an herb garden
12. Make a birthday calendar and send birthday cards to people in our life
13. Organize my photos/scrapbook again
14. Update my blog more regularly 3-4 times a week.
15. Spend a day creating memories with my niece (I love my time with her now as a 5 month old but I am thinking of this one day way when she is a little older)
16. Try to wakeboard/water ski again
17. Take a family trip with my family and Matt's family
18. Go spend a weekend with my grandparents and look through old family pictures and hear stories about growing up
19.  Read a book a month
20. Fly on a plane
21. Decorate and sale a cake
22. Grow tomatoes for tomato sandwiches
23. Buy a house
24. Consider getting a dog (love dogs kinda want one)
25. Try a new food
26. Fly on an airplane
27. Go on a mission trip
28. Write more thank you notes
29. Plan a special day with my family
30. Go to NYC

Well I have 5 years now best get going! :) thanks to mom and dad for a fun idea and my hubby for helping me with my list recalling things I have said I wanted to do!

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

I sure do love summer vacation and we have been staying super busy around here this summer.

Here is a glimpse of some of the things we have been up to:

1. Asheville Weekend with Em, S, and Caroline:  This was our first trip to Asheville and it sure was fun.  We stayed at a bed and breakfast for the first time, explored the city, did some shopping, went to the Farmers Market, visited the camp that I went to as a child, hiked to some beautiful falls where the Hunger Games was taped.  It was a wonderful time to be with each other!

2. Roadtrip to see Laura and Jonathan:  My college roommate and her husband had us down for the weekend to visit in their new house. They were wonderful host and made us feel right at home.  We had a great time catching up, eating yummy chicken, fresh crabs, and many other goodies, exploring, and being out on the river in the boat.  We sure do always enjoying being with these two!

3. Making many delicious meals together:  Matt and I have really enjoyed the slower paced summer evenings and cooking dinner together.  We have made many delicious meals that are new to us and some that are old.  We have found several of the recipes on Pinterest.  One of our favorite meals was the night we made crab cakes, shrimp, and asparagus.  Another was apple pancakes.  I could probably go on and on with other meals I have really enjoyed. :)

Stay tuned for more summer adventures!

Cakes

Cakes are a lot of fun to make and take lots of patience, attention, and hard work.  If you know anything about me I have always loved to bake and now I have even extended that to cake decorating.  In May I signed my mom and I up for a cake decorating class.  During this class we learned the basics of cake decorating and had a blast with each other.  We laughed at our trials and celebrated our good designs.  I wish that I had a picture of my mom's designs but I don't have one at this time.  Here are two of the cakes that I have made and I would love to have the opportunity to make many more cakes.  If anyone is interested in a cake please let me know.  I may be new to this but I truly enjoy it and will do the best that I can.  My hope is to get better with each cake.

 

 Happy Birthday Cake to the Best Dad!  He loves golf so this was the perfect cake for him.

 The cake I made for my final project in class.  How cute!

Come back soon for updates on the life of Matt and Allison.  Several blog posts in the making!

Dear Dad,

Father's Day was last Sunday and my dad's birthday is tomorrow so I thought I would do a post celebrating my dad.

My dad is a man of courage, a man of God, a man who loves his family and would do anything for them, a man who is a hard worker, a man who is kind, caring, compassionate, generous, fun, lets just face it my dad is plan awesome.  I have always been a Daddy's Girl since a very little age and I will always be my dad's girl.

Over the years my dad has done many fun things with my family and I, however some were extra special because they created a bond between my dad and I.

* When I was young my dad would let me go to work with him during the summer.  Most of the time I would go with him to Danville because this way I would get to help my dad set up displays for floor samples, eat an amazing lunch, and get to see my granddad at the Car dealership.  It was here that my dad and I had many conversations about life, and were I learned a hard work ethic.  I can put up a floor display with the best of them, talk cars like one of the men, and eat as many mashed potatoes, bbq and chocolate pies that I could.

 *As I got older and started babysitting in the summer my dad and I started having lunch dates a couple times a month.  Again this was a special time sitting around a table having lunch together.  There would be days when we would invite mom and sister.  Now we invite Matt, and hopefully this summer Caroline will be able to join us.

 *My dad was the one that created a TARHEEL fan out of me and one of the things that we do each year is pick out a UNC basketball game to go to and cheer on our favorite team.  We have been able to go to several senior games, Duke, Boston College, NC State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Miami games with one another.  We love going to Chapel Hill and cheering loud and proud for our team.  We have even made it to an ACC Tournament to cheer on the Tarheels.

I am blessed with a wonderful dad who along with my mom has raised me to be the lady that I am today.  My dad helped me to see qualities that I wanted in my husband and I am so blessed that I to have found a husband who has many of the same qualities that my dad has.

Happy Birthday Dad!  I love you!

P.S.  Check back later this week for the birthday cake I made!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

My beautiful Mom

Matt's beautiful Mom

The Lord has blessed Matt and I both with wonderful Mom's.  They are both beautiful on the outside as well as on the inside.  They continue to love us, support us, and lift us up in prayer each and every day.  We are forever grateful for these two ladies, for the many unselfish acts that they have done for us over the years as they raised us to be a man and woman of God.  Both our mother's and our father's have shown us how a Christian marriage works and we will forever be learning from their examples. 

I am so thankful for all of the times that we get to spend with our mom's and will always cherish the times that we have with them!  Happy Mother's Day Moms!  We love you!

"...Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.  Similarly encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

Titus 2:4-8

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many woman do noble things but you surpass them all.  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Proverbs 31:28-30

Two Years and Counting...

This is a big week of looking back and celebrations!  We had our first date on May 15, 2010 and got engaged on May 14, 2011.  Matt and I have enjoyed looking back at the past two year and seeing how much God has grown us and our relationship.  What a blessing and exciting time the past two years have been.  Last night we read old e-mails that we wrote each other after meeting one another, how fun it was to re-read the letters that began it all!

Let's take a little walk through the past two years of love, laughter, and growth...

Pictures from our first family vacation with my family...What a wonderful memory!

 First Picture ever taken together...

 Summer date nights...

 First family vacation with his family...a snowy fun week!

 First Christmas together...

 First Birthday together...

First wedding together...
 

 One of the first VT football games...

 First hike together...

 First Halloween together...

There were many other pictures that I wanted to share but they would not load onto the blog.  What a wonderful two years it has been and I look forward to where the Lord leads us in the years to come!

Sweeter than Sugar

Our hearts have been won over by the cutest, cuddlest, sweetest, bestest niece ever, Caroline Brooke!

 We love just spending time with this little doll.  She will just gaze into your eyes for hours, melt your heart in a minute, and keep you smiling every second.

 She is a true beauty and a wonderful gift from God to our family.  It is so amazing to see this beautiful creation that God knitted together in her mothers womb perfectly.  She loves her hands.

 Caroline will keep you watching as she is always making these cute little faces.  What a hoot to watch some of the expressions made.  I will always remember some of the facial expressions she has made at us.

 She is well loved by all of her family and friends!  I can't wait to watch her grow to be a woman of the Lord. 

My sister and brother-in-law blessed me tremendously by giving her my middle name!  I am so honored to share my name with this little girl. 

How could you resist this adorable little sweetheart?  We sure can't and are truly blessed and are so lucky to have her as our niece!  We love you Caroline!

CAbi Clothes

It's no secret, I love clothes!  I love clothes so much.  I love to shop, I love to look nice, I love to buy new things, I love clothes!  Alright, are you with me here?  My mom and her friend started hosting CAbi parties a little over a year ago and I have fallen in love with a new brand of super cute clothes and very comfortable clothes too.  I am thinking of hosting a party myself in the next month or so!  Here are my top picks for the Spring Collection. 

Hopefully these pieces will be making their way to their new home (aka my closet) in the near future!  Wouldn't I be the cutest teacher and wife on the block?  Haha!

Dear Baby,

At one of Emily's showers we filled out these questions about dreams for the baby. In honor of my adorable little niece/nephew that should make their appearance this week I would like to make a post to them. Soon there will be pictures of them on here! Can't wait.

Dear Baby,

I hope that you learn to love Jesus at an early age. That you will come to see his amazing grace, mercy, and love. I know that your mommy and daddy will guide you and raise you in the way that the Lord would like them to.

I hope you aren't afraid to try new things and be yourself.

I hope you love coming to visit your Auntie Al and Uncle Matt.

I hope you get to have all your dreams come true!

I hope you laugh at yourselve when you make mistakes.

I hope you never forget that you are loved by Jesus, your family, and by your AUNTIE!

I hope you ignore people who are mean to you and try to harm you.

I hope you become a strong Christian.

I hope you respect your parents.

I hope you grow to become a kind, caring, giving, and loving person. I hope you grow up to be as wonderful as your parents are. They mean the world to me and I know they will mean the world to you as well! I may be biased but they are going to be the best parents!

I love you to pieces and I haven't even met you yet,
Your Auntie Al

-This is one of my favorite songs and it reminds me to stand in the power of Christ each and every day. I pray that you will come to know the Lord at an early age and that you as well will cling to the promises in this song.

In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all-in-all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

 For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand


Dear Em and S,
We are praying for you each and everyday as you make the final preparations for the baby. We know that you will make wonderful Godly parents and that you will "train up this child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it" Proverbs 22:6. We know that you will find "no greater joy than to hear that your child walks in the truth" 3 John 1:4. We love you and are here for you! Feel free to call us for Babysitting!

Love,
Allison and Matt

Wii Crazy

We have always loved playing the Wii. I first fell for this game system when my sister and brother-in-law bought theirs when it first came out. I am unsure when Matt got his Wii but I know that he enjoys it as well. After our first date we became hooked on playing and competing against each other. We will go through spells where we play all the time and then we will have a period of time when we rarely touch it. Since Christmas Break we have most definitely been on a playing streak, we play ALL the time! It is such a fun time no matter what game you play. It has also brought out a very competative side of me.

We decided that for Christmas both parents could use their own Wii System so that is what we gave for Christmas presents this year. Now not only are Matt and I playing a lot but so are our parents. Now here comes my very competative side. Not only am I playing against my husband and trying to beat his records (he is really good!) but I am now competing against my dad and father-in-law. My dad and I play every time I go and visit and it is always a good time. Jerry (my father-in-law) and I will call each other with updates about our scores and what is the new score to beat. What a friendly fun competition that we all have going! Maybe we should have a Family Wii Weekend! (Hmm...now that I said that it does sound quite fun!) Wonder what the families would think? Good food, fellowship, and fun? I could probably twist their arms to do it!

Dear Matt, Dad, and Jerry,

Consider yourselves warned. A friendly competition is coming your way. I will be practicing and beating your scores. Even the ones that I have beat already I will be continuing to make them better. Put your practice shoes on and be ready!

Love to all,
Allison

Things I look forward to in 2012

*The birth of my niece or nephew in just a few weeks!

*Growing more in love each and every day with my wonderful Husband

*Family Time

*Growing Closer to the Lord

*Time with my sweet class and helping them become the men and women that God wants them to be.

*My brother-in-law and future sister-in-laws wedding

*Praying for my family

*Vacations

*Spending time with my adorable little niece or nephew/oh yea and my cute little neph-dog Jack!

*Church

*Finishing my Thank-you notes from the wedding (yes, I still have some to go)

*Be crafty, lots of cute ideas in my head that need to be done

*Following God's will for our life

*Read More!

*Try new recipes

*Blog more

*many many more things will be wonderful and fun in 2012! Looking forward to a fun year full of many of God's blessings!

Married Life

Well it has been a month since our wedding and let me just tell you married life is pure bliss! :) I love my husband more than the day that we got married, it is amazing how love continues to grow stronger each and every day.

We had a BEAUTIFUL wedding and the day was truly perfect! We owe a lot to our parents for helping to take our dream wedding and make it into reality. Some days I think about our wedding day and wish that I could go back and relive it a hundred times over, that's how great of not only a day but a weekend it was.

If you haven't had the chance to check out the pictures, you may want to check out this amazing video our photographer put together. www.andrewbakerphoto.com/blog I may be biased but it is the best video! I hope you enjoy.

Now we are having fun learning to be husband and wife and spending time together making precious memories! Stay tuned for more adventures in newlywed life.

24 Blessings

As Thanksgiving approaches us this week I would like to compile a list of 24 blessings that are part of my life this year. There are many more blessings that have occurred but I will keep it to 24.

1. A Godly loving husband who spoils me and encourages me to be a better person.

2. A wonderful Christian family who always points me in the right direction and love me always.

3. A great family of in-laws that support Matt and I in all that we do and love me as their own!

4. A fantastic wedding that was all I could ever dream of!

5. That I am going to be an aunt in 3 months!!! :)

6. A new job at a Christian School where I can teach Bible.

7. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gives me the strength to face each day and blesses me beyond belief.

8. A class of 14 adorable, funny, and kind students who love the Lord.

9. A church family.

10. A nice house.

11. Friends and all my extended family.

12. Sunshine, Rain,and Fall leaves.

13. A growing faith.

14. Sports and outdoors.

15. Fun Weekend Getaways.

16. Clothes.

17. Food.

18. The luxuries in life, when I get to spoil myself with manicures/pedicures, etc.

19. Supportive co-workers.

20. Positive Reinforcement.

21. Health.

22. Laughter.

23. Friendly people.

24. A day of Thanksgiving to be with family and remember the great things the Lord has done for us!

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever. His faithfulness continues thru all generations."
Psalm 100:4-5

God is Great!

God has blessed me with so many things the past few months and I have been wanting to blog about it for a few weeks now but don't even really know how to put everything into words. I think that the Lord has definitley sparked a new fire in my heart for Him and for doing His will.

God has given me a job at a different school--a Christian school that I absolutely LOVE! It is so wonderful to start my day in prayer and devotion and that each and every lesson is based on the great promises and truths of God. I can stop my day and pray at any time and occasionally if you are walking down the halls at the right time you will hear my class and I break out in a song of praise to our Lord! How sweet it is hear those 14 students worship Christ in our classroom and in weekly chapel. How sweet it is to see these students grow in wisdom and stature just as Christ did. How humbled I am that Christ has called me to be their teacher and to be an imitator of Him to them. And might I brag for a moment that midterms go home tomorrow and I couldn't be more pleased with the grades and achievements that my students are making!

I have more I want to write about but my fiance (another one of my wonderful blessings!) is about to come see me and I want to spend some time with him so I will write more later.

You should check out this song, it will be a teaser for my next post.
----it won't let me paste the link here so YouTube Christ is Able to Save---LifeWay Worship.
I promise you won't regret it!

Vacation 2011- Folly Beach Style

This past week my parents, Matt and I headed to Folly Beach, SC for the first time. We all had a blast and a very relaxing week! Folly Beach is a very neat place where you can park your car and never move it, you can walk to all restraunts and shops. The only time we moved was if we went to the grocery store or into Charleston. Which we actually did quite a lot! It was hard deciding what pictures to put on here but I think these will show the fun week we had. None of us were ready to return home.

Many late nights were spent playing the Wii and trying to improve our Wii ages. (Note: there is an hilarious video of my mom playing the Wii and if she wouldn't hurt me for posting it I would include it for your enjoyment)

The week started out with a flat tire on my dad's car and when putting on the spare tire we found out it was flat too! My dad had hurt his back earlier in the summer so it is a GREAT thing we had Michelin Matt with us!

Two of my favorite men hanging out on the balcony.

Matt and I on the beach. We had a blast playing in the ocean and catching some rays on the sand!

Daddy's Girl, standing in the water where there is not a care in the world.

Soaking up God's beautiful creation.

Enjoying a little beach time

We enjoyed two carriage tours. One historic Charleston and the other a Ghost Tour!

Ate at some really yummy seafood place with many famous people: Mel Gibson and a Senator plus many others had eaten at our table.

Enjoying a night time swim

I'm big on the pig at Piggy Wiggly. However my dad did find a Harris Teeter and for my birthday got me my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cake!!

Many evenings were spent enjoying live music. This was by far our favorite one...Calhoun's Calling!

Out on the pier, taking pictures with the beautiful ocean behind.

Enjoying dinner on the pier.

My handsome fiance and I.

My wonderful parents enjoying their time on the beach.

Celebrating my birthday with BEAUTIFUL pearls from Matt, and several Charleston memories from my parents!

We had a wonderful time on our first vacation to Folly Beach and hope to go back another summer! It was a special time to have with just the four of us before the wedding!! Which by the way is only 93 days away! :)